Programme/Approved Electives for 2021/22
None
Available as a Free Standing Elective
No
The concept and practice of managing diversity is highly significant for contemporary businesses - both large and small - and is gaining considerable momentum. The management of diversity is often regarded as a vital aspect of quality assurance and accreditation, for example. However, it is a concept which invites considerable debate among managers as well as academics. While criticisms of the movement are many, other commentators see it as a necessary economic and social strategy set against a background of entrenched economic decline, globalisation of markets and successive waves of deregulation. For example, whilst many organisations see managing diversity as a means of tapping into broader global and consumer markets, governments promote the management of diversity as a means of ensuring that employers implement anti-discriminatory legislation. The taught component of the module considers these (and others) as stakeholders in managing diversity and explores competing perspectives.
Aims
To enable students to undertake research within the specific sub-field of diversity in management and organisations, including international business management. The taught component of the module emphasises a critical approach to the subject and supports students' active development of independent qualitative research skills in questioning and reflexivity and enables them to develop a meaningful discussion of theoretical developments in the area of diversity and difference. Students will identify and reflect upon their experiences of organisations by means of group discussions to support their choice of a specific and manageable dissertation topic.
Intended Learning Outcomes
interpret and critically evaluate the significance of current developments in the management of workplace diversity: 2critically engage with the latest academic research and theoretical frameworks of work and organisation and their relationship to diversity issues: 1locate and critically interpret management strategies that promote workplace diversity in areas including gender, age, disability, ethnicity, sexual orientation, caring responsibilities: 2engage in a specific piece of independent qualitative research: 2produce an extended piece of critical and analytical writing: 2
24 hours workshops16 hours of consultation with the module leader or supervisor110 hours private study100 hours independent research 50 hours preparing final dissertation
MAN-20096, MAN-10018 or MAN-10023
Description of Module Assessment
1: Essay weighted 40%1500 word essayThe 1500 word essay will be on a topic selected in conjunction with the tutor. It will constitute a piece of analytical work including a literature review.
2: Dissertation weighted 60%Independent Study ProjectStudents will produce a substantial piece of written work of between 6,500 and 8,000 words incorporating independent research using appropriate methods and including a review of relevant academic literature.