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MAN-30053 - Module Specification
Keele Business School
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

For academic year: 2025/26 Last Updated: 04 December 2025

MAN-30053 - Contemporary Retail Environments
Coordinator: Rachel Lee Tel: +44 1782 7 33112
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 6
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office: 01782 733094

Programme/Approved Electives for 2025/26

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2025/26

This module provides students with an understanding of modern retailing. It examines the organisation, composition and development of the contemporary retail sector. It examines the critical changes in the socio-economic environment and the implications of these changes in the organisation and design of modern retail environments and offerings. It looks into topical issues in retailing such as store design, location, green retailing, alternative retailing, e-retailing and m-retailing.

Aims
The overall aim of the module is to provide students with an understanding of modern retailing. It examines the organization, composition and development of the contemporary retail sector. It also looks at the critical changes in the socio-economic environment and the implications of these changes to the organisation and design of modern retail environments and offerings. It thus examines contemporary forms of retailing as well as potential future directions for modern retailing.

Talis Aspire Reading List
Any reading lists will be provided by the start of the course.
http://lists.lib.keele.ac.uk/modules/man-30053/lists

Intended Learning Outcomes

critically evaluate of the nature of the retail sector and its role in society: 1
critically analyse contemporary retail strategies using a range of retail management and marketing concepts and theories
: 1
apply a range of theoretical concepts to develop solutions to the practical problems of retail management and marketing: 2
reflect upon the interrelationship between the social, political, economic, and technological environment and retail strategies: 1,2

Study hours

Lectures 12 hours
Seminars/group work 12 hours
Preparation for lectures 24 hours
Seminar/group work preparation 24 hours
Assignment preparation 40 hours
Private study 38 hours


School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Group Assessment weighted 40%
Group presentation
Using relevant retail concepts, theories and research for analysis and evaluation, students will work in groups of between 3-5 students to prepare a live in-person presentation that explores a contemporary issue within the retail environment. Students will be provided with a range of topic areas to choose from and any alternative choice of topic must be agreed the module leader. The presentation will be 12-15 minutes in length and presented to the module leader and normally one other group of students from the module. Another member of staff may be also present at times for internal moderation purposes. Marking will be at the group level and peer review will be available to the students. Peer review will be available and the peer review process and documents will be provided on the KLE and within assessment briefing sessions.

2: Report weighted 60%
Individual report
Students will produce a 2,500 word report related to their Assignment 1 contemporary issue. Students will engage with on-going changes in the contemporary retail environment to apply retail management and marketing theory to analyse and provide solutions to a current theme or issue within the retail environment.

The University undertakes a continuous review of its teaching and research provision to ensure programmes are of a high quality and changes may be made to modules where it is necessary and reasonable to do so. Please be aware that minor changes to modules, such as a change to an individual assessment, can occur up until enrolment, although we endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes. Details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/legalgovernancecompliance/governance/actcharterstatutesordinancesandregulations/studenttermsconditions/

Last Updated: 04 December 2025