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Module Catalogue

WM161-15 Information Business Management Operations

Department
WMG
Level
Undergraduate Level 1
Module leader
Sheri Sankey
Credit value
15
Module duration
11 weeks
Assessment
60% coursework, 40% exam
Study location
University of Warwick main campus, Coventry

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Introductory description

For people to work effectively in a corporate environment, some understanding about the workings of that environment are essential. The purpose of the module is to make students aware of the operational side of businesses, and the challenges they face, as well as giving students an underpinning of management - of both managing, and being managed. It is hoped student will develop and be able to directly apply this knowledge to their working environment as a degree apprentice.

Module web page

Module aims

Innovation and change are the engine of economics. Within this volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous (VUCA) environment, it is essential that businesses and those who manage and work within them are adaptable, anticipating change, open to change, and willing to accept that things will not always be predictable. Therefore, it is important to study the organisational theory, change management, and strategic practices of business organizations to enable nimble thinking. This module incorporates two management themes: ‘business concepts’ and ‘management theory’. The business concepts theme focuses on providing a context for the management issues in the IT sector by examining organisational theory, including the sizes and structure of different types of organisations. Students will take a critical look at commerce and globalisation. Students will develop an understanding of the components of organisations, internal and external business environments, and fundamental business strategy. The importance of value chain will be introduced enable the understanding of organisational outputs. The management theory theme addresses contemporary management concepts stemming from changing organisational structures, complex human resource needs, people change and increasingly diverse workforces. It highlights critical management issues involved in both managing and being managed including: organisational culture, people at work, inclusion, management themes and managerial decision making and continuous improvement.

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

  • Introduction to Organisational Theory
  • Organisational Structures
  • Innovation and VUCA
  • Value chain and Quality
  • Commerce and Globalisation
  • Capability Maturity Model
  • Introduction to Business and Commercial Strategy
  • Stakeholders and Change Management
  • IT Management
  • Introduction to Management
  • Evolution of management and management styles
  • Concepts of management
  • Culture and management
  • Managing for Inclusion
  • The role of Human Resources
  • Decision making models
  • Planning Operations Activities
  • Organising Operations Activities
  • Controlling Operational Activities
  • Group Leadership in Operations
  • Ideation
  • Management in an international context

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

  • Be able to analyse business structures and challenges facing businesses in a VUCA world.
  • Explain the nature of operations and change within organisations.
  • Compare and interpret the theories of management while considering contemporary management concepts and techniques.
  • Extract an understanding of the key functions of management in an industrial context through team based activities.
  • Categorize and explain best practice competencies of contemporary operations management, including ethical behaviour in the workplace.

Indicative reading list

View reading list on Talis Aspire

Subject specific skills

Understanding of VUCA, Business Adaptation to Change, Working in Ambiguity, Business Concepts, Management Concepts, Management issues in the IT Sector, Understanding Organisational Theory, Understanding Organisational Structures, Introduction to Commerce, Introduction to Globalisation, Understanding Organisational Components, Understanding Business Environments, Understanding Fundamental Business Strategies, Understanding the basics of Value Chain, Understanding Management Theory, People Change, Understanding of Operations in Organisations, Understanding and responding to Diversity in the Workforce, Understanding Organisational Culture, Understanding the need for Inclusion, Understanding Management Themes, Understanding Managerial Decision Making, Understanding Continuous Improvement

Transferable skills

Business Analysis, Comparing and Interpreting ideas, Application of Best Practice Competencies in Management, Application of Ethics in the Workplace, Team-working, Communication Skills, Project Management, Brevity in Written Communications, and Data Visualisation.

Study time

Type Required
Lectures 24 sessions of 1 hour (16%)
Seminars 8 sessions of 1 hour (5%)
Work-based learning 85 sessions of 1 hour (57%)
Other activity 15 hours (10%)
Assessment 18 hours (12%)
Total 150 hours

Private study description

No private study requirements defined for this module.

Other activity description

15 hours guided self-study including:

  • Pre-block exercises given on Moodle.
  • Post-block problem sets released on Moodle.
  • Online Quiz for revision
  • Online forum for discussing queries with course peers and tutor.
  • Distance learning support using technology enhanced learning.

Costs

No further costs have been identified for this module.

You must pass all assessment components to pass the module.

Assessment group D1
Weighting Study time Eligible for self-certification
Assessment component
Post Module Assignment 60% 14 hours No

An individual poster related to a robust change plan on a work-based case study (this can be within the company, or provided to the students by the module team), identifying the organisational culture, the main actors, requirements for change and the outcomes desired.
Reassessment component is the same
Assessment component
Locally administered online examination 40% 4 hours No

A one hour individual exam that covers a range of module topics in the form of multiple choice, fill in and short answer questions.
Reassessment component is the same
Feedback on assessment

Feedback will be given as appropriate to the assessment type:

  • Verbal individual and group feedback during lectures, seminar sessions, and on in class assessments
  • Written cohort-level feedback on exams and in-class assessments
  • Written individual summative feedback on post module assessment.

Past exam papers for WM161

Courses

This module is Core for:

  • Year 1 of DWMS-H652 Undergraduate Digital and Technology Solutions (Data Analytics) (Degree Apprenticeship)
  • Year 1 of DWMS-H653 Undergraduate Digital and Technology Solutions (Network Engineering) (Degree Apprenticeship)
  • Year 1 of DWMS-H654 Undergraduate Digital and Technology Solutions (Software Engineering) (Degree Apprenticeship)