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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
100% coursework
Study locations
  • University of Warwick main campus, Coventry Primary
  • Distance or Online Delivery

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Introductory description

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.

Module web page

Module aims

The module aims to support students in identifying and understand business structures, to understand and analyse the complex environment that businesses operate in, To develop in students the ability to understand operations and organisational change while delivering business value. Students will practice evaluating management styles and theories, while developing best practice competencies in operations management. This includes key areas of study in the field of management and leadership in an industrial context. Leadership skills will be built and encouraged throughout, enabling students to make decisions based on sound evidence and the logical evaluation of information.

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:

  • 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.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of industrial best practice management and leadership
  • 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 72 sessions of 1 hour (48%)
Other activity 16 hours (11%)
Assessment 29 hours (19%)
Total 149 hours

Private study description

No private study requirements defined for this module.

Other activity description

16 hours guided self-study including:

  • Pre-block exercises given on Moodle.
  • Post-block problem sets released on Moodle.
  • Online Quiz for revision and portfolio credit
  • 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 A1
Weighting Study time Eligible for self-certification
Assessment component
Poster Assessment 60% 17 hours Yes (extension)

Poster Assessment - students will work in teams to work on a new company, identifying organisational structures and activities, and identifying organisational operations activities and flows while understanding their own role within the organisation, and how this role interfaces with other aspects of organisational operations.

This is a poster without presentation, as the reflection is covered in the video
Reassessment component is the same
Assessment component
Management and Leadership Assessment 40% 12 hours Yes (extension)

Students will engage in a critical review of management and leadership techniques (theory), producing a five minute individual video comparing the key modern themes of leadership and management (approx 2 minutes) followed by a case study assessment of a management and leadership environment - it is expected to be a review of their own workplace management and leadership environment. (approximately 3 minutes), identifying best practice from the theory, and suggestions for improvement. This should include specific examples from the student experience. It should include job titles rather than individual names - and where it can be a critical review, it is expected that this will be measured and professional in tone and approach.
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 and verbal cohort-level feedback on in-class assessments
  • Written individual summative feedback on in-class and post module assessment.
  • Quizzes are marked automatically by Moodle

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)