Introductory description

This module aims to provide doctoral students a broad overview of the main paradigms in studying business and management phenomena.

Module aims

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.

Main research paradigms in business and management studies and their cultural, historical and philosophical foundations.
Theory of The Neoclassical Firm: understanding business in terms of general equilibrium and market imperfections
What is Market? Contrasting views
Foundational concepts in behavioural science and behavioural economics
Can business organizations be ethical and socially responsible? Should they?
Why and how to study innovation
How to study technological systems: engineering and socio-technical approaches
Research traditions and units of analysis to understand social behaviour: interaction, groups and culture.
Paradigms in the study of change
Traditions in the study of leadership
What is management?
Big data and business research

Learning outcomes

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

• Understand key concepts in the field of economics, social psychology, system engineering and social analysis and how they can be applied to the study of business and management phenomena
• Compare, contrast and recognize connections and tensions between different approaches and concepts
• Understand the different paradigms that can be used to address business and management phenomena

Indicative reading list

Reading lists can be found in Talis

Subject specific skills

Understand key concepts in the field of economics, social psychology, system engineering and social analysis and how they can be applied to the study of business and management phenomena.
Compare, contrast and recognize connections and tensions between different approaches and concepts.
Understand the different paradigms that can be used to address business and management phenomena.
Expand the range of theories and approaches used in the PhD project.

Transferable skills

Appropriately utilise and mobilise concepts from different perspectives.
Demonstrate an enhanced ability to reflect on the basic assumptions of the disciplinary tradition students will adopt in their PhD and critically compare it with those of others.
Analytical skills.
Critical thinking.
Communication skills.