BUS2019 : Understanding Work and Organisations
BUS2019 : Understanding Work and Organisations
- Offered for Year: 2025/26
- Module Leader(s): Dr Sara Zaeemdar
- Lecturer: Professor Steve Vincent, Dr Ewan Mackenzie
- Owning School: Newcastle University Business School
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 2 Credit Value: | 20 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Pre-requisite
Modules you must have done previously to study this module
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| BUS1001 | Introduction to Management and Organisation |
| BUS1015 | Management and Organisation |
Pre Requisite Comment
BUS1015 for students from N200
BUS1001 for students from other programmes
For incoming study abroad and exchange student: Experience of studying in a business management related module.
Co-Requisite
Modules you need to take at the same time
Co Requisite Comment
None
Aims
The module aims to build upon students' basic understanding of management, work and organisations. It seeks to assist students to understand various issues in the analysis of work and organisations, by providing a broader perspective upon the social, political and economic context of work and organisation. The module aims to help students to critically examine mainstream management theories, and their underlying assumptions, and to compare these with the reality of work in contemporary organisations.
Outline Of Syllabus
The module explores the issues in studying work and organisations. The contrast between the mainstream management theory ‘Rhetoric’ and the ‘Reality of Work’ is, in particular, explored and examined through the syllabus:
The image of work and organisations portrayed by the mainstream management theories (e.g. Scientific Management, Post-Bureaucracy, Culture, and Change Management), will be compared to, and contrasted with, the examples of contemporary work and employment practices (e.g. Digital Taylorism and Amazon, Gig Economy and Uber, Hyper-Flexibility and Personal Training, Globalisation and Fast Fashion).
Alternative and critical perspectives on understanding work and organisations will be introduced and explored. These include Paradigms of Knowledge Creation, Labour Process Theory, Gender, Work and Organisation, and Critical Perspectives on Power and Politics.
Learning Outcomes
Intended Knowledge Outcomes
On completion of the module, students will be able to:
1. Identify and critically evaluate the classical and contemporary approaches to the analysis of work and organisations;
2. Appreciate the factors that influence the relatively stable and the relatively unpredictable aspects of everyday work, organising, and managing;
3. Critically evaluate the complexities of work practices and management in global and socially connected organisations.
Intended Skill Outcomes
On completion of the module, students will be able to:
1. Collate and critically analyse information relevant to studying work and organisations;
2. Apply management and organisation theory to interpret current work and organisational practices;
3. Demonstrate critical thinking and independent learning skills.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 22 | 1:00 | 22:00 | PiP lectures |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 63:00 | 63:00 | Time for students to prepare for summative assessment. |
| Guided Independent Study | Directed research and reading | 1 | 66:00 | 66:00 | Estimated based on 6 hours per teaching week (not necessarily to do in that week) |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 4 | 2:00 | 8:00 | PiP Seminars |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 38:00 | 38:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Scheduled on-line contact time | 1 | 1:00 | 1:00 | Pre-assessment clinic |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Scheduled on-line contact time | 4 | 0:30 | 2:00 | Q&A drop-in sessions, two in each semester |
| Total | 200:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
The lectures provide the students with a theoretical framework upon which they can develop their understanding of work and organisations. The seminars provide opportunities for evaluating the practical implications of the learnt management and organisation theory, in real work and organisational context. Additional support will be provided through scheduled online contact time to enhance student learning.
Reading Lists
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Exams
| Description | Length | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written Examination | 150 | 2 | A | 100 | N/A |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The exam will incorporate essay format components and will assess students' overall understanding of knowledge and sensemaking of issues presented in the module.
RESIT INFORMATION: If students are eligible to a second attempt resit will be an exam and the resit calculation will be based 100% on the completed exam.
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- BUS2019's Timetable
Past Exam Papers
- Exam Papers Online : www.ncl.ac.uk/exam.papers/
- BUS2019's past Exam Papers
General Notes
N/A
Welcome to Newcastle University Module Catalogue
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Disclaimer
The information contained within the Module Catalogue relates to the 2025 academic year.
In accordance with University Terms and Conditions, the University makes all reasonable efforts to deliver the modules as described.
Modules may be amended on an annual basis to take account of changing staff expertise, developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, staffing changes, and student feedback. Module information for the 2026/27 entry will be published here in early-April 2026. Queries about information in the Module Catalogue should in the first instance be addressed to your School Office.