Topics in Business and Society
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| BUSI5021 | Business | 5 | 20 | Full Year UK |
- Code
- BUSI5021
- School
- Business
- Level
- 5
- Credits
- 20
- Semesters
- Full Year UK
Summary
This module considers in detail three key, interrelated components that constitute the academic research process (i.e. becoming an academic researcher); substance, technique and context.
Substance; students will assimilate theoretical building blocks of academic argumentation specific to Business and Society research, equipping them to judge the potential value of new research in the field.
Technique; students will apprehend and mobilize specific academic techniques such types and styles of questioning, conversation ‘linking’, the role of a discussant and following-up activities.
Context; students will gain an appreciation of the dynamic and political nature of research dissemination environments and recognize the role of seminars in network building and academic citizenship.
Target Students
'Core' module: PhD students on ‘Business and Society Pathway’
Classes
- One 6-hour seminar
- One 2-hour seminar each week for 7 weeks
- One 3-hour lecture each week for 2 weeks
2 taught sessions at 3 hours each [from pool of module organisers supervisor/guest speakers]; 7 x 2 hour departmental seminars; 1 student-lead seminar (6 hours).
Assessment
- 10% Participation: Research community engagement; assessed through seminar series participation (10 marks)
- 30% Project: Seminar hosting; awarded for conducting the range of ‘hosting’ activities; inviting, hosting, introducing, time keeping and audience management – Q & A. (30 marks) [NB: Where appropriate, studen-led seminars may occur as an addition to the 'normal' advertised departemental seminar series and in a format chosen by the student (e.g. a reading group involving an invited academic guest) and, where necessary, in coordination with other PhD student/s on the 'Business and Society Pathway' that year.
- 60% Individual essay: Anatomy of a research seminar; an individual essay (2000 words) that is both reflective (personal reflections) and substantive (using relevant literature). (60 marks)
Assessed by end of spring semester
Educational Aims
This module aims to provide students with knowledge of the academic process underpinning, and research environment contextualizing, Business and Society research. Through their participation in a highly active Business and Society seminar series, they will gain deep understanding of the processes involved in the production, evaluation and dissemination of academic research. They will assimilate the key intellectual components integral to the academic research process, including contribution, positioning, justifying, defending and refining academic research in seminars.Learning Outcomes
Knowledge and understanding:
This module develops a knowledge and understanding of:
• The standards, requirements and professionalism to be an academic researcher, including professional conduct and research management
• How to work with others and ensure the wider impact of research, including collegiality, people management, collaboration, equality and diversity, communication methods, public engagement.
Intellectual skills:
-Being able to think critically and be creative: manage the creative processes in self and others; organise thoughts, analyse, synthesise and critically appraise.This includes the capability to identify assumptions, evaluate statements in terms of evidence, detect false logic or reasoning, identify implicit values, define terms adequately and generalise appropriately
- Using information and knowledge effectively in order to abstract meaning from information and to share knowledge
Professional Practical Skills: This module develops:
-Effective performance within team environments and the ability to recognise and utilise individuals' contributions in group processes and to negotiate and persuade or influence others; team selection, delegation, development and management.
-Leadership and performance management: selecting appropriate leadership style for different situations; setting objectives, motivating, monitoring performance, coaching and mentoring
Transferable (key) Skills: This module develops:
- Effective communication: networking, listening, oral and written communication of complex ideas and arguments, using a range of media, including learning journals
- High personal effectiveness: critical self-awareness, self-reflection and self- management; time management; conflict resolution, displaying commercial (research resources) acumen, the ability to continue to learn through reflection on practice and experience
- Soft skills: understanding the needs of others and empathy towards them; sensitivity to diversity in people and in different situations
- Other personal effectiveness: enthusiasm, perseverance, self-confidence, responsibility
Intellectual Skills:
This module develops:
• Being able to think critically and be creative: manage the creative processes in self and others; organise thoughts, analyse, synthesise and critically appraise. This includes the capability to identify assumptions, evaluate statements in terms of evidence, detect false logic or reasoning, identify implicit values, define terms adequately and generalise appropriately.
• Using information and knowledge effectively in order to abstract meaning from information and to share knowledge.
Professional Practical Skills:
This module develops:
• Effective performance within team environments and the ability to recognise and utilise individuals'contributions in group processes and to negotiate and persuade or influence others; team selection, delegation, development and management.
• Leadership and performance management: selecting appropriate leadership style for different situations; setting objectives, motivating, monitoring performance, coaching and mentoring.
Transferable (key) Skills: This module develops:
• Effective communication: networking, listening, oral and written communication of complex ideas and arguments, using a range of media, including learning journals.
• High personal effectiveness: critical self-awareness, self-reflection and self- management; time management; conflict resolution, displaying commercial (research resources) acumen, the ability to continue to learn through reflection on practice and experience.
• Soft skills: understanding the needs of others and empathy towards them; sensitivity to diversity in people and in different situations.
• Other: personal effectiveness: enthusiasm, perseverance, self-confidence, responsibility.