Students

MGSM880 – Foundations of Management Thought

2019 – Term 2 North Ryde

General Information

Download as PDF
Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Professor
Robert Spillane
Credit points Credit points
4
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to MBA or MMgmt or GradDipMgt or MSocEntre
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
This unit surveys the evolution of Western thought from major philosophical perspectives (from Plato to Sartre) and their relevance for management. What is important about a philosophical perspective is not what it explains, but what it assumes. Three assumptions ground the unit: a) managing is essentially a philosophical activity because human existence is interpreted through diverse perspectives; b) management training needs to be combined with management education. To train is to drill and subordinate individuals to routines, standards and practices. To educate is to liberate a person’s intellectual, moral and aesthetic powers. c) managers and leaders need to have the critical skills to debate, reflect, and engage in dialogue across different functional disciplines, stakeholders and cultures in organisational contexts.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • Apply philosophical perspectives to the task of leading, motivating and communicating effectively across diverse teams in an organisation;
  • Apply various forms of critical reflection to management decision making;
  • Use different philosophical perspectives to respond appropriately to a wide range of different cultures and perspectives;
  • Evaluate their own attitudes to ethical, social and environmental factors which affect an organisation, through a comparative analysis of Western ethical systems.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Group Work 50% No Please refer to below
Individual In-class Quiz 10% No 27 May 2019 (6:10 - 6:20pm)
Final Examination 40% No Exam Week: 10 – 15 June 2019

Group Work

Due: Please refer to below
Weighting: 50%

Students will be assessed on their individual performance – content and presentation.

Students will be allocated to study groups in the first session. Each group will be allocated a philosopher to study and discuss in class. Each group will have up to 45 minutes to lead a class discussion. At least 15 minutes should be devoted to a question and answer period which will be conducted by the group.

Visual aids may be used to a maximum of 10 slides per presentation.

(a) Students should provide a brief biographical introduction to each philosopher studied.

(b) Questions to be answered in the presentation (and group report) are:

  1. What are the main assumptions which ground this philosophy?
  2. What are the strengths and weaknesses of this philosophical perspective?
  3. What can managers learn from this philosopher?

Report

Due: 5pm (Sydney time) Friday 7 June 2019

Weighting: 50% of group work

This is a written summary of each group’s presentation after taking into consideration issues and/ or criticism raised in the class discussion.

Length: 2000 words maximum

Format: Double-spaced, name of group members, and number of words in report. To be submitted electronically at iLearn (Turnitin Plagiarism Submission)

No extensions will be granted. There will be a deduction of 10% of total marks for the report for each 24 hour period or part there of that the submission is late. This penalty does not apply for cases in which an application for special consideration is made and approved.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Apply philosophical perspectives to the task of leading, motivating and communicating effectively across diverse teams in an organisation;
  • Apply various forms of critical reflection to management decision making;
  • Use different philosophical perspectives to respond appropriately to a wide range of different cultures and perspectives;
  • Evaluate their own attitudes to ethical, social and environmental factors which affect an organisation, through a comparative analysis of Western ethical systems.

Individual In-class Quiz

Due: 27 May 2019 (6:10 - 6:20pm)
Weighting: 10%

This is a short individual class quiz assessment that will be based on content taught from Session 2 and Session 8.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Apply philosophical perspectives to the task of leading, motivating and communicating effectively across diverse teams in an organisation;
  • Apply various forms of critical reflection to management decision making;
  • Use different philosophical perspectives to respond appropriately to a wide range of different cultures and perspectives;
  • Evaluate their own attitudes to ethical, social and environmental factors which affect an organisation, through a comparative analysis of Western ethical systems.

Final Examination

Due: Exam Week: 10 – 15 June 2019
Weighting: 40%

Duration: 3 hours plus 10 minutes reading time

Format: Closed book final examination

You are expected to present yourself for examination at the time and place designated in the MGSM examination timetable. The timetable will be available on 17 April 2019 at https://students.mgsm.edu.au/sydney-students/units/exams/

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Apply philosophical perspectives to the task of leading, motivating and communicating effectively across diverse teams in an organisation;
  • Apply various forms of critical reflection to management decision making;
  • Use different philosophical perspectives to respond appropriately to a wide range of different cultures and perspectives;
  • Evaluate their own attitudes to ethical, social and environmental factors which affect an organisation, through a comparative analysis of Western ethical systems.

Delivery and Resources

Required text

Spillane, Robert. (2015). An Eye for an I: Philosophies of Personal Power. GOKO Publishing. Sydney. ISBN: 9781613397626

Where to purchase the textbook?

The Coop Bookshop: The Coop Bookshop is our main retailer for textbooks and other related academic material. For information on textbook prices and online ordering, please refer to The Co-Op Bookshop webpage at http://www.coop.com.au

Disclaimer: MGSM does not take responsibility for the stock levels of required textbooks from preferred retail outlets and other book retailers. While we advise our preferred book retail outlet, The Co-op Bookshop, of our maximum expected number of students purchasing specific  required text each term, The Co-op Bookshop and other book retailers will make their own judgement in regard to their physical holding stock levels. To prevent disappointment if a  textbook is out-of-stock, we highly advise students to order their textbooks as early as possible, or if the required textbook is currently out-of-stock, place an order with the book retailer as soon as possible so that these book retailers can monitor demand and supply, and adjust their stock orders accordingly.

Recommended optional texts

Below is a list of optional related texts that students can look into if they wish to explore the subject matter further.

  • D. Collinson, Fifty Major Philosophers, Routledge, 1988
  • D.E. Cooper, World Philosophies: An Historical Introduction, Blackwell, 1996
  • F. Copleston, A History of Philosophy, Doubleday, 1994 (9 volumes)
  • D. Hamlyn, The Penguin History of Western Philosophy, Penguin, 1987
  • Bryan Magee, The Great Philosophers, Oxford, 1989
  • R. Marks, B. Marks and R. Spillane, Funny Business: Management Unmasked, GOKO Publishing, 2017
  • A. O’Hear, What Philosophy Is, Penguin, 1985
  • R. Scruton, Modern Philosophy, Mandarin, 1996
  • J. Shand, Philosophy and Philosophers: An Introduction to Western Philosophy , McGill, 1993
  • R. Solomon and K. Higgins, A Short History of Philosophy, Oxford, 1996
  • R.Spillane, Entertaining Executives (A Play), GOKO Publishing, 2015

MGSM iLearn

The online resources web page for this class can be found at: https://ilearn.mq.edu.au/login/MGSM

Technology

Access to a personal computer is required to access resources and learning material from iLearn.

Unit Schedule

Students are required to attend all classes. Please only attend the class you are enrolled in as reflected in your e-Student account. This unit will be presented over 10 sessions as follows (The proposed program might be subject to some minor changes as the term progresses (TBA)).

Class sessions are scheduled from: 6pm to 10pm of every Monday starting from 1 April 2019 (session 1) until 3 June 2019 (session 10).

Unit objectives

  • To compare and contrast philosophical perspectives by which people have attempted to understand the world, themselves and eachother.
  • To demonstrate that the field of management theory, whilst of recent origin, necessarily draws on a wide range of ancientwisdom.
  • To encourage in students a sensitivity to language and so provide basic linguistic skills for the critical analysis of management theories andpractices.
  • To demonstrate that there is nothing as practical as a goodtheory.

The real object of lecturing is not to communicate information but to try to plant germinal ideas in the mind and to arouse curiosity, not to satisfy it. A lecture ought not to be a handing over of coined thoughts to be stored away in mental strong boxes … what one tries to do in a lecture is   to make a subject appear charming and interesting; to tempt one’s hearers to look into themselves; to sweep away the dreary tissue of unnecessary and useless knowledge in which many books involve a person and to present ideas in attractive form.” (A.C. Benson)

This unit will be presented in a Weekly format. Dates of teaching are:

Session

Date

Topics

Readings

1

1 April 2019

Greek Rationalism: Plato

EI: Ch. 2

2

8 April 2019

Critical Thinking

Group Preparation

EI: Prologue

3

15 April 2019

Ancient Heroism: Homer

Group Preparation

EI: Ch. 1

4

22 April 2019

Cynics and Stoics

Group Preparation

EI: Chs. 3-4

5

29 April 2019

Machiavellianism

Group Presentations

EI: Ch. 5

6

6 May 2019

Cartesian Dualism: Descartes

Group Presentations

EI: Ch. 6

7

13 May 2019

British Empiricism: Hume

Group Presentations

EI: Ch. 7

8

20 May 2019

Logical Positivism: Stove

Group Presentations

EI: Ch. 7

9

27 May 2019

German Romanticism: Nietzsche

Group Presentations

EI: Chs. 8-9

10

3 June 2019

French Existentialism: Sartre

Group Presentations

EI: Ch. 10

                   10 – 15 June 2019             EXAM WEEK

 

* EI = R.Spillane, An Eye for an I: Philosophies of Personal Power, Sydney: GOKO Publishing, 2015

Required Work in MGSM880

Students are required to:

  • prepare for and participate inseminars;
  • participate in group presentation (25% of totalmark);
  • submit a group report by 7 June 2019 (25% of totalmark);
  • complete a class quiz at week 9 (10% of totalmark);
  • complete a three-hour, closed-book examination (40% of totalmark).

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Undergraduate students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central).

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/getting-started/student-conduct​

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Graduate Capabilities

PG - Capable of Professional and Personal Judgment and Initiative

Our postgraduates will demonstrate a high standard of discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgment. They will have the ability to make informed choices and decisions that reflect both the nature of their professional work and their personal perspectives.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Apply philosophical perspectives to the task of leading, motivating and communicating effectively across diverse teams in an organisation;
  • Apply various forms of critical reflection to management decision making;
  • Use different philosophical perspectives to respond appropriately to a wide range of different cultures and perspectives;
  • Evaluate their own attitudes to ethical, social and environmental factors which affect an organisation, through a comparative analysis of Western ethical systems.

Assessment tasks

  • Group Work
  • Individual In-class Quiz
  • Final Examination

PG - Discipline Knowledge and Skills

Our postgraduates will be able to demonstrate a significantly enhanced depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content knowledge in their chosen fields.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Apply philosophical perspectives to the task of leading, motivating and communicating effectively across diverse teams in an organisation;
  • Apply various forms of critical reflection to management decision making;
  • Use different philosophical perspectives to respond appropriately to a wide range of different cultures and perspectives;
  • Evaluate their own attitudes to ethical, social and environmental factors which affect an organisation, through a comparative analysis of Western ethical systems.

Assessment tasks

  • Group Work
  • Individual In-class Quiz
  • Final Examination

PG - Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

Our postgraduates will be capable of utilising and reflecting on prior knowledge and experience, of applying higher level critical thinking skills, and of integrating and synthesising learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments. A characteristic of this form of thinking is the generation of new, professionally oriented knowledge through personal or group-based critique of practice and theory.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Apply philosophical perspectives to the task of leading, motivating and communicating effectively across diverse teams in an organisation;
  • Apply various forms of critical reflection to management decision making;
  • Use different philosophical perspectives to respond appropriately to a wide range of different cultures and perspectives;
  • Evaluate their own attitudes to ethical, social and environmental factors which affect an organisation, through a comparative analysis of Western ethical systems.

Assessment tasks

  • Group Work
  • Individual In-class Quiz
  • Final Examination

PG - Research and Problem Solving Capability

Our postgraduates will be capable of systematic enquiry; able to use research skills to create new knowledge that can be applied to real world issues, or contribute to a field of study or practice to enhance society. They will be capable of creative questioning, problem finding and problem solving.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Apply philosophical perspectives to the task of leading, motivating and communicating effectively across diverse teams in an organisation;
  • Apply various forms of critical reflection to management decision making;
  • Use different philosophical perspectives to respond appropriately to a wide range of different cultures and perspectives;
  • Evaluate their own attitudes to ethical, social and environmental factors which affect an organisation, through a comparative analysis of Western ethical systems.

Assessment tasks

  • Group Work
  • Individual In-class Quiz
  • Final Examination

PG - Effective Communication

Our postgraduates will be able to communicate effectively and convey their views to different social, cultural, and professional audiences. They will be able to use a variety of technologically supported media to communicate with empathy using a range of written, spoken or visual formats.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Apply philosophical perspectives to the task of leading, motivating and communicating effectively across diverse teams in an organisation;
  • Apply various forms of critical reflection to management decision making;
  • Use different philosophical perspectives to respond appropriately to a wide range of different cultures and perspectives;
  • Evaluate their own attitudes to ethical, social and environmental factors which affect an organisation, through a comparative analysis of Western ethical systems.

Assessment tasks

  • Group Work
  • Individual In-class Quiz
  • Final Examination

PG - Engaged and Responsible, Active and Ethical Citizens

Our postgraduates will be ethically aware and capable of confident transformative action in relation to their professional responsibilities and the wider community. They will have a sense of connectedness with others and country and have a sense of mutual obligation. They will be able to appreciate the impact of their professional roles for social justice and inclusion related to national and global issues

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Apply philosophical perspectives to the task of leading, motivating and communicating effectively across diverse teams in an organisation;
  • Apply various forms of critical reflection to management decision making;
  • Use different philosophical perspectives to respond appropriately to a wide range of different cultures and perspectives;
  • Evaluate their own attitudes to ethical, social and environmental factors which affect an organisation, through a comparative analysis of Western ethical systems.

Assessment tasks

  • Group Work
  • Individual In-class Quiz
  • Final Examination

Changes from Previous Offering

No changes from previous offering.

Alignment of this unit with MGSM’s mission-driven attributes

Leadership: The unit explores philosophical approaches to leadership

Global mindset: The unit emphasises cross-cultural differences in management practices and values

Citizenship: The unit allows learners to evaluate their attitude to citizenship through a comparative analysis of Western ethical systems

Creating sustainable value: The unit assists the understanding of the philosophical status of Western values.

Attendance Policy (MGSM)

The interactive environment of the classroom is central to the MGSM experience. Students are required to attend the full duration of all classes for the units in which they are enrolled. We recognise that exceptional circumstances may occur, such as unavoidable travel on behalf of your organization or the serious illness or injury of you or a close family member.

Special consideration may be given for a maximum of 20% non-attendance for such circumstances as long as lecturers are contacted in advance, and supporting documentation provided, to request exemption from attendance. Failure to abide by these conditions may result in automatic withdrawal, with academic and/or financial penalty. The full Student Attendance Policy is published in the MGSM Student Handbook at https://students.mgsm.edu.au/handbook.

Content Disclaimer

The content of this unit is provided for educational purposes only and no decision should be made based on the material without obtaining independent professional advice relating to the particular circumstances involved.

Changes since First Published

Date Description
05/04/2019 -Change of lecturer -Individual quiz date changed from Week 6 To Week 9