Students
MGSM880 – Foundations of Management Thought
2019 – Term 1 North Ryde
General Information
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| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Professor
Robert Spillane
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|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
4
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| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
Admission to MBA or MMgmt or GradDipMgt or MSocEntre
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| Corequisites |
Corequisites
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| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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| 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.
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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:
- By the end of the unit, students should be able to: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… (a) apply philosophical perspectives to the task of leading, motivating and communicating effectively across diverse teams in an organisation; ........................................................................................................................................................................... (b) apply various forms of critical reflection to management decision making; ........................................................................................................................................................................... (c) use different philosophical perspectives to respond appropriately to a wide range of different cultures and perspectives; ........................................................................................................................................................................... (d) 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 |
| Class Quiz | 10% | No | 10 February – 9:05 – 9:15am |
| Final Examination | 40% | No | Exam Week: 18 – 23 March 2019 |
Group Work
Due: Please refer to below
Weighting: 50%
Presentation
Due: In class TBA
Weighting: 50% of group work
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 key arguments 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: 25 February 2019 by 5pm
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:
- By the end of the unit, students should be able to: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… (a) apply philosophical perspectives to the task of leading, motivating and communicating effectively across diverse teams in an organisation; ........................................................................................................................................................................... (b) apply various forms of critical reflection to management decision making; ........................................................................................................................................................................... (c) use different philosophical perspectives to respond appropriately to a wide range of different cultures and perspectives; ........................................................................................................................................................................... (d) evaluate their own attitudes to ethical, social and environmental factors which affect an organisation, through a comparative analysis of Western ethical systems.
Class Quiz
Due: 10 February – 9:05 – 9:15am
Weighting: 10%
This is a short individual class quiz assessment that will be based on content taught on Day 3
On successful completion you will be able to:
- By the end of the unit, students should be able to: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… (a) apply philosophical perspectives to the task of leading, motivating and communicating effectively across diverse teams in an organisation; ........................................................................................................................................................................... (b) apply various forms of critical reflection to management decision making; ........................................................................................................................................................................... (c) use different philosophical perspectives to respond appropriately to a wide range of different cultures and perspectives; ........................................................................................................................................................................... (d) 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: 18 – 23 March 2019
Weighting: 40%
Duration: 3 hours plus 10 minutes reading time Format: Closed book exam
The MGSM Examination period in Term 1 2019 is from 18 – 23 March 2019
On successful completion you will be able to:
- By the end of the unit, students should be able to: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… (a) apply philosophical perspectives to the task of leading, motivating and communicating effectively across diverse teams in an organisation; ........................................................................................................................................................................... (b) apply various forms of critical reflection to management decision making; ........................................................................................................................................................................... (c) use different philosophical perspectives to respond appropriately to a wide range of different cultures and perspectives; ........................................................................................................................................................................... (d) 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 Textbook
Robert Spillane, An Eye for an I: Philosophies of Personal Power, Sydney: GOKO Publishing, 2015, ISBN: 9781613397626
Strongly Recommended
Jean-Etienne Joullie and Robert Spillane, The Philosophical Foundations of Management Thought, Maryland: Lexington Books, 2015, ISBN: 9780739186022
For information on textbook prices and online ordering, please refer to the Co-Op Bookshop webpage at http://www.coop.com.au
Additional Readings
There are also many books which provide accounts of the lives and thoughts of the great philosophers. Some readable examples follow.
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 web page for this unit can be found at: https://ilearn.mq.edu.au/login/MGSM
Unit Schedule
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 Block format. Dates of teaching are:
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Day |
Date |
Topics |
Readings |
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1 |
26 January 2019 (am) |
From Ancient Heroism to Modern Management: Homer and Drucker |
EI*: Ch. 1 |
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26 January 2019 (pm) |
Group Preparation |
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2 |
27 January 2019 (am) |
From Greek Rationalism to Machiavellianism: Plato and Machiavelli |
EI: Chs. 2, 5 |
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27 January 2019 (pm) |
Group Preparation
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3 |
8 February 2019 (am) |
From French Rationalism to British Empiricism: Descartes and Hume |
EI: Chs. 6-7 |
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8 February 2019 (pm) |
Group Presentations |
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4 |
9 February 2019 (am) |
From German Romanticism to Heroic Individualism: Schopenhauer and Nietzsche |
EI: Chs. 8-9
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9 February 2019 (pm) |
Group Presentations |
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5 |
10 February 2019 (am) |
From Existentialism to Postmodernism: Sartre and Others |
EI: Ch. 10 Epilogue |
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10 February 2019 (pm) |
Group Presentations |
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18 – 23 March 2019 EXAM WEEK |
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* 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 in seminars;
- participate in group presentation (25% of totalmark);
- submit a group report by 25 February 2019 (25% of totalmark);
- complete a class quiz on Day 5 (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:
- Academic Appeals Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progression Policy
- Assessment Policy
- Fitness to Practice Procedure
- Grade Appeal Policy
- Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public
- Special Consideration Policy (Note: The Special Consideration Policy is effective from 4 December 2017 and replaces the Disruption to Studies Policy.)
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 outcome
- By the end of the unit, students should be able to: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… (a) apply philosophical perspectives to the task of leading, motivating and communicating effectively across diverse teams in an organisation; ........................................................................................................................................................................... (b) apply various forms of critical reflection to management decision making; ........................................................................................................................................................................... (c) use different philosophical perspectives to respond appropriately to a wide range of different cultures and perspectives; ........................................................................................................................................................................... (d) 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
- 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 outcome
- By the end of the unit, students should be able to: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… (a) apply philosophical perspectives to the task of leading, motivating and communicating effectively across diverse teams in an organisation; ........................................................................................................................................................................... (b) apply various forms of critical reflection to management decision making; ........................................................................................................................................................................... (c) use different philosophical perspectives to respond appropriately to a wide range of different cultures and perspectives; ........................................................................................................................................................................... (d) 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
- 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 outcome
- By the end of the unit, students should be able to: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… (a) apply philosophical perspectives to the task of leading, motivating and communicating effectively across diverse teams in an organisation; ........................................................................................................................................................................... (b) apply various forms of critical reflection to management decision making; ........................................................................................................................................................................... (c) use different philosophical perspectives to respond appropriately to a wide range of different cultures and perspectives; ........................................................................................................................................................................... (d) 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
- 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 outcome
- By the end of the unit, students should be able to: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… (a) apply philosophical perspectives to the task of leading, motivating and communicating effectively across diverse teams in an organisation; ........................................................................................................................................................................... (b) apply various forms of critical reflection to management decision making; ........................................................................................................................................................................... (c) use different philosophical perspectives to respond appropriately to a wide range of different cultures and perspectives; ........................................................................................................................................................................... (d) 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
- 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 outcome
- By the end of the unit, students should be able to: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… (a) apply philosophical perspectives to the task of leading, motivating and communicating effectively across diverse teams in an organisation; ........................................................................................................................................................................... (b) apply various forms of critical reflection to management decision making; ........................................................................................................................................................................... (c) use different philosophical perspectives to respond appropriately to a wide range of different cultures and perspectives; ........................................................................................................................................................................... (d) 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
- 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 outcome
- By the end of the unit, students should be able to: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… (a) apply philosophical perspectives to the task of leading, motivating and communicating effectively across diverse teams in an organisation; ........................................................................................................................................................................... (b) apply various forms of critical reflection to management decision making; ........................................................................................................................................................................... (c) use different philosophical perspectives to respond appropriately to a wide range of different cultures and perspectives; ........................................................................................................................................................................... (d) 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
- 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.