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MMBA8080 – Foundations of Management Thought

2020 – MGSM term 1, Intensive attendance, North Ryde

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Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, any references to assessment tasks and on-campus delivery may no longer be up-to-date on this page.

Students should consult iLearn for revised unit information.

Find out more about the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and potential impacts on staff and students

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Lecturer - Professor in Management
Robert Spillane
robert.spillane@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to MBA 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:

  • ULO1: Identify and describe philosophical perspectives to the task of leading, motivating and communicating effectively in an organisation.
  • ULO2: Apply critical analysis and reflection to management practice, both as an individual and a team.
  • ULO3: Employ a range of philosophical perspectives to respond to a variety of cultures and viewpoints.

Assessment Tasks

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

Assessment details are no longer provided here as a result of changes due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Students should consult iLearn for revised unit information.

Find out more about the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and potential impacts on staff and students

General Assessment Information

Extensions and Penalties:

No extensions will be granted. There will be a deduction of 10% of the total available marks made from the total awarded mark for each 24 hour period or part thereof that the submission is late (for example, 25 hours late in submission – 20% penalty). This penalty does not apply for cases in which an application for special consideration is made and approved. No submission will be accepted after solutions/results/feedback have been posted.

Delivery and Resources

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

Any references to on-campus delivery below may no longer be relevant due to COVID-19.

Please check here for updated delivery information: https://ask.mq.edu.au/account/pub/display/unit_status

Prescribed Textbook

Joullie, J.E. and Spillane, R. (2015). The Philosophical Foundations of Management Thought. Lexington: Maryland.

Where to Purchase Textbook?

This text is available at multiple retail outlets. A quick google search should be able to produce results of multiple places this textbook can be purchased from.

Recommended Texts

  • Spillane, R. (2015). Entertaining Executives (A Play). GOKO Publishing
  • Spillane, R. (2015). An Eye for an I: Philosophies of Personal Power. GOKO Publishing. ISBN: 9781613397626

Additional Readings

There are also many books which provide accounts of the lives and thoughts of the great philosophers.  Some readable examples follow.

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

Access to Technology

Access to a personal computer and internet connection is required to access learning material/resources online on Macquarie University's online learning management system called iLearn.

iLearn - Your class online learning resources page

The class iLearn page for this unit is located at: https://ilearn.mq.edu.au/​. You must be enrolled in this class to see the class iLearn page.

Lecture Slides

Lecture Slides will be provided to students only in soft-copy format via the class iLearn page. You must be enrolled in this class to see these items in the class iLearn page.

Readings

Readings are journal articles, documents and texts that your lecturer will prescribe for you to read. These will be provided to students only in soft-copy format via the class iLearn page. You must be enrolled in this class to see these items in the class iLearn page.

Unit Schedule

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

The unit schedule/topics and any references to on-campus delivery below may no longer be relevant due to COVID-19. Please consult iLearn for latest details, and check here for updated delivery information: https://ask.mq.edu.au/account/pub/display/unit_status

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.

Class sessions are scheduled from: Please look at the MGSM timetable for class dates and times (https://students.mgsm.edu.au/sydney-students/units/timetables). 

(The proposed program might be subject to some minor changes as the term progresses (TBA)).

Session Topics

1

Ancient Greek Origins of Philosophy

2

Greek Rationalism

3

Power Philosophy

4

Cartesian Dualism

5

British Empiricism

6

Logical Positivism

7

Materialism and Reason in Philosophy

8

German Romanticism

9

French Existentialism

10

Philosophy of Management

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:

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 help you improve your marks and take control of your study.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

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.

Changes since First Published

Date Description
09/01/2020 Spelling mistake found and rectified in Unit Schedule. "Ancient Green Origins of Philosophy" has been adjusted to "Ancient Greek Origins of Philosophy".