Students

MMBA8080 – Foundations of Management Thought

2021 – Term 3, Special circumstances

Notice

As part of Phase 3 of our return to campus plan, most units will now run tutorials, seminars and other small group activities on campus, and most will keep an online version available to those students unable to return or those who choose to continue their studies online.

To check the availability of face-to-face and online activities for your unit, please go to timetable viewer. To check detailed information on unit assessments visit your unit's iLearn space or consult your unit convenor.

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor
Robert Spillane
Contact via email
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.

General Assessment Information

Late Assessment Policy:

Late Assessments must also be submitted through Turnitin. 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 incurs a 40% penalty). Late submissions will be accepted up to 96 hours after the due date and time.

This penalty does not apply for cases in which an application for Special Consideration is made and approved. Note: applications for Special Consideration Policy must be made within 5 (five) business days of the due date and time

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Quiz 10% No 12:45pm, Sunday 1 August, 2021
Individual Theoretical Essay 45% No 5:00pm, Tuesday 17 August, 2021
Individual Case Study 45% No 5:00pm, Friday 3 Septermber, 2021

Quiz

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: 12:45pm, Sunday 1 August, 2021
Weighting: 10%

 

A multiple choice test consisting of 20 statements

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify and describe philosophical perspectives to the task of leading, motivating and communicating effectively in an organisation.
  • Apply critical analysis and reflection to management practice, both as an individual and a team.
  • Employ a range of philosophical perspectives to respond to a variety of cultures and viewpoints.

Individual Theoretical Essay

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: 5:00pm, Tuesday 17 August, 2021
Weighting: 45%

 

A 2500-word essay which requires students critically to examine content in the unit.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify and describe philosophical perspectives to the task of leading, motivating and communicating effectively in an organisation.
  • Apply critical analysis and reflection to management practice, both as an individual and a team.
  • Employ a range of philosophical perspectives to respond to a variety of cultures and viewpoints.

Individual Case Study

Assessment Type 1: Project
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: 5:00pm, Friday 3 Septermber, 2021
Weighting: 45%

 

An individual project to be written in the form of an essay, applying philosophical perspectives to management practice . (2500 words)

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify and describe philosophical perspectives to the task of leading, motivating and communicating effectively in an organisation.
  • Apply critical analysis and reflection to management practice, both as an individual and a team.
  • Employ a range of philosophical perspectives to respond to a variety of cultures and viewpoints.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

Required Text

Joullié, J. and Spillane, R. (2020). The Philosophical Foundations of Management Thought. Maryland: Lexington.

Unit Web Page

The web page for this unit can be found at: https://ilearn.mq.edu.au/login/

Technology Used and Required

Students are required to have access to a personal computer and familiarise themselves with iLearn (https://ilearn.mq.edu.au/login/).

iLearn will be used to post lecture slides, assessment details, student grades and as a means of communication between staff members and students.

Students should be familiar with and able to reliably access Zoom. Zoom requirements and setup instructions can be found at https://students.mq.edu.au/support/technology/software/zoom.

Delivery Format and Other Details

Number and length of classes: 5 day block classes over 2 weekends beginning 30th July unless indicated otherwise in the lecture schedule. Classes may vary due to public holiday(s).

Classes will be conducted online via Zoom.

The timetable for classes can be found on the University web site at: http://www.timetables.mq.edu.au/.

Recommended readings

Recommended readings are provided via Leganto on the iLearn Unit page

Inherent Requirements

None

Unit Schedule

Please see iLearn.

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

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

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/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
03/06/2021 Updated assessment due dates

Unit information based on version 2021.05 of the Handbook