Students
MGSM880 – Foundations of Management Thought
2018 – Term 2 Hong Kong
General Information
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| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Lecturer
Steven Segal
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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 Homer 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:
- 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.
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 disruption of studies is made and approved. No submission will be accepted after solutions have been posted.
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individual in-class quiz | 20% | No | Sunday, 13 May 2018 |
| Group presentation | 30% | No | Sunday, 20 May 2018 |
| Final examination | 50% | No | Saturday, 16 June 2018 |
Individual in-class quiz
Due: Sunday, 13 May 2018
Weighting: 20%
It will be a specific form of a multiple-choice test based on the philosophy of David Hume. It is called “Hume’s Fork” and is an exercise in the use of logic. Hume’s Fork challenges students to be able to identify the difference between logical, empirical and non-nonsensical propositions. Students are not expected at this stage to be able to tell the difference between the three types of propositions. Students will be introduced to the difference between them in session 3 of the unit. They will also gain practice in using the different kinds of propositions. The importance of Hume’s Fork for management will also be discussed.
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.
Group presentation
Due: Sunday, 20 May 2018
Weighting: 30%
Based on two philosophers of your choice, discuss the relationship between thinking and experience in your work place/s. One of the philosophers you choose must be a "theoretical" or rational philosopher and the other must be an experiential or "practice" philosopher. Please refer to the session titles to see which philosophers are "theoretical" and which are "practice" philosophers.
Groups must email a copy of their PowerPoint (.pptx file) presentation files to the lecturer on the day of presentations. All presentations should clearly state the following details on the front page.
- Presentation title
- Full names and student number of all group members
- Unit Code (MGSM880)
- Unit Name (Foundations of Management Thought)
- Lecturer (Dr Steven Segal)
- At the very end of the group's presentation file (after the final ending slide), please include a member contribution statement slide indicating which group members contributed to specific sections of the presentation/dialogue structure.
Part of this group assessment contains an assessment of individual performance in the group work, which will be based on the member contribution statement, which is subject to the final decision of the lecturer.
The marking criteria for the group presentation assessment will be made available on iLearn.
No extensions will be granted.
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: Saturday, 16 June 2018
Weighting: 50%
Duration: 3 hours plus 10 minutes reading time
Format: Closed book final examination
Date: Saturday, 16 June 2018
You are expected to present yourself for examination at the time and place designated by HKMA.
The final examination will be closed book and concern all the material from the entire unit. The specific format of the exam will be explained in the last class of the term.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- 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
Segal, S. (2014). Business Feel: Leading Paradigm Shifts in Organisations, 2nd Edition. Palgrave MacMillan UK, ISBN: 9780230242791
Recommended text
Segal, S. (2015). Management practice and creative destruction, Gower Publishing, ISBN: 9781472424884
How to attain your textbook
Our administrator at HKMA will contact students once the required textbook is available for collection from the HKMA campus.
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.
- 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.
- Honderich, T. (1984). Philosophy through its past. Penguin.
- Joullie, J-E. and Spillane, R. (2015). The philosophical foundations of management thought. Lexington books.
- Magee, B. (1989). The great philosophers. Oxford.
- O’Connor, D. (1985). A critical history of western philosophy. Macmillan
- O’Hear, A. (1985). What philosophy is. Penguin
- Scruton, R. (1996). Modern philosophy. Mandarin
- Segal, S. (2015). Management practice and creative destruction. Gower publishing.
- Shand, J. (1993). Philosophy and philosophers: An introduction to western philosophy. McGill.
- Solomon, R. (1990). Continental philosophy since 1750: The rise and fall of the self. Oxford.
- Solomon, R. & Higgins, K. (1996). A short history of philosophy. Oxford.
- Spillane, R. (2015). Entertaining executives (A play). GOKO publishing.
- Sprigge, T. (1987). Theories of existence. Penguin.
- Stevenson, L. (1987). Seven theories of human nature. Oxford.
- Trigg, R. (1992). Ideas of human nature. Blackwell.
MGSM iLearn
The web page for this unit 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.
The unit will be presented over 2 BLOCK weekends as follows:
| Time of class: | Friday | 6:00pm - 10:00pm (HKT) |
| Saturday | 2:00pm - 10:00pm (HKT) | |
| Sunday | 9:00am to 5:00pm (HKT) |
Date of class:
BLOCK weekend 1: 11 May 2018 - 13 May 2018
BLOCK weekend 2: 18 May 2018 - 20 May 2018
| Topics order | Topics and allocated readings |
|---|---|
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1 Friday, 11 May 2018 |
Greek rationalism: Management through rational dialogue (theory)Key figure: PLATO (c. 428 – 348 B.C.) Allocated supplementary readings for this topic:
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2 Saturday, 12 May 2018 |
Machiavellianism and practical reasoning (practice)Key figure: MACHIAVELLI (1469 – 1527) Allocated supplementary readings for this topic:
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3 Saturday, 12 May 2018 |
Cartesian dualism: Management through rational analysis (theory)Key figure: Descartes (1596 – 1650) Allocated supplementary readings for this topic:
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4 Sunday, 13 May 2018 |
British empiricism and management through scientific rationality (theory)Key figure: Hume (1711 – 1776) and logical positivism Allocated supplementary readings for this topic:
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5 Sunday, 13 May 2018 |
Heroic individualism: Managing without foundations (practice)Key figure: NIETZSCHE (1844 – 1900) Individual class quiz Allocated supplementary readings for this topic:
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6 Friday, 18 May 2018 |
Romanticism and practical reasoning in management (practice)Key figure: No key figure Allocated supplementary readings for this topic:
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7 Saturday, 19 May 2018 |
Marxism and practical reasoning (practice)Key figure: MARX (1818 – 1883) Allocated supplementary readings for this topic:
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8 Saturday, 19 May 2018 |
Psychoanalysis: A practice therapeutic approach to management (practice)Key figure: FREUD (1856 – 1939) Allocated supplementary readings for this topic:
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9 Sunday, 20 May 2018 |
French existentialism: Managing through action (practice)Key figure: SARTRE (1905 – 1980) Group presentations Allocated supplementary readings for this topic:
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10 Sunday, 20 May 2018 |
RevisionKey figure: No key figure Group presentations Allocated supplementary readings for this topic:
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Final exam day: Saturday, 16 June 2018 |
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 shown in iLearn, 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.
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
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
- Individual in-class quiz
- Group presentation
- 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
- Individual in-class quiz
- Group presentation
- 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
- Individual in-class quiz
- Group presentation
- 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
- Individual in-class quiz
- Group presentation
- 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 presentation
- 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
- Individual in-class quiz
- Group presentation
- Final examination
Changes from Previous Offering
Assessment tasks: None
Deliver and resources: None
Unit schedule: None
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
These unit materials and the content of this unit are 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.