Management theory and practice is culturally and politically defined and enacted. Management techniques are mediated by complex and ambiguous social processes involving diverse, competing and conflicting understandings of society, people, management and change. This course deals with the societal context of organisations. It focuses on a range of issues, cultural, governmental and ethical generated by current and developing influences with their origins of national, European and global genesis. Key issues included are political economy issues, ethical issues, the role of business in society, green issues, stakeholder theory, capitalist variants, the nature of globalisation at firm, economic and societal level and the interrelationship between business and government.
Relevance for the student of Business and Management:
In the early years of the course students are provided with a theoretical foundation in a broad range of functional areas and apply the conceptual frameworks. This course provides the broader contextual framework for considering the environment of organisations and the issues that may impinge on organisations directly and indirectly.
The aim of the course is to provide the student with an eclectic appreciation and understanding of key societal issues that directly and indirectly inform analysis, affect decision making and shape implementation of strategy in organisations.
Perspectives on Political Economy
The evolution, nature and dynamics of economic thinking, from mercantilism and economic nationalism, through the liberal perspective, to Marxism and the structuralist perspective. This is all set within the broader context of the evolution of capitalist thinking and the history of macroeconomic development. This section provides a framework with which to understand how both a political economy, and the international political environment, can and does operate.
The Irish Economy
An overview of Irish economic performance over the last 20 years. This examines the size and composition of the labour force, and discusses some of the challenges facing the labour market going forward. An examination of politics and economic policy making in Ireland. The power of vested interests and the particular characteristics of democratic electoral systems often lead to policy decisions that operate against the interests of society as a whole.
Stakeholder Theory
An overview of stakeholder theory. Its evolution and current status. Responsibilities to internal stakeholders. Equal opportunities. Managers as stakeholders. Relationships with Trade Unions. Partnership models at company level. Responsibilities to external stakeholders. The wealth creation role of companies. Corporations as communities. Society as a stakeholder. Relationship with government. Irish Partnership models at national level.
Social Partnership
We will see how social partnership developed in Ireland since the 1960s onwards. The impact it has had upon the economy and who in particular benefited for this. In this we will track how economic crises impacted upon the state’s commitment to social partnership. We will also examine the various levels in society as which this approach operated. Our examination of social partnership will be tied in with a social justice perspective on the Celtic Tiger.
White-Collar Crime and Political Corruption
This is an overview of white-collar crime in Ireland. White-collar crime is an increasingly significant problem in the Irish economy. We examine some of the varieties of white-collar crime, as well as the historical and contemporary reactions to it. This looks at the crimes of employees and those of businesses. We also examine the issue of political corruption in Ireland. This has become increasingly prevalent since the 1980s, becoming a feature of Ireland’s political landscape today.
Interest Groups and Lobbying Regulation
We examine the issues surrounding interest groups and their political activities. By analysing interest groups’ activities in several central debates in Ireland, we show that the access and expectations such groups have to, and of, Irish policy makers can be of great significance for policy outcomes. A discussion on lobbying and its regulation in Ireland today. Discusses how interest groups and lobbying operate in an Irish context and how regulation seeks to shine a light into the black box of policy making and make political decisions more transparent to the general public. The objective of regulation is to discourage corrupt practices and expose and punish them where they occur.
Ireland and the Wider World
A reflection on Ireland’s changing relationship with Europe, in light of EU expansion, the two Lisbon Referenda and now Brexit. The issues of Irish national identity and the increasing chasm between the elite and popular views on Europe. We also examine the evolution of the relationship between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland since partition in 1920. A once troubled relationship has changed to the point where a variety of economic, political, social cultural and sectoral links now exist between North and South. But, Brexit is now throwing all of this progress into doubt and confusion.
Each weekly session will be a two hour session. Students will be given required reading in advance of the session, and session will mostly consist of student presentation of a synthesis of reading followed by discussion
| Module Content & Assessment | |
|---|---|
| Assessment Breakdown | % |
| Other Assessment(s) | 100 |