Contemporary Issues in Business MGNE 4222

Course description:

Major, ongoing change is the distinguishing characteristic of the business environment worldwide and it affects how contemporary organizations operate and deal with change. Organizations still need to do more with less. In addition, they need to provide for the needs of customers who, with more exposure to local and global markets, have higher expectations relating to the cost, quality, speed and innovation of the services and products they purchase from these organizations. 
Due to this global need for managing change, 'new' forms of organization are replacing the 'old' traditional bureaucracy and presenting managers with unique challenges. Thus managers of contemporary organizations need to take a holistic view of the changes in their environments and need to apply a completely new set of skills. 
The approach towards contemporary management principles offered in this publication integrates discussions on vital managerial competencies and skills with information on traditional and essential managerial concepts that have been effective in the past and are still effectively used today in many business organizations. The emphasis is on the vital role of human resources in the success of an organization and the need for modern managers to self-actualize and embrace the practice of life-long learning.

Course Aims:

Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:
  • Gives an overview of the history of management theory, from the Industrial Revolution to the point where the world has entered the Information Revolution
  • Offers a comprehensive contemporary view of general management principles and their application in modern organizations
  • Discusses features of contemporary organizations that differ substantially from traditional organizations, and the new management challenges accompanying these
  • Focuses on the management of organizational change and the role of the individual in the change process
  • Discusses the role of corporate culture, power, politics, conflict resolution, negotiation and workforce diversity in the modern organization
  • Delves into the importance of business ethics, corporate social responsibility and corporate governance in the contemporary organization
  • Explains the philosophy and meaning of project management and gives an overview of the leading and direct role of management in the implementation of project management processes and activities
  • Gives an overview of organizational value chains and the impact of electronic media and e-business on the efficiency and effectiveness of the organization
  • Provides a general view of individuals in organizations, including individual qualities and behavior as well as individual output and performance
  • Discusses the importance of groups in general and work teams especially as an integral part of successful contemporary organizations.

Course outcomes:

By the successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
  • The evolution of management theory.
  • The management process.
  • Features of contemporary organizations and new management challenges. 
  • Management in a changing environment.
  • Composition of the management environment; Managing organizational change and individual stress. 
  • Corporate culture; Power, politics, conflict resolution and negation; Business ethics, corporate social responsibility; Workforce diversity. Planning: Principles of planning; Strategic management; Decision making; Information management; Project management. Organizing.Principles of organizing; Value chain and e-business. Leading: Individual behavior in organizations; Work groups and teams,Principles of leading, Workforce motivation.
  •  Controlling: Principles of control.