Introduction to Management

Module description

What is the module about?

The principles of management are essential to understanding how individuals and groups function and interact with one another in the workplace. Studying people at work—their values, attitudes and behaviours—provides the foundations for effective management.

The aims of the module are to introduce students to key management theories, alternative psychological and social scientific theories and the core debates in understanding both traditional and contemporary organisations. Students will be encouraged to reflect on and critically assess a variety of approaches to understanding work and organisational practices.

The module introduces students to trends and challenges relating to the changing nature of work and management in contemporary businesses. Students will be encouraged to take a critical approach to analysing business decisions. The module will promote discussion and debate on theories and issues relating to human motivation, work design, diversity, leadership, culture and organisational change. In addition to human behaviour within organisations, the module will help learners engage with issues relating to the wider environmental factors that shape working practices.

Who should do this module?

Students who are interested in learning about people management

Provisional Lecture Outline

Lecture 1: Introduction to the course

Lecture 2: Individual Differences

Lecture 3: Work Motivation

Lecture 4: Job Attitudes and Behaviours

Lecture 5: Employee Wellbeing

Lecture 6: Groups and Teams

Lecture 7: Leadership

Lecture 8: Job Design

Lecture 9: Change Management

Lecture 10: Review and Revision

Assessment details

Examination (90%)

Tutorial assessment (10%)

The format of the examination has not yet been confirmed. All students will be expected to sit any remote exams in January, but semester 1 only students will be set an alternative assessment in lieu of any in-person exams

Teaching pattern

Weekly lectures

Weekly tutorials

Suggested reading list

Buchanan, D., & Huczynski, A. (2016). Organizational Behaviour (9^th edition), Harlow: Pearson Education Ltd.

Module description disclaimer

King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.

Please note that modules with a practical component will be capped due to educational requirements, which may mean that we cannot guarantee a place to all students who elect to study this module.

Please note that the module descriptions above are related to the current academic year and are subject to change.