Business and Management Theory
| Module title | Business and Management Theory |
|---|---|
| Module code | BEMM832 |
| Academic year | 2026/7 |
| Credits | 30 |
| Module staff |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 10 |
|---|
Module description
This module will advance your understanding about business and management research, reflecting the Exeter Business School's expertise. You will explore foundational and contemporary research in business and management through critically engaging with key theoretical and empirical work. The module will advance your skills in analysing, evaluating, and synthesizing theories and research findings, emphasizing diversity and interdisciplinary perspectives. You will deepen your insights into addressing complex challenges in business and management. By fostering critical thinking and identifying opportunities for original research, the module equips you with the conceptual tools and research skills needed to contribute to management scholarship. This advanced understanding will you for deeper engagement with theoretical and applied business and management research.
Module aims - intentions of the module
By the end of this module, students will be able to:
A) Critically evaluate and synthesize key theoretical perspectives across diverse business and management disciplines, identifying their strengths, limitations, and applicability to contemporary research challenges.
B) Analyse and critique theoretical research with a focus on conceptual contributions to the management field.
C) Develop innovative and impactful research ideas by integrating multiple theoretical frameworks and identifying gaps or opportunities for advancing management scholarship.
D) Demonstrate effective research communication skills by engaging constructively in scholarly discussions and presenting critical evaluation of research.
E) Enhance professional research competence by applying analytical and critical thinking skills to address real-world management challenges.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of major theoretical perspectives in management.
- 2. Critically evaluate the strengths, limitations, and contributions of foundational and advanced management theories to current research and practice.
- 3. Integrate and synthesize diverse theoretical frameworks to identify opportunities for advancing management knowledge.
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 4. Critically analyse theoretical research to assess the quality and relevance of studies within the field of management.
- 5. Design innovative conceptual frameworks by integrating diverse theoretical perspectives and management research insights to address emerging challenges in the field.
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 6. Develop effective communication skills to clearly present research ideas and engage in constructive scholarly discussions.
- 7. Demonstrate time management, resilience, and collaboration by engaging effectively in independent and group-based learning activities.
Syllabus plan
Indicative topics covered on the course include:
- Business Strategy and Marketing
- Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship
- Operations and Analytics
- Organisational Behaviour and Human Resource Management
- Sustainable Futures
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 40 | 260 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled learning and teaching activities | 40 | Seminars (10 x 4 hours) |
| Guided independent study | 60 | Preparatory reading before taught sessions |
| Guided independent study | 200 | Preparation (research and writing) of assignment |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active discussion and participation throughout | 10 x 4 hours | 1-7 | Verbal |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Research Presentation | 30 | 20 minutes | 6-7 | Verbal, group |
| Written Critique of Papers | 70 | 4000 words | 1-5 | Written, individual |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research Presentation | Presentation (20 minutes, 30%) | 6-7 | Referral/deferral period |
| Written Critique of Papers | Resubmit Written Critique of Papers (4000 words, 70%) | 1-5 | Referral/deferral period |
Re-assessment notes
Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.
Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 50%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 50%.
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
The readings on the module are primarily taken from key academic journals such as:
- Administrative Science Quarterly
- Academy of Management Journal
- Academy of Management Review
- Journal of Applied Psychology
- Journal of Consumer Behaviour
- Journal of Organizational Behaviour
- Management Science
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
- ELE
| Credit value | 30 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 15 |
| Module pre-requisites | Restricted to MRes students. |
| Module co-requisites | None. |
| NQF level (module) | 7 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 20/01/2025 |
| Last revision date | 02/06/2025 |