Contemporary issues in managing

This free online course, Contemporary issues

In managing, introduces three contemporary approaches (managing through organisational culture, managing through internal marketing, and managing through collective leadership). These approaches require you to think critically and challenge ideas and received wisdom.

Traditionally, managing was born out of what Knights and Willmott (2012) call ‘direct control’ (Taylorism), where ‘foremen’ and supervisors were employed to watch staff at all times. In contemporary times, both coercion and direct supervision are still both used, but less often because other methods are also available. These different techniques are seductive because they entice employees to overwork by insinuating that being part of the organisation is like belonging to ‘a family’ where commitment is high, and identity becomes hugely dependant on ‘loving their job’.

Course learning outcomes

After studying this course, you should be able to:

Describe the nature of different types of managerial approaches adopted by organisations in contemporary time

Understand the purpose of different types of contemporary managerial approaches

Examine the different ways that organisations can implement these contemporary managerial approaches in the workplace.