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Module Title LI Models of Business
SchoolBirmingham Business School
Department Birmingham Business School
Module Code 07 19317
Module Lead Dr Paolo Di Martino
Level Intermediate Level
Credits 10
Semester Semester 1
Pre-requisites
Co-requisites
Restrictions BSc Business Management Suite of Programmes.
Contact Hours Lecture-22 hours
Guided independent study-78 hours
Total: 100 hours
Exclusions
Description

In modern economies businesses are organised in a variety of forms and many very different models co-exist.  Firms vary in size, managerial structures, and forms of governance.  Some of them focus on a core business and operate in a single nation (or indeed a region or a city), while others are mulitnational.  Some use, or even develop, state-of-the-art technologies, while other rely on cheap labour and very basic techniques.

The aim of this module is to analyse the causes and consequences of the existence of such a variety of models of business and forms of organisation.  To do so the module investigates the development and functioning of various models of business over time and space, starting with the forms of organisation which dominated the western world before the beginning of the process of industrialisation, to finish with contemporary phenomena of downsizing and outsourcing.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the module the student should be able to:

  • demonstrate comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the features of different models of business, how they evolve and how they function;
  • critically appraise various theories of the firm;
  • apply such theories to the study of the evolution of business structure;
  • evaluate the relative ability of these theories to explain the reality of firms' organisation and behaviour.
Assessment 19317-02 : Essay- individual : Coursework (50%)
19317-03 : Class Test : Class Test (50%)
Assessment Methods & Exceptions One x 1 hour class test (50%) and one 1500 word personal assignment (50%)
Reassessment: Coursework (100%) one 1500 word essay
Other None
Reading List