Course Details in 2021/22 Session

Module Title	LI Models of Business
School	Birmingham Business School
Department	Management
Module Code	07 34380
Module Lead	Mark Latham
Level	Intermediate Level
Credits	20
Semester	Semester 1
Pre-requisites
Co-requisites
Restrictions	None
Contact Hours	Lecture-44 hours Guided independent study-156 hours Total: 200 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 multinational. 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. The module is logically divided into two sections; the first one is chronologic and analyses the development of models of business over time, 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. The second part looks at national variations in models of business organisation and the structure of capitalism. It will focus on national (and in some cases regional) differences in the organisation and governance of firms and how they interact with the broader business environment. An important theme running through this second part is how national differences in organisational form influence the way firms innovate.
Learning Outcomes	By the end of the module students should be able to: Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the features of different models of business, how they evolve over time and space, 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	34380-01 : Individual Assignment : Coursework (50%) 34380-02 : Critical Analysis Essay : Coursework (15%) 34380-03 : Exam : Exam (School Arranged) - Written Unseen (35%)
Assessment Methods & Exceptions	Assessment: Essay (15%) Assignment (50%) Exam (35%) Reassessment: Reassessment by component
Other
Reading List