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Corporate Governance & Accountability in the International Economy - MAN00007H

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  • Department: The York Management School
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: H
  • Academic year of delivery: 2022-23

Module summary

The module examines corporate governance from theoretical, international political economy, practical experience and comparative business and international systems perspectives. It considers the social accountability of corporations, including MNCs and ethical conflicts that arise e.g. through trade, development and inward investment

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Spring Term 2022-23 to Summer Term 2022-23

Module aims

The module examines corporate governance from theoretical, international political economy, practical experience and comparative business and international systems perspectives. It considers the social accountability of corporations, including MNCs and ethical conflicts that arise e.g. through trade, development and inward investment. It considers tools for accountability, e.g. standards, codes, supply chain systems, and perspectives on whom corporations are accountable to, for example stakeholder relations are linked to processes of accountability and corporate governance. The instruments of governance are examined, including directors, organisational and financial structure, and the market for corporate control. A significant element of business history is involved.

Module learning outcomes

  • Analyse the role of the corporation in modern society and the nature of the constraints it operates under
  • Challenge the existing models of ownership, control and reward in modern capitalism.
  • Critically describe the nature and process of socially responsible management
  • Evaluate the effectiveness of governance and accountability structures in a variety of business contexts
  • Develop an understanding of the role of corporate governance codes, both formal and informal, and of unwritten approaches to the management of corporate governance.
  • Identify research and incorporate key resources and examples into academic examinations of corporate governance

Module content

  • Students will be required to identify key academic and non-academic sources of their own and incorporate them in the exam
  • Students will be required to learn how to combine and share individual private study to produce greater understanding and illumination.
  • Students will need to prepare a bibliography prior to the exam to demonstrate research and include it with the exam paper, citing it as appropriate.

Indicative assessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 33
Open Exam (2 days) 67

Special assessment rules

None

Indicative reassessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 100

Module feedback

4 office hours a week

1 to 1 meeting to discuss mock mark

Module assessment reports to students are written by the module leader for all assessments (open and closed) and placed on the VLE after the Board of Examiners has received the module marks.

The timescale for the return of feedback will accord with UYMS policy.

Indicative reading

Set Text and Film

LEWIS, M. (2011). The big short: inside the doomsday machine. Detroit, Large Print Press.

MCKAY, A., GOSLING, R., BALE, C., PITT, B., & CARELL, S. (2016). The big short.

Other Example Readings for Lectures

Chandler, A D (1977). The visible hand: the managerial revolution in American business. Cambridge, Mass: Belknap Press.

Chapter: The Managerial Revolution in American Business

Cheng, Joseph L. C; Peterson, Richard B. (2000). Advances in international comparative management. volume 13. Stamford, Conn: JAI Press

Chapter: Guillen, 'Corporate Governance and Globalization: Is there convergence across countries'

Eisenhardt, Agency Theory: An Assessment and Review, Academy of Management Review, vol. 14, issue 1, pp. 57-74

Fama, Eugene F. and Jensen, Michael C. (1983), Seperation of Ownership and Control, The Journal of Law and Economics, vol. 26, pp. 301-326

Jensen, M (1976), Theory of the firm: Managerial Behaviour, Agency costs and Ownership Structure, Journal of Financial Economics, vol. 3, issue 4, pp. 305-360

Stone, O. (Director). (1987). Wall Street. [Film}. USA: 20th Century Fox

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/legacy/thereporters/robertpeston/2010/11/why_the_treasury_wont_illumina.html

http://cadbury.cjbs.archios.info/report

http://www.icaew.com/en/library/subject-gateways/corporate-governance/codes-and-reports/walker-report

Guided research on FT.com


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University constantly explores ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary. In some instances it may be appropriate for the University to notify and consult with affected students about module changes in accordance with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.