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Managing Diversity - MAN00011H

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  • Department: The York Management School
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: H
  • Academic year of delivery: 2024-25

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 2 2024-25

Module aims

Despite extensive legislative protections on national and European level, the workplace remains a primary site of exclusionary practices, prejudice and exploitation. People have different employment opportunities, they receive differential treatment at work and their career projections also differ. Yet this reality is often denied, and differences between people trivialised. In this module we consider what organisational diversity and inclusion of different people means, both in theory and in practice. We also consider how people are marginalised in different ways at work and what incentives have been used to address representational, structural, and systemic forms of discrimination as well as raising awareness of equality and diversity related issues amongst the working population.

The module draws on a wide range of advanced, contemporary and international business and management research that resonate with the business mood and cultural awareness of late capitalism. It further encourages interdisciplinary thinking by engaging with scholarship in the areas of management, organisation theory, psychology, gender studies, critical race and queer theory; cultural theory, sociology; and philosophy with the aim of extending current understanding of key business and management themes and broader societal and cultural trends by critically examining emergent theories and new ideas.

Module learning outcomes

  • Understand a range of intellectual approaches to the study of diversity in management and organisations

  • Identify social and organisational structural barriers to equality including patriarchy, whiteness, heteronormativity and its alternatives

  • Analyse representations of gender, sexuality, race and ethnicity, disability and age in the popular and scholarly media, their enculturation and institutionalisation into assumptions and their effects on organisations

  • Identify and critique institutional, organisational and individual attempts to manage gender and other forms of diversity including leadership and change initiatives

  • Reflect systematically on the implications for your own future practice as a manager or organisational member

Indicative assessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 70
Groupwork 30

Special assessment rules

None

Indicative reassessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 30
Essay/coursework 70

Module feedback

Feedback will be given in accordance with the University Policy on feedback in the Guide to Assessment as well as in line with the School policy.

Indicative reading

Introductory reading (indicative only):

Alvesson, M. and Due Billing, Y. (2009) Understanding Gender and Organizations. London: Sage.

Özbilgin, M. (2009). Equality, diversity and inclusion at work: a research companion. Cheltenham, Glos: Edward Elgar.



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.