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Management in the Twenty-First Century - MAN00059H

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  • Department: The York Management School
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: H
  • Academic year of delivery: 2024-25
    • See module specification for other years: 2023-24

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 1 2024-25

Module aims

This module explores some of the social, cultural, environmental, and technological challenges facing workers, managers, and organisations in the twenty-first century. It is designed to get students to critically reflect on the ways in which the contemporary business environment is different from the past, as well as how these changes are affecting the way that businesses operate. In addition, it also encourages students to evaluate and critically reflect on how these changes may impact on management as a future career.

Module learning outcomes

At the end of this module, students should be able to:

  • Describe the challenges facing contemporary workers, managers, and organisations.

  • Understand the extent to which the contemporary business environment is different from the past

  • Critically evaluate managerial responses to contemporary organisational challenges

  • Compare current issues in the contemporary business environment with issues that existed in the past

  • Critically appraise the consequences of the changes that have taken place in working practices

  • Critically reflect upon their own working experiences and the challenges they may encounter in their future working lives

Module content

This module will get students to engage with a range of issues related to the contemporary business environment. Suggestions for the kinds of issues that may be explored in this module include::

  • Machine learning and the role of artificial intelligence (AI)

  • Neoliberal capitalism and its various consequences

  • Pressures to make organisations more sustainable, socially responsible, equal, diverse, and fair

  • The disruptive potential of new working practices (e.g. the ‘gig economy’, collaborative working, etc.)

  • New organisational forms (e.g. ‘networked’ businesses)

  • Work-life balance and the impact of new ways of working on health and wellbeing

In addition, given the focus of this module, efforts will also be made to ensure that this module is as topical as possible by engaging with and relating to relevant current affairs.

The module will be taught using a mixture of lectures and seminars. In both cases, there will be a strong emphasis on combining theoretical ideas with real-life examples.

There will be one summative assessment for this module: a 3,000-word individual essay in which students critically reflect on the extent to which the challenges facing workers, managers, and organisations in the twenty-first century are different from those in the past.

Indicative assessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 100

Special assessment rules

None

Indicative reassessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 100

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

Alvesson, M., Bridgman, T. and Willmott, H. (2011). The Oxford handbook of critical management studies, edited by Mats A., Bridgman, T. and Willmott, H. Oxford: Oxford University Press

Brenkert, G. G. (2019). Mind the Gap! The Challenges and Limits of (Global) Business Ethics. Journal of Business Ethics, 155 (4): pp.917–930. [Online]. Available at: doi:10.1007/s10551-018-3902-6

Dicken, P. (2015). Global Shift. Mapping the changing contours of the world economy (7th edition). London: Guildford Press (or earlier online editions)

Sulkowski, L.(2019). On Bullshit management the Critical Management Studies Perspective. Economics and Sociology, 12(1), 302-312


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.