School of Management, Unit Catalogue 2008/09 |
MN20432 The evolution of the modern corporation |
| Credits: 6 |
| Level: Intermediate |
| Semester: 2 |
| Assessment: EX70ES30 |
| Requisites: |
| Before taking this unit you must take MN10006 or take MN10079 or take MN20026 |
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Aims: This course aims to introduce students to key theoretical concepts related to the modern corporation, and understand these in relation to the particular historical contexts in which they emerged.
Learning Outcomes: This course should enable students to describe the legal, economic and social character of the corporation, and understand its evolution since the mid-19th Century to today. Students should gain greater appreciation of the key long-term drivers of change in the way firms are organised and governed, such as technology, economies of scale and scope, and politics. Upon completing the course, students should be able to outline key periods of historical change in the business environment, and critically evaluate how these shaped corporate organization. Skills: Critical writing (F, A) Interpretation of data (T, A) Application of theories from economics, political science and sociology to real world cases (T, A) Ability to use internet resources (F). Content: The module gives an overview of the evolution of modern corporations with regard to three themes: corporate strategy and structure, corporate governance, and the employment relationship. It explores key social scientific concepts in each of these fields, and develops a historical perspective on the emergence of patterns of corporate organization since the mid-19th Century until today. In terms of strategy, the module traces the rise of large corporations with economies of scale and scope, the development of modern M-form structures, and the emergence of networked firms and industrial districts such as Silicon Valley. In terms of governance, the module deals with the advent of limited liability, the separation of ownership and control, the rise of institutional investors in the 1980s, and the scandal of Enron. In terms of employment, the module examines the evolution from owner managed enterprises to the advent of bureaucratic management, and shifts in the organization of work from Taylorism to lean production. The module will critically examine the key organizational challenges posed by the modern corporation, and different approaches to resolving them. |