ELECTIVE MODULES

The eighth module is elective. That means you may choose one from the following modules:

1. Managing Culture and Change
2. International Aspects of Business Law
3. Economics of Global Financial Markets

MANAGING CULTURE AND CHANGE

This module examines the ways in which P & D (Profession and Development) practitioner-understanding of corporate cultures might play a key role in the management of organisational change and change-implementation. The aim is to achieve this through explanations and critiques of the models and methods of organisational cultural stasis and change, and through analysis of their applicability in different organizational environments. The module is delivered by its leader, Rowan Wagner.  

Studying this module, you will learn how to:

  • Identify the principal conceptual models, frameworks and methods for the study of organisational culture and change, together with an appreciation of both their limitations and the opportunities and risks associated with their implementation. 
  • Explore both the functional and dysfunctional dynamics of organisational cultures so as to influence strategic decisions, maintain the momentum of change, and to anticipate and manage both manifest and latent outcomes of the change process.
  • Design, apply and evaluate a cultural audit, and use it to advise on or assist in the formulation of strategic plans and methods for achieving realistic corporate change objectives.
  • Collaborate with change-leaders, line managers and significant others in the devising, development and application of successful culture-change implementation strategies, in the monitoring of planned change, and in reconciliation, acculturation, and post-structuring phases of the change process.
  • Identify, understand and manage enabling and resisting subcultures/mindsets in the change process via functional analysis, and deploy the notion of functional alternatives in the stimulation of creativity and reflexivity.
  • Identify the various pressures and rationales for change and its management, their relative significance in the various stages of the change process, and the commitment of organisational resources and expertise necessary to create conditions favourable to success.
  • Facilitate understanding by key stakeholders of existing and revised corporate values and strategic objectives through both traditional and innovative personnel practices and techniques.

INTERNATIONAL ASPECTS OF BUSINESS LAW

This module helps students to understand different aspects of International Law and be able to apply them to business and management problems arising in a global economy.

Studying this module, you will learn and understand:

  • Introduction to Law - sources, courts, contract, tort, common/civil law comparisons.  
  • European Community - nature, institutions, aims – contrasted with NAFTA.
  • International Law - Conventions, Regulation of International trade, trading blocs, WTO.  
  • The methods of marketing and contracting in international trade.
  • Unification of International Sales Law - The Vienna convention on international sales, comparison with Sale of Goods Act 1979.  Uniform Commercial Code.  
  • Trade terms and performance of an export transaction including ICC Incoterms.
  • Finance of International trade – collections, documentary credits, guarantees, factoring. Bills of exchange, including comparisons between common law countries and the “Geneva” system.  
  • E-commerce - electronic trading and its legal implications for international traders.
  • Competition Law - comparisons between US antitrust and EC competition policy. 
  • International aspects of environmental protection.
  • Dispute resolution including choice of law, choice of jurisdiction and alternative dispute resolution.

Please note that the elective modules will run if there is sufficient demand. The University has the option of cancelling certain electives without prior notice.