Each student will be required to write a 2500 words essay on ONE on the following topics:

TOPIC OPTION 1

Critically examine the benefits and challenges of managing diversity in an organisation. Then, referring to an organisation of your choice, describe how diversity is managed in practice and discuss how it can provide a competitive advantage.

TOPIC OPTION 2

Critically examine the five bodies of thought that form the foundation of modern business ethics. Then discuss two or more of these with reference to an ethical dilemma that you or a manager known to you have encountered and how these ethical differences were resolved.

TOPIC OPTION 3

Argue the business case for and against organisations engaging in environmental sustainability. Then, referring to an organisation of your choice, describe how environmental sustainability can be incorporated into an organisation’s strategic plans.

TOPIC OPTION 4

Evaluate the effectiveness of three different models of decision making, critically examining the challenges of decision making in organisations. Then, referring to an organisation of your choice, describe a major organisational decision and justify which model of decision making you consider best describes how that decision was made.

Please refer to relevant academic literature and source materials, as well as drawing upon your knowledge of the organisation.

Rationale

This assignment is designed to:

• Familiarise students with various management theories

• Encourage students to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the wide array of theoretical contributions

• Encourage students to use empirical evidence to support their arguments

Marking criteria

Your assignment will be assessed according to the extent to which it has:

• Answered the question set, kept to the topic and covered only relevant issues;

• Shown adequate use of a range of academic resources (e.g. journal articles, management books) to support arguments and recommendations;

• Taken a critical orientation to the topic, theories and readings;

• Built a sound argument using analysis, explanation and interpretations;

• Incorporated original thinking based on a clear evaluation of evidence, treating sources critically and acknowledging their strengths and weaknesses;

• Provided a well structured, clear and consistent line of reasoning across the assignment, including an effective introduction and conclusions;

• Demonstrated readability (this relates to structure; clarity of expression; explanations; linkages and flow; grammar and spelling; use of headings; correct referencing and presentation).