MN3061 History of Management

Academic year

2025 to 2026 Semester 2

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

20

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 9

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Planned timetable

To be confirmed

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Dr C Gallagher

Dr C Gallagher
This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Dr Cailean Gallagher

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

What is history good for? Management is an ever-changing field of theory and practice, and this module will provide a broad introduction to its history. From ancient estate governance to early industrial mining, factory surveillance to algorithmic control, forms of management have evolved and expanded in different ways across every political and economic system. This module is chronologically organised to cover a range of key periods and cases from business history, which provide a broad basis for considering the elements of effective and innovative management. Students will learn how to undertake historical research, develop methodological skills to find and interpret sources, and critique and craft powerful narratives about the way that businesses and organisations have operated across space and time.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST PASS MN2001 AND PASS MN2002

Assessment pattern

Coursework = 100%

Re-assessment

Coursework = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

1 lecture (x11 weeks), 1 tutorial (x5 weeks)

Scheduled learning hours

27

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

182

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • Analyse a range of primary and secondary sources in order to compare and contrast different approaches to management in contemporary and historical contexts.
  • Critique arguments about management in academic literature, the press, and industry publications that involve historic cases
  • Create evidence-based historical narratives about management situations and scenarios
  • Relate management styles and decisions to their social and historical contexts
  • Explain how management decisions were made in the past, and present historical examples in ways that can help justify practical decision-making
  • Compare ideas and theories about management from different periods and develop hypotheses as to why some have greater real-world impact than others