BE437-6-SP-CO:
Perspectives on Technology, Organisation and Society
2022/23
Essex Business School
Colchester Campus
Spring
Undergraduate: Level 6
Current
Monday 16 January 2023
Friday 24 March 2023
15
11 July 2023
Requisites for this module
BE411
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
This 10-week module covers a range of theoretical perspectives on technology, organization and society. Taking a social process view of technology and the human prospect the module will begin by showing how particular technologies are shaped by a range of non-technical factors. We then move on to show how the social process view can be applied in a range of organizational settings.
The module has been designed to:
• Provide an understanding of the theory and practice of innovation and technological change
• Situate innovation and technological change in its broader socio-economic and historical context
• Develop reasoning skills for the analysis of technological problems and opportunities.
• Through class discussion and participation, develop the students’ critical reading skills and enable them to present a clear case analysis with reference to academic theory and empirical evidence.
On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
• Understand the theory and practice of innovation and technological change.
• Develop, through discussion and debate, reasoning skills applicable to a range of technological issues in organisations.
• Critically analyse both academic theories and dominant managerial practices of innovation and technological change.
Skills for Your Professional Life (Transferable Skills)
Analytic domain
Academic/cognitive skills
Synthesis and bringing together concepts and ideas
Critical thinking
Data analysis skills
Evaluation of empirical research evidence
Creative problem solving
Recognise rival conceptual ideas
Analysing quantitative data
Analysing qualitative data
Personal effectiveness domain
Soft skills
Teamwork
Demonstrating personal initiative
Demonstrating motivation to succeed
Expressing research findings in report or slide deck
Understanding how to present ideas and analyses successfully/confidently
Argumentation / Essay writing skills
Professional practice domain
Core IT skills
Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
Research skills
Identifying suitable theoretical frameworks and models
Understanding how research material can be applied
Lectures, workshops, intensive groupwork
This module does not appear to have a published bibliography for this year.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
Assignment 1 |
|
50% |
| Coursework |
Assignment 2 |
|
50% |
Additional coursework information
The module is assessed through two pieces of coursework. Coursework 1 (comprising 50% of the overall mark) is an essay that carries a maximum wordcount of 1200 words. Coursework 2 (accounting for 50% of the overall mark) carries a maximum wordcount of 2500 words.
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Martin Harris, email: martinh@essex.ac.uk.
Dr Martin Harris and Yingqin Zheng
ebsugcol@essex.ac.uk
No
Yes
No
Dr Natalia Slutskaya
University of Sussex
Senior Lecturer
Available via Moodle
Of 20 hours, 20 (100%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s), module, or event type.
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