2007 Handbooks

Beginning with the premise that organisations bring people together to achieve what they could not achieve individually, this unit examines organisations and their activities from a number of perspectives. A historical perspective of the management of organisations is developed, including current management approaches and their origins. Structure and strategy are explored from the perspective of their roles as foundations of organisation. Operations and human resource management are examined as major functions in an organisation (other functions such as accounting, marketing, etc. are addressed in other units). From a contemporary perspective, ethics and globalisation are addressed as significant issues facing organisations. An organisation does not exist in isolation, but is constantly interacting with its environment. The role of the organisation viewed from the perspectives of the society to which it is accountable, and the economy within which it operates, is examined.