Postgraduate Course: Theories and Philosophies in Research on Business and Management (CMSE11618)
Course Outline
| School | Business School |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | In this course we will debate specific theories in business and management and different research philosophies that underpin them. We will discuss what a theory is and what a theory is not and how to develop our own theoretical contributions. |
| Course description |
Academic description:
This course will introduce different theories in business and management and discuss different philosophies and paradigms that underpin them. We will also explore different ways of making a substantial theoretical contribution to the literature.
Outline Content:
1. Introduction: What is theory? What theory is not?
2. Different philosophies and epistemological perspectives to management research
3. An overview of some major theories in management disciplines
4. How to develop a theoretical contribution
5. Key takeaways and student presentations
Student learning experience
Course will be taught in 2-h weekly interactive sessions. Students will have to engage in preparatory readings ahead of the class.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2024/25, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 20,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
176 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Coursework 80% (Individual). Assesses all course learning outcomes«br /»
Presentations 20% (Individual). Assesses all course learning outcomes |
| Feedback |
Formative: Informal feedback on discussions throughout the course.
Summative: Feedback on presentations will be delivered swiftly, so that students can consider it when finalising their individual assignments. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Understand different philosophical perspectives and scientific paradigms in management research
- Understand the key premises of major theories across management disciplines
- Understand what a theoretical contribution is
- Develop a theoretical contribution in own research
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Reading List
Colquitt, J. A., & Zapata-Phelan, C. P. (2007). Trends in theory building and theory testing: A five-decade study of the Academy of Management Journal. Academy of Management Journal, 50, 1281-1303.
Corley, K. G., & Gioia, D. A. (2011). Building theory about theory building: what constitutes a theoretical contribution? Academy of Management Review, 36, 12-32.
Davis, M. S. (1971). That's interesting!: Towards a phenomenology of sociology and a sociology of phenomenology. Philosophy of the Social Sciences, 1, 309-344.
Eisenhardt, K. M., & Graebner, M. E. (2007). Theory building from cases: Opportunities and challenges. Academy of Management Journal, 50(1), 25-32.
Hoon, C., & Baluch, A. M. (2020). The role of dialectical interrogation in review studies: Theorizing from what we see rather than what we have already seen. Journal of Management Studies, 57, 1246-1271.
Locke, E. A. (2007). The case for inductive theory building. Journal of Management, 33, 867-890.
Patriotta, G. (2020). Writing impactful review articles. Journal of Management Studies, 57, 1272-1276.
Patriotta, G. (2017). Crafting papers for publication: Novelty and convention in academic writing. Journal of Management Studies, 54, 747-759.
Post, C., Sarala, R., Gatrell, C., & Prescott, J. E. (2020). Advancing theory with review articles. Journal of Management Studies, 57, 351-376.
Shepherd, D. A., & Suddaby, R. (2017). Theory building: A review and integration. Journal of Management, 43, 59-86.
Tihanyi, L. (2020b). From "that's interesting" to "that's important". Academy of Management Journal, 63, 329-331.
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
After completing this course, students should be able to:
Knowledge and Understanding
- Demonstrate a thorough knowledge and understanding of contemporary organisational disciplines; comprehend the role of business within the contemporary world; and critically evaluate and synthesise primary and secondary research and sources of evidence in order to make, and present, well informed and transparent organisation-related decisions, which have a positive global impact.
- Identify, define and analyse theoretical and applied business and management problems, and develop approaches, informed by an understanding of appropriate quantitative and/or qualitative techniques, to explore and solve them responsibly.
Communication, ICT and Numeracy Skills
- Convey meaning and message through a wide range of communication tools, including digital technology and social media; to understand how to use these tools to communicate in ways that sustain positive and responsible relationships.
Cognitive Skills
- Be self-motivated; curious; show initiative; set, achieve and surpass goals; as well as demonstrating adaptability, capable of handling complexity and ambiguity, with a willingness to learn; as well as being able to demonstrate the use digital and other tools to carry out tasks effectively, productively, and with attention to quality.
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| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Kristina Potocnik
Tel: (0131 6)50 4307
Email: Kristina.Potocnik@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mr Ciaran Masson
Tel:
Email: Ciaran.Masson@ed.ac.uk |
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