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 |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2026/27, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
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
80 %,
Practical Exam
20 %
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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
There is no core textbook for this course.
The course reading list comprises core and recommended readings for each week. The full reading list will be shared with enrolled students before the course starts.
All readings comprise influential journal articles and book chapters that are accessible via our library databases. Some indicative course readings are as follows:
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.
Locke, E. A. (2007). The case for inductive theory building. Journal of Management, 33, 867-890.
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 | Ms Erin Robbins
Tel:
Email: Erin.Robbins@ed.ac.uk |
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