Critical Perspectives on Management

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/critical-management

Introduction

## Course Review: Critical Perspectives on Management ### Overview Coursera's **Critical Perspectives on Management** is an insightful course designed to open one's eyes to the complexities surrounding the management practices within organizations. Whether you are a seasoned professional or someone contemplating a career in management, this course offers an enriching exploration of the historical, social, and economic dimensions of management practices and their broader implications on society. The course has been thoughtfully curated to appeal to individuals from diverse backgrounds, ensuring that everyone can engage with its essential themes and concepts. ### Course Content and Structure The course unfolds through a series of captivating modules that blend historical insights with contemporary management theories. Each week, participants delve into carefully structured lessons that examine various aspects of management. Here’s a brief overview of the syllabus: 1. **The Lessons from Rome Part I & II** This introductory module explores the governance and operational structures of merchant organizations in Ancient Rome. By examining the Roman grain market, participants investigate the foundational question of what constitutes a firm and the agency issues that arise within these structures. The second part raises critical reflections on modern employment practices, especially the Forced Distribution Ranking Scheme, commonly employed by major corporations to evaluate employees. These discussions are essential for understanding the roots of modern corporate practices. 2. **What is Innovation?** In today’s fast-paced economy, innovation is deemed essential for survival. This module deconstructs the concept of innovation, challenging students to consider what innovation truly means and its relevance (or lack thereof) within management frameworks. This lesson is pivotal for those wanting to distinguish between meaningful innovation and corporate buzzwords. 3. **The Power of Narrative** This lecture examines the significance of storytelling in corporate decision-making. By relating narratives from various sectors—such as entertainment and economics—participants learn to identify potential pitfalls that can skew management decisions, emphasizing the importance of critical thinking and clarity in communication. 4. **Is Shareholder Value a Good Idea?** Perhaps the most provocative module, this lecture critically assesses the pervasive concept of shareholder value that has dominated corporate governance. Students investigate its historical evolution and its implications for firms and society at large. Questions arise: Are current practices in line with sustainable capitalism? This module invites participants to take a deep dive into the ethics of management. 5. **Case Studies: Apple and Nokia** Concluding the course, students analyze two compelling case studies: Apple’s aggressive share repurchase strategy and Nokia’s dramatic fall from grace. These real-world examples consolidate the course's theoretical insights, demonstrating how historical concepts are manifest in contemporary corporate decision-making. ### Quality of Instruction The course incorporates various formats, including video lectures, readings, and discussion forums. The instructors are experts in their fields, bringing rich academic backgrounds and practical experiences to the table. Their engaging teaching style encourages active participation and critical dialogue among peers, fostering a community where vibrant discussions can flourish. ### Recommendations **Critical Perspectives on Management** is highly recommended for anyone looking to broaden their understanding of management beyond conventional paradigms. Whether you are an aspiring manager or just interested in how businesses operate within societal frameworks, this course provides valuable insights and food for thought. ### Conclusion In a world where management often prioritizes profits over people, this course inspires a reinvigorated perspective on business and its role within society. By juxtaposing historical references with modern theories, **Critical Perspectives on Management** equips students with the analytical tools necessary to navigate the complexities of contemporary management. So, if you're ready to challenge the status quo and rethink what management means, this Coursera course is just the opportunity you’ve been looking for!

Syllabus

The Lessons from Rome Part I

In Ancient Rome, merchant organisations very similar to modern firms were critical to capitalising key markets and to solving serious logistical problems to enable a vibrant trading network across the Mediterranean, including, critically, supplying the city of Rome itself with the food its citizens needed to survive. We will examine the Roman grain market and the organisations that operated within that market to ask: what, exactly, is a firm? What led to the firm's evolution? And what is the issue of agency that a firm inevitably entails?

This lecture expands upon the first discussion, drawing from the insights gained about firm organisation in the Ancient world to ask about the effectiveness of the Forced Distribution Ranking Scheme (also known as "stack and rank", "up and out", etc...) to evaluate and promote or terminate employees, widely used by many of today's leading corporations.

We live in the innovation economy. Firms have chief innovation officers. Innovation is, so we are told, the key to securing the future. And there are quite literally millions of books on the subject of innovation. So, what does it mean? And is it a useful idea for management? We'll consider both questions.

What do Hollywood movies, the Synoptic gospels, housing bubbles, Alan Greenspan's monetary policy, and the world's worst merger have in common? This week's lecture will develop a reading of narrative in order to explore a common pitfall that affects many managerial decisions.

Perhaps the most important lecture of the course. Almost all publicly traded firms are beholden, either explicitly or implicitly, to the principle of creating shareholder value. This week, we look at the history of this idea, how it has become widespread as a principle of corporate governance and how it has changed fundamentally the nature of the firm over the last 40 years. We will look at who the shareholders are, where their interests lie and what they have gained from this development. We will consider the wider and long-term consequences both for the firm and society. And we will ask - is this the kind of capitalism we really want?

We look at the examples of two companies whose experiences encapsulate many of the core ideas of the course. The first is Apple, which, in the context of reporting their quarterly earnings in the Spring of 2013, committed an unprecedented amount of its capital reserves to a share repurchase scheme and dividend increase. We will look at the motivation and logic for this move. The second is Nokia (which has subsequently sold off its mobile phone business to Microsoft). We will look at how the company rose - and then dramatically fell - from its position as market leader in mobile communications.