Organisations and Employment

Organisations & Employment explores how work is organised and experienced in contemporary society. Students examine power, inequality, skills, and management practices from critical perspectives, alongside real-world issues such as digitalisation, AI, gig work, and employee voice. Through interactive lectures, debates, and case-based seminars, the course connects theory to everyday working lives, enabling students to understand how organisations shape opportunities, identities, and careers in a rapidly changing global economy. 

The course addresses five overlapping themes: 

• The Nature of Work is explored briefly introducing important theoretical ideas about the employment relationship and the labour process within the context of the  capitalist society and the role of different stakeholders in the process.
• The Organisation of Work is explored focusing on classical ideas about how work has been managed and organised. Foundational ideas about the management of  work are introduced and critically examined. Connections are made between such  ideas and practice Moreover, the role of management/human resource departments, employees and trade unions is evaluated.
• The Changing Experience of Work is explored in relation to changes in the 
  composition of workforces, with a particular focus on skills and careers. The theme of change is scrutinised with a focus on features prevalent in the service economy, such as equality and diversity and work-life balance. 
• The Response of Organised Labour is explored considering industrial relations issues, including representation and conflict at work and issues facing workplaces as a result from the increasingly sophisticated organisation of work by management and employers. A particular focus is given on the role of trade unions in resistance to forms of exploitation, as well as changes to traditional forms of worker representation. 
• Work in the Global Context is explored from the lens of globalization and other international trends amidst the diversity of economic, social, cultural, and institutional contexts in which contemporary organisations operate.

The intended learning outcomes support student employability by developing critical thinking, analytical reasoning, and effective communication skills essential for professional and managerial roles. Through applied case discussions, group activities, and individual analysis, students strengthen problem-solving, teamwork, and digital awareness. Engagement with contemporary workplace issues, including HR practices and digital technologies, enhances students’ readiness for placements and graduate employment.

Syllabus (indicative curriculum content): 

• Nature of organisations 
• The dynamics of the employment relationship 
• The role of Human Resource Departments as meditators of the employment relationship 
• Inside the Labour Process: Power, Control, and Meaning at Work 
• Work in Transition: Historical and contemporary trends shaping work 
• Skills, Training, and Employability in the Modern Economy 
• Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at work 
• Employee Voice-Direct and Indirect Mechanism 
• Algorithms, Automation, and Artificial Intelligence at Work 
• International influences at work- Culture and Formal Institution 

One hour lecture per week for 10 weeks.
One hour seminar per week for 10 weeks.

Lecture hours:10
Seminar hours: 10
Private study: 80
Total study hours: 100

Total study hours: 100 hours.

Informal Contact Methods

Office Hours: 2

• Evaluate the nature and fairness of the employment relationship using established theoretical frameworks and real‑world organisational examples.
• Critically assess traditional and contemporary debates about work organisation from the perspectives of key stakeholders such as management, human resources employees, unions, and wider society, drawing on academic literature and case evidence. 

• Analyse empirical evidence of changes in work, skills, and employee experience, identifying patterns and implications for organisations. 
• Evaluate the impact of workforce diversity of organisational practices, employee experience, and employment outcomes.
• Evaluate the impact of employee voice in response to management decisions in organisational contexts.

• Critically assess the impact of AI and digital technologies on organisational workplace roles, skills, and management practices.  

• Communicate cohesive, evidence‑based arguments about employment‑related issues.

Formative Assessment Task

Structured outline of any two past paper questions 

Summative Assessment Task 

Part seen written, take home, open book exam – Section A (Seen), Section B (Unseen) (100%)

• Informal advice and discussion during lectures and seminars. 
• Specific course related feedback sessions. 
• Written feedback on non-assessed coursework. 
• Feedback after students have given a group or individual presentation. 
• Generic feedback posted on Canvas regarding overall examination performance. 
   

• Noon M., Blyton P. and Morrel K. (2013), The Realities of Work, Palgrave McMillan 4th edition
• Woodcock, J, and Moore P.V, (2021) Augmented exploitation: artificial intelligence, automation and work Pluto Press 
• Bratton, J (2021) Introduction to Work and Organization Behavior McMillan 4th Edition

Pre-requisites: N/A 
Co-requisites: N/A 
Dependent courses: N/A 

Programme Restrictions: Available as a free choice option to students who have received prior agreement from their registering School. Not available to BSc in 
Management/Management (Specialism), IM,or ITMB/ITMB (Specialism). 

BMAN24521 is available to visiting and exchange students admitted through the University of Manchester’s International Programmes Office.