Module Directory

This module focuses on the evolving ways in which organisations manage equality and difference, considering this evolution within the wider context of relevant theoretical, demographic, legislative and political developments.

Students will be introduced to inequality as an organisational issue and the evolution and practice of differing approaches to managing it, promoting an openness amongst students to a range of possible alternative approaches. While the focus is largely on the UK, the module will draw on case study examples, research, and literature from international, including post-colonial contexts.

The aims of this module are:

• To provide students with knowledge of relevant theoretical ideas and debates, including equality, difference, diversity, and inclusion, in order to provide a conceptual framework within which to evaluate changing approaches to understanding equality and inclusion in work organisations and labour markets.


• To support students in developing an informed understanding of inequality as an organisational ‘problem’, and a critical appreciation of different approaches to managing and organising difference, with a grasp of how these have evolved historically.


• To enable students to develop a reflexive capacity to consider a range of possible future alternative approaches to organising and managing equality and difference, in order to support theoretically informed practice.

By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:

1. Demonstrate knowledge of relevant theoretical concepts, ideas and debates and the ability to apply these in order to evaluate changing approaches to understanding equality and inclusion in work organisations and the labour market.


2. Demonstrate an informed ability to understand inequality as an organisational problem and to critically evaluate different approaches to managing and organising difference, including showing understanding of how and why these have evolved historically.


3. Demonstrate the capacity to plan for, and engage in, theoretically informed practice through the application of a reflexive understanding of possible future alternative approaches to organising and managing equality and difference.

Details for each session are given below. Students will be expected to prepare case-study material ahead of the sessions, which will be a mix of lecture, group work and discussion.

1. Equality and Difference

The first session will introduce the module, focusing on design, delivery, ILOs and assessment. It will map out theoretical concepts, ideas, and debates, working through the evolution and a critical evaluation of 'business case', legislative, demographic and social justice-based perspectives on equality and difference. One of the learning outcomes for this session will be that students start to complete a 'glossary' of key terms that will aid understanding, support meeting the module ILOs and assessment brief, and which will be worked on in subsequent taught sessions.

2. The changing demographic and discursive contours of equality and difference

Developing 1, above, this second session will consider the evolving context of equality and difference as organizational phenomena, examining the changing demographic and social contours of work and the labour market. Intersectional identities and inequalities relating to characteristics protected in UK law (e.g. race, culture, ethnicity, disability, sex, gender, sexuality, age) will be considered, as will ‘non protected' characteristics and their impact on work (e.g. stature, voice/accent). Evolving discourses relating to 'equal opportunities', 'affirmative action', 'managing diversity' and 'inclusion' will also be considered and subject to critique.

3. Inequality as an organisational 'problem'

This session will focus in depth, using relevant case study material based on current academic research, on lived experiences and perceptions of inequality in the contemporary workplace. The focus of critical analysis and evaluation will be on different forms of discrimination, disadvantage and injustice, considering what role organizations can (and could) play in tackling inequality in work and the labour market.

4. Managing for difference

This penultimate session will work with relevant theoretical ideas and case study material to scrutinize the relationship between equality and inequality as organisational phenomena, and the dynamics of exclusion/over-inclusion. Critically evaluating organizational efforts to manage difference, it will consider examples of organizational policies and practices designed to address inequality, discrimination, and exclusion, examining their effects, and exploring alternative approaches.

5. Organisational futures

This final session will explore a range of possible ways forward for equitable organising/organisations, engaging in some cross-sectoral and cross-cultural analysis to evaluate different approaches to organizing and managing difference, and to pursuing a more equal society within/through organizational life. It will consider what role organizations could and/or should play in furthering a social justice agenda.

The module will be delivered via:

• Five 2-hour fortnightly lectures, and
• Five 2-hour fortnightly seminars.

The lectures will be 'interactive lectures' that weave together methods involving some lecturing, some prompted responses to questions, and some structured discussion. All methods of teaching and learning will be as inclusive as possible.

Inclusivity will be supported in at least three ways: (i) a structured reading programme, with guided study questions that connect module design and delivery to assessment, enabling students including those studying online to integrate their learning and assessment preparation, (ii) inclusion of a wide range of case-study and problem-based learning materials to introduce concepts and ideas in such a way as to make complex materials accessible and relatable for students from a wide range of backgrounds, and to encourage a reflexive approach to learning and practice, and (iii) inclusion of a broad range of case-study and other learning materials in order to shift away from a UK/Euro-centric approach, and to encourage students to engage with a broad range of concepts, ideas and literatures, including from post-colonial contexts.