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.

• Module information, Introduction to EDI


• Intersectional identities and inequalities


• Alterity and otherness; Assessment 1 intro and preparation


• EDI key concepts and theories


• Inequality as an organisational problem – discrimination, disadvantage and injustice


• Assessment 2 intro and preparation; Marginalised groups in the workplace (I)


• Marginalised groups in the workplace (II)


• In/equality in practice: Organizational Policies and processes


• Alternative organising, different approaches to managing difference Re/Imagining alternative futures; fostering a social justice agenda


• Re/Imagining alternative futures; fostering a social justice agenda

This module will be delivered via:

• 2 hours per week with an interactive lecture and seminar.

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:

1. 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,
2. 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
3. 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.