BE952-7-SP-CO:
Philosophy of Management and Accounting

PLEASE NOTE: This module is inactive. Visit the Module Directory to view modules and variants offered during the current academic year.

The details
2023/24
Essex Business School
Colchester Campus
Spring
Postgraduate: Level 7
Inactive
Monday 15 January 2024
Friday 22 March 2024
20
04 October 2018

 

Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)

 

(none)

Key module for

(none)

Module description

This module introduces you to a range of philosophical and meta-theoretical debates that inform the collection, analysis and articulation of research findings in the social sciences in general, and management and accounting research in particular. The module commences with an exploration of the relationship between the approaches of the natural and social sciences, and the question of what might actually constitute a 'science'. You are then led through a selection of traditions within the philosophy and theory of the social sciences with the aim of allowing you to refine, and convincingly present, that which most closely underpins your own research.

Module aims

The aim of this module is to introduce graduate students in management and accounting to the ways in which the social scientific understanding or knowledge of anything is shaped by (often unrecognised) assumptions regarding:

i) the nature of reality (ontology)
ii) how we might claim knowledge of that reality (epistemology)
iii) the moral & political implications that might arise from such claims (ethics)

As such, it explores what has traditionally been known as the philosophy of (scientific) knowledge.

Module learning outcomes

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

* Offer a coherent account of competing philosophical approaches to accounting and management as both practice and as objects of research.
* Explain and evaluate how ontological and epistemological positions underpin different interpretations of social phenomena.
* Understand some of the implications of these philosophical positions for the formulation and investigation of research problems, questions, or hypotheses.
* Understand the philosophical rationale for selecting quantitative or qualitative research methods as part of a coherent research design.

On successful completion of the module, students should have developed the following transferable skills:

* Critical thinking
* Analytical reasoning
* Rhetoric

Module information

No additional information available.

Learning and teaching methods

The module will consist of 10 sessions. The sessions will consist of both formal lectures and group discussions. Students are required to read one academic paper or book chapter (or in some cases two articles) for each session, which will provide the basis of the discussions in the lecture.

Bibliography

This module does not appear to have a published bibliography for this year.

Assessment items, weightings and deadlines

Coursework / exam Description Deadline Coursework weighting

Exam format definitions

  • Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
  • In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
  • In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
  • In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary, for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.

Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.

Overall assessment

Coursework Exam
100% 0%

Reassessment

Coursework Exam
100% 0%
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Prof Philip Hancock, email: phancock@essex.ac.uk.
Professor Philip Hancock
Email: phancock@essex.ac.uk

 

Availability
No
No
Yes

External examiner

No external examiner information available for this module.
Resources
Available via Moodle
Of 30 hours, 30 (100%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s).

 

Further information
Essex Business School

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