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Some basic assumptions

Introduction

The main theme for the module is understanding the relationship between managing in a large business organization and the technology used in this. The module is taught from a viewpoint that accepts, as a given, that there are no simple answers to management problems. The 'real world' is complex and dynamic and the solutions to problems are usually multiple as well as multi-dimensional. In practice, any solution to a particular problem will consist of both technological and social components.

Assumptions

For analytical and pedagogical convenience, this module will make two further assumptions.

A pedagogical assumption

Pedagogy is the science of teaching. Most of the material available for teaching relates to the business world. Therefore, for the purposes of this module, the 'Real World' = (largely) the (multinational/transnational) business world. Many of the ideas that are discussed are equally applicable to other examples of the 'managed world' such as hospitals or charities.

The nature of "the real world" is explored in greater detail in the next section.

An analytical assumption

Notwithstanding the assertion that "there are no simple answers" I would like to treat solutions to managing in the real world as if they can be classified in one of four ways (see a later lecture for details). These four less complex categories are sometimes known as paradigms. I do not wish to argue that it reflects reality, rather that this is a useful way of thinking about and analyzing such problems.

More information on the concept of a paradigm can be found in the links below.


Reading

Books

Articles

Links

The 'Real World'
Some more information on the real world as considered by this module
Paradigms
Some more information on Paradigms

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