The module focuses mainly on the micro level of management with the focus on developing team management and leadership skills. Management issues are addressed in the context of values-based organisations whether in the public, voluntary, or community sectors or social enterprises. Participants are introduced to management and leadership theories and relevant policy frameworks in order to facilitate critical reflection on aspects of their management and leadership role.  In addition, participants will explore key practice areas, drawing from relevant theories and reflecting on their relevance to their own experience. Particular attention will be paid to health and wellbeing in the workplace, time management, leadership, and communication and negotiation skills. Students will also review their developmental role as a leader and manager, and the module will critically explore current ideas and practices regarding when working with teams, networks, and inter-professional working groups.

The aims of this module are:
 To provide an overview and introduction to management within organisational contexts encompassing both community and voluntary organisations and the wider public sector.
 To enable participants to apply an analytical and reflective approach to their personal management skills and leadership styles.
 To explore the relevance and application of current theories and concepts in the management and organisational studies field to participants’ own experience, work context and roles.
 To explore a range of strategies and approaches to improve performance across diverse organisational contexts.

The syllabus will include the following key areas:

• Theoretical frameworks of management and leadership and their relevance to different organisational and policy contexts; the key role of service users and other stakeholders in shaping management models and priorities. LO1,LO3,LO4
• Key areas of managing and leading teams, applying relevant theory and concepts to develop an understanding of health and wellbeing in the workplace, time management, communication, team-building and negotiation skills. LO1,LO3,LO4
• Methods of staff development, and their use in supporting quality improvements and in achieving organisational goals and objectives. LO2,LO4
• Theories of learning and development and their application to individual, management and organisational learning and to the building of communities of practice. LO3,LO4
• Initiating and enabling change – through teams, multi-agency networks and groups; addressing concerns of risk and resistance to change LO1,LO4

On successful completion of this module participants will be able to:
1. Reflect critically on the relevance of a range of management skills and concepts to their current work role/s.
2. Review critically their strengths and weaknesses in relation to these skills, drawing on appropriate diagnostic tools in order to identify areas for learning and personal development.
3. Critically evaluate the relevance of a range of models in areas including leadership, personal and management development, team building and performance management to areas of practice where improvements are required and service user issues, including risk, are properly considered.
4. Identify and apply appropriate skills and understanding aimed at developing the performance of self, others or the organisation and demonstrate critical reflection and learning from this process.

1. A podcast offering a self-audit of developmental CPD intentions (15 minutes).  The self-audit is completed early in the module and requires participants to identify relevant experience in the field of management and organisation, to assess their own strengths and weaknesses in relation to a number of management skills and to identify areas for development.

2. Individual Development Report (3000 words).  At the end of the module participants submit an individual report, which provides evidence of their reading and critical reflection on the relevance of management theories, and evidence of their developing and applying relevant skills and understanding to their own work and organisational role.