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Managing Professional Services Firms - MAN00053H

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  • Department: The York Management School
  • Module co-ordinator: Prof. Daniel Muzio
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: H
  • Academic year of delivery: 2022-23

Module summary

This module, one of the first in its kind, seeks to address this gap in our student’s knowledge and to equip them with the relevant theories, conceptual tools and factual information necessary to gain an understanding of Professional services firms their work and organisation.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Autumn Term 2022-23

Module aims

Professional services are one of the fastest growing and most successful sectors in advanced economies.
Professional Services firms are one of the top employers for university graduates. Yet these have been largely under looked as part of university curricula. As a result graduates tend to have little appreciation of the nature, characteristics, activities and practices of these firms and of the impact that this will have on their own careers, experiences and working conditions as future professionals. This is important not only because these organizations and their activities depart in significant ways from traditional manufacturing or retail organizations but also because these organizations are currently undergoing an unprecedented process of regulatory (Globalization, Brexit) technological (AI) and organizational (consolidation, diversification) change.
This module, one of the first in its kind, seeks to address this gap in our student’s knowledge and to equip them with the relevant theories, conceptual tools and factual information necessary to gain an
understanding of Professional services firms their work and organisation

Module learning outcomes

  • demonstrate knowledge of the nature, structure and of key trends within Professional Services Firms in the UK ad beyond;
  • demonstrate a critical understanding of the regulatory, economic, social and technological challenges that are affecting this sector and of organizational responses to these;
  • demonstrate a critical understanding of the strategies, managerial practices and organizational structures which characterize these firms;
  • demonstrate a critical understanding of the nature of professionalism as a work organization method and how this may depart from alternatives such as managerialism or entrepreneurship;
  • develop a critical appreciation of the role and importance of these organizations in contemporary advanced economies and societies;

Module content

  • Professionalism, managerialism and entrepreneurship as work organization methods
  • Professional Services Firms Today: Facts and Figures
  • The organization of professional services firms
  • Strategy and Professional Services firms
  • Marketing and client relations in PSFS
  • Working in PSF: Managing professional careers and remuneration systems
  • Globalization and PSFS
  • Diversity and equal opportunities in law firms
  • Ethics, misconduct and regulatory issues
  • The future of professional services firms

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
3000 word essay		 N/A 100

Special assessment rules

None

Reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
3000 word essay		 N/A 100

Module feedback

Module assessment reports to students are written by the module leader for all assessments (open and closed) and placed on the VLE after the Board of Examiners has received the module marks. 

The timescale for the return of feedback will accord with TYMS policy.

Indicative reading

Empson L, Muzio, D., Broschak, J., Hinings, B. (eds) (2015). Oxford Handbook of Professional Services Firms. Oxford Handbooks. Oxford: Oxford University Press.


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University is constantly exploring ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary by the University. Where appropriate, the University will notify and consult with affected students in advance about any changes that are required in line with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.