Managing Diversity - MAN00190M

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Module summary

Despite extensive legislative protections on national and European level, the workplace remains a primary site of exclusionary practices, prejudice and exploitation. People have different employment opportunities, they receive differential treatment at work and their career projections also differ. Yet this reality is often denied, and differences between people trivialised. In this module we consider what organisational diversity and inclusion of different people means, both in theory and in practice. We also consider how people are marginalised in different ways at work and what incentives have been used to address representational, structural, and systemic forms of discrimination as well as raising awareness of equality and diversity related issues amongst the working population.

Module will run

Occurrence	Teaching period
A	Semester 2 2026-27

Module aims

The module draws on a wide range of advanced, contemporary and international business and management research that resonate with the business mood and cultural awareness of late capitalism. It further encourages interdisciplinary thinking by engaging with scholarship in the areas of management, organisation theory, psychology, gender studies, critical race and queer theory; cultural theory, sociology; and philosophy with the aim of extending current understanding of key business and management themes and broader societal and cultural trends by critically examining emergent theories and new ideas. It critically evaluates compassionate and inclusive management approaches and supports fair and inclusive organisational practice.

Module learning outcomes

- Demonstrate an advanced understanding of a range of intellectual approaches to the study of diversity in management and organisations.
- Identify and evaluate social and organisational structural barriers to equality including patriarchy, whiteness, heteronormativity and its alternatives.
- Critical analysis of how gender, sexuality, race and ethnicity, disability, and age are represented in media and institutionalised within organisations. Moving from analysis to action, this module equips students to bring a vital people perspective to organisational decision-making. Students will learn how to dismantle biased assumptions and design inclusive frameworks that involve people in the decisions impacting them, granting them a meaningful voice in the workplace.
- Identify and critique institutional, organisational and individual attempts to manage gender and other forms of diversity including leadership and change initiatives.
- Critically reflect on the implications for your own future practice as a manager or organisational member.

Module content

Theoretical perspectives of managing diversity Managing diversity initiatives Gender equality in the workplace Race and ethnicity Sexual minorities in the workplace Managing disabled employees

Indicative assessment

Task	% of module mark
Essay/coursework	70.0
Groupwork	30.0

Special assessment rules

None

Indicative reassessment

Task	% of module mark
Essay/coursework	30.0
Essay/coursework	70.0

Module feedback

Feedback will be given in accordance with the University Policy on feedback in the Guide to Assessment as well as in line with the School policy.

Indicative reading

Introductory reading (indicative only):

Alvesson, M. and Due Billing, Y. (2009) Understanding Gender and Organizations. London: Sage.

Özbilgin, M. (2009). Equality, diversity and inclusion at work: a research companion. Cheltenham, Glos: Edward Elgar.