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Introduction to the Study Manual

Welcome to this study manual for Managing in Organisations.
The manual has been specially written to assist you in your studies for the ABE Advanced
Diploma in Business Management and is designed to meet the learning outcomes specified
for this module in the syllabus. As such, it provides the basis for your study of each subject
area, guiding you through the various topics which you will need to understand. However, at
this level, it is most important that you do not rely solely on the manual as the only source of
information in studying the module. It is essential that you read more widely around each
topic, and we set out below some guidance on additional resources which you should use to
help in preparing for the examination.
The syllabus for the module is set out on the following pages and you should read this
carefully so that you understand the scope of the module and what you will be required to
know for the examination. Also included in the syllabus are details of the method of
assessment – the examination – and the books recommended as additional reading.
The main study material then follows in the form of a number of study units as shown in the
contents. Each of these units is concerned with one topic area and introduces you to the key
concepts, themes and issues of that area. They are, though, designed to be a starting point
at this level, and provide a framework for developing your knowledge and understanding
through your own learning, rather than everything you need to know for the examination.
You need to think critically about what you read and develop it by further reading and relating
it to your own experience and understanding of applications in the real world.
Note that the examiners for all the modules at the Advanced Diploma level have stated
clearly that it is not sufficient to learn the material in this manual and repeat it in the
examination. You must demonstrate depth to your understanding by having read and
thought more widely about the topics under discussion.
Additional resources
 ABE website – www.abeuk.com. You should ensure that you refer to the Members
Area of the website from time to time for advice and guidance on studying and
preparing for the examination. We shall be publishing articles which provide general
guidance to all students and, where appropriate, also give specific information about
particular modules, including updates to the recommended reading and to the study
units themselves.
 Additional reading – As noted above, it is most important you do not rely solely on this
manual to gain the information needed for the examination on this module. You should,
therefore, study some other books to help develop your understanding of the topics
under consideration. The main books recommended to support this manual are
included in the syllabus which follows, but you should also refer to the ABE website for
further details of additional reading which may be published from time to time.
 Newspapers – You should get into the habit of reading a good quality newspaper on a
regular basis to ensure that you keep up to date with any developments which may be
relevant to the subjects in this module.
 Your college tutor – If you are studying through a college, you should use your tutors to
help with any areas of the syllabus with which you are having difficulty. That is what
they are there for! Do not be afraid to approach your tutor for this module to seek
clarification on any issue, as they will want you to succeed as much as you want to.
 Discussion with other students – If you can, you should consolidate and test your
knowledge and understanding in discussion with others. This can add an important
dimension to your studies at this level by explaining and justifying your understanding,
or challenging the understanding of others.
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 Your own personal experience – The ABE examinations are not just about learning lots
of facts, concepts and ideas from the study manual and other books. They are also
about how these are applied in the real world and you should always think how the
topics under consideration relate to your own work and to the situation at your own
workplace and others with which you are familiar. Using your own experience in this
way should help to develop your understanding by appreciating the practical
application and significance of what you read, and make your studies relevant to your
personal development at work. It should also provide you with examples which can be
used in your examination answers.
And finally …
We hope you enjoy your studies and find them useful not just for preparing for the
examination, but also in understanding the modern world of business and in your own
personal and work development. We wish you every success in your studies and in the
examination for this module.

The Association of Business Executives

September 2008
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Unit Title: Managing in Organisations Unit Code: MIO

Level: 6 Learning Hours: 210
Learning Outcomes and Indicative Content:

Candidates will be able to:

1. Understand the key factors in designing an organisation

1.1 Identify and explain the key factors or elements that are influential in
the design of organisations in the 21st century
1.2 Discuss how these factors/elements can affect how an organisation
is configured to respond to demands made on it both internally and
externally
1.3 Describe typical ways of structuring an organisation (divisions,
geographically, by product etc) and discuss the issue of
centralisation or decentralisation in the above contexts
1.4 Examine and explain metaphors (organic, machine-like,
organisations as systems etc) that describe the differing views of
organisations including the need for hybrid forms of structure
1.5 Differentiate between the terms ‘structure’ and ‘process’ in an
organisational context

2. Discuss the reasons why organisations have adopted or adapted

their current form to provide effectiveness in light of external/internal
pressures

2.1 Identify and assess key influences from the business environment
that affect the way the organisation organises its resources
2.2 Discuss the value of benchmarking against external competition to
improve effectiveness particularly at operational level
2.3 Examine the role of technology in providing opportunities for the
organisation in achieving short and long term goals

3. Critically evaluate relevant management and organisational theory to

assist in increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of the
organisation and its processes

3.1 Identify and explain appropriate management and organisational

theory to assist in achieving operational or functional aims
3.2 Apply appropriate management and organisational theory to
organisations to improve the use of human, physical, and financial
resources to gain competitive advantage over their competition
3.3 Critically evaluate organisations to cope with a dynamic external
environment
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4. Appreciate organisational performance and the links with

performance management of staff

4.1 Examine the role of goals and objectives and their contribution to
organisational success
4.2 Explain how organisations help employees and managers to
achieve their goals

5. Describe and critically evaluate the main functions of

management (planning, organising, leading and controlling) to
assist in goal achievement at all levels

5.1 Explain the main functions of management and the role of

managerial ethics
5.2 Critically evaluate the functions of management and their
appropriateness in today’s organisations
5.3 Assess how the functions outlined in 5.1 and 5.2 can be enhanced

6. Understand organisational change and the need for organisational

innovation

6.1 Identify and explain external and internal triggers of change

and innovation
6.2 Discuss different approaches to change
6.3 Describe and explain the use of current theory on how to manage
the change process and resistance to change

7. Understand the role of organisational and corporate culture and its

relevance to achieving long-term goals

7.1 Describe and explain organisational culture

7.2 Critically assess the value of such knowledge to understand the
value of organisational culture to managers

8. Understand the value of organisational development

8.1 Identify and explain approaches to organisational development

8.2 Critically evaluate approaches to organisational development

Assessment Criteria:

• Assessment method: written examination

• Length of examination: three hours
• Candidates should answer four questions from a choice of eight, each
question carrying equal marks
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Recommended Reading

ABE, ABE
ABE, ABE Study
Study Manual
Manual –
– Managing in Organisations,
Management ABE
Organisation, ABE

Mullins L, Management and Organisational Behaviour (2004), Pearson Higher

Education
ISBN: 0273688766

Daft R, Organizational Theory and Design (2006), South-Western College

Publishing
ISBN: 0324422717
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