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IE Business School

Critical Perspectives on Management

IE Business School via Coursera

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Overview

This course is designed for students of all backgrounds who have an interest in how firms are governed, the forces that have helped define modern management practice, and the outcomes of that practice not only for the firm itself, but also for the societies in which they operate. For students who are thinking of a career in management, it may also prove useful as a basic introduction to some of the conceptual vocabulary and ideas behind modern theories of management.

Using a wide disciplinary approach - from economics and history to social theory and even a smattering of biblical criticism - the course will invite students to consider several core management strategies and priorities from often unexpected perspectives in order to judge their success or failure. The key objective of the course is to bring into critical focus how we think about the function and culture of management, how managers understand their role within a firm, how they take decisions, set priorities and benchmark success and failure.

Topics include: the function of the firm; the role of incentive; the ways in which narrative forces shape decision making, and how market relationships define the managerial culture in ways that can lead to sub-optimal outcomes.

Taught by

Rolf Strom-Olsen

Reviews

4.5 rating, based on 31 Class Central reviews

Start your review of Critical Perspectives on Management

  • Ericdo1810
    This course is one of a kind. Never have I seen and experienced such a beautiful blend of history, economics, finance and social sciences so elegantly delivered. I've done business, economics and finance courses before, both in traditional univers…
  • Anonymous
    It is interesting management course taught by a historian. It is not demanding time-wise and the video lectures are engaging and thought-provoking. The accompanying materials are good (basically no need to purchase textbook). The assessment tasks are manageable time-wise (just multiple choice) but good at testing how well you understood what was taught. It's sometimes difficult to know where you went wrong with your answers, though, except for re-watching and re-reading the materials all over again.
  • Anonymous
    Things that make this course great :

    - Use of real life scenarios to work on.

    - Engaging professor with great sense of humor delivers material with passion and keeps learners interested and motivated.

    - Suitable for majority of people.

    - Gives a perspective on evolution of firms, innovation, and principles of corporate governance

    Sincerely,

    -Val Lipinsky
  • Anonymous
    A different kind of MOOC, one of the best around. A must take, even if the subject or the opinions of the instructor is not for you, you will still get a lot out of it.
  • Anonymous
    Excellent course, examines world and economics, from ancient Rome to Nokia, with a critical point of view, and great insight on management issues. A common thread could be "Adapt or die".
  • Profile image for TouhidurRahman Mamun
    TouhidurRahman Mamun
    I think it's a helpful course for me to built a strong career. It teach me who can I manage my institute strongly.
  • Mustafa Doruk Mutlu
    I really satisfied with the course. Interesting ideas and critical approaches to management are introduced and eloborated by the lecturer. The clases are real you feel you are in the class. I never get bored while I was watching the videos in fact they were really interesting and lead you to follow and continue.
  • Profile image for Michelle Marie Branigan
    Michelle Marie Branigan
    I've taken many MOOCs, and this was far and away among the very best of them. Teacher was articulate, always prepared, and always pushed to think. It has influenced my thinking and helped me to ask questions in a new and beneficial way. It doesn't get any better.
  • LauraChurcher
    This was a great course by a very engaging lecturer. The perspective is indeed very different from the standard business school take on management practices and a great way to engage with some fascinating case studies from a different perspective. Loved it.
  • Lund Sparks
    Wonderful course with exceptional instructor. Kudos to Rolf. Extremely interesting subject taught by a master teacher. His background in history enables him to provide interesting examples of management principles. A++++
  • A different point of view about management, as emphasizing on questioning about the "golden rules" taught in MBA, and on thinking about how unreasonable some of them are. Smart and very interesting!!
  • Anonymous
    Outstanding course in every way! Highly, highly, highly recommended! Rolf is a wonderful, interesting professor making the subject come to life.
  • Anonymous
    Very good instructor, interesting methodology, but content is a bit weak.
  • Cristian Artoni
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    Guy Fogel
  • Anonymous
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