MODULE SPECIFICATION
Code: UPHPJL-30-3 Version: 6
Title: Global Business: Rampant Capitalism or Income for All?
Level: 3 UWE credit rating: 30 ECTS credit rating: 15
Module type: Standard
Owning Faculty: Social Sciences and Humanities Field: History
Faculty Committee approval: QSC, Chair’s Action Date: 16th July 2009
Approved for Delivery by:
(indicate name of affiliated institution if module will only be delivered by them)
Valid from: September 2009 Discontinued from:
Contributes towards: Awards up to BA(Hons)
Pre-requisites: None
Co-requisites: None
Entry requirements:
(if the module is offered as CPD or stand alone, indicate the entry requirements)
Excluded combinations: None
Learning outcomes:
On successful completion of this module students should be able to demonstrate:
• a thorough, detailed historical knowledge of the emergence and consolidation of Big Business, approached as the subject of scholarly investigation;
• an awareness of the nature and location of economic and business data, including both primary and secondary source, and expert opinion concerning the emergence and evolution of the large corporation in the context of modern economic development;
• the acquisition of a stock of technical skills and familiarity with a body of knowledge which will allow both the assessment of economic phenomena and the articulation of informed views which exhibit a historical dimension;
• an ability to offer an informed critique of different schools, methodologies and approaches;
• a sophisticated understanding of theory, which may be drawn from a range of disciplinary fields, and the ability to assess its predictions and implications in the light of appropriate evidence.
• Each of these outcomes is assessed through all components and elements of assessment
Syllabus outline:
The course commences with an introduction which defines business history as a discipline in terms of subject matter, approaches and methodologies. This overview is supplemented and developed by an outline of interpretations of Modern Economic Growth in the long run which highlights the significance of concepts of ‘Industrial Revolution’, 'Stages of Growth' and 'Relative Backwardness' for an investigation of the emergence and consolidation of 'Big Business'. Although the module has an immediate focus on developments in Britain and United States of America, an international orientation is present with the development of 'Big Business' in other major developed economies, such as Germany, France, Italy and Japan, reviewed to provide yardsticks for comparative analysis.
After students have been made aware of the conceptual and methodological issues which lie at the heart of business history as a discipline, twentieth century developments are examined through an economic and business history lens to reveal the impact of history on the emergence and consolidation of the large corporation: this approach highlights in turn: initial conditions at the turn of the century; the impact of two world wars; the vicissitudes of the inter-war economy; the post-war development of the economy; and, more recent economic performance.
The chronology of twentieth century economic history established, a thematic approach is adopted to consider a number of themes: these include the nature of enterprise; company growth; and, the
importance of economic organisation (unitary companies, multidivisional corporations, holding companies and multinationals) Here other themes include the impact of a number of factors upon 'Big Business', including: technological progress; structural change and relative economic performance; labour markets; trade unions; and, government, with the latter being investigated to indicate the significance of anti-trust
legislation, nationalisation, privatisation, state sponsorship of 'national champions' and international economic co-operation. Finally, a number of thematic and specific case studies illustrate the defining and developmental aspects of the modern corporation.
Teaching and learning methods:
The nature of the course is clearly indicated in the course handbook which: indicates the central themes to be covered in the lectures and seminars which specify the syllabus; defines the nature of coursework, including the criteria for assessment and recommendations for presentation of coursework; indicates an extensive bibliography; and, provides illustrative reference materials. The course handbook is designed to emphasise the interlocking and complementary aspects of elements of the course such that student contributions, in the form of seminar presentations, class discussions and the completion of assessed work are viewed by the student as an integral part of the learning process envisaged for the course. The learning approaches adopted by the student is thus informed and advised by a course handbook which is intended to encourage the development of an independent learning strategy secured by a clearly defined, accessible guide to the requirements and objectives of the course.
The module will be assessed by a combination of coursework and terminal examination. The coursework will be designed to utilise skills and knowledge germane to the stage of the course at which the work is assessed and will be specified as appropriate given the available library and IT resources available to students taking the course. In addition to this periodic appraisal of the student’s engagement with the course, the terminal examination will provide a summative assessment of student’s understanding and articulation of technical, analytical and knowledge-based aspects of the course.
Reading Strategy
Each seminar during the first term of teaching has a selection of key reading, usually journal articles or extracts from a book. Most of the journal articles are accessible online, either directly from the module website, &/or using JSTOR or Heron where licenses have been obtained. In the second term of teaching, students are encouraged to carry out independent research, and there are adequate library stocks to support up to 45 students comfortably in this work.
Indicative Reading List:
The following list is offered to provide validation panels/accrediting bodies with an indication of the type and level of information students may be expected to consult. As such, its currency may wane during the life span of the module specification. However, as indicated above, CURRENT advice on readings will be available via other more frequently updated mechanisms.
T. Elger & C. Smith Assembling Work: Remaking Work Regimes in Japanese Multinationals in Britain (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005)
Cassis, Y Big Business, (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1997)
Chandler, AD,Jr. The Visible Hand: the Managerial Revolution in American Business, (Cambridge, Mass. & London: Harvard University Press, 1977)
Chandler, AD, Jr. Scale and Scope: the dynamics of Industrial Capitalism, (Cambridge, Mass.: Belknap Press, 1990)
Chandler, AD, Jr., Big Business and the Wealth of Nations (Cambridge: Cambridge U. P. 1997).
Amatori,F & Hikino,T.
Gospel, H & Littler, C Managerial Strategies & Industrial Relations, (London: Heinemann Educational, 1983)
Hounshell, D Science & Corporate Strategy: Du Pont R&D, 1902-1980, (Cambridge:
& Smith, J Cambridge University Press, 1988)
Lamoreaux, NR 'Beyond Markets and Hierarchies: Towards a New Synthesis of American
Raff, DMG Business History', American Historical Review, 2003, 108, no.2, pp. 404-433.
& Temin P
Schmitz, CJ The Growth of Big Business in the United States and Western Europe, 1850-1939, (Basingstoke: Macmillan, 1993)
Wardley, P ‘The Anatomy of Big Business: Aspects of Corporate Development in
The Twentieth Century’, Business History, 1991, 33, pp. 268-96.
Wardley, P `The Commercial Banking Industry and its Part in the Emergence and Consolidation of the Corporate Economy in Britain before 1940', Journal of Industrial History (2000) 3, 2, pp. 71-97.
Assessment
Weighting between components A and B (standard modules only) A: 30% B: 70%
ATTEMPT 1
First Assessment Opportunity
Component A
Description of each element Element weighting
1. Exam (2 hours) 30%
Component B
Description of each element Element weighting
1. Presentation and associated Report (4,500 word essay equivalent) 50%
2. Blackboard-based seminar-related tasks (1,000 word essay equivalent) 20%
Second Assessment Opportunity (further attendance at taught classes is not required)
Component A
Description of each element Element weighting
1. Exam (2 hours) 30%
Component B
Description of each element Element weighting
1. Historiographic Essay (3,250 word essay equivalent) 40%
2. Source-related exercise (2,250 word essay equivalent) 30%
SECOND (OR SUBSEQUENT) ATTEMPT: Attendance at taught classes is not required.
Specification confirmed by …………………………………………………Date ……………………………
(Associate Dean/Programme Director)