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Explore Management Concepts through Metaphor and Music
  • Level Foundation
  • Duration 18 hours
  • Course by University of London
  • Offered by

About

How can exploring and analysing music and metaphors help us to better understand management, work organisations, working lives, and ultimately ourselves too? As you set out on your journey through this innovative course, the answers to these questions will be revealed. Through the lens of metaphor and music, you will be introduced to core managerial and organisational concepts and theories. You will explore issues related to, for example: organisational and work design; motivation and productivity; employee voice; careers; and management and leadership styles. You will research and analyse contemporary management dilemmas and challenges and gain new insights into the lived experience of work. You will explore the power of music to creatively engage and motivate employees, boost their morale, and give voice to workers who might otherwise remain unheard. The course has been designed to be highly interactive and creative with lots of opportunities for you to share your ideas and engage in discussion and debate with your fellow students. You will develop your own original organisational metaphors, write lyrics to your own company song, write and record your own short radio play, and develop your own motivational music playlist. By the end of the course, your understanding of management, organisations and the lived experience of work will have increased considerably. You will develop new skills in research and creative writing and will have lots of new ideas to take away with you and apply in your own organisation and your own working life.

Modules

Lesson 1: Introduction to management, metaphor and music

    • 1 Videos
    • 5 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
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1 Discussions

  • Would you rather…?

1 Videos

  • Welcome and introduction

5 Readings

  • Start a study journal
  • Organisations should mimic jazz bands as well as orchestras
  • Jazz and organisational leadership lessons
  • Activity – Researching jazz bands and orchestras
  • Would you rather…? – teacher notes

Lesson 2: Organisational metaphors

    • 1 Videos
    • 4 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Organisational metaphors

1 Discussions

  • Developing your own organisational metaphor

1 Videos

  • Lecture 1 – Management and organisational metaphors

4 Readings

  • Gareth Morgan’s organisational metaphors
  • Reimagining images of organisation – a conversation with Gareth Morgan
  • Activity – Applying Morgan’s organisational metaphors
  • Applying Morgan’s organisational metaphors – teacher notes

Lesson 3: Management and machine metaphors

    • 2 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
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1 Discussions

  • Uncovering the musical connection

2 Readings

  • Video – Taylorism and scientific management
  • Activity – Researching Fordism and the assembly line

Lesson 4: Management, metaphor and McDonaldization

    • 3 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Management, organisational metaphors and machines

3 Readings

  • Video – The McDonaldization of society
  • Research project – scientific management, assembly lines, McDonaldization and the fast food restaurant
  • Week 1 summary

Lesson 1: Management, metaphor, music and the lived experience of work

    • 1 Videos
    • 6 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
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1 Discussions

  • Developing your own career metaphor

1 Videos

  • Lecture 2 – Management, metaphor, music and the lived experience of work

6 Readings

  • Becoming a lifer? Unlocking career through metaphor
  • Activity – Reflections on career metaphors
  • Interview with the CEO of Netflix
  • Interview with the CEO of Netflix – teacher notes
  • Activity – Metaphor analysis
  • Metaphor analysis – teacher notes

Lesson 2: Management, metaphor and McJobs

    • 2 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
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1 Discussions

  • The McJob monologues

2 Readings

  • What my McJob taught me
  • Are McJobs really history?

Lesson 3: Music and lived experiences of work – singing about work

    • 2 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
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1 Discussions

  • Researching songs about working lives

2 Readings

  • James Taylor – ‘Millworker’
  • Researching songs about working lives – teacher notes

Lesson 4: Management, music and work songs – singing while at work

    • 4 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Management, metaphor, music and the lived experience of work

4 Readings

  • Sea shanties
  • Pearl divers of the Arabian Gulf
  • Activity – Researching music performed while working
  • Week 2 summary

Lesson 1: Management, music, mood and motivation

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
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1 Discussions

  • Exploring the uses of music in organisational settings

1 Videos

  • Lecture 3 – Introduction to the role of music in management

1 Readings

  • Why does music affect the way we feel?

Lesson 2: Management, music and song

    • 4 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
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1 Discussions

  • Composing a corporate anthem

4 Readings

  • Singing songs at IBM
  • Activity – Analysing the impact of singing songs in the IBM workplace – employee and managerial perspectives
  • Analysing the impact of singing songs in the IBM workplace – teacher notes
  • The best ever corporate anthems

Lesson 3: Management, music and motivation

    • 5 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
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1 Discussions

  • Creating your own productivity soundtrack and playlist

5 Readings

  • Music while you work
  • 1941 ‘Music while you work’ project
  • How music can improve productivity and focus
  • Does music help us work better? It depends 
  • Bored at work? Create a productivity soundtrack

Lesson 4: Management, music and management maestros

    • 1 Videos
    • 3 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 PeerReview
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1 Peer Review

  • Managing motivation and morale through music and metaphor

1 Discussions

  • Your leadership and management style

1 Videos

  • Summary and conclusion

3 Readings

  • Lead like the great conductors
  • What great leadership and music have in common
  • Managing without a musical score

Auto Summary

Discover core management and organizational concepts through the innovative lens of metaphor and music. This interactive business course, led by Coursera, delves into work design, motivation, leadership, and more. Engage creatively by developing metaphors, writing company songs, and crafting motivational playlists. Ideal for foundation-level learners, the course spans 1080 minutes and offers Starter and Professional subscription options. Perfect for those looking to enhance their understanding of management and workplace dynamics with fresh, creative insights.

Dr Amal El-Sawad
Instructor

Dr Amal El-Sawad