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BU8601
FUNDAMENTALS OF MANAGEMENT
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Course Description and Scope
Technical skills alone do not meet real world work and business requirements; they have to be
supplemented by management training. In fact, most people find that their success depends as
much on general management skills and understanding operational systems as on their technical
expertise. To become complete professionals, students need a firm foundation in these basic
managerial skills.

BU8601 - Fundamentals of Management - is a basic introductory and foundational management
course for non-business undergraduates.

This course is designed for non-business students who wish to equip themselves with key knowledge,
skills, and competencies in various aspects of management. The course encompasses the core
components of management. These include the following:
The Management Process
The Role of the Planning
The Business Environment [Ethics & Diversity Management]
Planning & the Decision Making Processes
Management of Organisations
Different Forms of Organisational Control
Leadership & Team Management
Modern Communication Technologies in Business


Course Learning Objectives
Through the learning of BU8601 course content [lectures, tutorials, texts for the course and readings],
students will gain fundamental knowledge and skills for management in contemporary organisations.
These include the How to and Why. Students will also develop analytical and critical thinking skills
in the context of contemporary organisations. Specifically, the learning objectives for students are:
To acquire knowledge of key principles of management and be able to critically apply this
knowledge to the analysis of a complex case study
To understand and apply a selected management topic to a real organizational setting
To be able to discuss with others the key management principles covered in the textbook and
lecture/tutorial material, showing application of knowledge to case study material


Course Assessments

Components Marks Individual / Group
Participation in Tutorials 10 Individual
Group Project 20 Group*
Examination 70 Individual
Total 100
*Required to work in group of three


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Distributed by Nanyang Business School, Nanyang Technological University. All Rights Reserved.

Readings and References
FK Fang Yongqing & Kamal Kant. 2011. Fundamentals of Management: Concepts and Principles.
Singapore: McGraw Hill. Library Call no. HD31.F211N Business Library Reserve Book Room
(level B2)

Other readings will be prescribed as appropriate during lectures and tutorials.


Proposed Weekly Schedule

Week Topic
1 Management and Managers
2 Understanding Individual Differences
3 Managing Ethics
4 Managing in the Global Environment & Diversity Management
5 Decision Making
6 Planning & Strategy
7 Designing Organisational Structure

Recess Week
8 Motivation
9 Organisational Control & Culture and Change & Learning
10 Leaders & Leadership
11 Effective Team Management
12 Communication & Information Technology and Review