Online MBA to advance your career

This module will enable students to build key skills and knowledge that will enable them to maximise the value they gain from the MBA and accelerate their return to studying successfully as independent learners at Level 7.

The aims of the Boot Camp are to ensure that students:

• have clearly defined goals for the programme and a plan to achieve them
• understand the structure of the course, the assessments and how they will learn
• are ready to start their first module

The module is intended to prepare students to critically read and evaluate research and practice within their chosen field of study and then to design a research proposal for their final project.

On successful completion of this module students will:

• understand the structure and context of the course
• have understanding of the tools and techniques for business problem solving including problem definition, data gathering and analysis
• understand how and why case studies are used and the approach to solving them
• know the expectations for writing and presenting and be able to create a professional business report using MSWord
• understand how to be effectively in a group or team
• understand how to use the universities online resources to access and reference relevant books, journals and articles
• understand how to participate in online, learning effectively
• understand the approach to learning and teaching including assessment, how to avoid plagiarism, and referencing.

The balance of independent study and scheduled teaching activity within the module

Students will study the topic online and independently using the materials provided on the VLE. In addition, they will attend three hour workshops.

Note: 1 credit = 10 hours’ learning (i.e. 30 credits should total 300 hours)

This module will help prepare students to become well-informed and effective managers, business owners and entrepreneurs able to lead, manage and solve problems in dynamic and complex environments.  The emphasis is on the practical skills of problem solving, critical thinking, presenting proposals, researching, analysing and making recommendation for a senior management or executive audience.  

The module is intended to prepare students to critically read and evaluate research and practice within their chosen field of study and then to prepare a proposal for their final project.

On successful completion of this module students will be able to:

• apply suitable theories and frameworks to analyse and create solutions to business problems using robust and defensible methods
• design and plan an effective, practical business problem solving project
• communicate clearly and effectively problem analysis and solutions, and research findings.

The balance of independent study and scheduled teaching activity within the module

Students will attend weekly three-hour workshops during which time they will receive material in the form of lectures/discussions, issues, and participate in group activities including complex problem-solving exercises.

Independent reading and problem solving.

Independent research to identify a suitable project for their final 60 credit module.

Note:  1 credit = 10 hours’ learning (i.e. 30 credits should total 300 hours)

The module equips students with a range of skills and knowledge essential to thinking and acting effectively as an inclusive leader. Students will review concepts and cases enabling the critical evaluation of organisational and team design for high performance.

The module will also equip students to perform better in the team-working, cross-cultural contexts that are typical of contemporary workplaces and in settings requiring emotional intelligence, enhanced coaching skills and negotiation skills.

Critical to the value of the module is the encouragement of continuous learning and reflection.

On successful completion of the module students will be able to:

• critically evaluate approaches to inclusive leadership within business organisations
• demonstrate competency in the use of reflection for critical self-evaluation, learning and change
• demonstrate competency in critically evaluating their strengths and planning their own personal development for leadership including team working, inclusion, coaching and negotiation

The balance of independent study and scheduled teaching activity within the module

WebLearn will be used to guide students through additional independent study using case studies, videos, articles and other readings and other online resources such as LinkedIn Learning.

The module summative assessment includes reflective writing and students will have access to a Strengthscope personal assessment report to help them understand their personal strengths.

Note:  1 credit = 10 hours’ learning (i.e. 30 credits should total 300 hours)

This module aims to provide practical methods and approaches to enable business managers and entrepreneurs to understand and use financial information to make effective business decisions.  The financial decision-making process demands the understanding of key financial management issues, performance indicators and methodologies to critically analysing accounting and financial information. Strong financial literacy is essential in business.

The module also aims to introduce and examine the preparation and use of accounting and information to inform financial decisions. It provides the understanding of key performance indicators, cashflow management, full costing, working capital management techniques and the budgeting process to manage finances and support management decisions on investment projects and making capital investment decisions. The module concludes with a practice of developing business plan, capital investment decisions and aspects of financing businesses.

On successful completion of this module students will be able to:

• critically evaluate company financial performance and make recommendations for improvement
• demonstrate an understanding and use of the appropriate analytical techniques to be applied to business case development and Investment appraisal; the raising of finance and the distribution of funds to investors
• communicate financial information, analysis, issues, and recommendations clearly and concisely.

The balance of independent study and scheduled teaching activity within the module

The module is delivered online including weekly 2-hour workshops. The workshop session is designed in an interactive manner to effectively help the learning process and engage learners through a collaborative two-way-process.

Students receive in-house materials, which includes weekly lecture notes in the form of PPT presentations, scenario-based activities, and research articles. They are expected to complete set tasks in workshops (in part) and some of the tasks will be left for the students to complete outside the formal contact hours. Use will be made of the Count FEFE accounting game to support learning.

The activity sessions are blended into the weekly tasks, so students are using computer facilities (mainly for Excel package) to analyse financial statements and word processing to write their critical analysis in the form of a report.

Students will be required to access company data, such as financial statements, from various sources. Using manual calculations, analytic software, and business/financial simulation software, they can access data, discuss and analyse financial positions, performances and future prospects to recommend possible improvement options and develop new business plans.

The business simulation requires students to compete in teams against each other in simulated industry covering 6 – 10 years of trading, with each simulation round representing one year. They will make a range of management decisions both financial and non-financial and receive their results in the form of accounting statements, staff feedback, and sales and marketing information.

A business adds value through its operations, which today are typically highly dependent on the use of digital technology to link together organisations within the value network, connect with customers, improve delivery, personalise products and services, and match demand and supply. It is vital that managers and leaders understand both how business operations are designed, managed and improved, and the relationship between new product/service development and operations.

Throughout the course of the module consideration will be given to the need for businesses to reduce their impact on climate change and to operate in a sustainable and ethical manner.

On successful completion of this module students will be able to:

• Critique key practices and theories within the areas of operations management, service operations, and process management.  
• Critically evaluate the contribution of operations management and information systems to a business organisation’s performance and strategic aims
• Critically evaluate the business operations implications of current and emerging digital technologies as constraints, opportunities and threats.

The balance of independent study and scheduled teaching activity within the module

Students will attend weekly three-hour workshops during which time they will receive material in the form of lectures/discussions, discuss case studies and current issues. They will also complete a range of exercises to build practical skills in forecasting, process modelling, and capacity planning.

WebLearn will be used in support of blended learning to provide the reading list, lecture recordings, additional video material and items of topical interest.

Note:  1 credit = 10 hours’ learning (i.e. 30 credits should total 300 hours)

This module is intended to help develop knowledge concerning the nature and character of marketing as well as sales in an international context, capitalising on current and emerging technologies.

This module explores how the interdependence of economies and increasingly globalised marketing reflects the trend of organisations designing, distributing and selling products and services in many markets around the world.

After successfully completing this module, students will be able to:

• critically evaluate marketing activities and offer recommendations for improvement
• Critically analyse potential markets for development, applying a systematic understanding of the marketing theories to complex situations while considering the impact of technology in effective marketing decision-making.
• communicate marketing messages in a creative and compelling manner while utilising the principles of Segmentation, Targeting and Positioning.

The balance of independent study and scheduled teaching activity within the module

Students will have 12 hours of contact time delivered through six 2-hour workshop sessions. 

WebLearn will be used to guide students through additional independent study using case studies, videos, articles and other readings.

Note:  1 credit = 10 hours’ learning

Small, medium and large business operate in very different ways however they share a common business and industry environment and often will both compete and collaborate. All sizes and types of business must understand their business and industry environment as they position themselves for success.

This module focuses on the strategic skills and knowledge needed by executives, managers, intrapreneurs and entrepreneurs.

A key element of the module is participation in the business simulation in which students will compete against each other in teams within a simulated global marketplace. This will provide the opportunity to role play executive positions in a global business, take strategic decisions, and gain rapid feedback on their validity.

This module focuses on the strategic skills and knowledge needed by executives, managers, intrapreneurs and entrepreneurs and aims to:

• execute skills in strategy development
• provide the knowledge and skills to scan, analyse and interpret their business environment
• develop skills in identifying trends in the business environment and construct scenarios that can be used to test strategy
• develop the ability to manage resources and capabilities and to critically evaluate their importance as sources of sustainable competitive advantage but also as potential sources of disadvantage when disruptive innovation occurs
• take strategic decisions based on a deep understanding of their business and the market or markets they serve
• foster and exploit innovation through the development of new products and services
• critical awareness of the importance of environmental and social responsibility, ethical decision making and the need for effective corporate governance.

The balance of independent study and scheduled teaching activity within the module

Students will attend weekly three-hour workshops during which time they will receive material in the form of lectures/discussions, discuss case studies and current issues, and participate in groups in the business simulation.

In the early part of the module, time will be allowed in the workshops for simulation team building, discussion and decision-making, but this will move to be an activity performed by the students outside the classroom either in face-to-face meetings or online.

The module assessment will include a reflection on the business simulation experience.

Note:  1 credit = 10 hours’ learning (i.e. 30 credits should total 300 hours)

This module provides you with the opportunity to work on specific management and business issues that organisations are facing. Utilising your problem-solving skills and competences of handling and managing business challenges. Starting from problem identification and concluding with solution related recommendations, thus encouraging research into real world business and management issues impacting organisations.

Building Business Insights brings together the learning processes from the whole MBA programme. It encourages the synthesis of knowledge, theories and skills developed in the modules during the previous terms in order to provide realistic solutions to contemporary business and management challenges.

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

• Demonstrate the different approaches to business/management issue(s) in the context of their chosen area to be investigated, with the use of appropriate evidence-based information and theory.
• Discuss and critically evaluate the different perspectives of related evidence-based and theoretical literature including appropriate referencing from diverse sources.
• Demonstrate acumen in the design, planning, selection and collection of evidence in investigating the chosen issue using primary and/or secondary data as deemed appropriate
• Communicate effectively including your collection of evidence in the form of reports using appropriate formats in a well-structured report 
• Utilise reflective practice techniques to critique your performance and identify improvements.
• Demonstrate the development of independent and self-managed learning

The balance of independent study and scheduled teaching activity within the module

This is a project module with most of the time invested in guided research and portfolio development. Students will attend 12 hours of workshop-based teaching at the start of the module and also be able to access 12 hours of supervision time.

Note:  1 credit = 10 hours’ learning (i.e. 30 credits should total 300 hours)