MBA with a Specialism in Professional Practice

Year 1

Leadership Theory and Practice The course critically examines the concept of leadership in organisations, exploring major theoretical developments and providing opportunities for managers to reflect on real-life leadership issues. After defining what we mean by ‘leadership’ in the first module, the course delves into key developments in leadership theories and their application to modern organisations. Recognising that leadership is enacted differently depending on the context, the course focuses on example settings, including creative industries and projects, to explore alternative approaches to leadership. Additionally, the role of leadership in shaping organisational strategy is explored, with contemporary issues of gender, culture, and ethics also being discussed. Topics include: Introduction to leadership Traditional and contingency leadership approaches Modern theories of leadership Post-heroic leadership Leadership in contexts Leadership, gender and culture Leadership and ethics Developing leadership The course ends by considering how leaders and leadership can be developed and provides insights into current trends and future directions. Read the full Leadership Theory and Practice course syllabus and get an overview of the course content. People, Work and Organisations Our People, Work and Organisations course aims for students to develop a detailed appreciation of factors influencing how people behave at work and how these link to performance. The course focuses on understanding individual differences, how these differences affect group dynamics and how organisational factors affect individual behaviour. At its core, the course aims to equip students with the skills and knowledge to positively impact on individual, team and organisational performance in a variety of dynamic organisational contexts. Topics include: Understanding behaviour in organisations Individual differences Motivation and engagement Work group dynamics Power, politics and conflicts Designing effective organisations Organisational culture Organisational change The course concludes with a detailed case study that allows students to draw on their knowledge of organisational behaviour and recommend interventions to improve performance. Throughout the course, students are encouraged to think critically about their role as managers and to reflect on their practice in light of relevant theory. Read the full People, Work and Organisations course syllabus and get an overview about the course content. Strategic Marketing Our strategic marketing course aims to provide students with the necessary tools and frameworks to enable them to make proactive marketing decisions. The philosophy underlying this course is that marketing-oriented companies put customers first, are geared for long-term success and that this orientation must be championed by top management and infused throughout the whole organisation. Strategic marketing requires knowledge, skills and competencies in a range of techniques such as strategic analysis and planning, implementation – via a number of integrated and synergistic marketing functions and activities – and marketing control, aided by an array of marketing metrics and digital developments. Topics include: Marketing management for a turbulent era Marketing fit with corporate and business strategies Marketing environmental insights Customer insights and customer connections Marketing insights for demand measurement Segmentation and target marketing Branding and positioning Marketing strategies for competitive and market scenarios The integrated marketing mix Organising, planning, delivering and measuring market performance This course aims to provide students with a strong grasp of both the strategic elements of establishing a long-term customer orientation and the operational techniques that are required of marketing managers to implement a strategic marketing orientation successfully. Read the full Strategic Marketing course syllabus and get an overview of the course content. Financial Decision Making Financial decision making aims to provide students with a set of accounting and financial tools that enables them to interpret and critique financial information from a variety of sources, and to make informed and effective financial decisions that directly impact company operations. The course begins with a closer look at the current financial landscape. It then examines the application of financial and management accounting tools relevant to critical financial decisions, including key performance indicators, breakeven analysis, working capital management techniques and the budgeting process. This is followed by a consideration of financial management and the decisions faced by organisations on investment (what projects), finance (what type of finance) and dividend (pay or retain) and how an organisation analyses takes action on each of those decisions. Topics include: The financial landscape Financial accounting Working capital management Management accounting Budgeting Financial tools Capital budgeting and investment appraisal Financing, payout policy and management The course concludes with an introduction to exchange rate and interest rate risk management. Read the full Financial Decision Making course syllabus and get an overview of the course content. Research Methods for Business The first part of the course introduces key concepts such as identifying a strong research topic, conducting a thorough literature review, and understanding the underlying research philosophy and methodology. The second part shifts focus to research design and analysis, starting with qualitative approaches and then progressing to quantitative methods. The course is enriched with interactive activities that allow students to engage with thought-provoking research questions, receive real-time feedback, interact with peers, and gain insights into diverse perspectives on similar issues. Topics include: Identifying and justifying compelling research topics Conducting comprehensive literature reviews and research Understanding and applying research philosophies Designing and implementing effective research methodologies Exploring qualitative research fundamentals: reflexivity, sampling techniques, and interview strategies Analysing, processing, and reporting qualitative research data Mastering quantitative research: foundational and advanced concepts Read the full Research Methods for Business course syllabus and get an overview about the course content. Delivering Successful Projects Delivering Successful Projects equips managers and business professionals with knowledge, understanding and skills to manage projects using integrative concepts, tools and techniques. The course opens by setting the mind-set for project decision-making and covers the fundamental concepts of the project management discipline and how it assists organisations in materialising their strategic and change objectives. Topics include: Projects in the organisational context Leadership and behavioural aspects of human resources How the project manager and the project team work Project success criteria Qualitative and quantitative planning and control processes Project conclusions, strategic intent, final evaluation and reporting The course concludes with a closer look at current topics trending the project management profession, such as the project management office function, ethics, sustainability and agile project management. The course explores a firm’s response to the challenges of internationalization by examining the strategic foundations, methods, and directions of international strategies, while also analyzing both multi- and micro-nationals using conventional strategic tools. Read the full Delivering Successful Projects course syllabus and get an overview of the course content. Developing and Executing Strategy Effective business planning requires setting clear objectives and developing, implementing, and measuring strategies. This course covers key areas of strategic management, integrating concepts from the core MBA disciplines within a general management context. Developing and Executing Strategy starts by exploring the evolution of strategy and strategic management over the past 50 years, reviewing the diverse landscape of contemporary strategy theory and practice, and analysing the role of strategy in managing various types of organisations. The course then examines a variety of aspects of strategy, such as strategic intent, analysis, strategic options and implementation. At each stage the links with other management disciplines, such as leadership, organisational behaviour, economics, marketing and finance are considered. Finally an integrative framework for strategic decision-making is presented, which facilitates a holistic approach to complex business and management issues. Topics include: Introduction to Strategy and Strategists Strategic Intent Strategic Issue Diagnosis Interpreting and Analysing the Environment Analysing the Organisation Generating, Selecting and Evaluating Strategic Options Strategy Implementation and Practice The course encourages students to think and operate at the strategic level in a range of dynamic settings through integration of ideas across core business disciplines. Read the full Developing and Executing Strategy course syllabus and get an overview of the course content. Business Project The Business Project course is the final course of the programme, allowing students to demonstrate their accumulated knowledge in a real-world setting. This project involves analysing a business issue or challenge faced by an organization, using relevant data and information, while drawing on academic literature and existing knowledge. The project may cover topics such as innovation, digital transformation, supply chain futures, the development of new products or services, market expansion, business model changes, or the shift towards greener and more sustainable operations. Topics include: Identifying the most relevant business challenge or issue Developing a comprehensive business research proposal Employing effective data collection methods and techniques Structuring a clear and impactful business report Presenting key findings and recommending actionable solutions

• Leadership Theory and Practice
• People, Work and Organisations
• Financial Decision Making
• Research Methods for Business
• Strategic Marketing
• Delivering Successful Projects
• Developing and Executing Strategy
• Business Project