International Business and Supply Chain Management

Global Strategic Management

Strategic management is the process by which managers formulate and implement strategies to generate high performance. In this module you will develop your understanding of the managerial strategic challenge; how to deliver sustainable competitive advantage. You will engage in critical evaluation of the key strategic issues. You will consider the wider economic environment and explore why strategy is important, how organisations make strategic decisions through the processes of analysis, choice and responsible and ethical management and leadership.

Innovation, Change and Organisations

The aim of this module is to provide insight into a series of topics that represent key issues around innovation and change and the organisational context in modern general management.  The module is forward looking from the contemporary organisation towards future developments.  A key perspective is the development to date of entrepreneurship, innovation, change and organisational practices making students aware of long-term patterns and cycles, and the way and extent to which the past can shape the present.

Introduction to the Principles of Responsible Marketing

In this module you will be introduced to the key principles of marketing. You will explore the roles of buyers, the marketing environment, and the ways marketers plan, manage, and monitor marketing programmes in an international environment.

Developing Skills for Business Leadership

Successful leaders have different approaches to their work, sharing a range of diverse personality traits. A key purpose of this module is to encourage you to develop a strong sense of self-awareness of your own strengths and weaknesses as a manager and colleague. In addition, you will develop a range of transferable skills which are pivotal to successful management practice. These include decision-making skills, team-working and interpersonal skills and others associated with developing personal effectiveness.

Operations Management

In this module you will develop your understanding of an organisation's ability to deliver goods and services of the quality, quantity and cost that will satisfy customers' needs, while making efficient use of resources. The key principles introduced in this module can be applied to any business sector and function. Issues covered include ethics, environmental sustainability, global business, complexity and uncertainty, and continuing professional development.

Finance and Accounting for Business

In this module you will develop your critical assessment of corporate financial information from the users' perspective. You will study both financial and management accounting covering three areas: basics (terminology, purposes, users), rules and regulations, and business entities.

• Financial accounting - key financial statements, published accounts and analysis and interpretation through ratios.
• Management accounting - costing, budgeting and forecasting, budget management and pricing.

Research Methods

This module prepares you for completing high quality, systematic business and management research, and equips you to be successful in your final dissertation or other capstone module.  You will learn how to undertake effective research drawing upon a range of secondary and primary data sources, and will be introduced to a range of tools required for research including methodological issues, data collection techniques and study skills.

Procurement & Supply Chain Management

In an increasingly globalised business environment, the ability of organisations to identify, and then to manage, supply networks and individual chains of supply has grown in its significance. It is of vital importance that both the upstream and downstream relationships with suppliers and customers are managed effectively to ensure value is added whilst controlling costs and ultimately satisfying the customer. In this module you will learn about the key elements and activities within procurement and supply chain management, how this function supports the wider organisation and its objectives, and how these activities can be managed to ensure the optimal outcome.

Strategic & Sustainable Logistics

Physical logistics is concerned with managing and controlling the activities and processes along a chain of supply, from procuring materials to moving, distributing and delivering finished goods that satisfy customer orders. Customers have become ever more demanding, wanting more for less and greater added value. This often involves customised products and services, quick response deliveries, and state-of-the-art information systems. This new era of customer ‘pull’ as well as the globalised business environment, alongside with the emphasis on sustainability, has led to the concept of ‘Strategic and Sustainable Logistics’. Students will evaluate how effective logistics and distribution systems can become key business enablers, and the importance of managing of international logistics systems.

Consultancy Project OR Virtual Global Study Trip

You can choose between:

Consultancy Project: you will gain practical international project experience by working in a team on a real problem for a client organisation. You will develop problem-solving and communication skills as well as the ability to work in cross-cultural teams.

Strategic Planning in Practice: you will apply and extend your knowledge gained within the first semester of the programme to a complex, integrative, international case study company using Strategic Planning software. You will demonstrate a systematic understanding of current business and management issues and the ability to synthesise understandings drawn from a number of key knowledge areas.

Virtual Global Study Trip: this module gives you a hands-on, intensive experience of current business ideas and practices through visiting multinational enterprises and international organisations. This includes presentations from local and international executives, managers and academics.