Management

Leadership and Management

The module provides opportunities for developing in students a deep understanding of managing and leading. The module takes as its focus theoretical concepts and then investigates their practical application. The student is encouraged to have a command of theory and the development of theory but also to be able to utilise this theory to address the practical issues facing leaders and managers in contemporary, typically international, organisations.

Developing Skills for Business Leadership

This module seeks to help learners to develop and improve a range of definable skills which are pivotal to successful management practice and to effective leadership in particular. It seeks to develop learners’ skills of reflexivity and to develop the confidence and ability to articulate their skills and attributes as required for career and professional development, lifelong learning and employment.

Project Management and Change Leadership

The Module will define the term ‘project’, and will seek to analyse the many different environments in which projects take place. Students will assess the approaches that may be taken towards the management of projects, and will practice a range of techniques used by professional project managers to plan, control and deliver projects successfully. As projects drive change, an important element of project management is ensuring the support of stakeholders so that the change can be effectively managed.  In addition to the ‘hard’ skills around project management, this module also covers an introduction to change management, so that students are equipped with an effective balance of both ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ knowledge and skills.

Managing International Organisations

This examines a range of international organisations and their different purposes. Your studies will focus on multinational companies, small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), non-governmental organisations (NGOs), the European Union and other similar organisations such as the UN. These institutions influence and relate to the operations of global businesses. You will look at the political, economic and social environments in which international organisations function and the challenges they face. Leading business executives and subject experts are invited in to speak to you.

Finance and Accounting for Business

This 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.

Consultancy Project OR International Study Trip

You can choose between:

Consultancy Project: You will gain practical international project experience by working in a cross-cultural 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. Your team will work virtually, face-to-face and with help from tutors.

International Study Trip: The purpose of this 10 credit optional Study Trip Module is to give you a hands-on, intensive experience with ideas and practices in international management and international relations through visiting multinational enterprises and international organisations during the international study trip. You meet with leaders of global firms and international organisations, receive presentations from global academic experts, and tour facilities. The programme includes presentations from local and international executives, managers and academics.

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.

Entrepreneurial Theory & Practice

It is recognised that entrepreneurship is vital to the development of a modern economy, both in terms of new business start-ups and as part of managing and growing existing organisations. This module will introduce you to the fundamentals of enterprise and entrepreneurship and will help develop vital entrepreneurial skills, behaviours and practices necessary for success.

Corporate Governance and Social Responsibility

This provides alternative perspectives on strategic management and corporate governance. This will encompass stakeholder issues including ethics, sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR). You will develop your understanding of approaches to solving problems when governing in the corporate sector. Your studies will consider current issues and consider the social implications of governance. You will also focus on the impact of globalisation on international management practices, equipping you with the knowledge to enhance management decisions involving ethical choices. Finally, you will consider your assumptions about the role of managers and organisations in a complex and challenging context through the exploration of contemporary issues in CSR.

Strategic Business Simulation

This teaches you about group decision making. It involves a live new business development scenario, through which you apply your understanding of business principles to a computer simulation. The simulation will challenge your ethical, environmental and sustainability decisions when running an international business and will consider a range of business functions. You will develop management skills such as team management, budgeting, implementing a communications strategy and coping with unexpected competitor activity.

Procurement and Supply Chain Management (SCM)

In this module you focus the important commercial aspects of SCM, centred around how the procurement cycle operates in an international context. You explore the range of relationships between trading partners (i.e. purchasers and suppliers), as well as the techniques that are used to source products and services, select and appraise suppliers, and develop and manage supply contracts.

Strategic and Sustainable Logistics

In this module you will study the processes required to manage the flow of materials and products from suppliers to customers in order to achieve a competitive advantage. You will evaluate how effective logistics and procurement systems can become key business enablers. You will learn how the management of international supply chains should form a significant element of the strategy of any organisation operating on a global basis.

Resourcing, Talent and Performance Management

A major objective of the human resources function is the mobilisation of a workforce. Organisations can only function if they are able to assemble teams of people with the necessary skills to meet their goals and retain effective performers. This module focuses on the practical aspects of recruitment, selection, employee retention and exiting. You will develop the knowledge and skills required for resourcing and talent management within a global context. You will also gain an understanding of how performance management can support the strategic objectives of an organisation, how the performance of people can be enhanced and inspired by leadership, and how it contributes to high-performance work organisations.

Managing Employment Relations

This will develop your understanding of managing employment relations within a global business. Employment relations is a changing subject which is influenced by external factors (political and economic) and internal factors (management and management style). You will explore the impact of different national environments on employment and the roles of different stakeholders in employment relation systems. You will also critically review employment relations in an organisation and make suggestions to drive improvements to Human Resource Management. This module includes a practical skills workshop.

Customer Insight and Engagement

You explore how to acquire, retain and grow the share of wallet of good customers, as well as how to demote undesirable customers without triggering revenge behaviours. It is based on the premise that customers are the essence of the organisation as without customers, the organisation would fail. The module takes a customer-centric approach, and acknowledges the hyper-connected environment in which organisations operate today. Technologies and methodological approaches to obtain customer insight and to build detailed customer profiles are discussed. Moreover, the module considers how to engage with customers in ways that add value to both parties. It uses real case studies, as well as students’ own experiences as customers.

Corporate Finance Concepts

You will consider how accounting and corporate finance issues are related. You will study the fundamental ideas and theories of corporate finance and how accounting practice links with corporate financial decisions. This module will enable you to make the links between specific financial management techniques and concepts and how these relate to the objectives of an organisation..

Strategic Brand Management

Creating powerful brands and appropriate brand positioning strategies are essential to many international businesses. You will learn about brand attributes, brand values and brand personality. You will develop an understanding of product management and innovative approaches to new product development. How ethical, environmental and socio-cultural factors impact brand strategy is explored, and the use of digital communications technology to further develop brand relationships is discussed.

International Business in Practice - Study Trip

There is a second study trip on this course. Although this module provides you with no credit towards your degree, you will see directly how global leaders operate in an international environment.  Students on previous runs of this module have visited Boston, USA, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Chengdu, China.

Having successfully completed the assessment (pass/fail), this module will appear on your transcripts, which will enhance your employment potential. Please note that the number of students who can join this field trip is limited and the cost is not included in the course fees. (Further details can be found in the ‘Additional costs’ section.)