Coursework Stage (120 Credits)

Foundation Module: Strategic Planning (Non-assessment)

This module provides an in-depth knowledge of the strategic management process in order to lay the foundation for the rest of the programme. It is mandatory to follow this module which is essentially the overall knowledge required to build the rest of the learning. There is no assessment and no credit value attached to this module.

Several models and concepts relating to formulation of Corporate and Business Strategies are taught and how they are aligned with Functional Strategies. The learners derive comprehensive insights into design, development, and implementation of strategy together with many examples drawn from local and global companies. Strategy, innovation, and competitive advantage are cornerstones of learning in this module. Learning is very practical and uses numerous case studies and illustrations.

1. Creativity, Innovation & Entrepreneurship

Focuses on the significance of creating a company-wide innovation culture and what a company needs to do to establish an innovation pipeline to achieve a sustainable competitive edge. Discusses in-depth Principles and Models of Innovation, Dimensions of Innovation, Innovation Strategies, KPIs and Barriers to Innovation amongst many other topics. Module includes understanding Entrepreneurship, traits of successful entrepreneurs and its relevance to innovation. Learning is illustrated with plenty of examples and best-in-class practices to enable learners to start innovative practices in their places of work.

2. Strategic Leadership and Management

On the role of Leadership in enabling an organisation to achieve its strategic intentions, to be competitive and to remain sustainable and grow in a dynamic and evolving environment. Focuses on Leadership and its impact on strategic management, strategic direction, creating a culture of innovation, managing change and alignment. Learning involves current thinking on leadership to support organisational direction and the impact of management and leadership styles on strategic decisions. Assessment and development of leadership skills is an important outcome of learning in this module.

3. Innovation and Strategic Change Management:

Enables learners to develop the skills of leading and effecting ‘change’ in order to achieve strategic redirection, transition, and innovation. Learners understand the issues that drive change and the need to have a proactive approach to strategic change management. Whilst teaching several change managements concepts and models, the module focuses on the need to actively seek the participation of all relevant stakeholders to ensure effective and sustainable change. Learners will appreciate the role of leaders and managers as strategic change agents whilst exploring different perspectives of organisational culture, power and internal politics and their impact on effecting change.

4. Strategic Marketing and Innovation

This module identifies the connectivity between corporate strategy and strategic marketing. It illustrates the link between an organisation’s strategic position, and the positioning of its products and services. Module explores the process of setting marketing goals, deployment of a strategy and application of marketing instruments to achieve set goals. Learners discover how strategic marketing plans are designed to remain competitive and sustainable in a volatile environment. Insights are provided on models, tools and techniques used for development of marketing strategies. Enables learners to realize how innovation could be the primary driver of marketing success.

5. Strategic Supply Chain Management & Logistics:

The module focuses on the importance of supply chain and logistics management and its relevance to strategic success. The learners will gain insights into key drivers of competitive advantage through supply chain performance, innovations in supply chain processes and logistics operations.

Learning covers concepts and tools leading to resolution of supply chain problems, development, and management of supply chain networks, use of technology, the need to reduce costs and enhance business value. Also included are insights into integrated supply chains, the global context for supply chains, and the role supply chains play in delivering customer value.

6. Research Methods

One of the key responsibilities of strategic managers is to make decisions. Working in any organisation could involve making different decisions regarding major capital investment projects, business finance, new product development, mergers and acquisitions, business location and workforce planning. The one factor that is common to all these decisions is that there will be different alternatives which will be presented to the strategic manager for a decision to be made. In many cases, each alternative will be supported by different members of the executive management team who will present well-argued cases for their preferred solution, based on their role and experience as well as other available management information. Strategic managers must, therefore, develop a set of skills and a way of thinking that enables them to consider, review and evaluate the evidence presented to them, and to challenge strategic decisions with their own evidence-based knowledge and experience.

In this unit, learners will need to propose a unique research question related to an area of professional business practice that interests them and will contribute to their professional development. Learning includes understanding the principles of research methodology, preparation of a research proposal, presenting and interpreting research findings.

Research Stage (60 Credits)

1: International Business Negotiation : 

The purpose of this module is to engage learners with the theories and practices associated with international business negotiation. They will develop skills of negotiation in different situations and in cross-cultural contexts, becoming effective and responsible negotiators.

2: Critical Issues in Business : 

This module aims to provide an introduction to learning on the MBA programme by evaluating contemporary issues that influence strategic decision-making by leaders in a complex and challenging business environment. Participants take a probing and analytical approach to develop and advance their critical thinking and writing skills.

3: Entrepreneurship Report : 

This module explores how to identify and exploit a gap in the market and consider tactics and metrics for the key functional areas to produce a convincing business plan including a road map for a business.

4: Business Research Project : 

The Business Research Project provides an integrative and multidisciplinary experience to students to demonstrate their original thinking.  It is an opportunity to showcase several important intellectual and practical skills such as evaluation, synthesis, and critical thinking. The project can be an academic or an applied piece of work set within a business and management context.

TOTAL CREDITS: 180 Credits    

Additional Learning (non-assessment)

Seminar 1:

Strategic Human Resource Management

Enables the learner to understand how strategic human resource management supports innovation by creating a culture conducive for creative thinking, learning and employee engagement.

Seminar 2:

The Digital Business; Transformation and Optimisation 

Strategic leaders and managers need to develop insights into how digital technologies can transform business’s operations, and how digital technology is fast becoming the key driver of business change and growth. The seminar provides an opportunity learn how leading companies practice digital business.

Mode of Assessment: Assignments, Examinations, Presentations and Research