Executive MBA

Strategic management is the primary decision-making function of senior managers in public, private and third-sector organisations, regardless of scale, ownership or location. This module considers the process of strategic management from theoretical, analytical and practical perspectives and the points of view of a range of stakeholders. It aims to equip you with the ideas and conceptual tools you will need to understand organisational strategic practice and act in a wide range of conditions.

Entrepreneurship is recognised as being fundamental to global economic growth and development, thanks both to the importance of small firms as the mainstay of most economies and the vital role played by dynamic and innovative new ventures. In this module, you will learn to evaluate an organisation’s internal strategic competences and financial resources, and to respond to rapid environmental change. These concepts and practical approaches are firmly embedded within paradigms of sustainability and of ethical management practice.

The Markets, Stakeholders and Consumers module exposes students to the social, economic, and environmental issues relevant to the study of commercial activities and markets.  It examines the business world as a complex, socially-constructed arena where commercial and social exchanges occur and where marketing externalities, such as consumerism and marketing’s impact on more vulnerable segments, are critically examined. Throughout the module, you will be encouraged to examine these issues within an international/global context with a focus on practical business applications. Emphasis is placed on analysing issues at the nexus of macro environmental forces, strategy, business relationships, Brand management, marketing and societal welfare.  Internal and external Stakeholder management is a key aspect of the module, and you will analyse the complex and dynamic collaborative relationships that influence the effectiveness and impact of business strategy.

This module is aimed at developing in students, a critical understanding of the key issues and concepts in the responsible leadership, management and influence of people in an era of globalisation and rapid change. You will develop your capacity to build trust and lead others in a responsible manner across organisational boundaries, building an in-depth awareness of your own preferences, values and behaviours while critically evaluating yourself as an effective leader and influencer in a range of situations.

This module also evaluates the principles of responsible management as presented in the United Nations PRME framework. The module draws on and engages with on-going debate concerning the social, economic, environmental, moral and ethical dimensions of business in a global world. You will critically examine the policy and application of responsible management in your own organisation and industry sector, as you reflect on your personal and professional role in creating sustainable business value.

This module aims to provide a critical understanding of financial planning, control, decision making and risk management by exploring the relationship between the production of information and its subsequent use, communication and interpretation within the organisation. You will develop a level of confidence in your ability to use, communicate and question financial information, supporting the key tasks of planning, controlling and decision making to create sustainable value.

The module will evaluate the production and subsequent use and interpretation of quantitative and qualitative information that underpins business strategy. The module will assess the impact of corporate governance on the long-term business performance, including the implementation of an ethical and sustainable approach to business. Finally, the module will prepare you to analyse and communicate complex financial, risk management and regulatory information in a format that is suitable for a business audience.

The module focusses on the challenges faced by organisations that demand significant change, in either their core purpose and operational structure or in the products and services that they offer. You will investigate the opportunities and threats provided by both external and internal forces as an organisation looks to adapt and prosper, with a critical focus on key areas such as Change Management, Innovation Management, Sustainability and Knowledge Management. You will evaluate the dynamic capabilities needed by Managers to sustain their organisations in an increasingly turbulent global business environment, employing models and theories that enable critical, creative and design thinking, resulting in innovative strategies and business evolution. 

The module has a highly practical focus, challenging you to apply the business tools, research and critical analysis to real business issues. Sustainable Innovation principles will form a core component, investigating the challenges, and opportunities, posed both by current environmental changes, and by future trends.

This module will provide you with an understanding of the digital insight management function, enabling a business to gather and analyse the information and data that underpins their critical decision-making processes and long-term strategic development plans. The ability to access, manipulate and evaluate the ever-expanding amount of data is an essential function for any business trying to compete in dynamic markets conditions.

However, business leaders don’t just need to be familiar with the processes of data collection and analysis, they need to communicate the often complex and conflicting findings to a wide range of stakeholders. You will therefore explore the latest data visualisation and augmented reality technologies, as well as the ways in which we make sense of the information around us, examining the consumer as well as the business decision processes. Cybersecurity and data control will be reviewed alongside the ethical implications of data control and the use of insight management techniques.

The Supported Independent Learning module is designed to enable students to complete their MBA journey with a significant independent research project, supported both by personal Supervision (Business Research Project – a Work Based Project or Dissertation approach) and significant workshop-based activity (Research and Analysis Methods).

You will evaluate and synthesise research philosophies, develop research strategies, conduct research using secondary and/or primary sources and analyse your findings in relation to the wider business, industry and sector issues. The process will support the development of key personal skills, from critical analysis and knowledge acquisition to the development of significant insight through robust inquiry. The skills developed during this process are of great value to employers, demonstrating the ability to critically and forensically investigate a significant business-related issue or opportunity. It can also prompt student interest in conducting further research, whether in a consultancy role or in continued academic research at DBA or PhD level.