The simulation is an intensive group project which will take a real-life business idea/product from inception through to market-readiness via a business simulation game.

Students will work in teams of four to six on a pre-prepared business scenario. At the end of the module, learners will have to pitch their business idea to an academic panel.

Problem based learning techniques will explore:

• Creativity, innovation, and enterprise
• Feasibility of business idea/product
• Project teams and partnerships and how these work effectively in a virtual environment
• The inception of the market cycle
• Managing large volumes of data and distilling actionable data
• Defending the business/product idea
• Business planning and its key functional challenges

The simulation is designed to allow students to apply theory in context in a high-pressured way. It takes students through all the key stages of business start-up as well as the challenges of business development, planning, financing etc. The business simulation game bridges the gap between education and the workplace, and helps you prepare to drive business success in a rapidly changing economic environment. The business simulation experience will be run over a single week one-week, five-day block and is integrated with independent learning and reflection over a longer period.

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This module begins with a discussion of the cultural diversity phenomenon, a day-to-day reality that brings both challenges and opportunites to today’s workplace. Approaches adopted by practitioners to managing cultural diversity will be critically examined and compared, with a particular emphasis on intercultural team-building. The module content then focuses on intercultural competence, an element that is central to the intercultural team-building agenda. Perspectives and insights will be drawn from relevant disciplines, such as intercultural communication, cross-cultural management and education. Participants will consider ways of cultivating their own intercultural competence as well as facilitating others’ intercultural competence development (especially in work-based contexts). To facilitate the exploration of these two areas, participants will engage with theories and practices in intercultural training in a peer-supported learning environment and reflect upon their own intercultural learning experience in this environment.

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The large majority of businesses today operate in a variety of economic environments and their leaders must make economic decisions taking into account market specific information. This module covers the most essential analytical tools required for economic decision making such as: the concepts of economic systems, profit and utility maximisation, demand elasticity, market equilibrium, market structures, macroeconomic objectives, government policies’ (monetary, fiscal and trade policies) tools and their impact on businesses etc.
Businesses also require funding from shareholders and lenders at the outset and subsequently need to profits and positive cash flows for investment. They are in competition with other businesses for funding, just as much as they are competition for labour and market share. On this course, you will learn to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages to the business of a range of sources of finance. You will also learn how managers report on the financial affairs and financial position of the business and how financial reports can be analysed to evaluate business performance.

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This module applies key concepts of logistics and supply chain management to provide you with an understanding of the strategic and operational roles of logistics in the global business environment.
Emphasis is placed on global and pan-European systems for materials sourcing and product distribution, to enable you to learn how businesses configure their supply chains to compete in today’s major trading blocs. Early topics identify key issues in global logistics and contrast international and domestic logistics systems. Subsequent topics explore the main components of global supply chains and the
logistics activities involved in their management.
The module begins with an introduction to the characteristics of global logistics and a discussion of the role of logistics in international business. The module then covers the development of international trade, regional trading blocs and the logistics implications. The rise of global marketing and global logistics is then addressed in the context of the international business environment, requiring the management and operation of inbound supplies and sourcing, manufacturing, global distribution channels, international
transport and international order management. Contemporary issues arising out of the former that will be explored in the latter part of the module include the rise of e-logistics and new developments and organisational issues in developing European and global logistics systems.

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The module will cover the following content:
- Organisation Strategy and Strategic Leadership
- Determining the Strategic Direction: Mission Vision and Values
- Strategic Decision-making in Practice
- Transformational Leadership Approaches and Emotional Intelligence
- The Leader-Follower Relationship
- Team Leadership
- Strategic Decision-Making in Innovative Contexts
- Creating Systemic Innovation
- Authentic and Sustainable Leadership
- Resources and Capabilities

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The Capstone Project provides you with the opportunity to apply the understanding, knowledge, analytical and conceptual tools and personal skills gained from the taught courses to an in-depth study of a selected company. It consolidates the learning, knowledge and skills that you have already taken place as well as developing your capability to undertake inductive or deductive case study analyses. It can thus be seen as the culmination of the entire MBA programme.
In groups, you will select a company and deploy the knowledge background acquired during your studies in a specialist area of business and management to conduct your research. Common specialisms are: Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)/sustainability, entrepreneurship, HRM, innovation, leadership, marketing, operations management/supply chains and strategy. The Capstone Project enables you to put into practice theories and concepts learned on the MBA programme and provides an opportunity to study a particular company and management specialism in detail.

Further information

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Further information

Case studies are increasingly being used in many areas of business and management, and it is widely recognised that case research can be powerful in developing, modifying and extending theory in both exploratory and explanatory research designs. However, there can be misunderstanding of the methodological underpinnings of research using case studies. Different methodological perspectives can use case studies in quite different ways. For example, the role of case studies in positivist research is quite different to their use by interpretive researchers.

This module focuses on the methodological underpinnings of case study research and the roles of case studies in different methodological traditions within the diverse fields of business and management. Examples will be provided of both quantitative and qualitative case studies. Categorisations of different methodological bases of case studies will be discussed, and the use of theory in case study research will be explored. In addition, the module will cover the characteristics of good case research design and ways of constructing 'convincing' case studies. The importance and sources of appropriate secondary data in which to provide context to case studies will be emphasised. You will be required to analyse and critique a quantitative or qualitative database of your choice.

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The material covered in the module relates to two broad areas of study: the examination of organisational behaviour, including attitudes, perception, motivation, groups, teams and leadership; and understanding managerial processes, and the development of skills important in the management of people and processes - such as corporate social responsibility. Change management is increasingly important and therefore you will examine the topic by looking at both incremental and transformational change, and the importance of power, politics and conflict.

Focusing on the behaviour of people in a work environment the module places an emphasis on understanding the vital role and importance of people in the change management process. You will develop an understanding of the dynamics of working organisations in a rapidly evolving business environment, specifically the significance of organisational culture. This in turn develops your ability to plan and carry forward sustainable system-wide change programmes.

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The module is essential to anyone wanting to work in business and / or marketing. Throughout the module we will analyse the principles and practices of marketing with a focus on their practical application.
The module covers:
1. Marketing environment
2. Marketing Strategy and objective setting
3. Marketing communications
4. Understanding Products
5. Pricing strategies
6. Logistics and distribution
7. Services marketing
8. Sustainability
9. Planning and control.
By studying Principles and Practices of Marketing you will learn how to make marketing decisions across an organisation, and how to devise and implement a marketing plan for a product / service of your choice.

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