To be successful and remain effective in today’s dynamic global business environment, leaders need to adapt more quickly to their new and increasingly changing and demanding roles. The module explores contemporary business issues as they impact on leadership and provides an opportunity for students to reflect on their skills and knowledge diagnose leadership style preferences to develop a personal improvement action plan, which they will then take forward to future roles. The module aims to provide the student with a holistic approach to understanding the impact of current issues and the challenges faced by leaders in contemporary organisations. The focus will be on critical application of ‘real life’ approaches and self reflection on future leadership development needs. Contents of the module includes;

• The effective leader
• The leader’s role in the 21st century organisation; aligning, empowering, serving and collaborating
• Leadership for organisational ambidexterity: exploration, exploitation and adaptability
• Contemporary challenges for leadership; diverse teams, responding to disruptive challenges
• Politics, power and conflict at work
• Followership – changing perspectives
• Transformational and transactional leadership
• Servant and authentic leadership styles
• Distributed and shared approaches
• The Humanistic Leader; authenticity, positivity, humility and trust
• Emotional intelligence for leadership.
• Managing the self: audit of personal leadership capabilities, qualities and appraisal of future career paths

The module provides a comprehensive overview of organisational behaviour and design, focusing on the essential roles and responsibilities of managers within various leadership frameworks. It explores into the dynamics of groups and teams in organisations, highlighting the processes of team formation, team working, and the significant impact of individual personality traits, communication, and motivation on organisational effectiveness.

Additionally, the module emphasises the critical role of Human Resource Management in the workplace, critically analysing strategies for high-performance working and the management of both exemplary and poor performance. It also examines employee relations and the dynamics of employment, incorporating contemporary challenges and evolving trends.

The course offers insights into learning and development methodologies, enhancing professional growth and organisational adaptability. It rounds off with a detailed look at the theories and practical applications of reflective practice, encouraging a thoughtful and continuous learning approach within organisational settings.

You will explore the strategic management process, gaining the knowledge and skills necessary to analyse and develop corporate and management strategies. You'll start by understanding the theoretical concepts of strategic and operational management, including how to perform competitive analysis and strategic positioning. The module also highlights the significant roles that governance, ethics, and stakeholders play in shaping corporate strategies, ensuring you have a well-rounded view of the factors that influence strategic decisions.

Throughout the course, you'll learn to use strategic tools for assessing both the external and internal environments of a business, which will enhance your ability to make informed strategic decisions. You will develop strategies at both corporate and business levels that align with an organisation's mission and vision, integrating these strategies with operational management practices. We will cover essential aspects of strategic management such as budgeting, financial planning, resource allocation, and the use of key performance measurement tools like balanced scorecards and KPIs. To bridge theory with practice, the module includes consultancy projects where you will apply your strategic knowledge to real-world scenarios, developing consultancy skills, and delivering impactful recommendations to organisations. This practical experience prepares you to handle strategic challenges and opportunities effectively in your future career.

The research methods module focuses on the principles and techniques used in conducting research. It covers various methodologies for collecting and analysing data, including both qualitative and quantitative approaches. Students learn how to formulate research questions, design surveys or experiments, gather data, and interpret results. The module may also address ethical considerations in research and emphasise the importance of critical thinking and evaluation in the research process. This module aims to equip students with the necessary skills to conduct their own research effectively, such as:

• Understand and critically evaluate the findings of management research
• Design and implement a management research project using methodologies and methods appropriate to research questions and objectives
• Analyse and report management research findings meeting academic and practitioner needs

Indicative content includes:

• The nature, extent and purposes of management research
• Management research paradigms
• Research strategies
• Research designs, methods and approaches
• Research quality standards: establishing validity, reliability and generalisability
• Sampling and Research Instrument Design
• Research ethics
• Research Data Management: collection, organisation and analysis
• Managing a dissertation research project

This module supports the critical exploration of sustainability and aims to expose Masters level cohorts to the contested and multidimensional nature of the key concept of sustainable development. Participants will investigate and explore the economic, social and environmental dimensions and interpretations of sustainability. A critical consideration of the notion and application of sustainability will be facilitated via a variety of case studies, both live and published. This module further
aims to equip participants with an understanding of the practical implementation of sustainable development initiatives in the global business context.

This module is concerned with developing a critical understanding of sustainable development from economic, social and environmental dimensions; global and national discourses; measurement and indicators. The module will consider implementation challenges and the role of the UN Sustainable Development Goals as a framework for change in the global business context.

A programme of individual study and research project in accordance with established research principles
involving the completion of the following elements:

• Management Research Project

The module aims to:

• To provide the opportunity to apply management knowledge, skills and research techniques developed during
  the course to the identified area of management interest.
• To develop students’ intellectual ability in terms of problem solving, critical analysis and conceptual thinking.
• To provide students with the opportunity, and the enabling mechanisms to support their development towards
  independent learning.

The module is your independent final project, similar to a dissertation.

In this module, you'll take the lead in creating a comprehensive business proposal. You will begin by researching the legal requirements necessary to start a business and then move on to developing its strategic direction, including defining its mission, vision, and identifying valuable market opportunities.

You are expected to incorporate financial details, exploring funding options and developing financial forecasts. Your project also involves conducting a thorough stakeholder analysis, honing your networking skills, and pitching your business idea to potential investors through the report.

This module places a strong emphasis on ethical and sustainable business practices, challenging you to incorporate these critical elements into your proposal. Through this project, you will demonstrate your ability to synthesise and apply your learning to develop a well-rounded, strategically sound business proposal based on rigorous research and comprehensive analysis. This is your opportunity to showcase your entrepreneurial skills and innovative thinking in a real-world context.

This module provides opportunities for students to solve business case studies (including live cases) and justify the solutions that have been put forward from an available pool of different solutions and scenarios. 

Indicative contents:-

• Introduction to Case Study Analysis – mini, macro, and integrated business case study
• A modelled approach to case study analysis for decision making
• Assessing the challenges within the live case study
• Problem Identification & Analysis
• Assumption setting and strategic business planning related to case study
• Objectives, strategies, action plans, by function to time scales
• Application of key quantitative and qualitative techniques
• Monitoring, review & control planning for performance
• How to write a case study report
  • Pitfalls of case study analysis