MBA (incorporating PG Cert/PG Dip) - with CMI Accredited Chartered Manager status

What will I cover in this module?

Module description

The Business Impact Study represents a major learning experience for the participant, providing an opportunity to pursue in considerable depth and with suitable academic rigour a specific area of organisational intervention, building on the study of relevant concepts, models and paradigms.

Each Business Impact Study will be supervised by an appropriate Supervisor, appointed by The Derbyshire Business School. Prior to starting the full study, a Business Impact Proposal will be individually negotiated on entry at final year of the MBA programme.

The final work will be independently assessed by two tutors, one of whom will be the Supervisor. It will take the form of Business Impact Report.

The study is a two-part initiative:
 
Part 1: Initially you will investigate a chosen business to produce a Business Impact Proposal. The proposal aims to provide a organisational, business-unit or department wide business-focused view of their operational vulnerabilities, opportunities and recovery requirements within the chosen sector.

This Business Impact Proposal can be defined as the development and application of new ideas to create new opportunities and to solve problems. It has a critical role in progressing the science of knowledge to the application of knowledge, and in future economic development. The Business Impact Proposal is viewed conceptually as a transformation process which is fundamentally connected to identifying the activities of creative thinking, knowledge exchange and transfer through action based diffusion. This module addresses the essential processes and capabilities required to develop and manage the impact of the proposal from idea to application. The context for this intervention may be within your own organisation or corporate organisation of your choice and the scope may include product, service, process, technology and marketing intervention of any kind.

Part 2: You will be required to produce a Business Impact Report to demonstrate a significant difference that your research and intervention have made to the chosen organisation. The report is to address a significant strategic issue, relating this to current academic practice and culminating in displaying a measureable performance impact. Your Impact Report will not just be a case of 'doing the job competently', it is required to demonstrate that the operation or performance of the organisation has changed. For example:

• Creating something that did not exist previously
• Improving a current departmental or business activity
• Achieving significantly more than expected due to your research and impact report
• Implementing change to improve performance via new methods

You can examine an area of your field of study which may not be available in formal modules; which needs extensive research; or is best pursued on an individual basis. It also offers the chance for personal development, enhancing existing skills of self-reliance, planning and organization, time management, communication, written expression and critical analysis as well as developing new practical research skills.

You will provide an efficient, in-depth analysis of the most critical business functions and processes in your chosen area with consideration given to financial impact and the resources need to implement the theoretical proposal.

Learning outcomes

On completion of the module you will be able to:

1. Apply a range of methods to create, develop, plan and implement a intervention proposal recognising the importance of opportunity realisation and integrating related activities, the development and operation of markets for goods, services and resources, customer types and their expectations using a structured approach.

2. Act autonomously in critically investigating a current in-company working practices, employing research methods to form primary data, analysing, comparing and drawing of conclusions, whilst implementing and proving the impact of the report. The topic should be relevant to the title of this programme

3. Demonstrate the ability to connect the theory and practice of strategy, marketing, HR and Entrepreneurship with other academic and work disciplines.

How will I be assessed?

100% coursework

Coursework 1 - 20%

2,000 - 2,400 words
 
You will investigate a business venture, develop a strategy for exploiting its opportunities, produce a business impact proposal and present this proposal to the business for discussion. It will be supported by theoretical models, to include Innovation, entrepreneurship, strategy, marketing, HR etc as appropriate.  

Coursework 2 - 80%

7,500 - 8,000 words 

You will implement the Business Impact Proposal, develop a strategy for exploiting it and recognize the intervention impact. It will be supported by theoretical models, to include innovation, entrepreneurship, strategy, marketing, HR etc as appropriate.

You will also construct and submit a reflective critique of personal learning and development (approximately 2,000 words - not included in the above word count)

How many credits is it worth?
45

What will I cover in this module?

Module description

The question of corporate responsibility and the ways organisations discharge their moral and ethical responsibilities are vital features in any contemporary debate concerning the management of the business organisation. Organisations have become increasingly powerful resulting in the requirement for greater external accountability and transparency into their behaviour in terms of the use, or abuse, of this power and its impact on a range of stakeholders. Whilst a number of organisations clearly take their responsibilities seriously and have adopted appropriate strategies and policies, an organisation's approach to its moral and ethical responsibilities requires constant monitoring and adaptation to respond to the many and varied developments both in the external environment and arising from the organisation's own strategic development. For example, issues such as globalisation, consumerism, environment/social impact and sustainability are just some of the factors which require the organisation to consider the ethical impacts as well as the commercial opportunities.

This module therefore provides you with an opportunity to firstly consider the management of the organisation in terms of its ethical responsibilities, its ethical decision making and the strategic and practical ways in which the organisation may choose to manage its corporate responsibilities, including its responsibilities with regards to Corporate Governance and its impact on those decision making processes and strategies. You can then turn your attention to considering the dynamic influences that may require the organisation to consider its ethical response.
The module takes an integrative approach in considering corporate responsibility both in general terms but also in its application to the functional areas of the organisation and in doing so provides you with an opportunity to draw on knowledge and understanding from other modules on their chosen pathways. 

 
Learning outcomes

On completion of the module you will be able to:

1. Use appropriate CSR and ethics theory to analyse the corporate behaviour of the organisation in the discharge of its social and ethical responsibilities.
2. Critically evaluate the organisation's ethical responses to contemporary internal and external influences, including all its stakeholders.
3. Evaluate their own values and ethics with regard to the organisations and societies with whom they are connected.

Areas of study

• The organisation and the CSR context (theories of the firm and the ethical context)
• Ethical Theory (philosophical concepts and approaches to CSR)
• Global ethical theory and the international context
• CSR and organisational culture
• Leadership, ethics and morality
• Managing and evaluating CSR
• Corporate Governance
• HRM and ethics
• Marketing, product development, consumerism and sustainability
• Supply Chain management and CS

How will I be assessed?

100% coursework

Coursework 1 - 90% - An individual written report (3000 - 3500 words).

Coursework 2 - 10% -  A reflective statement on your response to the module particularly focusing upon your own value systems and participation in organisational ethics. (1,000 words)

Reading list

Core text

Crane, A. and Matten, D. (2007) Business Ethics (2nd Edn), Oxford, Oxford University Press.

How many credits is it worth?
15

What will I cover in this module?

Module description

In the current employment market successful careers can no longer be built on educational qualifications alone. Employers demand that potential employees are able to demonstrate employability. Students, particularly those looking to move into leadership and management positions, must therefore develop a portfolio of transferable skills at a professional level to work with self direction and originality through their academic studies and onwards to career development in the workplace.

The overall aim of this module is to enable you to use reflective and personal development planning processes (PDP) to "identify, articulate and evidence learning and development" and to "recognise , record and later draw upon evidence for the skills, qualities and capabilities you have developed" (HEA 2006). It also aims to provide you with planning skills to generate your own development solutions to identified weaknesses, opportunities and threats in order to prepare them to cope with the ongoing career demands for self directed lifelong learning. You will be encouraged to consider the academic, workplace and personal development strands of PDP and to develop an understanding of the connection between these three areas of personal and professional development.

These practices are central to the development of management Masters students who are ready to take effective roles as business leaders and professional specialists. They provide a supportive framework around the whole programme of Masters study helping to connect together separate modules of learning and to understand the connection between academic theory and research and its practical application within the workplace.

Learning outcomes

On completion of the module you'll be able to:

1. Employ reflective and PDP processes to identify, evaluate and record the use of professional skills and plan further development
2. Identify, plan, deliver and evaluate self directed learning and development projects to address identified areas of academic, work and/or personal objectives

Areas of study

• Relevance of PDP and reflective practice to students, business leaders and professional specialists
• Identification of relevant employability skills and their role in future career development e.g. analysis of professional standards, employer competency frameworks, transferable skills templates
• Self assessment/evaluation tools e.g. skills audits/personal SWOT analysis, personality testing, learning style tests, career choice software, personality testing
• Frameworks to support reflective practice e.g. the intelligent career model, reflective questions
• Techniques for collating skill evidence e.g. portfolios of achievement, electronic PDP systems, creative approaches to recording learning
• Use of peer feedback to support reflective practice
• Range of employment and study related skills development

How will I be assessed?

100% coursework

• 2000 word in depth reflective statement on development during the module with references to evidence within the portfolio of achievement
• Detailed personal SWOT analysis
• Current CV
• 12 month development plan

How many credits is it worth?
15

What will I cover in this module?

Module description

As individuals take on more responsibilities within the organisation, they are more likely to be encouraged to accept accountabilities. This broadly means that their involvement is more likely to have a noticeable impact on the financial performance of the organisation, and that they are more likely to have to evaluate past performance, and be able to suggest and validate proposals for the future. This requires the participant to have the knowledge and competence to use financially based performance metrics at a more strategic level. 

If the participant can make an impact on financial performance, the premise would be that this would be an improvement. The organisation facing market and economic downturn, can always potentially be in an "improved" position. 

The participants are therefore likely to have a range of informational needs, and many of these will be financially linked and supported by accounting based activities. The needs  must be identified and analysed, as the module presents a range of potentially appropriate tools to provide the knowledge framework. The module faces the challenge of helping participants to achieve raise their level of contribution to performance, by using the tools in the workplace. They may be both bound and liberated by financial information, as the accountabilities are accepted.  

The module makes use of the learning outcomes and indicative content of Managing Organisational Information. This module should be seen as a natural progression. As an increasingly diverse and potentially complex number of financially related issues are likely to arise for the participant at this level, the module will provide a main focus on the informational needs and uses generally associated with Management Accounting at the operational and tactical level, and Financial Management at the tactical and strategic level.  

The overall aim is to at least partially overcome the almost inevitable "manager confronts accounting fear factor", to enable a higher level of questioning and participation in matters that might otherwise be left inappropriately managed, and dependent on the domain of the accountants.

Learning outcomes

On completion of the module, you'll be able to:

1. To critically analyse the financially related performance metrics of the organisation. 
2. To critically evaluate financially related information with the aim of supporting the financially measured improvements.    
;

Areas

• You need to bring forward your understanding of the main economic influences on organisational financial performance, from the previous module.
• A significant level of managerial activities relate to the concept of value, for example, making judgements on how a particular item costs, and whether it is worth purchasing for a financially stronger future. 
• The core theme is the interface between managers and the department of accounting and finance. The module assumes that you understand a "learning organisation", which reviews financial information, and then more proactively moves on. This can range from a decision related to an inappropriate cost of a service, to a decision on whether to borrow more finance for the organisation.
• You need to have some understanding of the financial accounting fundamentals, relating to the application and control of accounting systems. You need to understand the conceptual framework that enables the system to demonstrate good stewardship externally, and to provide financial information internally for management purposes, whatever the business sector.
• Understanding the contextual role of accounting and finance in determining and evaluating performance at the strategic level.
• Understanding the role of cost and management accounting systems to evaluate and support performance at the operational level, in a wide variety of situations, including sustainable development.
• Understand how financial information supports strategic and tactical developments, with the core presumption that managers strive towards stated objectives. This would include pricing decisions and strategic company developments. 
• You will be encouraged to be critical of the way financial information is produced and linked to performance metrics.
• You will be encouraged to involve themselves in the business environment in a wider sense, to enable the development of a wider "business knowledge".

How will I be assessed?

100% coursework

This will be based either, for part time students, on a critical analysis of a work based action based study, which will take the form of a written report of 3000 words,

Or, for full time students, assessment will use a company case study to produce a series of evaluative reports, with a total of 3000 words.

How many credits is it worth?
15

What will I cover in this module?

This final stage integrative module has been designed to explore the contemporary challenges that are impacting on the management of public sector organisations. It considers not only the corporate level impact on strategy, but also incorporates the wider management issues of functional strategy. It also focuses on how managers in today's organisations need to consider the organisation's need to manage cultural diversity and change in the global environment.

Topics covered:

There are a number of approaches to this study and a vast array of texts which could be used. It is intended that the course will be flexible enough to incorporate new ideas in this leading edge topic.

• The challenges of transformational, strategic and organisational Change in the 21st century public sector and voluntary sector organisation.
• Leading Edge thinking and current debates on strategy and sustainability.
• Strategic Leadership. The role of strategic leaders and executive teams in the strategy process, governance and corporate responsibility.
• Managing strategically, including the functional areas of the organisation and their contribution to organisational success. Sectoral and societal influences.
• Managing culture and structure in multidivisional organisations and in cross-national settings.
• The challenges and opportunities in developing collaborative activities in and across different sectors.

On completion of this module you will be able to:

• Evaluate the major changes taking place in the current environment and how these changes impact on the varied strategic and management approaches used by complex public sector and/ or voluntary organisations.
• Formulate and develop appropriate strategies for the implementation of alternative types of management strategy, and design management policies to effectively support the needs of managing in an era of increasing complexity.
• Critically evaluate the opportunities and threats arising from the external pressures on the public sector and/or voluntary sector.
   

How much work will I need to do each week?
Personal study time 10 hours

How will I be assessed?
100% examination

How many credits is it worth?
15

What will I cover in this module?

Module description

All managers are required to develop core knowledge and skills in the field of people management to enable them to contribute and add value to their organisations operating in a dynamic organisational context. This module seeks to develop knowledge and understanding of the principle areas of people management practices emanating from HRM/D research; highlighting contemporary changes and developments on the links to positive organisational outcomes, as well as the major debates about theory and practice in the specific fields of leadership, flexibility and change management. The aim of the module is to assist you in becoming an effective manager. The module also requires you to reflect critically on theory and practice from an ethical and professional standpoint.

Learning outcomes

On completion of the module, you'll be able to:

1. Review and critically evaluate contemporary research and debates on the relationship between the links between people management and leadership practices and positive organisational outcomes.
2. Assess their role as a professional/leader/manager with a view to adding value to the organisation.

Areas of study

• Contemporary developments in organisations/sectors
• Influential and contemporary theories on commitment, psychological contract and engagement
• Major research studies in people management and leadership
• Links between people practices (including HRM/D) and business outcomes
• Impacts of leadership and management styles, the development of leaders in organisations
• The contribution of flexible working and effective change management
• The aims and objectives of a people based strategy and how resources, training and development, reward, performance management and effective management of employee relations contribute to improved organisational performance.
• Cost effectiveness
• Assess the contribution made by HR related specialists in different types of organisation. 
• Professionalism and ethical practice by individuals in organisations
• CPD/PDP

How will I be assessed?

100% coursework

An individual written assessment using a case study or an organisational issue relevant to the student's workplace, 3,500 words

How many credits is it worth?
15

What will I cover in this module?

Module description

This module is the first step in the journey for in all programmes. If managers are to successfully manage, they need a structured understanding of how their activities need to be supported by information that will be quantitative in nature. It will focus on financial information systems operating within the business entity, and economic information from outside. The aim of the module is to emphasise system frameworks, which are applied in an integrative manner to help the manager to be more effective in the workplace. The three main identified skills relate to the generic managerial activities of controlling, decision making and planning. By setting the student mind on rational evaluation, validation and action, these components provide important steps, whatever the intended masters pathway.

Learning outcomes

On completion of the module, you'll be able to:

1. Critically evaluate the fundamentals relating to the use of quantitative organisational information.
2. Identify relevant organisational information, to make informed and justified judgements in the absence of complete data, in complex situations.

Areas of study

The core themes to be covered within the module in a cross-disciplinary manner are:

• The economic influences  of the business environment
• The nature of data, information and information systems.
• The role of financial accounting

How will I be assessed?

60% coursework/ 40% exam

Coursework - A series of reports based on the outcome of an analysis of a business situation, designed to integrate and evaluate the application of knowledge in the generic aspects of quantitative information. 2,000 - 2,200 words.

Exam - An individual evaluation of the fundamentals relating to the use of organisational information, based on the use of a computer interactive assessment.

How many credits is it worth?
15

What will I cover in this module?

Module description

Effective managers need to understand the complex, dynamic and systemic nature of the organisations in which they manage and lead staff. Organisational theory can give an invaluable insight into an organisation's agility and responsiveness to the external operating conditions. The module will approach the subject by addressing organisation behaviour on four levels: individual, intra-personal and interpersonal and organisational levels. At each level of analysis the interactions of the organisation with the external environment will be emphasised. Actions in one area will have impacts on other areas of the business and effective managers must therefore understand these interconnections and consider these when making plans and taking decisions to manage and minimise unintended consequences.

Learning outcomes

On completion of the module, you'll be able to:

1. Critically evaluate the theoretical perspectives on behavioural processes within organisations
2. Demonstrate a critical understanding of the wider implications of management decisions and behaviour on organisations, teams and individuals.
3. Apply knowledge of organisational theory to their personal development and practice.

Areas of study

• Individual characteristics: Personality and aptitude, emotional intelligence, attitudes and values
• Attitudes to work: motivation, job satisfaction and impacts upon work design, commitment and the psychological contract.
• Individual decision making
• Understanding teams and groups in organisations
• Leadership and management
• Power, politics and conflict
• Environmental fit (impact of external organisational context e.g. globalisation, demographic and social trends, technological development)
• Organisational structure
• Organisational culture
• Innovation and change
• Organisational values (ethics, CSR and sustainable organisations)

How will I be assessed?

100% coursework

Coursework 1 - 30% - Portfolio of three 700 word assignments to be submitted bi-weekly in the first 6 weeks of the module. This will assess your knowledge of specific areas of organisational theory at individual, intra-personal and interpersonal levels of the organisation.

Coursework 2 - 60% - An individual timed (10 minute) presentation of your response to a management problem encountered on the residential which will require a critical evaluation of appropriate theory to support your rationale.

Coursework 3 - 10% - Reflective statement on your learning within the module particularly focusing upon synthesis of theoretical and practical knowledge and experiences in the residential - 500 words

Reading list

Core text

Rollinson, D. (2008) Organisational Behaviour and Analysis: An Integrated Approach (4th Edn), Harlow, Pearson Education.

How many credits is it worth?
15

What will I cover in this module?

Module description

Management theory, practice and business technologies are advancing at a bewildering rate. Each passing year sees an increase in the number of opportunities, new initiatives and research which are supposed to be the salvation for organisations which adopt the proclaimed practices.
Organisations may have a choice - to adopt or not. If these latest practices are adopted the results may be disappointing, but not to adopt the latest thinking could leave your enterprise at a disadvantage.
In management, the ability to understand, and then critically evaluate new management theories, technologies, and initiatives and to be able to discriminate between those which are likely to have a potential to benefit an organisation and those which are likely to provide no benefit, are key attributes for a manager, in order to provide sustainable advantage.
Organisations either move forward or wither and die, but the ability to discriminate between options and to choose 'winners' can provide a sustainable and distinctive advantage.

The aim of this module is to provide a research based assessment of a current trend, technology, or recent innovation in management thinking and to critically evaluate how it may contribute towards the sustainable competitive advantage of a particular enterprise, organisation or business sector.

Learning outcomes

• To demonstrate a critical understanding of a theory, technology or initiative in management thinking.
• Through critical reflection to evaluate the applicability of the theory, technology or initiative to a particular enterprise, organisation or business sector.
• To recommend an appropriate course of action for the chosen enterprise organisation or business sector.

How will I be assessed?
100% coursework - (may include oral presentation and/or written submission of up to 3,500 words)

How many credits is it worth?
15

What will I cover in this module?

Module description

This course answers business' needs for effective management of project-orientated and project -driven organisations. Within the stimulus of a masters learning situation the programme is aimed at the professionally educated, and effectively prepared project manager, who can manage change and operate in a global environment.

The focus of this course is on the relationship between operational and Project Management, in line with the strategic objectives of an organisation. After a broad overview of Project Management issues, the course aims to introduce the concepts of the Project Life Cycle (PLC) and to explore the first 3 PLC-phases in dept. Furthermore the course will serve to integrate the concepts and practice of Project Management with the ideas and concepts of previous courses.

Areas of study

• Strategic alignment of project initiatives and proposals
• Strategic planning methods and techniques; strategic fields of interest; strategies and policies; project life-cycle approaches
• Project-management theories; business process modelling

On completion of the course you should be able to:

• Critique project management processes and their relationship current strategic practice
• Critically evaluate organisational and management issues concerned with project management, including the power and influence of different stakeholders

How much work will I need to do each week?
Personal study time 10 hours

How will I be assessed?
100% coursework - 3500 words

Reading list

Essential reading:

Maylor, H. (2003) Project Management, 3rd Ed, London, Pearson
OR
Meredith, J.R. and Mantell S. (2003)  Project Management : a managerial approach , International
Edition,5th ed. - New York; Chichester : Wiley,

How many credits is it worth?
15

What will I cover in this module?

Module description

This module encapsulates many of the central themes to the Masters programmes, and aims to provide you with a holistic view and understanding of how different types of organisations manage the dynamics of strategy and policy formulation, implementation, and evaluation in order to respond to changes in both internal and external environmental dynamics and develop sustainable competitive advantage

Further, the module provides a broad representation of the differing, and often conflicting, perspectives and theories which reflects the richness of current debate among academics and business practitioners. Within and across this framework, an overview of certain current themes and perspectives is included to provide you with a more 'rounded' and integrative framework. These theme and perspectives are:

• Globalization
• Innovation and creativity
• Performance management and financial control
• Markets, hierarchies and networks
• Transformational change knowledge management. 

The intention here is to keep the module up-to-date with both the latest thinking in strategic management and the current practices and approaches that facilitate overall organisational  development. Finally the module encourages you to develop a wider global/international perspective; increase their awareness of organisational, industry and cultural diversity and develop their analytical, problem-solving and decision-making skills.

Learning outcomes

On completion of the module, you'll be able to:

1. Exhibit critical engagement with the latest received critical, methodological and theoretical literature relating to the strategy process in different types of organisations;
2. Recognise, and critically evaluate the key elements within an organisations' intra-,micro- and macro-environments which impact directly on its strategic direction-setting activities, and;
3. Demonstrate ability to use appropriate methods and approaches to analyse and synthesise information about complex organisations in dynamically competitive situations; critically evaluate - and select from - a number of strategic options, and provide recommendation(s) for implementation or other courses of action

How will I be assessed?

100% coursework

The module will be 100% assessed via an in-depth application of key strategy themes and constructs to an organisation or complex (organisation or industry) case scenario. You will be required to submit a 3500 word paper, which takes the form of a professional management report.

Reading list

Core text

McGee, Thomas and Wilson (2005) 'Strategy - Analysis and Practice', McGraw-Hill

How many credits is it worth?
15

What will I cover in this module?

Module description

Every organisation must have the strategic aim to engage with all of its stakeholders in order to exceed its organisational purpose of creating, developing and delivering superior and sustainable customer value to achieve long term competitive advantage both in its current, and its potential, business environments. But engagement means putting the customer central to, and across all levels of, the organisations' processes. This centrality of customer involvement has to be sustaining for mutual benefit.

Learning outcomes

On completion of this module, you'll be able to:

1. Critically evaluate, and justify, how customer value can be maximised to produce sustainable and strategic competitive advantage, achieving life-time customer value, for mutual reward.
2. Critically appraise, evaluate and recommend how meaningful changes and improvements to customer services/products and processes/systems can be made through more effectively directing, and integrating, marketing, strategy and all internal/external operational activities to release the potential value from brand and parent equities and, hence, improve current and future corporate performance against a variety of targets.

Areas of study

The central premise that underpins this module is that any organisation must engage with all of its external and internal stakeholders in order to exceed its organisational purpose of creating, developing and delivering superior and long term customer value to achieve sustainable competitive advantage both in its current, and its potential, business environments. But engagement means putting the customer central to, and across all levels, of the organisations' processes.

Building on the organisation's innate resources of people, information systems, investment funding, processes and its potential capabilities with products, goods and services, Marketing, Strategy and all intra-organisational operations should co-exist seamlessly and together provide the fundamental 'integrative' mechanisms to help achieve the full potential of the organisation. But the customer, and the long term business, must be central in and to all organisations.

Whether the organisation is in the commercial, not-for-profit, business to business or public sectors, or whether in manufacturing or service provision, large or small, the Sustainable Customer Value module is designed to develop management skills to support professionals capable of operating in increasingly complex, customer driven, fast-moving and ever-changing regional, international and global environments. As Piercey (2009) states "value is defined by the customer.... value in their terms". Value will be generated not just by marketers but by customers influencing ideas, value innovations, business processes and practices, designs, relationships, etc.

Activities such as marketing, strategy, proactive customer communications are all engagements that matter because these are arguably the strongest interface between the organisation, its brands, its many publics (stakeholders, employees and customers) and its current and future directions. Marketing's centrality and interconnectedness to the customer, and researches with the organisation's various networks, must provide the integrated links that will focus the organisational resources on furthering the corporate strategy and create an appropriate vision to anticipate and satisfy customers' and stakeholders' needs, both currently and into a strategically envisioned future. Customer centrality to the whole of the organisation and relationships at different levels between providers and users are the antithesis of marketing control - are Marketing Departments willing to encourage this?  

Management of all transformational, and operational, activities matter because they are the delivery system processes that will satisfy those customers, and their needs, by producing the necessary goods, and/or services, effectively and efficiently. Without understanding the needs and values of customers, and other interested stakeholders, the organisation cannot plan to satisfy future demands. Without understanding the operational context of the organisation those demands cannot be adequately assessed for feasibility, viability, sustainability. Creating and delivering customer value will create in return mutually beneficial exchanges with all stakeholders.

This module aims to provide a critical understanding of, and learning from, the fundamental concepts which link and integrate marketing, strategy and all operational activities within (successful) organisations. The module will reflect and complement other alternative organisational aspects and managerial disciplines covered by the other Certificate stage modules relevant to the Management Masters Programme in order to provide students with a complete overview of the nature and purpose of management in today's global economy.
The context for shared learning will be informed by the relevant student groups' backgrounds, and needs, as well as to reflect the nature of their interests and needs. Public and private sector participants are anticipated to be amongst the Part-time student cohort from small, medium and large organisations as well as from a variety of sectors, especially Service-related sectors. The module will have to communicate even more widely to the Full-time, International student group in order to appreciate their cultural contexts and to share their contemporary understandings of the UK/EU and RoW whilst providing insights into marketing, strategy and operations in a variety of Eastern and Western regions/countries often through the adoption of case studies and student knowledge. Case studies might relate to University of Derby, LeNovo, Apple, IKEA, Wal-Mart, HSBC/Santander, CitiGroup, Nokia, Google/Rediff/Baidu, Amazon, Madonna/Lady Gaga, Toyota/Shanghai (Rover) Motor Corporation/Tata, NHS/BUPA, City and County Councils and other representative public sector organisations etc.

The module's 'currency' is essential for all students in order to add knowledge, skills and value to their investment of time, energy and resources into this module.

How will I be assessed?

100% coursework - Individual time constrained assessment or an individual written assignment (3000-3500 words)

You will be given opportunities, through both formative and summative assessments, to reflect on their learning to support professional and personal development

How many credits is it worth?
15