Year one
Strategy for Business Development
Strategy consists of the analysis and decisions an organisation undertakes in order to create and sustain competitive advantage. Understanding these interrelated processes is crucial for creating and developing organisations. This module explores these decisions areas from a range of contemporary perspectives and contexts.
Creativity and Innovation
This module introduces students to an exploration of creativity and innovation within the discipline of business and management. The changing understanding of creativity is explored as well as personal approaches to creative problem solving. The broad nature of Innovation is examined - especially in terms of organizational culture / climate and new business models. The role of innovation in gaining strategic advantage is introduced.
Innovation in Practice
The module covers Innovation in Practice through a Business Process Innovation from both theoretical and practical perspectives. It introduces students to the crucial value creating processes within organisations. Moreover, the nature of business models is examined and creative approaches to new business models explored. Business Process Innovation is evaluated in different organisational contexts - both large and small organisations as well as in different sectors of the economy.
Global Business
This module seeks to provide students with an appreciation of the processes of firm internationalisation and the key issues that affect marketing decisions in an international and global context. Firm level processes and activities are considered within the context of the global business environment. Students will be given the opportunity to assess opportunities for internationalisation and the barriers that must be addressed.
Year two
Competitiveness
This module has been developed in association with Harvard Business School and is closely based on the Harvard Business School "Microeconomics of Competitiveness" (MOC) adapted to include a regional focus. The module explores not only theory and policy, but also the organisational structures, institutional structures, and change processes required for sustained improvements in competitiveness from a range of perspectives on a regional, national and international basis.
Management Research
The module seeks to expose students of business development and innovation to the range of research methods, consultancy skills, and project management techniques available. Students will acquire appropriate knowledge and understanding of the various research and project management methodologies for the purposes of developing an applied management project proposal and project plan in preparation for undertaking a postgraduate management project.
Entrepreneurship
Building on extant knowledge of the entrepreneurial process this module examines key aspects of entrepreneurial business development in theory and practice. The module builds on the knowledge gained in the earlier modules.
Digitising Marketing
This module examines the digital marketing context. When the tools of marketing change, marketing strategies must change too. The focus of this module is on small firms as they attempt to navigate the digital transition from offline to online marketing.
Management Project
The Management Project enables students to develop research, consultancy and project management skills developed in the research and consultancy skills module. The research and consultancy skills module provides the learning and foundation students require in order to apply the practical and theoretical concepts encountered on the business development and innovation programme to a "live" management issue. In doing so they choose appropriate research methodologies, gather data and make conclusions and resource-based recommendations to the host organisation in a reliable and valid manner.
