Business Intelligence and Social Media MSc (Brunel Business School)

The MSc consists of both compulsory and optional modules, a typical selection can be found below. Modules can vary from year to year, but these offer a good idea of what we teach.

Compulsory Modules

Professional Consultancy in Business Intelligence and Social Media: The aim of this module is to encourage the application of professional advisory and management principles to the generation of business solutions. Through the study of appropriate methods it is intended that students will develop skills in order to enable them to produce reliable solutions of high quality and increase their appreciation of the significance of adopting a professional approach to the process of business analysis and consultancy.

The module will provide students with an opportunity to develop consultancy and advisory skills, practical skills and technical competencies with new-media whilst working collaboratively to undertake an authentic task. Students also will be given the opportunity to practise and evaluate realistic decision-making in a simulated business environment, with particular emphasis on the organisational implications of evolving business models.

It is anticipated that students will achieve a high level of understanding of the global view of collaborative solutions development and be well prepared for professional practice.

Social Media: The aim of this module is to provide students with an understanding of developments in communication channels and the business implications of these new social media technologies. Students will develop a solid appreciation of the applications and opportunities for the commercial sector to capitalize on social media, as well as to understand the theoretical underpinnings of social organizations and structures.

Business Intelligence: The aim of this module is to present the most significant technologies associated with business intelligence, big data and data analytics, with a particular emphasis on applications in the corporate sector. Students will be supported in developing state-of-the-art knowledge and professional competencies in the analysis, interpretation and management of corporate knowledge resources, with the expectation of gaining proficiency in application tools of relevance to high technology industry. (Please note that this module does not require programming skills).

Mobile, Social Media and Cloud Services: This module aims to present the principles and concepts of social media within the context of cloud services and the mobile web. It takes a specific perspective of how new social media technologies are integrated with cloud based services and mobile platforms in support of business functions. It supports students in developing knowledge and competencies on the principles and technologies enabling cloud services and mobile commerce, and the role that social media has in supporting new technological applications and business processes within the technology sector.

Knowledge Management, Social Networks and Innovation: This module explores the intersection between knowledge, social network technologies and innovation. It examines how organisations create, utilise and communicate knowledge in the global knowledge-based economy and the wider social and economic factors affecting knowledge transfer. The module identifies the exploitation of WEB.2.0 which enables social engagement and processes for business development.

It will analyse and articulate recent trends in new information and communications technologies in this respect and how they may be adopted and adapted for organisational innovation and societal benefit.

Entrepreneurship: This module introduces Entrepreneurship as a field of study and as a framework of analysis. It focuses on the nature of entrepreneurship and its importance in society. In particular the module examines:

• The person - through the analysis and understanding of the psychological and behavioural characteristics of the entrepreneurs. This is achieved by examining and reflecting upon the major theories in the field (psychological theory and cognitive theory)
• The process – through the review and analysis of the main approaches to entrepreneurship.

In addition, the module shows how entrepreneurship unfolds in a wide range of contexts.

Understanding Business and Management Research: The module is predicated on the dominant role of both quantitative and qualitative methods in management research and the need to enable the understanding of research reports and use this information to improve the quality of work, decision-making, and the understanding of complex management problems. The latter will be instrumental in applying existing management theory and research to practical management problems as action researchers.

The specific aims are:

• To provide a balanced view of social science and business research methods enabling a critical understanding of research information.
• To acquire theoretical and practical knowledge for business management by covering issues and debates in management research as reflected in the literature.
• To provide knowledge of relevant research methods and techniques for master's level project work.

Dissertation: A research-based dissertation is an integral element of the programme to which considerable importance is attached. Students are required to base their dissertation on empirical research into a management problem or issue of their choice (subject to approval).

Dissertations are supervised by full-time members of the academic staff of the School who have a wide range of research interests and expertise. The dissertation must be submitted by the end of the academic year during which a student completes all of the taught modules of the course.

Optional

Choose one module from these:

Global Outsourcing: The main aims of this module are to:

• Examine the implications, scope and influence of the outsourcing decision upon business strategy and operations
• Analyse vendor assessment procedures, vendor management, project transition and governance
• Evaluate effective procurement strategies for successful outsourcing
• Develop an understanding of the legal aspects associated with outsourcing

International Business Ethics and Corporate Governance: This module focuses on business ethics and corporate governance in the international context. Both areas will be addressed from the perspective of the dual "business" models of the shareholder and the stakeholder approaches. Further the broader societal impacts of business activities will be considered in-depth. The full range of businesses will be considered – from large corporations through to SMEs. Empirical studies will be used to apply the theoretical resources of moral philosophy, CSR and corporate governance.

Strategic Marketing Management: This module aims to approach marketing management through study of both the theoretical underpinning and the practical implications of contemporary marketing challenges. Exploration of strategic marketing management through the study of the planning cycle, strategy, planning and control in the management of the marketing mix.

Global Diversity Management: This module provides and insight into Global Diversity Management by examining how organizations plan, coordinate and implement a set of management strategies, policies, initiatives such as training and development activities that seek to accommodate diverse sets of social and individual backgrounds, interests, beliefs, values and ways of work in organizations with international, multinational, global and transnational workforces and operations.

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