The Loughborough Executive MBA MBA

What you'll study

The Loughborough Executive MBA is designed to provide managers with a challenging educational experience in terms of general intellectual and personal development, within the context of the academic study of business and management.

Those wishing to specialise, can do so through our Executive MBA (Sports Management) pathway. Drawing on Loughborough University’s long heritage and reputation for sport, this pathway covers all the same core content of the Executive MBA programme but then also includes 50 credits of sports management focused modules. It is aimed at those wishing to gain both the general senior management learning of an MBA programme alongside developing the capabilities to succeed in sports organisations and businesses.

Modules

This programme covers a wide range of topics. To give you a taster, we have provided a brief outline of the core modules affiliated with this programme and the specific assessment methods associated with each module.

To gain the award of MBA, 180 credits need to be achieved. All the core modules are compulsory and account for 150 credits. 30 credits must be selected from the optional modules. To gain the award of MBA (Sports Management) students must take all compulsory modules that account for 150 credits, two core sports management electives and a choice of one other elective (10 credits)

• Compulsory
• Optional

Personal Effectiveness (10 credits)

Personal Effectiveness (10 credits)

This module starts your MBA journey by focusing on developing key personal effectiveness skills, including, self-awareness and a recognition of how to influence others; explore how to foster more effective work relationships; and build strategies for continuing personal development.

Assessment

Typically, this module is assessed by 100% coursework.

Accounting, Financial Management and Economics (10 credits)

Accounting, Financial Management and Economics (10 credits)

This module aims to critically evaluate accounting practice, the use of financial information in organisations and gives the student a clearer understanding of the economic forces at work in the business world, using selected contemporary problems and techniques appropriate to the management of organisational performance in a variety of 21st century contexts.

Assessment

Typically, this module is assessed by 50% coursework / 50% exam.

Managing People (10 credits)

Managing People (10 credits)

The module covers a range of HR activities such as Performance Management, Recruitment & Selection and Learning & Development. Students will have the opportunity to evaluate theory and practice, develop relevant skills, reflect on their own experience and identify options for improved practice in the future. In contemporary organisational forms day to day management of human resource aspects is often devolved to operational managers. Hence, even if students do not choose to specialise in HR, they will find themselves appraising, performance managing, recruiting and problem solving. This module aims to provide the skills to facilitate this.

Assessments

Typically, this module is assessed by 100% coursework.

Strategic Marketing (10 credits)

Strategic Marketing (10 credits)

This module takes an applied approach to studying the fundamentals of marketing thinking and of strategic marketing. Using company case studies, students work to solve organisational marketing issues. The course teaches theoretical and managerial frameworks that can be immediately put into practice. Students will be able to critically evaluate the importance of a strategic marketing approach; critically evaluate the importance of marketing management; critically evaluate the use of strategic marketing planning frameworks and models; discuss those marketing planning implementation issues that are appropriate to the competitive and market conditions faced by an organisation at a given point in time.

Assessment

Typically, this module is assessed by 100% coursework

Business Analytics (10 credits)

Business Analytics (10 credits)

The module aims to develop an understanding of the role of business analytics in an organisation, help students understand how data and information systems/technologies can support an organisation and develop an awareness of how analytical methods (forecasting and optimal resource allocation) can help an organisation improve decision making.

Assessments

Typically, this module is assessed by 50% coursework / 50% exam.

Problem Solving for Leaders (10 credits)

Problem Solving for Leaders (10 credits)

The module covers a range of specific leadership behaviours and structured approaches designed to support the development of competences in problem solving and decision making. It provides students with an opportunity to experience these behaviours and approaches in the classroom, and a framework against which the effectiveness of their problem solving efforts can be assessed.

Assessment

Typically this module is assessed by 100% coursework.

Managing Innovation (10 credits)

Managing Innovation (10 credits)

This practical module gives students the opportunity to work with an outside organisation that needs an innovative solution for their future growth. Using a novel idea generation and risk analysis tool, students work in groups and combine all the knowledge they have gained from their MBA to bring an independent perspective to their partner company’s business.

Assessments

Typically, this module is assessed by 100% group coursework.

Operations Management (10 credits)

Operations Management (10 credits)

This module is all about achieving efficiency and effectiveness in the management of resources that are devoted to the creation and delivery of goods and services in organisations. It enables students to understand the ways managers direct, design, deliver and develop their operations to minimise costs and add value to their end products and services. Students apply several different frameworks to understand traditional and contemporary issues to aid their management and leadership of operations functions within a broad range of global contexts.

Assessment

Typically, this module is assessed by 100% coursework.

Leading the Organisation: Leading People (10 credits)

Leading the Organisation: Leading People (10 credits)

The module aims to: provide a theoretical and practical introduction to leadership and strategic HRM practices; help students apply leadership theory to their own workplace and their own behaviour; consider approaches to leadership appropriate to global businesses in the 21st century and develop participants' skills around persuasive communication. Irrespective of specialism MBA’s can expect to find themselves in a leadership role. The technical aspects of most roles can be learned, leadership skills are harder to acquire, and this module aims to facilitate that process.

Assessment

Typically, this module is assessed by 35% presentation and 65% coursework.

Leading the Organisation: Strategy, Governance and Markets (10 credits)

Leading the Organisation: Strategy, Governance and Markets (10 credits)

This module aims to: provide participants with the knowledge and skills to formulate a strategic business plan; equip students with knowledge on strategic positioning, strategic capabilities and resources, strategic options, scenario planning and innovative strategic thinking; and create an understanding of risk factors and the importance of stakeholder engagement and governance models and an introduction to important contemporary economic challenges.

Assessment

Typically, this module is assessed by 100% coursework.

Leading Strategic Change (20 credits)

Leading Strategic Change (20 credits)

Concentrates on the leading aspects, looks at the issues of change management and applying strategic models to a detailed case study with students working in groups, acting as a consultancy team, to provide a strategic plan for a company. Asks the question- as leader of a team what would you personally do and how would you cope?

Assessment

Typically, this module is assessed by 20% group presentation, 30% group coursework and 50% individual coursework.

Professional Development sessions (0 credits)

Professional Development sessions (0 credits)

(compulsory for Full Time students, Zero Credit rated)

This module aims to prepare students with essential study skills for success at MBA level, as well as preparing a framework for extensive careers and employability support. All part time students are invited to join in with this module.

Assessment

Not assessed

Plus one of the core modules below, depending on the pathway you take:

Work-Based Learning Project and Research Methods (30 credits)

Work-Based Learning Project and Research Methods (30 credits)

Students are required to undertake a work-based project which will be developed in collaboration with an employing organisation. They will identify the key issues, develop data collection strategies, identify solutions and aspects of best practice. The solutions are presented as a written report.

Assessment

This module is assessed by 100% coursework, producing an individual project report of 12,000 words.

Sports Management Work-Based Learning Project and Research Methods (30 credits)

Sports Management Work-Based Learning Project and Research Methods (30 credits)

Students are required to undertake a work-based project in a sports management work-place setting which will be developed in collaboration with an employing organisation. They will identify the key issues, develop data collection strategies, identify solutions and aspects of best practice. The solutions are presented as a written report.

Assessment

This module is assessed by 100% coursework, producing an individual project report of 12,000 words.

Global Outsourcing and Offshoring of Services (10 credits)

Global Outsourcing and Offshoring of Services (10 credits)

The module will consider the role that outsourcing plays in shaping business strategy and IT strategy in a global context and in turn how business and IT strategy affect global sourcing. Perspectives from both the client and supplier side will be considered.

Assessment

Typically, this module is assessed by 35% group / 65% individual coursework.

Corporate Finance (10 credits)

Corporate Finance (10 credits)

The aims of this module are to: develop a broad understanding of core issues in corporate finance which are important to students' professional needs; develop numerical reasoning and the ability to interpret numerical data. On completion of this module students should be able to: discuss advantages and disadvantages of various sources of finance; understand and use various capital budgeting techniques for a variety of scenarios; evaluate the impact of capital structure and dividend policy on the value of the firm; evaluate arguments and evidence in relation to key issues in corporate finance; use appropriate tools to analyse problems faced by corporate treasurers.

Assessment

Typically, this module is assessed by 100% individual coursework.

Managing Corporate Reputation (10 credits)

Managing Corporate Reputation (10 credits)

The aims of this module are: to provide participants with an understanding of how corporate reputation can be managed well and what to do when things go wrong; to develop an understanding of media, media strategy and media management at regional, national and international levels; to develop skills in managing the media and media interactions in a rapidly changing media environment; and to explore corporate reputation, brand management, PR and crisis management within a sports context and compare this context with other sectors. The module makes extensive use of practitioner inputs and live business problems.

Assessment

Typically, this module is assessed by 40% individual presentation / 60% individual coursework.

Managing the Global Firm (10 credits)

Managing the Global Firm (10 credits)

This module examines the business-environment factors and management styles that influence global companies. The module combines academic reasoning with practical applications. The aims of this module are: to provide awareness of the technological, economic, legal and political context in which organisations operate on a global scale; to develop knowledge and understanding in international business theory and managerial practice in a range of international contexts; to explore the specific implications for managerial practice, financial management, marketing and innovation efforts to develop a rich understanding of the complexities of managing global firms; and develop knowledge of the different approaches that can be taken when managing firms in a global context.

Assessment

Typically, this module is assessed by 100% individual coursework.

Information Systems, Strategy and Management (10 credits)

Information Systems, Strategy and Management (10 credits)

To provide an understanding of: the strategic importance of information systems (IS) and the concerns of modern Information Technology (IT)in the competitive environment; Systems Theory (including Systems Thinking and related information concepts) and to exemplify its practical utility; digitization of traditional businesses and the Digital Economy through business applications of the technology deployed, in Platforms, Auctions, data analytics/Big Data, Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, Cryptocurrencies and robotics; explore digitization through concepts of transaction costs, disruption, network effects and innovation diffusion; and Media, Social Media, Attention Economy and immersive content, such as Virtual reality and games.

Assessment

Typically, this module is assessed by 100% coursework.

Project Management (10 credits)

Project Management (10 credits)