Management MSc (Brunel Business School)

Course Content

The course will provide you with an advanced and applied understanding of contextual forces on organisations – be they legal, ethical, economic, environmental, social and technologicaltogether with business strategy, markets and customers, financial management and the management and development of people.

Compulsory ModulesEntrepreneurship: 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.

Financial Resources Management: This module examines critically the issues and challenges that confront managers responsible for financial management. It concentrates on the concepts, topics and methodological approaches and tools relevant to the analysis of the financial standing of the organisation. It explores the development and implementation of financial strategies and policies, and their major operational implications. Critical thinking, analysis, argument and judgement via the use of case study and other materials are also developed as part of the module.

Placement / Consultancy Preparation: The aim of this module is to provide the student with hands-on experience of applying the tools and techniques learnt within the MSc to practical managerial challenges within a demanding professional setting. The experience is intended to enhance the professional skills of the student and increase their prospects of being employed in management positions in a range of companies and locations.

Business Planning: This module aims to promote an integrative understanding of the challenges and opportunities involved in business planning through practice. You will develop critical thinking through the development of a business plan and reflect on the whole process, the team dynamics and their personal development. In addition, this module examines different business models their underlying strategies and decision making process through a variety of case studies.

Strategic Management: This module enables students to appreciate the issues and challenges that confront managers responsible for strategic management. It introduces students to concepts, topics and methodological approaches and tools relevant to the analysis of the strategic position of the organisation. It also concentrates on the development and implementation of strategies and policies, and their major operational implications.

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 of the course 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 Masters level project work.

Dissertation: A research-based dissertation is an integral element considerable importance to the programme. 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.

MSc Management Pathways – choose specialism plus a related dissertation MSc Management (general route: any 2 elective modules):

International Business Ethics and Corporate Governance: This module focuses on business ethics, sustainability 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, sustainability and corporate governance.

Organisational Behaviour *: This module explores the main theories and key functions of leadership and management and their application. You will be able to critique these as well as appreciate the contemporary issues facing leaders and managers. You will also be able to critically evaluate characteristics of effective management and how this differentiates from leadership. You will discuss and assess relative strengths and limitations of key approaches to developing leaders and managers in organisations.

International Marketing *: The module addresses critical understanding and ability in assessing the effectiveness of international marketing theory and practice. It targets principles and issues that drive markets world-wide. Students will develop insight and investigative ability concerning issues facing a business that needs to research markets and develop and implement market strategies, techniques and methods across a range of international sectors.

Strategic Corporate Brand Management and Consulting: The course focuses on strategic corporate brand management and consulting. It deals with the applied aspects of the territory (the management of change in corporate branding contexts). It examines key normative models such as corporate brand alignment and the six conventions of corporate brand management among others. It will examine the strategic nature of corporate brand management in the context of mergers, acquisitions, takeovers and franchise arrangements. The course will consider issues relating to the shared ownership and management of corporate brands and to corporate brand architecture. The roles, activities and approaches adopted by corporate brand consultancies will also be examined. The course will benefit by the involvement of practitioners who will be consulted in the development of the topic of the assessment and will be present in student presentations.

Creative Contexts *: This module provides a critical consideration and evaluation of the structure, imperatives, recent history and likely future development of the publishing, film, television and new media industries. These industries are changing very rapidly and the module prepares students to creatively navigate this dynamic sector. As a case study, the module focuses specifically on the publishing industry, examining the strategies employed to identify gaps in the market and to mediate their outputs. Students will benefit from the insights of industry professionals who contribute to the delivery of the module.

Media Issues: This module will identify and critically interrogate what it means to be a media professional in the digital age. It will examine the institutions, issues and frameworks that impact on the work of media practitioners, using journalism in all its forms as a case study. Students will explore the political, economic and occupational contexts that impact on practice. Conceptually, the module will examine prescient debates about professionalisation, globalisation and citizenship, as well as consider the impact that digital technology is having on the future of the media.

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.

Technology Management: The module aims to develop and demonstrate a critical and practical understanding of the issues associated with modern technology management and business development. It forms part of a coherent programme of study that seeks to develop and demonstrate critical reflection on current theory and practice of management.

MSc Management (Marketing and Branding Management) plus one elective from selection marked *Strategic Corporate Brand Management and Consulting: The course focuses on strategic corporate brand management and consulting and deals with the applied aspects of the territory (the management of change in corporate branding contexts). It examines key normative models such as corporate brand alignment and the six conventions of corporate brand management among others. It will examine the strategic nature of corporate brand management in the context of mergers, acquisitions, takeovers and franchise arrangements. The course will consider issues relating to the shared ownership and management of corporate brands and to corporate brand architecture. The roles, activities and approaches adopted by corporate brand consultancies will also be examined. The course will benefit by the involvement of practitioners who will be consulted in the development of the topic of the assessment and will be present in student presentations.

International Marketing: The module addresses critical understanding and ability in assessing the effectiveness of international marketing theory and practice. It targets principles and issues that drive markets world-wide. Students will develop insight and investigative ability concerning issues facing a business that needs to research markets and develop and implement market strategies, techniques and methods across a range of international sectors. MSc Management (Creative Industries): plus one elective from selection marked *Creative Contexts: This module provides a critical consideration and evaluation of the structure, imperatives, recent history and likely future development of the publishing, film, television and new media industries. These industries are changing very rapidly and the module prepares students to creatively navigate this dynamic sector. As a case study, the module focuses specifically on the publishing industry, examining the strategies employ can employ to identify gaps in the market and to mediate their outputs. Students will benefit from the insights of industry professionals who contribute to the delivery of the module.

Media Issues: This module will identify and critically interrogate what it means to be a media professional in the digital age. It will examine the institutions, issues and frameworks that impact on the work of media practitioners, using journalism in all its forms as a case study. Students will explore the political, economic and occupational contexts that impact on practice. Conceptually, the module will examine prescient debates about professionalisation, globalisation and citizenship as well as considering the impact that digital technology is having on the future of the media. MSc Management (Technology and Innovation Management): plus one from selection marked *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.

Technology Management: To develop and demonstrate a critical and practical understanding of the issues associated with modern technology management and business development. The module forms part of a coherent programme of study that seeks to develop and demonstrate critical reflection on current theory and practice of management.

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