Sport Business and Leadership MSc

What you'll study

The Institute for Sport Business delivers teaching from world class academics, influential thought leaders and inspiring professionals who share a passion for sport business.

• Compulsory
• Optional

Leadership Models and Practices: Applications to a Sport Context

Leadership Models and Practices: Applications to a Sport Context

This module will include teaching on organisational contexts and leadership models; leadership behaviours and competing expectations; contemporary issues impacting on leadership; and the importance of leadership to shaping appropriate organisational practices.

The aim of this module is to deliver a thorough grounding in the main leadership models, and the issues that impact on leadership practice in the sport environment. It is intended as an introduction to leadership and will be the theoretical foundation upon which other sport leadership units are built.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this module you should be able to:

• Understand contemporary models and theories of leadership and leadership development that are international, both in their derivation and in their application;
• Highlight the key issues that impact on leadership practice in sport and other environment;
• Discuss how different leadership models can be utilised in different contexts such as sport;
• Show the ability to recognise the importance of communication in sport leadership practice;
• Recognise the importance of problem solving leadership practice.

Assessment

• 40% Presentation
• 60% Case Study

Sustainability and Leadership for Sport Organisations

Sustainability and Leadership for Sport Organisations

Teaching on this module will cover teaching of the following topics: drivers of sustainability leadership; characteristics of leaders for sustainability; sustainability leadership in action; entrepreneurs as sustainability leaders; the context of sustainability in differing cultural contexts; the influence of sustainable methods; the application of sustainable practices in various global settings.

The aim of this module is to develop an understanding of the relationship between sustainable business practices and leadership in sport organisations.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this module you should be able to:

• Critically analyse the key elements of sustainable leadership practice in sport and other environments;
• Critically analyse how sustainable leadership can shape organisational culture in sport and other environments;
• Critically analyse how sustainable leadership can create competitive advantage in sport and other environments;
• Explain the aetiology of sustainability and be able to debate the application of sustainable leadership practices;
• Evaluate the application of sustainable principles to specific areas within a specific context such as sport;
• Critically evaluate methods and results obtained in published literature;
• Plan and implement sustainable answers to problems in the sport workplace.

Assessment

• 50% Case Study & Presentation
• 50% Essay

Critically Reflective Leadership and Sport Management Practice

Critically Reflective Leadership and Sport Management Practice

The module includes teaching on the knowledge, skills, and values of reflective practice; leading and reflective practice; and action research and reflective practice.

The aim of this module is to create an awareness of how critical reflection can facilitate improved leadership and personal growth in sport management practice.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this module you should be able to:

• Understand and analyse the place of critical reflection in improving leadership and sport management practice;
• Understand and analyse how critical reflection can be used to solve organisational problems in the sport environment;
• Understand and analyse the relationship between critical reflection, leadership and personal growth;
• Understand the meaning of reflective practice, reflective learning theory and related literature;
• Comprehend reflective practice in the context of leadership practice and the role of the sport leader;
• Recognise and apply self reflection for leadership development;
• Apply reflective analysis to confront and solve complex and challenging leadership problems;
• Demonstrate an ability to reflect on the complexity and challenges of leadership practice through the use of case studies;
• Demonstrate an awareness of leadership challenges within specific organisational contexts such as sport.

Assessment

• 20% In Class Tests
• 20% Presentation
• 60% Exam

Analysing the Construction of Leadership for a Sport Context

Analysing the Construction of Leadership for a Sport Context

This module will include teaching on constitutive leadership; leadership and power; power and politics; sources of power; and types of power.

The aim of this module is to introduce you to socio-cultural aspects of leadership and how these factors can be applied to leadership practice in a sport context.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this module you should be able to:

• Explain how leadership is socially constructed in different environments such a sport;
• Explore the nature of the social construction of leadership and understand how the perceptions of others might be altered in the sport context;
• Demonstrate good communication skills to challenge individual perceptions of leadership;
• Demonstrate resourcefulness to complete a project task.

Assessment

• 40% Video Activity
• 60% Essay

Collaborative Project

Collaborative Project

With a multi-talented group of students you will work on a brief from a real company looking to solve a real social or business problem.

Together with your student team, you will research and build solutions to a business problem, supported by our project tutors, clients and staff. Previous clients include Foster + Partners, Speedo, The London Legacy Development Corporation as well as many other companies, start-ups and charities.

The Collaborative Project provides a means for you to engage in critical enquiry and to be exposed to project-based teamwork in multicultural and interdisciplinary settings. By undertaking this module, you will strengthen your cooperative and collaborative working skills and competencies, whilst raising your awareness and appreciation of cultural and disciplinary diversity and differences.

The Collaborative Project aims to provide you with a hands-on experience of identifying, framing and resolving practice-oriented and real-world based challenges and problems, using creativity and appropriate tools to achieve valuable and relevant solutions. Alongside the collaborative elements of the module, you will be provided with opportunities to network with stakeholders, organisations and corporations, which will give you the experience and skills needed to connect to relevant parties and potentially develop future employment opportunities.

Learning outcomes

On completion of this module, you will be able to:

• Work effectively in diverse and interdisciplinary teams
• Undertake and contribute towards a project-based development process
• Apply critical enquiry, reflection, and creative methods to identify, frame, and resolve issues and problems at hand
• Identify user and stakeholder needs and value creation opportunities, whilst collecting and applying evidence-based information and knowledge to develop appropriate insights, practices and solutions
• Identify, structure, reflect on key issues and propose solutions to problems in creative ways
• Enhance your appreciation for diversity and divergent individual and disciplinary perspectives
• Be able to provide structured, reflective and critical feedback to peers and other stakeholders
• Plan and execute a project plan including scope, resources and timing
• Effectively communicate ideas, methods and results to a diverse range of stakeholders
• Use multiple, state-of-the-art date media and technologies to communicate with collaborators
• Make informed, critical and reflective decisions in time-limited situations

Assessment

100% Coursework consisting of:

• 20% Group project proposal
• 20% Individual reflection
• 30% Final Project Report
• 30% Project deliverables to the client

Dissertation

Dissertation

The Dissertation module will equip you with the relevant skills, knowledge and understanding to embark on your own research project.

You will have the choice of three dissertation pathways:

1. A desk based research project that could be set by an organisation or could be a subject of the student's choice
2. A project that involves collection of primary data from within an organisation or based on lab and/or field experiments
3. An Internship within an organisation during which time students will complete a project as part of their role in agreement with the organisation (subject to a suitable placement position being obtained)

By undertaking a dissertation at master's level, you will achieve a high level of understanding in your chosen subject area and will produce a written thesis or project report which will discuss your research in more detail.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module, you should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• The importance of project planning;
• The importance of a clear hypothesis or research question;
• The ethical implications of research;
• The relevant empirical data and methodologies for data collection or knowledge assimilation for the subject area;
• Methods of data analysis and their suitability for the intended data;
• The areas of expertise or publications of the major individuals or organisations in the subject or business area;
• The previous research or current knowledge in the specific subject or business area;
• Theoretical perspectives relevant to your chosen topic;
• The most effective methods of presentation for data or knowledge;
• Developing a clear, coherent and original research question, hypothesis or business problem in a suitable subject area;
• Synthesising relevant sources (e.g. research literature, primary data) to construct a coherent argument in response to your research question, hypothesis or business problem;
• Analysing primary or secondary data collected by an appropriate method;
• Critically evaluating data collected in context with previously published knowledge or information;
• Engaging in critical debate and argumentation in written work;
• Applying principles of good scholarly practice to your written work;
• Performing appropriate literature searching/business information searching using library databases or other reputable sources;
• Planning a research project and producing a realistic gantt chart demonstrating your intended timelines;
• Synthesising information from appropriate sources;
• Demonstrating rational use of research method tools;
• Selecting and using appropriate investigative and research skills;
• Demonstrating effective project planning skills;
• Finding and evaluating scholarly sources;
• Engaging in critical reasoning, debate and argumentation;
• Demonstrating effective report writing skills;
• Recognising and using resources effectively;
• Successfully managing a project from idea to completion;
• Demonstrating commercial awareness or the impact of knowledge transfer in a business or research environment

Assesement

100% Coursework consisting of:

• 20% Literature review
• 20% Research proposal
• 60% Dissertation report/essay

Sport Business and Innovation

Sport Business and Innovation

This module is designed to equip students with an understanding of the main theoretical and empirical issues in the development of sport innovation and an appreciation of the relevant skills needed to manage sport innovation. The module also provides evidence based on applied sport innovation examples from the sport industry. Students will have the opportunity to develop an innovative business concept for the sport business industry.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this module students should be able to:

• Identify, explain and apply the theoretical underpinning of innovation and entrepreneurship as they relate to sport business
• Identify through personal reflection key behaviours, attributes and skills required for innovation in sport business
• Interpret the changing sport business environment using a variety of analytical tools and identify potential market opportunities within the sport business sector
• Prepare and deliver a persuasive sport innovation proposal

Assessment

• 40% Essay
• 40% Project
• 20% Presentation

As part of your programme, you will have the opportunity to choose one module from another programme within your Institute, or from another Institute at Loughborough University London. For a list of possible second subject modules for your programme, please see the Optional Modules tab or email for more information.

Business Planning

Business Planning

You will look at a variety of frameworks for assessing entrepreneurs, products, markets, and industries with a view to understanding the importance of thorough market analysis and research prior to planning a new venture.

The aim of this module is to equip you with the background knowledge on strategic positioning and the more practical aspects of business planning.

Learning outcomes

On completion of this module you should be able to:

• Highlight the complexity of the innovation process
• Explain the importance of idea creation and opportunity spotting
• Create critical assessment of a potential product or service
• Explain strategic positioning of a novel business idea
• Analyse data and information in order to make effective decisions
• Recognise and apply self-reflection for personal development
• Demonstrate rational use of business and risk analysis tools to analyse company performance
• Demonstrate effective communication to persuade and influence stakeholders
• Evaluate the funding needs of a new venture
• Select and use appropriate investigative and research skills
• Demonstrate effective report writing skills
• Work effectively in a team and demonstrate recognition of an individual’s contributions to a group activity
• Demonstrate a positive attitude towards a commercial opportunity
• Spot or create an opportunity for a new product or service
• Successfully manage a project from idea to completion

Assessment

• 100% Coursework

Intellectual Property

Intellectual Property

This module will include aspects of intellectual property law, the types of intellectual property, using intellectual property for commercial advantage, how to apply for intellectual property, and intellectual property database searching.

The aim of this module is to equip you with a knowledge of the various types of intellectual property, searching intellectual property databases, the legal basis of intellectual property rights, the application process for obtaining intellectual property and its importance to the innovation process and the entrepreneur.

Learning outcomes

On completion of this module you should be able to:

• Explain the importance of intellectual property as an asset
• Understand the complexity of IP law and the protection process
• Know the commercial value of the various types of intellectual property
• Interpret data and information in order to make effective decisions
• Perform intellectual property searches
• Provide advice on company strategy
• Select and use appropriate investigative and research skills
• Demonstrate effective report writing skills
• Work effectively in a team
• Demonstrate good oral communication and presentation skills
• Recognise and use their resources effectively
• Demonstrate problem solving capability
• Demonstrate a creative approach to communication

Assessment

• 25% Group Presentation
• 75% Case study

New Media and Analytics for Sport Business

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