Master of Business Administration (Logistics and Supply Chain Management)

Middle to Senior organisational managers in commercial for-profit organisations, the public sector and the voluntary sector.

Module Teaching & Assessment for all modules except Dissertation

The module will normally have the following assessment regime:

• Written examination: this will typically account for some 40% of the final grade and takes the form of a written examination under controlled conditions.
• Individual Essay(s): this will typically account for some 40% of the final grade and takes the form of a specialised essay. Students will be required to explore an emerging trend or topic within the theory and practice of the module discipline. This will require an extensive search of the relevant academic and practitioner-based literature and students will need to make reference to both academic and industrial/practitioner sources in their written work.
• Group work: this will typically account for some 20% of the final grade and takes the form of a report. A selection of the groups will be invited to present or pitch at the end of the module to a panel.

Module Teaching & Assessment for Dissertation

Each student will be allocated a supervisor who will help them with the development of their project proposal, oversee progress with the project, comment as appropriate on draft materials produced by the student and be available to assist the student with the project, as appropriate.

The dissertation/major project is assessed via the production of a dissertation of some 10,000 to 12,000 words in length.

Where necessary, a viva voce will be conducted in those instances where the provisional mark is considered to be a marginal pass.

To successfully complete the module an overall pass mark of 40% must be achieved.

All assessments will be submitted via the internationally recognised plagiarism software Turnitin.

GCM-M01 Marketing in Practice

The study of marketing plays an essential component of the knowledge, skills and competence of middle to senior manager, particularly in a fast moving and complex global marketplace. The module will develop high level and advanced marketing knowledge and skills in the learner. At the end of the module, you will be able to:

1. Be able to critically analyse and demonstrate the relative importance of marketing to a specific business or organization;
2. Be able to create a high level brief for a market research organisation to carry out a specific research project based on sound organisational research;
3. Be able to supervise and monitor marketing spend as part of a continuing campaign for a specified organization;
4. Be able to demonstrate the necessary competencies to be able to be responsible for generating customer interaction in an organisation’s market research approaches.

GCM-M02 Accountancy and Finance

Middle to senior managers are expected to manage budgets, control costs and improve productivity. This module will support the development of high level skills in this discipline area and enable students to have confidence in accountancy and finance matters as they assume more senior roles with added responsibilities. At the end of the module, you will be able to:

1. Be able to produce competent draft accounts for an organisation;
2. Be able to create a competent budget incorporating both annual and capital expenditure evaluating the appropriate balance of these;
3. Be able to effectively demonstrate, based on research, the different means of appraising investment projects as part of a capital investment plan, and authorise the most appropriate for a given organisation;
4. Be able to demonstrate an ability to be able authorise expenditure against budget; and,
5. Be able to monitor regularly-reported management accounts and authorise remedial action where relevant.

GCM-M03 Research Methods

This module provides students with a detailed and contemporary understanding of qualitative and quantitative research activities, as applied in a business and management context. The module will not only support students prior to commencing their dissertation but also help students to understand how data interpretation can support their role in effectively managing organisations at a senior level.

1. Be able to monitor complex circumstances within and around an organisation to determine when to recommend research projects be developed and approved;
2. Be able to authorise the commissioning of appropriately complex organisation-relevant research projects;
3. Be able to manage complex projects if so commissioned by the organisation.

GCM-M04 Strategic Management

Successful and effective strategic planning and management is essential for any successful organisation. Middle to senior managers must be able to formulate robust and realistic strategic plans. This module explores high level strategic planning concepts and practices. At the end of the module, you will be able to:

1. Be able to critically analyse the internal and external environment of the organisation;
2. Be able to create a detailed strategic plan for a chosen organisation;
3. Be able to represent complex views underlying the strategic plan to the most senior decision-making team of an organisation; and,
4. Be able to produce a detailed monitoring report on the progress of the strategic plan based on research of the detailed circumstances.

GCM-M05 Organisational Behaviour and Human Resource Management

The study of organisational behaviour and Human Resource Management underpins Strategy, Leadership and Change Management. The module will provide the learner with a detailed understanding of current and emerging global practice in respect of managing and developing an organisation’s human capital. At the end of the module, you will be able to:

1. Have the competency to effectively supervise a staff team;
2. Be able to identify, set, and achieve complex personal and staff goals;
3. Have the competency to be able to manage a department or section of an organisation, including the personnel within it;
4. Have the competency to be able to select an appropriate person(s) to recruit to an identified organisational post; and,
5. Have the competency to be able to select an appropriate person(s) to undertake a successful project.

GCM-M06 Leadership

In the absence of effective leadership organisations will fail. This module explores the attributes of what makes an effective organisational leader, the techniques they employ and how effective leaders are essential to sustainable succession planning. At the end of the module, you will be able to:

1. Be able to effectively apply higher level leadership behaviours in different organisational circumstances;
2. Be able to effectively collaborate with colleagues to ensure the development of complementary and appropriate leadership approaches across the organisation; and,
3. Be able to critically monitor leadership behaviours across an organisation through a formal and continuing research process.

GCM-M09 Global Purchasing and Supply

Global purchasing and supply management has evolved from a transactional buying activity to a strategic business operation. This module will provide students with detailed and higher level knowledge on how to plan and execute an effective procurement strategy that supports corporate goals and wider business objectives. At the end of the module, you will be able to:

1. Be able to demonstrate informed, realistic and practical strategic purchasing and supply decisions based on an analysis of complex problems;
2. Be able to demonstrate critical high level competence and techniques in the key principles and techniques in global purchasing and supply;
3. Be able to conduct detailed supplier appraisals including financial viability and stability;
4. Be able to effectively conduct challenging and complex negotiations and the development of effective and robust business relationships;
5. Be able to undertake complex life-cycle costings and associated spend analyses;

GCM-M10 Strategies for Logistics and Supply Chain Management

This module is designed to give students a specialised knowledge within the growing field of supply chain management. A well-implemented supply chain management system has been identified as a key tool in the success of today’s leading businesses. Effective Logistics and Supply Chain Management involves the co-ordination, production, shipment and delivery of goods from the point of production to the point of consumption. At the end of the module, you will be able to:

1. Be able to demonstrate advanced competence in the key principles which underpin the formulation of an effective logistics strategy;
2. Be able to undertake detailed performance measurement in logistical operations;
3. Be able to critically apply logistical concepts (e.g. horizontal collaboration or the postponement principle);

GCM-M29 Dissertation/Major Project

This module is designed to allow students the opportunity to engage in a rigorous piece of personal and independent research arising out of their programme of study and allied to their professional field, and to present their findings through a dissertation.

1. Critically monitor and assess the circumstances within and around an organisation to determine when to recommend research projects be developed and approved;
2. Have the knowledge, understanding and authority to authorise the commissioning of appropriate organisation-relevant research projects;
3. Be able to implement research projects if so commissioned.