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Summary:
About the course
To succeed modern businesses need managers with the skills to trade on the global stage. This course offers you the opportunity to develop a particular strength in the management of international business issues through an academically supervised business placement that will form the basis for your final dissertation project.
This Master’s gives you a wide international perspective building your strategic and analytical expertise so you are well prepared to solve business and management issues wherever in the world you work. It explores core areas of business such as strategic and financial management; global brand management; and intercultural business competencies – all viewed through the lens of developing patterns in world trade and the global marketplace.
The placement unit comprises one block of study on campus preparing for your dissertation project within the organisation followed by four blocks of study at the organisation and a final block back at the University when you complete your dissertation write-up. The project is fully academically supervised throughout.
Why choose this course?
- Start when it most suits you with six entry points through the year; every taught unit is delivered in a six-week block
- Apply your knowledge to solve real business problems through our practice-based approach and your own placement experience
- Gain the managerial attributes to contribute to an organisation’s global business strategy and resolve international business problems
- Study the management and development of people in cross-cultural organisations
- Gain an appreciation of how cultural differences affect both buying behaviour and marketing approaches
- Consider the impact of contextual and cultural forces on international companies including ethical and environmental considerations
- Build transferable interpersonal skills in critical thinking team working problem solving numeracy negotiation and self-management
What will you study?
Accounting And Finance
The main aim of this unit is to enable you to critically evaluate corporate decisions made by management through a thorough understanding and interpretation of financial statements and examination of the concepts of corporate finance and investment appraisal attributable to wealth creation and distribution.
The unit considers the financial information needs of managers in the context of competing stakeholder interests and examines the impact of management decisions on shareholder wealth maximisation.
The central question that the unit intends to address is: How do managers make informed decisions that meet the long-term strategic objectives of an organisation whilst satisfying the short to medium-term needs of all stakeholders?
Strategic Management
This unit covers the field of strategy-making and strategic management. You will consider current issues and challenges facing directors, senior managers and entrepreneurs in guiding the long-term development of organisations. The objectives of organisations and the means of achieving these objectives through the mobilisation and deployment of assets and resources and the integration of the various functions of the organisation will be the focus of the unit.
Performance Achievement Planning
This short course is a professional development course that is designed to support all PG students in the University of Bedfordshire Business School to enhance their employability and develop a professional profile through their journey in the Masters. The specific aims are to:
- Enhance students’ professional, personal development and communication skills.
- To support students to evidence how their experience at masters level has contributed to the development of their professional profile as required after graduation.
- To support students to develop the necessary academic skill required for successful completion of postgraduate research
Brand Communication And Reputation Management
The central aim of this Unit is to provide you with a thorough understanding of the role that Communications plays within the marketing strategy of any organisation and be able to critically analyse and reflect upon the relationship between buyer behaviour and the development of a Marketing Communications Strategy. The unit will enable you to understand the main functions of the marketing communications mix including key areas of integrated marketing communications systems: public relations, advertising, and digital media. In addition, the unit will seek to develop a critical appreciation of the role of Public Relations and Digital Marketing as a key tool for ‘reputation management’ and the mechanisms for developing successful digital campaigns.
Intercultural Business Competencies
Aims:
- To appraise and develop writing and written communication skills appropriate to a manager
- To evaluate team building and interpersonal skills and critically analyse and employ non-verbal and verbal communication and listening skills
- To integrate cultural frameworks with theories from other disciplines in producing a justification for propositions or ventures
- To investigate developments in international business, focusing on issues of polarity, dependence and interdependence in respect of socialization processes and interaction rules that foster a normative basis for interdependency
- To critically evaluate personal models of effectiveness in management contexts
- To identify, reflect upon and evidence key areas for your personal development
Relevance:
International business demands managing strategies in international markets, with considerations of interdependencies of intercultural competence in managing differences in interpersonal interactions, which is key for successful business operations.
In this unit you will evaluate the major dimensions of the international markets and the different strategies. You will explore the application of oral and written communication theories within the context of a technological and international business environment. Additionally, you will demonstrate expertise in formulating and evaluating business strategies for different business environments.
Emphasis is placed on developing your competences as an international manager. You will determine key aspects of the work environment and its implications for interactive work behaviour.
Excellent high performing international marketing managers exhibit self-awareness and engage in decision making with an understanding of their own and others’ capabilities. These abilities enable visionary approaches to problem solving and effective development of others. This unit gives you the opportunity to better understand your personal performance, get insight into working in international markets and across cultures, manage yourself effectively and become a more reflective learner.
This will help prepare you for the ever-changing and increasingly global working environment.
Business Placement Dissertation
How will you be assessed?
A number of different assessment methods will contribute to your development and will enhance your employability. We consider it essential that comprehensive feedback is provided in due time so it is integrated in your learning process. When group work is required the marks given will be individual following the University of Bedfordshire's regulatory scheme. In some cases different kinds of assessment may be used in combination making sure however that there are no hidden tasks.
The intensive character of this Course's delivery as it is outlined in its Teaching and Learning philosophy is consistent with the needs of todays world for graduates who accumulate knowledge fast and are able to express the outcome of this process in a way that is meaningful and comprehensive. Welcome and induction activities will be followed immediately by a week of intensive direct contact time followed by your own contribution through individual learning which will take you to your first assessment point. At the end of your six-week block your final assessment will be due.
The end-of-unit examinations focus primarily on critical discussion of theory and current practice and provide the reassurance of guaranteed student authorship and a true measure of your own ability and understanding. The overall underpinning assessment strategy on this course tests the intended learning outcomes through exposing students to a range of assessment types. The aim is to develop both knowledge and skills to support students entry to employment as confident managers. The units on this course therefore use varied combination of types of assessments for both formative and summative purposes to enrich the learning experience. The types of assessments for this course include:
- Written Examination or Class Test: Questions in these exams always promote critical thinking and help you gradually develop your ability to apply analyse synthesize and evaluate.
- Individual Written Report or Essays: Your knowledge and skills are developed when you undertake the task of writing an individual report and the whole process contributes to your improvement when it comes to conducting postgraduate level research and developing your enterprise. The ability to perform literature informed research to review and evaluate the relevant sources and to use an appropriate methodology in order to analyze and evaluate the relevant concepts is being assessed.
- Case Study Examination: You will apply your knowledge in the context of a specific case
- Oral Presentation: A number of transferable skills will be developed including the ability to present your findings in a professional clear and concise manner.
- Reflective Report: Evaluating your own contribution to a team in the workplace is essential in the context of this course but in the workplace as well.
- Business Placement Dissertation: You will have to produce an individual independent piece of work. You will be asked to identify the research question or problem under investigation from within the placement organisation review the relevant literature and develop a sound methodology in order to explore the problem proceed with the analysis discuss your findings and make specific recommendations to the organisation. You will also have the opportunity to plan develop and review your own personal skills profile through the project. It is the capstone of this course and builds on the knowledge and skills acquired in all Units.
The use of a wide range of sources both academic and other is a requirement for a postgraduate degree. The notions of accountability and academic integrity will be an integral part of your course. You will be supported in developing an understanding of academic integrity on this course. You will be informed about what plagiarism is and how to avoid it during the delivery of each Unit. Where an individual project is required you will be asked to show the different stages of your work or to present it in its entity upon completion. Where collaborative tasks are assigned an individual reflective report will be necessary to indicate your contribution to the team. All coursework assignments will require a thorough evaluation of the sources used and referencing will be done according to the Harvard Referencing System.
To qualify for the award designation `with placement your Course Co-ordinator will be required to verify that the activities and hours completed on the placement are in accordance with the requirements of the Business Dissertation on placement unit and include a satisfactory record of the Meetings and Actions recorded during the placement. These will be confirmed at the appropriate Assessment Board to inform the process of awarding the degree with placement.
Careers
The successful completion of your MSc provides a strong foundation for your professional development equipping you to join an organisation in a variety of roles. For those already in employment it can give you the opportunity for fast-track career progression or a move into a leadership position.
Your knowledge and skills can open the way to a career as a trading executive; product manager; business development manager; or buyer to name a few.
You may also wish to continue with further study and research: many of our Master’s students decide to work towards an MPhil or PhD in an area of interest.
