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?

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:

1. Enhance students’ professional, personal development and communication skills.  
2. To support students to evidence how their experience at masters level has contributed to the development of their professional profile as required after graduation.
3. To support students to develop the necessary academic skill required for successful completion of postgraduate research

Marketing And The Digital Future

Digital marketing has become an increasingly vital ingredient for business success. Organisations that neglect their digital marketing activities and operations are doomed to failure.

Digital platforms are not only revolutionising marketing, but creating new business models and new methods of social interaction. This unit explores the effects on management, business, economics, sociology and ethics. 

For organisations some of the key questions are: what do my customers want; how do potential and actual customers view my offering; how do I make my product or service different; how much shall I charge for it and where/how do I 'talk about' it and make it available?

All of these questions are of course posed in a context of competition and in a political, economic, socio-cultural and technological framework that is constantly evolving. The motto for organisations often is 'change or die'. A key component of any digital marketing is the ability to communicate effectively online via social media, thus bringing together new technological developments as well as economic, sociological and political changes combined with the extent to which academic theory matches practice.

The unit therefore aims to engage you with a critical understanding of 21st century digital marketing and communication in practice.

Strategy And Brand Management

In today’s global economy a strategic approach is vital for both companies and organisations in order to compete and reach their goals. The unit introduces you to the marketing strategy concept at functional and corporate levels by critically reviewing theoretical models as well as practical associations. Following the premise of the brand as a main strategic asset, the unit will guide you through brand management by identifying the brand as the knowledge bridge between the costumer and the company.

Business Dissertation

Aims:

• To bring theory and practice together to formulate a  topic of your interest whether it is a research-oriented topic or a more clinical topic that is relevant to the context of business and conduct research on your choice of topic relevant to your field of study
• To stimulate you to reflect on issues critically and to identify aspects that need further research
• To provide you with the opportunity to explore a topic and appreciate the importance of literature review in the learning process
• To critically evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of other people’s research to formulate your own study
• To enhance skills in time-management, research management, project organisation and decision-making
• To apply and reflect on the practicalities of research including access to sources and ethical considerations

Relevance

An important aim of a Master’s degree is to master and apply your knowledge and skills independently so that you can successfully carry out research. This dissertation provides you with the opportunity for sustained independent study that builds on your research proposal and represents the culmination of your Master’s level studies.

Project And Operations Management

Project Management has become increasingly important and is an essential skill in many business related careers today. Operations Management has always been one of the key functions in an organisation since it is concerned with the production and delivery of the organisation’s products and services.

The competitive environment for operations demands new ways of thinking about the way we approach the management of our own organisation and those we network with. Global sourcing and relocation are now commonplace for manufacturing and service organisations.

The unit first seeks to provide a fundamental understanding of operations management. This foundation is then developed into the new ways in which organisations should be managed in the global context.

The unit also explores the theory and principles of project management for a wide range of project types. It will consider the appropriate application of project management tools and techniques.

This unit is informed by research-based knowledge and scholarship, emanating from a range of operations and project management practices.

The aim of this unit is to enable you to:

• Evaluate the principles and techniques associated with Project and Operations Management both in manufacturing and service industries in the private and public sectors;
• Critically assess the relationship between operations and other functions within an organisation, and the need for integration between marketing, operations and human resources which is essential for modern business to meet customer needs;
• Evaluate the implications of taking a global perspective of project/ operations management.
• Consider the significance of project management and the role of a project manager in modern businesses.
• Select and use appropriate project management tools and techniques to plan a project.