51����

From both a practical and theoretical view you will learn to think about what project management means, the process of project management and how to manage projects by focusing on several professional project management aspects, such as scope management, cost management, and schedule management.

The module will develop your professional skills and confidence in managing projects using various techniques and drawing on your academic study of contemporary project management literature. You will explore a range of approaches plus alternative views in order to challenge assumptions and identify ways to make project management more meaningful and sustainable. You will become aware of the role of professional techniques and methodologies as an aid to managing projects. Alongside this practical learning, you will develop a critical understanding of the importance of integrating social and ethical criteria into project planning and operation.

This module provides an introduction to research methods and research skills. Themes addressed will typically draw from the following:

• Conducting a critical literature review
• The role of quantitative and qualitative research methods
• Qualitative research methods – interviewing and observation, analysing qualitative data
• Quantitative research methods – data collection and statistical analysis
• Developing a research question
• Ethics in research
• Structuring a research proposal

You will learn about qualitative and quantitative research skills including collecting and analysing data. You will have the opportunity to consider your own research ideas within your organisation, to conduct and critique existing literature, to understand and analyse appropriate research methods, and to identify the significance of your research interests. Furthermore you will be encouraged to consider your role as a researcher and the ethical considerations in the research process.

Through addressing these themes you will also learn the significance of research proposals as well as how to structure them. To support you in this you will complete a research proposal based on an issue to research in your employer organisation which you will identify yourself. This proposal will then be used to guide you when completing future research projects during your final year of study.

This module is designed for business students to develop a non-technical understanding of the key aspects of corporate financial theory and practice. The module covers the core aspects of raising capital and determining financing, though to investing capital in major corporate decisions, and finally returning value to shareholders.

Specifically you will study in the module; Sustainable Value Management, Stock Market Efficiency, Capital Asset Pricing Model, Portfolio Theory, International Cost of Capital, Capital Structure Decisions, Dividend Policy, Corporate Valuation and International Merger & Acquisition activity.

The module has a focus on business responsibility of all of those areas, concentrating on professional codes of conduct in areas such as the banking industry, accounting and similar finance areas, and the types of dilemmas that graduates could face in professional practice. This module will develop you as a critical and reflective practitioner, equipping you with the skills to think independently, analyse data, and help you to identify your own areas of interest in relation to corporate finance and practice. In the module you will become more aware of the issues that responsible businesses face when attempting to implement financial concepts and theories into practice.

On completion of this module you will have produced a reflective learning journal (in the form of a Blog or similar platform) based on your evaluation of theory to real world scenarios. As part of that journal you will have watched and reflected on appropriate financial documentaries and movies which explore responsible financial management issues, where you are encouraged to share these with your peers on the module Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). Finally you will be apply your academic knowledge to a real world case and be able to critically evaluate the tensions between the financial academic theories as a responsible business attempts to maximise shareholder wealth.

The module will enable you to extend your knowledge of management practice, particularly in the area of strategic thinking, and to employ your intellectual and practical skills in an organisational context.

In doing so your learning will focus on themes addressing the following broad issues:

• The impact on organisations of the external environment: macro-environment, industry, markets.
• The strategic choices available to organisations to improve strategic position and promote commercial success.
• The alignment of strategic directions with the corporate social responsibility and ethics framework

This module is intended to develop your awareness and critical evaluation of strategic management by assessing the impact of the business environment on organisations. The nature of practising strategy will be evaluated by reviewing the tools and activities involved when formulating strategies. The concept of corporate social responsibility and sustainability will be central when discussing the above topics by assessing the role of stakeholders in organisations.

This module provides an opportunity for you to investigate into a work-related issue, practicing research skills through engaging in a research project. Through studying this module you will develop a wide range of inter-personal, intellectual and practical (functional) skills. You will increase your awareness of the workplace as a learning environment and enhance your individual effectiveness and employability, whilst also contributing to the organisation’s development and effectiveness through change.

The project will draw upon your learning across the programme: to identify a business, management or leadership issue relevant to your organisation and design and conduct an appropriate investigation into this issue. The project will focus on a work-based issue and develop your skills in:

• the diagnosis of problems
• identifying project objectives
• project planning
• project management
• development of strategies to address problems
• data collection
• data analysis
• addressing ethical issues in research
• drawing supportable conclusions from data analysis
• limitations of the research process
• presentation techniques

You will be expected to demonstrate that appropriate ethical, commercial confidentiality and data protection issues are taken into consideration from an organisational, individual perspective by adhering to University Ethical Guidelines. Furthermore, you will also engage in reflection on the learning derived from carrying out the project.