|
MBA overview
In summary, to be
awarded the Hull MBA students must complete
Eight core
modules
Management and Personal Development
Human Resource Management
Marketing
Accounting and Finance for Managers
Operations Management
Management Decision Making: A Systems Approach
The Business Environment
Strategic Management
Four
further modules
(Special note - no optional modules are
available in the Gulf)
Business Project
Consultancy and Intervention
Corporate Leadership & Change Management
International Business
Research
Methods and MBA Dissertation
MBA core modules
Management and
Personal Development
establishes the MBA as a vehicle for professional and personal development. It
introduces management development as an underlying purpose of the programme in
relation to personal effectiveness, management thinking, organisational life and
individuals as change agents. The module embraces various views on management
and organisation theory combined with each participant's ideas on management.You
will be encouraged to locate your own experiences within a historical, cultural
'map' of management thinking while focusing on the development of self-awareness
and the skills required for managing in organisations characterised by change
and uncertainty.
Human Resource
Management
develops students' understanding of the key issues of managing people in the
workplace. It combines aspects of HRM strategy and practice, and examines the
ways in which elements of HRM affect and support organisational performance,
locating the subject in an academic and vocational context. lt also integrates
individual, collective, and group and team aspects of HRM. In achieving these
objectives there is the opportunity to engage with the principles of 'best
practice' and, more importantly, to evaluate the organisational and individual
barriers to this, drawing on your own organisational experience wherever
possible.
Marketing
introduces key theoretical marketing concepts, and aspects of applied marketing
practice, within the context of strategic marketing management applied to
different business settings. It provides an appreciation of marketing philosophy
and of the practical value of key marketing functions and concepts by developing
a critical perspective on how marketing activities can help organisations build
strategic and sustainable value, resulting in competitive advantage and
sustainable competitive positions in specific markets. Interactive class
activities are employed in which students engage in mock-competitive
marketing-related activities.
Accounting and
Finance for Managers
enables students to understand the work of the accountant and financial manager
- but does not make students into accountants. To communicate effectively with
specialist staff, all managers must be able to understand financial information
and those aspects of accounting and finance of most relevance to the management
of corporate organisations. This module covers the work of the accountant and
the financial manager and considers the role of corporate financial information
in supporting managerial decision making.
Operations
Management
develops a holistic and critical perspective on the key changes and trends which
have taken place in the management of business operations in recent years. The
module builds on the experience and insights of contemporary operations
management in business and service organisations, and explores possible
strategies for improving them. The module also examines the critical importance
of logistics management for modern businesses. It does so by linking theoretical
developments with contemporary practices, both in a UK context and
internationally.
Management
Decision Making: A Systems Approach
introduces core systems concepts and holistic thinking about management decision
making and problem solving. Adopting a holistic perspective assists with
defining problems, effecting change and developing organisational learning. We
consider a range of methodologies and techniques, including metaphors and
paradigms. We consider two complementary systems approaches to problem solving:
the Viable System Model, which emphasises structures and control systems, and
Soft Systems Methodology, which emphasises participation and changing
world-views. Discussion of these approaches provides the basis for a review of
systems thinking as a means of creating learning organisations, making use of
Senge's Fifth Discipline and creative holism.
The Business
Environment
introduces the most important aspects of the business environment, including the
impact of macroeconomic factors. It gives students a broad survey of the
business environment as it impinges upon business decision making, and covers
social, political and economic factors. The module thus equips students to
 | explain the main social, political and technological factors affecting
business in today's environment |
| compare the roles of the world's main political, economic and financial
institutions |
| assess the impact of government policy and external shocks on the economy
|
| select which of these are likely to have the greatest impact on any
particular business at a given time, and use this information to inform
strategic decision making. |
Strategic
Management
encourages and develops understanding, synthesis and application of concepts and
techniques covered in other modules. This module therefore represents an
integrating 'capstone' opportunity for students, who work in groups to achieve
this aim and to enhance their teamwork and presentation skills.
Attention is focused on case studies and a business game. A significant amount
of time is spent on the analysis of large-scale, complex, unstructured problems,
which, among other things, enables participants to draw on techniques and
concepts from previous study. As well as encouraging the application of
techniques and skills developed during the programme, this arrangement also
facilitates work on developing high level transferable skills, such as
communication, analysis, problem solving and presentation.
MBA optional modules
 Along
with the eight core modules, students must also choose four options which allow
them to demonstrate the diverse breadth of their business studies or highlight
their specialist knowledge in a particular area of business. Modules can be
chosen from the selection below.
(Special note - no optional choices are allowed in the Gulf programme)
Corporate
Leadership and Change Management
explores the relationship between leadership skills and abilities and, on the
other hand, the continual development and evolution of organisations - including
how and why organisations can manage change in response to internal and external
pressures. Change is both reactive and proactive, incorporating organisational
vision, processes, projects and often politics. Transformation of an
organisation requires both individual leadership skills and conceptual
understanding of all the elements necessary to ensure change.
Senior managers
are expected to provide leadership and direction in the achievement of
organisation-wide change. This module provides future senior managers with an
awareness of factors that will influence their abilty to act in this way.
 International
Business
considers the changing international context of modern organisations.
Contemporary businesses, even those that operate wholly within their local or
national markets, are subject to ever more competitive forces of international
origin as a result of increasing market integration both regionally and
globally. In turn, regional integration and globalisation are the result of a
complex and controversial mix of legal, political, economic, social and
technological forces.
More than ever
before, senior managers need to have an international perspective, and this
module has been designed around three themes that contribute to the acquisition
of such a perspective. First the module begins with an analysis of the
international business environment and how it relates to and impacts on
business. In particular; it engages with the globalisation debate and issues of
regulation of business in a world with fewer barriers between markets. Second,
the module looks at the firm within its international context, from both a
theoretical and a practical perspective, and, unusually, deals with small and
medium-sized enterprises as well as with the traditional multinational. Third
the module looks at specific issues that impact on the firm as a result of
increasing internationalisation. These include issues such as free trade,
environmental concerns and the labour market.
Project
Management
introduces the concepts, techniques and practice of project management and
illustrates its application in a wide variety of contexts. Managers are required
to direct projects which are intended to bring about change, whether in
technical or in human aspects of their organisations. The module introduces the
ideas of project management, and builds familiarity with the software available
to facilitate the process of project management.
The module uses
this software to introduce the main concepts of project management and to
provide students with the skills of effective project management, which are
essential for organisational success. | 
Send
enquiries to