Course Aims and Learning Outcomes

This course is designed to give you the opportunity to develop:

• An academic underpinning in the core areas of Business and Management
• A critical appreciation of key debates in each of the main subject areas
• The tools for analysis and techniques for resolving business issues
• The space to reflect and develop strategic insight and leadership skills necessary for a successful senior management career in Business Management.

Learning Outcomes:

Knowledge

• A critical appreciation of contemporary theories and practices
• A critical understanding of an evidence based approach Awareness of emerging debates and discourse
• Data analysis and synthesis

Thinking skills

• Problem solving and innovative thinking
• Application of theory to the practice of Business and Management
• Risk evaluation and management 

Educational aims of the programme

1. Apply a scholarly approach and up-to-date business knowledge to operate as a versatile, confident, and effective leader in a complex, dynamic working environment. 

2. Critically appraise complex problems and situations across functional boundaries in order to develop holistic, integrated strategic responses to organisational and management issues. 

3. Prosper as a critical independent learner able to apply and practice principles of reflection and continuous development to positively impact individual and collective performance within the organisation. 

4. Synthesise new learning with existing experience to make a positive impact on current context from the start of the MBA programme. 

5. Develop knowledge and understanding of current and pervasive issues in business and management to enrich own professional practice, enhance career development prospects and facilitate personal and professional development. 

6. Identify, analyse and capitalise on opportunities for transformation and venture creation within the organisation 

7. Understand, critically appraise and conduct research providing analysis and synthesising data and information to make sounds judgements and recommendations.

8. Engage in responsible leadership practices, appreciating diversity and behaving with integrity.

Target award Learning Outcomes 

A student successfully completing the programme of study will have acquired the following subject knowledge and understanding as well as skills and other attributes. A student who is eligible for this award will be able to:

1. Apply knowledge and understanding to complex issues, both systematically and creatively, so theory is utilised and applied to practice from a critical and informed perspective, thus enhancing organisational effectiveness and competitiveness.

2. Synthesise and utilise knowledge of the different functional areas of business, academic literature, theory and understanding of organisation context, both strategically and operationally, to make integrative links to deliver business impact.

3. Apply systemic thinking principles to aid strategic thinking and planning, connecting ideas and practices to solve complex problems and enhance decision making across functional boundaries.

4. Critically appraise the global, macro-economic and political environment to evaluate appropriate strategic directions, choices, options across different functional areas

5. Have a basic understanding of financial management principles with the ability to interpret and critically appraise organisation financial information and utilise for strategy formation.

6. Critically evaluate and apply knowledge of financial management to appraise and manage organisational risk and support organisational governance and decision making.

7. Apply critical insights from business practice and academic theories and frameworks including trends, challenges and enablers to translate strategy into operational practice.

8. Critically evaluate and utilise appropriate methods and tools to deliver strategic aims or goals as practical deliverable outcomes for organisational growth and impact.

9. Utilise awareness of theories and best practice to develop leadership strategies which create optimal conditions for innovation including the confidence to manage transformation processes, take calculated risks, manage uncertainty, and learn from failure.

10. Critically appraise, leverage and exploit digital technologies, data and disruptive practices to support organisational transformation ensuring sustainability and competitiveness.

11. Exploit opportunities for networking to facilitate horizon scanning to identify and analyse business opportunities for new venture creation

12. Critically evaluate and utilise theories in approaches to practitioner research within the organisation to enable new insights and opportunities to solve complex problems and facilitate change.

13. Progress leadership and management thinking by negotiating and gaining stakeholder engagement in order to undertake a significant research project which utilises academic research philosophies and strategies to challenge established practices and facilitate organisational growth.

14. Use relevant research methods to critically appraise an issue, optimise the synthesis of complex data, both systematically and innovatively, to develop practical solutions and evaluate outcomes.

15. Identify appropriate leadership style(s) for different situations, apply engagement and motivation strategies to manage people, activities and operations and engage effectively with stakeholders

16. Synthesise new learning with existing experience to improve professional practices by increasing self-awareness though ongoing critical reflection taking responsibility for continuing to develop knowledge, skills and emotional intelligence.

17. Engage in responsible leadership practices and behave with integrity. This includes an appreciation of diversity, an openness to utilising the strengths and contributions of all colleagues, a recognition of the importance of active listening, seeking feedback and the humility to learn from others.

18. Develop confidence and expertise to articulate opinions, synthesising and clarifying complex ideas and arguments in both oral and written communication, enhancing ability to persuade and influence all stakeholders to create business impact.

19. Make a professional and informed contribution to the development of practice in an organisation by engaging as a scholarly practitioner; questioning established practice, critiquing and interrogating academic literature and making judgements about relevance and applicability to context.

20. Investigate an issue of strategic importance through in depth research and application of appropriate methodology to provide insight/contribution to business/organisational practice

INDICATIVE START DATES FOR THE YEAR:

Unicaf offers a flexible rolling admissions model with multiple start dates for each programme throughout the year
15/01, 19/02/, 18/03,15/4, 20/5, 17/6,15/7, 19/8, 16/9, 14/10, 18/11 and 16/12.

*Start dates for university programmes may be subject to change. Students are advised to regularly check their student profile for the most up-to-date and accurate information regarding programme commencement dates.

Course Summary

This is a general management course designed for those in, or aspiring to, senior management positions or those looking for conversion from specialist fields to that of general management. It is also intended for those with entrepreneurial objectives. The MBA prepares participants for early entry into positions holding significant general management responsibilities, whilst developing a thorough understanding of the principal functional areas of management.
The course team recognises the importance of keeping a management course at the cutting edge of learning in a rapidly changing business environment and is committed to that goal.
Our particular course is also built around five key framing objectives: plurality, advocacy, enterprise, responsibility and application.