PBMBUADM - Master of Business Administration

This MBA course is aimed at individuals seeking to develop their careers in business and management building on their experience of the workplace. It is suitable for students without a prior business management degree, but students will have sufficient work experience to inform their learning and contribute insights to their fellow students. The course is demanding and so a strong work ethic and commitment to accelerated learning is required. Throughout the course, the aim is to develop the critical thinking, business decision making and interpersonal skills that are required for a successful business career as managers, business owners or entrepreneurs.

This new MBA embeds student feedback and responds to changes in the market for MBA courses. The new course enhances the teaching of operations, strategy and problem solving and adds skills such as negotiation. It also brings more focus to the issues of climate change and technology disruption.

Learning and Teaching

Students today are jugglers; few have the luxury to devote themselves to fulltime study at master’s level and our approach to learning and teaching aims to provide them with the essential resources in an efficient and effective manner as well as inspiring them to explore areas of interest in depth. The aim is that time spent in the business school is of high value, based on active learning in groups and individually.

Students will be able to flex the amount of study they do from 1 to 3 modules per term to enable them to deal with changes in circumstances, they can complete the course in 1 to 3 years.

Students will only study one taught 20 credit module at any given time delivered over a 5-week teaching period and will be able to join the programme at the start of any 20 credit module subject to having completed an online bootcamp to prepare them for Level 7 studying.

Resources

The course will promote active learning using online business simulations, case studies, research into topical issues and development of soft skills plus an innovative assessment diet. In addition, the students’ personal growth will be supported through the use of Strengthscope or equivalent system, an online strength assessment resource, and the encouragement of reflection.

Responding to Market Demands

A key element of the course is its emphasis on making sense of the current Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous business world combined with applying the tools, techniques and thought processes needed to compete successfully. The impact of accelerating climate change, technology development and changes in world power are increasingly evident and sense making of these mega-trends is essential. Students will develop and refine their skills in complex problem solving, critical thinking, and business and people management. The importance of understanding and managing digital technology is a theme throughout the programme, as is the development of soft skills.

The MBA aims to prepare its graduates to make a significant change in their career that might entail taking on greater leadership and management responsibility, switching industry or starting a business. This requires the development of:

1. a broad knowledge of how businesses function and how they are managed and governed

2. strong financial awareness

3. problem solving skills that can deal with complexity, uncertainty and incomplete data

4. understanding of environmental scanning in order to manage effectively in a changing world particularly in relation to climate change, technology disruption and global politics

5. strategy setting and execution skills including change management

6. the essential soft skills demanded of managers and leaders – communication, negotiation, networking, team working

7. insights into the wider role of businesses in addressing societal problems in a sustainable manner

8. understanding of the need for ethical management and governance

The MBA also aims to prepare is graduates to be:

1. able to undertake independent, ethical research

2. critical thinkers in a world of fake news and conspiracy theories

3. free from unconscious bias and committed to equality of opportunity

4. ready for lifelong learning

The learning outcomes support the university aim that all London Met Graduates will be able to: Demonstrate confidence, resilience, ambition and creativity and will act as inclusive, collaborative and socially responsible professionals in their discipline

Knowledge and Understanding (KU)

On completion of the programme our students will be able to:

1. Critically evaluate the performance of a business through research and analysis of its market positioning, marketing, financial results, strategy, organisational design and culture, and identify opportunities for improvement.

2. Systematically evaluate the impact of current trends including climate change and environmental degradation, technology development and market demographics, globalisation and the implications for their personal careers.

3. Understand and critically analyse entrepreneurial perspectives and processes whether within established businesses or start-up ventures.

4. Demonstrate a critical awareness of how financial strategies and analysis support business performance management and decision making.

5. Demonstrate the competencies required to think and act effectively as a leader and to negotiate with confidence in a range of settings.

6. Critically evaluate what it means to be a change agent and demonstrate the knowledge and understanding to design, initiate and lead change in diverse organisational settings.

7. Analyse and evaluate the impact of digital technologies on business and how they are reshaping strategic priorities, business models and associated risk management.

Specific Skills (SS)

On completion of the programme our students will be able to:

8. Communicate powerfully and effectively to a range of audiences and stakeholders

9. Create and execute solutions to problems using the best available theory, evidence and data

10. Embrace digital technology effectively to enable successful personal and business functioning.

11. Leverage and analyse incomplete data to make decisions.

Transferable Skills (TS)

On completion of the programme our students will:

12. Know and capitalise on their strengths and communicate them to potential employers and will have developed greater self-confidence in their abilities.

13. Work effectively in teams in multicultural environments at all levels

14. Apply reflective practice in order to continue developing as a leader and manager and to engage in independent, life-long learning.

QAA Subject Benchmark Statement for Master’s Degrees in Business and Management http://www.qaa.ac.uk/en/Publications/Documents/SBS-Business-and%20Management-15.pdffor

This course complies with the QAA Characteristics Statement for Master’s Degrees (2015) http://www.qaa.ac.uk/en/Publications/Documents/Masters-Degree-Characteristics-15.pdf

For 20 credit modules there are two summative assessments for each module; these may be group or individual and involve the creation of various artefacts including reports, presentations, videos, reflective writing, financial analysis, personal development planning, case study solutions and a research proposal. The final 60 credit module is assessed via a portfolio that includes reflection, a video presentation, a research report and evidence of the data collected. The emphasis is on assessment for learning (Pokorny and Warren 2016) with, where possible assessment being of competency rather than the ability to critical evaluate the required competency (Keane, 2015).

The assessment approach has been developed based on the experience of several MBA and MSc Business Management Programmes that made extensive use of case studies and simulations. For example, in the case of the Global Strategy Module the students are required to submit answers to a number of case studies examined through the course of the module providing an incentive to engage deeply with the case study problems and to receive feedback and feedforward in relation to case study based problem solving.

In the case of simulation use the assessment in part is based around the assessment experience, for example a mid-point analysis of business performance and the intended strategy for future years. In one instant the simulation will also require reflection as part of the assessment.

An online induction to studying at Level 7 will be provided introducing the assessments for the programme and helping students understand the basis of their grades. Throughout the course tutors will work with students to help them become assessment literate including involving them in peer to peer feedback of draft work, exposing them to the work of students that previously completed the course or a similar course and providing assessment guidance and coaching.

Marking will be competed in all cases online within TurnItin, following university guidance, and feedback provided both as comments in the student’s submission and in the TurnItin feedback box. Feedback / feedforward will be supportive and motivational.

References:

KNEALE, P. E. (2015). Masters level teaching, learning and assessment: issues in design and delivery. London, Palgrave

POKORNY, H., & WARREN, D. (2016). Enhancing teaching practice in higher education. Los Angeles, SAGE.

Part Time students will complete modules at the rate of 1 or 2 modules per term plus the Building Business Insights module. The Professional Development and Work Placement module will not be available to Part Time Students.

Prior to commencing the Part Time programme students joining in the Spring Term will be required to complete the one week online bootcamp module along with the Full-Time students joining the programme..

Part Time Students joining in the Autumn Term must take the Business Problem Solving Module or if joining after it has completed they must first complete the online bootcamp

The course conforms with the Regulations of the University Postgraduate Scheme and there are no additional regulations
All core modules and defined pathway modules shown in the table in section 27 must be taken to gain the award
Postgraduate Certificate in Business Administration
2 core modules and 1 pathway (General MBA) specific module
Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration
4 core modules and 2 pathway (General MBA) specific modules

Reflective Learning

Reflective learning will be highlighted in the online induction course for studying at Level 7 and is incorporated into the assessments for:

• Breakthrough Leadership Skills

• Global Strategy and Innovation

• Business Project

Personal Development Planning

Students will create a Personal Development Plan in the Breakthrough Leadership Skills module which will be reflected on in the final Business Project Portfolio.

Students will be actively encouraged to arrange to meet with the university’s Careers Service. Additional activities including networking events, masterclasses, workshops, guest lectures etc will also support career development and employability

Potential career/further study destinations:

• Continue to work for their current organisation but at a more senior level

• Change organisation and possibly industry in search for more responsibility and reward

• Start their own business

• Enter employment with a new organisation

The skills, knowledge and abilities gained in the course are expected to enable the student to identify and negotiate new opportunities and to able to perform successfully at the next level.

Given the nature of the MBA further higher education study is typically not expected although lifelong learning using a range of resources certainly is.

This course is designed to prepare you for a more senior role in business, a career change or to take the plunge and start your own business.

Successful graduates are multi-skilled across all areas of business and would be qualified to gain roles in a number of different business and management industries, including business development, area management, international sales, business operations, client services and customer service.

Recent graduates of ours now work for organisations including Tesla, Aldi, Natwest / RBS, Lloyd’s Banking Group and PwC.

This course is aimed at individuals seeking to develop their careers in business and management. You don’t need a business management degree, but you will need sufficient work experience and be able to contribute insights in class discussions.

You will be required to have:

• a minimum of a 2.2 for an honours degree in any subject discipline (or equivalent)
• a minimum of two years’ work experience, which may have been gained during undergraduate study
• a detailed personal statement that includes why you are applying and any relevant skills, experience or achievements that make you suitable for the course

An equivalent alternative to a degree would include a professional qualification at Level 6 or above from professional institutions such as the Chartered Management Institute, the Chartered Institute of Marketing, the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants or the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.

You should also submit a full CV comprising:

• Work experience – List your most recent position first, continuing in reverse chronological order including the name, location, website and dates of your employment for each company you have worked for. Aim to use bullet points wherever possible to highlight your responsibilities and achievements in each role.
• Education – In reverse chronological order, give brief details of your academic and professional qualifications along with the grades you achieved.
• Skills – Eg include every IT package or programme you’ve got experience of using, as well as any foreign language skills. Skills such as communication and project management are harder to substantiate and should be backed up with examples.

Once we’ve reviewed your application, we may ask you to attend a selection interview.