BA (Hons) Global Business and Sustainability Management

Free Choice Electives - 15 credits (30 to Choose from)

1 to be chosen in Year 3 Semester 1
1 to be chosen in Year 3 Semester 2

STM6710 Knowledge Management and Sustainability
STM6730 Sustainability in the Global Trade Supply Chain
DSM6410 Managing Design and Sustainability Innovation
FIN6620 Global Financial Ethics
DSM6420 Managing the Design Process
DSM6430 Managing New Products and Services through Design
DSM6460 Managing Change: Design Management Perspective
DSM6800 Design Management in Practice
MGT6800 Managing Global Trade Operations
STG6330 E-Business Strategies
MGT6340 Management Issues for the Family-run Business
MGT6310 Global Resource Management
MGT6350 Organisational Behaviour in a Global Context
BUS6360 Entrepreneurship in the Global Environment
MKT6800 Strategic Marketing Management
MKT6510 Retail & Channel Management
MKT6520 Global Marketing Management
MKT6550 Global Media Management
MKT6560 Strategic Sales Management
MKT6540 Service Systems and Marketing
FIN6800 Multinational Financial Management
FIN6630 Global Accounting Standards and Their Development
FIN6640 Issues in Corporate Finance
FIN6650 Financial Portfolio Management
FIN6660 Managing Real Estate Investment
LAW6710 Corporate Law for Managers
IRM6720 Information Systems for Competitive Advantage
STG6730 Strategic Thinking

STM6710 Knowledge Management and Sustainability (15 Credits)

This module takes a broad view of knowledge management as a subject that includes communication, sense-making, learning, intangible assets, human resources, organisational knowledge and knowledge technologies. Knowledge creation, situated in a local context, is related to international interconnectedness and globalisation and its relationship to the concepts of sustainability.

The module aims to offer students an ability to differentiate between simplistic knowledge management ‘solutions’ and the process of knowing how to ‘make a difference’ – the practice of power – which lies at the heart of effective management, thus leading to sustainable management of change within business context.

STM6730 Sustainability in the Global Trade Supply Chain (15 Credits)

The concept of sustainable development has emerged as the realisation has grown that the natural resources that the world’s populations depend on are not finite. Global evidence increasingly emphasises that the gradual warming of the planet through the accumulation of carbon dioxide (CO2) will destroy the planet and human life if humans do not take steps to limit the increasing degradation of the planet. Global trade has been increasing quickly in recent years as the process of globalisation has developed, and involved most countries.

Although, within the context of global trade supply chain, much of the problem of global warming is caused by transport emissions, the problem of sustainability links into global trade by a natural desire to ensure that the resources that are used should be sustained for the benefit of future generations.

This module, in terms that relate to global trade, examines the supply chains that criss-cross the globe and investigates critically the changes that need to be considered if the resources used in those supply chains are to become sustainable. Upon its completion, students would have gained a critical understanding of the relationship between economics, ethics and environment and its impact on the global trade supply chain.

DSM6410 Managing Design and Sustainability Innovation (15 Credits)

This module provides a platform for students to investigate, examine and discuss how design practice can generate new ideas and / or discoveries that could lead to innovation within ecologically focused business practices and consider implementation of sustainable company culture that draws on the relationship between economics, ethics and environment (planet, profit, people).

On successful completion, students will be versed in the theoretical concepts of innovation and be able to identify structures within sustainability where innovation can take place. They will also have the ability to recognise barriers within sustainability and business contexts that may stifle the development of innovation.

FIN6620 Global Financial Ethics (15 Credits)

Students undertaking this module will acquire an understanding of the underlying ethical rationale for professional codes of ethics for finance and accounting practitioners. Building on STM5900 Corporate Social Responsibility module, an in-depth assessment of the nature of corporate governance and the link to corporate performance will be made. The importance of effective governance of companies and proper stewardship is explored in the context of the relationship between the corporate entity, directors, shareholders and other stakeholders.

Obligations of directors, their role as agents of the shareholders, company performance and the link to remuneration are examined. Additionally, students will explore the increased complexity of business and new technologies that result in an environment where professional managers need some background in forensic accounting to better understand their organisations.

Recent interest has been fuelled by well-publicised scandals in major international corporations. The module would aim to help students identify the roles and responsibilities of a forensic accountant, understand the legal framework in which forensic analysis takes place, describe sound investigative strategies, identify appropriate damage methodologies, understand issues of ethics as related to corporate governance, and explore the financial statements in search of fraud and/or accounting abuse.

DSM6420 Managing the Design Process (15 Credits)

Builds upon the understanding of the role of design in a business context, focusing away from the operational aspects towards its strategic implementation. Students will gain an appreciation of design process as strategic tool within a business context, whilst exploring what information is needed to enable creative decisions to be taken.

They will engage with the dilemmas of the design/business interface, while critically reviewing examples of case studies of cross-cultural scope, with particular focus on design strategies adopted by global organisations.

On successful completion students will have the skills and the know-how to appraise the application of design information so as to prompt creative decision-making within business organisation, whilst demonstrating how to find and how to select the 'best' new products and services.

DSM6430 Managing New Products and Services through Design
(15 Credits)

Explores the total process by which products and services are developed and the way in which that development is organised. Students will learn to recognise how the management of new products and services can be applied as a principle embodying all business functions from the initial trigger through to disposal, while interpreting the customers and the market from within the design management perspective.

Upon successful completion they will be able to evaluate critically the stages in managing new products and services, whilst appreciating the similarities and differences between them. Students will also gain critical knowledge and understanding of the ways to provide offerings that meet customer needs, avoiding product and service failure through the use of design management skills.

DSM6460 Managing Change: Design Management Perspective
(15 Credits)

Offers insights into issues related to change that confront business organisations and particularly design managers both locally and globally. Students will develop an understanding of the process of change and resistance to change followed by its implications for all stakeholders.

Upon successful completion students will be in position to synthesize approaches to decision-making, as well as developing and implementing strategy in order to arrive at a ‘managing change toolkit’, taking into account the value of design as an alternative way to control risk, ambiguity and change.

They will also be able to reflect on the process of applying their own arsenal of knowledge of causes to influence the outcomes of change in a positive way.

DSM6800 Design Management in Practice (15 Credits)

Provides students with a picture of design management in practice by offering them opportunities to take an in-depth look at how actual practitioners manage the design process and to reflect critically upon design management as a profession by undertaking a series of practice based projects.

The module offers opportunities for students to question design management as a practice both on theoretical and practical levels, thereby gaining the skills and confidence requisite to challenge the status quo of the discipline in order to promote change for its future progressive development. Upon successful completion students will be fluent in discussing and defending design management within a business context as a key strategic resource both theoretically and in practice.

They will also be able to formulate concepts of ‘good practice’ in design management and communicate to others the variety of contexts within which these can be applied.

MGT6800 Managing Global Trade Operations (15 Credits)

Examines the strategic and operational issues related to the conduct of foreign trade, in particular, aspects of the key operations in the global trade process. Upon successful completion of this module, students will be able to identify the areas of risk in global trade and demonstrate the management of them. This module will enable students to formulate plans for foreign trade operations in a specific country or region.

STG6330 E-Business Strategies (15 Credits)

Explores many different aspects of conducting business over the Internet, particularly from marketing and strategic perspectives. A variety of business modules will be examined, including business-to-business, business-to-consumer, and consumer-to-business. Upon successful completion, students will be able to analyse critically the business model of a firm and to determine the role that the Internet and related technologies should play in supporting or enabling the model. They will also be able to produce an E-Business start-up strategy and present it in a professional and concise manner.

MGT6340 Management Issues for the Family-run Business
(15 Credits)

Explores a range of themes connected both directly and indirectly to the family business. Using case studies, the module invites consistent student participation in discussing the issues that are aired in the case studies. Upon successful completion of this module, students will be able to recognise and critically evaluate a wide set of circumstances that can confront the family business, and demonstrate the core competencies for managing them.

MGT6310 Global Resource Management (15 Credits)

Examines the challenges which face global companies in managing their global resources. It focuses upon the analysis of modern trends in production and operations management in the context of the global economy, and the use of integrated communications and information systems to maintain a company’s global competitive advantage.

MGT6350 Organisational Behaviour in a Global Context (15 credits)

Investigates individual and group behaviour and structures of organisations for the purposes of improving organisational effectiveness and quality of work life. Organisational behaviour draws from various disciplines including sociology, psychology, anthropology and economy. It provides a useful set of tools for managers to understand some of the complexities involved in interpersonal relations whether in group or organisational context.

BUS6360 Entrepreneurship in the Global Environment (15 Credits)

The 21st century will see a continuation and intensification of changes in company management as creativity and innovation skills become more dominant forces in the struggle to maintain market share. The entrepreneur is likely to play a more significant part in the growth and development of national economies.

In addition, the model of social entrepreneurship as the embedded sustainability perspective is used to question current and future roles of entrepreneurs.

Upon successful completion, students will be able to critically analyse and comment with regards to the characteristics of the entrepreneur, the impact of social entrepreneurship, finally linking up with management of family-run businesses often seen as living examples of entrepreneurialism in action.

MKT6800 Strategic Marketing Management (15 Credits)

Focuses upon the actual management tasks required to analyse, plan, implement and control an organisation’s marketing efforts. The main objective is to build sound business decision-making, as it impacts on the marketing goals. The module will enable students to look at marketing in a wider business context, impacting on the bottom-line/performance of the organisation and other business units. Upon successful completion, students will be able to use the full range of analytical marketing tools to evaluate a company’s product and market position. They will also be able to formulate appropriate marketing strategies and turn them into effective marketing plans for a variety of companies in diverse marketing conditions.

MKT6510 Retail & Channel Management (15 Credits)

Provides a core understanding of retailing in its competitive environment and examines the role of the distribution channels in the marketing mix. The module enables students to understand the key marketing concepts in retailing and channel management and equips the student with the knowledge needed to understand and to manage a retailing or distribution function in a commercial organisation.

MKT6520 Global Marketing Management (15 Credits)

Provides students with an in-depth understanding of marketing strategies and practices in a global context, by analysing the global marketing environment, marketing opportunities and strategy options, and the global marketing mix. In addition, the module equips students with the expertise needed to apply marketing management techniques in countries other than their own and develops the skills necessary for planning in multinational environments. Upon successful completion, students will be able to critically evaluate the factors affecting global marketing decisions, their inter-relationships and the way in which these factors influence decision-making processes and outcomes.

MKT6550 Global Media Management (15 Credits)

Examines the world of global media management at strategic and applied levels, by covering the main managerial aspects relating to the use of media by large organisations. Upon successful completion, students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the importance of global media management to business and brand strategy. They will also know how to prepare specifications and commission appropriate media agencies, to make quantitative and qualitative judgements about the relative values of competitive media proposals, and to make appropriate decisions about the organisational structures for international media management.

MKT6560 Strategic Sales Management (15 Credits)

Explores the various aspects of the sales management process. Specific activities of interest will be how sales managers develop and execute plans for creating customer satisfaction by developing the selling function, strategic sales planning, building a sales programme, and controlling the sales force. Upon successful completion, students will be able to appreciate the role of selling and sales management in marketing and be able to critically evaluate sales programmes.

MKT6540 Service Systems and Marketing (15 Credits)

Examines the marketing of services. The module will focus around theoretical constructs, such as the PZB service gaps model and Normann's service systems model. Upon successful completion, students will be able explore potential gaps between customer expectations and perceptions of service, identify the causes of such gaps and learn how to manage their closure, as well as gain an in depth knowledge of a service concept in an organisation.

FIN6800 Multinational Financial Management (15 Credits)

Provides students with an understanding of the principles of foreign investment and the management of foreign exchange risks. The problems of the multinational company are considered, particularly, with regards to investment appraisal and political risk. Upon successful completion, students will be able to make the analyses and calculations necessary for foreign investment decisions. They will also know how to devise a finance strategy for an international firm.

FIN6630 Global Accounting Standards and Their Development
(15 Credits)

Examines current Issues in Accounting Reform and Comparative International Accounting. Content will depend to a large extent on the nature of the latest issues in accounting. Upon successful completion, students will be able demonstrate an understanding of the links between Finance and Accounting. They will also know how to analyse the benefits and limitations of financial accounts for investment decisions and demonstrate an awareness of the latest issues in accounting standards.

FIN6640 Issues in Corporate Finance (15 Credits)

Covers the main sources of finance available to a company and the considerations in their selection. Students will examine the issue of appraising capital investment projects and the problems of calculating the company’s cost of capital and dealing with risk and inflation. Upon successful completion, students will be able to carry out investment appraisals, taking external factors such as inflation and taxation into account. They will also be able to calculate and to interpret the effects of short- and long-term financing strategies.

FIN6650 Financial Portfolio Management (15 Credits)

The module provides students with an understanding of the financial management of an investment portfolio and enables them to evaluate the potential risks and returns of alternative investments. Upon successful completion, students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the practices of the City of London institutions and the world stock markets. They will also be able to construct and to manage an investment portfolio.

FIN6660 Managing Real Estate Investment (15 Credits)

The module examines real estate investment strategy, objectives and considerations within a Risk/Return framework and the ways of measuring and evaluating investment performance. Upon successful completion, students will be able to define core terms in the real estate business, measure risk and expected returns, evaluate different securities, and analyse investment choices in respect of their risk/return characteristics and trade-offs in a global market.

LAW6710 Corporate Law for Managers (15 Credits)

Gives students a broad overview of the main aspects of company law. In addition, they will examine some of the current trends in company law to ascertain how the field is likely to develop within the European Union as well as globally in the future. Upon successful completion, students will be able to demonstrate a critical awareness of the legal nature of the company as a business organisation, the law relating to corporate finance, the relations between the company and third parties, the distribution of power within a company, the duties of directors and other managers and the associated enforcement mechanisms, and the key principles of corporate insolvency law. They will also know how to apply the skills learned to analyse practical legal problems involving companies.

IRM6720 Information Systems for Competitive Advantage (15 Credits)

There is an increasing trend for organisations to use Information Systems to gain strategic advantage. This module is concerned with giving students the ability to: (a) construct an Information Systems Strategy appropriate to a given organisation and (b) understand how various I.S. technologies can be used for competitive advantage. This is very much a Business-led rather than technology-driven module, and the links to Strategy and the Business Planning cycle will be explored in depth. Porter's Value Chain concept will be used to link strategic usage of Information Systems and the relevant supporting/driving technologies.

STG6730 Strategic Thinking (15 Credits)

This module builds on the tools and techniques introduced in the Corporate Strategy module. It gives students practice in using the tools in a more holistic fashion, giving them a greater appreciation of which tool should be used when, and adding a wider range of techniques. In particular this module devotes significant space to Strategy Dynamics approaches, viewing organisations and many of the things they deal with (including customers) as resources, and encouraging students to map the interactions between these resources to better understand and potentially manage the business dynamics involved.