Accounting for Decision Makers

15 credits
Autumn teaching, year 1

This module is designed as an introduction for non-financial managers to comparative international accounting, and financial reporting and analysis, within the context of converging standards.

No prior knowledge of accounting procedures is assumed or required.

The Business Context in Emerging Economies

15 credits
Spring teaching, year 1

Buyer Behaviour

15 credits
Autumn teaching, year 1

This module is intended to develop your  understanding of theories and concepts drawn from research in marketing psychology and how these shed light on consumers' motivations and behaviours. You will address the individual, situational, environmental, inter-personal and cultural (sub-cultural) factors that shape consumer behaviour. You will also examine buyer decision-making stages (processes) and the extent to which the afore-mentioned factors influence buyer decision-making and behaviours. Through a focus on contemporary issues in buyer behaviour, and the challenges these may pose marketing managers, the course enables you to apply conceptual and theoretical ideas in marketing psychology to develop marketing strategies aimed at building and maintaining strong customer franchise. The module will emphasise understanding of the array of inter- and intra-influences on consumers and to encourage you to reflect and critically evaluate your own behaviours as a consumer. In addition, the influences will be presented in both a cross-national and multi-cultural national context, in order to encourage you to consider, interpret and demonstrate practical applications of course taught theories within broader or more diverse (national and cultural) settings.

Change and Leadership

15 credits
Autumn teaching, year 1

Change and Leadership will provide you with the theoretical grounding to understand and appraise different modes of organisational change, their drivers, the responses of staff and other stakeholders, and the role of leaders in leading and responding to change. The relevance of theory will be explored in contexts including cultural change, restructuring and mergers/acquisitions. The module examines the principles of managing change at a number of levels building progressively from individual change, to team change and organisational change up to change at the meso-macro level in complex economic systems (eg change of sectoral or even national importance). The distinctive roles for leaders and approaches to leadership will be explored in relation to these levels.

Within the continuum, reflecting positioning of the module between organisational behaviour and strategy, topics to be addressed will cover six main areas including: 

• Behavioural, cognitive, humanistic and psychodynamic theories of individual change 
• Teams: their constitution, internal dynamics and role in organisational change
• Historical approaches to organisational change (under ad-hoc management, scientific management, human relations and contigent approaches) 
• More recent (and emerging) paradigms in organisational change
• Planned vs. emergent change: complexity and inter-organisational influences
• Leadership: role choices and constraint, and frameworks for managing change

The assessment is a coursework-based task requiring you to select a change scenario for a chosen organisation and to describe how that change process should be undertaken, with specific reference to options for change and appraisal of their suitability, through reference to relevant theories of change. Strengths and weakness of relevant approaches will be identified. Specific attention to the role and style of leadership required for the change process or programme will be a key component of the report.

Corporate Governance and Social Responsibility

15 credits
Spring teaching, year 1

This module is aimed at students on the range of 'conversion' type of MSc programmes across the department and is delivered in the International Accounting and Governance programme as a core. The focus is on contemporary perspectives and practices within the broadly defined areas of Corporate Social Responsibility and Governance.

The module starts from the premise that CSR is a contested, problematic and developing area of study. There is an acceptance that an understanding of ethical frameworks is required to inform debate on this subject and that research generated evidence and insights are necessary to substantiate assertion.

The focus is also practical, and you will individually undertake research into an organisation's orientation and practice towards its stakeholders. A critical and questioning approach to this will be encouraged and required to 'see beyond' the often platitudinous veneer that can characterise this relationship.

Throughout the module the emphasis will be on devloping your own coherent and informed view of matters such as corporate and governance, together with issues of professional ethics within a globalised context. In particular, we examine the extent to which corporate governance practices are moving towards convergence.

The coursework requires you to work individually to produce a case study analysis of contemporary stakeholder issues and to thereby further your understanding and exercise research skills and judgement. Supporting and underpinning this is a week by week seminar programme requiring you to ascertain and appreciate your own and others' 'ethical profiles', locate and interpret research-based insights and undertake case study analysis of organisational practices and professional ethical dilemmas.

An examination will test your grasp of relevant concepts, theory and ability to apply insights.

E-Marketing

15 credits
Spring teaching, year 1

This cutting-edge marketing module discusses how digital media technology has changed marketing and gives detailed strategies on how to embrace the online environment challenges.

The main aim of this module is to provide you with a critical understanding of the key concepts, fundamentals and challenges of E-Marketing. We will explore the impact of the web on the traditional marketing mix of goods and services and examine the key ingredients of the online Micro and Macro environment. Moreover, E-marketing analyses online consumers’ behaviour and their response to social media strategies and new technologies used by companies.

The impact of electronic technologies on marketing strategy, market segmentation, positioning, and communication strategies is also addressed. An emphasis is also placed on the utilisation of customer relationship marketing approaches within a dynamic online environment. Finally, online marketing strategy formulation and implementation within a changing technology environment is thoroughly described.

By the end of the module, students are expected to develop and demonstrate knowledge and skills in the following areas:

• the theoretical and practical importance of the E-marketing mix and its impact on marketing strategy
• the online consumer behaviour and online decision-making process
• various online marketing strategies for social media
• strategic analysis of the online environment
• online performance measurement.

Global Business

15 credits
Autumn teaching, year 1

The module will widen the perspective of aspiring managers regarding the strategic implications of global change and facilitate more informed strategic planning and implementation within companies. The module is introductory and wide ranging in scope. A balance is sought between theory and practice with seminars placing an emphasis on contemporary case studies.

Global Marketing

15 credits
Spring teaching, year 1

Few companies these days could claim to be purely domestic. While the firm may confine its activities to the domestic market, the market itself is unlikely to be so restricted and may be served by firms headquartered in or operating from a number of other countries or regions. Knowledge of global issues is therefore of importance to all firms whether they are actively involved in marketing in foreign markets or have foreign competitors at home.

This module represents an introduction to global marketing and aims to develop knowledge of the global environment. The increased scope, risk and complexity faced by the global marketer is due to the increased level of uncertainty from operating in diverse and less understood environments. Emphasis is placed on the identification of challenges presented by global marketing to equip you to deal with differences, opportunities and threats emerging from diverse economic, demographic, political/legal, cultural, technical and competitive environments.

The impact of global issues is related during the module to the marketing decision-making task at three levels:

• the macro level at which country selection decisions are made
• national level at which market entry decisions are made
• and market level where marketing mix decisions are made.

Information Systems and Management

15 credits
Spring teaching, year 1

International Entrepreneurship

15 credits
Spring teaching, year 1

The focus of this module is on the development and growth of new firms from establishment to the early stages of international development. Much of the core teaching in international business relates to the strategic decisions made by established large firms, but SMEs are increasingly engaged in both foreign trade and investment - as is evidenced by the phenomena of born-global firms, international new ventures, and rapidly internationalising firms. In this context, the links between entrepreneurship, innovation, and internationalisation are crucial.

International Human Resource Management

15 credits
Spring teaching, year 1

This module aims to introduce you to concepts, issues and debates around human resource management and employment relations within the context of the growing internationalisation of business. It will look at the implications of the rise of multinational corporations and foreign direct investment for employment, and the particular challenges of managing a workforce across national borders. The module will adopt a comparative perpective for the discussion of the variability of key human resource practices across different national contexts. The module will weave together two key themes of international differences in HR management and the HRM practices of corporations that operate in multiple country locations.

Some of the topics that may be included are as follows:

• Specific HRM function areas (such as pay/rewards systems, working time, employee voice at the company or sector level)
• The variability in the interpretation of high performance HRM systems
• The global diffusion of HRM practices
• Different 'home country' effects shaping MNC employment practices
• International assignments as an HRM tool
• The gendered dimensions of MNC HRM practies
• The role of culture in global diversity management
• Corporate social responsibility issues
• Global talent management
• Implications of outsourcing and off-shoring for HRM etc

International Marketing Communications

15 credits
Spring teaching, year 1

In highly competitive markets, companies must seek to differentiate their brands and to effectively communicate their value propositions to customers. Good communication is therefore a critical element in a company's efforts to build and maintain profitable customer relationships. This module aims to provide you with an understanding of the elements of the communication (promotional) mix, and to explain the use of major promotional tools, including advertising, public relations, publicity, sales promotion, direct marketing, and online and new-media marketing.

You will examine the current theories and practices of integrated marketing communications, and more specifically, explore the role of brands and the importance of integrated marketing communications in achieving brand objectives. As such, this module ensures that you will understand the strategic perspective to brand building and how this facilitates the development of the brand 'essence'.

Brand marketing communications strategies frequently cross geographic borders, and this module will equip you with analytical frameworks for developing marketing communications within both domestic and international/cross-cultural settings. You will be encouraged to consider different cultural interpretations of brand marketing communications/tools as well as the implications for marketing communications implementation in different socio-political and regulatory environments.

Management, Innovation and Organisational Performance

15 credits
Autumn teaching, year 1

This module aims to help you develop a critical awareness and deep understanding of the principles and practices associated with management and performance excellence, and provides insight into the drive for continuous improvement of products, services and processes for enhanced competitive positioning from effective innovation management.

The module includes a focus on strategies for sustainable improvement in performance of operating systems, ethical practice, organisational mindset, and planning and control mechanisms employed to effectively manage and monitor socio-economic performance for sustainable business operations.

By critically assessing the application of a range of tools, techniques and frameworks within a variety of best practice organisations across a number of industry sectors, at both national and international level, you will examine 'value' from a range of stakeholder perspectives.

Marketing Management

15 credits
Autumn teaching, year 1

Gone are the stable markets of yesteryear. Today's markets are characterised by rapidly changing customers' wants, accelerating pace of technological advances, and intensifying competition, presenting major challenges for both incumbent and upstart enterprises alike. For most organisations, marketing is a major determinant of success. This module is designed to help you develop an appreciation of the role of marketing and the management of marketing functions in the modern organisation. The impact of marketing and the contribution of marketing to organisational performance in the dynamic, globally competitive markets of today will be addressed. The module will also focus on what being market-oriented really means in practice to organisations operating in manufacturing and service industries, as well as in profit and non-profit enterprises.

The module will introduce you to the theories, concepts, models, techniques and current best-practices for developing and implementing marketing strategies and actions. Marketing decision-making should not take place in a vacuum, and this course will familiarise you with the components of market analysis and strategy development with respect to the organisation, its customers, competitors and collaborators. There will also be indepth coverage of marketing implementation and control issues through the concept of the integrated marketing mix: the product/service offering and customer service, communications, pricing and channels.

Marketing Research

15 credits
Autumn teaching, year 1

Marketing managers need solid information about the marketplace and consumers in order to design effective marketing programmes, evaluate marketing actions and monitor or improve marketing performance. This module aims to provide you with a broad understanding of the role of marketing research and associated research methods in enabling marketers to generate better information. In addition, it will enable you to gain an appreciation of the components of the research process and requirements of successfully conducting marketing research, giving managers the right information in the right form to make better marketing decisions.

Particular emphasis will be placed on helping you to develop appreciation of the practical applications of various research techniques and data-specific tools which can help marketers analyse, assess and solve practical marketing problems. You will not only gain knowledge of the scope of market research and the interlinkages among various components of the research process, but also learn to think more critically about the options open to marketers and researchers when applying these to practical marketing situations.

Moreover, this module will examine special marketing research considerations in the context of today's dynamic and competitive domestic as well as international, markets. Where relevant, special issues facing some market researchers, namely public policy and ethics, will also be addressed.

Marketing Strategy

15 credits
Spring teaching, year 1

One of the key tasks of marketing managers involves developing and implementing marketing strategies that create and sustain superior performance for the organisation in the marketplace. This module addresses the role of marketing in strategy formulation and the fundamental principles that guide organisational actions that ensure marketing success, not just for today, but into the foreseeable future.

The module will provide you with theoretical and practical perspectives of marketing strategy, the strategic marketing planning process and associated activities. There will be a strong focus on the strategic planning of marketing, including evolving developments in strategic marketing thinking and implications for marketing management. In addition, you will address the resource-based view of marketing, the role of organisational resources in developing and sustaining dynamic marketing capabilities and the importance of aligning resources and capabilities to the needs and requirements of the markets in which the organisation competes. Moreover, this module will enable you to develop an appreciation of the practical applications of various strategic concepts and techniques, and to critically evaluate and select strategic options available to marketing decision-makers, through case-study analyses and marketing strategy decision-making in a computer-simulated competitive industry.

Research Methods (International Management)

15 credits
Spring teaching, year 1

Research Project (International Marketing)

30 credits
Summer teaching, year 1

You undertake an independent research project considering the factors that influence marketing decisions and implementation success in overseas markets.

Strategic Management - Business Mgmnt Course

15 credits
Spring teaching, year 1

This module aims to give you a strong grasp of the issues, tools and theoretical perspectives underlying the practice of strategy and its links with management. Using a combination of theory, practice and cases you will learn how to apply principles of strategy to companies.

The module begins by covering key skills and tools for strategic analysis. These include tools for analysing a firm's macroenvironment and competitive environment, as well as an organisation's own resources and capabilities. It then provides an in-depth summary of the strategy process as it is used by managers, and then discusses the range of theoretical perspectives that inform our understanding of this process.

The Business Context in East Asia

15 credits
Spring teaching, year 1

The main aims of this module are to explore the international business environment in East Asia, to provide an overview of the various East Asian economies, their interrelationship, and their importance in the world economy, and to examine the lessons which may be drawn both from the economic success of the East Asian economies, and from the Asian financial crisis.

The Business Context in Europe

15 credits
Spring teaching, year 1

The main aims of this module are to explore the international business environment in Europe, to provide an overview of the various European economies, their inter-relationships, and their importance in the world economy. Attention will be paid not just to the major member States of the European Union, but to newer member States and other European economies.