You’ll critically review existing entrepreneurship and innovation models and concepts, including process models, and explore ‘patchwork’ and ‘opportunity’ based approaches to entrepreneurship and innovation. During the module you’ll explore how ‘innovation’ comes from a variety of sources, examine the principles of ‘open’ innovation, and recognise the importance of exploiting available networks and of developing an innovative culture.

Your ability to analyse and critique ‘entrepreneurial’ business models, both existing and conceptual will be improved through the utilisation of tools such as the Business Model Canvas. You’ll think creatively by proposing innovative solutions to creating and capturing value through the medium of consultancy report and applying some of the theoretical underpinnings of the module. Finally, the principles of entrepreneurship and innovation are analysed in the context of entrepreneurs, start-up and family businesses from across the globe, in various commercial, public-sector and not- for-profit sectors, emphasising the importance and challenges of ‘social’ and ‘sustainability-led’ innovation.

You’ll investigate and critically evaluate historical and contemporary approaches to leadership theory, focusing especially on leadership at junior to middle management level. Classical theories of leadership will be examined including traits theory, behavioural theories and contingency theories. Some contemporary theories will include issues such as emotional intelligence, psychodynamics and leader-led relations. There will be a strong emphasis on applying the theory to your ownpersonal leadership with a view to enhancing leadership performance in preparation for middle management roles within the organisation. Management of change will be another key emphasis, including organisational politics & power, change theories and the implementation of the change process. Issues for consideration will include the organisational context of change, resistance to change and practical management of the change process.

You’ll prepare to undertake a piece of business or management research for your Masters Postgraduate Major Project by developing appropriate knowledge, understanding and transferable intellectual and practical skills. Emphasis is on developing the skills most likely to lead to successful completion of relevant research within your chosen organisation. Skills such as the ability to frame research aims, generate research questions/hypotheses, and research objectives, the ability to generate a conceptual framework, to select and justify a particular research design and methodology and the ability to act as an ethical researcher in both national and international business are all central features of this module. Core practical skills such as being able to generate and analyse quantitative and qualitative data are crucial. By developing this knowledge, understanding and transferable intellectual and practical skills the true aims of conducting research will be realised. The confidence you’ll gain through cognitive and practical research will further develop your employability and professional skills.

It is essential that HR practitioners are strategically aware, business orientated and concerned with adding value through human resource practice. This module provides you with the rigorous framework of knowledge and understanding of people management and development in a global context that you’ll need. You’ll debate about theory and practice, evaluating which will help you to become an effective manager as well as an effective HR specialist. Planning and decision making is a core aspect of business strategy and this module will look at the accounting and finance information that is used in planning and in support of the decision making process, in the short and long terms, and control against those plans. You’ll also draw on aspects of organisational behaviour, and the risky, uncertain and quickly-changing environment in which many organisations operate. Another aspect you’ll investigate is the extent to which HRM can be seen as a global phenomenon. You’ll develop the knowledge and project management skills to enable you to perform business management tasks effectively and efficiently, including thinking and decision making skills, the management of financial information and how to manage budgets. Throughout the module you’ll develop and apply technical strategic, performance management and development concepts to encourage creative decision-making, encouraging confidence to provide clear and cogent advice on the management of human resources as part of a team whilst appreciating the cultural trends and impact of decisions in a diverse global market.

It is essential that HR practitioners are strategically aware, business orientated and concerned with adding value through human resource practice. You’ll be familiarised with contemporary research problems, and will be required to evaluate and critically appraise a range of information, investigate and adopt suitable theoretical frameworks, research methods, and process and analyse data to produce a coherent and justified solution to the problem(s) identified. Planning and decision making is a core aspect of business strategy and you’ll look at the accounting and finance information that is used in planning and in support of the decision making process, in the short and long term, and control against those plans. You’ll also draw on aspects of organisational behaviour, and the risky, uncertain and quickly-changing environment in which many organisations operate as well as investigating the extent to which HRM can be seen as a global phenomenon. We’ll help equip HR professionals with the knowledge and project management skills to enable them to perform business management tasks effectively and efficiently, including thinking and decision making skills, the management of financial information and budgets.

Human Resource (HR) professionals and managers operate within increasingly complex and changing organisational and contextual circumstances in the public, private or third sectors. This is exacerbated by the variety of organisational types and size that contribute to national wealth creation in terms of the services and goods they provide and produce. This module provides you with understanding of market and business contexts in the operational, tactical, and strategic HR function, along with issues of the modern organisation. You’ll examine the cultural, political, and social contexts that organisations operate within, both from an internal and external perspective. Further, you’ll discover how economic forces affect and influence organisational practices, and their impact upon the HR function and its practices. You’ll explore globalisation and how the changing demographics and social environments impact on organisational strategy and the HR function. Plus why ethical and democratic practices are needed to meet the changes of complex business and economic practices or the management of human resources in more dignified ways. Finally, you’ll see how HR can contribute to and influence the strategic direction of organisational practice in the pursuit of welfare profit, as well as monetary profit.

Your major project should be a substantial piece of individual primary and/or secondary research focussed on a topic relevant to your specialist subject area. You’ll discuss contemporary research problems and issues based on your research and practice, and conduct literature reviews, evaluate and critically appraise a range of information, investigate and adopt suitable theoretical frameworks, research methodologies and methods, and process and analyse data to produce a coherent and justified solution to the problem(s) identified. Throughout the module your supervisor will support you in terms of content and skills development so that you can work semi-autonomously on your individual research project. You’ll have regular supervisory meetings throughout the year, to enable you to discuss the range of tasks you will need to complete for the project to be
completed smoothly.