Management – (M.Sc.)

Contents

Full-time study on our MSc programmes follows a schedule of half-day teaching blocks. A single module, for example, will be taught over six half-days, usually the same half-day each week e.g. six consecutive Monday mornings and half modules are taught over three half-days. Module teaching blocks will be scheduled on different half-days so that students will study several modules during the same period .

Teaching takes place during the autumn, spring and summer terms with a few modules scheduled for evenings and the Easter vacation. These will usually be the optional modules but this is not guaranteed. Formal examinations take place in January and May/June each year at the end of each semester. If you pass the module assessments to a satisfactory standard you are permitted to continue work until September leading to the submission of an MSc dissertation.

Core Modules

* Strategy Management

This unit explores issues in corporate and business strategy. You will learn about strategic analysis, strategy formulation, strategic choices and actions, leadership and strategy implementation.

* Marketing Analysis

The unit will provide you with a better understanding of the principles of marketing, including insight into its role within the broader organisation. The unit aims to help you develop enthusiasm for marketing and introduce you to the range of activities that may be undertaken by the marketing function.

* Risk Taking and Decision Making

Decision making and risk taking is central to effective management. Through this unit you will develop your decision making and risk taking capabilities, become familiar with decision making processes, know when to apply them and be able to take account of uncertainly and behavioural aspects.

* Accounting & Control

This unit will develop your understanding of both management and financial accounting. You will learn how to understand and analyse financial statements and capital expenditure proposals. You will gain insight into the framework of accounting and the role of accounting within the broader organisational control system.

* Managing Resources and Operations

A fundamental requirement of an organisation is to produce a product. Whether that product is a service or a good, effective management of the operations process can have a significant effect on organisational competitiveness. This unit will examine many of the key aspects of operations, including project management, and how they interface with the other areas of the organisation.

* Organisational Effectiveness

This unit is designed to engage you in the process of managing people and activities. It is delivered in two parts, the first part provides you with practical experience of working in a team and implementing the management process of setting objectives, understanding the environment, planning, implementing and reviewing. The second part comes at the end of the taught part of the programme and provides you with the opportunity to put what your learnt over the programme into practice through a two day business simulation.

* People and Organisations



Management in contemporary organisations requires an appreciation of the diversity and complexity of managing people. The unit will develop understanding of organisational process and the problems people face in managing them. You will learn to be better self evaluators and the importance of valuing individual differences.

* Research Methods



The ability to design and implement effective research methods is an important both within and outside academia. Through this unit you will learn about the key aspects of quantitative and qualitative research methods and how a well designed research project can yield valuable results. You will gain insight into the theory and practice of research and the unit will help you develop your ideas for you dissertation.

* Key Skills

When undertake an active role in the management of your organisation and its staff, you will find that a number of key skills are frequently required. In this unit we help you develop your presentation and negotiation skills, and provide a series of seminars that address many other useful key skills. This unit provides practical advice and the opportunity to practice your skills and gain feedback.

Optional Modules

* Corporate Finance
* Equity Markets
* Information Systems
* Systems Thinking
* Management Science
* Innovation Management
* Strategic Marketing

How will you learn?

Your understanding of the subjects covered and your ability to use the knowledge and skills gained will be enhanced through a variety of methods and strategies. Some of the key learning approaches that you will experience as a student in the School will include:

* Group work

Group work is recognised as vital in your development when looking forward to, or continuing in, a management role. You will be supported in learning how to form and maintain group cohesiveness to achieve clearly defined outcomes, such as a business report, a group presentation or a combination of both.

* Case-studies

You will be presented with many different business case-studies that reflect the reality of decision-making and problem-solving activities in today's business environment. The case studies are selected to reflect the specific needs of your programme or unit of study.

* Learning alongside other students

Throughout your time with us you will be working alongside fellow students from a wide range of cultural and geographical backgrounds. This is a powerful resource and we are particularly keen to encourage you to set up learning networks with other students that may extend beyond the time of your study at Southampton.

To help with this style of networking you will be expected to learn to communicate with each other as well as your teachers in a variety of contexts. For example, during a large group lecture you may be given the opportunity to discuss a specific problem or complete a task in small groups, often with people who are sitting alongside you. The possible answers would be shared by the large group as guided by your teacher.

The example noted above indicates that you are expected to be an 'active' learner through taking part in small group discussions and offering your views on many occasions.

Examinations and assessmentA range of assessment methods are used including essays, case studies, coursework, examinations and the dissertation.