Purpose and Outcomes of an MBA Degree
The MBA is a career development degree for those with significant relevant work experience, which contributes to learning. The emphasis is on leadership through strategic management with a significant practical and professional orientation to the programme of study.
The MBA is designed for those who may be expected in time to make a significant contribution to managing at a strategic level in their organisation.
The MBA is a programme of study aimed at the preparation for strategic leadership and transformational roles in organisations.
The purpose of an MBA is to:
2. prepare students for leadership and transformational roles in business;
3. develop strategic thinking, innovation and entrepreneurial skills;
4. develop an understanding and provide experience of global business issues;
5. develop the ability to apply previous and newly acquired knowledge and experience to complex business issues in a range of contexts;
6. develop knowledge, at an advanced level, of organisations, their management and the environment in which they operate;
7. develop interpersonal and group-working skills;
8. Encourage lifelong learning and personal development.
In terms of knowledge and understanding, an MBA graduate will be able to:
1. understand the concept of leadership through strategic management;
2. integrate new knowledge with previous learning and experiences;
3. know and understand organisations, the external context in which they operate and how they are managed;
4. integrate their learning from a range of subject areas to understand and address complex situations;
5. be able to analyse, synthesise and solve complex unstructured business problems.
Employers can expect graduates, over time, to:
1. apply consistently in-depth knowledge and understanding, based on previous work experience and advanced study, to complex business situations;
2. apply strategic management skills at a senior level in changing business environments;
3. transform organisations through strategic leadership and intellectual rigour;
4. understand and have experience of global issues;
5. have well-developed interpersonal skills including the ability to communicate effectively and to interact with groups and individuals at all levels;
6. make sound judgements with incomplete data and communicate conclusions clearly to a range of audiences;
7. be self-directed and able to act autonomously in planning and implementing projects;
8. take responsibility for continuing to develop their knowledge and skills.
Knowledge, Understanding and Skills
All candidates should acquire a firm understanding of the major areas of knowledge which underpin general management,
1. the concepts, processes and institutions in the production and marketing of goods and/or services and the financing of business enterprise or other forms of organisation;
2. the concepts and applications of accounting, of quantitative methods, and management information systems including IT applications;
3. organisation theory, behaviour, HRM issues and interpersonal communications;
4. the processes and problems of general management at the operational and strategic level;
5. business research methods and consultancy skills;
6. the impact of environmental forces on organisations, including: legal systems; ethical, social, economic, and technological change issues;
7. the ability to respond to and manage change should be covered explicitly;
8. business policy and strategy;
9. leadership and entrepreneurship;
10. contemporary and pervasive issues, such as creativity, enterprise, innovation, e-commerce, knowledge management, globalisation and sustainability;
11. The international dimension to the above, including political risk and contemporary processes of regionalisation, emerging markets, global governance and globalisation.
