Course Description

Master of Science (MSc)
Course Descriptions

Phase 1 – Core Modules *



The modules of the ESE Modular MSc has been specifically designed to empower students to both engage critically and understand the integrated nature of the modern business world. In addition the Masters assumes prior knowledge equivalent to an undergraduate degree in a business discipline. More generally the modules and the connections between them are constructed against a structural advisory template of Sections 3.1 through 3.7 of the benchmark statements for Masters Degrees in Business and Management (QAA 158 02/07). Core modules are chosen by the student in consultation with the campus Academic Director. It should be noted that not all six modules are necessarily available at all campuses but that core modules related to the students pathway specialism is strongly advised.

The Applied Business Research Methods module empowers students to conduct investigations into all facets of the business world including: the profiles of past, current and potential customers; employer attitude, perceptions and job satisfaction; the latest developments in communication and information technology (CIT), strategies or financial models; and operational performance. It examines positivist and phenomenological vistas, quantitative and qualitative data collection and analytic approaches including questionnaires, observation and interviews.

21st Century Advanced Business Structures examines the latest developments and trends of the modern organisation. Industrial and knowledge economies will be discussed leading to an analysis of globalisation. This module includes more established commonly used operational models such as outsourcing and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) as well as less fully conceived ideas such as networked organisations and virtual businesses. In addition it will introduce other pervasive issues such as creativity, innovation, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Digital Asset Management (DAM).

The Organizations and their Cultures module introduce the latest research in the field to enable students to gain a holistic view of how organisations operate both on and underneath the operational surface. Various approaches to understanding and locating an organisation with regard its cultural setting are examined with the aim of enabling students to better understand businesses both in cases and later in their Internship and work.

The Marketing Management module aims to introduce and develop understanding of the concepts, principles, tools and techniques of marketing management, and to highlight current issues in the field of marketing. The module will equip students with the analytical tools that will help them in marketing decision-making, and enable them to understand marketing as a managerial activity and its relationship with other management functions. Students who successfully complete the module will be able to explain and apply the concept of the marketing mix to a company's products and services, and develop a customer focus for business activities.

Managing for Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility introduces the concept of sustainability and discusses the increasingly significant role it plays within today’s business world. Approaches to reducing waste, recycling and sustainable development are introduced as a prelude to examining their potential influence in future decision making as well as creative and innovation drivers. Corporate Responsibility is investigated in terms of it signposting the future organisations as having a significant role in progress towards a more resource conscious planet.

The Management of Resources and Operations module introduces operational practices and issues. In addition the module encourages students to reconfigure operations with the aim of the improving either service or product quality. Simulation and modelling techniques are examined in terms of their capacity to predict the outcome of operational design changes prior to their implementation.

The Integrity and Social Responsibility module provides a personal context for thinking about integrity and social responsibility in business leadership. It begins by exploring a basic assumption that leadership requires a journey of continuously striving to know oneself, understand one’s relationship with others, and taking personal responsibility for making choices and taking action. Further, it explores the premise that business has a responsibility to society beyond that of production and wealth creation. This module examines the responsibilities of businesses to shareholders and other groups as they present themselves to leaders and managers.

The Accounting and Finance for Decision Makers module is aimed at developing the student’s ability to prepare, read, understand and use main financial statements as a generalist. The module is oriented mainly towards the user of financial accounting data rather than the maker. However some basic inputs pertaining to the accounting principles would be taught to provide an introductory grasp from the creator’s perspective.
In addition to the above, the module examines the use and the preparation of cost and management data for planning, decision-making and control.

Marketing Pathway

In the second phase of the MSc students will be required to select six of the current batch of validated Marketing modules:

The Innovation Development and Management module develops in students an understanding of how to encourage innovative practices in both manufacturing and service sectors. In particular innovation will be examined from both strategic and operational perspectives to explore how firms can gain competitive advantage, market share and reduce cost.

E-Business and E-Commerce instructs students how to evaluate the contribution of e-commerce and determine how best to optimism the use these technological structures as strategic tool. The module examines the business models most suited to the E-Business and E-Commerce world.

International Strategic Marketing includes both research findings as well as practical examinations of marketing in organisations. In particular students are encouraged to construct marketing strategies in countries outside their own and to evaluate the latest theoretical approaches to a new international market opportunity.

The Service Marketing module gives students the full awareness of the importance of services as levers within a modern economic system. Services are responsible for the creation of a substantial majority of new jobs. In addition to that the service industry is becoming more and more competitive within the global scenario. The module highlights the differences between the service industry and production or manufacturing businesses, which require a different approach to the planning and implementation of the respective marketing strategies.

Integrated Marketing Communication uses both theory and practical examples to examine the role of both marketing communications and promotional management. The connectivity between marketing communication and marketing strategy is explained as well as examining criteria for using different promotional techniques and media especially with regard integrated campaigns.

International Business Management addresses the significant issues of crossing national borders in the business world. It both identifies the benefits of such new markets as well as highlighting some of the operational, legal and logistical problems that commonly occur.

The Sales Promotion module addresses the “revolutionary” changes caused by technology, globalization, and ethical concerns. To remain relevant, today’s sales force needs to deliver a higher level of professionalism to an increasingly sophisticated customer base. This module examines the role of personal selling in a complex environment. Students learn theory and gain practice in prospecting, presenting, overcoming objections, closing, and follow-up.

The Consumer Behaviour module: how customers and consumers behave’ has been highlighted as one of the fundamental issues, which serve to establish the identity of the field of marketing, distinguish it from other fields and disciplines and compel further research inquiry. The module introduces a wide range of behavioural concepts, and explores the strategic implications of customer behaviour for marketers. The module challenges students to explore the realities and implications of buyer behaviour Key to the module is demonstrating how an understanding of buyer behaviour can help to improve strategic decision making.