Programme Specifications

QAA Subject Benchmark Statement: Master’s Degrees in Business and Management

September 2023

Programme aims align to the QAA statement on the purpose of business courses. The programme aims are as follows:

• Professional level study in the leading and managing projects, examining various project characteristics and behaviours and, devising key project management strategies for improving company efficiency and effectiveness towards achieving on-time and in full completion of projects.

• Preparation for and/or development of professional level positions in project management by developing skills at a professional level and providing sound preparation for research into the design and management of projects through applying key project management techniques and approaches.

• Development and enhancement of a range of professional level transferable skills and attributes in the area of projects and project management systems.

• Ability to design, critically appraise and implement strategic Project Management principles to the application of professional level reports and projects. This includes the need to deliver presentations to their peer group as part of their coursework.

The learning outcomes of this programme are designed to meet the expectations of the benchmarking statement laid down by the QAA for Type 3 Masters awards in Business and Management. The programme provides opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding, skills, qualities and other attributes.

Graduates will have a sound theoretical grounding in the broad area of business and management and will have developed a range of analytical and personal skills. They have a clear understanding of how their knowledge and skills may be used effectively within an organizational context. They appreciate the importance of culture in shaping corporate values, governance, and perceptions of compliance.

Graduates will be able to collect relevant information across a range of areas pertaining to a current situation, analyse that information and synthesise it into an appropriate form in order to evaluate decision alternatives, and engage with people from different cultural backgrounds in order to raise the level of organizational thinking.

Significant attention is made to the development of group and team working within the programme. An individual’s contribution to both written and verbally presented group work will be assessed on an individual basis. Marking rubrics will ensure a significant part of the overall mark will be assigned to individual performance within the team environment.

Contribution of the individual to the team working process will be evaluated through direct observation of their performance as part of the team. Direct questioning and the assignment of individual responsibilities within the team (periods of team leadership, specific roles in the team etc) will be used to observe an individual’s contribution. Suitable rubrics will be established to evaluate individual performance.

All joint presentations (teamworking and group activities will be assessed by two members of staff in order to reduce any potential for bias in marking.

Within the broad framework of organizations, their external context and management, it is expected that graduates will gain knowledge and develop understanding in the following areas:

Students successfully completing the programme should be able to critically evaluate:

• A1 Markets - the development and operation of markets for resources, supply chains, goods and services

• A2 Marketing and sales – approaches for segmentation, targeting, positioning, generating sales, and the need for innovation in product and service design

• A3 Customers and stakeholders – customer expectations, service and orientation

• A4 Finance – the sources, uses and management of finance; uses of accounting and other information systems for managerial applications

• A5 People – strategic and operational systems; meeting future organisational requirements; people development; leadership and emotional intelligence; supply chain systems

• A6 Ethics, sustainability and governance – doing the right thing in business; management and coordination of environmental, social and financial objectives; governance structures and policies for decision-making

• A7 Information systems, communication and business intelligence –information systems and their impact on organisations; digital and other communications tools; transforming data into useful information to support business decision-making

• A8 Pervasive Issues – these include sustainability, globalization, corporate social responsibility, diversity, business innovation, creativity, enterprise development, knowledge management and risk management.

Learning and Teaching

Learning outcomes 1-8 are acquired through lectures, discussion fora, seminars, case studies, individual tasks, group work and directed independent study. The development of the management reports following the PGDip phase of the programme provides an additional opportunity for achieving learning outcomes 1-8.
Lectures and seminars introduce the required theories and understanding to facilitate exploration of the character, contexts, practices and interpretations of business related issues while demonstrating and encouraging a critical and reflexive approach. The use of seminars and case studies allows students to develop their own ideas, and to express, and ultimately, justify and defend them, against competing claims. Part of the aim is to encourage the student to take increasing responsibility for his or her own learning.
Directed independent study and reading, along with individual tasks, facilitate further exploration of the relevant areas.
Students are expected to extend and enhance the knowledge and understanding they acquire from lectures and classes by regularly consulting library and journal materials relating to individual modules of the programme.
Following the taught phase of the programme the student is required to demonstrate in-depth knowledge and critical evaluation of specific issues and demonstrate a range of relevant research skills through the production of management reports.
The learning outcomes are assessed informally and formally by various means. Oral presentations and the associated informal feedback provided enable students to explore and enhance their understandings and develop presentation skills. Learning outcomes are assessed formally via coursework assignments, projects, and in some instances through assessed presentations.
Teaching/learning will take place through traditional lectures, practical modules and interactive exercises.

Assessment Strategies and Methods
The intended outcomes will be assessed via both individual and group continuous assessment.

10.2.1 Intellectual Skills

Students successfully completing the programme should have:

• B1 The ability to think critically and be creatively: manage the creative processes in self and others; organise thoughts, analyse, synthesise and critically appraise. This includes the capability to identify assumptions, evaluate statements in terms of evidence, detect false logic or reasoning, identify implicit values, define terms adequately and generalise appropriately

• B2 The ability to solve complex problems and make decisions: establish criteria, using appropriate decision-making techniques including identifying, formulating and solving business problems; and the ability to create, identify and evaluate options; the ability to implement and review decisions

• B3 The ability to conduct research into business and management issues either individually or as part of a team through research design, data collection, analysis, synthesis and reporting

• B4 The ability to use information and knowledge effectively: scanning and organising data, synthesising and analysing in order to abstract meaning from information and to share knowledge

10.2.2 Professional Practice Skills/ Discipline Skills

By the end of the programme, students should be able to demonstrate:

• C1 High personal effectiveness: critical self-awareness, self-reflection and self-management; time management; sensitivity to diversity in people and different situations and the ability to continue to learn through reflection on practice and experience

• C2 Effective performance within team environments and the ability to recognise and utilise individuals' contributions in group processes and to negotiate and persuade or influence others; team selection, delegation, development and management

• C3 Leadership and performance management: selecting appropriate leadership style for different situations; setting targets, motivating, monitoring performance, coaching and mentoring

• C4 The ability to recognise and address ethical dilemmas and corporate social responsibility issues, applying ethical and organisational values to situations and choices.

Learning and Teaching

Lectures and seminars introduce the required theories and understanding to facilitate exploration of the character, contexts, practices and interpretations of the key issues while demonstrating and encouraging a critical and reflexive approach.

Assessment Strategies and Methods

The use of group and individual presentations allows students to develop their own ideas and to express, justify and defend them, against competing claims.

Students successfully completing the programme should be able to:

• Effectively communicate verbally and in written form, and demonstrate their ability to choose and differentiate different style, content and approach based on intended recipients

• Work effectively within a team and participate positively in group dynamics in a variety of leadership and non-leadership roles

• Work independently, show initiative, empathy, creativity, and self-awareness

QAA Subject Benchmark Statement: Master’s Degrees in Business and Management

September 2023

Programme aims align to the QAA statement on the purpose of business courses. The programme aims are as follows:

• Professional level study in the leading and managing projects, examining various project characteristics and behaviours and, devising key project management strategies for improving company efficiency and effectiveness towards achieving on-time and in full completion of projects.

• Preparation for and/or development of professional level positions in project management by developing skills at a professional level and providing sound preparation for research into the design and management of projects through applying key project management techniques and approaches.

• Development and enhancement of a range of professional level transferable skills and attributes in the area of projects and project management systems.

• Ability to design, critically appraise and implement strategic Project Management principles to the application of professional level reports and projects. This includes the need to deliver presentations to their peer group as part of their coursework.

The learning outcomes of this programme are designed to meet the expectations of the benchmarking statement laid down by the QAA for Type 3 Masters awards in Business and Management. The programme provides opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding, skills, qualities and other attributes.

Graduates will have a sound theoretical grounding in the broad area of business and management and will have developed a range of analytical and personal skills. They have a clear understanding of how their knowledge and skills may be used effectively within an organizational context. They appreciate the importance of culture in shaping corporate values, governance, and perceptions of compliance.

Graduates will be able to collect relevant information across a range of areas pertaining to a current situation, analyse that information and synthesise it into an appropriate form in order to evaluate decision alternatives, and engage with people from different cultural backgrounds in order to raise the level of organizational thinking.

Significant attention is made to the development of group and team working within the programme. An individual’s contribution to both written and verbally presented group work will be assessed on an individual basis. Marking rubrics will ensure a significant part of the overall mark will be assigned to individual performance within the team environment.

Contribution of the individual to the team working process will be evaluated through direct observation of their performance as part of the team. Direct questioning and the assignment of individual responsibilities within the team (periods of team leadership, specific roles in the team etc) will be used to observe an individual’s contribution. Suitable rubrics will be established to evaluate individual performance.

All joint presentations (teamworking and group activities will be assessed by two members of staff in order to reduce any potential for bias in marking.

Within the broad framework of organizations, their external context and management, it is expected that graduates will gain knowledge and develop understanding in the following areas:

Students successfully completing the programme should be able to critically evaluate:

• A1 Markets - the development and operation of markets for resources, supply chains, goods and services

• A2 Marketing and sales – approaches for segmentation, targeting, positioning, generating sales, and the need for innovation in product and service design

• A3 Customers and stakeholders – customer expectations, service and orientation

• A4 Finance – the sources, uses and management of finance; uses of accounting and other information systems for managerial applications

• A5 People – strategic and operational systems; meeting future organisational requirements; people development; leadership and emotional intelligence; supply chain systems

• A6 Ethics, sustainability and governance – doing the right thing in business; management and coordination of environmental, social and financial objectives; governance structures and policies for decision-making

• A7 Information systems, communication and business intelligence –information systems and their impact on organisations; digital and other communications tools; transforming data into useful information to support business decision-making

• A8 Pervasive Issues – these include sustainability, globalization, corporate social responsibility, diversity, business innovation, creativity, enterprise development, knowledge management and risk management.

Learning and Teaching

Learning outcomes 1-8 are acquired through lectures, discussion fora, seminars, case studies, individual tasks, group work and directed independent study. The development of the management reports following the PGDip phase of the programme provides an additional opportunity for achieving learning outcomes 1-8.
Lectures and seminars introduce the required theories and understanding to facilitate exploration of the character, contexts, practices and interpretations of business related issues while demonstrating and encouraging a critical and reflexive approach. The use of seminars and case studies allows students to develop their own ideas, and to express, and ultimately, justify and defend them, against competing claims. Part of the aim is to encourage the student to take increasing responsibility for his or her own learning.
Directed independent study and reading, along with individual tasks, facilitate further exploration of the relevant areas.
Students are expected to extend and enhance the knowledge and understanding they acquire from lectures and classes by regularly consulting library and journal materials relating to individual modules of the programme.
Following the taught phase of the programme the student is required to demonstrate in-depth knowledge and critical evaluation of specific issues and demonstrate a range of relevant research skills through the production of management reports.
The learning outcomes are assessed informally and formally by various means. Oral presentations and the associated informal feedback provided enable students to explore and enhance their understandings and develop presentation skills. Learning outcomes are assessed formally via coursework assignments, projects, and in some instances through assessed presentations.
Teaching/learning will take place through traditional lectures, practical modules and interactive exercises.

Assessment Strategies and Methods
The intended outcomes will be assessed via both individual and group continuous assessment.

10.2.1 Intellectual Skills

Students successfully completing the programme should have:

• B1 The ability to think critically and be creatively: manage the creative processes in self and others; organise thoughts, analyse, synthesise and critically appraise. This includes the capability to identify assumptions, evaluate statements in terms of evidence, detect false logic or reasoning, identify implicit values, define terms adequately and generalise appropriately

• B2 The ability to solve complex problems and make decisions: establish criteria, using appropriate decision-making techniques including identifying, formulating and solving business problems; and the ability to create, identify and evaluate options; the ability to implement and review decisions

• B3 The ability to conduct research into business and management issues either individually or as part of a team through research design, data collection, analysis, synthesis and reporting

• B4 The ability to use information and knowledge effectively: scanning and organising data, synthesising and analysing in order to abstract meaning from information and to share knowledge

10.2.2 Professional Practice Skills/ Discipline Skills

By the end of the programme, students should be able to demonstrate:

• C1 High personal effectiveness: critical self-awareness, self-reflection and self-management; time management; sensitivity to diversity in people and different situations and the ability to continue to learn through reflection on practice and experience

• C2 Effective performance within team environments and the ability to recognise and utilise individuals' contributions in group processes and to negotiate and persuade or influence others; team selection, delegation, development and management

• C3 Leadership and performance management: selecting appropriate leadership style for different situations; setting targets, motivating, monitoring performance, coaching and mentoring

• C4 The ability to recognise and address ethical dilemmas and corporate social responsibility issues, applying ethical and organisational values to situations and choices.

Learning and Teaching

Lectures and seminars introduce the required theories and understanding to facilitate exploration of the character, contexts, practices and interpretations of the key issues while demonstrating and encouraging a critical and reflexive approach.

Assessment Strategies and Methods

The use of group and individual presentations allows students to develop their own ideas and to express, justify and defend them, against competing claims.

Students successfully completing the programme should be able to:

• Effectively communicate verbally and in written form, and demonstrate their ability to choose and differentiate different style, content and approach based on intended recipients

• Work effectively within a team and participate positively in group dynamics in a variety of leadership and non-leadership roles

• Work independently, show initiative, empathy, creativity, and self-awareness