GGSB MBA – Specialisations

Project Management Process

This module deals with project management methodologies as used in the industry and following project management methodology best practises. The second part of the module aims to give students an effective preparation to a career in project management using a professional approach. Students will develop their practical knowledge and ability to structure projects realistically, use effective scheduling tools, identify project risks, and implement control systems to keep on top of the project.

Project Management: Tools and Techniques

Future consultants will acquire the techniques and tools used to build successful projects. Students will learn how to use analysis tools and apply them for different situations such as project requirements or process workflow re-engineering. The module covers analysis of the present state of an organisation, the identification of problems and presenting a proposal for an implemented solution.

Project Management in Action

This module teaches formal methodology to include risk management in the practise of project management. A computer-based project simulation targets project management knowledge in realistic and challenging project situations, increasing experience and maturity. In teams of five, participants lead a simulated real-life project from the idea through to delivery, making real decisions and receiving feedback.

International Financial Management

The international financial environment is increasingly complex. Multinational firms, as compared to purely domestic ones have greater opportunities in terms of diversification, scale economies, and larger cost effective financing sources. On the other hand they also face greater risks: political instability, exchange rate fluctuations, and complex fiscal regulations.

Since, multi-nationality is an increasing feature of modern business, managers of firms (be they international or domestic) must have some of the knowledge and skills required by multinational business. The rapidly increasing integration of capital markets renders this even more imperative.

This module is, therefore, intended to expose students to the concepts, techniques and instruments of international financial management.

Investment and Valuation

Students will have to apply specific approaches in investment decision under uncertainty. Starting from a traditional approach, the module will focus on the financial characteristics of uncertain investment such as flexibility of investment decisions and the use of real option pricing techniques. The module also considers the essential components of valuation criteria and their application. The module ends with a consideration of the complexities of mergers, take overs, and spin off operations. The focus will be on high tech companies.

Managing Financial Performance

This module develops core financial skills focussing on a fundamental knowledge of financial markets. Students will cover such essentials as the effective analysis of financial statements and performance and translating this into a competitive strategy. The module also explores effective budgeting with emphasis on planning and control.

Advances and Trends in Luxury

Understand the creative processes behind the communication of luxury Develop insights into the cultural dimensions of luxuryExplain how a brand attains luxury status

Strategic Management of Luxury Brands

Critically assess, analyse and evaluate the processes, practices and procedures for effective leadership and management of organizations within the fashion and luxury brands sectors

Marketing and Communication for Luxury Brands

Critically assess the methods by which luxury brands are marketed and promotedEvaluate the nature and scale of brand management in the luxury goods and fashion industries

International Business Law

The objectives of this module include providing students with an in-depth knowledge of the legal aspects of international business and to examine how legislation and regulations impact international business and how the international manager can develop strategies which take foreign legislation into account. Familiarising students with legal vocabulary and fundamental concepts of international law as they pertain to business will be a major focus in this module. Students will be given the opportunity to apply legal concepts to real life situations, through both legal case analysis and problem solving.

International Financial Management

The international financial environment is increasingly complex. Multinational firms, as opposed to purely domestic ones, have greater opportunities in terms of diversification, scale economies, and larger cost effective financing sources. On the other hand, they also face greater risks such as political instability, exchange rate fluctuations, and complex fiscal regulations. Since multi-nationality is an increasing feature of modern business, managers of firms must have some of the knowledge and skills required by multinational business. This module is intended to expose students to the concepts, techniques, and instruments of international financial management.

Business in the Global Environment

This module will provide students with an understanding of the general environment of international business in the context of globalisation and the emergence of "the new economy" including the parts played by government and international institutions, world monetary and trade systems, global ethics, cultural diversity, and political risk. The module covers key changes in the global economy such as increasing regional integration and the rise of bilateral trade agreements and the interruption of multilateral trade liberalisation. The return to economic nationalism as a response to the recent global crisis will also be examined.

Developed in partnership with SAS

Business Intelligence Strategy

In this module students will learn about business intelligence concepts, methods, and processes to improve business decisions. Students will learn about the intelligence value chain and how business intelligence is positioned within all levels of the organisation.

Corporate Performance Measurement

This module is designed to help students to play a critical role in answering these questions and enabling the organisation to implement and manage a dynamic performance measurement system.

Customer Intelligence

Students will explore some of the cutting edge strategies and methods of creating and exploiting customer intelligence in this module. An understanding of customer value, analysing suppliers and partners, and trends in the industry are all important factors within a competitive world.

Challenges and external context of Innovation Management

The objective of this module will be for students to learn why and how most new technologies come out new ventures and small firms, the importance of networks, and to develop skills in managing legal and ethical issues in innovation. An examination of the basics of funding for innovation in start-ups and corporate ventures will be undertaken during this module.

Dynamics and Internal context of Innovation Management

This module is highly interactive and uses a variety of methods to ensure effective learning in a practical context. Short lectures, individual readings, group interaction, exercises, and case studies prepared individually will all be used to familiarise students with the dynamics and internal context of Innovation Management. Learning how innovation irrigates the different activities of a firm and developing skills for integrating innovation and technology into existing and new business practices will be the focus for this module.

Emerging Trends in Innovation Management

This module aims to provide an understanding of the different approaches in innovation coming from emerging countries and what can be used from these new frameworks. Students will learn to recognize and identify the increasing importance of networks, clusters, innovation ecosystems, and alliances and partnerships in an open and global innovation world.

The Management Consultant: Process and Tools

Students will be introduced to the human factors which impact the performance of a management consultant and will identify their own personal skills. The module will analyse the whole consulting process from a methodology viewpoint so that students will m aster the process through different stages. At the end of the module, students will have an overview of the range of tools available to a management consultant and the knowledge base to use them effectively.

Corporate Business Process for Consultants

This module aims to deal with the current issues facing companies in today's fast moving environment. The module will examine a wide range of modern global business processes, challenges, and opportunities from both the consultant's and manager's perspectives. Students will be provided with a learning platform to integrate and practise the skills and knowledge learned in the other modules in this specialisation. At the end of this module, students will understand the business processes which will ensure the growth and success of an organisation and contribute to its competitiveness.

Developing Consulting Expertise

The module will first examine a number of different topics which are often part of consulting assignments today and which will help the students to acquire not only skills, but also the values necessary to contribute to the success of a consultant. The second part of this module will look at the commercial environment in which these skills will be utilised, focussing on the challenges facing consulting firms and individual consultants and on how to run a successful consulting practice in today's environment.

Entrepreneurship

This module is designed to meet the future needs of all types of individuals in that it recognises that tomorrow's organisations, irrespective of size, will require employees that are both innovative and creative (entrepreneurs), as well as those wishing to emulate the growing number of people who wish to start up their own business. Whilst focusing predominantly on the highly heterogeneous small and medium enterprise sector, the module will also consider enterprise within wider organisational contexts, including the social enterprise sector. Students will gain an understanding of the dynamic nature of entrepreneurship and its interrelationship with both the national and the global economy.

Small and Family Business Management

This module is designed to provide the student with a working knowledge of the essential principles and practices of small business management. Students will analyse a range of complex and interacting challenges that face any new and growing business, relating to legal frameworks, marketing, finance, business operations, and human resources. The module will also examine the issues in family businesses relating to the role of the family in management and decision-making, and to continuity and succession planning.

New Venture Business Planning

This module is designed to help students appreciate the role of business planning within a new business venture. Students will learn how to structure a successful business plan, particularly how to put forward a clear business model. Business planning is a transferable skill, and the skills learned in developing a robust business case should be of benefit to students wishing to return to corporate life, as well as to those wishing to start or manage a small business.

Strategic Planning and Marketing Planning

This module focuses on the strategic impact of marketing on company operations and on company results. The aim is for participants to develop a marketing plan in direct relation to corporate strategy to ensure that the whole company is able to contribute directly to the success of new initiatives. Topics such as the strategic marketing planning process, marketing objectives and strategies, barriers to planning, and why marketing plans fail will be discussed.

Market Research

The next module is a course in advanced market research under the supervision of an expert practitioner, building on the basic market research tools introduced in the core course on Marketing. Students will be familiarised with data generation, analysing data, approaches to market segmentation, and using research data to implement a marketing strategy.

E-Marketing

The fast-changing electronic media environment and its impact on marketing is the focus of this module. Areas covered within this module include website communication, online consumer behaviour, growth in e-retailing, and customer relationship management. In addition to the impact of social networking tools, the consumer online buying process and website design and function will be explored. Other notable topics covered are viral marketing, search marketing, search engine optimisation, e-mail marketing, blogging, and internet advertising.