BZR713 Fundamentals of Senior Management
Code: B713
Level: Postgraduate
Points: 60
Summary
This course, mandatory for direct entrants to the MBA programme, is designed to establish a broad understanding of management concepts and principles; to improve managerial skills and to develop reflective and critical thinking. The course is divided into four blocks: on the context of management; the practice of management; improving performance; and managing projects and change. Each block provides analytical and review material complemented by function-specific study sessions. The course is presented through workbooks and CD-ROMs, and you will have tuition both in person and by computer conferencing. Your work is assessed by tutor-marked assignments and an examination.
Description
This course is Stage 1 of the Open University's Master of Business Administration (MBA) and MBA (Technology Management), challenging postgraduate-level programmes that combine rigorous analytical work with personal and professional development.
The University's MBA, designed for English-speaking senior executives, has unique advantages. It explicitly recognizes the diversity of management contexts - large and small organizations in different countries and cultures, in private and public sectors, and in different industries. It incorporates the largest electronic management development network in Europe.
The course provides a comprehensive grounding in key business disciplines. It familiarizes you with a wide variety of techniques and approaches, improves interpersonal skills and self-awareness, and exposes you to a diverse range of managerial challenges and contexts. If you successfully complete the course you should be able to:
- deal confidently with specialists (in finance, marketing, human resources, for example) and tackle complex cross-functional problems;
- evaluate your organization's practices and contribute to improved performance;
- appreciate the contribution of management theories, recognizing when and how they can be applied in organizations;
- exploit the personal computer as both a tool and a rapidly developing medium of communication.
The course is presented in four blocks. Each block consists of a set of study materials that introduce and explain a range of management topics. These materials are specially written for self-study and present and summarize the views of management experts and practitioners from a range of backgrounds. The written materials are supported by audio-visual material, and the course has its own website. All students are encouraged to participate in the OU's Internet-based conferencing system, where they will have the opportunity to discuss course issues with other students, tutors and members of the course team.
Block 1, The context of management, presents and discusses some of the fundamental models that underpin management theory and practice in the key functional areas of human resources, operations, marketing, information management, and accountancy and finance. You may be familiar with some of these, but it is likely that in many areas the conceptual information will be new. The models are supported by examples from a range of commercial and non-profit sectors, and you are encouraged to carry out a number of activities that relate the analytical frameworks to your own work experience. The study sessions are linked by a Perspectives book that challenges some of the models and encourages you to engage in critical analysis. The block ends with a case study that brings together a number of the main themes from the block.
The structure of Block 2, The practice of management, is similar: a number of study sessions, linked with a Perspectives book, supported by audio-visual material and ending with a case study. In this block, however, the emphasis shifts to management practice, again supported by examples from a range of business and service contexts.
Block 3, Improving performance, builds on the material in the previous block, but here the emphasis is on strategies for improvement. This material is significantly more sophisticated and challenging than in the first half of the course. It will introduce a range of ideas that are new and that will stimulate discussion, and it will extend your management thinking.
Block 4 considers two related themes, Managing projects and change. It introduces frameworks for understanding and implementing change in organizations and managing projects. The first part of the block considers common drivers for change and approaches to implementing and managing it. The second part looks at the management of projects, taking the human and political aspects into account as well as the technical aspects.
Vocational relevance
The course is related to N/SVQs in management at Level 4 and in operational management and strategic management at Level 5.
Computing
The personal computer plays an important role throughout the course for both learning and communication. It is used for financial modelling and analysis with spreadsheets, group work, discussion and computer conferencing. After registration you will receive the necessary communication software, and an introductory conference will be held before the course begins. If you are not familiar with computer conferencing and communication, you should allow yourself a couple of weeks to ensure that you will be able to make full use of the opportunities. Information and help will be available before the course begins.
Entry
This is the Stage 1 course in our MBA programme for holders of an honours degree in subjects other than Management or Business Studies. Applicants with a degree in either of the latter two subjects are recommended to study the Professional Diploma in Management as their route through Stage 1, which is designed to make use of their prior study in the subject. Normally, to register for B713 you must have a UK honours degree or equivalent professional qualification, be aged at least 25 years and have significant business/management experience Exceptionally, very experienced managers who do not meet these entry requirements may be accepted. For prospective students without an honours degree or equivalent, the open-entry route is first to study the Professional Certificate of Management, which qualifies such students then to take the Diploma as their route through Stage 1 of the MBA. Bachelor's degrees majoring in Business Studies or Management, awarded by a UK or EU university or other recognized degree-awarding body may give access directly to the Diploma. If you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, please contact your Regional Centre.
What's included
Course materials include study guides, other printed materials, video, CD-ROMs, audio CDs, website, and computer conferencing.
You will need
Video, CD player and a computer as described on our Personal Computing website.
Residential school
There is a four-day residential school. The school is an opportunity to meet other managers and tutors and to work in small groups on problem solving, negotiation skills and self-development. Attendance at a residential school is compulsory for satisfactory completion of the course. If you cannot attend, you will be offered an online version of the school over a three-week period. The cost of the school is included in the course fee.
Support from your tutor
You will have a tutor who will help you with the course material, will mark and comment on your written work. You can also ask your tutor for advice and guidance. You will contact your tutor by e-mail and computer conferences as well as by telephone or correspondence. We usually offer group seminars or day schools that you are strongly encouraged, but not obliged, to attend. Where tutorials are held depends on the distribution of students taking each course. Your Regional Centre will provide you with both general and certain specialist help with your studies. Ask your Regional Centre if you need to know more before you decide whether to register.
Assessment
Eight tutor-marked assignments, submitted electronically, and an examination.
Qualifications
This is the Stage 1 course in our MBA and MBA (Technology Management) degrees. It is also a specified course in our Postgraduate Diploma in Computing for Commerce and Industry, Joint Postgraduate Diploma in Computing and Manufacture and Postgraduate Diploma in Development Management. It is up to you to ensure that you are properly informed about the circumstances in which the course can count towards these qualifications.
Excluded combinations
Because the subject matter of B713 overlaps with the discontinued courses B800, you can count only one of the three towards each Open University qualification.
Course starting dates
The details given here are for the course that starts in May and November 2007. We expect it to be available twice a year until at least November 2010.
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