1.0 INTRODUCTION

The Postgraduate Certificate and Diploma in Management Studies (PCMS & PDMS) programme is aimed at executives with adequate working experience in a position of responsibility for career development and personal advancement as well as the opportunity to further continue their studies and gain a MBA degree. The programme is completely delivered online with the option for blended delivery, wherein the student receives continuous support and enhance the learning experience with well paced out and convenient schedules. The programme has also been designed and benchmarked against the QAA so as allow students to gain advance standing form UK Universities.

The Programme is also suitable for those who hold a degree in different areas (for example, humanities, social sciences etc) and are interested in pursuing a career in the area of management and be competitive in the job market both nationally and internationally.

1.1 The Aims of the PDMS Programme

This PDMS programme is delivered through the following modes of delivery to cater to the different needs of potential students:

  1. Fully taught face to face classes
  2. Blended Learning which combines face to face classes with Online Learning
  3. Fully Online Learning

This programme is designed to give participants the opportunity to:

  • Undertake a programme that allows the advanced study of organisations, their management and the changing external business environment in which they operate.
  • Provide students with a programme offering a balance of theory and practical skills which will facilitate their intellectual and professional development.
  • Develop the ability to critically engage with the current knowledge base of business and management theory. To apply that knowledge and understanding to complex issues both systematically and creatively.

1.2 Programme Learning Outcomes

The overall programme aims and learning outcomes are derived using the UK QAA Subject Benchmarking for Postgraduate Business Management (2007), on successful completion of the programme, students will be able to:

A) Knowledge

Gained knowledge and develop understanding in the following areas:

  • The impact of contextual forces on organisations including a range of contemporary issues.
  • An understanding of the theories and approaches to the market and customers in terms of the development and operation of markets for resources, goods and services.
  • The development of information and knowledge management framework tools and models which and their impact on organisations.
  • The development of relevant business policies and strategies within a changing environment to meet stakeholder needs.
B) Cognitive skills

  • Critically evaluate relevant literature surrounding managerial issues.
  • Relate general theory to specific contexts.
  • Diagnose and evaluate managerial responses to given situations.
  • Identify and critically reflect on previous managerial and problem solving responses.
  • Demonstrate competencies in critical and creative thinking to key issues.
  • Analyse data from collected research or literature review.
  • Select and use appropriate methods and techniques of identifying, researching, diagnosing and resolving managerial and organisational problems and present findings in a clear and logical manner.
C) Subject-Based Practical skills

  • Critically analyse and reflect on subject specific knowledge and skills.
  • Reflect on its relationship with past experience.
  • Present research findings in an accepted manner.
  • Undertake problem solving exercise either within a specific area such as through producing management report, business simulation or cases studies analysis.
  • Use IT to search for, sort and retrieve information.
D) Skills for life and work (general skills)

  • Work reflectively and sensitively with others either on an individual basis or in groups.
  • Undertake individual research projects and assignments within deadlines set.
  • Management of own time and group time where appropriate.
  • Develop interpersonal and communication skills, including presentation and written.
  • Develop understanding of the meaning of management and the skills required to become an effective manager.
  • Strengthen competence in lifelong learning and continuing professional development.
  • Developing Learning How to Learn Skills

Management Science and Systems

This module enables students to formulate business problems, identify criteria and make decisions, using appropriate Management Science models. It also aims to develop students’ understanding of how information systems can be acquired and managed to share knowledge, support decision making and to improve business performance.

Company Consultancy Project

This module is particularly aimed at managers who wish to pursue a career either as independent consultants or within a major consulting firm. This module in consulting will provide an understanding of the consulting process and organizational change together with the skills necessary to lead consulting projects.

  1. To allow participants to integrate their knowing, learning and managing skills in business.
  2. To explore the driving forces and motives for developing business at a regional, international or global level, including the key environmental factors that influence business.
  3. To evaluate strategies and modes of expansion through which firms develop regional or international business, including marketing, operational, organisational and financial elements.
  4. To identify, prioritise and manage the multitude of constraining factors and pressures that impact upon and inhibit effective international management decision making in order to provide effective and practical solutions to the issues raised.
  5. To operate effectively as a member in an business environment and further develop business-related skills by initiating, negotiating and communicating acceptable terms of reference for a specific company based project.

Managing Information and Knowledge Strategically

  1. To examine central issues in the management of information and knowledge from a strategic perspective
  2. To contrast differing ways of looking at information, knowledge and strategy with a particular focus on the opposition between a systemscontrol perspective and a process / relational perspective
  3. To explore a number of contrasts – information and knowledge, technology and people, global and local cultures, information and business strategies – that shape the agenda in contemporary organisations
  4. To encourage participants to apply these ideas to their own organisations and to critically challenge them on the basis of their developing understanding

Managing Operations Strategically

  1. To enable students to develop an awareness of, and become familiar with, academic theories, frameworks, managerial models and techniques that contribute to business strategic planning and management.
  2. To critically evaluate and apply appropriate strategic models and techniques which may be relevant when considering students’ own organisations’ or industry strategic development.

Managing Strategic Marketing

  1. To provide students with a firm grounds in the frameworks and concepts of strategic marketing management.
  2. To provide students with the skills required to carry out a full situation analysis and use the findings to develop objectives, formulate strategy and develop appropriate marketing plans.
  3. To consider the nature of contemporary strategic marketing in the light of current research issues.

Organising Work and Managing Human Resource

  1. To develop a critical understanding of current and emerging practices in the managing of human capital in organizations.
  2. Enhance students ’abilities to increase the contribution of human capital management to long-term corporate success, whatever the specific nature of their managerial role and the industry they are in.

Understanding Strategy

  1. To enable students to develop an awareness of, and become familiar with, academic theories, frameworks, managerial models and techniques that contribute to business strategic planning and management.
  2. To critically evaluate and apply appropriate strategic models and techniques which may be relevant when considering students’ own organisations’ or industry strategic development.

Business Research Methods

The module aims to develop a critical understanding of the range of research methods appropriate to applied business research, and their limitations. It is also designed to prepare students to undertake the dissertation to be undertaken towards the end of the programme.

Managing and Accounting for Financial Resources

  1. To critically evaluate the informational content of financial and accounting reports and their use as a tool for appraising corporate performance.
  2. To develop an understanding of financial planning tools and techniques and the contribution they make to the achievement of an organisation’s core objectives.
  3. To evaluate the results of financial models used for long term decision making.
  4. To develop confidence in using financial terms and language necessary for effective senior management.
  5. To explore the role of financial modeling in the context of developing an organisation’s corporate strategy