MSc in International Management and Business Development

This course is designed to develop managers who can successfully operate in the dynamic fast-paced global business world.

This programme is accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI). Students are eligible for Associate Membership whilst studying on the programme, and subject to CMI approval, may also be awarded a CMI Diploma Level 7 in Strategic Management and Leadership.

Developed in response to the growth of globalisation, the programme advances your theoretical knowledge and practical skills in international management and business development, whilst developing your ability to adapt these to different cultural environments.

The MSc International Management and Business Development provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the challenges faced by managers operating in an international organisational environment as well as the strategies, policies and practices key to developing existing or new businesses in a responsible manner.

You will extend your knowledge and expertise in management and business development in an international arena by studying leadership and strategic development. You will also gain insight into the policies and techniques applicable to managing people and processes to deliver sustainable business performance.

Central to the programme is the development of personal and professional competence with an emphasis on managing self and others, responsible leadership, cross-cultural awareness and global citizenship. The international aspect is essential and interwoven in all modules of the programme, addressing the ever-increasing global and intercultural aspect of organisations.

The programme offers to extend knowledge in business development through developing competence in change management and entrepreneurship. The concept of business development within the programme includes both developing existing business (franchising, continuous improvement, internationalising etc.) and starting a new business (entrepreneurship and start-ups).

Educational aims of the programme

The MSc International Management and Business Development, in common with other innovative programmes offered by GCU London, has a number of unique features which have been developed to meet the growing demand for specialist expertise in the international management and business development arena. These include the study of the complex organisational processes in international organisations and a thorough examination of the issues of responsible business development in a wide range of professional contexts.

In comparison to competitors, the programme incorporates business development as both internal and external processes, including starting new and developing existing businesses. Business development and international perspectives are interwoven through all modules to ensure a holistic exploration of the area and targeted expertise development. The programme focuses on building specialist knowledge and understanding of management specifically related to international markets, with a key emphasis on developing critical insights into entrepreneurship, change management and developing professional competence.

The MSc IMBD programme is underpinned by the expertise of distinguished academic staff based at GCU London, whose work also involves major consultancy and research project projects with leading international organisations and funding bodies. Examples of consultancy work that underpins the programme include developing a Toolkit for learning from incidents in collaboration with large multinational corporations (Shell, Energy Institute, Centrica and Phillips66). Moreover, GCU London staff is leading EU funded international research and development collaborations in the field of intercultural competence. The programme also benefits from the input of other GCU academics involved in key research directly relevant to the international management and business development field of study. The programme is offered on both a full and part-time basis.

Aims

The MSc International Management and Business Development programme aims to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the challenges faced by managers operating in an international organisational environment as well as the strategies, policies and practices key to developing existing or new businesses in a responsible manner. Central to the programme is the development of personal and professional competence with an emphasis on managing self and others, responsible leadership, cross-cultural awareness and global citizenship.

The international aspect is essential and interwoven and recognised in all modules of the programme, addressing the ever-increasing global and intercultural aspect of organisations. The key idea is that all business is now to an extent global and graduates need to understand international perspectives even in local Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). In addition, the programme offers to extend knowledge in business development through developing competence in change management and entrepreneurship. The concept of business development within the programme includes both developing existing business (franchising, continuous improvement, internationalising etc.) and starting a new business (entrepreneurship and start-ups). Such a two-faceted treatment of the concept is unique for this postgraduate programme.

Also critical to the study of international business management is an insight into the policies and techniques applicable to managing people and processes to deliver sustainable business performance. This master’s degree will enhance student employability through participation in a wide range of teaching and learning experiences including integrative case studies, group projects and presentations, company visits and industry speakers.

The programme aims to meet the needs of students who wish to pursue a general international management career or professionals who seek to extend their knowledge and expertise in business development in an international arena. Students may come from a background of having studied a business related subject who wish to gain a greater understanding of international business management and business development to enhance their career opportunities. However, the programme will also be attractive to applicants who have studied non-business related subjects (e.g., engineering, social sciences, psychology, etc.) at the undergraduate level. The programme team believe the programme or modules within it will appeal to existing entrepreneurs and working managers and the team is keen for practitioners to apply. The programme welcomes applications through the Flexible Entry route involving Credit Transfer and RPL.

Module Information

Taught modules are assessed by a combination of coursework, discussion boards and online tests. The MSc dissertation is assessed by the submission of a conference paper and a dissertation.

International Management, Strategy, and Finance

The management part of the module provides you with an understanding of the key activities and functions of contemporary business and management. The Strategy component focuses on developing knowledge around strategic management and how firms design and implement strategies at the international level. The Finance component will focus on developing an understanding of the role, importance, and sources of finance when conducting businesses internationally.

Leadership and People Management

Develops an understanding of the role of leadership in the context of people management and how this relationship is important to contemporary organizations that have to manage ever-changing business contexts.

Change Management

Develops a critical appreciation of organisational change and the implications for devising, implementing and overseeing change. The module explores forms of and approaches to, change. This provides an appropriate platform to explore key related issues such as organisation culture, power and stakeholder implications, alternative organisational design options, and human reactions to change.

Entrepreneurship

Enhances your knowledge and decision-making abilities needed to develop businesses in new and innovative ways. The module builds an appreciation of the need for an entrepreneurial mindset across different contexts including commercial enterprises, family-owned businesses, social enterprises and public social partnerships operating at national and international levels.

Developing Personal and Professional Competence

Enables students to identify, understand, develop and articulate their key personal abilities in the context of their future career aspirations. Students will be invited to use the concepts of personal and professional competence development and relate it to what they are experiencing outside the classroom in order to be better prepared for their personal and professional life.

Research Project: Design and Methods

Introduces students to research approaches and time management skills essential for their research project. The module provides essential knowledge of research design across key areas and adopts a critical perspective in comparing and contrasting alternative research models.

Dissertation

The final element of the programme is the dissertation, which provides you with an opportunity to design and undertake a piece of original research in a selective area of Management or Business Development.

The primary aim of this programme is to provide a broad, analytical and integrative study of international management and business development. Specifically, the educational aims are stated as follows:

• To develop skills to critically analyse developments in international management from an interdisciplinary perspective.
• To develop a critical appreciation of contemporary management strategies, policies and practices.
• To develop skills to apply the knowledge, approaches and methods to address strategic and operational management challenges in business development.
• To explore contemporary and emerging themes in international management and business development.
• To gain insights into practical approaches for developing existing or starting new businesses and ventures.
• To develop leadership potential and skills relating to managing self and others in increasingly diverse and international organisations.
• To facilitate life-long career development skills through personal development planning, practical experience and critical reflective self-development techniques.
• To cultivate an evaluative and critical approach to theory and research in international management and business development.
• To develop a critical understanding of research techniques and methodologies and apply these to a proposal for an independent research or consultancy project relating to an appropriate topic.
• To develop personal and transferable skills related to independent research, problem-solving, critical thinking, ICT and inter-personal communication.