In this module, you will explore some of the key ethical challenges that businesses and management face today. Engaging in lively debates, you will discuss the responsibilities of corporations towards both local and global societies. You will analyse in depth the factors that contribute to or hinder ethical decision-making and critically evaluate the role of business and the wider economy in promoting a just, fair and equitable world.

Using contemporary examples and recent theoretical developments, you will examine the ethics of global production and consumption. You will investigate how various international organisations attempt to stimulate and regulate responsible business conduct. Additionally, you will challenge existing business practices that affect nature, our planet and its future, envisioning possible alternatives.

Through a critical and reflective approach, this module will develop your appreciation of the ethical implications of management and its impact on people, society, and the planet.

This module introduces the functioning of the global business environment and the implications for business. It uses relevant conceptual and analytical economic tools grounded in international political economy.

You will cover a range of important topics in international economics, including globalisation, the determinants of trade patterns and trade policies, exchange rate determination, the global factory and global supply chains, the growth of emerging economies, international knowledge flows, regionalism, and climate change.

In this module, you will explore the key concerns and strategies of managers in international businesses. Through various examples, you will study the complexities of managing these enterprises, ranging from global manufacturing companies to international service providers. You will explore how international businesses affect economies and societies. By the end of this module, you will gain a clearer understanding of how to manage global operations and the intricate networks that support the production and delivery of goods and services worldwide.

You will develop the skills to conduct effective research and gather solid evidence for decision-making. Managers are increasingly being called upon to use academic evidence and more sophisticated organisational data in their decision-making. We will explore various methods for collecting high-quality data, which can serve as evidence for academic work and management decision-making.

You will develop key transferable skills and knowledge that will be beneficial for placement project work, dissertation planning and execution, and management and consultancy work after your degree. Using different social research approaches and methods you will learn how to gather and analyse your own primary data or use secondary data to build a solid evidence base.

This module will support your learning of how marketers and advertising agencies develop strategies to engage with their target customers. You will explore how brands use digital tools and platforms to transform the way they connect with us, and how data is used to shape campaigns, target consumers, create personalised experiences and evaluate marketing performance. You will also reflect on emerging ethical issues such as privacy, data responsibility and the social impact of digital communications.

Boost your CV by gaining international experience and earn credits towards your degree. You study abroad at a summer school at a partner university between your first and second year.

You will gain subject-specific business knowledge and experience studying in a different country and culture. You can choose from a wide selection of partner universities based on where you want to study and the subjects offered.

Some of your assessment will take place at the partner university. You will also write a reflective essay after you return to help you articulate what you have learnt during your time abroad. This will help you to link your experiences to employability for future interviews.

To complete your experience, you will participate in an online project during the semester, working with an international team of students. This project will help you develop a global mindset and build your communication skills as you work in a cross-cultural team, participating in a business game where you will complete challenges related to the global Sustainable Development Goals.

Success in every organisation is driven by its people, and Human Resource Management (HRM) is the process that shapes how we work, grow, and succeed. This module goes beyond HR policies and paperwork. We will explore how HRM actively influences our working lives, various workplace cultures, and our perceptions of identity and work itself.

You will explore why HRM plays a crucial role in shaping employability and recruitment, performance management, and personal development across all sectors. But HRM isn’t just about policies; it’s about people. You will examine how companies attract talent, keep employees motivated, and navigate the challenges of both human and digital work.

Whether you aspire to lead a team, foster a creative workplace, or specialise in HR, this module will challenge you to think critically about people, performance and purpose in modern organisations.

This module will enhance your knowledge in accounting and finance. You will first focus on financial accounting, exploring essential topics like the valuation of inventory and non-current assets such as machinery, buildings and land. This knowledge is critical for understanding financial statements. You will examine financial accounting in limited liability companies and sharpen your skills in analysing financial statements.

In terms of management accounting, you will learn techniques to take control of business costs and performance. You will master the art of costing through absorption and activity-based costing methods, and perfect your approach to budgetary control for planning and effective oversight.

In finance, you will cover key areas of financial markets, including traditional equity, bond and currency markets as well as modern development such as cryptocurrencies. You will also tackle the fascinating subjects of capital investment decision-making, risk and return, and calculating the cost of capital. These are essential tools to help businesses plan for a profitable future.

This module provides an in-depth exploration of some key contemporary marketing topics, allowing students from a wider business background to then study further strategic marketing modules. You will gain a deeper understanding of the following:

• consumers and consumer behaviour
• effective marketing communications
• the contemporary challenges facing marketers and organisations.

Operations Management (OM) is a core managerial discipline for various operations, ranging from private sector manufacturing to public sector services. It is applicable to any of the organised processes that underpin the modern world, including transportation, energy generation, retailing, production of goods, and the provision of medical and educational services.

You will find understanding the main principles of OM valuable if you are studying any business and management degree, as it is connected to many areas of management. A large part of OM is analytical: structuring, measuring and reaching logical conclusions about operations problems such as congestion, shortages, errors and failures. Part of it is constructive: being able to design processes and put together plans that systematize, coordinate and improve work. This module reflects the combination of these elements and incorporates both qualitative and quantitative methods.

This module investigates how information systems are transforming modern organisations, work, and society. You will explore the significant impacts of digital technologies, focusing on key areas:

• shaping organisational culture
• analysing system successes and failures
• navigating the ethical dimensions of information technology
• addressing digital inclusion and exclusion

Using interactive case studies and key readings, you will dissect complex technological challenges facing contemporary organisations. You will learn to identify crucial technological developments, evaluate the consequences of implementing new systems, and develop appropriate management responses. This module will sharpen your critical and analytical skills, enhancing your understanding of key theories and practices for navigating the digital age.

This module will help you understand people and how they are managed and controlled in the workplace. It will draw on concepts from social and organisational psychology and explore how these ideas have been applied in designing management and work practices. You will be introduced to practices such as psychometric personality testing, as well as various motivation techniques. You will also explore new forms of control and how work changed from something we do, to who and what we are.

We will examine how managers and management practices shape the meaning and identity of employees using corporate culture, workspaces and work environments, humour and emotions to align individuals with organisational goals.

You will spend one year studying in another country at an exchange partner institution. The courses you take will vary based on the options available at the partner university. Throughout this year, you will deepen your subject knowledge in your field while experiencing life abroad, developing your cultural and personal skills.

Before the year begins, a study plan will be created with a study abroad advisor to ensure you make the best choices for your academic journey.

This project is an opportunity for you to draw on the knowledge you have gained through your course and apply it to a key problem or issue linked to your field of study. It serves as the culmination of your learning experience, enabling you to demonstrate the skills you have developed.

Can global sustainable development be effectively managed? If so, who should be responsible for it?

The UN Sustainable Development Goals represent the most recent effort to balance environmental, social, and economic priorities in a world experiencing rapid change in both ecological and material conditions. You will explore various perspectives and positions regarding sustainable development: what it is, how it is distributed, what it could become, and what kind of sustainability we can realistically achieve.

We will examine how businesses and management interact with nature, while critically assessing the political, ecological, social, and economic interconnections and their implications. Through comparative analyses, case studies, and reflective inquiries, you will develop the ability to think critically, establish connections, and take meaningful action toward creating sustainable futures.

You will explore how domestic and international political environments impact businesses and organisations. Drawing on the knowledge you have gained throughout your studies, you will examine current affairs and geopolitical issues across the globe and discuss their implications for management decision-making.

The module responds to debates and events in real-time, using a range of current examples. We will discuss and debate the impact of foreign policies and political decisions on global trade, as well as the implications of conflicts across different regions on business strategies and geo-politics.

We will analyse the global influence of various economic actors, the rise of new political movements, and the impact of technology on the global business environment. This module will equip you with the skills to navigate the complex political landscape and dynamics that influence management strategies and decisions.

In this module, you will learn about managing people in international businesses. You will explore how cultural differences, regulations, and employee expectations are experienced and managed when companies operate across international borders. By examining examples from various sectors, including manufacturing and professional services, you will gain insights into the design, implementation, and impact of different people management strategies. Additionally, you will examine how different groups experience human resource management practices and develop an understanding of the importance of diversity and inclusion.

This module is designed to promote independent learning and allow you to apply the knowledge and skills from your degree to understand and analyse contemporary policy issues. You will be able to independently produce both written and verbal reports on current policy topics that are accessible to policymakers and senior managers in both the private and public sectors. The content of this module will focus on contemporary issues. In the past, topics have included:

• Is government debt a burden for future generations? What is the value of a degree?
• How are interest rates set? Business support during the pandemic: Essential support or fraud?
• How should we pay for social care? How can we help the long-term unemployed?
• What has been the impact of Brexit and Covid-19 on international trade?

Supply chain management has become a significant concern for many organisations in both public and private sectors and is one of the most actively researched areas in the academic operations management community. You will explore the principles and practices of supply chain management focusing on logistics within high-volume industries like retail. Additionally, you will critically examine supply chain management, as just one manifestation of the broader issue of trans-organisational operations management.

Most of the time will be spent considering inter-organisational relationships from various perspectives, but it will also be necessary to understand how they relate to matters within the organisation. You will also consider emerging themes in supply chain management, such as service supply chains and sustainability.

Explore how organisations operate across borders and adapt their marketing strategies to different international contexts. You will examine global trends, cultural influences and the challenges of managing global brands. This module encourages you to think critically about ethical and sustainable practices in global markets and prepares you for roles in multinational environments.

Organisational change is a defining feature of modern life. It can be disruptive but also creative, affecting how organisations reproduce, stabilise and evolve themselves and their environment. You will explore key concepts related to approaches to change, particularly those at the individual and group level. You will focus on managing people and change in an increasingly technologically mediated world. Additionally, you will develop informed opinions about change theories, helping you understand and implement change through negotiating dynamic interactions between people.

This module critically examines the relationship between technology, power, and society. You will challenge the conventional view of technology as a neutral force, exploring its profound impact on work, organising, and social inequalities, including those related to gender, race, disability, and coloniality. You will investigate the complex interaction between technological development and societal structures.

You will learn to analyse dominant narratives surrounding technology, examining diverse perspectives. A key focus will be on developing your ability to critically examine the discourses and applications of technology. This will encourage you to question your own assumptions and those of others.

By the end of the module, you will gain tools to contextualise how technology is discussed, deployed, and experienced within contemporary organisations and society.

Strategic management involves making deliberate choices that shape an organisation’s direction and scope, ultimately enhancing its ability to create value and achieve long-term success. In today’s rapidly changing business environment, the ability to strategise—process complex information, think creatively, and persuade others—is an essential skill. These abilities influence a firm’s short-term performance and long-term survival, impacting a wide range of stakeholders.

This module provides you with an in-depth understanding of strategy. You will learn to critically analyse real-world business decisions using contemporary strategic management thinking. Through interactive lectures, case analyses, and discussions, you will explore how firms position themselves in competitive markets, manage resources, and adapt to external changes. You will also examine how artificial intelligence is transforming strategy making, from predictive analytics to automation. By the end of the module, you will be prepared to tackle complex strategic challenges and make informed, impactful decisions in your future career.

You will learn how to think about the role of technology in shaping futures for organisations and societies. You will explore how different potential futures can be imagined, understood, predicted, and brought into being. You will also examine how values, beliefs, and morals are built into technological futures and how they can mirror or contribute to the perpetuation of increasing inequalities.

This topic is particularly important as emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and biotechnology, are rapidly transforming the way we live, work, and interact, particularly in a context of environmental and political instability. The lectures and workshops will be interactive, multi-modal, and practical, featuring a variety of exercises based on design studio principles. These activities will help you understand and employ different ways of thinking about technological futures.

It is important to consider work and employment issues in their international dimensions. This module will examine how globalisation shapes the way people work in around the world. We will examine the rise of precarious and non-standard work in the gig economy and engage in debates around who has responsibility for workers and working conditions in global supply chains. We will consider how power and inequality influence work and employment relations across different sectors, regions, and job types.

You will develop critical thinking skills as you explore the future of work and working lives, employee rights, and the importance of worker voices in the workplace. We will also discuss how we can advocate for decent and fair work worldwide.