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The Open University MBA 2014/2015
Foreword
by Professor Rebecca Taylor,
Dean, OU Business School
(OUBS)
The global marketplace is more challenging than ever before.
Organisations need executives who are agile, resilient and can
work across boundaries; who can understand the theory of
management and business and apply this in the real world;
and who can spot and react to new threats and opportunities.
These are the executives who will drive growth and success
in the future.
At the OU Business School, we offer a cutting-edge, practice-based MBA
programme developed by leading business academics. We work alongside
businesses and our students to deliver an MBA that builds executive business
skills while you continue to operate in the workplace. This ensures that you
critically assess and apply new skills as they are learned and it means that
we can support you in taking the next step in your career.
Sponsoring employers will see an immediate return on investment while also
helping to retain valued and skilled individuals.
The OU’s vast experience of developing study programmes, allied with our
individual approach to business education, enables the OU Business School
to offer a tailored and effective MBA that is uniquely placed to assist you in
your journey to becoming a highly effective executive.
02 | www.open.ac.uk/business-school
Values, vision and mission
The OU Business School has over 30 years’ experience in helping businesses and ambitious executives
across the globe achieve their true potential through innovative practice-based study programmes.
Our values Our vision Our mission
Inclusive The OU Business School continues to be • To deliver transformational business
a leader in open, accessible and flexible and management education to
Our ability to offer a wide range of business and management education. a diverse audience, that is relevant
support services to students and a to the workplace, is founded on
championing of ethical standards We will be recognised for: rigorous research and practice,
means that we are able to: and has beneficial social and
• our pioneering and engaged research
and teaching that challenges economic impact.
• play a unique role in society, making
higher education open to all conventional thinking and practice • To be at the forefront of distinctive
• our collaborations with international teaching that enables individuals
• promote social justice through
business, civil societies and and organisations to achieve their
the development of knowledge
governments, that advance potential and contribute responsibly
and skills. We offer a wide range
knowledge in business and law to society.
of support services to students
with disabilities and additional • To deliver high quality relevant
• our ability to continuously
requirements. learning anywhere in the world.
innovate new learning approaches
that transform business and
Innovative
legal education.
With over 30 years’ experience in
delivering learning, we:
• lead the learning revolution, placing
innovation at the heart of our
teaching and research
• continuously seek new and better
ways to inspire and enable learning
• create world-class research
and teaching.
Responsive
By listening to students and
organisations we have been able to:
• respond to the needs of individuals,
employers and the communities in
which they live and work
• dedicate resources to support our
students’ learning success.
Michael Young Building, OU Business School, Walton Hall Campus,
Milton Keynes
www.open.ac.uk/business-school | 03
Making a
difference…
…to your life
The Open University MBA will help you become
someone who inspires achievement, encourages
dedication and instils admiration and trust in others.
Studying it will take you on a personal journey.
One that will encourage you to challenge limits, cross
boundaries and change the way you think. It’s the
only MBA that’s truly designed to fit around your life
and career.
By drawing on our vast experience, we enable you to
study at the highest level in a way that enriches your
working life, without putting it on hold – giving you
maximum flexibility, coupled with convenience.
With our MBA, the quality of your experience is
matched by the versatility of our learning methods:
• Proven: our triple-accredited1 status puts us in the
top one per cent of business schools in the world.
• Highly regarded: our MBA is ranked in the top 15
online MBA programmes in the world and fifth for
value for money by the Financial Times 2014.
• Unique: we are the only triple-accredited1 business
school which specialises in flexible learning.
• Practical: integrates with, and adds value to,
your day job, allowing you to apply your
learning instantly.
• Convenient: it lets you fit learning around your
day job and lifestyle. Our cutting-edge technology
enables you to study in your own time – at home,
at work or on the move.
• Affordable: with the option to ‘pay as you go’ in
monthly instalments.
• Rewarding: 82 per cent of our students2 say that
they have experienced a salary increase while
taking the MBA.
Our MBA is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate
1
Schools of Business (AACSB), EFMD Quality Improvement System
(EQUIS) and the Association of MBAs (AMBA).
Postgraduate Alumni Survey, 2012.
2
04 | www.open.ac.uk/business-school
…to your career
It’s our balance of quality teaching, convenient My study with the OU Business
delivery and practical application that makes The Open School gave me a greater
University MBA so special. appreciation of my own organisation and
the opportunity to help bring about change.
You and your organisation will benefit from your MBA
study straightaway, through our unique study method Ian Davies, MBA graduate
of practice-based, action learning. What you learn today,
you can implement tomorrow – creating an immediate
impact in the workplace.
Our MBA will give you the skills and experience you need
to take your career to the next level. It will increase
organisational and leadership effectiveness; not only
FACT 96% of our MBA graduates say that
they would highly recommend us.
in you, but in your colleagues and peers, too.
The programme will ‘force’ you to
review the learned theories’ practicality Without a doubt it has opened doors
for your own work context. You have to deal to positions I would otherwise have
intensively with models and reflect upon been excluded from applying for. Not only
those critically. I found it especially useful that, the OU MBA gives you the confidence
that all the models make my work easier by to speak up on a day to day basis, to
providing a structured approach to problems influence decisions and to contribute
that go beyond ‘common sense’. You also at the highest levels of the organisation.
develop a more critical view towards gurus Mark Sim, OU MBA Alumnus
and their opinions, and question them.
The OU MBA also helps you to collaborate
and work better with people.
Ansgar Cordier, OU MBA Alumnus
I chose to undertake my MBA
through the OU Business School
because of the flexibility of delivery, the
international scope of its student-base and
my previous experience of working with
The Open University.
Moses Warburton, OU MBA Alumnus
www.open.ac.uk/business-school | 05
Recognised as one of the world’s
leading business schools
The Open University is home to more than 24,000 successful MBA graduates, from more
than 100 countries. Our journey helps make a difference, not only to your career, but to your
organisation – and life itself.
Designed for professionals keen to Employers like our approach 2013 MBA class profile
take the next step in their career, our
Our unique practice-based learning
MBA programme is highly practice- Tutor/Student ratio 1:16
methodology is endorsed by
based, blending academic rigour with Average age 37
organisations across the globe.
the realities of business.
It’s why more than 40 per cent of Average years of work experience 14
The OU Business School is triple- our MBA students are sponsored
Gender 36% female 64% male
accredited; by the Association to by their employers.
Advance Collegiate Schools of
For more information on how we work
Business (AACSB), EFMD Quality
with organisations, please see page 22.
Improvement System (EQUIS) and the
Association of MBAs (AMBA). Such
accreditation ensures you will have a
globally reputed qualification of proven OU Business School provides modules
quality that is accepted worldwide.
and qualifications that thriving
Relevant and far reaching
business people can study whilst they earn,
Our MBA is successful because of its
relevance to your work. It works for allowing them to brush up on their skills
so many professionals because it is
designed with the highest amount of
and explore new areas of knowledge, whilst
practical focus – and its international implementing learning outcomes into their
programme design lets you apply your
MBA knowledge anywhere in the world. organisation from day one of study to
Our MBA comes to life in
maximise business opportunities.
your workplace Theo Paphitis, Business Expert
The best way to learn is to practise,
which is why ours is very much a
practice-based programme – which
we call ‘action learning’.
Our rigorous approach to constantly
applying management theories to
FACT Only one per cent of all business
schools are triple-accredited, and with
more than 24,000 successful MBAs we
the workplace will help you develop are by far the most popular in this elite
independent learning, and a critical and exclusive group in the UK.
view on the knowledge you gain.
06 | www.open.ac.uk/business-school
The International Advisory Board (IAB)
The IAB is advisory to the Dean of the OU Business School, to the School’s executive team and to the
wider University. Our board members are from a range of public and private enterprises worldwide,
reflecting the diversity of both the School and The Open University. The board enables the School to be
in touch with the latest international practice and provides valuable input from outside the University.
Margaret Miller James Cullens management. His current research
The International Advisory Board is James has a variety of board-level HR focuses on the design of technology-
chaired by Maggie Miller. Based in experience including with Linde AG, based curricula for corporations
New York, Maggie is an IT strategy The BOC Group plc, and with African and universities.
and business change consultant Oxygen Ltd, where he was a non- Jay O’Connor
with expertise in customer-facing, executive director. He is a Board Jay is an active mentor and advocate
multichannel sectors, including retail member of the Chartered Institute of organisational best practice,
and digital media. of Personnel and Development. contributing to initiatives that help
Janice Bell Sir Stuart Etherington advance standards. With an extensive
Janice is an expert in business Stuart is a Council Member of the background in communications and PR,
management and transformational Institute of Employment Studies, an she has held elected positions in the
change and has strong links with a Advisory Group member for the Policy Chartered Institute of Public
number of major UK and international Centre at the British Academy and for Relations (CIPR).
organisations. Janice was a senior the Lord Mayor’s Trust Initiative and Neil Passmore
executive within IBM before starting a member of the Economic and Social Neil is CEO and owner of Strand
her own consultancy. Committee of the European Union. Partners plc. He has a broad range
Sanjeeb Chaudhuri He has been a trustee of Business of corporate and entrepreneurial
in the Community, the Chair of the experience, including as an officer
Sanjeeb is the Regional Head for South
BBC Appeals Advisory Committee, a with the Army Air Corps, and working
Asia and Global Head of Marketing
member of the Community and Social in corporate finance with a focus on
at Standard Chartered Bank. Based
Affairs Committee of Barclays Bank, natural resources, emerging markets
in Mumbai, Sanjeeb is also a Board
former Chair of Guidestar UK, Chair and real estate. He has an MBA from
Member of Standard Chartered
of CIVICUS Europe, and Treasurer The Open University.
Securities India Ltd.
of CIVICUS, a global civil society
Peter Cheese organisation.
Renzo Scacco
Peter sits on the Council of City & Based in Melbourne, Australia,
Ann Francke Renzo has an extensive background
Guilds, and he is a European Board
As Chief Executive Officer, Ann brings in professional services gained from
Director with Junior Achievement Young
her extensive global general working with some of the leading global
Enterprise Europe, an organisation
management experience to the CMI and consulting firms including Andersen
focused on the development of
has a track record of developing people Consulting (Accenture),
entrepreneurial, financial and
and delivering innovative strategies PricewaterhouseCoopers and
employability skills in young people
that result in sustainable growth. Interbrand.
through business engagement in
schools and universities. Ron Jones Peter Wright
Andrew Craissati Ron is the founder and Executive Peter is a member of American Express’
Chairman of Tinopolis, one of the Global Management Team. In addition,
Andrew is a highly experienced
largest independent television Peter is Chairman of Swisscard,
entrepreneurial business leader,
producers in Europe producing over a card-issuing joint venture with
encompassing strategic thinking and
2000 hours of television annually. American Express and Credit Suisse.
value creation. He currently advises the
Headquartered in Llanelli in Wales, He is the Head of Card Services for
Singapore Government on media issues,
Tinopolis also has offices in London, Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA)
as well as running his highly successful
Los Angeles, Glasgow, Washington and and oversees the company’s consumer
corporate finance and investment
Cardiff serving over 180 broadcasters card-issuing businesses and merchant
advice business which has offices in
throughout the world. acquiring partnerships within
London, Asia and the USA.
Dr Arthur Langer this region.
James Crotty
Arthur is the Academic Director of
James has held a broad range of
the Executive Masters in Technology
international general management and
Management at Columbia University.
commercial roles at European Executive
He has authored various papers on
Board level at American Express.
information systems design and
www.open.ac.uk/business-school | 07
Global credibility, local relevance
Our MBA programme is designed for practising senior and middle-level managers.
It has a strong international focus with emphasis on strategic analysis, interdisciplinary skills,
creativity and innovation. We believe that being a global business school is not about
bringing students in; it is about extending learning outwards.
International reach
With more than 55 per cent of our communication perspectives
students studying outside the UK, and work groups
influence effectiveness
with alumni in more than 100 countries, voluntary
international
social
sme
role
aims
the OU Business School offers a truly
action
techniques
mentor
motivation
options
global experience. finance
inspire
review
mba
aims
marketing
reflection
competencies
employees
team
transition leader
negotiations
competencies
ratio
cost
Open University Business School internet
goals
students are many and diverse and models
from different sectors, industries efficiency
analysis
global
human resource
firm profit
and backgrounds. We believe concepts leader
strategy
objectives
reward
that this diversity enriches your
vision
improvement
analysis
aims
skills
MBA experience, allowing you to
skills
broaden your mind and gain a deeper critical
understanding of other cultures. environment
culture
reward
budget
l
aims
tools
coach
cost inspire de
g
The people I studied my enterprise pro
ideas
MBA with were from
vision
careers
networks
values
the United States, Kosovo
mentor
private sector
and Austria, each working
learn processes
in different industries. This ratio action
allowed us to share any aims
models
authority
sme
similarities in our business I wanted a more
practices. worldly perspective
to enrich my education
Gillian Attard, MBA graduate
with people from
different backgrounds
authority
power
and countries.
Studying with The Open
University has changed Matt Krise, USA mba
my perception on life. I now
believe that anything
is possible.
The Open University
Kevin Sampson, UK MBA programme
has given me a deeper
understanding of the issues
My motto is ‘continuous learning for life’ , which is what and challenges within my
The Open University and the OU Business School are so particular work environment,
brilliant at offering. particularly areas such as HR
Wilson Yeh, Hong Kong and finance, which I have been
less familiar with in the past.
Christian Duncumb, Indonesia
08 | www.open.ac.uk/business-school
After completing my MBA I feel great. I know that with my My motivation for
MBA I can change my working environment by thinking studying the MBA
differently, thinking outside the box, getting new tools and finding was to be better equipped
new ways of doing things. for the complexity and
Susanne Frederiksen, Denmark
ambiguity of business
reality through the means
of broader knowledge.
Nils-Carsten Huber, Germany
s systems
mentor sustainable work
groups
sme
aims
processes resistance coach
motivation
ratio
balance sheet
tools interpersonal perspectivesreflection
inter-cultural
stakeholder
enterprise
improvement
profit
models
inspire
firm
goals
coach
skills
sme
ratio
negotiations thinking
action
analysis
management
learn
mba
concepts
mba
resistance
role
sme
aims
firm
project
frameworks goals
plan
lean
authority
emotional intelligence
team
sector
The Open
resources ratio
analysis
cost
reward concepts
inquiry
options
learn
budget
virtual
cost employees University
third sector mba
options techniques team
leadership theory Business School gave
business
cost
difference
excellence
me the opportunity to
mentor
analysis
diversity
decision making mentor
people
options
study while working
global
models
budget
profit mba trends
in a busy full-time job,
sme
aims
goals
appraisal which was the only option
connected
profit
international
virtual
for me.
mba
cost
sustainable
direction
networks
virtual
innovation
plan
vision
loss
humanresource coach
Iztok Toplak, Czech Republic
aims
sector
virtual
goals
complex
venture
public sector
policy
power
role
mba
action
MBA student locations
Our 2013 intake had students in 128 countries including:
Angola Czech Republic Hungary Malaysia Serbia Trinidad and Tobago
Australia Denmark India Mexico Sierra Leone Uganda
Austria Eritrea Indonesia Netherlands Singapore Ukraine
Bangladesh Ethiopia Italy New Zealand Slovakia United Arab Emirates
Belgium Finland Jamaica Philippines Slovenia United Kingdom
Bermuda France Japan Poland Somalia United States
of America
Bosnia & Herzegovina Gambia Jordan Portugal Spain
Vietnam
Brazil Germany Kenya Qatar Sri Lanka
Zambia
Bulgaria Ghana Kuwait Republic of Ireland St Helena
Zimbabwe
Canada Gibraltar Latvia Romania Sweden
Chile Greece Lithuania Russian Federation Switzerland
Cyprus Hong Kong Luxembourg Senegal Syria
www.open.ac.uk/business-school | 09
Our model
Centred on your student experience, The Open University MBA teaching model is a highly
effective professional development method that allows you to acquire new skills – without
taking you away from your workplace.
Study with us and your learning is not
limited to what goes on in tutorials,
or at the residential schools. Your
environment and your workplace
CRITICAL ENGAGEMENT
CROSS FUNCTIONALITY
become a very important part of
your study.
ACTION LEARNING
COLLABORATIVE LEARNING
We focus on using practical examples
and assignments that refer back to
your working life, and encourage you to
include and engage your workplace in
your studies.
Learning materials
ty
All our modules employ a blend of
ili
ib
learning styles – innovative and
t
Co old em ion
ns
le
en
ng
ab
po
al al
em
ce
na aini
inspiring materials that bring your
ag rat
or r m nt
r
an ain
s
an
tu
ar te g nag
re
an eg
e
r
so e
learning to life, and everything you
st
ng ern
ul
t
Op ate nc
t
Cr ion ial
a
in
rc
su
ge
or uri
ov
c
te
need is included in our fees.
ec nd
nd
fi
in
ne
e
ip
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a
ch
e
M ve a
m
Ev sh
Pr ce
or
at
re
a
ti
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t
eh
at
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ag
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ke
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As well as study books, you’ll learn
er
ad
rp
rp
rp
ak
ob
ea
tr
id
an
oj
Co
Co
En
Le
St
Gl
M
through podcasts, downloads and our
interactive virtual learning
environment – all of which are designed
to support and inspire you in Integrating management knowledge through our blended approach
your learning.
Practice-oriented
The OU Business School is at the
forefront of using technology to I was on an assignment in India, when I decided to use
enhance teaching and learning. You can
my downtime in hotel rooms to further my career and
rest assured all our study materials are
underpinned by rigorous research from start my MBA studies. The Open University is very well set
faculty academics. up for distance learning and is extremely supportive. I made
some lifelong friends at the residential schools and have
Visit www.openuniversity.co.uk/
really enjoyed the journey.
mba-sample to view an extract from
our module MBA stage 1: management: Nick Hopkins, MBA graduate
perspectives and practice (B716).
10 | www.open.ac.uk/business-schoolLearn from some of today’s leading
business thinkers
Our world-class, research-led academics create pioneering learning materials which are
delivered by our tutors – practising senior business professionals – to give you a dynamic
mix of theory and practice.
Professor Ball Professor Lawton
Kirstie is Professor of Organisation. She joined Professor Lawton’s research expertise focuses
The Open University Business School in 2004 on integrated strategy and non-market
following posts at Birmingham, Warwick and capabilities, political risk management and
Aston Business Schools, and is director of the internationalisation strategy, corporate
Centre for Research into Information, Surveillance turnaround and business model innovation
and Privacy (CRISP). and strategy process and practice.
Professor Cornforth, Professor Paton,
Organisational Governance Social Enterprise
and Management Professor Paton has pursued an interest
Professor Cornforth’s recent research has in management learning, publishing articles,
focused on the governance and management leading research projects, and working with
of non-profit organisations, such as charities, the Higher Education Academy Subject Centre
schools and colleges. for Business Management Accountancy and
Finance to encourage new approaches to
Professor Daniel, teaching and learning.
Information Management
Professor Daniel’s research focuses on Professor Rutterford,
the effective use of information systems Financial Management
by organisations and the individuals within Professor Rutterford’s research has centred
those organisations. around corporate finance, investment
management, and the history of finance.
Professor Dibb, Her academic papers are in the field of
Marketing performance measurement, equity valuation,
Professor Dibb has undertaken a diverse pension funds, women and investment, and the
range of consultancy assignments within the history of finance.
field of marketing strategy. Her research has
been at the forefront of theoretical and relevant Professor Storey,
issues in marketing strategy, segmentation, Human Resource Management
marketing planning and consumer behaviour. Professor Storey is an Associate of the
Center for Global Strategic Human Resource
Professor Fenton-O’Creevy, Management, Rutgers University, USA and of
Associate Dean International, the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)
Organisational Behaviour Skills and Knowledge Centre (SKOPE) at Oxford
Professor Fenton-O’Creevy’s research and Warwick universities.
(on the role of traders in investment banks
and management practices in multinational Professor Wilson
firms) contributes to fields such as international David Wilson is Professor of Organisation
business, behavioural finance, the sociology Studies based in the Centre for People and
of markets, industrial relations and Organisations and is Associate Dean for Research
cognitive psychology. and Scholarship in the Faculty of Business and
Law. David is a Fellow and ex Chair of the British
Professor Hartley Academy of Management and is an Academician
Professor Hartley has contributed to the field of the Social Sciences.
of public leadership and management through
research, teaching and development work.
This has shaped some of the thinking and ideas
in this field.
www.open.ac.uk/business-school | 11The Open University MBA programme structure
The Open University MBA has an internationally-recognised, practice-based and integrated approach
to management development specially designed for aspirational professionals.
Programme overview Designed as an integrated programme, • Upon successful completion of
our MBA balances your learning time Stage 1 of the MBA, you will be
The emphasis for your learning is
between 75 per cent of compulsory eligible to claim the Postgraduate
directly rooted in management practice.
elements – including the final, Certificate in Business
The ‘master’ in the degree title signifies
organisation-based project – with Administration.
your ‘mastery’ of the art and science
25 per cent from elective modules. • On completion of 120 credits towards
of management.
This enables you to adjust the the MBA you will be eligible to claim
To achieve this level of capability the curriculum to suit your needs. MBA the Postgraduate Diploma in Business
general MBA programme concentrates modules are challenging, but will Administration.
on strategic analysis, interdisciplinary always direct you towards improving
skills, intellectual stimulation and your management capabilities. • Finally, on successful completion of
independent judgement. Stage 2, you will be awarded the MBA.
Earn qualifications en-route
It builds these upon a solid foundation
of core disciplines, including human It takes a minimum of three years to
resource management, organisational complete our programme – but as you
behaviour, accounting and finance, progress towards your MBA, you can
marketing and operations. pick up other qualifications which will
have a positive impact on your career.
The Open University MBA programme structure (3 year model)
Stage 1 Stage 2
PG Certificate PG Diploma MBA
Year 1 Year 2 Year 3
Corporate Making a
Elective 2
MBA stage 1: The dynamics finance (BB831) difference: the
(15 credits)
management: perspectives of strategy (15 credits) management
and practice (B716) (BB835) initiative MBA
(60 credits) (30 credits) (B839) (F61)
Elective 1 (30 credits)
R R (15 credits) Elective 3
(15 credits) R
R Includes residential school
The core themes are: 15-credit modules • Sustainable creative management
(BB842).
• critical engagement • Entrepreneurship: experience and
• embedding theory in practice perspective (BB846) 30-credit module
• global impact awareness. • Leadership and management in • Business, human rights law and
intercultural contexts (BB848) corporate responsibility (W822).
Elective modules • Management beyond the
Our elective modules offer the mainstream (BB847)
opportunity to personalise your • Managing financial risk (BB841)* * If you wish to study Managing financial risk
MBA to match your career, interests, • Marketing in the 21st century (BB841) you must have completed Corporate
finance (BB831) first.
aspirations and expectations. On Stage (BB844)
2 of the MBA you will study up to three • Strategic human resource
of the following modules: management (BB845)
12 | www.open.ac.uk/business-schoolOur specialist MBA in Technology Management
programme structure
This leading edge MBA focuses on the Stage 2: consists of four compulsory • Entrepreneurship: experience and
technology sector. If you are modules: Managing technological perspective (BB846)
interested in the management innovation (T848), Strategy for • Leadership and management in
of technology and technological technological innovation (T849), intercultural contexts (BB848)
innovation in a wide variety of contexts Corporate finance (BB831) and your
• Management beyond the
and sectors then this qualification can final project module Making a
mainstream (BB847)
provide you with unique management difference: the management initiative
training that will help you to make (B839). You will also need to complete • Managing financial risk (BB841)*
a difference. an elective module. You can choose • Marketing in the 21st century
from the following 15-credit electives (BB844)
Stage 1: you will start with MBA or study 30 credits from a range of • Strategic human resource
stage 1: management: perspectives technology-orientated modules: management (BB845)
and practice (B716) which takes
• Sustainable creative management
12 months to complete (see page 14
(BB842).
for more information).
For more information on our MBA
(Technology Management) click
www.open.ac.uk/courses.
* If you wish to study Managing financial risk
(BB841) you must have completed Corporate
MBA (Technology Management) F69 finance (BB831) first.
Stage 1 Stage 2
PG Certificate PG Diploma MBA
Year 1 Year 2 Year 3
Corporate
finance (BB831) Making a
MBA stage 1: Managing Strategy for
(15 credits) difference: the MBA in
management: perspectives technological technological
management
and practice (B716) innovation innovation Technology
initiative (B839)
(60 credits) (T848) (T849)
(30 credits)
Management
(30 credits) (30 credits) Elective 1 (F69)
R
(15/30 R
credits)*
R Includes residential school
Visit our website at www.openuniversity.co.uk/mba-study to find out how – by choosing the right elective modules – you can
tailor your MBA to suit your career objectives and ambitions.
It is brilliant because what you find is
that you get much better each year.
I am much more considered, I am a
much better manager. I have learned the
art of letting people get on with things.
I have learned delegating and leadership.
Lisa Vernon, MBA Graduate
www.open.ac.uk/business-school | 13Your first step towards the MBA
MBA stage 1: management: perspectives and practice (B716)
Module length: 1 year
I think the module is fantastic, and it’s great on three levels.
This is the first module in the First of all, it allows you to develop knowledge in specific
programme. Successful completion
areas. Secondly, it helps you relate that knowledge to other
of this module also entitles you to the
Postgraduate Certificate in Business functional areas. And finally, which is probably for me the most
Administration (C66). rewarding, is the international aspect of the course – that you get
to meet people from different cultures.
This module is framed within the
complex and challenging nature of Ross Alan, MBA student
twenty-first century management.
Its dual aims are to help you build
on your current understanding of Over the course of a year’s study you • develop interpersonal and conceptual
management and to enable you to will learn, develop and consolidate skills that will help you to use ideas
develop and improve your practice your understanding of the principal and frameworks to make sense of,
of managing. In this module you will management functions and how and to work with, organisational
be guided through a wide variety of each area is interrelated with each complexity
materials, activities and resources other. This will provide you with a
• challenge your own thinking and
designed to help you make sense of foundation that will enable you to move
practice by reflecting upon it
the complex nature of management successfully to strategic and specialist
critically in light of the ideas you
in light of your own experience of areas in your MBA studies.
encounter, and through debates
managing. This module is a year-
with others
long programme of professional The module aims to:
development which requires your • enhance your ability to plan and
• develop your understanding of
active engagement to enlarge implement change which will have
the core and current frameworks,
your knowledge of the functions real impact on your own organisation.
theories and tools and to assess their
of management and make a real
relevance to the issues of twenty-
difference to your management style. Support
first century leading and managing
Throughout the module we offer the
What you will study • increase your awareness of different
following forms of support:
perspectives on, and approaches to,
Through learning about different managing and leading in different • two one-day workshops
management functions within organisational and cultural contexts
organisations you will develop a • one residential school where you join
better understanding of the context • develop your ability to engage students from all around the world
in which your own practice takes place. critically with management and engage in dedicated workshops
You will gain confidence in frameworks, theories and tools, and tutorials for four days
understanding how different parts helping you to select and adapt
• tutor support and face-to-face and
of organisations operate and in having techniques and approaches
online tutorials
successful conversations across appropriate to your own work
these areas, including: environment, in order to shape your • online forums and resources.
own management practice
• organisational structure, power and
politics, and change management • develop your awareness of the wider
global context in which business
• managing people and organisations and management takes place,
• accounting and increase your ability to work
confidently across sectorial and
• marketing management
national boundaries
• operations management.
14 | www.open.ac.uk/business-schoolWhat and how you learn
MBA stage 1: management: perspectives and practice (B716) provides the opportunity to advance
your professional managerial competence.
The overall content includes a range of topics. You will develop your professional practice and discover important skills
such as reflecting on real managerial issues, developing an approach to practice-based learning and engaging with the
diverse range of management literature.
The colour panels below show the areas that you will cover under each unit. The five units contain a range of topics,
examples of which are shown in the below panels.
Exploring Managing people Managing financial
management Unit 1 and organisations Unit 2 resources and Unit 3
performance
Organisational structure Understanding organisational culture Understanding financial statements
and context
Stakeholder analysis and management Budgets and management
Analysing management control accounting tools
Management activities and your role approaches
as manager Financial accountability
Employee motivation and identity
Power and politics in organisations Ratio analysis
Human resources management
Change management Evaluating financial performance
Diversity and ethical management
Managing Managing
marketing Unit 4 operations Unit 5
Managing relationships and The role of the operations function
communicating value in organisations
Marketing strategies, planning and roles Planning and managing operations
Understanding customers and markets Analysing organisational performance
Customer satisfaction and loyalty Improving organisational effectiveness
Marketing practices in context The operations function in context
Through the use of online resources and activities, your study will include a process that helps you to make connections
between management and organisational theory and your own management practice. Through this process, you will not
only learn about how organisations should operate but also why management practice may differ from management
theory. Our unique methodology of practice-based learning helps to bring management theories and principles to life.
www.open.ac.uk/business-school | 15MBA Stage 2 modules
Compulsory modules Elective modules Marketing in the 21st
century (BB844)
The dynamics of Managing financial The economic turmoil of the last few
strategy (BB835) risk (BB841) years has required organisations
If you’re currently engaged in strategic Managing financial risk explores the to undertake more creative marketing
decision-making, or will be in the various financial risks that confront as well as be more responsive to the
future, this module will stimulate all institutions – credit risk, liquidity needs of the market. This module
your imagination and inform your and refinancing risk, interest-rate risk, explores a variety of marketing
judgement. An understanding of the foreign exchange risk and operational issues that emerge from marketing
frameworks of strategy and an ability risk. The module then examines how planning, such as marketing research,
to use them imaginatively will help your these risks can be both measured and marketing segmentation, targeting and
organisation survive in the longer-term managed. It uses many recent actual positioning. You will draw upon current
and perform its role more effectively. examples of risk management theories and examples that illustrate
You will not be expected merely to practices adopted in the public and how organisations of all sizes deal with
‘learn’ the frameworks, but to critically private sectors – some good, some bad environmental challenges and through
analyse and comment on them, and some very ugly. By the end of this gain a strong appreciation of
sometimes in collaboration with fellow the module you should have a full how marketing principles will not only
students. The module will also help you appreciation of how vulnerability to benefit your organisation, but also how
contribute to and better understand financial risks arises and how you, you can use these to improve your
the dialogue of strategy at a variety as a manager, can contribute to their own performance.
of levels in your organisation. effective management within
your institution. Strategic human resource
Corporate finance (BB831) management (BB845)
Middle and senior managers meet a
Sustainable creative This module is designed to meet the
multiplicity of financial problems management (BB842) needs of managers who wish to
in their organisations. This module This module deals with creative, understand and be able to
will help you develop your knowledge innovative and sustainable ways of influence decisions regarding the
of this area. It introduces finance developing and managing people and management of human resources
problems that organisations face at organisations. You will look at the way within organisations. It considers the
board level, and equips you with the cognition, values and style affect different aspects of human resource
fundamentals of corporate financial how we manage and relate to others. management at a strategic level in
theory enabling you to challenge You will explore how to work more the organisation and how this differs
finance experts. You will learn how to creatively and effectively with from the more operationally-focused
tackle the main financial problems you colleagues as well as understanding personnel management. You will work
are likely to encounter, in particular, innovative and sustainable ways collaboratively with others on strategic
how best to finance a company, what to develop organisations. You will human resource management (SHRM)
dividend policy to choose, how to also consider the culture, environment issues and problems and find, review
appraise both public and private sector and context in which management and evaluate information relevant
projects, and how to value a company operates. The module offers practical to key aspects of SHRM in your own
for takeover or flotation. approaches for developing individuals, professional context.
teams and organisations and includes
a library of techniques that you
can continue to use after you have
completed the module.
16 | www.open.ac.uk/business-schoolEntrepreneurship: experience Leadership and management Final module
and perspective (BB846) in intercultural
Social and commercial enterprises contexts (BB848) Making a difference: the
play an important role in today’s Given the increasingly intercultural and
management initiative (B839)
society, often in partnership with globally connected nature of business, This module enables you to utilise
larger corporations and public sector management and organisations, this and apply the learning gained on your
organisations. This module provides module provides opportunities for you MBA journey, to ‘make a difference’
rich, experience-based insights into the to question and reflect on your own in your workplace. You will work on a
distinctive challenges of creating and practice and to develop ways of project-like initiative which will require
developing entrepreneurial ventures. managing and leading which are you to engage with the theory you have
It helps you to gain relevant skills and appropriate in different national and learned and to collect evidence to
underpinning knowledge. You will also regional settings. By offering new support your thinking. Through this you
develop a deeper, and more critical, (cross-national) perspectives on will explore the extent to which theory
understanding of entrepreneurial leadership and management you are can be applied in practice by applying
practices by connecting your also challenged to rethink your own academic ideas to your work-based
experiences to relevant concepts and practices in your current setting. issue. You will also have an opportunity
research evidence. As a result, you will This module addresses issues facing to reflect how your MBA study has
be better placed to develop your managers and leaders working in changed you as a manager/practitioner.
own venture, engage with other intercultural contexts and supports
entrepreneurial organisations, and you to develop skills, competencies
take part in wider debates about and knowledge to thrive and to get Module assessment
entrepreneurship in the the best from colleagues, partners
twenty-first century. and associates.
There are a number of assessment
vehicles which will test your learning
Management beyond the throughout the MBA programme such
Business, human rights
mainstream (BB847) as examinations, assignments and
law and corporate social reflective course work .
Many managers work in situations, or responsibility (W822)
face tasks, for which the established
This interdisciplinary module considers
toolkit of mainstream, Anglo-American
how business increasingly conducts
management and leadership – with its
its operations with responsibility to
‘command and control’ assumptions,
its stakeholders and the wider society.
instrumentalism and strong financial
It takes a socio-legal approach when
focus – is inadequate. This module
examining how this expectation is being
poses the question ‘What do you do
framed in terms of corporate social
when management is inappropriate, not
responsibility and human rights and
enough, doesn’t work – or is simply not
the challenges of a globalised world.
an option?’. You will explore a number of
The module is diverse and wide-
undercurrents in management thinking,
ranging, considering the development
and various alternatives to it – some
and application of these concepts
longstanding, some recently developed.
in very different business contexts
In particular, it will surface issues
such as the development of
and questions that tend to be
international labour standards, criminal
neglected or underplayed by the main
liability (corruption and corporate
management disciplines.
manslaughter), branding and marketing,
charitable foundations and a range of
specialist industries through the use of
case studies.
www.open.ac.uk/business-school | 17Flexibility that fits your life
The underlying approach of The Open University MBA is that you are able to fit our programme around
your life – not the other way around. It’s hard work, but with a flexible approach to study, you can plan
your own way through our programme.
Flexible structure You will not be required to pay the full
programme cost at the outset; only for The MBA is life
If needed, our MBA can be completed
the module you are studying. So, you pay
in a minimum of three years changing as it
the cost of your first module and, after
(see page 12), although it can also be
you pass it, you pay for the next. enlightens you to take
flexed up to seven years. a holistic view of both
Its flexible structure means you can
This flexibility enables you to plan professional and personal
your studies in accordance with the events. I am amazed how
take study breaks between modules.
availability of funds, and spread the
This will allow you to fit our MBA around
cost of your MBA over a number
I am able to see all types of
your requirements, and for life to throw
of years. situations with a fresh point
in its little surprises. of view.
Flexible support
Flexible location Joe Synnott, MBA graduate
Many people worry that distance or
If your job requires travel, you can carry
online learning means doing it on your
our programme with you wherever you
own, but nothing could be further from
go – accessing your MBA virtual learning
the truth. As well as quality face-to-
platform, from anywhere in the world.
face, telephone, and online support
from tutors and study advisers, there’s
Flexible learning always someone to talk to in one of our
All of our learning material is community forums.
compatible with mobile devices – such
as tablets, ereaders – and even your In fact, you can contact your tutors –
mobile phone. You can also access and get support from fellow students –
materials via iTunes. Such flexibility from anywhere in the world.
allows our students to study wherever
and whenever they wish.
OU Anywhere The format, course make-up,
Offering the option to download digital learning style, flexibility and
versions of any OU-produced text
books, DVDs and audio CDs, the OU cost all worked well for me.
Anywhere app facilitates a true mobile
learning experience – enabling you to Simon Leppich, OU MBA alumnus
study while at home, in the office, or on
the move.
Flexible payment
The modular structure of our MBA
programme gives you a great deal of
flexibility in managing your finances,
FACT Someone logs onto the OU servers
every 0.5 seconds – that’s 1.5 million
people every week.
for what can be a significant investment.
18 | www.open.ac.uk/business-schoolFitting in your study
Our flexible programme has been designed to minimise disruption to your working life.
You can take your MBA study with you wherever you go in the world. Depending on how much time you can allocate to your
studies, it can be completed over anything from three to seven years.
The diagrams below illustrate how you could plan your studies to suit your requirements, and achieve your MBA within
your preferred timescale. They show only a few of the options; you can plan your programme in various different ways,
to accommodate your life and work schedule.
4 years
Stage 1 Stage 2
PG Certificate PG Diploma MBA
MBA stage 1: Elective 1 Elective 2 Elective 3
management: The
Corporate (15 credits) (15 credits) (15 credits)
dynamics
perspectives finance
of strategy
and practice (BB835)
(BB831)
Making a difference: the
(B716) (15 credits)
(30 credits) management initiative
(60 credits) (B839) (30 credits)
0 1 2 3 4
years year years years years
5 years
Stage 1 Stage 2
PG Certificate PG Diploma MBA
Corporate
MBA stage 1: finance Making a
The Elective 2
management: Study Study Study difference:
dynamics +
perspectives and break
of strategy
break
Elective 3
break the management
practice Elective 1 initiative
0 1 2 3 3.5 4 4.5 5
years year years years years years years years
7 years
Stage 1 Stage 2
PG Certificate PG Diploma MBA
MBA stage 1: Making a
The Elective 1
management: Corporate Study Study difference:
Study break dynamics + Study break Elective 3
perspectives and of strategy
finance break
Elective 2
break the management
practice initiative
0 1 2 3 3.5 4 4.5 5 5.5 6 6.5 7
years year years years years years years years years years years years
www.open.ac.uk/business-school | 19Your learning, our support
Supportiveness is what makes The Open University stand out from other flexible learning programmes.
All our students enjoy easy access to their tutors, so they never feel that they are on their own.
It’s perhaps no surprise, then, that the OU has been rated as one of the best for overall student
satisfaction every year since the National Student Survey (NSS) first began in 2005.
MBA induction
Because we recognise that you may not
have studied for many years, or that
you might be new to flexible learning,
four weeks before your study begins,
we guide you through a comprehensive
online induction.
During this, you will be given useful
start-up information and introduced
to a number of helpful tools.
Apart from offering a detailed
overview of our MBA programme,
your induction will offer guidance on:
• how to manage your time
• how to use the virtual
learning platform
• study and critical thinking skills.
Tutor groups
As soon as you join our MBA
programme you’ll be allocated to a
group of around 16 students, with
whom you will stay for the first year
of study. Throughout the year, this
small group will be supported by I received lots of support from tutors, online forums
a tutor, to facilitate your learning. and residential schools, which was also great for building
a network of contacts. The practical experience helps me to do
As you move through the programme,
you will get the opportunity to work things differently.
with a range of different students and Andre Simonian, MBA graduate
tutors. Your tutor group and learning
within the module will be facilitated
by your tutor and will be your foremost also practising business professionals, This means you will benefit from more
support asset in your learning journey. who will constantly ground your intensive and individualised support
learning in real life contexts. and guidance.
Experienced tutors
Unlike traditional university Your tutor will mark all your
Our support network of more than classrooms – where you have a tutor- assignments for a particular module,
100 experienced tutors is perhaps student ratio of approximately 1:80 or and provide comprehensive feedback
the most distinct, effective and more – at the OU Business School you to help you improve as you progress
powerful feature of our programme. will get dedicated teaching support, through the module.
More than academics, our tutors are with a tutor-student ratio of 1:16.
20 | www.open.ac.uk/business-schoolInteractive support
With the OU Business School it didn’t Within the OU MBA programme you will
be able to constantly interact with your
matter where in the world I was. peers, via vibrant online platforms:
I could be in the outback, Timbuktu, or my • Tutor forums: which enable
tiny New York apartment – as long as I had you to interact, with both your
tutor and your group peers, in
internet access I was good to go. a tutor-moderated forum.
Linda Goarke, MBA student • Module forums: or Student Café,
which allows you to interact with
peers who are not in your tutor
group, but who are working on the
Residential schools Student Support same module.
and workshops Teams (SSTs)
• MBA world forum: this lets you
Bringing together students from Offering a highly personalised study
connect with all students following
around the globe, three residential experience, our SSTs maximise your
our MBA programme. For example,
schools form a compulsory part of chances of success in achieving your
you can take academic advice from
the MBA programme – taking place study goals.
peers who are at a more advanced
in a range of locations across Europe,
stage of the programme
including London, Dublin and Brussels. Throughout your studies, they provide
than yourself.
integrated learning and learner
On two to four day-long immersive support to students, supplementing • Online rooms: this lets you book
workshops, working with live the support offered by your tutor in virtual rooms in which to group study
case studies, you will accrue a wealth all wider academic, administrative, with your peers.
of real-world experience. These national and regional aspects relevant
concentrated sessions help you to to your studies. OU library and
work, network and learn together, in
an international context. They also offer academic pastoral online resources
support, giving you both: To help you research and complete
Apart from your core MBA study- your assignments, you’ll enjoy free
related workshops, dedicated • proactive support: guidance on access – 24 hours a day, seven days
development workshops will help examination and assessment, a week – to the OU’s extensive library.
to improve your skills, in areas such selecting modules, tracking your There, you can tap into thousands of
as negotiation, presentation progress and offering individualised online journals, ebooks, databases
and consulting. support and multimedia resources – for true
flexibility of learning.
The residential schools are offered • reactive support: such as responding
both face to face and, for students who to your queries and facilitating
resolution and responding to tutor
Worldwide alumni community
prefer, via an online format.
referrals to provide support. The OU Business School is home to
Tutorial events more than 24,000 successful MBA
alumni from over 100 countries.
In addition to our residential schools, You will have access to one of
you will get the opportunity to attend the world’s largest networks of
further tutorials with your tutor group. MBA graduates via online groups,
professional bodies, events
Facilitated by your module tutors, and webinars.
these face-to-face and online sessions
provide an opportunity to work
through, and clarify, the study material.
Our tutorials work as facilitative
learning events, where you will also be
able to meet your tutorial group peers.Our MBA as employee development
The Open University has more than 40 years’ success in fulfilling organisational needs, across
various industry sectors – from large corporates, to SMEs. By listening to, and understanding,
the requirements of the individual organisation, we provide flexible solutions to business
critical issues.
The OU Business School helps Why is our MBA so popular • It crosses geographical, cultural and
thousands of organisations train with employers? sector boundaries – offering equal
their managers and staff. Our modules relevance to the private and
introduce employees to the latest • It’s a mobile and flexible route for public sector.
business thinking, and enable them developing managers, allowing you
to apply these ideas to their work to study at a time, place and pace • It develops not only your managerial
environment. Organisations see an that suits you. capability and motivation but also
immediate return on their investment. valuable talents, such as effective
• It gives you access to one of prioritisation, team-working,
Geographically dispersed organisations the world’s largest communities commitment and personal motivation.
are especially drawn to the OU’s ability of management learners
to deliver the same learning across and practitioners. • Developing managers through our
the country, or the world. Our learning MBA makes a difference to both the
methods give managers a consistent • It draws on daily management employee and the organisation.
approach to management – wherever activity so that what you learn today,
they are located. you can put into practice tomorrow.
The BT managers constantly talk to us
about the value they have got from the
MBA. Primarily the value is that they can take the
knowledge that they gained from the course and put
it into demonstration in very relevant work-based
projects. So, not only are they getting benefit from
those work based projects being able to support
their MBA activities, but we as an organisation are
getting great benefit from their new ways of thinking.
Andy Palmer, Head of Skills, BT
The Open University MBA
programme allows employees
to study while on the go.
Derek Harnby, Cummins Corporate Recruitment
Manager for Europe and the Middle East
22 | www.open.ac.uk/business-schoolYou can also read
