Business Policy and Strategic Management
Course Aims
- The key objective of strategic management is to enable the organisation to match its skills, attributes and capabilities to the business environment. This critical matching is the key to organisational effectiveness leading to the achievement of organisational objectives
- To provide the student with the requisite skills of strategic analysis, development of strategic options and choices and the understanding of techniques for strategic decision making
Learning Outcomes
At the end of the course the student will have the ability to:
- Develop awareness of the need for strategic management
- Understand and apply the tools and techniques for effective strategic analysis
- To develop range of strategic options to achieve competitive advantage
- To develop and implement strategic management decisions
Course Syllabus
- The nature of corporate strategy and its role in different contexts
- Analysis of strategic approaches and developments as practiced by different organisations
- Brief introduction to organisational culture and their impact on strategic issues
- Power structures within organisations, stakeholder expectations, influences of the financial markets
- Business ethical issues and social responsibilities and their impact on strategy
- Corporate mission statements
- Corporate objectives and policies
- Strategic business units and functional areas
- Gap analysis
- The Global dimension to strategic management
- The Business environment
- Political, economic, social and technological issues
- Industry analysis, threat of entry, power of suppliers and buyers. substitutes, extent of competitive rivalry.
- Competitive analysis
- SWOT analysis
- Value chain analysis
- Cost analysis
- Portfolio analysis
- Comparative analysis
- Assessment of the balance of resources
- Skills analysis and core competencies,
- Generic strategies, market based strategic options,alternative strategic development, customer strategy. Sustainable competitive advantage, value chains, portfolio analysis, Experience curves. Generic strategies. PIMS data. Leaders and followers. New entrant responses. Market equilibrium, Channel strategy.Assessment of existing methods. Distributor relationships. Securing distribution.
- Evaluation methods
- Decision trees
- Scenarios
- Sensitivity analysis
- Financial ratios
- Funds flow
- Break even
- Comparison with objectives
- Joint Ventures
- Acquisitions. Mergers. Alliances
- Planning and allocating resources
- Planning and budgeting process
- Organizational structure
- Structural types
- Central and decentralized control, influence of production process and technology, environmental influences, international issues
- People and systems, rewards, training and development,organisational culture
Recommended Text
Book Title -:Strategic Management With Powerweb
Author -: Thompson
Publisher -: McGraw Hill
ISBN No -: 0071121315
Additional Reading
Book Title -:Exploring Corporate Policy
Author -: Johnson, G.K Scholes
Publisher -: Prentice Hall
Book Title -:The Strategy Process
Author -: Mintzberg, H. Quinn, J. & Goshal,
Publisher -: Prentice Hall
Corporate Finance and Risk Management
Course Aims
- To introduce the theory and practice of finance
- To evaluate the relevance and applicability of financial theory to practical financial problems and issues
Learning Outcomes
At the end of the course the student will have the ability to:
- Appreciate the importance of corporate finance in organisations today
- Apply financial decision making techniques and theories to resolve financial problems
- Understand and evaluate the different sources of finance
- Develop a financial strategy to increase shareholder and corporate value
Course Syllabus
- Introduction to Financial Management, the role of the financial manager
- Concept and foundations of present value and net present value, opportunity cost, shareholder value, valuation of assets, perpetuities and annuities; compound interest and present values, Valuation of bonds and stocks
- Alternative decision making techniques, payback; average return on book value; internal rate of return; the profitability index or benefit-cost ratio
- Relevant costs, the capital expenditure programme when resources are limited
- Introduction to risk, measuring and calculating portfolio risk, diversification, Portfolio Theory, the relationship between risk and return, measuring betas, the Capital Asset Pricing Model and alternative theories
- Corporate Finance, shares, corporate debt; preferred stock;convertible securities, venture capital, the role of the underwriter; the private placement
- Dividends, dividend irrelevance, taxation and its effect on dividends
- Capital structure, Corporate and personal taxation effects,debt-equity ratio
- Introduction to leasing, valuation of financial leases
- Analyzing financial performance, Financial ratios, financial planning, working capital, links between long and short-term financing decisions, analyzing changes in cash and working capital, cash budgeting,credit management
- The foreign exchange market , currency risks, financing foreign operations; political risk and the interactions of investment and financing decisions
Recommended Text
Book Title -:Introduction to Corporate Finance
Author -: Megginson & Smart
Publisher -: Thomson South-Western
ISBN No -: 0-324-37985-4
Organizational Change and Development
Course Aims
- To be aware of the social and behavioral dimensions of organisational effectiveness
- To develop the ability to resolve practical management and organisational problems
Learning Outcomes
At the end of the course the student will have the ability to:
- Understand how organisations operate and the factors that can or inhibit its effectiveness
- Evaluate how strategy and organisational culture affect organisational effectiveness
- Evaluate and apply various techniques of overcoming barriers to change
- Understand and apply Leadership theories for effective management
Course Syllabus
- Foundations of Organisation Development
- Concepts of Values, Assumptions, and Beliefs in Organisational Development
- Analysis of Organisations and their operating environment
- Concept of organisational effectiveness – measurement of organisational effectiveness
- Organisational structures, their design and implementation for organisational effectiveness
- Theories of Effective Leadership
- Organisational Development Interventions
- Overview of OD Interventions
- Team Interventions
- Intergroup and Third-Party Peacemaking Interventions
- Comprehensive OD Interventions
- Structural Interventions and the Applicability of OD
- Training Experiences
- Organisational Development Issues
- Use of Consultants as change agents
- Issues in Consultant-Client Relationships
- Ramifications of use of consultants
- Power, Politics, and Organization Development
- Research on Organization Development
- The Future and Organization Development
Recommended Text
Book Title -:Organizational Development & Change (9e)
Author -: Cummings & Worley
Publisher -: South-Western/Cengage
ISBN No -: 13 978-0-324-58053-2
Multinational Business Management
Course Aims
- To provide the student with the understanding of the globalisation of business and the reasons for organisations to be engaged in international business
- To understand the different modes of establishing a global presence and the means through which growth and expansion are facilitated.
Learning Outcomes
At the end of the course the student will have the ability to:
- Define International business
- Explain cultural and behavioral differences that influence business practices
- Describe and study the political and legal landscape surrounding International Business
- Understand the theories of International Trade
- Evaluate Government and International influences on trade
- Describe economic integration and regional trading groups
- Understand the workings of the foreign exchange markets
- Developing a range of strategies for International Business
Course Syllabus
- The economic framework of international trade, the international political environment, the international legal environment, commodity trade
- The multinational corporation, foreign direct investment
- International operations management, marketing,distribution, financial management, human resources management, understanding culture, management practices and policies in diverse operating environments
- International business development, competitive advantage,international market entry, international regional strategies, assessing international competition
Recommended Text
Book Title -:Managing Across Borders and Cultures (5e)
Author -: Helen Deresky
Publisher -: Pearson Prentice Hall
ISBN No -: 0-13-196858-0
Additional Reading
Book Title -:International Business (7e)
Author -: Czinkota et al.
Publisher -: Thomson South-Western
ISBN No -: 0-324-22532-6
Book Title -:Global Business
Author -: Mike W. Peng
Publisher -: South-Western/Cengage
ISBN No -: 13 978-0-324-58594-0
Book Title -:Multinational Management: A Strategic Approach (4e)
Author -: Cullen & Parboteeah
Publisher -: Thomson South-Western
ISBN No -: 13 978-0-324-54512-8
Case Study
Students are required to complete the following Six (6) Case Studies
Strategic Issues in Professional Administration
Strategic Negotiation and Crisis Management
Strategic Issues in Globalisation
Strategic Planning & Project Management Strategic Issues in Management Consultancy Practice
Strategic Issues in Operations Management
Course Aims
- To allow the student to demonstrate the ability to integrate all learning and knowledge to resolve management problems and issues as presented by a Case Study
- The Case Study examination will also allow the student to demonstrate the ability to prepare a report stating in detail their solutions and/or recommendations in response to the problems are issues identified
Learning Outcomes
During the process of working and analysis of the presented Case Study, the student will have the ability to:
- Identify the key issues or problems as presented by the Case Study
- Analyze the case and relate the issues as presented in the case to the theories that have been learnt
- Develop a series of solutions to resolve the identified problems or issues
- Write and submit a well argued and reasoned response to the case study and to make appropriate recommendations or solutions
Administration of the Case Study
- The overall objective of this Case Study subject is to integrate the theories and knowledge attained from the different subjects contained in the Graduate Diploma Level
- The Case Study integrates the courses that the student has completed. Students are expected to suggest practical solutions to the problems that they have identified
- Students taking this examination will be provided with the Case Study and other background information and notes at least 30 days before the examination. Students are expected to analyze the case and to identify key issues and managerial problems which may require solutions.At the examination, students will be given questions relating to the Case Study concerned. Students are then expected to suggest their solutions to the questions posed and to support their arguments with their appropriate rationale and reasons.
- Examiners will be paying close attention to the reasoning and that has been applied in deriving the students’ recommendations and advice
Qualifying Project and Internship Procedures
Registration and Entry Requirements
Possession of Professional Part 2 – Post-Graduate Diploma of the International Professional Managers Association in Management, Marketing or Computing
Project Duration
Minimum of six (6) months
Internship Programme Duration
Minimum of twelve (12) months
Supervision for Qualifying Project / Thesis
- A candidate for CIPM License for shall carry out the thesis work required for the research project under the direction of a supervisor or supervisors, of whom at least one shall be a licensed management related professional with a minimum of an MBA degree, appointed under approved conditions.
- Work on a research subject, other than field work, shall be carried out at the candidate’s place of work. In special circumstances a candidate may be permitted to conduct research at other places where suitable facilities are available; such permission will be granted on the condition that direction of the work remains entirely under the control of the supervisor appointed pursuant to Rule 3.
- After consultation with the International Professional Managers Association accredited representative in the country of the candidate and on written application from a candidate, a change of supervisor may be approved.
- Before approving the registration of an applicant as a candidate, Council shall be satisfied that adequate supervision and facilities for the proposed work are available.
Requirements for Research Subjects
- A candidate shall, not later than six(6) months after registration, submit the project proposal for approval. Once approved, the project proposal may not be changed unless prior permission has been granted.
- A candidate enrolled for a research project shall submit annually, to Council, a written progress report of their work for the project.
- A candidate shall submit to the International Professional Managers Association two months written notice of their intention to submit the thesis.
- On completion of the research project, a candidate shall submit a thesis embodying the results of their work undertaken in the project.
- The project shall be presented in a form which complies with the requirements set out in Rule 6 below and shall include a certificate indicating the extent to which the work has been performed by the candidate.
- A candidate may not submit as the major part of the (project) thesis any work or material which has previously been submitted for a degree of any University or other similar award of another Professional body.
- A candidate submitting a thesis for CIPM License for must comply with the following additional requirements:
a) the work shall comprise an original and significant contribution to knowledge of the subject;
b) the thesis must present an account by the candidate of the study; and
c) in special cases, study carried out jointly with other persons may be accepted, provided Council is satisfied that the contribution by the candidate to the joint study is adequate.
Procedures Governing the Preparation and Submission of the Qualifying Project
The thesis and other relevant work may be submitted for examination to the International Professional Managers Association provided the candidate has completed the required minimum period of registration for the degree and is registered (enrolled) for the CIPM License for which they are submitting the copies of their thesis.
- A candidate required to submit a qualifying project (thesis)for CIPM License by research shall submit to the International Professional Managers Association
a) a statement from their supervisor stipulating that the thesis is in a form suitable for submission for examination;
b) a verification statement confirming that the submitted work is the work of the candidate.
c) Three (3) bound copies of the thesis and supporting work for submission to examiners.
d) following examination of the thesis, the candidate shall make necessary corrections, if any, and present to the International Professional Managers Association two final bound copies of the project (thesis)
e) the thesis shall be written either in double-spaced or one and a half spaced typescript.
f) a digital copy of the final version of the thesis. The digital copy of the thesis will be accessible (subject to approved access restrictions requested by the author) through the International Professional Managers Association’s web site.
- The CIPM License will not be granted until the two final bound copies and digital copy are lodged with the International Professional Managers Association accompanied by a letter from the International Professional Managers Association Representative certifying that, if required, corrections have been satisfactorily completed.
- All copies of the thesis (both bound and digital) shall include a summary of approximately 200 words and a declaration signed by the candidate stipulating that the work has not been submitted for a degree to any other university or professional institution.
- Theses are to be prepared in accordance with the following specifications, save that variation may be approved after consultation with the supervisor:
a) the text of the thesis, normally in English, shall be in double-spaced or one and a half spaced typescript;
b) the size of the paper shall approximate International Standards Organization paper size A4 (297 mm x 210 mm) except for illustrative material such as drawings, photographs, printouts and sleeves for audio records, on which no restriction is placed; the paper used in all copies shall be white opaque paper of good quality;
c) the margins on each sheet shall be not less than 40 mm on the bound side, 20 mm on the unbound side, 30 mm at the top and 20 mm at the bottom;
d) in the binding of a thesis which includes mounted photographs, graphs, or similar method, or contains a back pocket, packing shall be inserted at the spine to ensure even thickness of the volume;
e) a completed and signed “Thesis Declaration”, shall be affixed to the inside of the front cover of each copy of the thesis submitted;
f) the thesis shall be presented in a permanent and legible form as original typescript, offset printing, or copy by other approved technique; and
g) there shall be a title sheet set out in accordance with the approved style sheet.
- The copies of the thesis provided for examination:
a) can be either spiral bound or bound in boards, covered with buckram; and
b) may be printed single or double sided on the paper.
- The two final bound copies of the thesis shall be presented in the following manner:
a) the thesis shall be bound in boards, covered with buckram;
b) the lettering on the spine binding will be 10 mm in height and will be:
- 15mm from the bottom and across – UOW;
- 70 from the bottom and across – the degree:
- underneath the degree, the year of submission of the thesis; and
- evenly spaced between the degree and the top, reading upwards, the name of the author, initials of given name or names first followed by family name;
c) no other lettering or decoration is permitted on the spine or elsewhere on the binding;
d) shall be printed single or double sided on the paper;
e) the text of the thesis shall be in double-spaced or one and a half spaced typescript.
- The digital copy of the thesis must be the final version approved as fulfilling the requirements for the CIPM License. It must be in an acceptable file format and organised in a logical file sequence. Consideration may be given from the digital copy for copyright or intellectual property reasons.
- A project(thesis) submitted for CIPM License shall be retained in the Library for record purposes, within copyright privileges of the author, and shall be public property and accessible for consultation at the discretion of the Librarian.
- To stipulate the wishes of a candidate for a higher degree regarding utilization of the contents of the thesis, the candidate is required to complete a “Thesis Declaration” available from the Institute:
a) Form 1 to permit the International Professional Managers Association Librarian to retain a copy of the bound and digital thesis for record purposes and grant public access to it; or
b) Form 2 to allow the International Professional Managers Association Librarian to retain a copy of the bound and digital thesis for record purposes and under certain conditions restrict access (see Code of Practice Supervision).
Examination of Thesis
- International Professional Managers Association shall appoint at least three examiners for the thesis, of whom at least one shall be normally a licensed member of the International Professional Managers Association or a licensed management related professional with minimum of an MBA degree, in areas where International Professional Managers Association licensed professionals are not available.
- A supervisor of a candidate may not be an examiner of a thesis submitted candidate.
- A supervisor of a candidate who has submitted a thesis shall provide a certificate indicating:
a) whether the supervisor is in agreement with the statement submitted by the candidate and
b) whether, in the opinion of the supervisor, the thesis is presented in a form that complies with the requirements and is prima facie worthy of examination.
- An examiner of a project for CIPM License by thesis shall be asked to report on:
a) whether the thesis provides evidence that the candidate conducted original research;
b) whether the thesis demonstrates that the candidate has made a significant contribution to the knowledge of the subject concerned;
c) whether the thesis reveals that the candidate has a broad understanding of the discipline within which the work was conducted;
d) whether the thesis contains material suitable for publication;
e) whether the candidate has presented the thesis in a manner and level appropriate to the field of research; and
f) whether the literary standard of the thesis is adequate.
- After examining a thesis, an examiner may recommend that:
a) the candidate be granted the CIPM License without further examination; or
b) the candidate be granted the CIPM License subject to revisions or corrections to the thesis; or
c) the candidate be required to resubmit the thesis in revised form for examination after a specified period of study and/or research; or
d) the candidate be required to attend an oral examination; or
e) the candidate be not granted the CIPM License.
- The candidate must make any revisions requested by the examiner/s, to the thesis within 12 months from the date of the Thesis Examination Committee Resolution. The candidate and their supervisor may request to the Chair of the Thesis Examination Committee for an extension to this period under exceptional circumstances. If the revised thesis is not received by the Institute within 12 months, the candidate will be awarded a fail.
Procedures for Examination of Work Submitted for CIPM License
- Each examiner shall make an independent report on the submitted work or works.
- Prior to the oral examination of an applicant for CIPM License, should such examination be deemed necessary, each examiner shall present questions for the examination.
- Should the examiners be not satisfied with the performance of the candidate in an oral examination, Council may permit the candidate to present for that examination on a second occasion at a time to be determined by the examiners.
- Should the examiners not agree in their recommendations or should, for any other reason, further opinion on the merit of the submitted work be needed, Council may appoint an additional examiner or examiners who shall make an independent report on the submitted work and who may, at the discretion of such examiner or examiners, conduct an oral or written examination on that work and on the general relevant field of knowledge.
- At the conclusion of the examination, the examiners will submit to Council a concise report on the merits of the published work and on the examination results and Council shall determine whether or not the applicant may be granted the CIPM License.
- Should the application for admission to the CIPM License fail, the person may make one only additional application after a period of not less than one year from the date of the original application.
- An applicant for admission to the CIPM License shall not be present at the relevant deliberations of the institute.
Qualifying Internship
Registration Entry Requirements
Possession of Professional Qualifying Graduate Diploma of the International Professional Managers Association in Management, Marketing or Information Technology
Internship Programme Duration
Minimum of twelve (12) months
Procedures Governing the Completion, Certification and Submission of Internship Manual
- A candidate for CIPM License for shall carry out the internship programme in the candidate place of work by filling all management related jobs performed by the candidate, at work in the space provided in the manual , everyday, Monday to Friday.
- The immediate Boss of the candidate shall, every week, certify in the manual that the candidate performed all the jobs listed in the manual by the candidate.
- In special cases, however, a candidate may be permitted to do his/her internship at other places where suitable facilities are available; such permission will be granted on the condition that the weekly certification of the manual shall be performed by International Professional Managers Association Representative or his/her accredited representative.
- Every month or every three months where the candidate is more than 200 kilometres away from the International Professional Managers Association Representative, the filed and certified manual shall be submitted to the International Professional Managers Association Representative for stamping.
Manual submitted late for stamping shall be rejected, and in which case, the candidate will have to restart the whole process again from the beginning.
Examination of Internship Manual
- International Professional Managers Association shall appoint at least two examiners for the Internship Manual of whom at least one shall be normally a licensed member of the International Professional Managers Association or a licensed management related professional with minimum of an MBA degree, in areas where International Professional Managers Association licensed professionals are not available.
- An examiner of Internship Manual for CIPM License shall be asked to report on: whether the Internship Manual is properly filled and all the jobs listed as performed are management functions and the experience listed as gained are adequate for granting of license.
- After examining an Internship Manual, an examiner may recommend that:
a) the candidate be granted the CIPM License without further oral examination; or
b) the candidate be required to attend an oral examination on the Internship Manual ; at the end of which it shall be decided whether to recommend for the granting of license or
c) the candidate be not granted the CIPM License.
- The candidate must make any revisions requested by the examiner/s, to the Internship Manual within 12 months from the date of the Internship Manual Examination Committee Resolution. If the revised Internship Manual is not received by the Institute within 12 months, the candidate will be awarded a fail.
Procedures for Examination of Internship Manual Submitted for CIPM License
- Each examiner shall make an independent report on the submitted Internship Manual .
- Prior to the oral examination of an applicant for CIPM License, should such examination be deemed necessary, each examiner shall present questions for the examination.
- Should the examiners be not satisfied with the performance of the candidate in an oral examination, Council may permit the candidate to present for that examination on a second occasion at a time to be determined by the examiners.
- Should the examiners not agree in their recommendations or should, for any other reason, further opinion on the merit of the submitted Internship Manual be needed, Council may appoint an additional examiner or examiners who shall make an independent report on the submitted Internship Manual and who may, at the discretion of such examiner or examiners, conduct an oral or written examination on that work and on Internship Manual. At the conclusion of the examination, the examiners will submit to Council a concise report on the Internship Manual and on the examination results and Council shall determine whether or not the applicant may be granted the licence..
- Should the application for admission to the CIPM License fail, the person may make one only additional application after a period of not less than one year from the date of the original application.
- An applicant for admission to the CIPM License shall not be present at the relevant deliberations of the institute.