MSc Marketing & Strategy

Strategic human resource management is concerned with the creation of value through the management of human and social capital in organisations. The value of HRM is realised when the capacities and motives of individuals, groups are directed towards the strategic objectives of the organisation. The aim of the module is to provide you with a deep understanding of this strategic role of human capital management and the tools with which to analyse and manage it.

We will consider what it means to align the HR function with strategic objectives. We will ask whether all human capital is equally valuable. We will debate the extent to which human capital and its associated outcomes are quantifiable in a meaningful way. We will examine whether HRM can support both efficiency and flexibility at the same time. Ultimately, the class will provide a range of models and tools for managing human capital in a strategic way.

There are two specific features about project management theory which make it a slightly different type of subject to most other academic modules. Firstly, the subject has its origins in large-scale, complex operations. This means that a large proportion of the published theory concerns the planning and control aspects of the management of such processes. Secondly, most of the concepts were developed in the heyday of the 1960s, where a lot of activity was taking place in the aerospace, defence and construction sectors. This means that most of the basic literature is reasonably old and technically focused.

In the modern context, project management methods are now used for a much wider variety of applications including change management, Third World development programmes and IT-based projects. As a consequence, this module aims to span a range of sectors and be as multi-disciplinary as possible. The planning and control aspects of the module occupy only about 20% of the total time available.

You will:

1. Develop an understanding of current project and programme management approaches and to make comparisons with your own organisation
2. Develop sensitivity to different project environments and to make comparisons and conclusions about them
3. Increase your understanding of commercial and behavioural issues in the management of projects
4. Provide experience of handling project management problems in a simulation setting.

Through this module you’ll be introduced to a range of debates that are central to the human resource management and employment relations field, including the 'high commitment' models of human resource management. It will also provide you with an in-depth insight into a number of the specific HR practice areas, including: recruitment and selection; training and development; job design and teamworking, pay and rewards; unions and HRM, and equal opportunities and diversity management.

During this module you will:

• Demonstrate an understanding of the development of human resource management as a field of study
• Critically appreciate the contribution made by each of the core disciplines (e.g. sociology, psychology, law, economics)
• Analyse specific human resource management problems in their wider social context
• Understand, evaluate, and marshal critical social science research on human resource management
• Extrapolate from existing research and scholarship to identify new or revised approaches to human resource practice
• Demonstrate advanced study skills including written communication, location and retrieval of relevant reading from library stock and electronic resources, using information technology, employing appropriate quantitative methods.

The main module aim is to build on your knowledge of the global economic and business environment and link this to strategies for managing in changing global contexts.  Key questions are:  How do changes in this environment affect the ways in which companies do business and managers manage across borders:  How should firms and individual managers respond (in theory)?  How can they respond (in practice)?

Topics will include: the drivers and processes of internationalisation, cross-cultural management challenges, the assessment of overseas investment opportunities and the specific challenges of emerging markets.

The aims of this module are:

1) Introduced you to the principles, theories and research underlying the academic disciplines concerning the behaviour, leadership and management of people and organisations (Organisational Behaviour, OB, and Human Resource Management, HRM) at four levels of analysis: individual, group, organisational and societal. 

2) Develop a critical appreciation of the behavioural and social sciences as they relate to the study of behaviour in organisations.

3) Introduce you to a critical understanding of the practice of management, leadership and people management in particular.

4) Provide you with structured opportunities to practice applying OB and HRM principles, theories and research to analyse and solve organisational problems.

This module introduces you to the theory and practice of conducting business analytics projects. It adopts a business analytics methodology which enables you to (a) analyse a complex business situation, (b) identify high value opportunities for business analytics and (c) deliver an effective business analytics project. The module adopts an experiential learning philosophy by giving you a guided and mentored experience of conducting a realistic consulting project.

This module aims to develop a greater understanding of how to foster an innovative work environment. In this module the role of the leader will be examined as he/she facilitates innovative ventures by identifying and defining problems worth pursuing (where potential payoffs justify risks), creating a context that allows for multiple parties to work together in generating viable ideas (those with a chance of successful implementation) and managing the context of idea development and fielding – to ensure that viable ideas are likely to be adopted in the marketplace. This module also aims to understand how to develop leaders for innovation.

 It is further aimed to develop an understanding into issues such as:

•  Why is innovation important (especially now)?
•  What makes a leader more or less successful at leading for innovation?
•  What is the role of the team in the innovation process?
•  How might leading for innovation vary by domain (i.e. IT, marketing, etc)?
•  How can crowdsourcing be used to foster innovation?

Understand the wider institutional location of business activity within the polity and the society. The module puts particular emphasis on corporations’ responsibilities in global society and discusses key governance issues related to this agenda. Firms will be seen as both 'takers' and 'givers' of governance and regulation in a variety of formal and informal ways. The module is not a traditional course in business ethics but explores the influence of the non-market environment on businesses’ strategies and operational practices and will confront some 'critical issues' topics.

The module aims to provide training on methods that aid decision-making when managers face an uncertain future. The module covers methods for short-term and long-term forecasting of product demand and macroeconomic variables. The module discusses how forecasting aids decision-making.

This module gives participants theoretical and practical knowledge about applying Artificial Intelligence in real-world business and managerial environments. Participants will explore the different types of Artificial Intelligence, they will discover how they are developed, they will discuss their implication on jobs and tasks and tackle the ethical and environmental challenges associated with it.

The principle aims of the module are to:

• Gain with a practical and theoretical understanding of how the financial services industry has been transformed through the adoption and use of digital innovation and information technologies
• Familiarise yourself with the key technical, procedural, and business aspects of relevant financial technologies and FinTech innovations
• Get with the right mix of technical and business skills to manage IT change in a highly complex and distributed but also competitive setting in finance
• Learn how recent developments in fintech, paytech, regtech, and insuretech (e.g. open banking, blockchain and shared ledger technologies, cryptocurrencies, artificial intelligence, security, etc.) will affect the future of finance.

Technology has led to a proliferation of social media channels. These channels enable peer-to-peer communication as well as providing brands with many more ways to reach their customers, have relevant conversations with them, and listen to what matters to them. This module develops an understanding of how brand managers can access and use social media channels as part of their marketing strategy in order to build brand presence and maintain relevance in the life of their customers.

Through this module you will develop a greater understanding of the fast growing, changing world of social media channels and their relevance to customers, brands and the firm. The module aims to develop an appreciation of how the firm’s integrated marketing communications, brand management, and content management strategies are impacted by social media channels, and to examine the strategic opportunities and challenges these present.

Specific objectives of the module include:

• Understanding the role of social media in achieving the objectives of the firm's integrated marketing communications strategy.
• Understanding the significance of a content management strategy, including selecting and combining appropriate social media tools for stages of the customer journey.
• Linking social media into the marketing mix, including understanding their relevance in developing product, place, and service decisions.
• Understanding how to use social media as a tool for insight into changing customer needs
• Recognising the advantages and pitfalls of earned media including brand communities, viral marketing, and PR crises.

Examine traditional and new marketing communication tools in the context of marketing strategy and how these can be best utilised for different audiences in different contexts. Examine brand strategy through the concept of brand equity and examine models for measuring and managing this core area of marketing practice. 

Challenge thinking about the underlying principles of marketing by exploring aspects such as customer experience (CX), servitisation, service innovation and user experience (UX). Develop knowledge of how consumer needs and expectations translate into activities to enhance the customer experience and add value. 

You'll develop knowledge of international contexts and how these allow organisations to enhance customer experience, as well as understanding how to assess customer expectations in context and to develop and deliver activities that meet those expectations. Further to this you will develop understanding of effective monitoring and measurement techniques that improve customer experience.

The digital landscape is evolving and it is essential to understand the opportunities and challenges presented with the use of digital platforms and technologies. Develop a comprehensive insight into the practices of digital marketing and strategy. Develop knowledge-based skills linked to marketing, strategy, research and tactics. Examine the strategic underpinnings of digital implementation and market disruptions. Critically examine prevailing digital trends such as social media, search engine optimisation, viral marketing, virtual reality and artificial intelligence.

This module will provide you with the theoretical foundations, appropriately supported by real-life examples, to help understand how global business works today.

Anyone who follows the news will immediately understand the importance of global business and how it has become central to decisions made by governments and their regulators. The trade conflict between the US and China, all the problems for global businesses (as well as the people of the UK and Europe) arising out of Brexit and the potential disruption to global supply chains for companies as diverse as car manufacturers and financial services. Furthermore, environmental crises and disruptions come in various forms: economic recessions, disease outbreaks, as well as terrorist attacks – many of which cannot be easily predicted and impose numerous non-trivial costs on firms, particularly MNEs due to their multimarket exposures. At the same time, MNEs are accused of behaving irresponsibly in their quest for global market growth, which is likely to impose further costs on these firms.

By the end of the module, you will be able to dig deep into these news headlines and gain real insight into the issues in order to discuss how MNEs can build sustainable business models in today’s global business environment.

Discover the process of product creation, from ideation through to commercialization and the successful implementation of its introduction into the marketplace.

This module will:

• Provide you with an opportunity to examine different concepts and methodologies for generating ideas and design thinking
• Hone your critical thinking skills by looking at the value, use and effective application of design thinking ideas in organisations
• Enable you to turn your ideas into viable business plans
• Develop your skills in selecting the appropriate target for design thinking interventions
• Develop your research skills to analyse effective product marketing
• Develop your awareness of the commercialisation process of innovative ideas
• Gain an opportunity to develop practical managerial skills, including decision making, commercial awareness and project managerial skills.

The word “luxury” has been used to describe highly desirable but exclusive goods and services. Traditionally, the purchase and possession of these goods or services is an ultimate sign of personal success and fulfillment of individual dreams. However, it is also perceived as the inappropriate display of financial excesses and disparities.

With the democratization and globalization of luxury brands, increasingly, luxury brands are purchased and consumed to satisfy the emotional and hedonic needs. At the same time, all contemporary brands intend to provide emotional value and experiential benefit to individuals.

Furthermore, luxury brands used to rely on exclusive and personal services to distinguish themselves from non-luxury brands, However, with the rise of digital channel and social media, luxury brands have to adapt to the omnichannel shopping behaviour of the new generation consumers. As a result, the line between luxury brands and non-luxury brands are blurring.

Against the above background, this module addresses the important question of what are the unique value propositions that luxury brands can deliver and how to deliver them.

This module aims to:

• Develop specific skills and knowledge sets appropriate for what is regarded as a distinct industry and product field
• Challenge your existing conceptions of luxury marketing to address the changing needs of the luxury consumer and to communicate the value propositions to a diverse range of consumers in the global market
• Encourage students to apply advanced techniques and concepts from the luxury marketing to solve real business problems in the luxury sector and critically assess the relevance and applicability of those techniques to other sectors.

From the shop-floor to the board-room the ways individuals and teams employ digital technology to execute strategy can make the difference between success and failure. Using the latest strategy learning techniques used in leading firms and consultancies (business simulations, interactive workshops, live video case studies, apprentice-style challenges), this module will take you on a learning journey. At the end of the module, through analysis and immersion in real-life strategy situations, you will develop a toolkit to help you grow as a competent strategist and deal with agile transformations. These skills are essential for a career in consultancy or strategy roles.

This module will:

• Allow you to critically discuss a selection of current issues in digital strategy and agile transformation
• Enhance your critical thinking and creativity in individual and group settings
• Develop your skills in analysing complex, real-life strategic problems.

Exposure to the global economy brings new ideas, technologies, and management practices to a business. Whether looking to build a new plant, sell to a new market or find global business partners, exploiting opportunities in new markets or regions poses fresh challenges.

Many of those challenges arise from the different business environment that's present in countries around the world. What does an understanding of economics tell us about which countries and regions will see markets develop quickly in the medium term? Which governments act in ways that pose macroeconomic risks and which do not? How can resources and intellectual property be managed effectively? Which economic theories offer strategies to foster talent and help staff respond to new opportunities?

The patterns of world trade and the responses of governments have always been in constant flux. Businesses can't rely on traditional markets in the medium- to long-term. The pandemic has disturbed even the recently-established patterns of global economic growth. Strategic business decisions require an appreciation of the economic thinking that underpins these new patterns of growth and the changes in international finance that support them.

This module will provide real world examples and case studies to illustrate how economic thinking helps businesses make the most of new opportunities, while managing the risks associated with expansion into new markets and regions.

The module has been developed for business and management students across the WBS MSc portfolio and draws on ideas and research from macroeconomics, microeconomics, international finance, business strategy and development economics. No previous experience of economic analysis is required.

Open to students who have opted for the Business in Practice route. In this module you will study the contexts, components, and processes of entrepreneurial behaviour in different types of organisations and focus on key issues in developing business proposals and plans.

This module focuses on how digital technologies enable organisations to offer digital services that aim at improving customer experience as well as firm performance. The module assumes no prior knowledge of technology and prepares students to engage with technology-related conversations (e.g., designing a new digital service) at the modern workplace. 

The module has three themes. The first theme is gaining competitive advantage using a digital business strategy and covers concepts such as motivations for digital transformation. The second theme provides an overview of what today’s managers need to know about the advantages and disadvantages of cutting-edge technologies including artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality, internet of things (IoT), cloud computing, social media, and data analytics. The last theme focuses on the lifecycle of digital service provision, covering key concepts such as technology selection and sourcing, agile implementation, and risk management

Incorporating an innovative and exciting team business simulation, you’ll gain an understanding of each business function through a series of real-world play activities, and learn to evaluate business performance through various functional dimensions.

You’ll replicate how a team would work together in a real business, giving you a chance to put all of the learning from your MSc year into practice. Following the simulation you will complete an Individual Reflection and a Business Analysis.

If you select the dissertation route you will work with an allocated academic supervisor and research a topic relating to Marketing & Strategy. The module is assessed by an 8,000 word formal dissertation. 

The module will allow you to synthesise, apply and extend the knowledge you have gained in the taught component of the course. The investigation of a contemporary research topic will help to develop your theoretical and practical understanding of current problems in your pathway area, as well as your research and communication skills. Emphasis will be placed on taking a critical approach to the assumptions of prior literature and the methodologies you adopt to address your research question. Lectures will also cover the basics of selecting research methods for your proposal.