There are no average courses within our MBA programme. We are bound to provide an exceptional learning experience, and there is no better way to achieve this aim than with outstanding courses. They have been carefully crafted by experienced professors and are all meant to make you a more successful and efficient manager. 

There are no old-fashioned exams. Instead you are given real-life case studies and essays, which allow you to think critically about your company and your own career. All this might seem too glossy but there is one catch: we do not accept average candidates. Only individuals as outstanding as our values can find their way toward admission at the Robert Kennedy College.

Induction

Not-for-credit module

A not-for-credit induction module will be the starting point of the programme. The induction process is designed to familiarise you with the programme design, requirements and resources, as well as with the way online interaction, learning and grading will take place. After the induction you should be familiar with academic life, including academic writing, library services and library access, OnlineCampus access, and academic support services.

Organisational Behaviour

Aim of the Module

The aim of this module is to provide an introduction to core concepts of the way people are managed in organisations. To that end it will offer opportunities for study by developing as well as experienced managers, to consider the history and development of management thinking and theory, using modern ideas to assess and evaluate their own personal experiences of organisations and dynamics. The introduction to the module will act as the bedrock upon which other managerial ideas and processes can be developed later in the course.

Intended Learning Outcomes

On successful completion, you will be able to: 

  1. Evaluate critically and explore theoretical approaches to management and organisational behaviour, in areas such as motivation, group performance, conflict, individual and organisational learning, organisational structures and cultures 
  2. Examine critically and reflect upon the applicability in specific situations of a range of management and soft skills for managing themselves, others, and relationships in the workplace 
  3. Make soundly based judgments on the relevance and suitability of applying these concepts to your own working experience 
  4. Make critical and informed judgments concerning key concepts and practices of human resource management in your own and other organisations.

Indicative Module Content

Marketing Management

Aim of the Module

This module aims at providing an appreciation of the marketing concept, and to examine the place of marketing in the business and its contribution to strategic objectives in both consumer and industrial marketing operations.

Intended Learning Outcomes

On successful completion, you will be able to: 

  1. Evaluate critically the essential aspects of marketing management, marketing strategy, and emerging New Economy marketing, with a focus on the development and execution of programmes and plans 
  2. Assess and evaluate a range of decisions implicit in strategic marketing management and planning, from a stakeholder perspective, and consider their applicability in your own organisational environment 
  3. Assess critically a variety of marketing management tools, ranging from new product entry strategy to international market product life cycle management and strategy, and reflect on their application in practical examples 
  4. Analyse critically skills required in organizing for effective strategic marketing and in implementing the market planning process, with consideration of your own specific examples.

Indicative Module Content

Financial Management

Aim of the Module

This module aims to provide students with a basis in financial accountancy and managerial economics, aimed at developing a capability for students to understand how accounts are developed and financial decisions taken, and to develop skills in financial modelling.

Intended Learning Outcomes

On successful completion, you will be able to: 

  1. Analyse critically the principles and concepts used in the construction of accounting statements including cost behaviour 
  2. Analyse and evaluate the importance of marginal and relevant costing and the use of different sources of funds in management decision making, and reflect on their application in practice and relevance to your own situation 
  3. Evaluate the performance of a business organisation, and prepare and communicate in qualitative and quantitative form relevant business information 
  4. Analyse, evaluate and apply economic tools and theory to practical business decision-making, including pricing, competition strategy, and decision-making under uncertainty.

Indicative Module Content

Information Management

Aim of the Module

This module enables you to develop a conceptual and comprehensive understanding of the manager's role in relation to the leading of the effective management and use of information, information technology and information systems and to apply these within both organisational and strategic contexts.

Intended Learning Outcomes

On successful completion, you will be able to: 

  1. Reflect critically on the senior manager's role and responsibility in leading information governance within a service or organisation -  with particular reference to data protection; record keeping and ensuring service user information is secure 
  2. Perform a critical appraisal of the use of information systems in the context of ensuring effective flows of communication between services within the organisation 
  3. Reflect critically on the use of information technology and information systems, in order to be able to support effectively staff development in line with organisational goals and to support service planning and decision making processes 
  4. Appraise critically information systems used within your organisation or service, evaluating their effectiveness and suggesting any developments which could enhance the service.

Indicative Module Content

Information governance; the manager's lead role in ensuring information is secure; storage of information; data protection; record keeping; confidentiality and ethics in relation to information; Linux and open source software; communication within organisations and services; social networking - appropriate use of; supporting staff development. Flows of information between services. Cloud computing and software as a service.

Energy and Sustainability

Aim of the Module

The module aims to provide a good understanding at executive level of sustainable energy (renewable energy in particular) technologies and applications, policies/regulations and planning, environmental and social impact, barriers, and potential market reforms to facilitate sustainable energy development.

Intended Learning Outcomes

On successful completion, you will be able to:

  1. Analyse critically energy sources and their impacts and future in the context of security and sustainability challenges
  2. Analyse and evaluate sustainable energy sources and systems for a specific project development, and consider how that could be applied in your own organisation
  3. Develop and make recommendations on a carbon audit and life cycle assessment of energy systems for a specific project development, based on a systematic and evidence-based approach
  4. Analyse critically technological innovations and investments in the context of achieving sustainable energy societies, with particular reference to organisations with which you are concerned

Indicative Module Content

Energy security and sustainability overview: 

Primary energy sources: 

Renewable energy sources: 

Investment markets and policy environments for scaling: 

Detailed analysis of specific energy technologies: 

Governance and Planning for Sustainable Energy Societies: 

Strategic Management

Aim of the Module

This module aims to develop your knowledge and understanding across a range of appropriate topic areas, to undertake an analysis of inherent strategic complexity with a view to selecting appropriate conceptual ‘tools’ for strategic development. The module will develop your awareness of the complex inter-relationship of organisational problems and develop your critical ability to select and ‘argue’ for alternative approaches emanating from conceptual alternative dimensions in relation to organisational problems and strategy.

Intended Learning Outcomes

On successful completion, you will be able to: 

  1. Assess critically the effectiveness of strategic management theory in contexts of dynamic and uncertain industries 
  2. Use strategic management theories, tools and techniques to critically evaluate the effectiveness of existing corporate strategies in context, and be able to apply appropriate tools to the successful analysis of organisations with which you are concerned 
  3. Evaluate critically and plan the implementation of alternative approaches to strategic issues in context, including your own organisation 
  4. Devise and justify alternative multi-strategies.

Indicative Module Content

Definition of strategy, External and internal environments (Market environment; Consumers, shareholders, government, and other stakeholders; Corporate objectives; Strengths and limitations; Significance of specific situations, such as mature industries, turnarounds, not-for-profit, etc), Business and corporate strategies (Functional strategies; Business strategies; Corporate strategies; Internal coherence), Strategy formulation (Nature of the process; Strategic intent; Strategic assessment; Strategic choice; Common models, such as core competencies analysis, scenario planning, benchmarking, value chain analysis, SWOT, PEST, life cycle matrix, 5 forces, etc; Outcome of the process), Strategy implementation (Systems and processes; Organisational structure and form; Culture; Management and leadership).

Tackling Global-Local Challenges in Ethics, Responsibility and Sustainability

Aims of the Module

This module provides learners with the opportunity to conceptualise ethics, responsibility and sustainability in diverse global settings. It allows students to develop an insight into the expanding role of sustainable development, corporate governance, responsible business practice and the ethical dimensions of organisational policies and practices.

Intended Learning Outcomes

On successful completion, you will be able to: 

  1. Analyse and evaluate critically theories pertinent to responsibility, ethics and sustainability in diverse global-local contexts, and apply them in practical situations 
  2. Assess the potential for leading and implementing sustainability and governance policies in selected sectors and organisations 
  3. Identify appropriate stakeholders and strategic collaboration opportunities for organisations and communities locally, nationally and globally 
  4. Assess critically the impact of current organisational practices on sustainable development for future generations, and develop appropriate potential strategic responses.

Indicative Module Content

MBA Dissertation

Aim of the Module

This module provides an opportunity for students to use and extend the knowledge and skills acquired during the programme of study. Using appropriate research methodologies and data collection methods, they will critically synthesise a body of knowledge relevant to the taught programme. 

Students must bias their dissertation to encompass the specific MBA for which they are studying; this will be carefully checked when the student’s proposal is being approved and a supervisor allocated.  The research will usually be undertaken with respect to issues derived from organisations with which they work, or have worked.

Intended Learning Outcomes

On successful completion, you will be able to: 

  1. Identify issues, research them in detail, analyse critically and synthesise data and ideas, with the aim of developing appropriate conclusions and recommendations 
  2. Engage in critical reflection on the research process and the issues under investigation 
  3. Address critically, develop and satisfy specific research questions based on a systematic and evidence-based approach 
  4. Evaluate critically and present findings and recommendations in writing that confirm your understanding of the subject under investigation

Indicative Module Content