University home > Unit and programme catalogues in 2018/19 > Programme catalogue > Faculty of Social Sciences and Law > School of Economics, Finance and Management > Strategy, Change and Leadership (MSc) > Specification
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Programme code | 9EFIM005T |
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Programme type | Postgraduate Taught Degree |
Programme director(s) |
Helen Ballard
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Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
School/department | School of Economics, Finance and Management |
Teaching institution | University of Bristol |
Awarding institution | University of Bristol |
Mode of study | Part Time |
Programme length | 2 years (part time) |
This programme aims to develop students’ understanding of the concepts and theories that can be applied to strategic management, organisational change and leadership. It provides an intellectual training through studying the theory and practice of strategy, change and leadership from the perspectives of middle and senior managers. The programme will encourage a critical analysis of contemporary theories in the context of current organisational practices. Students will reflect critically on their own experience and build this reflexivity into their management practice. The programme is aimed at working managers, and provides opportunities for the acquisition of knowledge, intellectual and critical skills in preparation for (or in support of) senior management roles in commercial, public sector and not-for-profit organisations.
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
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Course content is designed to draw on students’ own experiences, and to test this against theory and vice versa. Use will be made of inputs from tutors, case studies, reading, group, pair and individual work. The teaching methods will be interactive, and teaching methods will be purposefully varied throughout the day. Students are encouraged to develop habits of reflexivity. This will be enhanced by their pre-class preparation which will include reading and observation, and also by their assignments which require an integration of theory and practical experiences. |
Methods of Assessment | |
Assessment is by coursework assignments. These typically require students to demonstrate both theoretical knowledge and understanding of the topic area, and the ability to reflect on the implications of such theories for practice. |
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
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Intellectual skills are developed through case study work, class discussion and written assignments. The induction unit and the first research methods session are designed to establish skills in researching sources, and in critical analysis, evaluation and reflection. Subsequent units are designed to extend intellectual skills progressively. The 'organisational challenge threads' will enable students to synthesise theory and practice, and to develop skills in questioning, critiquing and problem solving. The threads will be run as 'Action Learning Sets', with a mentor assigned to each. They are described ore fully in 'additional information'. |
Methods of Assessment | |
Coursework assignments require an integration of theory and practical experience and are designed to encourage students to develop analytical skills which will help them in their roles as practicing managers. They typically require the synthesis of information gained in the practical or case setting with differing theoretical concepts in order to develop a reasoned argument and to recommend a course of action. |
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
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Classes are designed to encourage students to develop analytical and evaluative skills which will help them in their role as practicing managers. Students will practice written communication through coursework assignments, and feedback given will help to improve their skills. Oral and interpersonal skills skills are developed in the classroom, and particularly in working in small groups and in presenting reasoned argument during case discussion. Research skills are developed throughout the programme, particularly in the dissertation. |
Methods of Assessment | |
The coursework assignments provide the formal basis for assessing the development of analytical and research skills. Class discussions and particularly case study work provide an opportunity for informal personal assessment of interpersonal and communication skills. Research skills are further developed through the dissertation. |
Statement of expectations from the students at each level of the programme as it/they develop year on year.
Level M/7 - Postgraduate Certificate |
Students study three mandatory (20 credit) units. These provide a basic introduction to the three core areas of the programme (strategy, change and leadership). They also begin to develop students' ability to critically evaluate theory and practice and to research and utilise sources of information. The first unit is 'Leadership'. Students will start with a consideration of their own specific experience as leaders. This will be analysed and critiqued alongside contemporary leadership theories. This method of critically examining a subject from a range of relevant perspectives will be developed throughout the Certificate and Diploma. It is important therefore that the 'Leadership' unit is delivered first. The other two units introduce different areas theory, and could be delivered in any order. |
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Level M/7 - Postgraduate Diploma |
Students study three mandatory (20 credit) units. Each of these builds on the foundation theories introduced at the Certificate level. Students will be expected to demonstrate an increasing ability to test this material against their own practice, and to synthesise competing theoretical perspectives. Assessments will contain an element of data gathering - either qualitative or quantitative - or both. This is a progression of requirement from the certificate, and will help to build skills in preparation for the dissertation. The order of the units is not critical, with the exception of systems thinking concepts, which are relevant to all diploma units and therefore important to introduce at the beginning. |
Level M/7 - Postgraduate Masters |
The Masters degree is a structured programme which aims to introduce students to an increasingly broad and challenging range of theories over their period of study. The Applied Work-based Project (dissertation) is the culmination of progress through the whole degree programme, and is awarded 60 credits. Students are asked to research an area of literature (within the field of leadership, strategic management or change management) in which they are particularly interested, or which is particularly pertinent for their organisation. Students are expected to demonstrate subject matter expertise in that topic through the research work undertaken. |
The intended learning outcome mapping document shows which mandatory units contribute towards each programme intended learning outcome.
For information on the admissions requirements for this programme please see details in the postgraduate prospectus at http://www.bristol.ac.uk/prospectus/postgraduate/ or contact the relevant academic department.
The ‘organisational challenge threads’ is one of the elements which seems to be most valued by senior managers, and which is distinctive to this programme. A description is below.
Throughout the consultations, many commented that their managers were struggling with business goals such as ‘get more from less’, or ‘boost morale while making redundancies’. Help on these challenges, they said, is what they most wanted. The question for us as academics is – can we provide something which addresses these difficult (almost impossible) issues, the ‘solutions’ to which will be many and varied, depending on a host of organisational factors? And in some cases, there will be no good ‘solution’ – rather, a number of options which give rise to additional issues. How can management and organisational theory inform good practice?
I developed the ’organisational challenge threads’ as our way of helping managers address such issues. Small groups of 4 to 5 students will work together on a current and difficult ‘challenge’. Each group will have a tutor assigned as a mentor who will guide them in an ‘Action Learning’ style approach. The group will develop the skills of questioning, listening, critiquing, coaching and supporting. They’ll also learn to synthesise material from across the management disciplines, and to debate how the various theories might offer new perspectives on their ‘challenge’.
The idea is that groups will discuss their ‘challenge’ on an ongoing basis (probably virtually using blog and skype) by integrating the material presented in the 3 Certificate units. They’ll then report back on their thinking at the end of the Certificate as part of the ‘Understanding Change and Uncertainty’ unit assessment. The challenge threads will be way of integrating the organisational and management literatures across the programme, and of translating these into current practice.
Please visit www.bristol.ac.uk/efm/postgraduate-programmes or contact Helen Ballard, Programme Director at helen.ballard@bristol.ac.uk
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | |
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Leadership | MGRCM0002 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-4 |
Strategy and Organisations | MGRCM0001 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-4 |
Understanding Change and Uncertainty | MGRCM0004 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-4 |
Organisational Complexity | EFIMM0036 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-4 |
Postgraduate Certificate on successful completion of 60cp, Postgraduate Diploma on successful completion of 120cp | 80 |
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | |
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Critical Issues in Strategy | MGRCM0005 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-4 |
Applied Work-based Project | MGRCM0008 | 60 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
Contemporary leadership challenges | EFIMM0035 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-4 |
180 |
The pass mark set by the University for any level 7(M) unit is 50 out of 100.
For detailed rules on progression please see the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes and the relevant faculty handbook.
All taught masters programmes, unless exempted by Senate, must allow the opportunity for students to exit from the programme with a postgraduate diploma or certificate.
To be awarded a postgraduate diploma, students must have successfully completed 120 credit points, of which 90 must be at level M/7.
To be awarded a postgraduate certificate, students must have successfully completed 60 credit points, of which 40 must be at level M/7.
An award with Merit or Distinction is permitted for postgraduate taught masters, diplomas and certificates, where these are specifically named entry-level qualifications. An award with Merit or Distinction is not permitted for exit awards where students are required to exit the programme on academic grounds. An exit award with Merit or Distinction may be permitted where students are prevented by exceptional circumstances from completing the intended award.
The classification of the award in relation to the final programme mark is as follows:
Award with Distinction*: at least 65 out of 100 for the taught component overall and, for masters awards, at least 70 out of 100 for the dissertation. **Faculties retain discretion to increase these thresholds.
Award with Merit*: at least 60 out of 100 for the taught component overall and, for masters awards, at least 60 out of 100 for the dissertation. Faculties retain discretion to increase these thresholds.
* The MA in Law has separate regulations for awarding distinction and merit.
** For the award of Distinction, the Faculty of Engineering requires at least 70 out of 100 for the taught component overall and, for masters awards, at least 70 out of 100 for the dissertation.
All taught masters programmes, unless exempted by Senate, must allow the opportunity for students to choose, or be required, to leave at the postgraduate diploma or certificate stage.
To be awarded a postgraduate diploma, students must have successfully completed 120 credit points, of which 90 must be at level M/7.
To be awarded a postgraduate certificate, students must have successfully completed 60 credit points, of which 40 must be at level M/7.
Please note: This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if he/she takes full advantage of the learning opportunities that are provided.
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