STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT

This unit is designed to introduce learners to strategic management and to develop their knowledge and understanding of the nature, scope, principles and processes of strategy. The unit covers the formulation, implementation and control of strategy as carried out by the senior management and functional management of an organisation, within its internal and external environments.

Learners will learn about the theoretical concepts of strategy (including the role of strategy in planning and in achieving competitive advantage), the strategy planning process and its application to different organisational and management situations. The factors and issues that influence strategy will be examined and consideration will be given to the integration of appropriate corporate, business and functional strategies, as well as the impact of strategy in the internal and external business and social environments.

Summary of learning skills:
1 Explain the nature, scope and purpose of strategic management
2 Examine the process of strategic management
3 Identify the key factors that impact on the development of an organisation.s strategy
4 Evaluate and select strategy options
5 Analyse the implementation and control of selected strategies.

MANAGING OPERATIONS

The operating functions within organisations are concerned with the processes that provide goods or services. Operations managers are responsible for these processes. This unit is concerned with the management of both goods producing and service producing processes.

The unit takes a strategic perspective on the management of operations, positioning the function as the essential part of any organisation. In taking this perspective it will demonstrate that all managers are operations managers. Thus the unit should be of interest and importance to all learners regardless of their professional backgrounds and future aspirations.

Summary of learning skills:
1 Research the requirements of customers as a basis for the identification of quality improvement within organisational policies and constraints
2 Manage the design of processes and systems to improve quality and devise plans to implement quality improvements
3 Control the implementation of at least two projects
4 Monitor and evaluate these projects or operations.

MANAGING FINANCE

This unit provides the learners with a foundation in financial principles and techniques relevant to the strategic management process. The focus of the unit is income and expenditure, budgets, investment criteria for decision making, and the use and analysis of financial statements. The main objectives are to give learners the confidence to construct, analyse and interpret financial information in order to enhance their decision-making skills in relation to their own organisations.

To complete this unit effectively learners will need to show an ability to create and prepare strategies to influence others, suggest decisions which are based on well-researched options, monitor quality of performance against organisational objectives and decide on the validity of information sources.

Summary of learning skills:
1 Examine cost concepts and their application to the decision-making process
2 Examine the methods used to evaluate potential investment expenditure decisions
3 Use control costs and participate in the budgetary process within an organisation
4 Interpret financial statements for planning and decision-making.

HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

The purpose of this unit is to familiarise learners with the knowledge, understanding and skills necessary to contribute in both the strategic and tactical management of an organisation's human resources. These should be related to the learners own work-based experience and management employment or placement.

Learners will analyse the contribution of human resource management to the achievement of the organisational objectives and evaluate ways in which an organisation.s structure and culture may contribute to human resource performance.

Summary of learning skills:
1 Analyse the contribution of human resource management to the achievement of organisational objectives
2 Evaluate the ways in which an organisation.s structure and culture may contribute to human resource performance
3 Analyse factors likely to shape future human resource requirements
4 Analyse ways in which the performance of human resources may be enhanced.

MARKETING MANAGEMENT

This unit is designed to introduce learners to the principles of marketing strategies and to develop their knowledge and understanding of the formulation, implementation and control of a marketing strategy which is implemented by the marketing function of an organisation.

Learners will learn about the theoretical concepts associated with a marketing strategy and the marketing planning process and its application to different market situations, by applying a range of appropriate marketing activity strategies. The factors and issues that influence marketing strategies and the role and impact of marketing strategies in the business and social environment will also be addressed.

Summary of learning skills:
1 Investigate the planning principles and processes involved in developing a marketing strategy
2 Evaluate the tools and techniques used to produce a strategic marketing plan
3 Investigate a range of marketing strategy options
4 Develop and present a strategic marketing plan for an identified organisation.

MANAGEMENT REPORT

The management report is deemed critical for the development of higher cognitive skills and is intended to provide learners with the opportunity to study a specific area of their choice and to take a more active role in the learning process. It is a major part of the course and should be an academic challenge for the learner.

The purpose of the management report is to allow the learner to carry out a self-managed piece of work that provides an in-depth investigation of a management issue relevant to the learners own field of study or particular interest. The management report allows the learner to critically evaluate and synthesise relevant philosophies, theories and models of management, by undertaking a process of enquiry, using primary and/or secondary data sources to contribute to the body of knowledge in the domain of management.

Summary of learning skills:
1 Analyse management research
2 Formulate strategies for successful research
3 Select and utilise appropriate research methods to collect data to support investigation
4 Synthesise and analyse data to generate and support conclusions
5 Present and justify conclusions and associated recommendations.

"Key Skills" Qualifications

The course is delivered in combination of different activities including class room learning, working together and alone, role plays, discussions, fun & games, exploring & meeting people, industrial visits and public gatherings.

Who should do it?

This course is design to attract young professionals and students with at least 10 years of formal education.

Awarded by: "The London Examinations, UK"

Contents include:

English Language & Communication

• Collecting and analysing information
• Writing an essay or report
• Giving a presentation
• Talking to the public
• Fluency in English communication
• Improving academic & professional vocabulary

Information Technology & Computing skills

• Researching on the Internet
• Collating data using spreadsheets
• Producing Graphs using spreadsheets
• Producing reports and questionnaires
• Preparing and giving presentation using packages like Powerpoint

Application of number

• Gathering statistics and making sense of them
• Putting together graphs to illustrate statistics
• Working out averages for statistics you've gathered
• Usage of numbers in budgeting

Confidence Building & Self Management

• Analysing situations and confidence to putting questions
• Improving body language & interpersonal communication
• Time management and target achieving approach
• Working out how to tackle a problem in studies or at work
• Setting targets to improve your performance

Duration: 3 months, Days per week: 5, Hours per session: 120 minutes