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Creating and Developing Your Business
If you have ever thought seriously about running your own business, this programme could be just what you need.
Whether you want to set yourself up as a freelance, become a consultant, or own and manage a business (maybe even with people working for you), this innovative programme provides the information, guidance and support you will need to successfully launch your business idea.
It's a unique opportunity. Think about it: a chance to spend a year developing your business idea - maybe even go 'live' -; a supportive environment in which you can share thoughts and ideas with others who are going through a similar experience; ready access to advice and support from people with the practical expertise and knowledge that is so vital to the successful launch of a business.
All this, plus the added bonus of gaining a recognised postgraduate qualification at the same time!
Course Structure and Content
The full-time MA in Creating and Developing Your Business consists of six taught modules designed to cover all the main aspects of establishing and running a successful business, and a project/ dissertation, which gives you an opportunity to apply what you have learned to your own business idea.
The programme is normally completed in one calendar year over three trimesters. There is currently one entry point - in October of each year - with additional entry points planned to come on line as the programme grows and develops.
All taught modules are worth either 15 or 30 credits. You will also need to complete a dissertation of 15,000- 20,000 words, which is worth 60 credits. To achieve the MA, you will need to complete 180 credits in total.
Modules
Trimester one consists of four modules, each worth 15 credits.
Market Research and Business Planning
This module is designed to help you understand potential business markets. You will learn how to analyse the business environment and how to evaluate the competition. You will also gain an understanding of the role played by research in developing marketing positioning and communication.
Finance and Accounting
This module provides you with an understanding of finance, financial and management accounting, including an introduction to the legal requirements for financial reporting.
Managing Customer Connections
This module is designed for you to learn about customer acquisition and customer retention and the tactics and strategies applied in the understanding of the customer's requirements. You will understand how to build and develop customer relationships in the context of customer retention and the importance of consistent service quality.
Techniques for Business Growth and Development
In addition to well-honed marketing and financial management skills, there are other critical areas in which anybody who decides to set up their own business will need to be highly competent. This module aims to help you develop these crucial skills, which include creativity and innovation (to develop new offerings, to solve problems facing the business, etc), negotiating skills (to deal effectively with customers and suppliers), and knowledge management (to enable the ongoing learning and knowledge acquisition necessary for the continuing future success of a business).
Trimester two consists of two modules, each worth 30 credits.
Developing a Viable Business Idea
Developing a business idea into a viable product or service is an essential part of setting up a business. This module will give you the opportunity to take an idea from the "brain-storming" stage to a concrete and substantiated business proposition. You will build on your knowledge of idea generation and business innovation and then evaluate ideas against "hard" business needs and realities. Data about the proposed business will be gathered from primary and secondary sources, and quantitative and qualitative methods will be used to test ideas against the data gathered.
Preparing to Launch a New Venture
The module calls upon many aspects of your learning about business from this Master's programme, including marketing, finance, and innovation. The concept of entrepreneurship underpins this module. In particular, you will work on a formal Business Plan, which will be presented to a Professional Assessment Panel (external stakeholders). Your plan will describe in detail what your venture is going to be and how it is going to come into being.
Project/Dissertation (Trimester Three)
This is an essential requirement of the MA, which involves an extended piece of work (15-20,000) words.
You will be able to choose between two types of project/dissertation:
- The first type involves undertaking an 'action learning' oriented dissertation in which you will be expected to demonstrate that you can link your studies on the course with your personal experience of developing (and possibly launching) your business idea.
- The second type is a more 'traditional' dissertation involving choosing an area of research interest related to the themes covered on the MA. A dissertation of this type includes a review of current literature related to the topic and could also incorporate a field study.
A Mix of Knowledge and Skills
The programme aims to develop a meaningful mix of knowledge and skills. You will want to leave the programme with the ability to work your way through whatever challenges arise as you create your business. Sometimes approaches you have used before will not work again, so you will want some underlying principles, models and theories which you can apply to new circumstances.
The programme is not about just giving you a 'how to' tool kit. It is about you developing the ability to work out for yourself how to overcome obstacles and make the most of situations as you develop your business idea.
Teaching Methods and Resources
By the time you complete the programme, you will:
- Have a thorough grounding in all the major components involved in running a successful business - understanding markets, developing plans, understanding and improving delivery, managing relationships with people, managing money, technology and other resources;
- Appreciate the nature of the forces which shape the contemporary business world - competitive, economic, social, political, environmental, technological and regulatory;
- Develop skills and techniques - in gathering, analysing and evaluating information, planning, applying concepts and models to the solution of problems, evaluating risk, making decisions, communicating, working in teams and thinking effectively;
- Be able to evaluate the pros and cons of a range of business and management practices and then make judgements about their value and implications;
- Produce a detailed project relating to a business - probably your own - bringing together all aspects of your study. Students working on their dissertations will have individual tutorials by appointment with the supervising course tutor.
Assessment Methods
A variety of assessment methods will be used, including:
- Individual report;
- Individual presentation;
- Group presentation;
- Examination.
Wherever possible, assignments are designed to integrate theoretical concepts with practical experiences.
Entry Requirements
Applications from a variety of backgrounds are welcomed. Entry normally requires a good first degree in a relevant subject. Applicants will be assessed primarily on their commitment and ability to benefit from the course. Previous experience and learning can be taken into consideration. All applicants will be interviewed. Please contact Martin Sandbrook, Course Leader for an informal discussion and to discuss entry requirements.