This module aims to:

Provide students with opportunities to apply a range of management tools and theories in order to analyse client problems and issues;

Enable students to critically reflect on chosen management tools and theories and their application to practice and draw on theories of management, leadership and group development to critically reflect on theory and own performance;

Develop students’ ability to synthesize data from a wide variety of sources and interpret results and work collaboratively to prepare findings and recommendations in formats acceptable to the client.

(LE1) A leader.
Students will be encouraged to develop their own leadership skills through experiential team-based activities and self-reflection on their own values and approach to leadership.

(LE2) A lifelong learner.
Students will have opportunities to practice skills of critical self-reflection as assess their contribution to the process of team-decision making and collaboration.

(LE3) A team player.
The learning activities and assignments will require students to work in groups and manage the interaction and relationships with other group members. In doing so, they will gain experience in negotiation, persuasion, influencing and managing conflict.

(LE4) Flexible and adaptable.
The module will provide opportunities to develop the skills needed to be flexible, adaptable and creative through experiential learning activities involving team-based collaboration and decision-making as part of the executive project work.

(LO1) Students will be able to apply a range of management tools and theories in order to analyse client problems and issues.

(LO2) Students will be able to critically reflect on chosen management tools and theories and their application to practice.

(LO3) Students will be able to synthesize data from a wide variety of sources and interpret results.

(LO4) Students will be able to work collaboratively to prepare findings and recommendations in formats acceptable to the client.

(LO5) Students will be able to draw on theories of management, leadership and group development to critically reflect on theory and own performance.

(LRE1) A problem solver.
Students will be encouraged to think critically and creatively about theory and practice and to challenge assumptions about management theory and about organisational issues and dilemmas. They will do this by gathering and synthesising information, analysing alternative perspectives and options and presenting a considered opinion or course of action.

(LRE2) An excellent verbal and written communicator.
Students will have opportunities to develop written and oral communication skills through group discussions, presentations and coursework.

(LRE3) Organised and able to work under pressure.
This will be evident in the students’ independent management of their assignments and ability to meet deadlines.

The module is based on three Executive Projects weeks, which will take place at three specified points throughout the year, outside the regular module schedule such that students from different cohorts can take part, network and interact. The dates of each project week will be confirmed at the start of the programme.

Each week will begin with an introduction to the topic and the challenge from an industry guest speaker or subject matter expert and the module instructor. During the week, students will work in small groups on their project task. This will be supported by online learning activities and discussion boards. Students will also undertake directed and independent reading and research to complete their project task.

Unscheduled Directed Student Hours: 25 hours
Description: The asynchronous project activities will equate to about 2 hours per week during Executive Project weeks with other learning materials available for students to work through at their own pa ce during or outside the event weeks (c.19 hours).
Attendance Recorded: Yes – tracked via the learning platform.

Students will also participate in synchronous seminars during each Executive Project week. The dates and times of the synchronous seminars will be confirmed at the start of the module (if there are issues with time zones another session will be provided). The first two-hour synchronous session will present students with a challenge that they will work on in small groups. Throughout the week, further synchronous seminars (6 hours in total) will focus on peer interaction, discussion and questions, with the module instructor participating as a coach and mentor as the students develop their project work. The final 2-hour synchronous session will provide an opportunity for presentation of student work and feedback.

Scheduled Directed student hours: 30 hours
Description: The synchronous seminars will equate to 10 hours per week in each of the 3 Executi ve Project weeks.
Attendance Recorded: Yes – tracked via the learning platform.

Self-directed learning hours: 45 hours
Description: This will involve directed and independent reading, and independent research into topic areas relating to the particular Executive Project and relevant to the module syllabus, aims and learning outcomes.

Guest speaker / subject matter expert - contemporary management topics such as Artificial Intelligence, Sustainable Development, Future of Work or Globalisation.

Principles of management consulting and effective project work.

Effective team working and peer-to-peer feedback.

Theories and models of critical self-reflection.

Networking including using Executive Project events as networking opportunities.

Using Executive Projects to stimulate ideas for final MBA Project.