MBA

Ten carefully selected foundation units ensure that you learn the skills required of an effective manager. The ten foundation units expose you to different general management perspectives, and give you the expertise required to see an organisation achieve and sustain competitive advantage. Foundation units include:

 

Accounting for Management

An introduction is provided to Financial Accounting, Management Accounting and the analysis of the Financial Accounting statements, the Profit and Loss Statement, the Balance Sheet and the Statement of Cash Flows. The unit aims to equip managers with the ability to analyse and interpret financial data, and use their knowledge for projecting and assessing the performance of organisations and business units.

Economic Context of Management

This unit presents a basic understanding of the economic context in which managerial decisions take place and provides some basic practical economic skills. The main emphasis is on the macroeconomic environment and how it affects corporate ability to add value. For example, among other things, students are shown how macro and micro markets work, how to find and interpret economic information and statistics, how to understand the transmission of economic impacts in a global environment and how to interpret the role of government and its policy options. The unit emphasises current economic developments in the Australian, Japanese, US and Asian economies.

Financial Management

The fundamentals of financial management are introduced from the perspective of the finance manager in a firm, namely those making investment, financing and dividend decisions. Finance theory is applied with the aim of providing a coherent framework and insights to assist in forming reasoned judgements. Case studies and financial planning models are used to provide context. The unit covers methods used in evaluating investment projects and an introduction is given to the local debt and equity markets.

Prerequisite: MGSM840 Accounting for Management

Foundations of Management Thought

This is a unit in the history of Western ideas and their relevance for management. It traces the evolution of Western thought from major philosophical perspectives, ancient and modern. Various philosophies of management are pursued through an analysis of distinguished thinkers: Homer, Plato, Machiavelli, Descartes, Hume, Marx, Schopenhauer, Nietzsche, Freud and Sartre. A central theme is that what is important about any explanatory perspective is what it assumes. Since it is assumed that management is essentially a philosophical activity, the unit aims to demonstrate that the field of management, which is of recent origin, necessarily draws on a wide range of ancient wisdom and so introduces students to some of the great thinkers of Western civilization.

Information and Decision Analysis

This unit is an introduction to decision technology and its application in the firm. The unit covers introductory quantitative skills, data analysis and the development of computer modelling analyses for both strategic planning and tactical decision-making. It also covers the efficient use of computing resources to enhance the effectiveness of management.

Marketing Management

This unit examines the relationship between the needs, behaviour and demands of the marketplace and the objectives, marketing strategies and programs developed by the firm. The unit utilises lectures, a project and a marketing simulation game that is designed to explore the complex interrelationships in marketing within a dynamic setting. The unit commences with an introduction to the marketing concept and then addresses issues such as market segmentation, marketing planning, growth strategies, market research, services marketing and detailed issues involved in marketing program formulation.

Operations Management

This unit examines the key issues currently facing all service and manufacturing organisations when creating products and services. A primary aim of the unit is to illustrate the principles involved in effectively creating a value proposition and how the value transformation process is managed in the organisation and across the value chain. The unit will also examine the strategic contribution that operations management can make to the organisation’s long-term success. After placing the activities required of the operations manager into a conceptual framework, the practical issues in making operations decisions are examined. Included are the areas of product design conversion processes for making goods and services, planning and control, quality management, the impact of e-commerce on operations, supply chain management, benchmarking processes and improvement activities.

Organisational Behaviour

This unit seeks to engage students with multiple perspectives for understanding and managing their own and others’ behaviour within organisations, with a view to developing organisational capability through strengthened internal dynamics. Among the approaches taken are the macro perspectives important in leadership and change, particularly the relationship between behaviour and organisational structure, and the psychosocial, political and cultural/symbolic aspects of organisations. Other topics covered include individual differences, groups and teams, power, learning, interpersonal communication, perception and ethics.

Strategic Frameworks

The aim of this unit is to analyse the theories behind and practical applications of strategic frameworks, concepts, models, and tools used to achieve sustainable competitive advantage.  Strategy formulation from its origins through to the latest research contributions will be explored.   The most widely used frameworks (environmental analysis, industry analysis, the resource based view of the firm, the concept of Blue Ocean) and the application of each is studied by the extensive use of case studies that provide students with the knowledge and skills to critically assess different leadership strategies coupled with the ability to develop effective strategic thinking.

Strategic Management

This is a capstone unit that has a primary focus on the capabilities and techniques necessary to successfully implement business strategy. It assumes knowledge of the various frameworks and models used to formulate strategy. Content includes organisational culture as a platform for strategy, resource mobilisation, growth and diversification, and international expansion. Students participate in a computer simulation that requires implementation of short-term and long-term strategies in a competitive environment. 

Available to MBA students only.

Prerequisite: MGSM850 Strategic Framework