Postgraduate Diploma

The six units that make up the PGD program have been specifically chosen to ensure that students develop a deep knowledge of essential core business areas. A manager must be able to understand money, people, markets and strategy, and successfully apply this knowledge in the workplace. The following six units that form the PGD program give you a solid grounding in all of these areas:

 

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.

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.

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.