Programme Specifications

Programme summary

1. Programme Aims

In the current economy where services contribute to 70% of the UK economy relative to manufacturing there is a real need to equip managers with the ability to support services in a dynamic context. The MSc in Leadership and Service Management aims to engage students in applied research and scholarship to support the design, engagement and transformation of service organisations.  The MSc in Leadership and Service Management will concentrate on the links between the major business functions and their role in the service sector. The programme will address business and management issues from the service sector in general (rather than from one sub-sector) with an emphasis on different service sub-sectors learning from each other.

The programme aims to:

• develop individual skills and prepare participants for management career progression in the service sector, mainly through development of both their technical knowledge and skills, and their conceptual and analytical abilities;
• develop the people management skills of participants to enable them to deal effectively with a range of managerial issues related to individuals and teams;
• provide insights into the field of business management for private, public, and third sector services operating in the dynamic context of support services;
• enable participants to see ways in which theory can be applied in practice to complex issues with the aim of improving business and management practice;
• develop and manage customer-facing service skills and the engagement and transformation of service organisation.

2. Relevant subject benchmark statements and other external reference points used to inform programme outcomes:

• The benchmark statement for Masters Awards Business and Management
• The Framework for Higher Education Qualifications/Descriptors for a Higher Education qualification at Level 7
• School of Business and Economics Business Plan
• 含羞草视频 Learning and Teaching Strategy
• The University academic quality procedures

3. Programme Learning Outcomes

3.1 Knowledge and Understanding

3.1 Knowledge and Understanding

On successful completion of this programme participants should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding in the following areas:

K1. The impact of contextual forces on organisations including ethical, economic, environmental, social and technological change issues in particular ensuring that the voice of the customer is at the core of decision making within the service sector;

K2. The development and operation of markets for resources and services including customer expectations, market orientation and the marketing mix that support organisational strategy;

K3. Operations management to support effective and efficient service delivery and design of processes for fulfilling customer requirements;

K4. The financing of the business enterprise:  sources, uses and management of finance; use of accounting for managerial and financial reporting applications;

K5. The characteristics of the leadership and management roles; the leadership, management and development of people within organisations; organisational behaviour and culture, human resource management and leading change; managing well-being in organisations; evidence-based leadership and management;

K6. The use of appropriate business policies and strategies within a changing context to meet stakeholder interests, in particular organising for the predictable and responding to the unpredictable;

K7. An understanding of contemporary issues such as emerging media technologies impacting on various areas of management and service fulfilment;

K8. The academic theories of leadership and service management and their role in the transformation of service organisations.

3.2 Skills and other attributes

a. Subject-specific cognitive skills:

3.2 Skills  and other attributes

a. Subject-specific cognitive skills:

On successful completion of this programme students should be able to:

C1. manage creative processes in self and others; organise thoughts, analyse, synthesise and conduct critical appraisal; recognise the need for systematic thinking and cross-functional approaches;

C2. establish criteria for problem solving and decision making, use appropriate decision techniques including identifying, evaluating and solving business problems;

C3. conduct critical analyses of management research and practice; source, analyse and evaluate business-related data from a wide variety of organizational, professional and research sources;

C4. identify appropriate leadership styles for situations and understanding customer working styles;

C5. recognise complex situations where choices involve consideration of ethical and organisational values, integrate consideration of ethical and organizational values in their decisions and actions.

b. Subject-specific practical skills:

b. Subject-specific practical skills:

On successful completion of this programme students should be able to:

P1. model reflexive practice such that they can teach others the benefits of goal-setting, reflection and analysis for the development of self and the business; adapt their management and leadership approach to meet the context and environment in which they operate;

P2. perform effectively as a team leader and team member, recognising and applying each individual’s contributions, including team selection, team development, delegation, and management;

P3. use effective oral and written communication, using a range of media including business reports; produce written communication that argues the business case, supported by valid and reliable evidence;

P4. engage in oral communication that achieves objectives, including listening, negotiating, persuading and influencing;

P5. create, identify and evaluate options; implement and review decisions;

P6. make effective use of information and communication technologies (ICT) in a business context;

P7. employ numerical and quantitative skills including the use of models of business situations and qualitative research skills to aid decision-making.

c. Key transferable skills:

c. Generic skills:

On successful completion of the programme students should be able to:

T1. create, identify and evaluate options; implement and review decisions and deliver critically evaluative reports;

T2. scan and organise data; abstract meaning from information and share knowledge;

T3. use communication and information technology appropriately in acquiring, analysing and communicating information;

T4. listen, negotiate and persuade or influence others;

T5. use effective oral and written communication; using a range of media including business reports.

4. Programme structure

4.1 Core Modules 

4.2 Optional Modules

^†  by Partial Distance Learning (>50%)

To complete the PG Dip in Leadership and Service Management students must complete 8 x 15 credit modules including all Core modules in 4.1 (with the exception of BSPA01) and one Optional module from 4.2.  To complete the MSc in Leadership and Service Management students must complete 8 x 15 credit modules and a 60 credit research project. 

4.3 For full details of the specific assessment requirements for each module see the Module Specification.

4.4  Exemptions

Candidates who are members of the following approved accountancy bodies may, at the discretion of the Programme Director, count 15 credits towards the 含羞草视频 Postgraduate Diploma in Leadership and Service Management and the MSc in Leadership and Service Management. 

• Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)
• Chartered Institute of Management Accounts (CIMA)
• Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accounting (CIPFA)
• Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW)
• Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS)
• Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ireland (ICAI)

5. Criteria for Progression and Degree Award

5.1 In order to be eligible for an award, candidates must not only satisfy the requirements of Regulation XXI but also:

5.1.1 To be eligible for the award of Postgraduate Diploma, candidates must have completed modules with total modular weight of 120.  Specifically, candidates must have completed all of the Core modules from 4.1 (modular weight 105, not including BSPA01) plus one Optional module listed in 4.2 (modular weight 15).

5.1.2 To be eligible for the award of MSc candidates must have satisfied all the requirements outlined in 5.1.1 and in addition must have achieved 60 credits from module BSPA01.

5.2 Candidates who have the right of re-assessment in a module may choose to be re-assessed in the University’s special assessment period.

6. Relative Weighting of Parts of the Programme for the Purposes of Final Degree Classification

n/a