MBA - Retail Management

Educational Aims : Knowledge, Understanding and Skills

The Masters in Business Administration (MBA) – Retail Management, is a program specially designed to go beyond a position of ‘knowing about’ retail management to ‘knowing how’ to exercise the knowledge, skills and competencies of retail management in a variety of contexts. To develop this ‘practice’ focus the students are exposed to a blend of programmed knowledge, critical understanding, and practical engagements with professional retail managers. The dissertation enables students to link theory with practice and to explore synergies between subject areas.

The main objectives of the programme are:

1. To develop knowledge of the growth and developments in modern retailing formats.

2. To develop knowledge of the operations and systems used to conducted modern retail operations

3. To develop understanding of the commercial, social, political and other challenges in conducting modern retailing.

4. To develop appreciation of team dynamics and collaborative work practices.

5. To develop and demonstrate the ability to write succinct reports and to present to an audience.

6. To prepare students for careers in retail management.

Intended Learning Outcomes

• Knowledge and appreciation of business processes, structures and systems particularly accounting and financial processes, structures and systems

• Ability to understand the role and importance of accounting and finance in the administration of businesses and not-for-profit organizations

• Skills to develop strategy and plans for new or existing businesses

• Capacity to develop strategies and business plans for new or existing businesses

Learning and Teaching Strategies and Methods

Interactions with executives in retail operations, videos, case studies, role plays, lectures, tutorials and group work will be pedagogies used to deliver the course. Many of the general skills will be taught alongside the subject specific skills, for example, throughout the programme students will be allocated to groups so that they work alongside colleagues from a variety of backgrounds. This will enhance their ability to work in groups and develop their communications skills.

Assessment Strategies and Methods

The assessment regime is practice orientated with a series of practice based assessments allowing students to apply their knowledge and understanding to live problem situations found in the real world (i.e. acting as consultants to retail projects) and culminating with a significant organisation based action research projects. Students could also be assessed using a variety of other methods in different modules. Students can expect to be assessed using a combination of examinations, individual coursework, such as new business plans, class tests, projects and essays, and group-work including group projects and presentations.

Knowledge and understanding is assessed in a number of ways:

• Group assignments covering applied issues of relevance to retail business and business managers, which enable students to apply theory to practice, involve the collection and analysis of data and in some cases presentations to class.

• Case studies also provide the opportunity to explore and apply concepts in a supportive environment and build understanding of the crucial inter-relationship between subject areas.

• Examinations and classroom-based tests assess knowledge, understanding and application of theory and key concepts.

Total Number of Credits Required

117 credits over the two years i.e.

20 modules of 4.5 credits each (90 credits) plus 9 credits for Summer Internship and 18 credits for a research project

Details of any requirement of internship

At the end of the first year, the students are required to undergo a Summer Internship (6-8 weeks) equivalent to 9 credits, which provides the opportunity to explore and interact with the corporate world and to experience the practical aspects of content learned in first two semesters.

YEAR 1

Semester-wise module requirements

YEAR 2

Semester-wise module requirements