How does the Strathclyde MBA work?

The programme is launched with an initial three day intensive seminar.

This is followed by regular two or three day seminars (about twice a month on a weekend).

Participants are required to complete a range of preparatory tasks and readings both from published materials and materials specially commissioned by Strathclyde Business School before seminars. In each subject, the seminars are led by faculty from the Univ. of Strathclyde Business School and will focus on the key theories, principles, case studies, and practical applications of the area under discussion.

The format of delivery thus gives students the opportunity to discuss management issues and the practical implementation of strategic options and, at the same time, provides on-going support in the development of communication skills.

At the end of a semester there is a round of examinations.Three exams after the first semester and another three after the second semester.

In the second year, subject to availability, students can spend up to two weeks in Glasgow or two long weekends at one of our 9 international centres with Executive MBA students from all over the world choosing from the wealth of electives Strathclyde provides.

During the same year you will also concentrate on Strathclyde's core comptency - Strategic Management for Sustainable Success - through attending 3 workshops in the areas of

- Exploring the International Business Environment
- Strategy-Analysis and Evaluation
- Making Strategy

and the life consulting exercise:

- Strategic Consulting in Practice (SCiP)

Also during the second year, students undertake a project for example within the organisation they work for.

An outline of the Strathclyde MBA

The Strathclyde MBA is structured in four modules, namely;

The Reflective Practitioner, Making the Business Work, Strategic Management for Sustainable Success and Personal Development.

Module 1
The Reflective Practitioner
This first module of the Strathclyde MBA has three themes - The Learning Manager, Governance and Managing - all of which are designed to respond to the increasing emphasis in the business world on corporate social responsibility and professional practice.

Module 2
Making the Business Work
This module examines key disciplines of management. In order to be a successful and adaptive manager, you need to be aware of the disciplines necessary in organisational processes and working life. This stage takes you through a range of management fundamentals and processes which are operated by specialist units in large organisations, via six distinct sections:

-Finance and Financial Management
-Marketing Management
-Analytical Support for Decision Making
-Financial and Management Accounting
-Operations Management
-Managing People in Organisations


Module 3
Strategic Management for Sustainable Success
This module will develop your ability to work as a manager in a modern organisation by introducing you to a wide range of tools, techniques and theories relevant both to daily management and strategic change.

Classes in this stage will help students deal with organisational ambiguity and uncertainty, planning for the future of the business, and strategy making through the following sections:

-Exploring the International Business Environment
-Strategy Analysis and Evaluation
-Making Strategy

Module 4
Personal Development
There are three sections within this module.

Strategic Consulting in Practice

This class aims to provide you with the opportunity to apply and test your learning. You will have hands-on experience of working on a live organisational issue provided by a real-life client organisation, giving an insight into the uncertainties of managing yourself, the task of strategy making and expectations of the client.

Elective Classes

You are then invited to choose two elective classes from a wide range of subjects. With a pool of over 120 academic experts across a wide range of specialist departments inside Strathclyde Business School, this usually means there are more than 25 electives subjects, all taught by experts.

While some of these electives are available on a part-time of flexible learning basis at our 9 international centres world-wide, many course members take advantage of the extensive range of electives offered as one-week units at Strathclyde Business School each year in May and June.

Taking part either in electives at another international centre than the one you are studying at or at Glasgow during summer school, gives you an excellent opportunity to learn alongside an internationally mixed group of like-minded colleagues.

To reflect the latest management thinking, the elective subjects are revised annually.

MBA Project

This part of Personal Development gives you the opportunity to examine in depth a managerial, organisational or environmental issue of your choice over an extended period of time, allowing you to put into practice the knowledge and skills acquired during your studies.

The project is an integral part of the MBA programme and must be completed satisfactorily before you are eligible to graduate. It provides an ideal opportunity to build on what you have already learned.

The primary aim is to reinforce your learning in an area of your choice, and you will be encouraged to undertake projects within organisations. Whenever possible, we will assist you in identifying appropriate organisations or contacts. The final Project Report will be 13'000 - 16'000 words.

Summary

Overall, the process of the Strathclyde MBA can be summarised as follows:

- You start with skills and processes of learning – vital to the adaptive manager
 
- You will then explore, from a managerial perspective, the contribution of specialist areas to management and organisation

- Following that, you will develop understanding of techniques and theories of management and strategy, and integrate the diverse areas of theory and practice

- Subsequently, you will choose a path of further development

And, lastly, you will reflect on your learning, which launches you on your post-MBA career as an ongoing learner – able to understand, work with and manage different forms of thinking and practice.