Seven intensive modules providing an overview of contemporary thought, case studies and practical strategies to help businesses grow, innovate and succeed.

Module 1: New Product Development and Business Eco-systems

Innovation is an essential drive of a firm’s competitiveness. The module New Product Development and Business Ecosystems enables delegates to analyse innovation processes within complex ecosystems, from the definition of a new product concept to the involvement of suppliers, partners and end-users in developing new product/process architectures. Delegates will analyse the organisational implications and challenges deriving from the involvement of partners, supplier and end-users in new product development, through a blend of theoretical and case study-based approaches.

Module 2: Strategic Management

This module explores theoretical approaches explaining what markets managers choose to compete within, why and how. `Traditional’ competitive positioning, resource-based views are critically evaluated for their appropriateness in an increasingly networked, globalised, digitised and fluid environment. Contemporary approaches to strategic management, such as the importance of strategy process, business ecosystems, behavioural approaches and time/timing are analysed. From a variety of organisational contexts, we assess the extent to which firm strategy models may be applied to public sector/voluntary/entrepreneurial types of organisations and firms.

Module 3: Leading Organisational Change

This module will investigate and discuss leading change in organisations from both a theoretical and practical perspective. Marrying theory and practice will allow students to critically reflect on organisational change processes through both a scientific and practical lens and to apply their knowledge directly to real world cases and practices. Understanding different perspectives, practices and challenges of leading change will also contribute to students’ employability and their personal development. More specifically, how they can become both an effective and a responsible future contributor to organisational change.

Module 4: Innovation and Global Competition

One of the core elements of entrepreneurship and economic leadership is competitive advantage via innovation by understanding the industry and firm dynamics of technological innovation. Issues within the context of globalisation, development and digitalisation are covered as a strategic process, beginning with assessing the context and moving on to the formulation and implementation of innovation strategies by examining strategic dilemmas within innovation (e.g. standards battles and design dominance, timing of entry, choosing innovation projects, collaborative innovation strategies and the benefits of protecting or opening up innovation for competitive strategy).

Module 5: Strategic Entrepreneurship

This module introduces concepts, theories and practices that are shaping our thinking about creating and scaling new ventures in a fast-moving environment with great uncertainty. It addresses strategic (e.g. how to design a business model and entrepreneurial strategy) and practical issues (how to write a business plan and make a pitch to win funding). Delegates will not only be introduced to the principles of business model design, but also how to deal with uncertainty in the entrepreneurial process.

Module 6: Risk and Crisis Management

This qualitative module introduces students to distinctive features of risk and crisis management. Concepts of probability, severity, uncertainty, anticipation, resilience, robustness and bias are explored. We examine varieties of biased risk perception among managers and regulators, assumptions underpinning assessment, mitigation and prevention of and risk. We concentrate on operational risk, external shocks, risk to customers and clients, and political risks. Regulatory requirements for corporate risk management are examined. Finally, we consider decision-making, public relations and regulatory relations during corporate crises.

Module 7: Corporate Social Innovation

Corporate Social Responsibility will offer students an introductory and in-depth module unpacking the sensitive relationship between corporations and issues of social justice, environmental destruction (animal, climate, pollution, ecologies) and labour rights. At a time when globalisation is perceived as a threat to international business addressing inequalities across the global North and South, this module will provide postgraduate students with indispensable knowledge about key issues facing corporations today. The module will also address both philosophical issues that include ethical theories, moral debates and social scientific perspectives as well as a grounding in real life case studies and access to a local stakeholder engagement project with charities in Tower Hamlets and Poplar. We will cover a wide-range of subjects including: ‘greening’ management (reducing emissions, waste management, protecting biodiversity), workers rights (trade unions, ILO, outsourcing, supply-chains), sustainable consumption (ethical marketing, corporate lobbying, consumerism), and promoting democratic processes (governance, accountability, stakeholder engagement).