HDip in Business Management

Status:

Level

Duration

1 Year

Department

Marketing, Enterprise & Digital Communications

Start Date

TBC

Course Type

Postgraduate Taught courses

Location

Limerick

This one-year postgraduate programme is designed for the non business graduate. Aimed at providing business management skills for students who would have studied in other academic fields at undergraduate level. Students are encouraged to become an independent and innovative thinker with a sound understanding of theoretical issues and the ability to put these theories into practice. The programme provides a blend of theoretical knowledge and practical skills development facilitated through active learning approaches. The programme offers the skills to allow students convert from other disciplines into the business world or augment their existing qualifications to improve employment prospects.

Modules taught on the programme are contemporary Marketing and Branding, Strategic Management, HRM - OB, Financial Decision Making, Economics for Business, New Venture Creation.

What are the entry requirements?

An honours degree (level 8) in a non-business or a non-cognate discipline or approved equivalent qualification. Priority of entry will be given to applicants with a higher classification of award.

A level 7 qualification in a non-business or a non-cognate discipline and at least 1 year relevant professional experience/responsibility.

Special Case Registrations

Prospective participants who do not meet the entry requirements for the programme detailed above, but who may qualify for admission by meeting certain other equivalent criteria, should apply to the Admissions Office for consideration.

Who can I contact?

What modules will I study?

Semester 1

Title: Contemporary Marketing

Credits: 5
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The aim of this module is to provide the learner with a practitioner level understanding of the theories and application of marketing in contemporary business environments. This will be achieved through analysis of marketing management concepts, frameworks, strategies and theoretical underpinnings.

Title: Decision Making Concepts

Credits: 5
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The aim of this module is to introduce learners, who would not have a background in finance, to the core principles of finance to assist the learner in making decisions in the commercial life of a business. This module will allow the learner to gain knowledge in accounting terminology and the production of accounting statements, capital investment appraisal, working capital requirements and sources of finance.

Title: Enterprise & Innovation

Credits: 5
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We all know a successful entrepreneur, be it personally or in the media. In this module students will examine the concepts of entrepreneurship as an academic discipline, looking at the characteristics of successful entrepreneurs, how entrepreneurship links with other business disciplines and how they work together in theory and in practice within the environment of the small- and medium-sized enterprise. A specific focus on the role of innovation in entrepreneurship will allow learners to examine the processes of creative thinking and idea generation.

Title: Microeconomics

Credits: 5
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The aim of this module is to introduce students to core microeconomic principles and how they can be used to help understand decision-making and behaviour in a business environment. The “economic way of thinking” discussed in this module involves the use of key concepts and models to help the learner to understand the cost of individual and firms' choices and provide general frameworks to understand key microeconomic concepts and issues for business and policymakers decision-making. The module makes use of examples and case studies taken from the real world to show how economic analysis and models can be used to understand the different parts of business and how policy has been used to intervene in the working of the economy. Tutorials are used in the module to apply economic analysis and techniques to business situations.

Title: People Management Concepts & Practice

Credits: 5
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This module provides an introduction to the theory and practice of human resource management in the modern workplace and the current key issues and debates in the field. It addresses the conceptual frameworks and best practices that underpin people management and performance in organisations. It also provides an opportunity to develop and practice the skills and competencies of managing people.

Title: Strategic Management Concepts

Credits: 5
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Strategic Management Concepts examines the theory and practice of strategic management within an organisational context, providing an understanding of the main elements and implications of strategy. Strategic position along with the impact on strategy of the macro environment, the industry environment, the organisations strategic capability, the stakeholders and the organisational culture are examined utilising theory and application.
Semester 2

Title: Brand Management

Credits: 5
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The aim of this module is to provide the learner with a practitioner level understanding of the theories and application of branding in 21st century business. The module will examine the importance of creating and managing brands as well as the branding strategies employed across various brand leaders. Contemporary issues in branding will also be explored such as the use of social media, brand communities and the growth of the global brand.

Title: Decision Making Practice

Credits: 5
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The aim of this module is to introduce learners, who would not have a background in finance, to the core principles of finance to assist the learner in making decisions in the commercial life of a business. This module will allow the learner to gain knowledge in marginal costing, budgeting, ratio analysis, variance analysis and the interpretation and evaluation of business performance.

Title: Essentials of Organisational Behaviour

Credits: 5
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This module uncovers the conceptual frameworks and theories that underpin workplace behaviour. It explores theories which underpin individual and group behaviours in a work context. Behavioural challenges encountered in the modern workplace are probed with emphasis on the psychological contract and the impact of culture, social and political issues on organisational performance.

Title: Macroeconomics

Credits: 5
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The aim of this module is to provide the learner with a comprehensive understanding of the macroeconomic business environment. Key macroeconomic variables and policy issues are discussed to enhance the learner's ability to analyse, solve and predict a variety of macroeconomic issues affecting businesses. The module will provide a unified framework to address these issues and to study the impact of different policies, such as monetary and fiscal, on the aggregate behaviour of individuals. These analytical tools will be used to understand the recent experiences of Ireland and other countries and to address how current policy initiatives affect their macroeconomic performance.

Title: New Venture Planning

Credits: 5
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This module builds on students' understanding of business enterprise operations by applying that learning to new venture creation and planning. Students will engage in the practical process of feasibility analysis and creating a business plan. In so doing, they will bring together an array of business topics on the programme including marketing, sales, finance and operations. Students will apply creative thinking, contingency planning and entrepreneurial behaviour in lectures and tutorial workshops to engage with the processes and challenges of creating, sustaining and growing new ventures.

Title: Strategic Management Practice

Credits: 5
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Strategic Management Practice examines theory and practice of strategic management in an organisational context. Strategic analysis is explored, along with the organisational considerations of deciding on exact strategies to follow and the implications of strategic choices & evaluation in dynamic and global environments.

The module provides a practical understanding of the main elements and implications of strategic management including an understanding of strategic development processes. Together with an understanding of the structures, processes, resources and relationships which form the bases for strategic implementation.

The module also investigates how internal leadership styles, varying organisational cultures and change management styles and perspectives impact on the implementation and practice of strategic management. It also explores strategy from the perspectives of organisational effectiveness and measurement.

Are there opportunities for further study?

On completion of these programmes, graduates will also be able to apply for Level 9 qualifications in the field of business including LIT’s own Master of Business in Marketing & Management Strategy.

What are the career prospects?

Graduates will have the skills and knowledge to:

Apply relevant management techniques to effectively manage a range of business functions
Develop marketing strategies to be used as part of a firm’s overall integrated marketing communications activities
Manage people effectively through a strong applied knowledge of HR and general business skills and competencies
Conduct environmental comparative analyses of domestic & foreign markets

More Information

The Higher Diploma in Business Management is a ‘conversion programme’ designed to foster business management skills in non-business graduates. This skill set has been identified as a key requirement for future economic growth by various state agencies including Forfas.