Global Business Operations - MSc

The module will deliver the fundamental understanding as well as the applied aspects of supply chain, logistics, operations functions and global supply network in real businesses. The module will follow the supply chain flow to introduce each operational function including procurement, manufacturing, inventory, delivery and customer service and how each function works together to support the business as a whole.

The module will discuss operations management from both the company level and the whole supply network level. You will develop your understanding of the company and its supply network, the relationship of each company within the same network, as well as the multiple roles a company could play within different networks.  Through this module, you will be able to map out the global supply chain network, design global logistics, and shape the footprint map.

This module focuses on the key function of procurement, inventory, and warehouse management within operations and supply chain management. The module will introduce you to the areas of procurement, forecasting, inventory management and warehouse design, as these activities are all closely related to each other in practice.

The module will consist of two key themes. One theme is procurement and forecasting. You will learn the importance of procurement in business, the role of forecasting and management of inventory level and the bullwhip effect. You will understand these activities in an organisational context via simulation games. The second theme is inventory management and warehouse design. 

This module aims to develop your understanding of the main financial objective of the firm i.e. wealth maximisation and how it is achieved through alignment of financial decisions under constraints from within and outside the organisation. The module covers topics such as financial statements analysis, budgeting, cost-benefit analysis, time value money, investment appraisal, working capital management, sources of capital and choice of capital structure. You will be able to understand and apply key concepts and theories in accounting and finance and assess the implications of financial decisions for a business firm.

This module aims to equip you with the relevant knowledge regarding digital supply chain and transportation management. This includes the various systems that integrate different elements of the supply chain to provide the visibility and information required to drive supply chain operations and minimise waste.

This module will enable you to critically evaluate the tools employed for supply chain analytics. The increasing role of information technologies in the design and operation of modern supply chains will be analysed. You will be equipped with the practical knowledge necessary to use various open source analytical and supply chain simulation software, such as Excel, SPSS, Sim8 and Arena amongst others. This module integrates digital technology with more traditional business systems and business network practices to give rise to a notion of a smarter, more ‘autonomous’ supply chain.

This module is based on theoretical and practitioner based, learning approaches towards embedding key operations management principles, frameworks, methods and case studies on the formulation and implementation of operations strategy in manufacturing and related industries. Also, the module covers business strategy and the business status analysis models and tools, as well as discussing the relationship between business strategy and operations strategy. The module is in stage two of MSc Global Business Operations Course with the aim to develops your knowledge to higher and holistic levels. This includes theoretical and contemporary practice perspectives to catalyse an understanding of strategic decision making by organisations as well as a range of transferable employability skills.

This module is designed to give you the research skills and insights necessary for the study and investigation of business organisations and business-related data. These skills will impact directly on your ability to understand and evaluate information from a variety of sources and where appropriate undertake primary research. You will become aware of the many tools and techniques that can help judge and interpret research outcomes.

Sustainability issues has attracted more and more attention from people, companies and governments. In 2015, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been set by United Nations to be a "blueprint” to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. This module will lay the foundations for robust ethical assessment and a critical understanding of corporate governance, social responsibility and supply chain sustainability.

The module also looks at sustainability in the context of supply chain management. The objectives of sustainability are to satisfy the triple bottom line – social, economic and environmental goals must be met. You will develop the understanding to apply the triple bottom line to operations and supply chain management in related topics such as ethical purchasing and supply chain, reverse logistics and corporate social responsibility. This module will provide insight into ethical theories, corporate governance, and circular economics.

The Major Project provides the practical and theoretical focus for the MSc Management programme and is the culmination of your programme of study. The aim of this module is to provide a framework for you to undertake a substantial piece of disciplinary-relevant research. It is founded upon Birmingham City Business School’s teaching and learning philosophy which integrates theory and practice.

The module is related to the Research Practice, one of which you will study at the beginning of Stage 3, whereby you will develop your understanding of research and then put into practice your theoretical understanding via this module. This module will enable you to build on and develop your professional management skills such as project management, problem solving, critical analysis and synthesis of data to produce appropriate research outcomes. As such it is highly relevant to your career, providing essential skills to create an evidence base for subsequent managerial judgements and decisions.

This module provides two options routes for student to choose based on their interests and need:

• Route 1: Traditional Dissertation;
• Route 2: Live Business Advice Project either individual on in group via BAC (Business Advice Centre)

The specific requirement of each route will be made clear in the assessment brief provided for each application of the Major Project. The module provides a framework for integrating the principles, tools and methods of your programme, developing your practitioner skills via project management, research methods, analytical tools and techniques. The project requires a high degree of professionalism in your role, managing the supervisory relationship and (where relevant) collaborations with other students and internal and external stakeholders.

Although there is some recommended reading for devising the research project the essential reading will reflect the negotiated topic and/or the organisation under investigation.

This module is designed to provide you with the opportunity to undertake a credit bearing, 20-week Professional Placement as an integral part of your Master’s Degree. 

The purpose of the Professional Placement is to improve your employability skills which will, through the placement experience, allow you to evidence your professional skills, attitudes and behaviours at the point of entry to the postgraduate job market.  Furthermore, by completing the Professional Placement, you will be able to develop and enhance your understanding of the professional work environment, relevant to your chosen field of study, and reflect critically on your own professional skills development within the workplace.

You will be responsible for finding and securing your own placement.  The University, however, will draw on its extensive network of local, regional and national employers to support you in finding a suitable placement to complement your chosen area of study.  You will also benefit from support sessions delivered by Careers+ as well as advice and guidance from your School. 

Placements will only be confirmed following a competitive, employer-led selection process, therefore the University will not be able to guarantee placements for students who have registered for the ‘with Professional Placement’ course.  All students who do not find a suitable placement or do not pass the competitive selection process will be automatically transferred back to the standard, non-placement version of the course.

You will be able to start your Professional Placement once you have successfully completed the competitive recruitment process and passed at least 120 credits of the 180 credits required for the Master’s award.   The length of a standard full-time Master’s course ‘with Professional Placement’ will, therefore, be extended to 18 months and will consist of 240 credits, 60 of which will be awarded following completion of the placement.

The module is assessed on a pass / fail basis via a portfolio of work to document and evidence your experience throughout the placement.  The credits awarded following successful completion of the Professional Placement module will not count towards the classification of the final award.  Formative feedback will be provided on at least two occasions prior to the final submission of the portfolio.  The portfolio submission will include a poster or reflective artefact to enable you to evaluate concisely your professional journey and the graduate attributes you have gained throughout the placement experience.

You will be expected to reflect on your current skills, behaviours and attitudes within a professional environment and demonstrate how the Professional Placement has served to enhance these.

The Professional Placement cannot be repeated.  If you receive a fail following submission of your portfolio, you will have one further opportunity to resubmit.  Failure in the resubmission will result in automatic transfer back to the non-placement version of the standard Master’s course.