Master in Business Leadership

Overview

Our Master of Business Leadership (MBL) programme is ideal if you are a professional with 10 years of management experience. You have already mastered the basic business and management skills and are ready to dig deeper into strategic leadership and into your personal leadership. You are now ready to challenge existing models of leading and in doing so become more creative, effective and ready to operate successfully at top level. If you work in a business, non-profit or public organisation, enjoy diversity and a desire to go for the top, then the MBL is for you.

The MBL programme will help you develop an authentic leadership style necessary to address challenging real world problems and through that experience craft distinct values that will enhance your ability to reflect and discern.

Programme

Fundamentals of Business Leadership (HRMM045)

This module takes a distinctive and innovative approach to the study of organisations, business processes and how they are managed. It recognises conventional approaches to the study of the leadership context and business processes but aims to move beyond conventional ways of thinking and behaving by taking a critical perspective of the value and relevance of such knowledge to the practice of leadership in contemporary organisations. The following issues are covered in this module:

  • The business context of global organisations - the global economy and the process, indicators, drivers and barriers to globalisation.
  • A critical evaluation of the theory and practice of key aspects of business leadership including corporate strategy, financial management, marketing strategy, organisational design and development, and strategic human resource management.
  • An exploration of key themes within organisational leadership relating to volatility, change, adaptability, complexity and chaos and the dominance of digitisation in the workplace.

Leading Business in a Global Society (HRMM046)

Strategic leadership refers to the capability of the leader to see a way forward and at the same time engender high performance from their work teams.

The Leading Business in a Global Society module offers participants the opportunity to consider how to engage with critical parties in order to learn and find ways through the following issues:

  • The personal challenges of making critical decisions in an increasingly globalised and complex environment.
  • Leading in the grey zone where few people are available to talk to.
  • Handling complex relationships such as within Top Teams, with boards and with the CEO and the Chairman.
  • The pressure of leading through organisational boundaries whilst maintaining effective communication with both internal and external stakeholders.
  • Adopting cutting edge thinking on strategic leadership.  

Leadership Capabilities (HRMM047)

What makes an effective leader will be brought under scrutiny in this module. Together the delegates will explore leadership capabilities and the "measurement" of those capabilities, along with the assessment and profiling of their own strengths, competencies and development needs. Understanding self and others, emotional intelligence and leadership and, the increasing need for team leadership will form the bedrock for further investigation and analysis. The approach used will be very much favoured towards an Action Research and Action Learning model. The following areas are further highlighted:

  • The key differences between effective managers and effective leaders.
  • A critical exploration of the differing perspectives and theories of self, personality and behaviour - with reference to leadership capabilities.
  • Evaluating a number of profiling approaches and measures for personality, skills and capabilities.

Leadership Project (HRMM048)

This module provides the executive student with the opportunity to produce a large study to benefit their organisation directly. While expecting a high level of academic underpinning, it is anticipated the project will be tailored for consumption by the Board and therefore in house style and livery where appropriate. The project content is expected to add strategic value to the organisation and produce consultancy level recommendations to achieve its strategic aims.  The project content will demonstrate:

  • A wide range of academic reading and its application, interpretation and critique to underpin the direction of the topic chosen.
  • A strategic emphasis which influences the leadership direction of the organisation via substantial empirical and/or conceptual data justification.
  • Realistic operational recommendations for alignment to the strategic aims noted with an awareness of their impact on the organisation.

For further information, please download our MBL leaflet.

Delivery

The programme will run over two years. This is an executive programme and each of the modules is supported with three residential workshops and e-learning material. The residential workshops will run Friday morning till Saturday tea-time, about once every six weeks. Delegates are expected to stay over on the Friday night with dinner, bed and breakfast included in the fees. You will be expected to work into Friday evening if necessary. The nature of the programme is developmental and the delivery style is participative; with the expectation that delegates will contribute to the deliberations and be prepared to work together. 

Tutors

The course will be taught by experienced lecturers with expertise in the field of leadership:

How to apply

  1. Complete and return the application form
  2. Submit a personal essay (in a word document) addressing three critical questions (approximately 200-250 words per each question):
    • Clearly present your motivation for seeking admission to the MBL programme (i.e. what goals you wish to reach)
    • Give a self assessment of your strengths and weaknesses
    • Outline your leadership philosophy (i.e. description of your vision on leadership)
  3. Supply evidence of recommendation from employer or supervisor

Please return all forms to The Admissions Office.

Share this page