Core modules
Year 1
Quantitative Methods
In this module you will develop an understanding of quantitative studies and how they are employed in Management and Economics. You will look at how quantitative studies relate to differences, associations and relationships in groups and populations, and examine a range of statistical techniques.
Interpreting Management
In this module you will develop an understanding of key management concepts, theories and practices. You will learn about the development and shifting of key paradigms in management, and how management knowledge can be regarded as a social construct. You will also consider how you can enhance your employability through skills in critical analysis.
International Business
In this module you will develop an understanding of the formal economic, political and legal institutions, as well as cultural, religious, and linguistic differences that must be taken into account when conducting business across borders. You will look at how the global context in which companies operate has evolved over time, considering the role of foreign direct investment and internationalisation strategies. You will examine the motivations for entering a foreign market, the factors determining whether a company enters on their own or in partnership, the risks of entry and how they are analysed, and how companies negotiate with governments.
Markets and Consumption
In this module you will develop an understanding of how marketing can be seen as both an academic discipline and as a business practice. You will look at the role of the consumer as a stakeholder in an organisation, examining how they make consumption decisions. You will assess marketing as a business practice, considering how it has penetrated all sectors of the economy (private, public, and not-for-profit). In addition, you will learn about the sustainability of marketing practices in an increasingly globalised consumer society.
Accounting
In this module you will develop an understanding of the basic concepts of accounting, examining its role in organisations and society. You will consider the basic components of financial statements, including income statement, balance sheets, and cash flow statements, and the procedures and techniques for the preparation of these. You will also look at the principles of financial decision making and how to analyse accounting information
Foundations in Digital Enterprise
In this module you will develop an understanding of information systems and how they have become the backbone of contemporary businesses. You will consider how they are used by business managers as a tool for achieving operational excellence, developing new products and services, improving decision making, and achieving competitive advantage. You will also examine the broader organisational, human and information technology dimensions of information systems and how they can be used to provide solutions to challenges and problems in the business environment.
Organisation Studies
In this module you will develop an understanding of organisation as a process and the organisation as an entity. You will look at key managerial activities, examining classical ideas about organisation with the context of nationalisation and humanisation. You will see how these ideas reappear, albeit in a modified form, in contemporary organisations, looking at organisational forms and modern management techniques such as culture management, emotional labour, and charismatic leadership. You will also consider Max Weber’s distinction of formal and substantive rationality and Anthony Giddens’ formulation of the duality of action and structure.
Strategic Management
In this module you will develop an understanding of the theories of strategic management. You will consider these theories in the context of contemporary business operations, including the political and regulatory frameworks, in response to technological change, financialisation, the development of new business models, and changes in the way corporate performance is assessed. You will look at key concepts and debates in the theory of corporate and business strategy, and examine the changing context in which corporate strategy is formulated and implemented.
Marketing Strategy in Context
In this module you will develop an understanding of the marketing strategies used by organisations. You will look at the elements of the marketing mix and their critical interrelationships, examining the competitive environment, customer insights, market information systems, business models, enterprise competencies, control, evaluation and innovation. You will also consider the sustainability of marketing practices in an increasingly globalised consumer society.
Managerial Accounting
In this module you will develop an understanding of the technical and non-technical aspects of management accounting. You will look at traditional costing methods and techniques, such as contribution volume profit analysis (CVP), budgeting, responsibility accounting, transfer pricing, and decision-making, alongside more innovative management tools, including activity based costing (ABC), activity based management (ABM), and the balanced scorecard. You will examine the issues underlying pricing and product offering and consider the importance of quality and cost control as strategic objectives for improving organisational performance.
Operations Management
In this module you will develop an understanding of the design, planning and control of operating systems for the provision of goods and services. You will look at the tools and techniques used in the development of operational systems and the factors that affect the choice of operating methods. You will consider approaches to the planning cycle, inventory management, and production control techniques, including capacity planning, and the merits of push and pull systems. You will also examine quality control and its management in practic
Human Resource Management
In this module you will develop an understanding of the significance of human resource management in organisations. You will look at the links between product market and human resourcing strategies, the role of human resources planning in workforce management, and polices such as employee participation and involvement, including the role of trade unions in employment relationships. You will examine the regulation of labour markets, employment discrimination and conflict and resistance at work. You will also consider specific human resources practices, such as recruitment and selection, training and development and pay and performance management.
Employability
In this module you will develop an awareness of the challenges associated with gaining employment in the contemporary workplace. You will learn about work experience, internships, and part-time employment opportunities, and receive guidance on how to complete applications, become familiar with what to expect from an assessment centre, and develop your interview technique. You will participate in a range of activities including business games, quizzes, coaching exercises, and hear from industry speakers offering insights into what it’s like to work in a particular sector or company.
Marketing Research
In this module you develop an understanding of the nature and scope of marketing research, and how it is used to support the design and implementation of successful marketing decisions. You look at a conceptual framework for producing research results that are actionable and relevant. You will consider both quantitative and qualitative data collection techniques and methods of data analysis, gaining familiarity with the SPSS software package and how to write marketing research reports to assist decision makers.
Digital Marketing
In this you will develop an understanding of how digital technologies are being used in marketing programmes. You will look the frameworks and models that are relevant to digital marketing practice and their supporting technologies. You will examine various digital channels and how they are used within marketing campaigns, considering search engine optimisation strategies, customer acquisition and retention, customer service, direct marketing, communications, e-tailing and digital channel structures.
Year 3
This year will be spent on a work placement. You will be supported by the School of Management and the Royal Holloway Careers and Employability Service to find a suitable placement. However, Royal Holloway cannot guarantee that all students who are accepted onto this degree programme will secure a placement, and the ultimate responsibility lies with yourself. This year forms an integral part of the degree programme and you will be asked to complete assessed work. The mark for this work will count towards your final degree classification.
Year 4
Integrating Management - Business in Context
In this module you will develop an understanding of the key business and management activities, and the opportunities and challenges that arise from the external business context in the early 21st century. You will look at the business context from the perspective of selected corporate functions, and consider the social, environmental or ethical challenges companies face. You will examine how firms can address such issues and become familiar with appropriate courses of action.
Integrating Management - Leadership and Innovation
In this module you will develop an understanding of the innovation challenges that contemporary organisations face. You will look at innovative solutions to leadership problems, and consider how organisational systems contribute to innovation. You will examine the impact of different leadership styles. the merits of disruptive innovation, and analyse the extent to which excellent innovation and leadership affects organisational sustainability.
Consumer Behaviour
In this module you will develop an understanding of the nature of consumer behaviour, its relevance to the marketing environment, and impact on society. You will look at the internal and external factors which underpin consumer behaviour theories, and consider the impact of marketing strategies on these. You will also examine the the nature of consumption, markets, and culture, and evaluate the complexity of consumer behaviour.
Brands and Branding
In this module you will develop an understanding of the nature of brands, branding, and the nature of the consumer society that we live in. You will look at different theoretical approaches to understanding brands and branding, and examine how branding theories are applied in marketing strategies.
Global Marketing
In this module you will develop an understanding of the scope and nature of marketing planning, practice and theory in a global context. You will look at the evolution of the global market and consider current topical debates surrounding globalisation. You will examine the complexities of marketing operations and strategies in diverse geographical markets and evaluate the suitability of marketing strategies in addressing the contemporary global business environment.
Advertising and Promotion in Brand Marketing
In thid module you will develop an understanding of contemporary marketing communication management within an international context. You will look at how promotional campaigns are constructed by advertising agencies, and consider the complementarity and inter-dependence of discrete marketing activities within a strategic perspective by creating an outline promotional campaign. You will examine the complexity and salience of ethical issues in marketing and advertising, especially with respect to the wider social influence, and deconstruct promotional communications in terms of their likely intended segmentation and positioning rationale.
Optional modules
In addition to these mandatory course units there are a number of optional course units available during your degree studies. The following is a selection of optional course units that are likely to be available. Please note that although the College will keep changes to a minimum, new units may be offered or existing units may be withdrawn, for example, in response to a change in staff. Applicants will be informed if any significant changes need to be made.
Year 1
Economic and Social Foundations of Sustainable Organisations
In this module you will develop an understanding of the main economic, social, ecological and governance factors that determine the long-term sustainability of organisations. You will look at the interconnectedness of these factors and how they set the context within which small and large businesses, public service organisations and third sector organisations operate. You will consider perspectives on the identification and management of corporate social responsibility, including the complex and often contested business case for it, and how this is often tied into, and justified, in terms of the economic context within which the organisation operates. You will also examine the importance of corporate governance for global sustainability.
Alternatively you may take a module from another department, subject to availability and timetable constraints.
Year 2
Only core modules are taken
Year 4
International Financial Accounting
In this module you will develop an understanding of various aspects of the international financial accounting environment. You will look at the regulatory background to the composition of reporting documents, considering influences on national financial reporting and international differences in financial reporting systems. You will examine approaches to the classification of financial reporting systems, and initatives designed to achieve international harmonisation and standardisation of accounting practices. You will also evaluate communication issues in accounting and analyse the impact of international accountability.
Asia Pacific Business
In this module you will develop an understanding of multinational business in the Asia Pacific, their worldwide operations, and their impact on Europe. You will look at the contemporary economic, political, and cultural contexts of the Asia Pacific nations, and consider the diversity of the business environments and business practices in the region. You will examine the factors that lay behind the rapid growth of the region in the last five decades, and use empirical evidence to analyse the operation, performance and impact of multinational enteprises originating from there.
Emerging Markets
In this module you will develop an understanding of the emerging markets, commercial realities, and national cultures within the context of the global economy. You will look at the strategic issues and dilemmas that managers face in their efforts to expand into emerging markets, and consider the commercial realities and national cultures of these. You will look at specific cases studies, including the economies of Brazil, Russia, India, China, Turkey and South Africa.
European Business
In this module you will develop an understanding of how institutions, policies and processes have shaped the European Union and the European business environment. You will look at the key institutions, policies and processes involved in the widening and deepening of the union, and theories which explain its development. You will consider the national, regional and global influences on European business and examine the complex relationships between the EU and its major trading partners. You will also critically evaluate the challenges facing European countries, policymakers and businesses.
Accounting for Corporate Accountability
In this module you will develop an understanding of the concept of accountability in the context of the relationships between corporate organisations and their stakeholders. You will look at the main theoretical approaches used to explain corporate reporting practice, including agency theory, signalling theory, stakeholder theory, legitimacy theory and institutional theory. You will examine a selection of International Financial Reporting Standards dealing with complex issues involving the identification, recognition and measurement of assets, liabilities, equity, income and expenses. You will also consider the the nature of subjective judgements involved in financial, social and environmental accounting and reporting.
The Globalisation of Work
In this module you will develop an understanding of the impact of globalisation on work. You will look at the economic, political and institutional forces that shape the international mobility of work, and examine the complexity of managing people as work becomes increasingly boundaryless. You will consider the implications of a more integrated global labour market on work organisation, employment relations and national labour market institutions, and critically assess the challenges brought by the mobility of capital and the movement of people to the organisation of work in a global context.
International Human Resource Management
In this module you will develop an understanding of the implications of changes in the global organisation of firms and the international workforce for human resource management policy choices. You will look at the differences in business and human resource systems between the UK, the USA, Germany and Japan, and examine the approaches to, and strategies for, human resource management in international business activities. You will consider the problems of transferring human resource management practices from one country to another, and the role of multinational companies as agents of knowledge. You will also evaluate the role of transnational organisations in regulating human resource policies and practices in firms.
Social Media, Networks and Business
In this module you will develop an understanding of social networks and social media platforms from multiple perspectives. You will look at the growth of social media and the connectedness of the networked society, considering recent advances in network science, social psychology, and marketing. You will examine the role of social networking technologies in enabling business innovation and societal change, and critically assess positive and negative impacts of these technologies.
The Individual at Work
In this module you will develop an understanding of a variety of contemporary issues with respect to individual and group behaviour at work. You will look at the theoretical approaches to understanding individual and group processes, considering work attitudes, identity at work, and issues of work design, such as teamwork, contemporary communication, and managing well-being.
Business in International Comparative Perspective
In this module you will develop an understanding of the key determinants of economic performance and the success of individual firms, industries and national economies. You will look at the achievements of the world's advanced economies, considering the character of their institutions and businesses, and examine the historical origins of differences in national institutions and corporate capabilities.
Strategic Management Accounting
In this module you will develop an understanding of financial management control strategy. You will look at the dependencies and relationships between business models and operating architecture, capital structure, and off-balance sheet financing. You will conside the context of managing accounting in a changing environment, an evaluate the impact of mergers and acquisitions on businesses. You will examine strategic control tools and techniques such as responsibility accounting and transfer pricing, and assess the the relationship between product markets, internal organisation cost structures and capital market expectations.
Strategic Finance
In this module you will develop an understanding of the 'time value of money'. You will look at the main principles of finance theory and how these can be applied to commercial problems. You will consider the relationship between risk and return, and examine the valuation of equities, bonds and options and the relative merits of different approaches to choosing and valuing securities. You will evaluate the consequences of a proposed takeover or merger from the perspective of capital markets and assess the relevance of information efficiency.
Clusters, Small Business and Entrepreneurship
In this module you will develop an understanding of how small companies can become internationally competitive. You will look at the theories of clusters, and apply them to the analysis of small and medium enterprises operating in different contexts. You will consider vertical and horizontal collaborative strategies, and their impact on firms' capabilities, resources, and performance. You will examine the relationships between small companies and multinationals, and the mechanisms through which small companies are linked to the global economy. You will also compare different clusters and assess the competitive advantages and disadvantages they generate for companies.
Business Data Analytics
In this module you will develop an understanding of the main managerial and technological principles which underlie business and analytics. You will look at the impact of business data analytics on product and service innovation, and examine the main challenges and risk related to business data analytics activities within organisations. You will learn how to carry out a variety of business data analytics techniques, and consider the impact of legislation, regulation and ethical codes of practice on business data analytics programmes and the organisations running them.
Digital Innovation Management
In this module you will develop an understanding of the main technological and managerial principles behind digital innovation. You will look at the revolutionary impact of digital technology on product and service innovation, and examine the main challenges and risks related to digital innovation initiatives within organisations. You will consider how latest digital techologies can be used to lead innovation initiatives and analyse the implications of the external socio-economic and regulatory context for digital innovation within organisations.
Business Process Applications
In this module you will develop an understanding of the principles and concepts of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP). You will look at how firms use ERP systems for strategic effectiveness and consider the key strategic issues facing managers seeking to deploy and exploit such systems. You will examine the challenges facing those responsible for the selection, implementation and management of ERP projects, and gain practical experience using SAP software and other enterprise-level applications.
Entrepreneurship Theory and History
In this module you will develop an understanding of how enterprises have evolved and how the position of entrepreneurs has changed over the centuries under different regimes of state formation, institutional change and moral discipline. You will look at how political regimes have either facilitated or hindered entrepreneurship and examine the importance of temporal, geographical and structural issues in entrepreneurship history.
Corporate Entrepreneurship
In this module you will develop an understanding of the theories and practices related to corporate entrepreneurship. You will look at the management of creativity and innovation in large organisations, as well as the processes and structures relevant to the successful appropriation of opportunities within a market context. You will also consider the barriers that constrain managers and their companies from being entrepreneurial, and examine conceptual and empirical evidence of corporate entrepreneurship from real world examples.
Innovation, Strategy and the Corporation
In this module you will develop an understanding of business innovation in the context of new ventures and corporations. You will look at how changes in technology, markets, and society are affecting how new business models, products and services emerge. You will consider innovation as a source of competitive advantage and examine the management of innovation, critically evaluating associated risks and uncertainty. You will also analyse past experiences and how they can be used to exploit future opportunities through innovation.
Accounting for Sustainability
In this module you will develop an understanding of contemporary issues in the theory and practice of accounting for sustainability. You will look at key issues in the growing ara of sustainability accounting including notions of accountability in the context of sustainability, cultural and religious perspectives on sustainability accounting, elements of sustainability reporting, and the role of accounting in embedding sustainability in decision making.
Corporate Governance
In this module you will develop an understanding of a number of diverse international and theoretical positions on corporate governance. You will look at the concepts of control, accountability and transparency within the context of corporate governance, and consider the the role of regulation and its comparative national context. You will examine new trends in emerging market business groups and multinationals and analyse prevailing debates on insider- versus outsider-controlled corporate governance regimes.
Responsible Entrepreneurship
In this module you will develop an understanding of responsibility in the context of entrepreneurship. You will look at the entrepreneurial process and consider the inherent ambivalence of both new ideas and their unintended consequences. You will examine the concepts of social entrepreneurship, sustainable entrepreneurship, and minority entrepreneurship, and evaluate how new organisations emerge, grow, and approach responsibility challenges.
Marketing Ethics and Society
In this module you will develop an understanding of the scope and nature of marketing ethics. You will look at the complexity and interconnectedness of moral dilemmas in marketing practice and consider potential responses by stakeholders, such as consumers, businesses and governmental actors, to ethical marketing issues.
Dissertation
You will initiate, design and undertake a substantial piece of independent work. You will critically review published work and utilise qualitative or quantitative research skills to evaluate and interpret research data.