Engineering Management MSc

A programme of individual study and research project in accordance with established research principles involving the completion of the following elements:

Management Research Project

To provide the opportunity to apply management knowledge, skills and research techniques developed during the programme to the identified area of management interest.

To develop students’ intellectual ability in terms of problem solving, critical analysis and conceptual thinking.

To provide students with the opportunity, and the enabling mechanisms to support their development towards independent learning.

The nature, extent and purposes of management research

Management research paradigms

Research strategies

Research designs, methods and approaches

Research quality standards: establishing validity, reliability and generalisability

Sampling and Research instrument design

Research ethics

Research Data Management: collection, organisation and analysis

Managing a dissertation research project

The aim of this module is to enable learners to:

Understand and critically evaluate the findings of management research

Design and implement a management research project using methodologies and methods appropriate to research questions and objectives

Analyse and report management research findings meeting academic and practitioner needs

Strategic financial accounting:

• Understanding the format of financial reports and financial accounts.
• Analysis of financial reporting.

Strategic management accounting:

• Identify and assess the impact of current developments in management accounting and performance management on measuring, evaluating and improving organisational performance.
• Apply appropriate strategic performance measurement techniques in evaluating and improving organisational performance.

1. To enable students to explore and develop an understanding of the theoretical techniques, concepts and methods    employed in strategic financial management.
2. To develop the ability to apply the theoretical to the practical, through the analysis of data and application of relevant techniques in the context of varied situations.
3. To evaluate and develop a critical and reflective awareness of the importance of the application of relevant, available techniques to the enhancement of strategic financial decision making and business performance.

The delivery of the content will take into account contemporary developments in private, public and not-for-profit sectors and so will be adjusted to reflect these as they arise. However, there is material that may be considered indicative of the core of the content. This includes:

• Innovation as a strategic imperative;
• The organisational culture of innovation;
• Idea generation and refinement techniques;
• Creativity, Innovation, Diffusion and Portfolio Management; 
• Process analysis and development techniques;
• The innovative team; 
• Managing innovation knowledge;
• Managing Change for Innovation;
• Managing Innovation Projects.

The aims of this module is to help students critically analyse, evaluate and apply concepts and practices of innovation and to be able to develop ideas and plans that are viable in an organisational setting

To achieve this students will critically analyse the notion of innovation, and the different stages of the iterative innovation process as applied to the development of ideas for application within and by existing organisations. 

• Organisational behaviour/culture, structure and design;

• The role of the manager, leadership theories, styles and approaches;

• Groups and teams in the organisation – group formation, team working;

• Individual personality, communication and motivation;

• The role of Human Resource Management in the workplace;

• Strategies for high performance working (HPW);

• Employee relations and employment dynamics;

• Performance Management and managing poor performance;

• Learning and development methodologies; 

• Theories and application of reflective practice.

This aims of this module are;

1. For students to draw upon key concepts of leading and managing people and examine how these apply to the current and future world of work;
2. For students to explore and develop an understanding of key theories and concepts in the field of people management and development;
3. For students to be able to synthesise knowledge of people management, together with gaining awareness of wider contextual issues in order to address organisational challenges.

This module introduces students to strategic issues in supply chain management for organisations operating nationally and internationally. The module considers the challenges which characterise and influence a range of sectors and examines strategic responses to these within private, public and not-for-profit industries.  The module explores how supply chains and wider supply networks are designed, managed and controlled and develops an understanding of the theory, tools and techniques of supply chain, procurement and wider operations management.  The module cover theoretical and strategic concerns on the development of supply management concepts: their origins, relationship and application for the effective design and management of supply networks.

The nature of supply management and supply chain issues have come to the fore in recent years and, rather than being seen as an 'operational' issue', are now considered of strategic and national importance.  So the subject area for this module is evolving and subject to adjustment to reflect contemporary practices.  However, there is a core of key concepts and contemporary topics which will be covered in this module.  The indicative content covered are:

• What is supply chain management
• International supply chain strategies
• The evolution of supply networks around the world
• Sustainable and ethical supply: the triple bottom line
• Lean, agile and resilient supply
• Quality and kaizen management
• Make-buy decisions, outsourcing and offshoring
• Buyer-supplier relations, power issues and negotiation
• Supplier selection and development

The purpose of this module is to develop participants' knowledge and awareness of supply chain management practices from a strategic and critical perspective.  The aims are:

1. To provide a strategic insight to the management and operations of supply chains and wider supply networks.
2. To introduce the main principles and practices of strategic procurement management.
3. To identify and critically examine the sustainability of supply networks, including an exploration of the inherent cultural, ethical and environmental issues.
4. To reflect on contemporary topics of strategic supply chain management including sustainability and the triple bottom line; supply chain risk and resilience; outsourcing, offshoring, nearshoring and reshoring;  supplier relationship management; power relations in supply networks; and best practices in procurement management.

This module explores the key features of effective project management from a strategic perspective and develops an understanding of the theory, tools and techniques of project management.  It enables students to grasp the practical issues when working as a project manager or as a member of a project team.  The module is suitable both for students new to the field of project management, but also provides for self-development of more experienced project managers by way of personal reflection.

The learning involves mini-lectures, interactive group exercises, written and video-based case study analyses, critical analysis of practices, and personal reflection via interaction in class with module tutors.  The emphasis is on increasing students' awareness, competencies and skills when initiating, planning, organising, controlling and evaluating projects.  The following list provides indicative topic content for the module:

• The project management profession
• Project organisation and leadership
• Project objectives, definition and design
• Milestone planning and critical path analysis
• Resources management and project control
• Partnering and contracting relationships
• Managing international and development projects
• Managing project risk
• Project management bodies of knowledge and methodologies
• Project evaluation and appraisal
  • plus Strategic project management module review and reflection 

The purpose of this module is to develop participants' knowledge and awareness of project management practices from a strategic and critical perspective.  The aims are:

1. To introduce the principles and practice of project management.
2. To identify and critically examine the cultural, leadership and teamwork issues when managing projects.
3. To explore and analyse contemporary topics of strategic project management including risk, partnerships and subcontracting, managing complex international projects, project technologies and methodologies.