Postgraduate taught modules
Applied informatics
Applied informatics prepares the student with key concepts and principles of the management and utilisation of information as an important resource in business and enterprise activities. This module helps the student in understanding the nature, structure and function of information and how best information can be used in the management and decision-making from the strategic to operational levels. It enables to gain knowledge of information requirements and presentation, and to acquire the ability of planning, implementing and evaluating information systems and IT solutions.
Architecture leadership
Architecture leadership provides students with the knowledge and principles to lead a team in a highly-competitive and technology-rich environment. The capability of leading others in technology and architecture projects is a key development area for technology consultants. The module is in two parts, initially focusing on man management and leadership, change management, thought leadership and solution innovation and other areas of people-in technology management that are vital to modern business technology leadership. The course then introduces the principles of business architecture and modelling. This covers an introduction to architecture frameworks for mapping and understanding the linkages between business processes, information, systems and organisational contexts that are a vital foundation for understanding and changing businesses. The course then unites the two sections by examining the challenges and best practices for leading and managing technology consulting teams charged with understanding and enhancing elements of business architecture. This is one of the core BTC modules to equip students with the essential knowledge to be able to provide leadership and organisation in business technology.
Business architecture
Business architecture teaches students the basic knowledge and techniques for the design and modelling of enterprise architecture. The module addresses the design, planning, implementation and governance of enterprise information architecture to support the business strategy. The vehicle for this is the IAF framework (Capgemini - based on TOGAF) . IAF principles will be taught in detail to students to enable them to model business across four domain areas: business, application, data and technology. The module involves frequent workshops and practical case assessments based on real business examples where students tackle problems and apply IAF principles.
Business communications and negotiation
Business communication and negotiation enables students to explore theoretical aspects of communication and to apply effective communication techniques in practice. Improving communication is a key issue for business organisations and is also an important area of professional development for individuals who need to collaborate in teams, persuade and negotiate with line managers, customers and other stakeholders. During this module students will be involved in critiquing organisational and individual communication practices and identifying and practising effective communication strategies, including collecting requirements, negotiating and giving and using feedback.
Business domain and requirements analysis
Business domain and requirements analysis aims to provide students with the theory and practices of capturing and analysing business needs in relation to organisational contexts, business strategies, stakeholders, and business processes. The analysis results can be transformed into business requirements which can be used to improve business performance and maintain the sustainability of organisations. Methods and techniques for articulation and evaluation of business needs will be introduced for business domain and requirements analysis. This module is designed to provide linkages to information systems project management and development.
Business finance
This module aims to introduce students to the nature of business finance and its role in business decision-making. By the end of the module students should understand and be able to apply theories relating to capital investment, capital structure, risk assessment, working capital management and corporate financing choices. Students will approach the study of business finance decisions from the perspective of the Finance Director of a medium to large company. Contemporary examples as well as academic research will be referenced throughout the module.
Business intelligence and data mining
Data mining is the process of selection, exploration and analysis of large quantities of data, in order to discover meaningful patterns and rules which in turn structure business intelligence in context. In other words, data mining converts the raw data into useful knowledge required to support decision making. Virtually every business organisation nowadays requires data mining solutions to solve core business problems. This module aims to provide students with essential data mining and knowledge representation techniques used to transform data into business intelligence. Application areas covered in this module include marketing, customer relationship management, financial forecasting, risk management, personalisation, etc.
Business technology consulting
The Business technology consulting module is taught in three key parts. The first part addresses the theory of consulting, consulting structure, generic consulting methods and tools . The second part focuses on understanding and applying examples of specific framework tools and techniques, building on IRC and Capgemini developed methods. The third part, consulting in practice, involves student case analysis and presentations to practicing consultants where students apply techniques learnt to practical business-technology problems. This three part approach welds business and technology techniques with consulting methods to enable students to both identify and resolve current and future issues affecting client technology focused organisations.
Cases in financial management and control
This is a capstone module which develops the knowledge, understanding and skills acquired in the autumn term financial reporting, management accounting, business finance and strategy modules through their application to real-world business problems and case study scenarios. Particular use is made of the Annual Report and Accounts published by listed companies and company reports by financial journalists. This module develops commercial awareness and encourages students to use evidence to support their evaluation of company strategy and performance.
Concepts, strategy and management
A conceptual model of the system of buildings and people will be introduced which defines an objectives system which can be achieved by an integrated approach towards building systems, environmental systems and the organisation. Studies will cover single-function dedicated systems, multi-functional systems, integrated systems and computer-integrated buildings. Building management covering concept briefing: intelligent buildings in the past, present and future; impact of new technologies; strategic management; assessing building quality. The processes of conceptualisation, development, construction, installation and facilities management call for a very large multi-disciplinary team. Successful management of an intelligent building requires developers, clients and consultants who work closely together in defining the brief for the building, but the construction team and product manufacturers need to be involved at an early stage in the development of the project. The facilities manager also needs to play an early role in the design process.
Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems
The CRM module aims to enables students to establish an understanding of customer relationship management, which is not just a technology but rather a comprehensive customer-centric approach to an organisation's philosophy of acquiring, enhancing or retaining its customers. Such approach deals with issues, e.g. policies, processes, customer service, employee training, marketing, system applications and information management. An effective CRM can reinforce sustainability and profitability of a company. This module will facilitate students to focus on a business strategy of CRM, which considers a company's specific situation and its customers' needs and expectations. Business intelligence generated from the CRM initiatives can support decision making on marketing strategy for customer segments, customer retention, product offerings, and the organisation's most profitable customers. The module will cover both the methodology and practice of CRM using a commercial software package.
Design management and briefing
This module introduces the need for a building design management strategy that can be shared by the members of the design team. It covers the requirements for the implementation of that strategy including the management systems, procedures and controls.
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems
The ERP module enables students to establish an integrated management view of organisations from an internal and external perspective. It focuses on the types of issues, such as the role of ERP in transforming organisations; integration of business functions including planning, manufacturing, sales, finance and marketing; technical staff's internal role in integrating the enterprise through a cohesive set of business processes and functional applications to meet business needs; and managing external relations with suppliers, outsourcers, and customers. The module will cover both the methodology and practice of ERP using commercial software packages.
Ethics in accounting and financial management
Business has its own moral norms, which often differ from those in society at large, while both business and social norms evolve over time and vary between cultures. Within business, the area of finance and accounting raises particular issues in this respect as the micro-culture of financial trading, the professional norms of the accounting profession and the overwhelming preoccupation with money introduce a variety of conflicting moral pressures. This module aims to equip students with the intellectual foundations for negotiating the moral world that ensues. It aims to equip students with a critical understanding of moral norms and a basis for making ethical choices, in cases where moral norms conflict or are in tension - for example where the moral practices of a business organisation conflict with what one would consider moral in a domestic or social context. Throughout the course applications to real-world situations are used both to develop students' analytical, reflexive and decision skills and to introduce them to the range of moral issues and contexts encountered in the practices of accountancy, investment and financial management.
Ethics in international management
This module uses the same approach as Ethics in Accounting and Financial Management but uses cases with a more general, international management context.
Facilities management
This module considers the planning and management demands of operating integrated facilities. Integration means integrating the technical issues of building performance with business objectives, organisational requirements and user needs. It examines ways in which innovative use of workspace and work patterns can be used to alleviate space demands and improve communications. It considers health and safety issues in the workplace and the responsibilities of the facilities manager. It also examines how information technology can be managed effectively and combined with the built environment to satisfy growing information demands of organisations.
Global marketing management
This module aims to provide students with an understanding of marketing strategies and practices in a global context, by analysing the global marketing environment, marketing opportunities and strategy options, and the global marketing mix.
By the end of the module it is expected that the student will be able to evaluate strategic options in the design and implementation of global marketing programmes and to critically assess the marketing strategies adopted by a range of multinational and small enterprises.
Information systems and infrastructure
Information systems and infrastructure allows students to understand the role of information systems in business operation and administration activities. It also teaches students the knowledge in managing information systems architecture engagements by developing the architectures with upstream engagement (business and information architecture) and downstream engagement (deliveries).
International financial reporting 1
This module aims to develop students' critical knowledge and understanding of decision-useful investor-related financial reporting via a consideration of the principles and methods that underlie the preparation and presentation of financial reporting statements in an international context. Students will be introduced to key elements of the international regulatory framework for financial reporting and the conceptual framework supporting it. The module will enable students to explain the preparation, presentation, measurement and meaning of the primary financial statements and their contents, and to construct such statements. Students will be introduced to relevant academic and professional literature to support their critical appraisal of a range of international financial reporting standards.
International financial reporting 2
This module aims to develop further students' critical knowledge and understanding of financial reporting by considering further examples of the financial reporting principles and methods that underlie the preparation of financial statements in an international context. It also aims to place financial reporting in an historical and current context via an in-depth consideration of a range of key issues. By the end of the module, students will be able to critically appraise various academic arguments relating to the content of standards and the standard setting process.
International strategic management
The aim is for students to gain an overall understanding of the issues related to international strategic management, many of which are developed further in other core and optional modules. This module offers analytical tools for managers of firms who seek to retain and improve their competitive advantages in very different business environments.
Students will gain a thorough understanding of the most important conceptual and analytical tools of strategic management, and their application in different international contexts and changing market conditions.
IT project management
IT project management enables students to understand project management principles and the popular project management methodologies for project planning and project delivery for different types of IT projects. At the end of the module students will be able to carry out project planning with different methods, apply risk management and quality control skills. The students will also be able to understand the characteristics of IT projects and how to manage projects while there are incomplete requirements.
Management decision making and performance evaluation
This module introduces the theory and practice of management accounting in relation to organisational decision-making, planning, control and performance evaluation. This involves a consideration of the technical language and practices of management accounting, their location within the organisational and business context, and the theoretical and empirical evidence concerning the development and current practice of management accounting. Students will be introduced to a number of management accounting techniques and will be apply to apply these to evaluate decision choices. The module will introduce students to selected academic and professional literature relevant to management decision making and performance evaluation.
Managing people and organisations
This module aims to introduce students to, and encourage them to reflect on, what is known empirically about how people behave in organisational settings, to the theories that inform this knowledge and to the practical implications for managers. By the end of the module students should have a sound knowledge and critical understanding of contemporary theories of individual and group behaviour, the empirical evidence supporting them, and their relevance and application to business and other organisational settings. They should be familiar with the main areas of challenge in the management of people and organisations, and have an understanding of why these areas are problematic and how they are addressed in practice by managers.
Molecular systematics (biological sciences)
To develop theoretical skills in techniques of molecular systematics and practical skills in data analysis methods. To become aware of a range of analytical tools for data handling.
Organisational design and Performance Management
Customers demand that organisations deliver high quality products/services. Organisations aim to improve themselves to strengthen their positions in the marketplace. There are many factors affecting an organisation to be able to sustain. A most important factor is that an organisation should ensure the expected quality of its products/services being efficiently produced and delivered. On the other hand, competitors challenge the organisation to become more innovative and agile so that it can maintain its niche in the marketplace. Organisations, therefore, need methodological approaches to manage and to develop the organisational design, and enhance their on-going performance. This module aims to provide students with methods and techniques, and performance metrics in organisation design and business performance management. Students should be able to establish an understanding of the concepts and principles of these methods and techniques as well as develop practical skills for providing the right solutions to the right problems.
Principles of marketing
The module is an alternative to Global Marketing Management for students on the International Management and Accounting programme. It is intended for students with no previous marketing knowledge as it aims to provide students with a clear understanding of the principles and practices underlying marketing today.
Research methods
This research methods module enables students:
to understand and appreciate the different methods of scientific investigation and data analysis, to include the use of qualitative and quantitative methods;
to enable the student to interpret and critically appraise research findings with respect to design and data analysis;
to enable the student to assess the various approaches critically and to adopt appropriate methods and skills for the design and management of research projects.
Study and research skills: sources, methods, and practice
This module is designed to strengthen students' ability to make best use of their learning opportunities during the MSc accounting degree courses at the Henley Business School. It provides students with an understanding of what is required to perform well in essays, dissertations/projects, report writing and examinations at the University of Reading.
Systems analysis and design
Systems analysis and design aims to enable students to construct knowledge of systems analysis and design, in particular object-oriented (OO) paradigm and methods for software systems design and appreciate the OO design-related issues such as reusability, interoperability and componentisation. At the end of this module, students should be able to apply the OO methods in a real-life scenario and design software solutions.
MSc / MRes research dissertation
The aim of the module is to enable the student to conduct research and apply the knowledge into practice through an independent project. The student should show a detailed understanding of a particular subject field. This will involve a survey of recent developments in the field, a critical analysis of these developments and a prognosis of future developments. MRes dissertations are more heavily weighted and assessors will expect more involved review, design, analysis and contributions.
Consulting project
The consulting project allows students to apply the knowledge from the taught modules to real-life cases in a structured and systematic manner. Students can select from a number of types of project. Capgemini provide a list of real-world problems that relate to their clients or their strategic and tactical consulting needs. Alternatively the student may choose a project suggested by IRC academics/the course director, relating to current leading edge research and business challenges. Or the student may opt for a project they or their sponsor has suggested. In all cases the client needs must be investigated and met and projects completed within 8-10 weeks, echoing the time and workload challenges of consultancy practice. The module is designed to allow students to develop necessary knowledge and skills to collect and analyse the needs of clients and provide the most appropriate objectively analysed and pragmatic solutions to improve the business performance via the application of business technologies.
Accounting and finance project
The project provides students with an opportunity to define and execute an independent piece of research in international accounting and/or business finance on an approved topic. The topic will have contemporary interest and be based on the student's own analysis of publicly available data. Students will make use of skills acquired or developed on the Study and Research Skills: Sources, Methods, and Practice module to identify, summarise and critically appraise relevant literature and data. Each student will have an academic supervisor but the project is essentially based on self-directed study and will be completed over the summer months.