Executive Masters in Business Administration (Advanced Manufacturing Management)

Overview | Modules | Fees and funding | How to apply

At a glance 

Entry requirements

• A first degree* at 2.1 or above or equivalent work experience and/or professional qualifications.
• A high standard of English with an IELTS of 6.5, with no less than 6 in each part.
• At least three years’ relevant full-time work experience post-graduation.
• Be employed in a relevant job role with a contract of a minimum of 30 hours a week.
• Agreement from your employer to fund your programme, either through government co-funding or the apprenticeship levy.
• Have the right to Abode in the UK.
• *Candidates who don’t possess a first degree can be considered if they can demonstrate exceptional work experience.

Overview

The Executive MBA is an internationally recognised qualification for managers and other business professionals with at least three years of work experience after graduating with a first degree. The programme has been designed to develop in learners an up-to-date understanding of current academic thinking in the field and in the discipline of management. We seek to inform and inspire the change of existing managerial paradigms through our ambitious team of academics and practitioners. As such, it provides a forum for analysing and communicating the latest thinking in both professional practice and in the academic arena as it is important that leaders are equipped with the relevant competency, knowledge and skill sets in order to create real competitive advantage for organisations.

The programme is modular in nature and teaching will be delivered in block sessions, usually consisting of one three-day block per ten-credit module. The programme has been designed to meet all the learning and regulation requirements of the Senior Leader Master's Degree Apprenticeship Standard. Learners who undertake the programme will have an additional six months after completing the Executive MBA to undertake the End Point Assessment (EPA). On successful completion of the apprenticeship, learners may choose to register as members with the Chartered Management Institute and/or the Institute of Leadership and Management to support their professional career development and progression.

The learning and teaching sessions will include lectures, business case analyses, problem analyses, student presentations and talks by visiting guest lecturers from senior practitioners.

Efficient organisational management has been always challenging. However, the proliferation of disruptive technologies nowadays leads to ever increasing industrial competition and complex business landscape. Such trends are particularly prominent within advanced manufacturing. If we have to summarise how the Executive MBA programme addresses these challenges into three words only, they would be: Innovate to Elevate.

Modules

Foundations of Professional Practice in Leadership

10 credits (Year 1 Core)

This module will provide learners with a foundation in the professional knowledge and leadership skills needed for leadership practice in their chosen field. During this module, and in preparation for the Professional Practice in Leadership module studied in year two of the programme, learners will explore and critically evaluate a range of concepts associated with the theory and practice of leadership. Learners will have an opportunity to reflect on previous experiences of leadership, their current leadership performance and leadership development processes relevant to their context. Assessment takes the form of a gap analysis and a self-reflection professional portfolio.

Corporate Governance and Accountability

10 credits (Year 1 Core)

This module focuses on governance, accountability and reporting within an organisational context, with governance of the organisation understood to be a nexus of state, market and other (e.g. civil society pressures) forces. This module will also consider models of organisational structure, working with board and company / organisational structures and corporate social responsibility. Assessment takes the form of an essay.

Leading in a Complex and Changing Environment

10 credits (Year 1 Core)

This module enables and empowers learners to navigate the complex and changing organisational environment by introducing them to aspects of human behaviour in organisations through the lens of the Human Resource Management (HRM) and Organisational Behaviour (OB) disciplines. A range of HRM and OB concepts and theories are explored, along with considerations of their application to management for motivation, change, performance and wellbeing. Cutting-edge topics are covered using research-informed teaching to critically assess relevant models, tools and techniques. Learners are encouraged to engage with and reflect on current debates in HRM and OB, including areas such as recruiting and developing a diverse workforce. Assessment takes the form of an essay.

Responsible Leadership: Developing People, Teams and Collectives

10 credits (Year 1 Core)

This module further develops your growth as a leader and equips you with the knowledge and skills required for leading and developing people, teams and collectives. The module develops understanding of the most important leadership, leadership development and team working theories, particularly focusing on ethical and value-driven approaches to leadership and team dynamics. This module will teach you how to leverage these theories to build your own leadership capacity as well as high performing work teams that function well within the ever-changing organisational environment and whilst balancing the needs of different internal and external stakeholders. Assessment takes the form of an essay and a personal development plan.

Intelligent Organisations and Decision Making

10 credits (Year 1 Core)

The emergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Cognitive Computing is causing total reinvention of contemporary enterprises and in particular their business decision making processes. Early adopters of such disruptive technologies gain significant competitive advantage and therefore put pressure on modern organisations to catch up or fade away. This module is designed to equip senior leaders with knowledge of the next generation business information systems, using AI technologies and analytics to understand, reason, and evolve. The main aim of this module is to elevate managerial performance via the utilisation of cutting edge innovations from the domain of enterprise knowledge engineering. Assessment takes the form of a report.

Strategic Marketing Management

10 credits (Year 1 Core)

To achieve competitive advantage in today’s rapidly changing markets, organisations need to develop marketing plans and strategies that are analytical, comprehensive, actionable and flexible. This module brings together a wide range of marketing topics in order to optimise strategies. The practice of marketing concerns important managerial decisions including those about the choice of the target market, the nature of the offer, prices, distribution, promotion and finally communication. Assessment takes the form of a report.

Operations and Continuous Improvement

10 credits (Year 1 Core)

Effective management of operations and continuous improvement are critical to the success of organisations. Organisations that produce products and/or deliver services have operational system at their core. Well designed, robust systems that align with an organisational strategy and are managed consistently well are central to sustaining high levels of organisational performance. The ability to analyse the current processes and procedures underpin the ability of an organisation to make improvements to these. The tools and techniques of quality and process improvement will be introduced and critically evaluated, allowing learners the opportunity to apply these to real world scenarios. Assessment takes the form of a poster presentation.

Accounting and Financial Management

10 credits (Year 1 Core)

This module provides an introduction to the theory and practice of accounting and financial management in relation to organisational decision making, strategy, allocation of resources and understanding financial governance. The use of financial and non-financial information to inform decision making, contribution to strategy and management control is included in the scope of the module including both short-term and long-term time horizons. Topics include budgeting, cost behaviour, capital investment decisions, balanced scorecard, strategic management accounting and using accounting to shape external environment (including CSR reports). Assessment takes the form of a report and an online test.

Strategy and Risk

10 credits (Year 1 Core)

This module covers strategic issues and methods including decision-making, risk management and the nature and source of competitive advantage to explore how leaders can develop strategies to achieve strategic goals within ever-changing markets. Learners will be introduced to theoretical and practical concepts in order to help address new strategic and organisational demands in their workplace. Assessment takes the form of an essay and a risk and opportunities matrix.

Professional Practice in Leadership

10 credits (Year 2 Core)

This module will build a deeper knowledge and leadership skill set needed for leadership practice in their chosen field following the Foundations for Professional Practice in Leadership which learners attended during year one of the programme. During this module, learners will further reflect on their own leadership performance, demonstrate professional standards in relation to their leadership behaviour and identify areas for ongoing development. This module will also prepare the learner for the professional portfolio and discussion for the End Point Assessment of the Apprenticeship. Assessment takes the form of a 20-minute professional discussion and a self-reflection professional portfolio.

Collaborative Networks and Relationships in a Global Context

10 credits (Year 2 Core)

This module introduces the nature and role of collaborative networks and relationships in a global context. In an inter-connected and diversified world, organisational leaders have to become increasingly adept at managing partnerships and network relationships on a global scale in order to identify and exploit global opportunities and support organisational strategy. This module examines collaborative approaches through networks and relationships as a source of competitive advantage. The module highlights the strategies that allow leaders to build, manage and sustain global partnerships and networks effectively. Further, the module considers the influence and impact of the global context on the development and maintenance of collaborative relationships. Assessment takes the form of a 10-minute presentation and a report.

Organisational Entrepreneurship and Innovation

10 credits (Year 2 Core)

This module will introduce learners to the concepts of entrepreneurship and innovation as a basis to drive positive organisational change. The module covers key topics concerned with corporate entrepreneurship and business model innovation to help managers and leaders understand how they can create value in their organisations. Learners can expect to be introduced to topics such as organisational structures, business models, consumer trends, the external environment, as well as the implications associated with technological change and disruptive technologies. Assessment takes the form of an essay.

Global and Managerial Economics

10 credits (Year 2 Core)

This module focuses on the analysis of organisations and global markets from an economic perspective. The module will introduce learners to how global markets and organisations work to inform decision making and will address several different, but related, economic approaches to the management of organisations. Topics include behavioural theory, agency theory, transaction cost economics and economic contributions to strategy and decision making. This directs attention to the development of different organisational forms and the interaction of organisations with their environments, providing a coherent picture of managerial economics and a series of analytic techniques for the organisation. Assessment takes the form of a report.

Business Research Methods and Management Project

50 credits (Year 2 Core)

This is an individual proposal and final project/dissertation taken towards the end of the programme and allows the learner to demonstrate the ability to research a management issue within an academic framework and within the context of a specific organisation or industry. It utilises knowledge and skills acquired in the earlier part of the programme and is executed under the general guidance of an academic supervisor. The module will also equip learners with the frameworks and approaches needed while researching in the field of management. Assessment takes the form of a project proposal and a 15,000-word management project.

Fees and funding

The fee for the Executive MBA is GBP £18,000.

Full funding for the cost of the apprenticeship programme fee is available for levy-paying employers (up to the relevant funding cap).

Partial funding for the cost of the apprenticeship programme fee is available for non levy-paying employers (up to the relevant funding cap). The government will fund up to 90% of the apprenticeship programme fees.

You can read more about funding opportunities for apprenticeship programmes on the Department for Education website.

For more information on funding opportunities or to discuss in further detail, please contact Nicola Orridge.

How to apply

You must be ambitious and keen to expand your knowledge through rigorous discussion and learning. This programme combines academic work with your own practical experience.

You will have a 2:1 honours degree (or equivalent) in any subject or equivalent work experience and/or an approved professional qualification. You will also have at least three years' relevant full-time work experience post-graduation and be employed in a relevant job role with a contract of a minimum of 30 hours a week. Agreement from your employer to fund your programme, either through government co-funding or the apprenticeship levy, is required.

For overseas students, Sheffield University Management School’s standard English requirement is IELTS 6.5 (with no less than 6.0 in each part). Please refer to our English language requirements for postgraduates page for more detailed information.

Apply now(Programme code: MGTT225)

If you have any enquiries about your suitability, or have further questions on how to apply, please contact Nicola Orridge.