The Fast-Track MBA
Finance Specialisation

The aim of this subject is to provide a scholarly and  in-depth knowledge of the dynamics of leadership. Topics covered include: nature and importance of leadership, leadership traits, behaviours and attitudes, leadership styles, leadership culture, ethical issues, leadership when creating change in organisations.

On completion of this subject participants should be able to:

• Critically discuss the concept of leadership, including forms of leadership and the complementary nature of leadership and management.
• Demonstrate understanding of the role of power and influence in relation to leadership and the importance of ethical values of a leader.
• Identify and critically examine various personality traits and forms of intelligence impacting on leadership.
• Describe and explain what is involved in various fundamental leadership skills including setting goals, managing conflict and motivating a team.
• Critically analyse the role of leadership in relation to organisational culture and organisational change.
• Apply leadership concepts and theory to professional practice in the workplace.

This subject discusses the importance and strategic role of marketing in today’s globalised business environment. Students learn the importance of pursuing objectives, employing appropriate resources, and investing in the future of an organisation to ensure customer satisfaction. Topics covered include: core marketing concepts; marketing strategy and planning; buying behaviour; role of marketing research; positioning; pricing; product development; placement; foundations of marketing communication.

On completion of this subject participants should be able to:

• Demonstrate understanding of the main marketing concepts, processes and frameworks.
• Evaluate the marketing planning process within an organisation.
• Use marketing principles and theories to analyse work-related issues in an organisation.
• Effectively present marketing or marketing planning recommendations.
• Apply marketing concepts and frameworks to help improve the competitive position of an organisation.

The aim of this subject is to provide an in-depth knowledge of issues critical for the efficient and effective operation of organisations. Topics covered include: the concept of operations and process management; network design and capacity planning; process design; supply chain management; inventory management; resource planning; quality management.

On completion of this subject participants should be able to:

• Demonstrate understanding of operations and process management concepts and frameworks.
• Discuss the complexities of and relationships between supply network design, capacity planning, process design, inventory management, resource management for the supply network.
• Critically discuss the role of operations and process management in developing efficient and effective organisations.
• Analyse the effectiveness of operations and processes within as well as between organisations and identify improvements.
• Apply knowledge about operations and process management concepts and recommend cost-effective improvements in a workplace setting.

The subject is designed to provide understanding of the formal relationship between the employer and the employee and of the techniques and methods aimed at making that relationship more effective so that organisational goals and objectives are achieved. Topics covered include: definition of strategic HRM; the legal environment; workforce planning, recruitment and selection; training and development; performance management; compensation.

On completion of this subject participants should be able to:

• Discuss the concept of human resource management as a strategic function in the organisation including its impact on competitive advantage.
• Demonstrate understanding of HR planning, job design, recruitment and selection, employee retention, performance management and the role of training, personal development, compensation and remuneration practices.
• Understand SHRM in a global environment.
• Demonstrate understanding of contemporary government regulations/HRM frameworks.
• Identify work flows in organisational units including relevant tasks, roles and jobs.
• Develop components of a basic human resource plan.
• Apply human resource management concepts to an actual workplace.

This subject examines the development, concepts, and significance of the concepts and practice of Corporate Governance, and organisational governance within the context of organisational capacity building. Topics covered include: the governance partnership (investors, companies and directors); regulatory frameworks to ensure good governance; theory and principles of corporate governance; director capabilities and responsibilities; ethics; ethical behaviour in organisations, and corporate social responsibility.

On completion of this subject participants should be able to:

• Demonstrate in-depth understanding of the various concepts, frameworks and practices of corporate governance and ethical behaviour in organisations.
• Explain and critique the policy and regulatory framework of corporations.
• Explain the impact of corporate governance and sustainability issues on the roles and responsibilities of managers, directors, stakeholders and shareholders.
• Explain the levels and types of risk that relate to effective corporate governance.
• Identify key corporate governance and ethical issues affecting organisational performance.
• Apply corporate governance skills and knowledge to demonstrate autonomy, expert judgement, adaptability and responsibility as an effective business practitioner.

This subject aims to prepare students for effective and efficient planning and management of financial resources in organisations. The subject introduces how a manager can utilise accounting and finance systems in decision-making. Topics covered include: balance sheets, income statements, cash flow statements, financial statement analysis, basic cost management concepts, basics of budgeting, working capital and current assets management, managing inventories, time value of money and valuing bonds and shares, risk and return of financial assets, basic capital investment issues, capital structure and financing including the cost of capital.

On completion of this subject participants should be able to:

• Demonstrate understanding of the main accounting and finance concepts used in financial decision making.
• Discuss the relationships between costs, volume and profit in decision making.
• Describe the importance, role and main techniques of financial management within an organisation.
• Analyse and interpret financial reports.
• Evaluate quantitative and qualitative information to assess risk in business decisions.
• Value securities.
• Apply basic accounting and finance knowledge to decision making in an actual workplace unit, department or organisation.

This subject provides the skills and knowledge required to successfully manage projects in service, public, not-for-profit, private and other sectors. The subject covers various practical frameworks and emerging topics including: contemporary approaches to project success; defining the project; project estimation, scheduling and strategies for reducing project duration; project risk management; managing project teams; project progress and performance evaluation; project closure and benefits realisation; project governance and ethics in project management; introduction to non-traditional project management methodologies and approaches such as agile project management and critical chain; and, overview of project management software tools.

Pre-requisites: A minimum of three AQF level 8 subjects which must include Operations Management must be completed before attempting Project Management.

On completion of this subject participants should be able to:

• Demonstrate advanced understanding of project management principles, frameworks, and contemporary topics.
• Critically analyse, reflect on, and synthesise complex information, problems, principles and frameworks related to project management.
• Research and apply relevant principles and frameworks to develop innovative, ethical, and evidence-based solutions for complex project management issues.
• Clearly, concisely and credibly communicate project management knowledge to specialist and non-specialist audiences to inform practice.

This subject provides an in-depth knowledge of the strategic management process and gives an exposure to the concepts and theories of competing in domestic as well as international markets.  Modules covered include: strategy formulation; internal and external environment; an organisation’s competitiveness; generic competitive strategies; competing in international markets; groups of businesses, diversification and strategy execution.

Pre-requisites: Three AQF Level 8 core subjects must be completed before attempting Strategic Management

On completion of this subject participants should be able to:

• Demonstrate advanced understanding of contemporary strategic management theory, concepts and principles.
• Demonstrate advanced knowledge of how strategy formulation & strategy implementation processes work in contemporary organisations.
• Conduct an in-depth analysis of the internal and external environment using appropriate strategic management concepts and tools.
• Evaluate different strategic alternatives and suggest an appropriate and ethical pathway for a business to build and sustain competitive advantage.
• Demonstrate ability to synthesise a range of business and management concepts when undertaking strategic analysis.

The objective of the subject is to provide an integrated framework and analytical tools that are used by the firm managers to make financial decisions that improve firm value. The modules covered include valuations of bonds and shares, advanced capital budgeting techniques, estimation of cost of capital, optimal capital structure, and firm payout policy.

Pre-requisites: Financial Management

On completion of this subject participants should be able to:

• Demonstrate advanced understanding of contemporary corporate finance theory, analytical frameworks and practice.
• Critically analyse and effectively communicate complex corporate finance issues and recommend improvements to inform professional practice.
• Plan and prepare a substantial evidence based corporate finance report in an ethical manner.

This subject presents a detailed overview of the features of modern financial and monetary systems, and enables an in-depth understanding of complex institutions, markets, and securities that are part of them. The subject covers banking, payment systems, financial regulators and institutions, fundamentals of fund management as well as money, capital and foreign exchange markets.

Pre-requisites: Financial Management

On completion of this subject participants should be able to:

• Demonstrate advanced understanding of contemporary financial markets and institutions theory, analytical frameworks and practice.
• Critically analyse and effectively communicate improvements relating to financial markets and institutions issues.
• Plan and prepare a substantial evidence-based financial markets and institutions report in an ethical manner.

The objective of the subject is to provide comprehensive theoretical and practical knowledge on investment management. The subject covers major theoretical concepts, namely, modern portfolio theory, diversification, and equilibrium models of security prices. The subject also includes macroeconomic and industry analysis, pricing of main financial derivatives, and evaluation of portfolio performance.

Pre-requisite: Financial Management

On completion of this subject participants should be able to:

• Demonstrate advanced understanding of contemporary investment management theory, analytical frameworks and practice.
• Critically analyse and effectively communicate complex concepts, investment management issues and recommend improvements to inform professional practice.
• Plan and undertake a substantial evidence-based report in an ethical manner.