AIB MBA Curriculum

The subject provides a scholarly and in-depth knowledge of the dynamics of leadership and how it applies to contemporary leadership practice.

On completion of this subject participants should be able to:

• Demonstrate advanced understanding of leadership theories, concepts, and practice, including both traditional and contemporary forms of leadership.
• Critically evaluate various modes of leadership with consideration of ethical and socially responsible practice.
• Effectively communicate and apply relevant leadership principles to address diverse needs of various stakeholders.
• Develop a critically reflective leadership model for your own development.

This subject provides comprehensive knowledge of the strategic management process and gives exposure to the concepts and frameworks that are used in understanding a company’s competitive position in domestic and international markets, and the development of new strategies.

On completion of this subject participants should be able to:

• Demonstrate understanding of contemporary strategic management theory, concepts and principles.
• Demonstrate knowledge of how strategy formulation and strategy implementation processes work in contemporary organisations
• Conduct an analysis of the internal and external environment of the selected organisational context, using appropriate strategic management theories, frameworks and principles to inform future direction.
• Critically evaluate and recommend different strategic alternatives and suggest an appropriate and ethical pathway for an organisation to build and sustain competitive advantage.

This subject discusses the importance and strategic role of marketing in today’s globalised and digital business environment. Students learn practical skills that impact on business growth, like how to analyse the market context in which a business or enterprise is operating, segment the market, select an appropriate target market, and recommend strategic and tactical plans that co-create value for the selected target market

On completion of this subject participants should be able to:

• Demonstrate an advanced understanding of contemporary marketing theory and practice.
• Evaluate marketing concepts and organisational issues to make evidence-based decisions on creating value for customers.
• Apply innovative marketing approaches, techniques, and ethical perspectives to recommend an evidence-based solution to the problem of capturing value from customers.
• Communicate marketing knowledge, skills, and ideas to others clearly, persuasively, and credibly.

This subject explores operations strategy and management principles, key frameworks, contemporary topics, and practices critical for the efficient and effective management of responsible operations across various sectors such as service, public, manufacturing, not-for-profit among others. The subject uncovers ways to create best-in-class responsible operations strategies that not only sustain competitive advantage, but also boost financial, societal, and environmental performances, integrate customer experience, and maximise value creation.

On completion of this subject participants should be able to:

• Demonstrate an advanced understanding of operations strategy and management principles, frameworks, contemporary topics and practices.
• Critically analyse and evaluate the alignment and contribution of operations strategy within an organisation to help create value and leverage operations into a source of competitive advantage.
• Effectively and credibly communicate strategic operations management knowledge to others.
• Apply relevant operations management principles, frameworks and practices to formulate responsible operations strategies and evidence-based solutions for complex operations management issues in diverse organisational contexts.

This subject prepares students for effective financial management in organisations. At a foundational level, the subject introduces how a manager can interpret financial statements, identify trends and utilise financial tools and techniques to improve decision making, alongside non-financial considerations including ethics.

On completion of this subject participants should be able to:

• Demonstrate understanding of core contemporary financial management theory, techniques and practice.
• Critically evaluate and effectively communicate recommendations to address financial management issues.
• Apply financial management theory and techniques to professional practice in an ethical manner.

This subject will prepare students for the continuously evolving nature of work in uncertain times and the challenges and opportunities that this presents for organisations in meeting the strategic needs of a diverse workforce.

On completion of this subject participants should be able to:

• Demonstrate advanced understanding of strategic human resource management theory and its application in practice.
• Critically evaluate and recommend improvements to existing human resource management strategies.
• Identify and evaluate different perspectives and contemporary trends, and their impact on strategic HRM.
• Design and effectively communicate an evidence based human resource management initiative with consideration to ethical concerns.

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.

Pre-requisites: Three AQF Level 8 subjects must be completed before attempting Corporate Governance

On completion of this subject participants should be able to:

• Demonstrate advanced understanding of contemporary corporate governance theories, principles and regulatory frameworks.
• Use corporate governance theories and frameworks to interpret the key corporate governance responsibility, structure and function in practice.
• Critically evaluate corporate governance structure and practices with consideration of needs of various stakeholders, corporate ethics and social responsibility.
• Effectively apply and communicate relevant theories and frameworks to ensure sound and ethical corporate governance decisions in practice.

This subject develops the critical skills, capabilities and knowledge required to successfully manage projects across all stages of the project life cycle, applicable to all industries: service, public, not-for-profit, private, and other sectors.
Pre-requisites: Three AQF Level 8 subjects must be completed before attempting Project Management, one of which must be Operations Strategy and Management

On completion of this subject participants should be able to:

• Demonstrate advanced understanding of project management principles, frameworks, and critical awareness of contemporary approaches needed for managing and leading projects.
• Critically evaluate, analyse, reflect on, and synthesise information to address complex project management issues in specific contexts.
• Research, adapt and apply relevant principles and frameworks to develop innovative, ethical, and evidence-based solutions to improving the management of projects.
• Clearly, concisely and credibly communicate project management knowledge to specialist and non-specialist audiences to inform practice.

This subject provides a strategic overview of Artificial Intelligence (AI) types and their applications in business. It explores how AI technologies—including machine learning, generative AI, and large language models (LLMs)—are transforming industries, leadership, and decision-making. Students will examine the challenges and opportunities of AI adoption, along with its ethical, legal, and governance implications.

On completion of this subject participants should be able to:

• Demonstrate an advanced understanding of key concepts and technologies of Artificial Intelligence (AI), including Large Language Models and their business relevance.
• Critically evaluate AI capabilities, limitations and associated ethical, legal and social considerations.
• Analyse business functions and industry scenarios where AI can deliver strategic value.
• Develop, justify and effectively communicate appropriate approaches for responsible AI deployment in business contexts.

The aim of this subject is to provide in-depth insight into the increasing dangers and frequency of cyber-attacks on businesses and government and how best to prevent or mitigate the damaging outcomes. The likely sources of attacks will be outlined along with the methods more commonly used, inherent weaknesses in systems, examine the risk factors and outline manager’s responsibilities. How to create policies designed to mitigate attacks and how to manage them are included along with disaster planning and recovery. This is not a technical subject on the detailed workings of attacks but rather a management approach to cyber resilience, cyber disaster planning and recovery methods.

On completion of this subject participants should be able to:

• Describe the need for cyber security in context of the risks, threats, and attack vectors on an organisation’s digital information systems.
• Analyse weaknesses and vulnerabilities in an organisation’s digital information systems to determine threats and controls for risk management.
• Design cyber security policies that help mitigate the weaknesses in digital information systems, define organisational data governance protocols and comply with legal obligations.
• Critically analyse and effectively communicate a complex cyber disaster recovery and contingency plan and recommend improvements to inform professional practice using contemporary cyber security threats, best practice models and/or frameworks.

This subject provides an overview of business analytics concepts and their applications in the business environment.

On completion of this subject participants should be able to:

• Demonstrate advanced understanding of fundamental concepts and methods in business analytics and what business analytics can do for a business.
• Critically evaluate and reflect on the business analytics maturity of organisations and organisational readiness for implementing business analytics.
• Research and apply relevant business analytics methods and frameworks to address strategic, operational, and tactical decision problems in organisations.
• Effectively communicate business analytics requirements and the relevant findings with various stakeholders including their data expert.

This subject provides scholarly, practical and in-depth knowledge of contemporary entrepreneurial professional practice and entrepreneurial mindsets. By exploring the key life cycle stages of an entrepreneurial venture and the drivers of entrepreneurial culture, students are provided with insights into the process of entrepreneurship and into developing the resource base needed to pursue entrepreneurial initiatives. The subject draws on experiential and collaborative learning to build and strengthen entrepreneurial capabilities.

On completion of this subject participants should be able to:

• Examine contemporary entrepreneurship theory and practice to create insights  into potential entrepreneurial opportunities.
• Reflect upon, and apply contemporary entrepreneurship approaches, techniques and ethical perspectives, that develop an entrepreneur’s leadership, mindset, capabilities and pathways to an entrepreneurial career.
• Evaluate the external and internal environmental factors and contexts of an entrepreneurial venture to create and formulate well-informed decisions that will ensure the success of the venture.
• Communicate entrepreneurship knowledge, skills and ideas to others clearly, persuasively and credibly.

This subject takes the student through new product design from conception to launch of a new product or service. The subject aims to provide in-depth knowledge and application of traditional and innovative tools and frameworks used in a successful new product design process.

Pre-requisites: Marketing Management

On completion of this subject participants should be able to:

• Demonstrate an advanced understanding of contemporary new product design theory and practice.
• Demonstrate an ability to apply innovative approaches and techniques as well as ethical perspectives throughout the development of new product design.
• Evaluate complex business concepts and issues to deliver an evidence-based rationale for new product design.
• Communicate new product design knowledge, skills and ideas to others clearly, persuasively and credibly.

The subject provides scholarly and practical in-depth knowledge of the business practices, processes and management for external consultants, owners of consulting firms and those with expertise considering consulting as a profession who are wanting to start, run or scale a business consulting enterprise.

On completion of this subject participants should be able to:

• Demonstrate advanced understanding of contemporary business consulting theory, process and practice.
• Apply innovative approaches and techniques as well as ethical perspectives throughout the development of a consulting service.
• Evaluate complex business and enterprise concepts and issues to make evidence-based recommendations.
• Communicate business consulting knowledge, skills and ideas to others clearly, persuasively and credibly.

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.

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.

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 present 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.

This subject provides scholarly, practical, and in-depth knowledge to support and critically evaluate contemporary approaches to organisational learning and development (OLAD). Drawing on adult learning theory, students will be involved in diagnosing an organisation’s learning and development needs. Subsequently, they will gain an insight into the process of design, implementation, and evaluation of learning and development initiatives in line with the organisation’s strategic direction. Implications for fostering capabilities for the development of human capital for sustained competitive advantage will be examined.

On completion of this subject participants should be able to:

• Identify and evaluate organisational learning and development and its strategic application in practice.
• Diagnose learning and development needs that align with the organisation’s strategic focus.
• Design an evidence-based organisational learning and development initiative to address current and future organisational needs whilst maintaining professional integrity.

This subject explores how globalisation has influenced and impacted human resource management practices in multinational enterprises (MNEs).

Pre-requisites: Strategic Human Resource Management

On completion of this subject participants should be able to:

• Demonstrate advanced understanding of contemporary international HRM theories, principles and concepts.
• Critically analyse international HRM practices and their application in a global context.
• Identify and evaluate different contemporary perspectives, value systems and trends and their impact on international HRM policy and practice.
• Design and effectively communicate an appropriate evidence-based international HRM strategy which takes into account socially responsible and ethical practice for an organisation.

Managing Change focuses on organisational change: why it occurs, how it occurs, how it can be managed, and what forms it can take. The complexities of change present real challenges for managers and leaders and, hence, challenges for managers and leadership in times of change are also addressed.

Pre-requisites: Strategic Human Resource Management

On completion of this subject participants should be able to:

• Demonstrate advanced understanding of theories of planned change, a range of established change management approaches and their applicability in organisational settings.
• Assume a leading role in critically evaluating organisational and behavioural issues that may affect the change process and recommend strategies to combat these issues.
• Analyse complex organisational issues including any ethical considerations in relation to a planned change initiative.
• Formulate, effectively communicate and implement change initiatives and strategies for organisations.

The subject highlights the importance of consumer behaviour and customer experience concepts and theories in understanding the consumer decision making process as well as the customer journey. The subject addresses knowledge and analytical skills to assess the influence of various factors in consumer decision making and understand the importance of integration and measurement of customer experience.

Pre-requisites: Marketing Management

• Critically analyse the influence of various factors on consumer decision-making and purchasing behaviour.
• Demonstrate the ability to evaluate, synthesise and apply innovative approaches, techniques and perspectives to consumer behaviour and customer experience management.
• Recommend appropriate marketing strategies in a variety of marketing scenarios based on in-depth analysis of consumer behaviour within target markets.
• Communicate customer experience knowledge, skills and ideas to others clearly, persuasively and credibly through customer journey mapping, deriving recommendations to enhance customer experience.

There is an expectation that modern enterprises engage in digital marketing providing positive brand experiences for their customers and other stakeholders. Digital marketing is increasingly important to understand, because customers engage online and offline with brands. This subject is designed to provide students with an understanding of digital marketing. Students will learn about the various types of digital marketing as well as to how to plan, deploy, manage and evaluate a digital marketing strategy.

Pre-requisites: Marketing Management

On completion of this subject participants should be able to:

• Demonstrate an advanced understanding of contemporary new digital marketing theory and practice.
• Examine digital marketing theory, measures and practice to create a comprehensive digital marketing audit.
• Critically analyse various metrics, innovative approaches, techniques and ethical perspective to design a digital marketing strategy.
• Communicate digital marketing strategies, tactics and measures to others clearly, persuasively and credibly.

This subject provides a contemporary understanding of international business and its complexities including the role of multinational firms. Students will gain insights into the roles played by formal and informal institutions on the performance of their firm. Students will examine how countries trade with each other and how organisations implement various international strategies to compete globally and obtain competitive advantage.

On completion of this subject participants should be able to:

• Demonstrate advanced understanding of contemporary International Business theories, concepts and principles, and their application in practice
• Critically evaluate the role and impact of country-level macro environment and institutions to make appropriate recommendations for a business operating internationally.
• Critically evaluate various international strategies and entry modes and make appropriate recommendations for a business operating internationally.
• Plan and effectively communicate a relevant and evidence-based international business activity for an organisation with ethical considerations.

This subject focuses on the design of effective procurement and global logistics systems and how such systems can be improved during periods of uncertainty. It covers areas such as customer relationship management, warehousing and packaging, and transportation. It explains how these elements combine to form a logistics network. Students will analyse the impacts and opportunities of uncertainty on procurement and logistics management.

Pre-requisites: Operations Strategy and Management

On completion of this subject participants should be able to:

• Critically analyse procurement and global logistics systems in the times of uncertainty using relevant theories and frameworks.
• Develop evidence-based recommendations to improve procurement and logistics systems.
• Synthesise and communicate procurement and global logistics management knowledge to inform practice.

Today’s business and economy happens in a global and circular supply chain. Successful organisations in various sectors (e.g. service, public, NFP, manufacturing) strategically collaborate with their local and/or global supply chain partners to  gain competitive advantage and create more value for the end customers. Well-managed adaptive supply chains help them win and retain customers, unravel opportunities, and leverage digital trends to achieve and sustain long term value creation. This subject takes a strategic and global approach to Supply Chain Management and covers key principles, frameworks, and contemporary topics.

Pre-requisites: Operations Strategy and Management

On completion of this subject participants should be able to:

• Demonstrate advanced understanding of global supply chain management principles, frameworks, and contemporary trends.
• Critically analyse, reflect on, and synthesise complex information, problems, principles and frameworks related to supply chain management at the strategic and global level.
• Research and apply relevant principles and frameworks to develop innovative, evidence-based and sustainable solutions to navigate the supply chain landscape.
• Clearly, concisely and credibly communicate strategic and global supply chain management knowledge to specialist and non-specialist audiences to inform practice and showcase competencies as future ready SC leaders.

Directed Study requires students to undertake a specific project to further their disciplinary study and theory application in addition to the final MBA Project. The Directed Study is an individual project which is supervised by one or more academic staff member(s), based on topics that are aligned with the discipline expertise offered at AIB. The topic and assessment pieces are developed in consultation with the academic supervisor(s).  Meetings between the student and the staff member(s) are periodic and at the request of the student or the staff member(s). The staff member(s) may set milestones and timelines for the student to meet. The subject provides scaffolding for the design and development of an individual research project and for the application of theory in a practical workplace context. Please note, Directed Study is not intended to be a replacement for an existing subject.

Pre-requisites: All AQF Level 8 subjects.

On completion of this subject participants should be able to:

• Demonstrate advanced understanding of the design and implementation of an individual project.
• Evaluate and synthesise existing research to enable the creative planning and execution of scholarship in a practical, real-world context.
• Design and implement an individual project for the application of theory in a practical workplace context.