The Cardiff Met MBA

Advanced Entry Programme by Distance Learning

Enables students with a suitable Postgraduate Diploma in Business Management to enter the dissertation phase of the MBA Distance Learning Programme

Located in the beautiful city of Cardiff, the 2010 Guardian and Times Good University Guides rank Cardiff Met amongst the top modern universities in the UK. Cardiff Met was also recently ranked as the top University in the UK for two years running for the quality of its international student experience by the International Student Barometer (ISB). The MBA is delivered by the Cardiff School of Management, one of Cardiff Mets five academic schools and with approximately 1000 students, the course is one of the largest in Europe. It is an internationally recognised and respected qualification attracting students from the public and private sectors in the UK and Overseas.

If you have a suitable Postgraduate Diploma in Business Management which has been approved by the School, you can apply for direct entry to the dissertation phase of the MBA Distance Learning Programme. It is a popular choice with individuals committed to developing their careers in senior management and who therefore need an understanding of all the major functions of business and management, and an acute awareness of key contemporary management challenges of global competition and climate change. The MBA Programme is designed to both challenge and support students and encourage them to explore ideas and develop knowledge and personal qualities, all which provide the students with the best chance of succeeding in the increasingly complex and fast changing environment of todays job market.

Welcome from the Dean

In a challenging and complex economic climate, there is an ever-increasing demand for managers with the requisite skills, understanding and acumen to tackle the difficult demands facing organisations of all sizes. If you aspire to make a significant contribution to managing and leading at a strategic level in the real world, this is the course for you. Our MBA is benchmarked against the best of those offered by modern universities in the UK and tested with major employers and leading professional institutes for real world relevance. I hope you decide to join us at Cardiff School of Management and I look forward to helping you gain an internationally renowned qualification and the skills and knowledge to make an immediate impact in the workplace.
Professor David Brooksbank Dean of the Cardiff School of Management

TEACHING AND ASSESSMENT

The course will build on previous postgraduate studies and work experience and enable students to achieve a Masters qualification. The course is delivered and supported entirely through the Blackboard Virtual Learning Environment, offering the flexibility to study around existing commitments. All Distance Learning students join the MBA programme at the dissertation phase and complete a compulsory Research Methods module and a dissertation. Students are taught, supported and supervised entirely through the online Blackboard Virtual Learning Environment. All students will be provided with additional support via email and telephone.

THE RESEARCH METHODS MODULE

This module provides a comprehensive introduction to research as practiced in business and management disciplines. It provides an overview of the key quantitative and qualitative methodologies required to undertake, evaluate and present a small scale research project, while helping students to build appropriate strategies for reviewing literature and developing a coherent set of aims and objectives for a research study. The module covers the major research methods (observation, surveys, case studies, interviews and action research), the implications of applying them, the analysis of qualitative and quantitative data and the presentation of findings. It identifies how to develop research questions/hypotheses and how to produce a robust and realistic research proposal and research design considering issues of date validation, triangulation and reliability.

THE DISSERTATION
Building on the Research Methods module, students will produce an independent research project of approximately 10,000 -15,000 words in length. It is an intellectually challenging piece of individual management research which provides students with the opportunity to explore and produce an in-depth management study of particular interest to them. Students are required to: Critically evaluate major schools of thought within relevant management theory Discriminate between research methods in order to make appropriate selections in conducting management and organisational research Translate theory into practice through the study of its application in the real world and undertake empirical research in this area Draw conclusions about the implications of the results for managerial decision-making Despite being an independent research project, students are supported throughout the whole process by the team of dedicated Cardiff School of Management Supervisors. All students will be assigned a Personal Tutor who will provide regular feedback and advice on the students progress.

Case Study: Elton Lima, Pune, India

The focus of my dissertation is the implementation of leadership models in sales environments of financial institutions in India. In todays competitive business environment, few disagree with the fact that effective leadership is a vital factor in any organisation's success. My endeavour is to further prove and reinforce this current core vitality of Business Management from a practical perspective. My dissertation exposes and analyses the weaknesses and barriers that are faced by a leader and makes recommendations based on widely-researched leadership models and theories. The process behind the development of my dissertation has sharpened my analytical skills and innovative thinking. This experience of passionate research has changed my outlook on a leadership in business management and set a benchmark upon which I will improve my leadership skills. The dissertation was intellectually challenging requiring tremendous dedication and hard work. It was, however, also extremely enriching and I benefited enormously from the constant input and support of my supervisors.

THE APPLICATION FORM MUST BE RETURNED WITH ALL SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION BY POST TO:
MBA Team Cardiff School of Management Cardiff Metropolitan University Western Avenue Cardiff CF5 2SG Alternatively, the documentation can be scanned and emailed to: mbadl@cardiffmet.ac.uk