| Code | Faculty | Department |
|---|---|---|
| 07254022 | Gordon Institute of Business Science | Department: Gordon Institute of Business Science |
| Credits | Duration | NQF level |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum duration of study: 1 year | Total credits: 180 | NQF level: 09 |
The degree comprises the writing of a mini-dissertation and coursework.
Full particulars of the degree programme are contained in a brochure which is available from the departmental website.
General Admission Regulations:
Refer to the UP Institutional Admissions Policy as well as the General Academic Regulations and Student Rules (Go to https://www.up.ac.za/
Minimum admissions requirements:
Application process:
Candidates will be subjected to a selection process:
NB: All modules are compulsory. Candidates must pass all the modules, including the mini-dissertation, to qualify for the MPhil degree.
Refer to General Academic Regulations G30-G41.
Refer to the GIBS student guidelines and regulations.
The Dean may authorise matters not provided for in the General Academic Regulations or in the GIBS regulations
Refer to the GIBS student guidelines and regulations.
Students are required to pass all core modules with total of 156 credits. Modules can be repeated only once.
Students must complete elective modules from the list provided in the yearbook.
The total number of credits for elective modules must total 24.
The total number of credits required to qualify for the Master of Philosophy is 180 credits.
Module content:
This module helps students to conceptualise a research design. It covers how the choice of a research design relates to the chosen analytic method (Qualitative Research, Quantitative Research or Mixed Methods). Students are expected to relate the business challenge to the research design and to justify the selection of a given design for a given problem. The objectives of the module are to help students: make informed decisions about their research design; and understand the implications of selecting a given research design in particular around the questions that can be answered.
Module content:
This module aims to provide students with a history of the philosophical thinking that underpins human action in organisations and how contextual or technological disruptions impact business strategies. The focus will also be on potential impact to organisations, but climate changes and other macro-issues include migration and inequalities will also be considered.
Module content:
The aim of this module is to consider a set of themes that are key to developing an understanding of the current macro-environment of business and its forces, influences and consequences. The development of the Sustainable Development Goals and its importance both globally and locally, demands the integration of values across the value-chain. The rise of the responsible investment movement demands that social, environmental and governance (ESG) priorities shape business operations. Global sustainability reporting standards sets the scene for how organisations will build reputational capital in the future. Although the specific content of the module will vary according to events and dynamics currently being experienced, the underlying tools of analysis allow the students to develop a fuller understanding of how to analyse the most important dynamics that are at play in the macro-environment of business at any time, and thus to identify the implications for their businesses and stakeholders and prepare their businesses for change.
Module content:
This module will offer students a holistic insight into the process and skills of making strategic decisions in the context of new economies. Armed with an array of strategic options, students must be able to evaluate the adequacy of a given strategy using sense-making, creative, humanistic and ethical decision-making capabilities.
Module content:
This module will offer students a holistic insight into the process and skills of making strategic decisions in the context of new economies. Armed with an array of strategic options, students must be able to evaluate the adequacy of a given strategy using sense-making, creative, humanistic and ethical decision-making capabilities.
Module content:
The module covers the fundamentals of international trade between South Africa and China. The module offers a comprehensive overview of the political, economic, cultural, trade and investment environments in China, including the legal and regulatory context in which South African companies transact business with China. The module will explore China’s recent initiatives to develop African infrastructure and in particular its global initiative known as One Road, One Belt (BRI).
Students will learn about China’s recent developments in renewable energy, solar panels and electric vehicles, and the impact this green technology has had upon China’s economy and the world.
Module content:
This module introduces the students to the Sustainability Mindset as a way to help you understand, analyse and make meaning of the current complex social and environmental landscape.
Module content:
This elective provides an introduction to climate change, the risks and opportunities it presents to business; global efforts to address climate change from an African perspective; specific disclosure and reporting requirements for JSE listed companies; how business leaders can influence climate debates in Africa; and opportunities to take action to build resilience, to mitigate and adapt to climate change in their own business, their supply chain and industry.
Module content:
This elective is designed to provide an overview of an ESG framework, discuss how companies reformulate corporate purpose, embrace the SDGs, ensure ESG compliance throughout value chains, integrate circular economy principles, mitigate reputational- and compliance risk, develop effective nonmarket strategies and disclose information.
This elective will provide cutting-edge research with global best practices using several case studies to create a unique, and valuable learning experience.
Module content:
Companies across the globe and in South Africa have realised how critical it is to rethink the design, development, manufacturing and distribution process in order to meet the needs and price points of consumers with limited resources in low-income markets. While this market was largely serviced in the past by informal businesses that helped grow a vibrant informal economy, the big retail and food manufacturing firms have realised the critical importance of playing within this economy.
Module content:
This module will provide MBA students with skills to assess and manage inherent marketing risks in global markets, including political, economic, and legal uncertainties. This risk management expertise ensures the sustainability of international business operations. Effective cross-cultural communication is another pivotal aspect of the module, enabling students to communicate persuasively and respectfully in diverse cultural contexts, which fosters strong business and marketing relationships.
Module content:
This elective will introduce a novel taxonomy of business environments across the continent. The taxonomy aligns non-market strategies to institution types. Students will be presented with a contemporary framework for analysing institutions followed by detailed case studies of four African countries with contrasting institutions.
Module content:
This elective seeks to provide students with the knowledge, skills and mindsets to prevent and, when required, to navigate their organisations and personal brands in times of crisis. During the elective, students will learn about the theoretical principles that support the prevention and effective, ethical management of corporate crises.
Module content:
This elective will equip students with the relevant climate and biodiversity expertise and knowledge to respond to shareholders and other stakeholders’ expectations, needs and questions on these topics.
Module content:
This high-energy interactive, workshop-style elective aims to provide the students with the motivation, skills and tools they need to find and start the right sustainable ‘side hustle’ for themselves. The elective is suitable everyone, whether or not they have any prior entrepreneurial experience. All that is needed is some curiosity and the passion to make a difference in the world.
Module content:
The ability of organisations to maintain financial health and viability over the long-term requires financial sustainability strategies that enable firms to remain efficient and resilient. A common theme of many organisational failures, financial crises, and business leaders’ puzzling investment decisions, is the tendency to sacrifice long-term interests for short-term gain. This elective aims to enhance the students’ ability to develop financial sustainability strategies, grounded in behavioural economics theory, that deliver results for today and prepare for sustainable future success.
Module content:
This module is tailored to equip students with the essential skills required for effective problem-solving and decision-making in the field of digital product management. The curriculum is designed to address the unique challenges of the African market and other dynamic global markets, with a strong emphasis on ethical decision-making and innovative solution design.
Module content:
This elective will explore the potential for technological leapfrogging in Africa and the challenges that need to be overcome. Students will learn about the latest trends in technology and how they can be applied to African problems. They will also learn about the importance of government policy and private sector investment in promoting technological leapfrogging.
Module content:
Through the perspectives of neuroscience studies, students can gain a fundamentally new understanding and appreciation of leadership. By examining the brain processes that underlie decision-making, emotional regulation, influence, social dynamics and other relevant topics, students can create valuable insights that might elevate their leadership strategies.
By the end of this elective, students will gain a profound understanding of the neurological underpinnings of leadership and the ability to apply this knowledge to enhance their leadership capabilities to navigate the complexities of the modern business world with confidence.
Module content:
The elective will follow the development and application of justice in health care by examining a variety of health care leadership and management scenarios derived from case law which continue to be relevant in our changing world. We explore and discuss the leadership challenges that arose in health care after the adoption of the Constitution and the way those challenges were resolved and decided in the interest of justice.
Module content:
In an era marked by rapid digital evolution and economic complexities, this module equips the student with a multifaceted toolkit for the future. Dive into crafting innovative strategies with a keen eye on the digital landscape and transition from traditional leadership to becoming enablers of innovation. This module will show students how to master data-driven decisions, enabling them to action value-driven outcomes while fostering a forward-thinking mindset.
This comprehensive approach improves leadership foresight, ensuring the deployment of adaptive strategies for the future work ecosystem.
Module content:
This module aims to provide students with a thorough understanding of pricing strategies from both theoretical and practical perspectives.
Building capabilities for superior pricing and margin management leads to significant and sustained increases in revenue and profitability for companies.
Module content:
This class examines how businesses in the sports and entertainment industry create, capture, and sustain value. Sports and entertainment business differ from more traditional product- or service-based businesses in that the value they create centres mostly around an experience that is often fleeting, delivered in the form of an event. Yet even though the events they deliver are often fleeting, such businesses can also create strong followings of enthusiastic fans and communities that may sustain and enhance their value proposition over time. Sports and entertainment business depend on a diverse array of stakeholders including players, performers, or participants, media partners, sponsors, audiences, and others. All these factors make managing a business in the sports and entertainment industry complex and challenging, but also incredibly interesting. In this class we will examine the strategies and approaches that underlie business success in the sports and entertainment industry.
Module content:
In this elective, participants will work in teams on real world businesses to learn and apply this proven and practical approach strategy development. At the top level, participants will learn how create and align the three key pillars of strategy: 1. Value proposition: the utility buyers receive from the product or service minus the price they pay for it. 2. Profit proposition: the price of the offering minus the cost of producing and distributing it. 3. People proposition: the readiness of employees to execute the new strategy with all of their energy, to the best of their abilities, and voluntarily.
Module content:
As we embrace digital transformation, healthcare leadership must also evolve, adapting to leverage opportunities as well as align actions to global ESGs.
This module offers the student insights pertinent for healthcare management, guiding them to transition from conventional healthcare leadership to an innovation-enabling role, grasping the full scope of technology's impact on healthcare operations and delivery. With a keen focus on data, students are ensured to make impactful, value-driven decisions, nurturing a forward-looking perspective in healthcare.
Module content:
This elective aims to equip students with crucial skills for effective stakeholder engagement, vital for navigating today’s complex business environments, with a focus on promoting sustainability aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Module content:
This elective introduces the global climate finance architecture, which is the network of institutions that provide financing for climate change mitigation and adaptation initiatives. The mechanisms for reducing emissions are discussed, with a view towards effecting a just transition to a net-zero economy. The barriers to private investment in climate change related initiatives, particularly in adaptation, are analysed, as well as potential means of overcoming them.
Module content:
The elective offers a transformative learning experience, equipping students with the necessary knowledge and skills to thrive in the modern business landscape. With AI rapidly reshaping industries, this elective addresses the critical need for business leaders to harness AI's power strategically and responsibly. The elective seeks to empower students to become future-ready business leaders capable of navigating the complexities of AI integration and leading with innovation and ethical decision-making.
Module content:
Regulatory changes over the last few years have increased the pressure on the financial expertise required of senior managers and board members. This elective will look at the current regulations and requirements needed to meet the increasing demands on organisations. Students will be exposed to the latest methods to handle this technically demanding and changing environment. The focus will change year on year depending on what the current trends are, and students are advised to consult the elective manual each year for further guidance.
Module content:
Technology continues to disrupt and reshape most disciplines and industries, demanding that marketers and business continuously re-think how they deliver value to customers, adapt and re-purpose their marketing processes and value propositions delivery.
Technological advancements, which has birthed digital marketing, should naturally lead great efficiencies, more opportunities, and in some instances, levelling the playing field between established business and start-ups.
Module content:
Students will learn to apply coaching ethics and standards, design and implement coaching programmes within their organisations, conduct baseline assessments, and evaluate coaching effectiveness through structured feedback mechanisms. This hands-on experience will prepare them to integrate coaching as a strategic leadership tool in their professional environments.
Module content:
This elective explores social enterprises and hybrid organisations, examining how they balance social and economic goals while navigating complex stakeholder environments. Students will critically analyse managerial decisions, resourcing strategies, and stakeholder engagement to understand the unique challenges these enterprises face. Case studies from South Africa, Kenya, Ghana, and Ethiopia provide real-world insights into how context influences success. Through interactive lectures, discussions, and group projects, participants will develop practical skills for managing social enterprises effectively.
Module content:
Kenya provides the opportunity to understand the power of leapfrogging - adopting and leveraging innovations to drive social and economic gains. It is an exemplary case of efficiency in logistics in the cut flowers sector and is a leader on the continent where it pertains to climate change. In the coming years, as the continent grapples with policies around carbon taxation (CBAM) imposed by the EU, Kenya provides a key ally in accessing the EU market. The elective will blend academic rigor with practical exposure, cultural immersion, and networking opportunities.
Module content:
Traditional manufacturing value chains are being disrupted by the convergence of emerging technologies and the evolution of manufacturing business models. Beyond industrial automation this course explores the rise of semi and fully autonomous smart factories. Students will explore how emerging technologies (i.e., AI/ML, IIoT, Big Data Analytics, Robotics and Autonomous Systems, AR/VR, Cloud and Edge Computing, Digital Twins) enable the rise of cyber- physical systems within production environments. By analysing real-world case studies participants will learn the strategic and operational impacts of this transition, preparing them to lead smart factory transformation initiatives in their respective manufacturing environments.
Module content:
In today's rapidly evolving business landscape, manufacturing companies face unique challenges and opportunities in marketing their products and services. The Strategic Marketing for Manufacturers elective is designed to equip sales and marketing professionals in the manufacturing sector with cutting-edge strategies, tools, and skills necessary to drive growth and enhance competitive advantage. Students will gain a comprehensive understanding of customer relationship management tailored for manufacturing, advanced sales techniques specific to the industry, innovative marketing strategies, and the latest digital marketing trends.
Module content:
Conflict is inevitable; it's what we do with it that matters. This elective empowers leaders to be responsive to conflict as it arises and to create environments that foster a positive, restorative workplace culture. Through its focus on three key areas, namely, structural violence, restorative justice and transformative mediation, leaders will come away from the module knowing what approach to take in response to issues pre-emptively and as they arise.
Module content:
The aim of this module is to provide a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between business and climate change, discussing the negative impact of businesses and their potential contribution to reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases. Students will gain academic and practical literacy in the climate change domain, understanding the political context that can shape companies' environmental behaviour as well as issues relevant to business managers, policy makers, NGO activists and citizen-consumers.
Module content:
The module comprises of immersive, transformational learning experiences that address systemic 'polycrises' in complex emerging market contexts. Blending academic insight with practical engagement, the module combines business interaction and socio-cultural immersions to equip MBA and master’s students with the knowledge, perspective, and experience needed to confront and respond to major global challenges. The module will strengthen their ability to lead in complex, uncertain, and rapidly changing environments. The module is offered over a week and includes in class time and external excursions. A deeply South African experience for local and international students.
Module content:
This module provides a transformative exploration into the evolving role of business in society and provides a deep dive into the challenges and opportunities that define capitalism today. From purpose-driven management to the intersection of business and the planet, students will explore innovative ideas that challenge traditional models and propose new pathways for responsible leadership. The module addresses critical themes such as corporate governance, ESG, human rights, and the future of business education. Students will reflect on their roles as leaders, envisioning a world where businesses not only thrive but contribute positively to society and the environment. Students will gain the tools and perspectives to lead with purpose, create lasting impact, and shape the future of business in a rapidly changing world.
Module content:
This module examines how an organisation’s structures, systems and processes contribute to its competitive position. This involves management of the processes whereby inputs such as labour, materials and equipment are converted to products or services that meet customers’ needs at an acceptable cost. Improving performance cross-functionally and across the value chain is an important focus. Topics include functional versus corporate operations strategy, operations’ reactive role, service-delivery systems design, process choice, quality management and improving operations, time and productivity, aligning operations to markets, and the impact of technology developments on the service delivery system. You will be able to analyse an operating system’s efficiency in terms of process design, capacity and quality of service, and make recommendations to improve its design or operation. You will have a greater appreciation of the need to manage integrated processes across the value chain to achieve business success.
Module content:
This elective will focus on the latest thoughts and academic knowledge on lean production management philosophies and practices through manufacturing supply chains. The following will also be considered, how leading manufacturers internationally secure strategic alignment through their supply chains and create learning processes that lead to superior operational performance at vendors, and within their own operations.
Module content:
This elective focuses on the critical role of industrial and trade policy in shaping opportunities for industrialisation. The case study material covered in respect of South Africa is particularly important. By focusing on South Africa’s evolving industrial policy landscape, the course highlights both the opportunities for, and the limitations of, industrial policy in a developing economy context.
Module content:
Manufacturing is often derided as a polluting activity responsible for much of the damage that has been done to the world’s environment. Limiting the environmental damage of manufacturing (while continuing to benefit from the wealth it creates) has consequently become a central focus of policy makers and business executives, hence the growth of environmental laws (and taxes) governing manufacturing processes and manufactured products, and the associated setting of specific environmentally-based standards through manufacturing supply chains. This elective will focus on the latest legislative requirements governing manufacturing processes.
Module content:
This elective is intended to challenge students to use their strategic understanding of manufacturing to consider its future development trajectory. The elective is consequently structured to be exploratory in nature, focusing on a range of potentially major (or minor) shifts in manufacturing.
Module content:
Gamification is the process through which people are motivated or engaged through game-design elements. This is done to create game-like experiences in domains different to the ones in which games are normally played.
Gamification involves persuasive system design for user engagement, personal learning, organisational effectiveness, urban management, green energy usage, and social change among others.
Module content:
This elective explores how workplace or managerial coaching can be used to improve strategy implementation, change leadership, employee performance and wellbeing and to equip managers with skills for workplace coaching.
Module content:
This course will cover the key aspects of effective business and supply chain risk and how to build an effective risk management program to help ensure resiliency in the face of an unpredictable world.
Module content:
This elective details how the private sector can better engage, bridging the language used in government, government priorities, and developing partnerships with government.
Module content:
This elective examines how to design and manage environmentally and socially responsible business operations and how to derive value and increased long term profitability through sustainable business operations. A business approach will be highlighted in terms of management of environmental risks, key environmental sustainability performance indicators and dashboards.
Module content:
This elective aims to create a space where students will explore racism and how it operates. They will build critical insights, competence and an ability to mobilise workplace communities. They will become more adept at using a variety of conversation approaches to foster understanding and engagement, while growing their competence as allies and anti-racist practitioners.
Module content:
This elective will provide a different lens through which students can learn about the African continent, how people live and engage in different contexts and how stories are relayed through key characters.
Module content:
In a world filled with misinformation, rhetoric and other undue influences, it is vital that business leaders are able to discern the quality of the arguments and "facts" presented to them in order to develop sound ideas and thoughts concerning complex business problems. This elective will prepare students to be able to critically analyse, interpret, and synthesize information.
Module content:
This elective on the development of entrepreneurship from the inside-out focuses on three main elements. First, entrepreneurs are faced with a myriad of challenges, including persuading others by displaying their passion, as well as failure, making the role of personal emotion and its regulation during the entrepreneurial journey an important foundational theme. Second, we expand the role of emotion by exploring the cognitive processes of entrepreneurial action through experiential peer coaching activities. Here, students will be challenged to develop their cognitive resources such as adaptability and learning skills related to entrepreneurial action. Lastly, the behavioural dimensions are simplified into intra- and inter-personal meta-skills that individuals need to build the agility, resilience, and social networks essential for entrepreneurial sustainability and success.
Module content:
The so-called Green Economy is a nexus of many environmental and social issues that derive from climate change and inequality. Protecting the environment is highly interconnected with how human beings use land for food production, the use of water, carbon emissions from food production, and food waste. These issues are critical in the African continent with poverty and inequality are prevalent.
Module content:
Rwanda has a recent history of innovation, entrepreneurship and economic progress through top-down public leadership and global partnerships. The country has a brutal history and there remain political problems but it also shows what is possible. Students will visit incubation hubs, innovation-led institutions and pioneering companies in and around Kigali over 3 days to understand how to create economic change in the African context.
Module content:
This elective explores teams as nexus of change between the individual and the organisation and provides students with key ingredients for building thriving teams that can drive and lead change initiatives in organisations.
Module content:
This elective will prepare our students to lead in complex contexts through the lessons from important leaders and moments in South Africa’s history. The key focus will be on diverse stakeholder leadership, opportunity identification, paradigm shifts and self-management. Students will read theory on public leadership, review biographies and visit key sites. They will leave with an understanding of how to identify leadership opportunities in their own lives.
Module content:
Behavioural finance provides insights into how market participants and investors act inductively - each creating their own set of predictors, beliefs and hypotheses (internal models) - and respond to the current state of the market based on their currently most accurate information. This insight helps market participants to successfully navigate complex adaptive financial markets and to better understand and account for market phenomena such as the emergence of market psychology, fat-tail distribution events, asset price bubbles, financial crashes, market anomalies and random periods of high or low volatility.
Module content:
This elective will allow students to identify and understand issues related to venture failure, identify and solve problems associated with venture decline by using critical and creative thinking. Students will gain an understanding of the holistic approach to venture failure by considering the people, the environment and the venture issues, working effectively with others as a member of a team and group.
Module content:
This elective aims to discuss the art and science of management consulting. Students will be tasked to integrate various skills, competencies and tools of high relevance to management consulting so that they can develop their own frameworks and meta-frameworks as part of their consulting toolbox.
Module content:
The objective of this elective is to popularize the Search Fund model in Africa, and give students the knowledge, skill and networks necessary to pursue (or otherwise participate in) one at some point in their careers. Students will gain an understanding of Search Funds (how to run the process, set targets, select companies) and how to conduct a due diligence.
Module content:
The aim of this elective is to conceptualise and define the political economy of various Asian countries while students unpack what forces are accounting for high growth in certain Asian countries. Students will reflect and learn from the key management challenges when operating in Asia and unpack the relationship between state and business in various Asian economies as well as compare and contrast development paths of different Asian countries.
Module content:
This elective builds on a strong theoretical foundation and leading edge research on creativity and imaginativeness. It develops the student’s ability to see challenges in new ways, builds on their intuition and imagination and expands their creative horizons. It is presented in a highly interactive format to ensure the full engagement that characterises the state of flow.
Module content:
More than ever, Information technology (I.T.) is dramatically transforming the business and public-sector landscape and is having a direct impact on our prospects, our existing/future customers and society. In the past the business architecture and business strategies would be depicted and then they would verbalize the need to I.T to enable and execute on the need. The model has now been turned on its head and recently seen a shift where technology is influencing and significantly affecting the strategic landscape and direct business model from the onset which needs to be core to the businesses strategic landscape, in turn creates opportunities and constraints that Senior Executives and Managers need to address in many aspects to drive their
digital imperative.
Module content:
The purpose of the module is to create the space for students to explore their distinctive and authentic leadership qualities to enable them to impact the leadership culture of their manufacturing organisations positively. By understanding how their personal narrative relates to theories on women in leadership, students will recognise their barriers and opportunities in effectively supporting other women within their organisations, the field of manufacturing and STEM related occupations as a whole.
Module content:
In contrast to a long only fund trying to beat the market, a hedge fund has the task of having its long portfolio beat its short portfolio. The benefit of being able to have a negative exposure to shares, allows for two major advantages a hedge fund has over vanilla long only funds: The first is the ability of the short portfolio to be the source of funding for the long portfolio - thus the strategies can be self-funding. The second is that by careful choice of the weights of constituent stocks, the hedge fund can be made neutral, not only to the market itself, but also to several macro-economic factors. This elective teaches students how to select stocks for both long and short portfolios, how to choose weights so as to make it market and factor neutral, and finally, how to manage the whole hedge fund, managing risk on a day to day basis.
Module content:
This elective aims to introduce students to theory and practice of employee happiness and well-being, and its role in organizational outcomes. Specifically, providing an overview of the latest research on employee happiness and well-being, the relationship between employee happiness and well-being and organizational outcomes, and case studies on practical methods to implement employee happiness and well-being strategy.
Module content:
This elective aims to introduce students to the science resilience, the process of positively adapting to adversity. Specifically, in this elective students will explore the capabilities, skills, and self-care practices that contribute to building personal resilience to meet both professional and personal challenges.
Module content:
This elective develops a toolkit and interventions based on principles and experiments that have practical value for business. A distinct selection of principles and methods from diverse fields will be demonstrated and applied. These techniques are aimed at enabling behavioural shifts for business impact. Students will develop essential insights into these methods and will apply the learning by creating persuasive interventions to shift behaviour.
Module content:
This elective teaches the skills for communicating when the stakes are high, opinions vary, and emotions run strong. Students will learn the dialogue skills—as demonstrated by top performers—that empower them to talk with anyone about anything, helping reach alignment and agreement on important matters. These skills turn into behaviours that improve decision-making, commitment to action, productivity, improved relationships and enhanced accountability. As these behaviours become consistent, they empower organisations, teams, and individuals to develop high-performance cultures based on trust and respect.
Module content:
A 3-day workshop-styled programme covering the broad field of negotiation. This is an advanced programme aimed at negotiations of high financial value and significant consequence of error.
Module content:
The module explains how to analyse and respond to different contextual dynamics by developing appropriate partnership strategies. It reflects on an organisation’s contextual factors and dynamics that influence the partnership negotiation and implementation processes, paying special attention to the influence of characteristics unique to the African context.
Module content:
This elective will enable students to view the latest models and theories that surround doing business the global economy. This elective builds on the concepts covered in the core programme and therefore the topics chosen will be very substantive. The focus will change year on year depending on what the current trends are and students are advised to consult the elective manual each year for further guidance.
Module content:
Strategy has become a key concept associated with organisational success or failure. Through a case method approach, this elective will provide students with a more in depth perspective of the current best practices for developing and executing strategy in the current business environment and will build on what was covered in the core curriculum. The focus will change year on year depending on what the current trends are and students are advised to consult the elective manual each year for further guidance.
Module content:
External factors and shifts in the political, social, technological, demographic, legal and regulatory environments all have an impact on organisations and their ability to remain relevant, competitive and to grow. These shifts are further accelerated by the “age of disruption” – which the World Economic Forum titles the Fourth Industrial Revolution This rapidly evolving external environment has resulted in a need to create more agile and competitive strategies.
Module content:
This highly practical module aims to equip the participants with various practical tools and tactics that will enable them to become an adaptive and effective management consultant.
Module content:
The elective will introduce students to the concept of sustainable development from ethical, economic and corporate governance perspectives. The field of sustainability has grown in recent years and with more regulations being introduced across various countries the importance for managers to have understanding of this environment has grown too. The focus will change year on year depending on what the current trends are and students are advised to consult the elective manual each year for further guidance.
Module content:
In this elective, you will be exposed to the latest theory and models based on Entrepreneurship. On completion of this module, you will be able to analyse, evaluate and offer solutions to local or global businesses from an entrepreneurship perspective. The focus will change year on year depending on what the current trends are and students are advised to consult the elective manual each year for further guidance.
Module content:
Regulatory changes over the last few years have increased the pressure on the financial expertise required of senior managers and board members. This elective will look at the current regulations and requirements needed to meet the increasing demands on organisations. Students will be exposed to the latest methods to handle this technically demanding and changing environment. The focus will change year on year depending on what the current trends are and students are advised to consult the elective manual each year for further guidance.
Module content:
The elective will introduce students to the concept of sustainable development from ethical, economic and corporate governance perspectives. The field of sustainability has grown in recent years and with more regulations being introduced across various countries the importance for managers to have understanding of this environment has grown too. The focus will change year on year depending on what the current trends are and students are advised to consult the elective manual each year for further guidance.
Module content:
The aim of this elective is to expose students to the current research in the field of general management at a local and international level. Students attending this elective will gain a deeper understanding of the opportunities and challenges of managing a business in the current economic environment. The focus will change year on year depending on what the current trends are and students are advised to consult the elective manual each year for further guidance.
Module content:
Building an agile and innovative organisation has become a critical requirement to participate successfully in the current competitive landscape. In this elective students will build a working knowledge on the fundamentals requisite for an innovation culture to flourish. Through cases, company discussions and mixed media methods, students will also cover the components, structures, processes and mind-sets involved in developing a functional innovation system. The focus will change year on year depending on what the current trends are and students are advised to consult the elective manual each year for further guidance.
Module content:
The elective will focus on the contemporary emerging thoughts and theories surrounding the knowledge economy. After attending this elective, students will apply the necessary tools and frameworks to develop strategies which will assist in bridging the gap between information systems and the information managers. The focus will change year on year depending on what the current trends are and students are advised to consult the elective manual each year for further guidance.
Module content:
This elective is based on the principle that understanding oneself is the first step towards becoming an effective leader. Students will be exposed to current theory and practice in the field of leadership. Exercises and discussions will assist students to understand leadership at a personal level and prepare them to develop strategies for personal improvement The focus will change year on year depending on what the current trends are and students are advised to consult the elective manual each year for further guidance.
Module content:
This elective is based on the principle that understanding oneself is the first step towards becoming an effective leader. Students will be exposed to current theory and practice in the field of leadership. Exercises and discussions will assist students to understand leadership at a personal level and prepare them to develop strategies for personal improvement. The focus will change year on year depending on what the current trends are. and students are advised to consult the elective manual each year for further guidance.
Module content:
The supply chain plays a vital role in the success of organisations. Supply chain management is responsible for ensuring the flow or products, information information and money to ensure value is added to the end consumers and return on capital employed for the entire supply chain is improved. As the networks become more complex, with more variability and the customer’s expectation of shorter lead times, there is a need to give students a more in-depth understanding of this function, viewed from a systems perspective. This means the focus has to change from make and sell what can be made (push-and -promote) to make and sell what can be sold (position-and-pull).
Module content:
This elective will explore the most significant challenges and opportunities that face managers working in Africa. The interplay between economics, politics and social wellbeing will be explored at a macro and micro level. The focus will change year on year depending on what the current trends are.
Module content:
This elective will enable students to view the latest models and theories that surround doing business the global economy. This elective builds on the concepts covered in the core programme and therefore the topics chosen will be very substantive. The focus will change year on year depending on what the current trends are.
Module content:
This elective looks at the importance of managing stakeholders through focusing on the possible ways to minimise threats and as well as maximise opportunities. Students will be exposed to the contemporary issues that surround the factors that impact on stakeholder management as well as the factors that assist in building these relationships. The focus will change year on year depending on what the current trends are.
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This elective examines the media as a vital mechanism in connecting different segments of society through information and content generation and dissemination, facilitating interaction, and shaping public opinion and perceptions. As such, the media is understood to be the thread that connects different stakeholders, and that links them with their global environment.
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This elective is designed for executives, senior managers and graduates wishing to enter the field of management consulting. This course will provide them with a comprehensive overview of the practice and processes involved in management consulting. It will address the management consulting competency framework, consulting lifecycle, interpersonal interactions and the ethical requirements of a management consultant. Client perspectives and expectations will be discussed in detail, as will the consultant’s behavior and demeanour in client interactions. Management consulting is a very broad and overarching profession which requires a myriad of competencies and specifically the adaptability to various client contexts.
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Explores how brands generate value for organisations, and how marketing/brand managers build strong brands.
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This module is intended for students who are interested in the role and application of strategic management in the private equity industry. The module will examine the range of strategic choices that need to be made by the private equity fund manager at each of the stages in the private equity process (pre-investment, investment, post-investment venture management and exit). The underlying question that the module seeks to address is: What strategies are required for the private equity fund manager to produce superior returns on investment, to meet investor expectations and to build wealth for the fund manager? The setting for the module is the private equity industry on a global basis, including both developed and emerging markets, with an orientation toward the local South African market.
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This elective addresses managing information systems to position company operations to be effective, efficient and adaptable in the rapidly changing global economy while appropriately handing associated challenges, ethical concerns, and risks. Issues and various approaches involved in defining, developing or acquiring, and deploying information systems are studied within both strategic and support roles. Managers will examine how information technology can be used as an enabler for business process improvement and service innovation, how to recognize business processes and assess their information-related needs, and how to develop organizational agility through business process innovations enabled by information technology.
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To integrate our understanding of strategy and leadership by thinking through these key concepts, drawing on the strategy-related topics as well as any other aspects of the MBA that will assist you in shaping the habits and practices of leadership at a strategic level.
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The primary aim of this module is to provide the student with the necessary skills to analyse financial markets from within the firm as well as from positions outside of the firm.
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This elective is designed to demonstrate how strategy is transformed into action that results in competitive advantage. This elective is designed not only to deepen the student's knowledge, but also to provide them with practical knowledge of how to turn strategy into action.
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This course will introduce participants to a framework and process for storytelling as a medium to improve leader effectiveness, communication and interpersonal skills.
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The primary focus of this module is on sales, sales management and sales operations; with a secondary focus on business development. The module exposes students to the contemporary challenges faced in the selling process. The settings of the cases and the exercises used in the module are quite diverse in terms of the sizes of the organisations involved and the types of markets that they serve.
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The subject of business valuation is central to leadership. The major learning objectives of this course will be to make students familiar with valuation methods so that they feel confident making effective financial decisions. Specific outcomes include: analysing historical performance and benchmarking; forecasting drivers of performance and cash flows; effective business modelling and spreadsheet design; estimating the cost of capital; evaluating optimal capital structure and funding decisions; alternative valuation methods (APV, WACC, Multiples); estimating synergies in mergers and acquisitions; negotiating the sale or purchase of a business; deal terms and structuring options for business transactions; leveraged and management buy-outs.
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This module will provide practical insight into strategy and corporate financial theory. The theme of the module will be financial strategy for creating value.
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Designed to address the determinants of competitiveness from a bottom-up, micro-economic perspective, this module examines the relationships that exist between economic policy, cluster development, industry structure, firm competitiveness and wealth creation.
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The aim of this module is to introduce the concept of persuasion and the related concept of decision-making. Participants will learn the art and science (especially behavioural science and social psychology) of persuasion that is capable of positively influencing the decisions and actions of followers. They will develop an understanding of the art (and some of the science behind it) of rhetoric, therefore this is a practical module that intends to improve the communication skills of the participants such that they will be more likely to achieve their objectives of persuading others.
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Students on this elective will gain a broad insight into the most pressing current activities and issues in the telecoms, IT, broadcast and media industries as well as a glimpse into future possibilities that new technology developments will enable.
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This module will deepen students' insights into four aspects of business opportunities and the way they apply in the African context:
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The aim of the module is to provide students with additional analytical tools and methodologies derived from recent developments in the economics of strategy and organisation such as game theory, Transaction Cost Economics (TCE), Property Rights Theories (PRT), and evolutionary economics.
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This module introduces students to a first principles approach to strategic thinking, and demonstrates the use of scenario planning and an understanding of the human brain as a useful method to use in complex and uncertain environments. Students will be provided with the opportunity to get hands-on experience with this approach and also share with a diverse range of case studies to illustrate how this works.
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This module will provide students with the essential techniques, skills and insights that Senior Executives and Management require to successfully, strategically and effectively plan, manage, monitor and execute throughout the life cycle of a project. Students will be able to assess, identify and mitigate the potential and forecasted constraints, risks and issues that could be or will be over time causing failure within a project. Then to be able to report, communicate and manage key stakeholder's expectations, suppliers and team members' delivery through effective facilitation.
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The objective of this module is to evaluate the rising significance of frontier and emerging markets in the global economy and explore the formulation of market-entry strategy into each region. A number of questions are posed and considered.
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The purpose of this elective module is to introduce, at the level of the organisation, the concepts of corporate governance, risk management and performance measures to achieve corporate objectives and comply with regulatory and other obligations. The first part of the module deals with questions of governance and risk. The focus is on the role of the board as the central player in the organisation’s governance system and as the custodian of its integrity and sustainability. This provides the framework for the rest of the module and understanding that the role of the board is crucial. The second part focuses on the measures of performance with respect to such factors as finance, markets, innovation, legislative and regulatory compliance and environmental impact.
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This elective focuses on personal strategic decision-making as an important management skill. The learning outcomes covered will include understanding your personal leadership style; understanding the relationship between authentic and transformational leadership, and how this drives decision-making; developing insights in the advantages and disadvantages of rational and emotional processes during decision-making; gain insight in personal pitfalls, mistakes and biases and examine how these impact personal decisions. As part of this module you will also formulate a development plan towards improved strategic decision-making.
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To create new wealth, an enterprise or start-up needs to be truly customer focused. What this means and how to go about achieving this is what this module is all about. First, we look at the principles and practice of customer-focused strategy, and how it differs from some of the traditional models being used, holding organisations back. Then, sessions will demonstrate how to uncover new “market spaces” and a tried and tested methodology called the “customer activity cycle” will be used to discover and uncover innovative products and services opportunities. The final part of the module looks at a systematic process for implementation of customer focus – i.e., making it happen. What shapes success and failure? What makes a person an energizer driving change? What kinds of teams are needed when, how to involve silos, how and with whom to partner? How to test new ideas, pace and prioritize, and how internal and market take-up and scale-up can be achieved and sustained.
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This module is about international business and the strategies of MNEs. This module is from the perspective of the MNE and should not be confused with economics or country competitiveness. Globalisation is not an option for any business; it is a strategic imperative. The same is true for countries, which cannot grow rapidly without access to global capital and skills. The current global economic crisis has highlighted the interconnectedness of businesses (local and international) and requires an understanding and appreciation of global business. This module aims to provide students with the skills necessary to develop global business strategies and meet the challenges entailed.
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This elective module is ideally suited for MBA students who wish to gain insight and understanding into the application of entrepreneurial principles, attitudes, behaviours and actions within a corporate setting. Corporate entrepreneurship (or intra-preneurship) lends itself to an experiential learning style and with this in mind the elective will take on a philosophy of discovery and experimentation. Through activity, case study, action learning, and experiential assessment, this elective will help students develop a deep understanding of corporate venturing.
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The advanced entrepreneurship elective module is targeted at those MBA students who aim to launch a new high growth business venture at some point in the future. The module will provide very personal learning experiences, built around students’ own business ideas and expanding on the material covered in the MBA core course in entrepreneurship. The module is broken down into three distinct segments.
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This elective explores market selection against the backdrop of the African trade environment and provides an overview of trade agreements, trade barriers (challenges) and trade facilitation measures. It also highlights global value chains in an African context. The overall aim of the elective is to equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to enable them to utilise various tools to analyse African markets, demand patterns and barriers resulting in strategies to identify export opportunities in Africa.
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This elective offers you an opportunity to synthesize what you have learned from your career, life and experiences while on your MBA journey, and as it relates to your own diversity and inclusion experiences. You will evaluate your own identity with regards to your own
mindset on diversity and inclusion. The elective will assist you to identify a growth path for your individual development as well as your company’s development in diversity and inclusion practices. You will identify strategies for support and inclusion in organisations.
The elective will offer insights into unconscious bias against people from different social groups than you.
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This elective offers you an opportunity to synthesize what you have learned from your career, life and experiences while on your MBA journey, and as it relates to your own entrepreneurial experiences and dreams. You will evaluate your own mindset and entrepreneurial intentions; identify a growth path for your entrepreneurial career or company and identify strategies for support and success. Whether you intend to enhance your own entrepreneurial ventures, or wish to support women entrepreneurs, the course will offer insights into successful “entrepreneuring”, while offering best practice guidelines on psychosocial or financial support to entrepreneurs in general and women entrepreneurs specifically.
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This elective is aimed at students who either wish to enter into the management consulting profession or to understand the components of management consulting in order to be able to manage consultants in their senior management or executive positions. In many instances organisations do not receive the full benefit of retaining management consultants due to the inability of their own executive teams to work with these professionals in a way that brings positive results to the organisation. The management consultant is only as good as the brief they are given and can only add value in an enabling environment.
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As globalisation is impacting on the breadth in which organisations operate, technology is increasing the speed at which this is done. There are many industries and organisations being impacted by such trends. The consulting industry is not only being impacted by these trends but many others too. This elective will expose students to what trends are emerging in the consulting environment and what the future of the consulting industry is shaping out to be.
The focus will change year on year depending on what the current trends are, and students are advised to consult the elective manual each year for further guidance.
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This elective is focused solely on the phenomenon of technology-based entrepreneurship. The course tracks the development of tech businesses and business models from Apple to Zappos. The course will explore how technology has disrupted industry incumbents, and how it continues to challenge businesses to innovate. The course will provide students will models from which their own tech-driven businesses can be developed.
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The management of policy networks has become a major focus of practitioners over the years. This elective will cover the key characteristics of policy networks and how they shape their management. Students will be exposed to the conditions under which networks succeed and fail.
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This elective will expose students to leading, negotiating and communicating in the current business context. Success in business depends critically upon good leadership and this part will combine real-life examples and anecdotes with analysis and conclusions for strategy and success. Students will also be exposed to daily life disputes which are likely to be faced in the business world. Business leaders are often badly prepared about communicating what they are doing, what their plans are and how they are resolving problems. The students will be exposed to best practices on how to address this problem.
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his elective is designed for anyone aspiring to work in a strategic role (Heads of Strategy, Strategy Manager, Strategy Planner) or an executive position with a responsibility in (defining and) executing a strategy. By attending this elective, students will master the tools and processes of the Strategy Execution Model.
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