Master of Strategy and Leadership

Core Module

Strategy modules:

Strategic Business Sustainability

The module looks at how sustainable development as a process can lead to a certain level of sustainability within an organisational context. It places sustainability within the strategic orientation of an organisation and as such as it takes a view of sustainability both in the short-term as well as in the long-term.

Strategic Management

This module starts with the purpose of strategy including stakeholder and governance issues and introduces tools and techniques for analysing external environments and internal capabilities. You will learn theories and frameworks/ models for assessing and evaluating organisations’ strategic options which are then applied in analysing contemporary case studies and through engaging in a rich business strategy simulation that involves strategic decision-making.

Leadership modules:

Organisational Behaviour

Through a mix of theory and case studies we examine people and relationships within a professional context. We explore what motivates employees how people work together and relationships between managers and their staff. This helps you to understand how to manage people in working environments and how to be managed.

Strategy, Change and Leadership

This module encourages you to consider the role of strategy and leadership in shaping and changing organisations. Through exploring the complexities of strategic change you will be encouraged to develop critical insights on what appear to be everyday business decisions. Reflecting on the role of the leader you will appraise different approaches to leadership and examine their impact.

Organisational Development

This module takes a strategic view of organisational development and design and the management of organisations people and change. It achieves this by focusing on organisational diagnosis aimed at achieving strategic transformation of organisations and developing High Performance Work Systems. It also deals with recent strand of scholarly debate on the role of consultancies.

CSR, Sustainable Development and Public Policy

Topics of this module are complex and this complexity make this module unique. With growing awareness on issues such as modern slavery and climate change almost everyone has now heard of these topics and hold views and opinions. At the core these are applied topics with implications for individuals’ businesses societies and economies. Your learning will be very relevant.

Advanced Topics in Strategy

We explore strategic management from different theoretical angles to build a deeper appreciation of how strategy work is accomplished in practice. Drawing on cutting edge research we examine strategy development pathways, market-led strategies, strategy innovation, corporate venturing alliances and much more. This module provides you with knowledge concepts and tools to deconstruct complex strategy problems and formulate evidence-based strategic responses.

Economic Environment of Business

We focus on key economic concepts and principles that are most useful for businesses and managers. Throughout we stress their application in an international context drawing on their real-world significance and the importance of communicating economic ideas in a clear and precise manner. In this way you will understand the significance of economics in a globalised world.

Plus

Research Methods Workshop Ethics in Academic Practice

This module provides an introduction to the Academic Offence framework. By completing the resources you will understand the key principles underpinning the submission of academic assignments. These principles can then be applied to the rest of the modules studied at the university.

Either:

Business Project or Dissertation

The Business Project/Dissertation is a chance for you to carry out an original piece of work applying material that you have learnt in the taught element of your degree. Specific requirements will be explained relating to different degree programmes but in summary you must demonstrate both theoretical and practical knowledge of your chosen area of specialism.

The Aston Global Advantage 

The Aston Global Advantage is our professional development programme that runs throughout all MSc programmes at Aston Business School. Focusing on professional development and employability, this integrated module gives you the opportunity to identify, develop and apply the key transferrable skills you will gain throughout the year.