Programme summary

1. Programme Aims

The programme aims to:

• develop individual skills and develop participants management career progression in the automotive retail sector, mainly through development of both their technical knowledge and skills, and their conceptual and analytical abilities;
• develop participants’ automotive retail management roles in which they will be expected to further develop their contribution towards the functional and strategic management of their organisations;
• provide participants with the opportunity to develop deep understanding in areas of particular interest by undertaking research and work-based projects;
• enable participants to see ways in which theory can be applied in practice to complex issues with the aim of improving business and management practice;
• enhance students’ career development in the automotive sector
• encourage participants to pursue personal development and lifelong learning skills and be self-motivating
• provide a relevant, practical and constantly updated programme through close links with the automotive industry
• provide a global prespective on the automotive sector.

2. Relevant subject benchmark statements and other external reference points used to inform programme outcomes:

• The benchmark statement for Masters Awards Business and Management (MB&M)
• The Framework for Higher Education Qualifications
• Professional Accreditation by the Institute of the Motor Industry 

3. Programme Learning Outcomes

3.1 Knowledge and Understanding

The programme is delivered through a combination of short lectures, individual and group exercises, workshops, and practical sessions.  The modules are highly participative encouraging students to contribute to class discussions and to share personal experiences and concerns with fellow students.  Students are also strongly encouraged to consider situations within their own work environments.

The Programme Director acts in the capacity of a personal tutor and provides students with advice and guidance on academic progress.  Further support/pastoral help is provided by support staff in the CAM team.  Students are required to work both individually and within groups for both study and assessment. A programme handbook is available to each student at the beginning of the programme.  The handbook sets out general advice on study, key regulations on assessment, programme regulations and module specifications for all modules available for study.  At each module, further information is provided including a module outline which details the lecture schedule and associated reading guidance.

Constructive criticism is provided to students on coursework assignments throughout the programme.

On successful completion of this programme participants should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding in the following areas:

• The impact of environmental forces on automotive sector organisations including ethical, economic, political, social and technological change issues;
• The development and operation of the sector specific markets for resources, goods and services including customer expectations, market orientation and the marketing mix;
• The concepts and processes in the production and marketing of automotive goods and services, and the management of resources and operations;
• The financing of the automotive dealer network involving the sources, uses and management of finance; use of accounting for managerial and financial reporting applications;
• The characteristics of the management role; the management and development of people within organisations; organisational behaviour, HRM, change management;
• The development, management and exploitation of information systems and their impact on dealership operations;
• The use of relevant interpersonal communication technologies for application in business and management and the impact of these technologies on the business.
• The development of appropriate business policies and strategies within a changing context of the automotive sector to meet stakeholder interests;
• The uses and limitations of a range of research methods/techniques, both qualitative and quantitative and an understanding of their strengths and weaknesses for providing information and evalsuating options in an uncertain organisational environment;
• The roles, responsibilities and requirements of different activities across the multifunctional areas of  automotive dealerships;
• To develop an understanding of the automotive sector on a global basis.

3.2 Skills and other attributes

a. Subject-specific cognitive skills:

On successful completion of this programme students should be able to:

• manage self and others; organise thoughts, analyse, synthesise and conduct critical appraisal;
• establish criteria for problem solving and decision making, use appropriate decision techniques including identifying, formulating and solving business problems;
• use of models of business situations and research skills;
• identify appropriate leadership styles for situations;
• recognise complex situations where choices involve consideration of ethical and organisational values;
• conduct research into business and management issues;
• learn through reflection on practice and experience.

b. Subject-specific practical skills:

On successful completion of this programme students should be able to:

• apply leadership and performance management selecting the appropriate style for situations;
• perform effectively within a team environment and recognise and utilise individuals' contributions in team processes including team selection, delegation, development and management;
• use effective oral and written communication, using a range of media including business reports;
• engage effectively in two-way communication including listening, negotiating and persuading or influencing others;
• create, identify and evalsuate options; implement and review decisions;
• make effective use of information and communication technologies (ICT) in a business context;
• employ numerical and quantitative skills including the use of models of business situations and qualitative research skills;
• conduct research effectively and efficiently using a range of sources of business-related materials including books, journals, trade and financial press, official statistics, the Internet and primary research

c. Key transferable skills:

On successful completion of the programme students should be able to:

• create, identify and evalsuate options; implement and review decisions;
• organise data and extract meaning from information and share knowledge;
• use communication and information technology appropriately in acquiring, analysing and communicating information;
• listen, negotiate and persuade or influence others;
• use effective oral and written communication; using a range of media including business reports;
• demonstrate effective performance within a team environment and recognise and utilise individuals' contributions in group processes; team selection, delegation, development and management;
• set targets, motivate and employ performance management techniques;
• interpret numerical information and use numerical reasoning;
• manage themselves and their time effectively, be self-aware, display sensitivity to diversity in people and different situations, and manage continued learning

4. Programme structure

4.1 Compulsory Modules (total modular weight 165)

^†  by Partial Distance Learning (>50%)

 4.2 Optional Modules (total modular weight 15 credits)

4.3  The School of Business and Economics reserves the right to regulate the numbers of students studying a particular module.

4.4 For full details of the specific assessment requirements for each module, see the module specification.

5. Criteria for Progression and Degree Award

5.1 In order to be eligible for the award, candidates must satisfy the requirements of Regulation XXI.

5.2 Candidates who have the right of re-assessment in a module may choose to be re-assessed in the University’s special assessment period.

6. Relative Weighting of Parts of the Programme for the Purposes of Final Degree Classification