The aim of the Diploma in Management is to provide you with the key forward planning and strategic skills that is necessary to be a competent manager. You will learn the thinking behind best management practice and will be able to identify the fundamental driving forces behind successful businesses and organisations. The course sets out clear guidelines for effective management by helping participants develop their own management style, manage information and communication, plan and manage resources and recruitment as well as competently manage finances.

The principles of strategic management, Human Resources and Marketing Management are explored to help you think strategically, deal with people management issues, as well as manage all aspects of promotion and awareness of your organisation. You will acquire key financial management skills, which is vital in sustaining a profitable business. Most importantly, you will learn the qualities required to be an effective leader of an organisation, which helps motivate staff and drive the organisation to meet its targets and objectives. The Diploma in Management qualification is comprehensive and aims to provide you with the skills required to be an effective and professional manager.

Graduate Diploma in Management Studies - Core Subjects

There are 8 key subject areas to cover and an Advanced Diploma in Business Studies is awarded on completion of the first four subject areas:

1. Strategic Management
2. Human Resources Management
3. Marketing Management
4. Customer Service
5. Financial Management
6. Corporate Policy*
7. Leadership Studies
8. The International Business Environment

Course Overview

Strategic Management:
Nature of Strategic Management & its stages, Key Terms in Strategic Management, Strategic Management Model & its benefits, Business Ethics & strategy, Strategies in Action: Types of Strategies, Strategic Management in Governmental Organisations and Small Firms, Writing & Evaluating Mission Statements, External Assessment: External Audit, Internal Assessment: Nature of an Internal Audit, Strategy Analysis & Choice, Cultural Aspects of Strategy Choice, Politics of Strategy Choice, Role of Board of Directors, Strategy Implementation, Management Issues, Managing Conflict, Linking Performance & Pay to Strategies, Managing Resistance to Change, Human Resource Concerns when Implementing Strategies, Strategy Review, Evaluation & Control: Nature of Strategy Evaluation , Characteristics of an Effective Evaluation System on Contingency Planning, Auditing, Guidelines for Effective Strategic Management

Marketing Management:
The Critical Role of Marketing in Organisations & Society, Managing the Marketing Process, Marketing Planning, Analysing Marketing Opportunities: Marketing Information Systems & Research, Analysing Consumer Markets & Buyer Behaviour, Analysing Business Markets, Researching & Selecting Target Markets: Measuring & Forecasting Market Demand, Market Segmentation & Selecting Target Markets, Designing Marketing Strategies: Marketing Strategies for Differentiating & Positioning the Marketing Offer, Testing & Launching New Products & Services, Managing Products through their Life Cycle, International Marketing programmes, Managing Product Lines, Brands & Packaging, Pricing Strategies & Programmes, Selecting & Managing Marketing Channels, Retailing & Wholesaling, Promotion-Mix Strategies, Designing Advertising and Direct Marketing campaigns, Sales-Promotion & Public Relations Programmes, Devising & Implementing Marketing Programmes, Controlling & Coordinating Marketing Activities.

Human Resource Management:
Individual Differences, Perceptions, Communications, Motivation, Industrial Psychology, Behavioral Theories, Research Studies, Group Dynamics, Personal & Group Goals, HR Planning: Recruitment & Selection, Interviewing, Selection Testing, Validation of Testing Procedures, Training, Systems Approach to Training, Induction Programmes, Job Analysis: Job Description, Job & Person Specification, Job Evaluation, Development of a Human Relations Approach: Role of Personnel Department, Supportive Management Styles, Industrial Relations

Customer Service:
Importance of Customer Service and Customer Satisfaction, Challenges & Barriers to Excellent Customer Service, Customer Expectations, Reputation Management Techniques for Exceeding Customer Expectations, Keys to Credibility, New Trends in Customer Service, Problem Solving Strategies, Importance of Follow Up, Formulating a Plan for Success, Why a Strategy, Empowerment: Steps to Empowering Customer Service Providers, Communications in Customer Service, Characteristics of Challenging Customers, Motivation, Leadership in Customer Service, Coach or Counsellor, Characteristics of Excellent Leaders, Customer Retention & Measurement of Satisfaction, Value of Existing Customers, Delivering Customer Service to the Changing Marketplace, New Technology, Enhancing Service Experiences, Building Customer Loyalty and retention programmes, Rewards of providing Excellent Customer Service

Financial Management:
The Construction of Financial Statements, Company Accounts, Cash-Flow Statements, Using Accounting Information, Ratios & Accounting Standards, Management Accounting: Marginal Costing, Budgeting, Capital Investment, Appraisal, Sources of Business Finance, Long-term sources of finance, Short-term sources of finance, Mergers and Takeovers, Horizontal & Vertical Integration, Basic Group Accounts, Capital Markets, Stock Exchanges, Share & Bond Issues, Rights & Bonus Issues

Leadership Studies:
Nature of Leadership, Major Research Approaches, Comparing Leadership Theories, Nature of Managerial Work, Theory of Demands & Constraints, Research on Situational influences, Changing Nature of Managerial Work, Application for Managers, Effective Leadership Behaviour: Case Studies, Leadership Behaviour Taxonomies, Evaluating the Behaviour Approach, Participative Leadership: Delegation & Empowerment, Nature & Consequences of Participation, Guidelines for Delegating, Empowerment, Role-Making Theories, Power & Influence, Managerial Traits & Skills, Contingency Theories of Effective Leadership, Charismatic & Transformational Leadership, Leading Change in Organisations, Change Processes, Different Types of Organisational Change, Influencing Organisational Culture, Leadership in Teams & Decision Groups, Procedures for Facilitating Team Learning, Guidelines for Team Building, Strategic Leadership, Developing Leadership Skills, Leadership Training Programmes, Ethical Leadership & Diversity, Managing Diversity in the workplace.

International Business Environment:
Exploration and examination of the international impact of Political, economic and financial events on local and regional businesses.

Corporate Policy : 
The Characteristics of Strategic Decisions, Levels of Strategy, Developing a Strategic Perspective, Strategic Decision Making in Practice, Development of Solutions, Cultural View of Patterns of Strategic Change, Analysing the Environment, Auditing Environmental Influences On Organisations, Life Cycle Models & the Nature of Markets, Analysing Resources, Expectations, Objectives & Power: External Influences, Organisational Culture, Sources of Power Within Organisations, Corporate Objectives, Strategic Options: Cost Leadership, Strategy Evaluation, Criteria & Approaches: Suitability, Feasibility, Strategy Evaluation Techniques: Bases for Comparison, Planning & Allocating Resources: Resource Sharing, Inbound & Outbound Logistics Financial Planning & Budgeting

Methodology
The principle method of learning is through assignments, case studies, course notes, lectures and examinations. You are expected to read recommended books to accelerate your learning.

Cost and Duration
The Graduate Diploma in Management Studies is 9 months in duration and there are eight modules to complete. The cost of the course is 1,950 Euro and exam fees are 450 euro extra. 

Scheduled Dates 2008
Wednesday 8 October 2008. 18:30-21:30, 30 WKS. (Summer Break Aug-Sept 08).