Programme Specifications

Programme summary

1. Programme Aims

The need for innovation and its importance for survival and growth are now recognised by many types of organisation.  Coupled with entrepreneurial behaviour, the effective management of the innovation process is essential to the successful implementation of new and improved business products, services and processes. 

The programme aims to:

• develop an understanding of the importance of an entrepreneurial attitude in individuals and organisations, mainly through development of both their technical knowledge and skills, and their conceptual and analytical abilities;
• develop students critical thinking in order to evaluate innovation as a process through the use of contemporary research methods;
• investigate the barriers to innovation and encourage students to analyse obstacles which prevent the successful implementation of new ideas;
• enable participants to study entrepreneurial behaviour both as an essential part of new business start-up and as a competency required by employers in the modern business environment.

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

• The benchmark statement for Masters Awards Business and Management
• The Framework for Higher Education Qualifications/Descriptors for a Higher Education qualification at Level 7
• School of Business and Economics Business Plan
• Loughborough University Learning and Teaching Strategy
• The University academic quality procedures

3. Programme Learning Outcomes

3.1 Knowledge and Understanding

3.1 Knowledge and Understanding

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

K1. The impact of contextual forces on organisations including ethical, economic, environmental, social and technological change issues;

K2. The development and operation of markets for resources, goods and services including customer expectations, market orientation and the marketing mix that support organisational strategy;

K3. Operations management of products and services to support effective and efficient resource use and process design;

K4. The financing of the business enterprise:  sources, uses and management of finance; use of accounting for managerial and financial reporting applications;

K5. The characteristics of the leadership and management roles; the leadership, management and development of people within organisations; organisational behaviour and culture, human resource management and leading change; managing well-being in organisations; evidence-based leadership and management;

K6. The development, management and exploitation of information systems and their impact on organisations;

K7. The complexity of the innovation process and its importance in the current economic climate;

K8. The academic theories of entrepreneurship and the interconnectedness between entrepreneurial tendencies and resulting behaviour.

3.2 Skills and other attributes

a. Subject-specific cognitive skills:

3.2 Skills  and other attributes

a. Subject-specific cognitive skills:

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

C1. manage creative processes in self and others; organise thoughts, analyse, synthesise and conduct critical appraisal; recognise the need for systematic thinking and cross-functional approaches;

C2. establish criteria for problem solving and decision making, use appropriate decision techniques including identifying, formulating and solving business problems as part of innovation management;

C3. conduct critical analyses of management research and practice; source, analyse and evaluate business-related data from a wide variety of organizational, professional and research sources;

C4. identify appropriate leadership styles for situations;

C5. recognise the components of entrepreneurial behaviour and the value of taking decisive action to influence organisational success.

b. Subject-specific practical skills:

b. Subject-specific practical skills:

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

P1. use effective oral and written communication, using a range of media including business reports; produce written communication that argues the business case, supported by valid and reliable evidence;

P2. create, identify and evaluate options; implement and review decisions;

P3. make effective use of information and communication technologies (ICT) in a business context;

P4. employ numerical and quantitative skills including demonstrating the rational use of business and risk analysis tools to analyse company performance;

P5. engage in oral communication that achieves objectives, including listening, negotiating, persuading and influencing stakeholders;

P6. model reflexive practice such that they can teach others the benefits of goal-setting, reflection and analysis for the development of self and the business; adapt their management and leadership approach to meet the context and environment in which they operate;

P7. perform effectively as a team leader and team member, recognising and applying each individual’s contributions, including team selection, team development, delegation, and management,

c. Key transferable skills:

c. Generic skills:

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

T1. create, identify and evaluate options; implement and review decisions;

T2. scan and organise data; abstract meaning from information and share knowledge;

T3. use communication and information technology appropriately in acquiring, analysing and communicating information;

T4. listen, negotiate and persuade or influence others;

T5. use effective oral and written communication; using a range of media including business reports to communicate effectively with specialist and non-specialist audiences.

4. Programme structure

4.1 Modules 

^†  by Partial Distance Learning (>50%)

To complete the PG Dip in Leadership and Innovation Management students must complete 8 x 15 credit modules.  To complete the MSc in Leadership and Innovation Management students must complete 8 x 15 credit modules and a 60 credit research project. 

4.2 For full details of the specific assessment requirements for each module see the Module Specification.

4.3  Exemptions

Candidates who are members of the following approved accountancy bodies may, at the discretion of the Programme Director, count 15 credits towards the Loughborough University Postgraduate Diploma in Leadership and Innovation Management and the MSc in Leadership and Innovation Management. 

• Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)
• Chartered Institute of Management Accounts (CIMA)
• Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accounting (CIPFA)
• Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW)
• Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS)
• Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ireland (ICAI)

5. Criteria for Progression and Degree Award

5.1 In order to be eligible for an award, candidates must not only satisfy the requirements of Regulation XXI but also:

5.1.1 To be eligible for the award of Postgraduate Diploma, candidates must have completed modules with total modular weight of 120.  Specifically, candidates must have completed all of the compulsory modules from 4.1 (modular weight 120, not including BSPA01).

5.1.3 To be eligible for the award of MSc candidates must have satisfied all the requirements outlined in 5.1.1 and in addition must have achieved 60 credits from module BSPA01.

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

n/a