Sport Business and Leadership MSc

This module will include teaching on organisational contexts and leadership models; leadership behaviours and competing expectations; contemporary issues impacting on leadership; and the importance of leadership to shaping appropriate organisational practices.

The aim of this module is to deliver a thorough grounding in the main leadership models, and the issues that impact on leadership practice in the sport environment. It is intended as an introduction to leadership and will be the theoretical foundation upon which other sport leadership units are built.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this module you should be able to:

• Understand contemporary models and theories of leadership and leadership development that are international, both in their derivation and in their application;
• Highlight the key issues that impact on leadership practice in sport and other environment;
• Discuss how different leadership models can be utilised in different contexts such as sport;
• Show the ability to recognise the importance of communication in sport leadership practice;
• Recognise the importance of problem solving leadership practice.

Assessment

• 40% Presentation
• 60% Case Study

Teaching on this module will cover teaching of the following topics: drivers of sustainability leadership; characteristics of leaders for sustainability; sustainability leadership in action; entrepreneurs as sustainability leaders; the context of sustainability in differing cultural contexts; the influence of sustainable methods; the application of sustainable practices in various global settings.

The aim of this module is to develop an understanding of the relationship between sustainable business practices and leadership in sport organisations.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this module you should be able to:

• Critically analyse the key elements of sustainable leadership practice in sport and other environments;
• Critically analyse how sustainable leadership can shape organisational culture in sport and other environments;
• Critically analyse how sustainable leadership can create competitive advantage in sport and other environments;
• Explain the aetiology of sustainability and be able to debate the application of sustainable leadership practices;
• Evaluate the application of sustainable principles to specific areas within a specific context such as sport;
• Critically evaluate methods and results obtained in published literature;
• Plan and implement sustainable answers to problems in the sport workplace.

Assessment

• 50% Case Study & Presentation
• 50% Essay

The module includes teaching on the knowledge, skills, and values of reflective practice; leading and reflective practice; and action research and reflective practice.

The aim of this module is to create an awareness of how critical reflection can facilitate improved leadership and personal growth in sport management practice.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this module you should be able to:

• Understand and analyse the place of critical reflection in improving leadership and sport management practice;
• Understand and analyse how critical reflection can be used to solve organisational problems in the sport environment;
• Understand and analyse the relationship between critical reflection, leadership and personal growth;
• Understand the meaning of reflective practice, reflective learning theory and related literature;
• Comprehend reflective practice in the context of leadership practice and the role of the sport leader;
• Recognise and apply self reflection for leadership development;
• Apply reflective analysis to confront and solve complex and challenging leadership problems;
• Demonstrate an ability to reflect on the complexity and challenges of leadership practice through the use of case studies;
• Demonstrate an awareness of leadership challenges within specific organisational contexts such as sport.

Assessment

• 20% In Class Tests
• 20% Presentation
• 60% Exam

This module will include teaching on constitutive leadership; leadership and power; power and politics; sources of power; and types of power.

The aim of this module is to introduce you to socio-cultural aspects of leadership and how these factors can be applied to leadership practice in a sport context.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this module you should be able to:

• Explain how leadership is socially constructed in different environments such a sport;
• Explore the nature of the social construction of leadership and understand how the perceptions of others might be altered in the sport context;
• Demonstrate good communication skills to challenge individual perceptions of leadership;
• Demonstrate resourcefulness to complete a project task.

Assessment

• 40% Video Activity
• 60% Essay

With a multi-talented group of students you will work on a brief from a real company looking to solve a real social or business problem.

Together with your student team, you will research and build solutions to a business problem, supported by our project tutors, clients and staff. Previous clients include Foster + Partners, Speedo, The London Legacy Development Corporation as well as many other companies, start-ups and charities.

The Collaborative Project provides a means for you to engage in critical enquiry and to be exposed to project-based teamwork in multicultural and interdisciplinary settings. By undertaking this module, you will strengthen your cooperative and collaborative working skills and competencies, whilst raising your awareness and appreciation of cultural and disciplinary diversity and differences.

The Collaborative Project aims to provide you with a hands-on experience of identifying, framing and resolving practice-oriented and real-world based challenges and problems, using creativity and appropriate tools to achieve valuable and relevant solutions. Alongside the collaborative elements of the module, you will be provided with opportunities to network with stakeholders, organisations and corporations, which will give you the experience and skills needed to connect to relevant parties and potentially develop future employment opportunities.

Learning outcomes

On completion of this module, you will be able to:

• Work effectively in diverse and interdisciplinary teams
• Undertake and contribute towards a project-based development process
• Apply critical enquiry, reflection, and creative methods to identify, frame, and resolve issues and problems at hand
• Identify user and stakeholder needs and value creation opportunities, whilst collecting and applying evidence-based information and knowledge to develop appropriate insights, practices and solutions
• Identify, structure, reflect on key issues and propose solutions to problems in creative ways
• Enhance your appreciation for diversity and divergent individual and disciplinary perspectives
• Be able to provide structured, reflective and critical feedback to peers and other stakeholders
• Plan and execute a project plan including scope, resources and timing
• Effectively communicate ideas, methods and results to a diverse range of stakeholders
• Use multiple, state-of-the-art date media and technologies to communicate with collaborators
• Make informed, critical and reflective decisions in time-limited situations

Assessment

100% Coursework consisting of:

• 20% Group project proposal
• 20% Individual reflection
• 30% Final Project Report
• 30% Project deliverables to the client

The Dissertation module will equip you with the relevant skills, knowledge and understanding to embark on your own research project.

You will have the choice of three dissertation pathways:

1. A desk based research project that could be set by an organisation or could be a subject of the student's choice
2. A project that involves collection of primary data from within an organisation or based on lab and/or field experiments
3. An Internship within an organisation during which time students will complete a project as part of their role in agreement with the organisation (subject to a suitable placement position being obtained)

By undertaking a dissertation at master's level, you will achieve a high level of understanding in your chosen subject area and will produce a written thesis or project report which will discuss your research in more detail.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module, you should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• The importance of project planning;
• The importance of a clear hypothesis or research question;
• The ethical implications of research;
• The relevant empirical data and methodologies for data collection or knowledge assimilation for the subject area;
• Methods of data analysis and their suitability for the intended data;
• The areas of expertise or publications of the major individuals or organisations in the subject or business area;
• The previous research or current knowledge in the specific subject or business area;
• Theoretical perspectives relevant to your chosen topic;
• The most effective methods of presentation for data or knowledge;
• Developing a clear, coherent and original research question, hypothesis or business problem in a suitable subject area;
• Synthesising relevant sources (e.g. research literature, primary data) to construct a coherent argument in response to your research question, hypothesis or business problem;
• Analysing primary or secondary data collected by an appropriate method;
• Critically evaluating data collected in context with previously published knowledge or information;
• Engaging in critical debate and argumentation in written work;
• Applying principles of good scholarly practice to your written work;
• Performing appropriate literature searching/business information searching using library databases or other reputable sources;
• Planning a research project and producing a realistic gantt chart demonstrating your intended timelines;
• Synthesising information from appropriate sources;
• Demonstrating rational use of research method tools;
• Selecting and using appropriate investigative and research skills;
• Demonstrating effective project planning skills;
• Finding and evaluating scholarly sources;
• Engaging in critical reasoning, debate and argumentation;
• Demonstrating effective report writing skills;
• Recognising and using resources effectively;
• Successfully managing a project from idea to completion;
• Demonstrating commercial awareness or the impact of knowledge transfer in a business or research environment

Assesement

100% Coursework consisting of:

• 20% Literature review
• 20% Research proposal
• 60% Dissertation report/essay

This module is designed to equip students with an understanding of the main theoretical and empirical issues in the development of sport innovation and an appreciation of the relevant skills needed to manage sport innovation. The module also provides evidence based on applied sport innovation examples from the sport industry. Students will have the opportunity to develop an innovative business concept for the sport business industry.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this module students should be able to:

• Identify, explain and apply the theoretical underpinning of innovation and entrepreneurship as they relate to sport business
• Identify through personal reflection key behaviours, attributes and skills required for innovation in sport business
• Interpret the changing sport business environment using a variety of analytical tools and identify potential market opportunities within the sport business sector
• Prepare and deliver a persuasive sport innovation proposal

Assessment

• 40% Essay
• 40% Project
• 20% Presentation

You will look at a variety of frameworks for assessing entrepreneurs, products, markets, and industries with a view to understanding the importance of thorough market analysis and research prior to planning a new venture.

The aim of this module is to equip you with the background knowledge on strategic positioning and the more practical aspects of business planning.

Learning outcomes

On completion of this module you should be able to:

• Highlight the complexity of the innovation process
• Explain the importance of idea creation and opportunity spotting
• Create critical assessment of a potential product or service
• Explain strategic positioning of a novel business idea
• Analyse data and information in order to make effective decisions
• Recognise and apply self-reflection for personal development
• Demonstrate rational use of business and risk analysis tools to analyse company performance
• Demonstrate effective communication to persuade and influence stakeholders
• Evaluate the funding needs of a new venture
• Select and use appropriate investigative and research skills
• Demonstrate effective report writing skills
• Work effectively in a team and demonstrate recognition of an individual’s contributions to a group activity
• Demonstrate a positive attitude towards a commercial opportunity
• Spot or create an opportunity for a new product or service
• Successfully manage a project from idea to completion

Assessment

• 100% Coursework

This module will include aspects of intellectual property law, the types of intellectual property, using intellectual property for commercial advantage, how to apply for intellectual property, and intellectual property database searching.

The aim of this module is to equip you with a knowledge of the various types of intellectual property, searching intellectual property databases, the legal basis of intellectual property rights, the application process for obtaining intellectual property and its importance to the innovation process and the entrepreneur.

Learning outcomes

On completion of this module you should be able to:

• Explain the importance of intellectual property as an asset
• Understand the complexity of IP law and the protection process
• Know the commercial value of the various types of intellectual property
• Interpret data and information in order to make effective decisions
• Perform intellectual property searches
• Provide advice on company strategy
• Select and use appropriate investigative and research skills
• Demonstrate effective report writing skills
• Work effectively in a team
• Demonstrate good oral communication and presentation skills
• Recognise and use their resources effectively
• Demonstrate problem solving capability
• Demonstrate a creative approach to communication

Assessment

• 25% Group Presentation
• 75% Case study

The first part of this module will demonstrate how various sport properties are leveraging new media and new technologies, specifically, the Internet and mobile technology. Areas to be discussed include e-commerce, sponsorship, social networking and online communities, streaming video, user-enhanced content, and user-generated content. The second part will use analytics to study a wide variety of issues affecting the sport industry. You will learn not only how the recent application of analytics has improved each of the above areas within the professional sport industry, but also how analytics can improve decision-making in sport business and any other field of business. You will use analytics to study a wide variety of issues affecting the sport media industry. Topics examined include: marketing, pricing, contracts, and stadium management.

We will use analytics to study a wide variety of issues affecting the sport industry, and will work together to uncover how various sport properties are leveraging new media and new technologies, specifically, the Internet and mobile technology.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this module you should be able to:

• Display knowledge of the emergence and future applications of new media in sport and the ability to systematically apply analytical approaches to studying new media applications;
• Show knowledge and understanding of new media communications practices and strategies, in an ever-changing digital landscape;
• Understand how to analyse, interpret, and make decisions based on various new media data;
• Critically evaluate the characteristics of digital new media;
• Apply critical thinking skills to new media analytics to address sport media issues;
• Ability to analyse new media communications and evaluate their use and value in different scenarios;
• Ability to apply sport media analytics to new media practices;
• Apply new media communication practices across a range of business areas;
• Apply knowledge of sport business analytics to new media strategies and challenges in other business context;

Assessment

• 20% Presentation
• 40% Case Study Analysis
• 40% Group Report

This exciting module will enable you to make critical evaluations of the current issues and management practices in sport, across a broad range of providers. The module is organised into two main topics:

• Topic one: Managing organisation's members and stakeholders.
• Topic two: Legal context.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this module you should be able to:

• Understand management approaches of the sport market and external environment;
• Understand the objectives/values/styles and outcomes in differing management contexts in the UK and other countries;
• Contribute to incisive assignment presentations;
• Manage learning: to learn through case studies the uncertainty and complexity of management.

Assessment

• 50% In Class Tests
• 50% Report

The aims of this module are to:

1. Examine the nature of sports integrity and the threats to it presented by the manipulation of sporting outcomes and corrupt governance practices in both national and international contexts.

2. Develop a greater awareness of ethical issues in relation to combatting sport integrity issues.

3. Explain the role of the board, and senior management, in providing organisational leadership and implementing cultural change, with particular emphasis on composition and values-based leadership models.

4. Consider the importance of professional conduct, athlete reputation and public confidence in sport.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this module students should be able to:

Knowledge and Understanding

• Assess emerging and contemporary issues in the field of sports integrity
• Critically evaluate contemporary sport governance, policy and ethical practice standards.
• Understand the measures taken by sport organisations to address threats to sports integrity
• Address critically selected integrity and ethical issues, challenges and problems related to the sport industry

Subject-specific skills

• Identify and analyse threats to sport integrity.
• Independently examine, research and analyse ethical issues relating to sports integrity
• Demonstrate ethical reasoning processes to analyse and evaluate sport integrity practices
• Demonstrate an advanced understanding of best practice principles of risk minimisation from other domains and how they may be innovatively applied in sport.

Key/transferable skills

• Generate new ideas and concepts appropriate to sport integrity
• Select and use appropriate investigative and research skills to identify sport integrity and ethical issues

Assessment 

• 40% Essay
• 60% Case Analysis

Learning Outcomes

Assessment

The aim of this module is to enhance your ability to use design approaches and tools for identifying and implementing human centred innovation opportunities. You will be expected to deploy knowledge learned in this module into parallel running Collaborative Project module.

The module will include teaching on the following topics: visualization, using imagery to envision possible future conditions; journey mapping, assessing the existing experience through the customer's eyes, using customer oriented data collection techniques; value chain analysis, assessing the current value chain that supports the customer's journey; mind mapping, generating insights from exploration activities and using those to create; design criteria; brainstorming, generating ideas; rapid concept development, assembling innovative elements into a coherent proposition that can be explored and evaluated; rapid ‘prototyping', expressing a new concept in a tangible form for exploration, consumer testing, and refinement; consumer testing and storytelling.

Learning Outcomes

The module will introduce you to a systematic design-based approach aimed at identifying and implementing user centred innovation opportunities.

On completion of this module you should be able to:

• Identify when and how to use range of Design Thinking tools
• Select appropriate tools to inform project development
• Appropriate use of the Design Thinking tools in a parallel module
• Develop communication skills in diverse teams;
• Developed a systematic approach to tackle complex projects
• Apply tools in a project context
• Work with variety of stakeholders
• Understand how to tackle 'wicked' problems
• Be able to deliver a succinct presentation to communicate key facts

Assessment

• 80% Report
• 20% Presentation

Learning Outcomes

Assessment

This module will cover mobile networks and cloud technologies. The first part of the module includes an introduction to the latest mobile broadband and communication technologies, including their network architectures and radio interface protocols, covering 3GPP LTE mobile broadband radio access, network architecture, and radio interface architecture. The second part includes a brief overview of the cloud technology and covers the service and deployment models, media cloud applications and challenges, mobile clouds, relations of clouds with handling big data, and privacy and security issues in cloud services.

The aim of this module is to provide you with knowledge in advanced mobile networks and cloud systems, including their architectures, protocols, and relations to big data.

Learning outcomes

On completion of this module you should be able to:

• Display knowledge of mobile communication networks, cloud systems and their interactions with each other as well as with data and media processing and communications, and be able to relate their knowledge to real-world examples
• Mobile broadband communication technologies, including their network architectures and radio interface protocols
• Mobile broadband access techniques, systems performances and limitations
• The principles of cloud computing technology, media clouds and applications, and the associated challenges
• Relations of clouds to handling big data and importance of security in clouds
• Apply gained knowledge and skills in understanding the functioning of mobile broadband systems and relating the knowledge to real-world examples
• Comprehend the concepts pertaining to the cloud systems, and their relations to the media applications, big data and security
• Apply gained knowledge in mobile broadband communication in understanding the different wireless communication techniques and the system performance
• Apply gained knowledge in the cloud principles and their operation in real world scenarios
• Apply their critical analysis and problem solving skills in the industry for tackling problems and providing solutions for both mobile communications and cloud services
• Demonstrate competitiveness in both mobile networks and cloud systems
  

Assessment

• 30% Coursework
• 70% Exam

Learning Outcomes

Assessment  

The theory of entrepreneurship and the importance of entrepreneurial action to the innovation process; the contemporary business environment; micro and macro environments; intellectual property; funding & finance; project management; corporate responsibility & sustainability; governance; ethics; business planning; strategy; risk analysis and failure.

The aim of this module is to equip you with an in depth knowledge of the innovation process, its importance to the economy and an understanding of all of the various factors affecting its success including intellectual property, funding and strategy. We will introduce the academic theories of entrepreneurship and analyse the personality traits and behaviours associated with entrepreneurs.

Learning outcomes

On completion of this module you should be able to:

• Innovation as a process
• Identify the academic theories of entrepreneurship
• Identify the factors influencing the success of organisations
• Relate innovation theory to the performance of organisations
• Use investigative and research skills
• Demonstrate effective report writing skills
• Demonstrate commercial awareness

Assessment

100% Coursework consisting of:

• 50% Report 1
• 50% Report 2

Sport Business Statistics and Analytics blends statistical analysis and data visualisation through the use of software applications to guide evidence based decisions. The module covers three areas. First, it provides a sound understanding of quantitative analysis. Second, the module introduces various data visualisation techniques (including exposure to relevant software programs) to develop skills in understanding and presenting complex data. Third, an understanding of the importance of data in identifying insights and trends in the sport sector. Recent examples from the sport industry, both in team and player performance and in commercial activities will be used to illustrate these complex concepts.

The aim of this module is to help you understand the importance of data-driven decision making and strategy formulation, and how statistical analysis and data visualisation assist in identifying sport business trends and solutions.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this module, you should be able to:

• Apply quantitative analysis to understand and present complex data to support evidenced-based decision making
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of quantitative analysis in an emerging data driven sport business landscape
• Analyse, interpret and make evidence-based decisions based on multi-dimensional data sources
• Critically evaluate the place of data visualisation and its contribution to evidence-based decision making
• Apply critical thinking skills to understand how analytical techniques can address sport business problems
• Show proficiency in the use of various analytic software programmes used in the sport business sector
• Apply data visualisation techniques when creating dashboards and executive reports
• Analyse multidimensional data and evaluate their use and value in different sport scenarios
• Apply sport business analytics to improve organisational performance
• Recognise the value of analytics across a range of other business contexts
• Understand the place of analytics and is application to solve complex problems

Assessment

• 40% executive dashboard report
• 40% group case study analysis
• 20% predictive regression model

The aims of this module are to:

• Critically review a range of legal and regulatory issues in sport.
• Analyse and present knowledge of key legal and regulatory areas and their application to preserving the integrity of sport.
• Understand the legal and regulatory aspects of measures taken by sport organisations to address threats to sports integrity.
• Communicate how inter-agency collaboration can be harnessed to share information, intelligence and investigative resources and assess the effectiveness of bodies such as ethics commissions and integrity units.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this module students should be able to:

• Understand the principles of national and international law applying to sports integrity
• Understand how the law affects investigations by sport and government authorities into breaches of sports integrity
• Critically evaluate relevant legal principles, legislation and rules to issues arising in sport contexts
• Appraise new developments in sports law for mandatory information sharing and monitoring arrangements.

Subject-specific skills

• Critique the application of law in the policies, practices and culture of a sporting organisation
• Contextualise and solve problems in a range of applied practical cases in sport organisations

Key/transferable skills

• Develop the communication skills to clearly articulate and convey complex information relating to the integrity of sport.
• Develop critical skills to generate creative ideas relating to the preservation of the integrity of sport.

Assessment 

• 60% Case Study Analysis 

• 40% Group Presentation and Report

Learning Outcomes

Assessment

The module content will include: defining media and creative industries; ownership, concentration and control in media and creative industries; innovation and technological change; media and creative markets; business models in media and creative industries; copyright; global media cities; clustering of media and creative industries; media and cultural policy.

The aim of this module is to introduce you to key critical debates relating to the economics of media and creative industries and their social, cultural and political implications.

Learning outcomes

On completion of this module you should be able to:

• Understand how and why the media and creative industries have been defined
• Understand the importance of industrial structure in media and creative industries
• Understand the implications of innovation and technological change for media and creative industries
• Understand changing business models in media and creative industries
• Understand the importance of copyright and how this is affected by technological change
• Understand why media and creative industries cluster in particular spaces and cities
• Understand the globalisation of media and creative industries
• Understand media and cultural policy
• Identify, debate and evaluate relevant critical perspectives on media and creative industries
• Systematically assess the implicit theoretical assumptions of contrasting perspectives
• Use critical perspectives to analyse emerging trends in media and creative industries
• Communicate effectively in speech and writing, with academic and non-academic audiences
• Engage in critical reasoning, debate and argumentation
• Assess the empirical validity of competing perspectives
• Manage time and resources effectively
• Synthesise different sources of data and identify key arguments and issues at stake in particular fields of practice
• Understand the behaviour of firms in media and creative industries
• Understand emerging trends in media and creative industries
• Apply skills in written and verbal communication that are relevant to this field
• Be able to plan, organise and manage coursework assignments, demonstrating independence, initiative and originality

Assessment

• 100% Coursework