1. Aston MBA Induction, 22 September 2015 Your Aston MBA/Your Aston Edge Kirit Vaidya, Jason Evans & Elaine Clarke, Associate Dean Postgraduate Learning and Teaching

2. Session plan  Your Aston MBA – overview and principles  Four corners  How it all works  Q & A – mainly “How it all works”  The Aston Edge  Q & A

3. Entrepreneurs & Business  Starters of businesses with an aspiration to do something special  The big examples (Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Jack Ma) and the rest George W Bush (politician not entrepreneur) is reputed to have said: “the trouble with the French is that they don’t have a word for entrepreneur.”

4. Entrepreneurship – some traits Tenacity – if at first you don’t succeed, try and try again Passion – excitement and belief, not just the pursuit of money Tolerance of ambiguity – risk taking Vision – the ability to spot opportunities Self-belief – confidence that it will work Flexibility – responding to market conditions, opportunities and problems Rule-breaking – go against the herd

5. Entrepreneurs and managers -Are there any differences? -What are they? What makes a great manager? Combining knowledge with conduct and confidence

6. Factor Intensities of Leading Exports Accounting & Finance Organisational behaviour & HR Marketing Operations management The core business functions Strategy Innovation & Entrepreneurship Leadership Integrating competencies and social responsibility … in the context of the national & international business environment MBA Project: Specialist topic / Consultancy / Business Plan Specialisation / Applying knowledge in business / Experiential learning The Aston MBA Overview CSR Mindful Global Manager The Aston Edge Electives with “main field of study” options

7. “The four corners - 1” What is the most important function in a business  Marketing  Operations  Finance / accounting  Managing people

8. “The four corners - 2” What should be the most important features of an MBA / Senior management  Strong understanding of the functional areas  Being able to lead and motivate others  Able to develop a strategic direction  Being entrepreneurial

9. “The four corners - 3” Why I want to do the MBA Move from a specialist / functional area to general management Speed up career development Change career direction Develop own business

10. Course Structure (180 credits) > 10 Core modules (10 credits each = 100 credits) > 2 Optional Modules – Electives (10 credits each = 20 credits) > MBA Project module (60 credits) – breakdown shown later (Specialist topic / Consultancy / Business Plan) The MBA structure – how it all works

11. Term 1 (10 weeks, 5 th October – 11 th December, exams in week beginning 7 th December) Organisational Behaviour - Function Operations Management - Function Marketing Management - Function Accounting for Business - Function Research Methods for Business Workshops

12. Term 2 (10 weeks, 11 th January – 18 th March, exams in week beginning 14 th March) Business Finance - Function Leadership and Development – Function / Integrating Business Ethics, Responsibility and Sustainability - Integrating / Social responsibility Elective 1

13. Term 3 (10 weeks, 18 th April – 24 th June, exams in week beginning 20 th June) Innovation and Entrepreneurship Business Economics and Strategy Strategic Management Elective 2 24 th June Onwards: Work on the MBA Project (submission by 12 th September)

14. Elective modules choice (subject to sufficient numbers opting and combination with other MBA modes)  Marketing Strategy  Creative Decisions for Effective Change  Technology-Led Service Strategy  International Business  Strategic Management Accounting  International Marketing Management  Strategic HRM in a Global Context  International Finance  Topics in Advanced Strategy  Electronic Business

15. “Main field of study” options - 1 MBA Finance -International Finance -Business Performance, Planning & Control MBA International Business (Any two modules from) -International Business -International Marketing Management -International Finance MBA Marketing -Marketing Strategy -International Marketing Management

16. “Main field of study” options - 2 MBA Leading People for Competitive Advantage -Strategic HRM in a Global Context -Creative Decisions for Effective Change MBA Strategic Management (Any two modules from) -International Business -Topics in Advanced Strategy -Marketing Strategy The MBA Project must be in the “field of study”

17. The MBA project module composition – 3 components  Mindful Global Manager (10 credits)  MBA project proposal (10 credits)  MBA Project (40 credits) (Specialist topic / Consultancy / Business Plan)

18. What you have to do to pass and excel To pass: -Pass all taught modules (minimum 50%, up to 3 modules can be condoned if the mark is between 45% and 49%) -Pass the Project module (minimum 50%) To pass with Merit -Average mark of 60% or higher for taught modules -60% or above in the Project module (compensation between components) To pass with Distinction -Average mark of 70% or higher for taught modules -70% or above in the Project module (compensation between components)