Master Management (MSc)

The MSc Management is a taught programme aimed at individuals seeking to develop a career in business and general management, particularly, though not exclusively, at those with experience. Throughout, the aim is to develop the critical and analytical skills and values for strong personal leadership that are required of people entering general management.

All modules are compulsory and encourage a holistic understanding of (General) Management in a broad sense by making reference to one another. For example, you might be asked to look at how a change at the people sight impacts a company’s strategy or to explore the impact of a strategic decision on key stakeholders with attention on a leadership or a change management competence. What will be your focus to get successful in your mission (Return on Investment Strategy)? The student must be able to give the good answers during the study in general management.

The focus throughout is on developing your understanding of the discipline and effects of General, Business and Change Management, so rather than including a separate research module, the programme incorporates research methods throughout, in ways which would be relevant to a practising manager or leader. As an (general) manager, you are often asked to commission, undertake, manage and critique research and the MSc Management aims to develop your ability to do so.

Based on various reports (i.e. Best Practices Change Management 2009 by Prosci’s® Change Management Learning Center, all kind of trends in change management and leadership), research with our own students, test advertisements and many years experience in the educational market, MVBA is of the opinion that there is a large demand in the market for more far-reaching academic level programmes for professionals especially in change management and New Leadership. These are mainly managers who are currently working after having completed a professional bachelors or academic education or have completed this education while pursuing a career. Many of these professionals have proven in practice that they function on a masters/management level. They frequently have the need for a programme which connects the required theoretical knowledge with their own practical professional experience and are strongly geared towards translating and connecting these theoretical frameworks into practice. They mostly have a focus at their own specialism or basically manage a certain content in the business area they are working for. In general these target groups are not familiar with managing changes at the people sight in projects.

The main focus of the master’s programme is on candidates who already work and function at a bachelor/academic level, with extensive practical experience in general management and a need to get more acquainted with special areas of corporate strategy, change management and leadership. The candidates are able to utilize their practical experience to make a strong connection to the programme.

A (general) manager needs, according to MVBA, to have the following skills:
• Leadership ability
• Team work skills
• Work independently without direct supervision
• Understanding of how to develop and implement business strategies
• Thorough knowledge of company history, culture, identity and goals
• Ability to work well with all levels of management, executive leadership and support staff
• Able to supervise a large staff of middle management and support staff
• Know how to delegate work
• Problem-solving and conflict management