Course description
In today’s global competitive marketplace, the successful corporate executive needs to understand how the legal system and legal regulation can impact on their own area of expertise. Accordingly, the Bangor Business School and the Bangor School of Law have combined to offer an innovative suite of interdisciplinary MBA and MA programmes.
The MBA in Law and Management emphasises both professional and vocational development as well as an awareness of key legal and regulatory issues that play a central role in the successful management of modern enterprises of all types and sizes. You will develop an understanding of higher-level managerial skills and concepts, and their application in practical situations. You will have the opportunity to examine the law and regulation that affects business in a wide range of key areas. An important objective is to provide relevant analytical training in the latest strategic, managerial, legal and commercial developments in both public and private sectors. In this specifically tailored MBA programme, Bangor Business School and the Bangor School of Law offer candidates an innovative suite of key Management and Law subjects.
Part 1 is a wholly taught component, contributing 120 credits. Part is taught during the two semesters which make up the academic year. Teaching during semester 1 normally runs from late-September to December, with examinations in January. Teaching during semester 2 normally runs from late-January to early-May, with examinations in May and June.
Part 2 is a supervised dissertation of around 10,000 words, contributing 60 credits. The dissertation provides you with the opportunity to critically review, and possibly (but not necessarily) produce an original contribution to, the literature in any part of the taught syllabus. Part 2 is completed during the summer months, from June to September. You are expected to submit you dissertation by the end of September in the calendar year following your initial registration for you MSc or MA degree programme.
Continuous assessment is an integral part of all our taught modules. The weightings attaching to coursework and other forms of continuous assessment vary from module to module, from a minimum of 25% to 100%.
MBA Law and Management course structure
Compulsory modules:
* Management Research
This module analyses the philosophical basis for research in the management sciences, and examines a number of key methodological issues and approaches.
* Corporate Strategy
This module analyses strategic decision-making within business. You will develop a critical understanding of the strategic processes of business management, the interconnections with the functional domains of marketing, human resource management and corporate finance, and the management of knowledge systems.
* Strategic Management
This module analyses strategic decision-making within business. You will develop a critical understanding of the strategic processes of business management, the interconnections with the functional domains of marketing, human resource management and corporate finance, and the management of knowledge systems.
* Human Resource Management
This module develops a critical awareness of the key human resource management issues that arise within organisations. You will examine the theory and practice of human resource management in a variety of organisational settings, including an international dimension.
* Marketing Strategy
This module critically evaluates the contributions of various schools of thought in marketing, and examines the relevant analytical models and management practices, with emphasis on the strategic importance of marketing to all organisations.
* Employment Law
This course will focus on the main issues of employment law - the difference between employees and independent contractors, the contract of employment, core employee rights, minimum wage legislation, trade union representation and rights, the closed shop, freedom of movement of workers within the EU, the operation of the employment tribunal system and the rules relating to unfair dismissal and proscribed forms of discrimination against employees on grounds of sex, sexual orientation, age, disability and racial origin etc.
* Consumer Law
Increasingly managers operate in an environment where they must be very conscious of the regulation of the supply of goods and services to consumers as huge costs can arise if there are failures. This module will focus on the main areas of legal liability and the pitfalls that can arise if an organisation does not comply with the relevant consumer protection rules both in the UK and Europe.
* Competition Law
The module will focus on the theory and practice of competition law, including comparative competition law regimes( in particular that of the USA), focusing on UK competition law, EU competition law in particular Articles 81 & 82 EU Treaty including the regulation of restrictive practices, vertical and horizontal restraints and abuses of a dominant position. The module will also examine competition litigation and enforcement, the inter-relationship of competition and intellectual property law (technology transfer agreements) and the EU Merger Control Regulation.
* Comparative Corporate Governance
A series of major corporate scandals in the US, Europe and the UK over recent years such as the Enron Affair and Parmalat in Italy have raised serious questions about the organisation and governance of companies and in particular large multinational organisations. The growth of private equity buy-outs has also raised issues of transparency and accountability. The module will examine the legal regulation of modern corporate structures.
MANAGEMENT (choose at least one):
* European Business
This module examines the opportunities and constraints faced by businesses that operate on a pan-European basis. Emphasis is placed on the multi-dimensional characteristics of an economic and social space that is subject to a unique system of supra-national governance.
* Knowledge Management
This module examines the processes whereby organisations and individuals develop and utilise their knowledge bases. Knowledge is a key asset and source of competitive advantage in the new economy. Successful knowledge management hinges on people, culture and technology. As such it has professional and academic links with organisational behaviour and organisational learning.
* e-Business Value Chain
This module examines electronic business in the context of the changing global environment. It builds on the traditional prescription that organisations can create value for customers.
* International Financial Management
This module examines the financial management of multinational companies, and the influence of the macroeconomic, fiscal, currency and political environments on business and financial decision-making in an international and global context.
* Financial Analysis
This module analyses the techniques that are used to evaluate a company’s financial position and performance. You will examine the principles underlying inter-firm comparison (comparing the performance of one firm with another) and trend analysis (comparing the performance of the same firm over different periods).
* Finance for Managers
This module is designed for those who aim to achieve a basic understanding of financial management and control, and who require an understanding of finance in order to manage an organisation effectively. Financial planning and control are central themes, as well as the appraisal techniques of investment projects.
LAW (choose at least one):
* International Insurance Law
Insurance contracts are governed by the rules of general law of contract and the module will explore the nature and scope of the contract of insurance, evaluate its salient features, consider the general principles of insurance, and examine the relationships between the parties to the contract.
* World Trade Law
The module will study in-depth aspects of the regulation of international trade through the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and the World Trade Organisation. It will consider the institutional framework of the treaty scheme, the removal of tariff barriers to trade, international control of dumping and subsidies, intellectual property rights under the TRIPs Agreement, environmental, health and labour conflicts, protection of human rights, services and dispute resolution.
* Industrial Property Law
The course will consist of seminars relating to the history and development of industrial property law in a UK, EU and an international context. It will include the law relating to trade secrets, patents, copyrights, design rights and trade marks.
* Intellectual Property Law
The course will address the fundamentals of intellectual property law, the definition and scope of copyright; the authorship, ownership, duration and qualification for copyright protection.
* Competition Law
The module will consist of seminars and lectures relating to the theory and practice of the law of competition (monopolies, oligopolies, cartels and restrictive trade practices, abuse of a dominant position). UK competition law, EU competition law in particular Articles 81 & 82 EU Treaty, and comparative legal competition regimes in particular the law of the USA.
* International Corporate Finance Law Merger Regulation Law
This module focuses on the study of leading case law and selected legislation regulating to the operation of corporate mergers and their financing, from several common law countries such as the USA, Britain, Ireland, Canada, Australia and New Zealand and other appropriate examples from China, India and civil law jurisdictions as well as relevant European Union laws.
* International Commercial Arbitration
The module considers the theoretical and institutional structure of arbitration and alternative dispute resolution (ADR), examines the legal framework within which arbitral disputes are resolved and reviews the principles and practices of international commercial arbitration.
