The Canberra MBA - Master of Business Administration

Course Code: 723AA (Weekday) or 723AB (Intensive Saturday Mode)

The Master of Business Administration (MBA) is designed to develop and enhance the management competencies of current and future business leaders locally, nationally and globally. In addition to developing competencies in the core management areas of accounting & finance, marketing, managing people, economics, data analysis and understanding the international business environment, there is a focus on ethical and strategic decision making. There is also the opportunity to study elective subjects in areas of special interest.

The MBA is based on coursework and is presented in a range of teaching formats including lectures, tutorials, seminars and workshops. It is offered in the mainstream and flexible weekend delivery modes (aka "Intensive Mode") and is designed to enable practicing managers and other professionals to transfer learning immediately to the workplace. The broad aim of the course is to offer individuals aspiring to either general management or senior functional management roles, the opportunity to develop competencies relevant to the effective management of enterprises. Specific objectives of the MBA are:

(a) to provide for graduates a professional masters degree level course in business administration;
(b) to equip graduates with a theoretical and practical education in business administration which will be relevant to both private and public sector employment;
(c) to meet the needs of full and part-time graduates students from Australia and the Asia-Pacific region who wish to pursue professional graduate studies in management.

In terms of learning outcomes it is expected that graduates will be able to:
(a) plan and manage successfully in an increasingly complex and turbulent national and international environment, but within the framework of societal values;
(b) demonstrate high levels of analytical, problem solving and communication skills;
(c) apply a creative, innovative and ethical approach in seeking new business opportunities; and
(d) act as an agent of change in organisational transformation.

Specialisations

Subsumable Awards

Further Study

See Also

Admission Requirements

Applicants must have an undergraduate degree and two years relevant work experience or equivalent as approved by the University Admissions Committee or have completed the Graduate Diploma in Business Administration.

Course Requirements

At least 12 units as set out in (a) and (b), including at least 4 units at PG level.

(a) 27 credit points from the following 9 required units:

  • 6264 Organisational Behaviour G
  • 6221 Accounting for Managers G
  • 6261 Marketing G
  • 6234 Economics for Managers G
  • 6241 International Business G
  • 6275 Statistical Analysis & Decision Making G
  • 6224 Business Finance PG
  • 6255 Management Ethics PG
  • 6277 Strategic Management PG

(b) 9 credit points from the following units:

  • 6238 Human Resource Management G
  • 6243 International HRM PG
  • 6259 Managers & the Law G
  • 6244 International Marketing PG
  • 6272 Services Marketing PG
  • 6246 Internet Marketing PG
  • 6253 Management Accounting PG
  • 6242 International Financial Management PG
  • 6273 Special Topics in Business G
  • 6226 Business Research Project PG

Unit Overviews - Core Units

6264 Organisational Behaviour G: Organisational Behaviour is the systematic study of human behaviour at the individual, group and organisational level.  It begins with a focus on the analysis of individual behaviour characterised by factors such as perception, attitudes, personality, learning, stress and motivation. Next, the analysis of behaviour at the group level examines culture, leadership, the dynamics of group processes and communication. Finally, topics covered at the organisational level of analysis include the distribution of power, the impact of politics, conflict management and processes involved in organisational change and development.


6221 Accounting for Managers G: The financial accounting section includes basic and generally accepted accounting concepts and principles so that students have a good understanding of internal and external financial reporting and are able to analyse and interpret financial statements for decision-making and communicating financial information with other managers. The management accounting section emphasises cost concepts and cost-volume-profit analysis, principles of working capital management, short-term decision making, long-term and capital decision making, budgetary control and planning techniques, responsibility centre accounting, product costing, and internal performance evaluation.

6261 Marketing G: The aim of this subject is to give students a thorough knowledge of the basic principles and concepts of marketing. The focus is on developing an analytical capacity for improved managerial judgement in problem solving and decision-making. The subject includes such topics as the marketing environment, analysing marketing opportunities, and managing the marketing mix. Specific emphasis is placed on the development of promotion, product, distribution and pricing strategies. The subject is also designed to provide students with a sound knowledge of various marketing systems such as consumer marketing, industrial marketing, non-profit marketing, public sector marketing and services marketing.

6234 Economics for Managers G: The content of this subject is especially designed for graduate students and provides an examination of economic principles and theories essential to an understanding of current economic problems and economic policy analysis. The syllabus includes both microeconomics and macroeconomics. The essentials of microeconomics are examined including the theory of market systems and the price mechanism, consumer demand theory, resource allocation and the theory of the firm concentrating on production and cost analysis principles. The macroeconomics component examines the inter-relationship between the main economic variables. Microeconomic reform and fiscal and monetary policy measures are examined and related to Australia 's economic problems of unemployment, inflation and slow economic growth.

6241 International Business G: This subject introduces a range of topics relevant to international business and management in the context of globalisation. Topics will include: international trade and investment, the global monetary system, strategy and structure of international business, entry modes and strategic alliances, human resource management and international marketing. It treats these topics at both a practical and theoretical level so that an understanding is developed of the environment within which managers in international business function. Students will use a range of cases in order to demonstrate an understanding of the international business relations of individual enterprises.

6275 Statistical Analysis & Decision Making G: This subject is intended mainly for students in business administration and management science and deals with the ways in which statistical techniques can be used to analyse quantitative information in those disciplines. Topics include populations and samples; the presentation and interpretation of data; measures of central tendency and variability; index numbers; simple linear regression and correlation; basic time series; basic probability; the binomial, Poisson and normal distributions; estimation and hypothesis testing. Analyses will use Microsoft Excel.

6224 Business Finance PG: Business Finance PG aims to provide students with analytical techniques for the efficient financial management of business. These techniques are developed within the framework of modern theories of finance like portfolio theory and CAPM. Topics include the goals and functions of finance, corporate financial strategy, financial mathematics, methods of valuation, project appraisal, risk analysis, capital structure, methods of financing operations and role of financial markets, dividend policies, and derivative and convertible securities. Students should emerge from the subject with a thorough appreciation of the roles of debt, risk and performance measures in financial management.

6255 Management Ethics PG: This subject provides students with an understanding of the major ethical theories of teleology and deontology and exposes them to the ethical issues that arise within the functional areas of business and management.  The subject provides the opportunity to explore a wide range of contemporary case materials in which managers try to reconcile the demands of expediency and the demands of principles.  The subject aims to assist students to acquire and develop critical thinking skills required for the successful practice of business within the framework of societal values.  These skills include the ability to perceive the ethical implications of a situation, engage in sound moral reasoning and develop practical problem solving strategies.  Topics include:  ethical theory, corporate social responsibility, international business and global ethics, whistleblowing, affirmative action, privacy, marketing, product safety, accounting & finance and environmental protection.

6277 Strategic Management PG: The study of strategic management involves an analysis of the factors which govern the success or otherwise of an organisation operating in contemporary society. The analysis includes an examination of factors external to the organisation which may either threaten its operations, or provide opportunities for development, and internal factors which either strengthen or weaken its capacity to develop, and perhaps, ultimately, to survive. An examination is made of an organisation's core competencies and its ability to take advantage of opportunities in a highly competitive global environment. Management decision making at the strategic level, which determines the future direction of the organisation is examined with a view to judging whether implementation, control and evaluation is feasible. The principles underlying the study of strategic management are applicable to profit-making and non-profit making organisations.

Unit Overviews - Restricted Choice

6238 Human Resource Management G: Human Resource Management provides students with an introduction to debates regarding the development of management thought, the key theoretical principles underpinning human resource management, employee motivation and performance management, managing diversity and equal employment opportunities within the workplace, managing employee recruitment and selection, learning and career management, organisational culture, employee involvement, the law of employment, industrial relations, labour flexibility, downsizing and organisational restructuring, and international dimensions of human resource management.

6259 Managers & the Law G: This subject provides an introduction to the Australian legal systems. Its particular focus is the way in which law influences business decision-making. The areas which are dealt with in the subject are the nature of law and the legislative and judicial process; the common law principles of contract law and the effect of statutory intervention on those principles; the concept of liability; and the law's approach to the organisation of business. The course will also deal with selected topics drawn from the areas of financial institutions, taxation, insurance, consumer protection and competition.

6244 International Marketing PG: This subject aims to provide a comprehensive review of the theory and practice of international marketing. Topics include the economic analysis of international trade and Australian business involvement, environmental factors affecting international marketing, strategic planning and organising for international marketing, decisions on segmentation, product policy and product planning, pricing, channels of distribution, international advertising and coordinating and controlling global marketing operations. It also focuses on international market research, multi country data analysis and international marketing information systems.

6272 Services Marketing PG: This subject aims to provide students with a comprehensive review of current theory and practice in services marketing. The distinctive needs of service industries for marketing planning and strategy will be explored in detail, as will customer relationship management. Challenges such as maintaining service quality and handling customer complaints will be considered, as well as the impact on services of information technology and globalisation. The subject will have a current Australian focus and make extensive use of actual examples from services industries in our region.

6253 Management Accounting PG: This subject addresses fundamental management accounting techniques together with more recent developments in the field.  An essential part of the subject is a focus on management planning and control.  Product costing, activity-based costing, target costing, financial and non-financial performance measurement systems and a review of balanced scorecard approaches to organisational performance and management will form the framework for the subject.

6242 International Financial Management PG: This subject deals with the financial management of multinational business activities, the operation of international financial markets and the impact of international transactions on domestic firms. It covers issues such as measuring and managing risks arising out of international trade, financing and investment decisions that multinational firms need to make and the international business environment in general.

6273 Special Topics in Business G: This subject offers topics which reflect the research interests of, and activities of, school staff and / or visiting academic staff, enabling students to investigate in detail specialised topics which would not normally be offered as part of the School's subject offerings.

6226 Business Research Project G: This subject will allow a student to undertake a program of study, which goes beyond the boundaries of other semester subjects. The subject is directed to those students whose previous results have indicated that they have the potential to pursue independent research.  Under the guidance of a supervisor the student will undertake a research project and present a 15,000 written report that will be assessed by at least two examiners.  The subject aims to develop an appreciation of research methodology with particular reference to techniques and approaches of relevance to the individual student.

Note: Information provided as a guide only. Consult the UC Handbook for the year of commencement for official course rules. Units are not offered in all semesters.