Digital Business

The Digital Business and Entrepreneurship module has been designed specifically to equip you with the practical and theoretical skills needed for contemporary business settings; you will gain an understanding of the role of inactive business models (think Uber) that can exploit innovative and disruptive technologies such as drones, robotics, and wearable tech. There is a focus on entrepreneurial skills essential for those starting their own businesses and also for those working in digital business settings. The module will encourage you to critically assess how social, disruptive and innovative technologies can become key business enablers and facilitate strategic competitive advantages.

Teaching:

The teaching team are all internationally-recognised researchers and members of the Business School’s Disruptive Technologies Cluster so bring contemporary research into their teaching.

We use an Inquiry Based Learning (IBL) approach to encourage student-centred learning, collaboration and self-directed study. You can expect to present your findings and solutions to the entire class and guest entrepreneurs for open discussion and constructive feedback. You will learn via:

• Interactive lectures and workshops
• Panel discussions, round table debates and student-led discussions
• Guest speakers from industry
• Guided personal study supported by associated reading list, lecture notes and relevant research articles

Assessments:

50%       Digital business portfolio
50%       Tech-spec digital portfolio

This module aims to develop your core skills in social media-based targeting and communication strategies. We will consider a host of topics that look at the strategic analysis of social media platforms from a communications perspective, key metrics, tools, techniques and strategy development frameworks.

You will look at search engine optimisation and search engine marketing, site audit, content optimization etc. We will use intensive case discussion sessions, group activities, practitioner lectures and insightful study materials to look at how marketing communication through social media is achieved. This module is accredited by the Institute of Direct and Digital Marketing (IDM). 

Teaching and learning reflect real-world industry needs and offer you the opportunity to practise your skills on your own digital profiles as well as mini projects. You will learn through:

• Interactive lectures and seminars
• Small group learning sets will be used as the basis for problem-based learning scenarios designed to include case studies, class-based activities, research articles and web-based materials
• Guided personal study supported by associated reading list, lecture notes and relevant research articles

Assessment:

25 minute video presentation

Most businesses are undergoing some form of digital transformation, this module has been designed in partnership with business leaders to take a critical overview of the processes that are involved. You will develop a theoretical and practical understanding of the needs of organisations when strategically planning transformation and integrating business information systems. You will also achieve a holistic knowledge of the critical role of Information Technology/ Systems (IT/S), both at corporate and business levels, enabling you to be ready to support and deliver professional, ethical and legal services in IT/S transformation.

The module is divided into six topic specific blocks. Each block will introduce the topic, via interactive/participatory lecture and tutorial/seminar sessions and close with a reflection and synopsis of the topic area. Each block will inform the following block.

Teaching is delivered via:

• interactive lecture sessions, timed tasks, panel discussions, round table debates and quizzes. These will be explored in greater detail by students, working individually or in small groups on a case study, or articles/whitepapers from associated business resources. Groups will be asked to present their solutions to the larger class and these will be openly discussed.
• guest speakers (including graduates) from industry provide you with valuable examples of current practices, career advice and networking opportunities.
• additional guided personal study supported by associated reading list, lecture notes and relevant research articles

Assessments:

50%        Individual assignment
50%        Digital portfolio

You will learn about the approaches, skills and methods of effective project management, and the tools and techniques required for planning, control, teamwork, leadership and other key processes. All of these qualities will develop your ability to lead large and complex projects.

Teaching:

• Interactive lectures and seminars
• Group working on problem-based learning scenarios
• Guided personal study supported by associated reading list, lecture notes and relevant research articles

Assessments:

50%       Group written assignment to assess your practical and applied skills
50%       Individual written assignment to assess your understanding of the theory of Project Management

This is a paid industry placement and provides you with the opportunity to undertake 6-month employment with an organisation located regionally, nationally, or internationally. 

You will source your own placement; however, you will have lots of support from the University of Salford and the Business School employability-hub and from your current industry contacts. You will also benefit from preparatory lectures in study skills, action planning, consultancy and more.  

As part of your placement, you will analyse a ‘live’ business opportunity. This will include critical reflection on opportunities that allow you to apply the theoretical skills you have learned on your programme to an existing business issue; along with how you will develop and use appropriate problem-solving skills in a real-world environment. You will work on an organisational issue, working with the client on a full-time basis. 

You will be allocated an academic supervisor to support you throughout your placement, from preparing your proposal and applying for ethical approval in your data collection, to field work and supporting the delivery of your proposed outcomes.

The ICP work placement will be assessed in the form of a 10,000-word dissertation that should demonstrate the work you have undertaken for your placement.  Your dissertation will explain the deliverables created, the theories and concepts applied, the data gathering activities you have undertaken and the impact achieved. You will also include an appropriate level of critical reflection.   

Assessment: 10,000 word dissertation

This can be a paid or unpaid internship and provides you with the opportunity to undertake 3-month internship with an organisation located regionally, nationally, or internationally. 

You will source your own internship; however, you will have lots of support from the University of Salford and the Business School employability-hub and from your current industry contacts. You will also benefit from preparatory lectures in study skills, action planning, consultancy and more.  

As part of your internship, you will analyse a ‘live’ business opportunity. This will include critical reflection on opportunities that allow you to apply the theoretical skills you have learned on your programme to an existing business issue; along with how you will develop and use appropriate problem-solving skills in a real-world environment. You will work alongside an organisation to identify and explore a real organisational issue up to 20 hours per week. 

You will be allocated an academic supervisor to support you throughout your internship, from preparing your proposal and applying for ethical approval in your data collection, to field work and supporting the delivery of your proposed outcomes.

The ICP internship will be assessed in the form of a 10,000-word dissertation that should demonstrate the work you have undertaken for your internship.  Your dissertation will explain the deliverables created, the theories and concepts applied, the data gathering activities you have undertaken and the impact achieved. You will also include an appropriate level of critical reflection.   

Assessment: 10,000 word dissertation

A 3-month Applied Dissertation provides you with a unique opportunity to examine an issue important to you and this should fit in with your programme of study.  This is an advanced-level applied research pathway that can be based on a real-world business problem and examining an issue important to an organisation.   The Applied Dissertation route provides you with the opportunity to apply the theoretical and practical knowledge you have gained from the taught elements of your course to a current organisational issue. You will implement and effectively use appropriate problem-solving skills through critical self-reflection and methodical, systematic research.  It is a very good option to choose if you are considering moving into academic research or PhD upon completion of your master’s programme.

You will be allocated an academic supervisor to support you throughout your Applied Dissertation, from preparing your proposal and applying for ethical approval in your data collection, to field work and supporting the delivery of your proposed outcomes.

The Applied Dissertation will be assessed in the form of a 10,000-word dissertation that should demonstrate the work you have undertaken.  Your dissertation will explain the deliverables created, the theories and concepts applied, the data gathering activities you have undertaken and the impact achieved. You will also include an appropriate level of critical reflection. 

Assessment: 10,000 word dissertation

A 3-month entrepreneurship dissertation involves analysing business opportunities and writing a business plan including critical reflection on opportunities, challenges and strategies. This will lead you on to establish a new business or incorporate your entrepreneurial thinking into the management of existing organisations. You should demonstrate an understanding through the development of an enterprise idea in a specific sector or industry, together with evidence of critical and analytical evaluation. You may find the entrepreneurship dissertation both challenging and rewarding, as it is a practical module in an area which you should have an interest in.

You will be allocated an academic supervisor to support you throughout the entrepreneurship dissertation route.  They will assist you in developing your skills and reasoning to support entrepreneurial action while working on the development of your own innovative business idea.  In doing this, you will prepare a proposal, ethical considerations for your data collection and field work to support the development of your business plan. 

The Entrepreneurship route will be assessed in the form of an 8,500-word dissertation that should demonstrate the work you have undertaken for your entrepreneurial business idea.  Your dissertation will explain the deliverables created, the theories and concepts applied, the data gathering activities you have undertaken and the impact achieved. You will also include an appropriate level of critical reflection. 

Assessment: 8,500 word dissertation