This course is designed for experienced property and construction professionals seeking to develop their management skills.
Summary
Award: MBA in Construction and Real Estate (MBAConstRealEst)
Duration: 2¾ years
Time commitment: 14–15 hours a week
Application and commencement dates:
31 July 2009 to start 1 September 2009
31 January 2010 to start 1 March 2010
Twelve months after successful completion of the MBA, you can apply to the College for the award of the RICS Postgraduate Diploma in Project Management.
Accreditation
This course is accredited by RICS and CIOB.
Entry requirements
You should:
• Have a good degree and/or relevant professional qualifications and at least three years’ relevant work experience (academic entry requirements are set by the University of Reading), or
• Have relevant work experience for Accreditation of Prior (Experiential) Learning (AP(E)L) entry. The AP(E)L criteria for entry to the MBA programme will be determined in accordance with the University of Reading Policy on AP(E)L. (Available at www.reading.ac.uk/web/files/qualitysupport/apelpolicy. pdf) It is recommended that applicants for AP(E)L have appropriate work experience in a position which has a responsibility for managing people; and an academic qualification equivalent to that of an HND/C or higher. Each application for AP(E)L entry will be reviewed on its merits. Please note that there are a limited number of places for AP(E)L entrance only, so apply early
• The suitability of each candidate’s qualifications will be decided at the discretion of the Course Director
• No exemptions are given for prior qualifications
Course outline
Part 1
Semester A
Management Science – source, application and treatment of financial, fiscal and strategic information; analysis, evaluation and control, including networks, CPM and resource allocation; descriptive statistics; summarising data; sampling; time series analysis; quality; benchmarking; risk analysis; decision making; simulation.
Marketing Principles and Strategy – principles of marketing; buyer behaviour; marketing research; service management; product management; promotional mix; pricing; relationship marketing; competitive analysis; analytical models for strategic planning; marketing planning; international marketing.
Semester B
Managerial Accounting – principles of accounting for management control; finance applied to business; budgetary control; cash flow; capital investment decisions; cost–benefit analysis; value added statements; evaluation of accounting information.
Organisation and People Management – concepts of organisational behaviour; theory and practice of managing people; strategic issues; general management and decision making; defining management; organizational environment; groups and teams; motivation; leadership; performance management; managing marginal performers; reward management; communication; conflict management.
Part 2
Semester A
Development Strategy and Procedure – practical issues and management functions associated with development strategies; town planning; value and risk management; procurement systems; audit review; facilities management; strategic processes; culture, ethics and management of international construction; dispute resolution; legal aspects.
Knowledge Management and Portfolio Management – process of disseminating information to increase profitability and competitive advantage; intellectual capital; innovation; construction projects; three dimensional project modelling; real estate portfolios with asset and fund management from viewpoints of investor, developer, constructor and occupier; principles and practice of investment; portfolio theory; construction; adjustment and performance appraisal; investment return; risk; asset pricing and valuing; securitisation.
Semester B
Development Finance and Appraisal – aspects of accounting directly relevant to project management, including investment decisions; sources of finance; development appraisal; contractor appraisal; project cost control; overseas project financing; risk management; tax; viability; case studies.
Strategic Management and Management of Change & Innovation – role of corporate strategic management within construction and real estate industries; evolution of strategic management ideas; how organisations should grow to suit the economic and political environment; strategy; systems, structure and styles; stakeholders; context; innovation through research, development and business ethics; new organisational paradigms; models; open systems approach; political and legal influences; skills and competencies of the change agent.
Part 3
Assessed Research Module – an introduction to the nature of research; research hypothesis, aims and objectives; research strategies; use of literature in research; data collection; analysis and synthesis; research sources; research skills; important issues in research; writing up your research; alternative ways of undertaking research.
Dissertation
Face-to-Face teaching
Two-day sessions are held in March and September of each year in Reading. Overnight accommodation for seminars is included in the course fee.
Assessment
Assessment consists of assignments and examinations in each module at Part 1 and 2, and assignments and a dissertation at Part 3.
Assignments
You will complete and submit two assignments per module for assessment according to the timetable of the course.
Exams
Exams are normally held in February and August and are as follows:
• Two 2-hour written papers per semester at Part 1
• Two 3-hour written papers per semester at Part 2
Dissertation
At Part 3 you will submit a dissertation of 12,000–15,000 words. This will take the form of an in-depth investigation and will focus on a practical aspect of a course-related subject.
Admissions and enquiries
Email: courses@cem.ac.uk
Tel: 0800 019 9697 (freephone UK)
+44 (0) 118 921 4696 (international)
Fax: +44 (0) 118 921 4620