Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Objectives of this Course

This course is designed for both aspiring managers and people currently employed in business or management.

The Holmes MBA has the clear objective of teaching you how to think like a business person and how to plan using advanced strategic thinking. The Holmes MBA will enable you to critically examine problems and opportunities. By providing analytical frameworks such as risk assessments, cost-benefit analyses and strategic plans you will be able to apply these to any problem or opportunity you encounter. With an MBA from Holmes you will have gained a broad business mindset.

The Holmes Advantage

The Holmes MBA will provide you with the understanding, knowledge and skills necessary to explain and discuss essential principles and practices of business through the study of the fundamental core subjects in business and management.

The core curriculum develops your understanding and ability to interpret financial statements and marketing plans, analyse markets, read audit reports and develop business plans.

Knowing how to read financial statements is important during the evaluation of a vendor's financial standing. Knowing how to interpret marketing plans and conduct a market analyse will help you identify a vendor's strengths and overall strategies.

Because the Holmes MBA is a master's-level academic program, you will produce comprehensive assessments for each subject.

The ability to research business business topics and analyse current business opportunities will quickly give a competitive edge in your workplace.

The Holmes MBA will allow you to develop comprehensive understandings of your organisation's operating environment. From this knowledge you will be able to help your organisation move forward and become a more valuable asset in the organisation. The overall importance of leadership is an integral principle in the Holmes MBA. The degree will provide the knowledge and skills to lead an organisation using advanced technology, innovative practices and enterprise management systems which work.

Course Structure and Content

The Holmes MBA comprises 12 subjects, taken over three study periods.

Students may elect to exit the MBA after two study periods having qualified for the Graduate Diploma in Business award, which consists of 8 subjects. Seven core subjects must be completed plus one elective subject chosen from anywhere in the MBA.

There are eight core subjects in the MBA, as set out in the brochure. All students must complete these core subjects and then may choose to either complete their MBA with general electives in Business and Management, or complete a specialisation. The specialisations available in the Holmes MBA are concentrated in the following fields:

• International Business and Enterprise
• Accounting and Finance
• Information and Technology

Core Subjects

HI 5001 Accounting for Business Decisions
Principles and practices of accounting as they relate to business decision making is the subject focus. The theory is applied to large organisations, both private and public, as well as to small and medium sized enterprises. The fundamentals of integrating accounting into the market valuation of business enterprises and the preparation and interpretation of the financial statements are canvassed. Relevant contemporary issues and challenges from the field are introduced.

HI 5002 Finance for Business
From a foundation in business finance, this subject provides an understanding of the operations of the financial system and capital market institutions locally and internationally. Both the banking and non-banking sectors are examined. Topics covered include: equities, short and long term debt instruments, derivatives, interest rates determination, forecasting and international finance. The management of risk is an essential component of this subject.

HI 5003 Economics for Business
Macro and microeconomic issues relevant to business are canvassed - the broad business and economic environment and range of settings in which managers work. The focus is on the development and use of economic principles and tools that equip business managers to operate in these settings. Questions addressed include: what makes firms competitive as well as what makes economies successful in a global environment. Policy issues addressed include: the issue of trade versus aid, imports and exports, investment and taxation policy.

HI 5004 Marketing Management
Principles and practices of marketing management, both local and international, are addressed. The role of marketing in business as well as non-business settings is covered. Topics include the role of market research and metrics in the formulation of marketing strategy in response to specific market conditions. The tools of marketing such as positioning, segmentation, targeting, price, distribution and promotion are all elaborated.

HI 6005 Management and Organisations in a Global Environment
Management, described by some as an art and by others as a science, has no precise formulation. Students of management are expected to develop and in-depth knowledge of management concepts but also a critical appreciation of the controversies that besiege them. As management plays out in a globalised business environment, the multi-faceted nature of the management challenge is even more demanding.  The world is becoming a Global Village, managers (even those in small business) must increasingly look to the world for markets, competitive threats and opportunities. As such managers must increasingly be able to transcend the norms and biases of their own culture and comfort zones and be competent in communicating with managers and others from other cultures and norms.

HI 6006 Competitive Strategy
The process of strategy formulation, applicable in a variety of organisational contexts, is introduced from the principles and practices in the field. Examples are chosen from large organisations in both the private and public sectors, as well as from small to medium enterprises. The basic knowledge about strategies that deliver competitive advantage is detailed. The drivers of strategy are explored in the context of a globally competitive business environment.

HI 6007 Statistics for Business Decisions
This subject seeks to engage students in the exploration of statistical analysis applicable to a variety of business settings for the purpose of business decisions making. Emphasis will be placed on explaining and justifying the use of statistical analysis in the context of critical reasoning in business problem solving. In addition, appropriate research methodologies and techniques (qualitative and quantitative) are elaborated as the strategy for an approach to business problem-solving. Statistical packages such as Excel and SPSS are used. Different data presentation techniques are also discussed.

HI 6008 Business Research
This subject seeks to engage students in the business research process: how to plan, organise and carry out a business research project. The business research process is investigated from the identification and definition of a suitable business research question, the conduct of a thorough literature review, the selection of an appropriate research methodology for data collection and analysis, and the writing of a research paper. The ethics of business research is also addressed.

Elective Subjects

HI 5009 Leading and Managing People and Relationships for Performance
The capabilities required to lead people and manage relationships effectively in a variety of circumstances is the subject focus. The basic HR functions of delegations, roles, conflict resolution and communication are applied in diverse settings. Broad notions of leadership and performance management anchor the discussions.

HI 5010 Innovation and Entrepreneurship
The processes of purposeful innovation and entrepreneurial management are explored in a variety of contexts: in start-up ventures, in innovations of existing large businesses and in service institutions - even the public service. The role of innovation and entrepreneurship as crucial drivers of economic activity, albeit involving managed risk, is explored.

HI 6011 Leveraging Information Technology for Business Advantage
IT's impacts and influences on business environments is outlined in so far as it has shaped these environments. The subject explores deployment of IT in a wide variety of industries and environments where it has leveraged business advantage such as the re-engineering of business processes and the yielding of competitive edge. IT's impact on a manager's own personal environment and strategic decision making is also explored

HI 6012 Managing Operations and Supply Chanins
Viability in the modern management environment is analysed in terms of the underlying value chain and value proposition. For the enterprise to successfully forge its niche, the value driver demands that it delivers not only efficiencies in the supply chain but also efficiencies in the internal supply chain,  The enabling technologies that provide these efficiencies are elaborated.

HI 5013 Managing Across Borders
The main issues in international management is a variety of social, political, economic, technological and cultural forces - are the focus of this subject. From the theoretical frameworks and other empirical work, the cross-cultural management of international enterprises is expounded.

HI 5014 International Business Across Borders
The subject provides a broad introduction to the economics of the international business enterprise. Market, financial and productivity analysis is used to develop empirically-based cases about strategies for both firms and industries operating in an international setting.

HI 5015 Legal Aspects of International Business and Enterprise
Elements of international law, relevant to an international manager such as: contract, commercial, employment and company law are explored along with business regulation, arbitration law and business ethics. The role of International organisations such as GATT, IMF, and the International Property Organisation is also discussed.

HI 5016 International Trade and Enterprise
Theories of trade (Ricardian and Heckscher-Ohlin models) are expounded in the context of international economic policy. Trade instruments such as tariffs, quotas and subsidies and their impact on welfare are also elaborated along with the influence of international trading bodies and organisations.

HI 5017 Managerial Accounting
Processes relating to accounting information are studied: from generation to communication, interpretation, and ultimately usage in operational and strategic decision making. As the approach is case-oriented, there is strong emphasis on the ability to diagnose and evaluate a situation and identify underlying assumptions so as to make effective business decisions.

HI 5018 Introduction to Business Law
The focus of this subject is to provide students with an understanding and awareness of the basic principles of Australian business law. It provides an introduction to the Australian legal system, the law of tort, contract law, consumer protection law, agency law, laws governing forms of business ownership, laws governing financial transactions, and employment law.

HI 5019 Strategic Information Systems for Business and Enterprise
This subject examines accounting-based information systems and business processes. Concepts relating to the management and organisational use of computerbased information systems are explored, in particular, the design of accounting-based information systems able to provide support for business strategy formulation.

HI 5020 Corporate Accounting
The theoretical framework and practical techniques of accounting for corporate groups forms the focus for this subject. Areas considered include company formation, profit distribution, capital reconstruction, liquidation and preparation of consolidated accounts for groups of entities required under Accounting Standards and Stock Exchange regulations.