Postgraduate Diploma in Business with Project Management via Online Distance Learning

Introduction to Business Management

The nature of business; Business plans and start-ups; Legalities – sole traders and partnerships; Limited companies, non-profit organisations, public sector organisations;

Strategic Management

Vision and mission; Objectives; Planning and strategy; Contingency planning, implementation, change control;

Operations Management

Production methods, cost, revenue and break-even analysis; Quality assurance; Production planning; Project management;

The External Environment

The nature of business; Economic systems; Structure of the industry; Sources of finance; Share capital, stock exchange, institutions providing finance;

Marketing

Marketing concepts; Market research: Market segmentation, positioning and targeting; New product development and the product life cycle; Brand awareness; The Marketing Mix (product, price, place, promotion); Competitor analysis; Marketing strategies; E-commerce;

Doing Business on the Internet

The Benefits of Digital Marketing; Doing Business on the Internet; Online Marketing Planning; Key Concepts in Internet Technology; Online Market Research;

Doing Business on a Global Scale

International management; Globalisation and multinational companies; Exportation; International marketing;

Mathematics and Statistics for Business

Financial Mathematics; Calculus and Profit Maximisation; Descriptive Statistics; Measure of Association; Probability; Statistical Inference;

Financial Accounting

Introduction to financial accounting; Users of financial information; Key accounting models; Terminology; Need for financial statements; The balance sheet; Balance sheet layouts, ratio and the balance sheet; Income statement and layout; Ratios, revenues and trade receivables; Owners equity; Cash flow measurement and documentation; Inventories and cost of sales; Tangible and intangible assets; Liabilities; Financial statements and recording transactions; Preparing financial statements; Analysing and interpreting financial statements; Analysis tools; Auditing;

Macroeconomics

Introduction to macroeconomics; Understanding macroeconomics; Principles of economics; How the market works; Gross domestic product; International trade; Open economy; Labour market; Income, expenditure and the circular flow; The consumer price index; Cost of taxation, employment, cost of living; The Philips Curve; National income, supply and demand for goods and services; Money and inflation; the Quantity theory of money; Interest rates; Social costs of inflation; Hyperinflation; Exchange rates; Economic fluctuations; Economic growth; Economy in the long run; Accumulation of capital; Population growth; Policies to promote growth; The Solow model; The business cycle; Aggregate demand and supply; The IS-LM model; The money market; How fiscal and monetary policies shift the LM curve; Floating and fixed exchange rates; The Mundell-Fleming model; Policy debates; Investment; Government policies;

Microeconomics

Introduction to microeconomics; Trade, trade-offs and government policy; Production and supply; Elasticities; Individual choice in supply and demand; Production and cost analysis; Competitive markets; Oligopoly and monopolistic competition and strategic pricing; Uncertainty;

Business Administration

Objectives; The office – planning and organisation; Equipping the office; The future of office administration;

Business Information Systems

Human aspects of computer interaction; Security, data protection and auditing; Electronic Data Interchange;

Leadership and Communication in the Workplace

Effective communication skills; Leadership styles; Information gathering and interpretation; Problem solving; Decision making; Workforce planning; Conflict resolution; Time management; Delegation;

Effective Performance in the Workplace

Company organisational culture and structures; Building an effective workforce – recruitment, team selection; Appointment and termination; Training and appraisal; Motivational strategies; Competition in the workplace; Wage and salary administration; Job restructuring;

Employee Relations and the Law

Human resources management; Employee representation; Industrial democracy including bargaining, consultation and participation; Industrial relations - action and disputes; Government policy (including EU and other industrial blocs); Consumer protection, workforce protection, equal opportunities legislation, pressure groups; Taxation;

Business Ethics

Business ethics; Business and the environment; Corporate social responsibility; Commercial Law; Company Law; Contract Law; Employment Law; Law of Tort;

Entrepreneurial Skills

Innovation, research and new product development;

Spreadsheets

Introduction to spreadsheets; Step by step instructions on using the features, functions and applications for spreadsheets; Customizing the spreadsheet software; Installing the spreadsheet software; Security; Platforms; Operating system compatibility;

Setting Up & Marketing Your Own Consultancy

The Business Plan; Legalities; Setting Up; The Marketing Strategy; Knowing Your Competitors; Promotional Tools;

Presentation Skills

Preparation and Research; Speech Content; Subject Matter and Objectives; Speech Delivery and Variety; Body Language; Eye Contact; Presentation Aids; Management of locations and audiences; Presentation structure;

PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Introduction to Project Management

Definitions from industry-led professionals; Characteristics defining a project; Comparing projects to processes; Introducing global standards in project management; Summary of major associations representing the profession of project management - International Organization of Standardization (ISO), the Association for Project Management (APM), International Project Management Association (IPMA) Project Management Institute (PMI); Examples of widely used methodologies and guides in project management (e.g. PRINCE2, the Critical Chain Method (CCPM), PMBOK guide by the PMI);

The Project Management Team

Detailed analysis of key players involved in a project life cycle and their integration (Project sponsor, seniority, project manager, project engineer, seller/supplier, project team members, programme board, project management office, stakeholders, customer);

Project Initiation

The main factors involved in project initiation (definitions, business plans, project sponsor and other stakeholders); Planning at the initial stage for a successful project outcome; Understanding and defining the project scope; Recognising time, budget schedule restraints in the scope development;

The Planning Process

Where and how to start; Using detailed checklists and flowcharts as tools in creating and formulising project plans; The advantages of using work breakdown structures (WBS); Organizational breakdown structure (OBS); The use of logical coding systems as effective organization methods; Critical path networks; Gaining authorization; Making decisions; Initial project coordination;

Budget and Cost Estimation

The key concepts in project cost management; Cost estimating; Cost budgeting; Cost accounting; Tools and techniques in cost estimation (top-down, bottom-up costing, reserve, conference, vendor bid analysis); Cost estimations for materials; Labour costs and manufacturing;

Time Management

Processes involved in project time management; Difference between time planning and time scheduling; Internal and external time influences; Bottom-up and top-down time planning; Parametric estimation and three point estimation; Checklists and diary planning; Developing a realistic schedule; Gantt charts and linked Gantt charts;

Quality Control

Defining quality; How quality fits into the project life cycle; Planning for quality; SMART planning; Inputs and outputs required for quality planning and quality assurance; Costs of quality; Prioritising quality; The value of quality management; Quality assurance; Testing for software quality (unit testing, integration testing, subsystem testing, system testing, regression testing, alpha testing, beta testing, acceptance testing); Validating and verifying quality; Benchmarking; Quality management practices; Quality testing and reviewing; Why quality isn't met;

Risk Management

Defining risk management; Categories of risk (internal and external risks); Identifying the projects’ risks; Risk analysis and assessment; Qualitative analysis (fishbone diagram, classification matrices); Quantitative analysis; Introduction to risk planning; The risk register - output to risk identification, avoiding risk, reducing risk (mitigate); Contingency plans; Risk acceptance; Risk monitoring; Insurance; Planning for a crisis;

Project Closure

Formal project closure procedures; Managing files and archives; Finalising records and reports; Disposing of surplus materials; Completing final project definition; Project review; Improving project performance; Learning before doing;

Project Management Software (ProjectLibre)

Introduction to ProjectLibre; Overview of the ProjectLibre Environment; Downloading & Installing the Application; The ProjectLibre screen environment: Gantt Charts; Using Network Diagrams; The Resources View; The Work Breakdown Structure Chart; The Resources Breakdown Structure Chart; The Reports Screen; The Task Usage Detail Screen; The Resource Usage Detail Screen; The Histogram Screen; Setting up a New Project; Creating Sub Tasks, Setting Task Durations, Setting Task Dependencies, Modifying a Task, Adding Notes to a Task, Adding Resources to your Project; Work and Material Resource Types; Assigning & Modifying a Resource; Assigning Costs to a Resource; Adding Notes to a Resource; Inserting Milestones in a Project; Tracking your Project using Baselines; Creating Project Reports; Common Project Management Terms; Resources and References.

Criteria for eligibility must be met in full prior to commencing the programme. For successful enrollment on the Postgraduate Diploma course, the minimum entry requirement is a prior Degree level qualification.

On successful completion of this course you will receive a Professional Postgraduate Diploma qualification that is certified and awarded by the ICM (Institute of Commercial Management).

The Institute of Commercial Management was founded in 1979 and is one of the leading Professional Examination and Certification Bodies in the world today. Fitzwilliam Institute have developed and provided practical skills training courses in liaison with the Institute of Commercial Management qualifications and certifications framework for over 25 years. The Institute of Commercial Management certifications and continual professional development training awards are recognised by leading industries, bodies and professions.

next start date: 29th November 2024

Duration: You will have full access to online resources and subject expert support for two calendar years. However, you can complete the course in as little as 1 year, by dedicating 6-8 hours of study per week.

Course Fees: 1795.00 GPB

To secure your place on the course the full fee is required. All fees must be paid in full before the course begins. Please note, the full course fees are inclusive of all course materials and certification costs.

Enrolment intake is strictly limited on this course. Early application is advised. Places are allocated on a first come first served basis.

Fitzwilliam Institute closes on Bank Holidays and for a number of days at Christmas and New Year. Fitzwilliam Institute reserves the right to postpone, cancel or alter courses without notice or to change any of the details in this brochure. Fees are not refundable unless the course is cancelled by Fitzwilliam Institute. Distance Learning courses are provided by Fitzwilliam Institute BGLS Ltd.