Masters in General Management Curriculum

The academic year for the Masters in General Management starts in early September and ends in the first week of July. A wide range of management courses are covered from September through April; the months of May through June are devoted to in-company projects. Classes are scheduled between 9 am and 12.30 and between 2 pm and 5.30 pm. All classes are conducted in English and, depending on your choice, are delivered at our Leuven Campus or Ghent Campus, in Belgium. 

Introduction Module (September - October)

• Introduction to Statistics

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  Introduction to Statistics

  This course provides you with a mathematical grounding that should enable you to grasp the mathematical basis of the core courses. This knowledge may also help you quantify decision processes and correctly assess the quantitative data provided by specialists. The course covers topics ranging from descriptive statistics to regression analysis.

• Introduction to Economics

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  Introduction to Economics

  The main objective of this course is to look at key economic concepts against the background of economic reality. This involves an in-depth discussion of concepts such as inflation and deflation, balance of payments and the operation of exchange markets.

• Introduction to Industrial and Organisational Psychology

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  Introduction to Industrial and Organisational Psychology

  This course examines several key concepts and theories relating to human and organisational behaviour. The following questions are addressed: what is management, organisational culture, cultural diversity, leadership and motivation.

• Introduction to Financial Accounting

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  Introduction to Financial Accounting

  The purpose of this course is to provide you with a general understanding of the financial reporting process.  The course concentrates on the preparation and analysis of financial statements (balance sheet, income statement, statement of stockholder’s equity and statement of cash flow).  It gives a thorough understanding of the accounting function, key accounting concepts and decision making using financial accounting information.

Opening Seminar (October)

The one-week opening seminar provides an excellent setting for developing your communication and interaction skills and getting to know your fellow students from a different perspective.

Core Module (November - April)

Management Fields

• Decision Sciences for Business

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  Decision Sciences for Business

  Sound management requires an active understanding of the principles underlying decision-making. The course introduces the key concepts of quantitative decision-making and optimisation techniques. Linear programming, decision-making in conditions of uncertainty, project management and simulation are the main topics considered. They are all illustrated by means of case studies. Finally, we will also cover the decision-making process within industrial management.

• Human Resources Management

  X

  Human Resources Management

  Personnel or HR management within an organisation comprises the techniques, methods and strategies required for the recruitment and the retention of 'the right man in the right place' within the organisation. The aim of this course is twofold: to acquire an insight into the concepts and recent ideas relating to human resources on the one hand, and to analyse and discuss the use and the added value of human resource tools on the other. This involves both theory and practice.

• International Management

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  International Management

  Being active in a global environment creates new opportunities for many companies. The aim of this course is to examine how businesses deal with these new opportunities in order to gain a competitive advantage. Global companies are facing greater complexity, diversity, uncertainty and unpredictability than companies operating locally. The creation and retention of this competitive advantage involves specific challenges and issues. The course covers subjects such as cross-cultural management, international financial management, international strategy and organisation.

• Leadership and Organisational Behaviour

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  Leadership and Organisational Behaviour

  We will thoroughly examine diverse management processes: the decision process, leadership, change, the role of emotional intelligence. We will thoroughly explore the complex world of organisations: How relevant is an organisational typology? What are the pillars of an organisation? What are the current trends in management and organisational ideas?

• Marketing Management

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  Marketing Management

  Commercial policy is in many ways the beating heart of the business. However, customer focus presupposes choices. This course provides several mental schemes and techniques facilitating these choices. The introductory part is followed by the examination of purchase behaviour and marketing research techniques. Next, we will discuss the different commercial management tools, from product policy to distribution policy, from pricing policy to sales and promotion. Special attention is paid to business-to-business marketing and internationalisation.

• Project Management

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  Project Management

  The goals of this course is to prepare you for the in-company project in May and June. You get a course on presenting (written and oral) and on different research methodologies.

• Fundamentals of Market Research

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  Fundamentals of Market Research

  The aim is to develop students' understanding of market research methodology for better marketing decision-making. Marketing research is becoming increasingly important in the decision-making processes of firms in all industries.  Most major marketing decisions made by large manufacturers and service firms are based, at least in part, on the results of marketing research. Only those managers with a solid understanding of marketing research are able to use it effectively.

• Value-Added Enterprise ICT

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  Value-Added Enterprise ICT

  In today's information society, information management is becoming increasingly important. In the past few years, IT has been shown to play a critical part in optimising the operational efficiency, productivity, innovative capacity and competitiveness of businesses. This course aims to provide the IT layman a basic insight into the management problems relating to information systems management (implementation, development and use).

• Corporate Financial Management

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  Corporate Financial Management

  The goal of this course is to provide an understanding of the key issues in financial management. Next to some introductory courses on time value of money, cost of capital and capital budgeting, the major part of this course is integrated in a financial business game. On the basis of this simulation tool the key concepts of financial management, e.g. EVA, NPV, hedging and capital structure, will be theoretically explained and practically supported. This will result in a proper understanding of how financial decisions should be made.

• Innovation Management

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  Innovation Management

  Innovation is of critical importance to the development of a business. The stimulation and management of innovation is not just the monopoly of marketing or of R&D: it requires a co-ordinated effort by the entire business. Case studies and discussions will teach you how to develop an innovation strategy, what the features of good project management are, how a new product can be launched, how high-tech companies innovate etc.

• Mergers and Acquistions

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  Mergers and Acquistions

  The seminar will bring to the campus CEO’s, strategy advisors, accountants, legal and HR consultants and investment bankers. In short: “the players” in the highly competitive M & A game as well as of course some Vlerick professors, who will bring up the academic side of M & A.

• Management Accounting and Control

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  Management Accounting and Control

  The aim of this course is to explore the managerial issues encountered in the design and use of management accounting and control systems for improving corporate performance. More specifically, we will focus on the costing, performance measurement and reporting tools that provide executives with relevant information to manage their businesses for enduring success. The course is designed to enable you to gain both the necessary qualitative insights and analytical skills, and to develop an appreciation of the importance of accounting and control systems in the successful management of organizations

• Management of the Legal Function

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  Management of the Legal Function

  Although the law is generally considered a constraint for management, it does offer a conceptual framework. We will explore strategy, governance, power deployment and continuity in businesses, types of organisations, stock-market quotation, M&As and conflict management. We also teach you how to confront the 'operators' of the system.

• Operations Management

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  Operations Management

  Any business organisation has an operational function managing the production of goods or services. The aim of this course is to provide an insight into the operational function and its management. The course explores the principal methods for analysing and developing production systems and for solving management problems in the production function. It also highlights interactions with other functional areas.

• Strategic Management

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  Strategic Management

  The basic objective of this course is to instruct you in the basic strategic analysis tools. A second objective is to improve your skills for appropriate decision-making in conditions of uncertainty, with scarce information and in complex circumstances. Three skills in particular are emphasized: first, the capacity to view an enterprise as a whole and to reconcile ambition with market opportunities, organisational constraints and financial objectives, secondly, the capacity to adjust successfully to changing environmental factors and finally, the capacity to mobilise means and commitment

Management Skills

• Corporate Responsibility and Business Ethics

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  Corporate Responsibility and Business Ethics

  Corporations are today facing waves of global changes such as globalisation, calls for more sustainable forms of development, increasing stakeholder scrutiny but also scandals such as the Enron, Worldcom and others, conflicts of cultures and ideologies opening up new dimensions of risk and challenges for business. They provoke the need for business to acknowledge and take account of environmental, social and ethical issues and to have good dialogue and relationship with its stakeholders.

  The course will provide an introduction to the field of business ethics, stakeholder management and corporate social responsibility (CSR). It aims at better understanding the larger context for business activity. It is not only about business ethics but covers a broad range of topics and disciplinary perspectives and offers concrete managerial tools. Among the central themes of the course will be: business ethics, corporate social responsibility, stakeholder management, socially responsible investment.

• Career Skills

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  Career Skills

  The course includes a mixture of class sessions, coaching in small groups, practical exercises and exchanges with practitioners and alumni. Throughout the course, you will work on a personal development plan and a career portfolio, two practical tools that will facilitate your job search.

  It will build on the insights acquired during the social skills seminar and will be the start of other events organised by Career Services.

  During and after this course, students will have the opportunity to receive individual feedback on their C.V. / application letter and to discuss their job search process with a scientific staff member of the HRM Centre.

• Communication & Interaction Skills

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  Communication & Interaction Skills

  Managers not only operate within a business, they are also part of a management team. During the course of social skills, you will be taught various basic skills that are critical for future managers: meeting techniques, cognitive styles, communication techniques, team work, writing skills and interacting in a working situation. During the year you will be given feedback on your own skills on a regular basis.

•  Entrepreneurship

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   Entrepreneurship

  The course Entrepreneurship will give you an in-depth understanding of entrepreneurship. Indeed, starting up a company and/or managing it may well become your career path. This course combines theory and practice. It focuses on the development and management of opportunities, writing business plans and attracting resources. It also discusses the milestones in an entrepreneurial business and the various stages in the company’s development

• Negotiation Analysis and Conflict Management

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  Negotiation Analysis and Conflict Management

  The course offers participants opportunities to analyse and interpret negotiation information, identify the interest that underpin initial negotiation positions, develop innovative options, and compile dedicated negotiation strategies and plans, the post-negotiation debriefings allow ‘negotiators’ to share and broaden their insights.

International Study Trip

During the 1-week international trip you are offered a combination of lectures, plant visits, sightseeing and networking sessions with other students and Vlerick alumni abroad. The previous destinations of the study trip were Krakow (Poland) and Budapest (Hungary).

Management integration

• Business Game Goldstein

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  Business Game Goldstein

  The goal of the exercise is firstly to emphasize the integration between the management of the different functional domains on the operational level. Secondly, Goldstein gives the opportunity to apply the techniques and concepts already taught in different courses into the context of a real company.

• Business Game IMEx

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  Business Game IMEx

  In this 7-day computer-simulated business game and together with students from other Vlerick Master programmes, you will be the management team of the company that you will head for three years. The other teams will be your direct competitors: their actions will immediately affect the outcome of your decisions. You will have to define your strategy, to take consistent marketing, production, purchase and personnel decisions, and you will have to see to it that you have enough bank or equity financing in order not to go broke! And the winner is…the company with the largest market value.

• Business Plan

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  Business Plan

  You will be asked to write a business plan for a start-up company of your choice in a team of students from different Master programmes. Not only will you come up with a value-creating business model, but you will also draw up the strategy, a marketing, production and HR-plan, and, finally, a financial plan and a financing strategy. You will be required to present your business plan to a jury including venture capitalists. Maybe your plan wins the Vlerick Business Plan Award!

In-company project (May - June)

Specialisation subject in any area

Closing seminar (early July)

In the closing seminar, the entire class comes together one last time to reflect on the past year and to forge bonds for the future.

Graduation  (early July)