Executive MBA

You will have the choice to undertake either a strategic consulting project or traditional dissertation.

The strategic consulting project focuses on practice and is based in an employment setting. You will work as part of a group on the project with 10% of your assessment being based on group work and 90% based on an individual consulting report. This is your opportunity to consolidate everything you have learnt and apply it to a real business. Academically, it tests your ability to apply your learning to real management issues. Professionally, it may well open the door to your next career move.

If you choose to undertake the dissertation option, although more academic with a focus on theory, it is still highly relevant in the world of business. It will demonstrate that you can assimilate your learning, take multiple perspectives on a business issue and explore your subject thoroughly.

Previous participants have explored:

• Driving improved operational performance in a high growth dynamic and high-tech environment for Williams Advanced Engineering
• Business strategies for digital solutions for GE Healthcare
• The future of mobility: What it means to be customer focused in sub-Saharan Africa for Ford Motor company
• The future role of own brand products for the Co-op.

Alongside the MBA’s core backbone of building all-round business acumen, you can choose to specialise your MBA within entrepreneurship, strategic leadership, finance or healthcare by selecting certain electives and basing your dissertation within your chosen area. 

You will initially study your eight required modules, which are then followed by elective modules, two of which will be in your chosen specialism (three for the Healthcare specialism). You will also undertake your dissertation in your chosen specialist area, supervised by an appropriate member of faculty. 

On completion, you will gain a letter of acknowledgement from the Dean of Warwick Business School to confirm your success in your chosen specialism. 

Finance Specialism

This specialism is designed for senior management and executives who are likely to have significant exposure to financial issues; typically those progressing to board level in public or private businesses, or taking responsibilities which include managing financial or accounting professionals. 

Board level positions typically require an understanding of financing and analysis beyond that which can be gained through short courses. Our finance modules are designed to improve technical understanding and develop your ability to ask the right questions and understand the answers. 

By choosing the Finance Specialism you will: 

• Develop the skills and analytical tools of modern finance theory to critically evaluate decisions such as payout policies, risk management, capital budgeting, investment decisions and their outcomes 

• Explore the main methods of financial analysis and their application to a broad range of organisational situations both nationally and internationally 

• Understand and be able to communicate the basic principles of behavioural finance and the implications for both internal and external stakeholders. 

Choose a minimum of two modules from:

• Advanced Corporate Finance (W)
• Corporate Finance (WL)
• Entrepreneurial Finance (SF and W)
• Financial Analysis (WL)
• Investments & Risk Management (W)
• The Psychology of Investing and Decision Making (L)

Strategic Leadership Specialism 

This specialism will enable you to step into strategic management and organisational leadership positions. You will develop your own leadership style to manage people and organisations and will be able to implement business strategies to lead organisations through technological and market changes. 

By choosing the Strategic Leadership Specialism you will: 

• Master your leadership capabilities and understand the field of leadership, the concept of strategic advantage and how both are essential for an organisation to be successful 

• Explore the characteristics of the implementation process, its opportunities and the difficulties that arise from putting strategic objectives into practice 

• Draw on philosophical writings and strands of psychology to obtain insights into individual motives, choices and actions in order to make wiser choices of judgement. 

Choose a minimum of two modules from: 

• Strategy & Practice (WL)
• Leadership & the Art of Judgement (WL)
• Strategic Leadership Development (L)
• Digital Transformation (L)

Entrepreneurship Specialism

This specialism will enable you to make calculated decisions between seizing opportunities and managing risk. Whether you want to set up your own business or develop your entrepreneurial mindset within a large corporate or an owner managed business, we will equip you with the innovative skills to find creative solutions to day-to-day problems. 

By choosing the Entrepreneurship Specialism you will: 

• Develop your entrepreneurial mindset, attitude and skills to enable creative problem-solving in business 

• Understand the main conceptual frameworks that have shaped research and practice on innovation and creativity 

• Review the financial, control and investment opportunities faced by rapidly growing companies in entrepreneurial settings. 

Complete both of the following modules: 

• Entrepreneurial Finance (SF and W)
• Entrepreneurship & New Venture Creation (WL)

If you choose to take the Entrepreneurship specialism as part of your MBA, the dissertation will give you the opportunity to dive deeply into a new business idea, tackle an existing issue or use the opportunity to help launch your own venture.

Healthcare Specialism

This specialism will appeal to both clinical and healthcare management professionals across the healthcare sector, who are looking to develop both their general leadership capabilities, and their sector-specific understanding. 

Whether you’re a clinician on the frontline under increasing pressure to deliver effective results for patients, or a manager required to deliver efficient services under tight budgetary pressures, the modules can give you the skills and confidence you need to take on a healthcare leadership role. 

By choosing the Healthcare Specialism you will: 

• Deepen your knowledge of theories around health systems and apply critical thinking to strategic issues related to health organisations 

• Build your leadership capabilities within the healthcare industry to implement change management initiatives 

• Broaden your understanding of the growth in digital innovation in healthcare and consider key factors impacting on digital healthcare solutions. 

Complete all three of the following modules: 

• Digital Innovation in the Healthcare Industry (W)
• Improving Health Systems* (L)
• Strategic Leadership for the Healthcare Industry (L)

The modules listed in this section for each specialism are elective modules that are part of specialism requirements. 

Key
L - delivered at WBS London
SF - delivered in San Francisco, California, USA
W - delivered at Warwick campus
WL - delivered at both Warwick and WBS London

Please note that these modules are illustrative and subject to change.
*new title subject to approval