Advanced Diploma in Management Practice Local Government

ADVANCED DIPLOMA IN MANAGEMENT PRACTICE – LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Primary Population

The Advanced Diploma in Management Practice (AdvDMP) is designed for and has equal appeal for those who aspire to middle management as well as practising managers in Local Government. Practising managers may come from disciplines other than business and/or management who want to investigate and improve their management practice.

The appeal of the AdvDMP lies largely in its dual aspects of studying and applying theories, frameworks or paradigms to inform practice. Participants address each of the six modules in small cohorts, normally of no more than 20. The Programme carries 120 CATS points (6 x 20 CATS) at Level 5 on the new Regulatory Framework (old Level 2).

Aims and Objectives

The aim of the AdvDMP is to help participants develop the relevant knowledge and understanding to continuously improve both individually and organisationally. Studying the principles and practices of management encourages strategic contributions to organisational improvement. Critically, theory is used to underpin the rationale for changed practices. Evidence based research supports the theoretical frameworks and paradigms explored.

Group working encourages interaction between participants, enabling benchmarking and fast- tracking of approaches. Learning is grounded through discussion of shared experiences and the application of theory.

On successful completion of the Programme participants will:

 have acquired relevant knowledge and understanding of the context and processes of management  be enabled to interpret the impact of the macro environment on the organisation  be able to apply a range of theoretical paradigms to the identification, analysis and evaluation of contemporary management issues  be able to apply problem solving tools and techniques to make effective decisions.  have acquired further enhanced team working and leadership skills.  have developed greater understanding of self and others. Modules

Delivery of each module is over a 2-day period. In principle the theories and frameworks addressed in day one will be applied in day two. The modules undertaken are:

Module Code Module Title Overall Aim of Module

BMG340 Leadership and . . . to develop in individuals the competencies to support (1706) Management their professional development as managers and team leaders. BMG341 Managing Yourself . . . to assist professional development of the manager by (1707) and Others improving both personal resources and networks by enhancing essential knowledge, understanding, skills and behaviour. ACF332 Managing . . . to critically evaluate and appraise the performance of the (1162) Resources and organisation as a whole, and subsets within that organisation, Governance and to use accounting based information for planning, decision-making and control. BMG383 Managing Change . . . to understand organisational change, its pay-offs and its (1751) pitfalls. The module will increase students’ knowledge of how to manage change either as a leader of change or as a participant. BMG382 Managing the . . . to enable students to look strategically at their (1750) Business organisation and identify improvements. Students will also be exposed to a range of business improvement tools and techniques. BMG344 Management . . . to enable students working in a group to identify, define Project and analyse a complex management issue and to develop their investigative, reporting and presenting skills in a work- based setting.

Further Study

Having achieved the Advanced Diploma in Management Practice, participants may use the CATS towards further study in the University, eg towards a primary degree in Business Studies. Exemptions are at the discretion of individual Course Directors.

J Taylor University of Ulster 26.6.09