STAGE I: Introduction

GBS 514 Managerial Economics

This module exposes the student to the application of economics science to management decisions that promote the objectives of an enterprise, be it public or private, profit making or non-profit making enterprise. It covers such topics as; Demand and Supply of goods and services; Production theory and costs of production; demand elasticity; Pricing and price elasticity; Cost analysis; Market structures of monopoly; Oligopoly and competition; Market functions; Profit and Profit maximisation; Marginal analyses; Capital budgeting and multi-period decisions.

GBS 520 Financial & Management Accounting

Recording and analysis, Valuation and depreciation, Partnership accounting, Branch accounting, Corporate accounting, Interpretation and analysis of financial statements, Cost behaviour, Product costing, Standard costing, Variance analysis, Budgeting and cash planning, Capital expenditure appraisal.

GBS 541 Quantitative Methods

The module introduces the students to statistical analysis and operations research techniques, and is designed to develop in students an ability to use the techniques commonly used in business decision-making.

The contents include Descriptive statistics, Sampling, Hypothesis testing, Index numbers, Correlation and regression analysis, Econometric analysis of time series, Linear programming, Simplex problem, Transportation problem, and other Operations Research techniques.

GBS 550 Management Theory and Practice

Introduces the principles and functions of management at an advanced level. It evaluates the relevance and applicability of management theory and thought to modern management practice in general and Zambia in particular. This is achieved through the provision of a foundation in general management concepts and practices, related to organisations and their place in the wider international context. Topics include the development of Management thought, Management functions and managerial roles in Organisations; Social and ethical issues in contemporary management.

Stage II Theory

GBS 621 Corporate Finance

The Zambian Financial System is introduced, including the Money and Capital markets, the financial institutions and financial instruments. The methods and tools of financial management and decision-making are examined. The student is expected to develop an ability to understand and interpret the results of financial analysis.

Topics include: an overview of the Financial System; the determinants of value; the major sources and forms of short and long-term funds; the cost of capital and the impact of leverage; investing in current and fixed assets, and financial analysis and forecasting.

GBS 630 Organisational Behaviour

The module exposes students to advanced analysis of behavioural systems and organisational structures.

This module explores current issues in organisational theory and practice, with particular reference to Zambia. It helps students to analyse; Organisational structure; Group and individual behaviour; Organisational effectiveness; Factors in Organisational development; Role of Manager in Organisational functioning and effectiveness; Organisational climate, and Organisational environment.

Students are required to draw on experiences of organisation of their employing companies, as a way of developing deeper insights into organisational analysis, and skills for analysing an organisation.

GBS 660 Production & Operations Management

This module aims to provide an understanding of how mathematical models are used in manufacturing and service organisation for decision making. Topics include planning practices in Operations Management; Production Planning Systems; Materials Requirements Planning, and Total Quality Management.

GBS 670 Marketing Principles & Practices

Examination of the basic principles of marketing and the marketing mix. Discussion of the role of analytical procedures in decision making, problem formulation and research, forecasting, market segmentation, pricing, budgeting, product selection and distribution.

The objectives of the module are:
i. To provide students with an effective overview of a broad scope of marketing concepts and techniques used by contemporary organisations;
ii. To enhance students' analytical and decision making skills in the area of marketing;
iii. To enable the discussion of some of the most important problem areas that marketing managers are facing today.

Stage III Applications

GBS 700 Research Methods

This module introduces students to the range of knowledge and skills required to do competent, independent research work, that constitutes a contribution to knowledge. The course includes research design, data collection and data analysis, statistical analysis of data; use of computer in data generation and analysis; statistical packages include SPSS, Minitab, TSP.

GBS 750 Strategic Management

An integrative module bringing together various aspects of business operations. Formulation and implementation of objectives, strategies, polices and procedures needed to attain organisational missions and goals. Analysis of environmental opportunities and threats; matching corporate strategies, structures and systems. Key success factors, and distinctive competence.

Electives For Specialisation

HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

GBS 780 Human Resource Management

The module is designed to address the techniques for effective utilisation of human resources as a constituent part in the achievement of the goals of an organisation. The principal areas to be studied will include: Manpower planning, Development and retention, and Employee separation. Further, special emphasis will be placed on the management of the human resource function within the framework of legal, economic, technological and social environments. Student's own practical experience in the human resource management practices will be important. Both (1) theory and (2) students' own practical experiences and observations of the Human Resource Management practices and human resource utilisation in their employing firms would be covered.

GBS 781 Quality Management

Most organisations in Zambia today are operating well below their capacity, partly due to ineffective utilisation of their resources. There is, therefore, need for organisations to put in place measures that will enable them utilise their resources to best advantage. Total Quality Management (TQM) - which is now the rallying cry of American and West European industries - has proved to be an effective management tool for enhancing organisational effectiveness. Indeed, Quality Management is the key to survival and competitive advantage in the 1990's and beyond. Continuous quality improvement - the principle on which TQM is founded - results in higher productivity, lower cost, improved product or service quality, and strong competitive position.

Quality has been defined as conformance to requirements. A quality product or service is one which satisfies the customer. Attributes which define product quality include; performance, reliability, durability, serviceability, and aesthetics. Moreover, the determinants of service quality include; timeliness, responsiveness, communication, credibility, knowledge, competence and courtesy. Total Quality is the achievement of quality at the lowest cost. Total Quality Management is the strategy for achieving Total Quality by harnessing everyone's commitment.

The module is intended to introduce students to various quality concepts used, namely: Quality Control, Quality Assurance, Strategic Quality Management (TQM), and their applications. At the end of the course, students should be able to initiate and implement quality improvement processes in their respective organisations.

GBS 788 Industrial Relations and Labour Law

The objective of the module is to expose the student to the conceptual framework of industrial relations, to enhance analysis and practical appreciation of the Outputs (key activities) essential for management, and further improve the student's ability to do original research in the field.

This intensive professional module is designed to expose the student to legal aspects of employment relations, which are vital for effective and efficient management of industrial relations in organisations. The module further enables the student to develop an analytical perspective of dealing with given situations in contemporary industrial relations systems, from the legal point of view.

GBS 789 Management Information Systems

The objective of this module is to provide students with the technical skills required to understand the impact of information systems within organisations, the part played by information systems in decision making activities, and how to review, design and manage information systems.

Information is said to be the life ladder of most organisations. Systems that provide this information must be developed within the budgets of the sponsor of the system, and must meet the functional requirements of the user of the system. Both the sponsor and the user need to have the confidence to contribute to the development process of an information system. Once developed, information systems need to be reviewed, usually by the sponsor and maintained by the user. The methodologies and technical skills required to contribute to the development process, and to the management of information systems is not gained by experience void of training.

SMALL BUSINESS MANAGEMENT & ENTREPRENEURSHIP

GBS 751 Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management

The module is designed to encourage and motivate students to venture into business ownership. It exposes students to the basic aspects, issues and problems pertaining to starting small business enterprises, as well as management and methods of financing small business ventures.

GBS 755 Industrial Policy

This module examines the theory and design of Industrial Policy in general, and in the third world in particular. Topics covered include; Industrialisation, Industrialisation Strategies, Export and Import orientation, role of Small Scale industries, Rural industrialisation, regional policy problems of industrialisation; and the link between trade, macro-economics and industrial policy.

MARKETING

GBS 771 International Management

International Marketing is a universal economic activity, which involves marketing decisions across national frontiers. The international perspective is an economic necessity for individuals and organisations seeking to survive. This underscores the importance of international marketing.

The module aim to cultivate in greater detail, appreciation of principles, concepts and practices of International marketing. Focus will be on the Internalisation process, the international marketing environment, research, SWOT analysis, alternative market entry and development modes, the international marketing mix, planning, organising and financing marketing activities, multinationals and development. Students will be required to demonstrate in practical contexts a clear understanding of the aforesaid topics.

GBS 775 Marketing Communication

The Market Communication module provides an appreciation of the fundamentals in managing the marketing communications process.

It defines the communication needs, based on thorough analyses of the market situation. The formulation of a promotional strategy should consider not only the existing and potential customers, but many other players on the market. Promotional programmes will be developed during the course. The concept of relationship marketing or total marketing will be the guiding philosophy.

GBS 777 Services Marketing

Services Marketing has for many decades been an area neglected in the field of Marketing by the academic, research and teaching society. At the same time, the service industry in many countries employs more than half of the work force. As this industry has many peculiar marketing problems of its own, it is highly relevant to treat the subject separately.

Services are intangibles, and they are therefore more difficult than are manufactured goods to communicate to the target market. This raises specific problems that need to be handled. How does the customer learn about and gain confidence in a product that he cannot see in advance nor touch or test? Services are also mostly produced and consumed at the same time, which creates some quality problems to be addressed. The fact that services cannot be stored, leads to a need for demand management, in order to achieve a good and evenly distributed use of capacity. These problem areas generate the main themes of the course. They are Market Adaptation, Service Quality, Demand Management and Market Communication in Service industries.

FINANCE

GBS 720 Portfolio Theory & Investment Management

This module assumes a basic knowledge of financial management. It builds upon the studies of Stage II.

The module aims to provide an understanding of the types of securities traded in capital markets and how these markets function. The markets covered are the equity, bond, traded options markets, the foreign exchange markets, and financial futures markets.

The fundamental characteristics of securities and of their derivatives are examined in terms of their risk and marketability. In addition, the course identifies the main methods of valuation and performance assessment of securities and their derivatives. Students are expected to demonstrate an ability for practical application of the valuation and measurement technique covered.

The module also aims to provide an understanding of portfolio theory and portfolio management. It also aims to develop an awareness of and an interest in topical issues in the field of finance.

GBS 721 International Finance

The module explores the behaviour of international financial markets, and international financial relation between countries and their implication, multinational financial management in firms, and national economic policy. Topics include Balance of payments; Foreign Exchange markets; Exchange Rate theories and policy; Financial management strategies of the multinational firm; and other financial markets.

GBS 725 Management of Financial Institutions

Introduces students to the Management of Financial institutions, so that knowledge of the principles guiding financial institutions will help students understand the management policies and decisions.

The module takes into account issues such as: Functions and goals of financial institutions; Financial Systems; Central Bank and Money creation; Regulation of financial institution; Money markets; Capital markets; Interest analysis; Required return and value; Financing structure and the cost of capital funds; Asset management; Liability Management and international Aspects of Financial Institutions Management; Extending credit to businesses and individuals.