INTRODUCTION

These Regulations should be read in conjunction with the General Regulations for Postgraduate Studies, hereinafter referred to as the General Postgraduate Regulations.

DEFINITION OF TERMS 

1. • Faculty Post Graduate Studies Committee – Means the Committee comprising the Dean of the Faculty of Commerce (who shall be the Chairperson) the GSBL Director. All Chairpersons in the Faculty of Commerce, all MBA Lecturers and the External Examiners.
   • For the definition of Special Examinations, Programme, Level, Semester, Module, Project, Continuous Assessment, Retake, Carryover, Repeat, Withdraw, Aegrotat, Credit, Dissertation refer to Section 1.9 of the General Post Graduate Regulations.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

To be eligible for admission to the MBA Programme, a candidate must normally:

• Be at least 25 years of age.
• Be a holder of at least a second-class degree or its equivalent awarded by Midlands State University or any other recognized institution.
• Be a holder of a third class degree or its equivalent and may be admitted only after providing evidence of academic maturity in the field of study as shall be judged by Faculty Post Graduate Studies Committee.
• Be required to provide two references from reputable people certifying their ability and suitability to undertake the programme successfully.
• Have at least two (2) years relevant working experience.
• Undergo an interviewing process that shall be concluded by the Faculty Post Graduate Studies Committee.

GENERAL PROVISIONS

• The MBA Programme shall normally be studied over a minimum period of two academic levels, on a full time basis
• There shall be two, two week Block Sessions per semester and each module shall be taught for a total of 48 contact hours except for elective modules which shall be taught for at least 36 contact hours.
• Harare weekend classes shall be taught for a total of 56 contact hours.

Dissertations

• The dissertation shall, on its own constitute the second semester of level two.
• Each candidate is required to submit a dissertation of approximately 20 000 words on a topic relating to his/her area of managerial interest and approved in writing by the dissertation supervisor.
• Candidates shall be required to submit three hard bound copies of dissertation, one of which shall be deposited in the University Library, the other shall be submitted to the GSBL Office and the last copy should be returned to the student. 
• The format for the dissertation shall be provided by the GSBL Office.

Fees for the MBA programme shall be determined by the University Fees Revision Committee from time to time.

Fees shall be paid per semester.

ASSESSMENT

• Evaluation of students shall normally be based on continuous assessment as well as formal examinations that are held at the end of each semester.
• Continuous Assessment shall account for 30% of the overall assessment.
• Final examination shall account for 70% of the overall assessment.
• Items that should constitute the continuous assessment, and the weighting attached to each item, shall depend on the module in question.
• With the exception of dissertation, sessional examination shall be conducted in all modules.
• To be admitted for examinations, a candidate must:
• Be a registered student of the University in accordance with the General Postgraduate Regulations.
• Have satisfactorily attended and completed the approved modules of study. Satisfactory completion of modules shall require submission of all written assignments and tests and any other work that constitutes the continuous assessment.

PROVISIONS FOR PROGRESSION

• The Faculty Post graduate Studies Board of Examiners shall meet at the end of each semester to ratify the marks obtained by candidates.
• A student shall progress automatically from one level to the other even carrying the modules from the previous level.

FAILURE TO SATISFY THE EXAMINERS

• A candidate who fails to satisfy the examiners in terms of the Masters in Business Administration Regulations, read in conjunction with the General Post Graduate Regulations, may be required to; Retake module(s) failed in a previous semester 

Retake

• Students may, subject to the approval of the senate, be allowed to redo module(s) that they would have failed in the previous semester

REMARKING OF EXAMINATIONS

• No requests for remarks of examinations shall be entertained unless Senate directs such requests.
• However, a student who has been given a withdraw decision may appeal against such a decision to the Registrar, in writing, within 21 days after the publication of Examination results.

MODULES CLASSIFICATION

Students’  performance in modules for the MBA programme shall be classified as follows:

• 80%+ 1 – First Class
• 70%-79% 2.1 – Second Class (Upper)
• 60%-69% 2.2 – Second Class (Lower)
• 50%-59% 3 – Pass
• 0%-49% Fail

DEGREE CLASSIFICATION

The MBA degree shall be classified as follows:

• 80%-100% Pass with Distinction
• 70%-79% Pass with Merit
• 50%-69% Pass
• 0%- 49% Fail

DEGREE WEIGHING

In the overall degree classification, all Levels shall be equally weighted as follows:

• Level One – 50%
• Level Two – 50%

PROGRAMME STRUCTURE

Level 1 Semester 1

Code Module Description Credits

MBA701 Financial Accounting         4

MBA702 Management Information systems     4

MBA703 The Economic Environment     4

MBA704 Organisational Behaviour     4

MBA709 Business Statistics     4

Level 1 Semester 2

Code Module Description Credits    

MBA706 Human Resource Management     4

MBA707 Financial Management     4

MBA708 Marketing Management     4

MBA824 E-Commerce     4

MBA829 Corporate Governance       4

Level 2 Semester 1

Code Module Description Credits

MBA710 Business Research Methods       4

MBA801 Strategic Management       4

MBA802 Entrepreneurship       4

Electives (Choose Two (2) module(s)

MBA804 Legal Aspects of Business       3

MBA805 Project Management       3

MBA806 Investment Analysis and Portfolio Theory       3

MBA807 International Marketing       3

MBA808 International Business Management       3

MBA809 Industrial Organisations       3

MBA 810 Industrial Relations       3

MBA811 Change Management       3

MBA812 Public Sector Management       3

MBA813 Auditing       3

MBA814 Management Accounting       3

MBA815 Strategic Marketing       3

MBA816 Services Marketing       3

MBA817 Production and Operations Management       3

MBA818 Labour Law       3

MBA819 Accounting Information Systems       3

MBA820 International Monetary Economics       3

MBA821 Managerial Economics       3

MBA822 Advanced Macroeconomics and Policy     3

MBA823 Company Law     3

MBA825 Hotel and Institutional Management     3

MBA826 Tourism Operations Management     3

MBA827 Food and Beverage Management     3

MBA828 International finance     3

MBA830 Operations Research     3 

N.B At least ten (10) students will constitute a class for elective modules.

The electives will be offered subject to the availability of expertise.

MODULE SYNOSPES

MBA 701 Financial Accounting

The module deals with accounting principles and conventions.  It will attempt to develop accounting skills and enhance appreciation of accounting related information.

The main topics include:

Record keeping and double entry, the preparation of the profit and loss account and balance sheet, profit measurement, valuation of assets, company accounts, legal and regulatory framework, international accounting standards, some  aspects of auditing, some aspects of taxation.

MBA 702 Management Information Systems

Concepts of systems and organisation, strategic uses of information technology computer system resources (computer, hardware, computer software, file and data base management systems). 

The internet and office communication, applications of information systems to functional business areas, tactical and strategic information systems to business applications, decision support and expert systems, planning and the development of information systems, management of information systems and end user computing, security and ethical issues of information systems.  

MBA 703 The Economic Environment

The module analyses the economic fundamentals that drive the behaviour of the macro economy. It seeks to explain the behaviour of key macroeconomic variables such as output, employment and inflation. It also analyses the environment in which the macroeconomic policy in Zimbabwe is conducted.

MBA 704 Organisational Behaviour

The module analysis the level of organisational behaviour and their management.  It looks at the individual, the group and the organization. It looks at the concept of power and how it is managed in organisations.  It also looks at human resources administration, models relating to human productivity, satisfaction, retention and the earning structure in the organisation.  It also analysis organisational structures, leadership styles and organisational politics.

MBA 706 Human Resource Management

Modern societies require that production, distribution, and exchange be organised in large and complex organisations. One of the key problems of these organisations is the utilisation of “labour resources” to provide the productive effort needed to achieve the goals of the organisation. In reality an organisation only exists through its people and cannot achieve success without their effort, commitment and loyalty. It is therefore the overall task of Human Resource Management to develop strategies, policies and procedures that will facilitate employee effort, commitment and loyalty.

The study of Human Resource Management seeks to achieve the following objectives;

– To provide students with a thorough grounding in the key areas of human resource management.

– To explain the basic concepts underpinning the study and practice of human resource management

– To provide a critical analysis of the practicality and effectiveness of the human resource management approach for any organisation.

– To compare and contrast the philosophy of human resource management with earlier perspectives on people management.

– To discriminate between the rhetoric and reality of human resource management.

MBA 707 Financial Management

The module is intended to offer the participants the principles and major analytical approaches that are applied in financial management to facilitate decision-making.

The module should facilitate the formulation, implementation and evaluation of financial management practices or strategies by businesses within their environments that are dynamic.  Having studied the course, students should be equipped with decision-making skills that should enable them to perform completely in an ever-changing business environment.

MBA 708 Marketing Management

The module aims to equip the student with knowledge of the main concepts and theories of marketing management so as to enable one to perform adequately in any single functional area within marketing.

Topics covered include: 

Marketing concept, 

Marketing environment, 

Market segmentation, 

Marketing planning, 

Consumer and industrial buying strategies, 

Product life cycle,

 Promotion: advertising, sales promotion, personal selling sales management and public Relations, Pricing,    Distribution, 

Service marketing: People, process management and physical evidence. 

Marketing ethics

Implementation and control.

MBA 709 Business Statistics

This module introduces students to the fundamental concepts of data analysis useful in a management decision-making environment.  The approach will emphasize practical management problem solving using quantitative reasoning skills rather than the theoretical development of statistics.  This understanding is also intended to assist students to develop a rigorous quantitative research methodology for the research report

 MBA 710 Business Research Methods

This module will provide an understanding of integrated research methodology which will enable students to undertake a study commensurate with masters level.

The module will show how academic theory is developed and will provide research training in the individual components of research design, implementation and reporting. The module will outline the basic steps in the formulation of research questions and the way in which this should be used to derive a data specification and method of data collection. Strengths and weaknesses of different data collection methods will be emphasized and students will be encouraged to develop their own research skills.

MBA801 Strategic Management

The students are initially introduced to the basic concepts, principles and the main analytical approaches that are used in strategic management. The emphasis is on formulation, implementation and evaluation of long term strategies utilized by business organizations. The issues that will be factored in include the environment, the constant flux of society and the strategies required for the management of that flux. Main topics include: the role of analysis and planning, mission, objectives, values, ethics and goals. Also analysed will be issues relating to markets, industries, competitors, stakeholders internal capabilities, value chains, resources and portfolios core and generic strategies, structure, culture and organizational design, strategy evaluation, implementation and control.

MBA802 Entrepreneurship

This module defines entrepreneurship. It relates to developing a business and translating ideas into achievable business opportunities. The main topics include;

 Environmental Assessment, preparation for a new venture, security of finance, financial control, developing an effective business plan. The other topics are;

Capitalisation of business, assessment and evaluation of opportunities, structuring and legal issues related to new businesses, strategic planning for new businesses, domestic regional and global factors influencing entrepreneurship.

MBA805 Project Management

The module involves a detailed study of network analysis and project scheduling techniques. It also includes Projects Structuring, Project Finance, Hiring and management of personal control of materials, monitoring of the project, budgeting and project completion.

MBA807 International Marketing

Formulating and executing global marketing strategy 

International marketing planning

Developing and implementer international marketing plans

The nitty gritty of global marketing analysis

Interpreting international markets

Forecasting international demands

Global competitive dynamics and rivalry

Coping with uncertain global environmental forces.

MBA811 Change Management

The module focuses on the management of change in organizations. It will also swell on the types of organizations that are in existence, and how the differing structures of these organizations impact on change management. The main topics covered include the following: 

Performance, design strategies, concept of power, organizational politics, change, renaissance Organisational theory, models of growth and decline, structural forms, organizational and the management of change.

MBA812 Public Sector Management

The module looks at Public Enterprises and Parastatals and how they are managed. The topics include objectives of public Enterprises, functions, government intervention, control and accountability, Performance Appraisals, consumer protection and investments policies.

MBA821 Managerial Economics

This module basically deals with topics that relate with managerial decision – making process. Some of the topics deal with business objectives, decision analysis, demand measurement and forecasting, pricing policies, advertising and promotion decisions, corporate strategies and game theory for managers.

MBA 824 E-Commerce

The module looks at computer-based transactions, internationally. It includes E- Business i.e. the transaction of business via electronic gadgets.  It analyses the usage and effect of the internet, Electronic Fund transfers, computer based transactions, consumer responses e.g. as we look at the future, the hole of the computer on business transactions is increasing in importance.

MBA 829 Corporate Governance 

The module seeks to develop understanding and appreciation of significance of Corporate Governance and business ethics concepts and issues in contemporary business world. To this end the module shall attempt to develop a deep understanding of the following:-

• definitions and issues in corporate governance
• key concepts associated with best corporate governance practice
• powers and rights of and relations between directors and shareholders
• financial reporting and auditing, rewards and risk management
• history of corporate governance

MBA831 Business Leadership

It is more than ever that organizations are appreciating the relationship between leadership and performance. Leadership ultimately determines the kind of organizations that we have and the quality of life that we enjoy. Thus the module seeks to impact leadership skills to managers for the betterment of the organizations and society at large.