PROGRAMMESPECIFICATION

FOR TAUGHT PROGRAMMES ATALLLEVELS

Name ofProgramme:MScin Lean Enterprise

Final award(BSc, MAetc.):MasterofScience

Awardinginstitution/body:

University ofBuckingham

Teachinginstitution:University ofBuckingham

SchoolofStudy:BusinessSchoolParentDepartment:BuckinghamLean

EnterpriseUnit (BLEU)

Length oftheprogramme:

2 yearsMethodof study:PartTime

FrameworkforHigherEducationQualifications(FHEQ) Level

Level 7Relevantsubject

benchmarkstatement(SBS)

Master'sdegreesinBusinessandManagement2007

Professionalbodyaccreditation

(if applicable):Criteriaforadmissiontotheprogramme:

UCASCode

Applicants areexpectedto have asignificantrelevantpracticalexperienceor First / Secondclassdegree plusaminimum of 5 years’experience.

Cohort(s) towhichthisprogrammespecificationisapplicable:

From 2016

SummaryofProgramme

TheLeanEnterpriseprogramme is aparttimeexecutiveprogrammeaimed atfull timepracticingmanagerswithsignificantworkexperience inthegeneralarea ofoperations.

Theprogrammeaimstodevelop participants’abilityto maximizecustomervaluewhileminimizing waste. Putsimply, leanmeanscreatingmorevalue for customerswithfewerresources.A leanorganizationunderstandscustomervalueandfocuses its keyprocessestocontinuouslyincrease it.Theultimate goal is toprovideperfectvalue to thecustomerthrougha perfectvaluecreation processthathaszerowaste.

All studentswillnormallybe employed,andmostwill be sponsored,or part-sponsored,bytheirorganisations.Ideallytheyshouldbe in a positionto implementtheideasandskillstheyaredeveloping ontheprogramme.The wholeprogramme is seen asonecontinuing end-to-endcourse ratherthanasa setofseparatecourses.Everymoduleis compulsory. Therearenoelectives. Thefirstyearwillcomprise: 8one-weekmodules.Theseareintensive,taughtweeksrequiring the studentsto resideatthevenue or inthelocality. The staffontheprogramme areall highlyexperienced,highlyregardedpractitioners andconsultants.The teamoflecturersthatwill deliver the programme is probablyone of thebest in theworld intermsofpracticalLeanexperienceandknowledge

EducationalAimsoftheProgramme
  • Todevelopstudents’critical independence,intellectualintegrity andpractical skillswithspecificreferenceto leanoperationsinservice and manufacturingorganisations.
  • Todevelopstudents’abilityto dealwithcomplexissuesbothsystematicallyandcreatively,andshoworiginalityintacklingandsolvingproblems
  • Toenablestudents to devise and managemajor improvementinitiatives in operationsintensiveorganisationswhichpositivelyimpactservice/product quality,cost anddelivery.
  • Toenablestudents to achievetheir full academicpotential recognisingandintegratingalltheirpreviousstudies andskills.Students willalso be able to criticallyevaluatecurrent researchandadvancedscholarship.
  • Todevelop the capacity ofthe studentsto undertakeoriginalandcreativeresearchandtoutilizeresearchfindingsincomplexenvironments withincompletedata.
  • Toraiseacademicstandardsofthe participating studentsbydeepeningandbroadeningtheirknowledge baseandendowthemwith acomprehensiveunderstandingofleanthinkingandrelatedtechniques.
  • Toempowerstudentstoundertakecompetentempirical work, therebygainingvaluableinsights intothe practicalimportance ofthetheory taught onthecourse.
  • Toenablestudents todemonstrateknowledgeandcritical understandingofthetheories ofleanthinkingparticularlyas theyrelatetothe areasof systems thinkingandoperationsmanagement inservice and manufacturingorganisations.
  • Toenablestudents to apply the major toolsandtechniques ofleanthinking in organisationstoundertake effectiveprocessimprovement andsustainableinnovation anddeliverimprovementsinthequality,costordeliveryof theiroperations.
  • Toimprovethe communicationskillofstudents,encouragingthem tomoreeffectivelyimpart theirenhancedknowledgetoother specialistandnon-specialistaudiences.

ProgrammeOutcomes
On completionoftheprogrammesuccessfulstudents willhaveKnowledgeUnderstandingof:
1The historical development,principles,theory, keyconceptsandpracticeofleanthinking and supplychainmanagement andissuesrelating tothem.
2.Theprinciples, toolsandtechniques ofleanthinking,complexorganisationsandenvironments.
3.Theimportance ofcustomer-focussedserviceimprovement andprocessinnovation in the context ofservice andmanufacturingorganisations
4.Theimportance ofintegratingimprovement planswith organisationalstrategyandcompetently deployingleanimprovement plansthroughoutanorganisation
5.Thepractical problemsofimplementingleanrelatedinnovationsandimprovementsfromahumanresourcemanagementandchangemanagementperspective. / → / Teaching/LearningStrategy
Coreknowledge andunderstandingisacquiredvialectures, group exercises, fieldworkinstudents’organisations andguidedstudy.
Moreadvancedknowledgeandunderstanding isacquiredbyindependent study,webbasedlearning,groupnetworkingandthrough theapplicationofknowledgein thestudents’workplaces.
Modules aretaught throughlecturesandon-siteworkshops. Attendanceatallmodules ismandatory.Learningsupport willalso be providedatelectronicmeetingswithvideo(iPad/FaceTime).A non-assessedoneA3pagereflectionmust alsobe submittedforeachmodule.
→ / AssessmentStrategy:
Knowledge and understandingisassessedsummativelythroughtutorassessedassignments,exercisesand adissertation.
Formativefeedbackisprovided atlectures,groupexercises,practical sessionsandsimulations andworkplacebasedfieldworkexercises.
Cognitive(thinking) skills:
Theabilityto:
1.Critically analyseliteratureon leanthinking and supplychainmanagement
2.Synthesise andevaluateprimary andsecondary data
3.Plan, conductandreport on anindividualassignment
4.Sustain a critical argument,both inwritingandthroughpresentation
5.Designinnovativeimprovementapproachesforavariety ofbusinesssituationsandcontexts
6.Derivesolutionsfrom leandiagnosticactivities in ordertodevelopimprovementandinnovationplansinorganisations.
7.Demonstratean indepthunderstandingof, andthe abilitytoevaluate, arangeofkeyvaluestream management,innovationandimprovement toolsforapplication inmajororganisationalimprovementprogrammes. / → / Teaching/LearningStrategy:
Intellectualskillsarepromoted vialectures, groupexercisesandguidedstudy.
Applicationofthese skillsisdevelopedthroughgrouppresentations, researchassignments, casestudyanalysisandreflection, followingpracticalexercisesinstudents’workplaces.
TheA3problemsolvingexercisewill be usedthroughout the MSc.
→ / AssessmentStrategy:
Skillsareassessedthroughpresentationanddefenceofcasestudiesandresearchassignmentsand adissertation.
Formativefeedbackisprovided at:lectures; groupexercises;practical sessionsandsimulations;dissertationandintegrative case supervision.
Practical/Transferableskills(ableto):
1.Writefor rangeofacademicandpractitionerleanthinkingaudiences
2.Achievehighqualityaccurateleanthinkingpractical skills
3.Observe, recordaccuratelyandperforma range ofleanthinkingtoolsandtechniques
4.Design, useandanalysedifferent leanthinkingtoolsandtechniques
5.Engageeffectivelywithstakeholders,team membersandotherpartnersinthedelivery ofinnovation and processimprovement inorganisations
6.Preparerobuststrategies that enableorganisationsto implementeffectiveleanimprovement programmes.
7.Communicateideas, principles,theories,data andplanseffectively,byoral,writtenandpractical means.
8.Workeffectively,utilisingindividualandinterpersonalskills,bothindependentlyandas a member ofa variety ofworkplacegroups, orteams.
9.UseICT, suchastheweb,databaseandofficeapplications. / → / Teaching/LearningStrategy:
LearningTeachingStrategiesto beused:Students will be givenclearinformationabout theknowledgethey willrequireto completetheprogrammeandsent a listofessentialtextstheywillneed to be familiarwith(many will be already)beforetheprogrammestarts.
During thesecondmodule an eveningsessionwilltakeplacefor thosestudentsrequiringremedialhelpwithbasicstatistics.
Writing for differentleanthinkingaudiences isachievedthroughpreparationofassignments(severalofwhich are workplacefocussed),businessreportsandthedissertation. Allpracticalskillsarepromotedthrough visitstostudents’workplaces, where theyundertakeappliedexercisesin real situations.Severaloftheprogramme’smodulesareheld at students’organisationfor thispurpose.
Thedissertationalso providesan opportunitytodevelopandenhancepracticalskills,sincetheseareusuallycentredonthestudent’ssponsoringorganisation.The supervisorprovidesadvice onappropriatemethodologies and practicalwork.
Thecommunication ofideas andteam workareanintegral partof allmodules.Promotionof ICTskillsisvia the use of severalofficeapplicationsforcoursework, the useof theBlackboardvirtuallearningenvironment.Tutors providesupport forPersonal DevelopmentPlanningthroughregularinteraction.Support andadvice in effectivepersonal organisation(inparticular,copingwiththedemandsofworkingfulltimewhilestudying)isgiven tostudentsasagroup and individually.
10.Demonstrateacommitment toLifelongLearningthroughengagingin theprocessofPersonal DevelopmentPlanning
11.Useeffectivepersonal organisationalskills,includingtimeandprojectmanagement skillsandtechniques. / A3reflection:
Followingeach modulestudentsareencouragedtoreflect ontheir learningby completing a sheet withquestionswhichprompt constructivereflection onthematerialsandskillstheyhavelearnt, thepersonal developmentwhich is takingplaceandareasfor self-improvement.
→ / AssessmentStrategy:
Students’abilityto write fordifferentleanthinkingaudiences is determinedthrough summativeassessmentofassignments,exercisesandthedissertation.
Practicalskillsarebothsummativelyandformativelyassessed bymeansofdirect tutorobservation and peercritique.
Studentsareexpectedtorefer toandcriticallyappraisetheirskillacquisitionintheir A3reflectionsaftereachmodule. Thedissertationillustratesstudent competence inpracticalskillsandtheirabilityto pulldifferent subject areastogether.
Assessmentof TransferableSkillsisthroughassignments, thedissertation,presentations, teamworkinpracticalclassesandthroughcollaborativeprojects.Students will be expectedtoengageinthePersonal DevelopmentPlanningprocess.
ExternalReferencePoints
Thefollowingreferencepointswereused indesigning the programme
  • FrameworkforHigherEducationQualifications(
  • RelevantSubjectBenchmarkStatement(s)(
  • Other (list)

Pleasenote:Thisspecificationprovidesa concisesummary ofthemainfeatures oftheprogramme andthe learningoutcomesthatatypical student might reasonablybe expectedtoachieve and demonstrate ifhe/shetakesfull advantage ofthelearningopportunitiesthatareprovided. Moredetailedinformation onthe learningoutcomes,content andteaching, learningandassessment methodsofeachcourseunit/modulecan befound in thedepartmental orprogrammehandbook.Theaccuracy ofthe informationcontained inthisdocumentisreviewedannuallybythe University ofBuckinghamandmaybecheckedbythe QualityAssuranceAgency.
ProgrammeDirector(s) Name(s): / Mr JohnDarlington
Dateof Production:
Dateapproved bySchoolLearningandTeachingCommittee
Dateapproved bySchoolBoardof Study
Dateapproved byUniversityLearningandTeachingCommittee
DateofAnnualReview: / January2017

MScinLean Enterprise,JanuaryEntry, 180 units

YEAR ONE
ModuleTitle / Units / Venue / Assessment
1.Foundations:StandardizationandDisruption / 15 / Buckingham / 4,000wordAssignment100%
2.Quality SystemsThinking / 15 / Taughton-site / 4,000wordAssignment100%
3.Demand,CapacityFlow:Part1 / 15 / Taughton-site / 4,000wordAssignment100%
4.Demand,CapacityFlow:Part2 / 15 / Taughton-site / 4,000wordAssignment100%
5.TotalProductiveManagement / 15 / Taughton-site / 4,000wordAssignment100%
6.LeadershipandChange / 15 / Taughton-site / 4,000wordAssignment100%
7.SupplyChain / 15 / Taughton-site / 4,000wordAssignment100%
8.Innovation, NewProductIntroduction, PolicyDeploymentLean Accounting / 15 / Taughton-site / 4,000wordAssignment100%
YEAR2
9.Dissertation / 60 / 3daypreparationsession atBuckingham / OralPresentation(20%)15,000word
dissertation(80%)

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