Learning modules in Reykjavik

The Programme for Management Development (PMD) at RU spans a total of 80 hours and consists of five modules. Each module is taught every four weeks, on Thursdays and Fridays, from 9:00 – 17:00 (plus project work). This is a graduate level programme (not for ECTS credit) and teaching is largely based on case studies.

The programme will again be offered in the fall of 2011. It starts on 19 October 2011 and ends on 16 March 2012.

The programme consists of five modules andteaching takes place on Thursdays and Fridays.

Module 1: Effective Management

At the end of the module, the aim is for participants to:

• Be more familiar with their strengths and opportunities to have an impact
• Understand and be able to transfer the results of leadership research to their own work
• Have set goals for improvement and worked on a plan for success
• Have strengthened their knowledge of management and gotten a better perspective on operations
• Have enhanced their leadership abilities and gained a clearer perspective on challenges and opportunities in Icelandic society

Teacher: Guðrún Högnadóttir, Executive Director, Open University.

Module 2: Strategy and Change Management

At the end of the module, the aim is for participants to:

• Have gained a good grasp of the main terms used in strategy
• Be familiar with the effects of different strategy methods
• Be able to use appropriate tools for analysis
• Have tried their strength at a few of the methods which will be introduced
• Be familiar with the main factors which concern organisation and the human aspects of change management
• Be able to put together plans for the main aspects of change and define critical factors
• Have received practice in dealing with critical success factors 

Teachers: Dr. Þröstur Olaf Sigurjónsson, Assistant Professor at the School of Business and Dr. Þóranna Jónsdóttir, Senior Executive Director of Administration at RU.

Module 3: Operational Success

At the end of the module, the aim is for participants to:

• Have a general understanding of financial accounts and how individual parts of financial accounts are connected to the value creation of companies
• Have gained a good grasp of the main concepts of finance, particularly those related to valuation
• Be able to use the main valuation methods and examine results in a critical manner

Teacher: Almar Guðmundsson, Secretary General at the Icealandic Federation of Trade and a lecturer at RU.

Module 4: Market Success

At the end of the module, the aim is for participants to:

• Be able to analyse market opportunities and threats
• Be consumer-oriented and know important aspects of consumer psychology
• Understand the role of market research in the running of companies
• Have a good idea of how to prepare a marketing plan and be able to follow it up
• Know integrated marketing communication and the main indicators used in marketing

Teacher: Valdimar Sigurðsson, Principal Research Fellow & the Nova Chair of Marketing as well as the Director of Research and Doctorial Programmes in the RU School of Business.

Module 5: Negotiations and Project Management

Negotiations:

At the end of the module, the aim is for participants to:

• Have an understanding of underlying factors in negotiations and the main concepts used in negotiations
• Have increased their ability to resolve conflicts and turn conflicts into effective co-operation
• Have harnessed their ability to reach a favourable conclusion and establish trust for long-term business relationships
• Have more self-confidence in negotiations and be able to use their knowledge to control the pace of negotiations and direct them to a favourable conclusion

Teacher: Aðalsteinn Leifsson, Assistant Professor at the RU School of Business.

Project Management:

At the end of the module, the aim is for participants to:

• Have knowledge of project organisation theory within a company and know how to define the business case of projects using calculation of yield, risk assessment, and direct and indirect benefits
• Be familiar with preparation and planning of projects, for example, using delimitation, definition of numbered goals, Work Breakdown Structure (WBS), critical path, and more
• Have knowledge of the time value of money. Know how to calculate the total cost of a project and break the cost down to stages and project phases
• Be familiar with progress inspection, risk, and uncertainty

Teacher: Þórður Víkingur Friðgeirsson, Assistant Professor at the RU School of Science and Engineering.