Othm Level 8
Diploma in Strategic Management
and leadership practice 

DOCTORAL level qualifications

180 credits (online)

Ofqual Qualification Number: 603/6996/6

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COURSE DESCRIPTION

The objective of the OTHM Level 8 Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice is to develop strategic management and leadership skills for managers who have the authority and personal attributes to translate organisational strategy into effective operational performance. This qualification reflects current practise in Strategic Management and Leadership and allows learners to develop and expand their high-level understanding of strategic management and leadership in the workplace. This qualification is suitable for mature learners with a background in academic study or industry. The qualification has a clear work-related emphasis on practical skills development alongside theoretical fundamentals.

The qualification will enable learners to become independent, self-directed learners with tools and motivation to continue learning, developing, and reflecting on practice throughout their careers.

The course aims for the following:

1). To enable learners to apply analytical and evaluative techniques to business in the private and public sectors.

2). To enhance analytical and evaluative skills relating to business across a number of industries.

3). To develop the learner's ability to recognise and reflect on the process of personal learning and development which facilitates the enhancement of key personal, sociable and other transferable skills.

4). To develop the learner's ability to formulate and use appropriate methodologies and approaches.

5). To ensure the learner understands how to initiate, design and undertake research, development or strategic activities that extend or produce a significant change in the field of work or study.

6). To ensure the learner can critically evaluate actions, methods and results and their short and long-term implications for the field of work or knowledge and its wider context.

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Entry requirements

To be considered eligible for this qualification, applicants will need to meet all of the following criteria:

• provide proof of a relevant postgraduate degree

• hold a Master’s degree or equivalent qualification in a business-related subject

• have a minimum of 3 years relevant work experience

• must hold/have held a position at senior management level which is capable of supporting the achievement of the programme learning outcomes, including the professional research project.

• If English is not your first language, either evidence that the master’s degree was taught mainly or entirely in English, a minimum TOEFL score of 101 or a minimum IELTS score of 6.5, or an equivalent English language qualification.

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Selection

Entry to the qualification will be considered on the basis of: 

1). an up-to-date and comprehensive CV

2). submission of a personal statement and

3). centre interview to assess suitability and potential to achieve. Please contact the LSBE director.

4). details of 2 referees or 2 references, one of which should ideally be an academic reference

5). ability to demonstrate appropriate links to the practice the proposed research refers to.

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Equivalences

OTHM qualifications at RQF Level 8 portray practice skills and competencies that are rated in academic terms as being comparable to Doctoral Degrees and Vocational Qualifications at Level 8.

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Qualification structure & cONTENT

The OTHM Level 8 Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership consists of 5 mandatory units and 3 optional units making a combined total of 180 credits, 1800 hours Total Qualification Time (TQT) and 900 Guided Learning Hours (GLH) for the completed qualification.

Mandatory Units

Developing Strategic Management and Leadership Potential (20 credits)

The aim of this unit is to develop learners’ understanding of strategic management in a globalised world and how leadership informs and influences strategic change. It will also develop the ability to evaluate the strategic position, choices and actions.​

Managing Strategic Change (20 credits)

The aim of this unit is to develop learners’ understanding of theories and models of change management and how they apply to contemporary organisations in the globalised world. Learners will understand the personal characteristics of change agents as well as the evaluation and development of leadership skills to meet current and future strategic change management roles.

Project Development, Planning and Management (20 credits)

This module will introduce some fundamentals of research projects, especially from a DBA perspective. It highlights various challenges and bottlenecks faced by the researcher in a typical DBA programme and aims to educate participants about the best practices related to the management of DBA research.

Advanced Research Design and Methodologies (40 credits)

Gathering and Analysing data is an integral part of the DBA programme. This module is designed to advance the existing knowledge of research methods and aims to introduce complex research design and advanced methods for analysing and interpreting literature, higher-level methods for analysing complex qualitative and quantitative data. There will be a special focus on the tools that are available for data analysis and learners will be introduced to a wide range of data analysis tools applicable to business research.

Developing Research Capability (20 credits)

This unit aims will enable learners to gain a comprehensive understanding about the role of research in solving business problems and develop capabilities to critically evaluate the existing body of knowledge to put forward a case for further research.

Optional Units: choose any three

Globalisation and Corporate Governance (20 credits)

The aim of this unit is to develop learners’ understanding of the effect of legislation, ethics, and global integration on decisions, corporate governance, policies, processes and activities undertaken by organisations.

Entrepreneurship and Innovation (20 credits)

The aim of this unit aim is to introduce learners to the basics of business processes and strategies related to enterprise and entrepreneurship, developing knowledge of enterprise and entrepreneurship in global contexts.

Strategic Human Resource Management (20 credits)

The aim of this unit is to develop learners’ understanding of how the effective strategic management of human resources supports the achievement of organisational objectives in different contexts. Learners will evaluate the contribution of strategic human resource management and the application of leadership and management theory for organisational benefit.

Supply Chain and Operations Management (20 credits)

The aim of this unit is to develop learners’ understanding of the concepts and models of effective supply chain and operations management in competitive marketplaces using case studies and real-world industry scenarios. Learners will develop an understanding of operational processes, techniques, planning and control systems. 

Strategic Financial Management (20 credits)

The aim of this unit is to enable learners to apply financial principles relevant to management in an organisational context, including analytical techniques and theories/models of management accounting, evaluation of budgetary processes, recommending funding sources and appraising investment options

Strategic Marketing (20 credits)

The aim of this unit is to develop learners’ understanding of the concepts, methods and technical aspects of strategic marketing and the challenges associated with marketing in today’s business environment, including how a strategy combines product development, promotion, distribution, pricing, relationship management and other elements.

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Progressions

Learners completing the OTHM Level 8 Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice can progress to an OTHM university partner to discuss a research proposal for DBA/DProf/PhD or directly into employment in an associated profession. The qualification is approved and regulated by Ofqual (Office of the Qualifications and Examinations Regulation).