Public Services Management MSc

This programme is one of a suite of five services management courses offered by Kingston Business School. These courses have been designed around new management roles in core sectors, and will help you to develop your skills in management and consultancy within those areas. Our expert academics, along with guest speakers from industry, will teach and coach you to develop excellence in the area of public services management.

The suite of programmes is designed to be flexible, enabling you to change your chosen course at the end of the first semester. This means that in the final semester you study whichever services pathway is most beneficial to you. 

What will you study?

The Public Services Management MSc covers a range of issues related to service operations, consumer behaviour, project management and the legal issues related to business. You focus on public services management topics, exploring key developments and trends in this area through a range of workshops and consultancy projects.

Research is an essential part of the day-to-day life of Kingston Business School and is embedded in its intellectual activities and development. In the most recent RAE (Research Assessment Exercise) undertaken in 2008, the research output of Kingston Business School was the highest rated of any new university. Ninety per cent of our research submitted was assessed as 'recognised internationally' or higher. Of this, 10% was classified as 'world leading' and 35% as 'internationally excellent'. 

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Please note that this is an indicative list of modules and is not intended as a definitive list.

Core modules

• Services Marketing Strategy

• Services Marketing Strategy

  This module examines the key concepts and approaches facing a business in the development of a service strategy. It critically evaluates:

  • the various theoretical strategic models relevant to services strategy; and
  • how to develop and to define an effective services strategy.
  
   
• Services Operations Management

• Services Operations Management

  The aim of this module is to:

  • develop the analytical skills you need to contribute to issues concerning service operations management and service innovation; and 
  • explore the strategic contribution that effective service operations management can play within organisations.
  
   
• Buyer Behaviour

• Buyer Behaviour

  This module provides a critical understanding of research into buyer behaviour and looks at how it relates to problems in marketing and consumer regulation.

  It will also enable you to conduct your own research, identifying an area where further investigation may be needed and selecting the most appropriate method of investigation and analysis.

  
   
• Entrepreneurship in an International Context

• Entrepreneurship in an International Context

  This module will develop your entrepreneurial management skills. It looks at:

  • small enterprise creation and the importance of aspects of government policy;
  • the critical differences between entrepreneurial and administrative management styles;
  • the process of creating a strategy for an independent new venture and the challenges faced; and
  • how to cope with uncertainty, risk and complexity.
  
   
• Consultancy Practice

• Consultancy Practice

  The aim of this module is to provide an understanding of management consultancy from the perspective of both the client and the consultant.

  You will work with an external organisation and, through a real project, develop the personal, planning and problem-solving skills needed to perform the consultancy task. Using key consultancy tools and techniques you will look at how to plan, monitor and manage projects, evaluate briefs and assess consultancy proposals.

  
   
• E-Commerce Operations

• E-Commerce Operations

  This module looks at the opportunities and challenges that face managers and organisers who are developing e-commerce initiatives. It provides:

  • a strategic and theoretical framework to help you understand the process of change and competition in e-commerce operations; and
  • and understanding of the operational issues which need to be addressed.

  Areas of study include the e-commerce environment, trends and developments in e-commerce initiatives, marketing, supply chain management, and strategy and planning.

  
   
• Public Services Management

• Public Services Management

  This module aims to:

  • explore current challenges for managers working with and within public and non-profit organisations; and
  • support managers in developing a tool kit to address these issues. 

  It draws on the expertise of professional practitioners in the field, who will also actively contribute to the module's delivery and associated dissertation supervision. The activities of the Public Service Management Interest Group, a Kingston Business School alumni association, also support the module.

  
   
• Services Management Workshops

• Services Management Workshops

  This module examines:

  • the key concepts and approaches facing a business in responding to the leading edge developments in services management; and
  • the specific area of services management related to the pathway.

  It critically evaluates the key approaches that are currently being developed. It also looks at how these new approaches and developments will impact on services management.

  
   
• Research Methods
• Dissertation

The Faculty of Business and Law runs a number of postgraduate and post-experience open days. Visit us to find out how we can help you achieve your career ambitions.

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Learn more about the facilities available to you as a student of this course.
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