Syllabus OverviewManagement

Immerse Education aims to challenge participants with interesting academic concepts in an environment where tutors are welcoming and supportive. Our philosophy is that students should thrive in their academic endeavours, not merely survive.

This syllabus has been carefully designed by Immerse Education tutors with the mission to provide all participants with a taster of what it’s like to study a chosen course at an advanced level. During your summer programme with Immerse, participants will explore a wide range of themes and concepts that are not typically explored at school level, enabling students to explore their passion for a subject beyond the confines of a school curriculum.

Our tutors take great care in designing and delivering a syllabus that is academically challenging to all participants while simultanously building each individual’s confidence in their own ability. Tutors are therefore able to tailor their teaching according to the interests and abilities of the students in their class.

This syllabus overview is designed to give a sense of the topics you will be engaging with in Cambridge this summer. These topics are carefully chosen to reflect current areas of academic research, the individual specialisms of our tutors and content that students may encounter should they decide to pursue their subject at a higher level.

Sean StevensProgramme Director

Immerse Education’s Academic Sessions

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The Level of Academic Difficulty

As all of our programmes are designed to provide a unique introduction to advanced material, the syllabus will be academically challenging at times.

This is something to be excited about and all of our tutors will encourage and support participants throughout the programme. Immerse Education aims to develop every participant regardless of ability, and our tutors will adapt their teaching to individual needs.

The Modular System Explained

The modular system of teaching practiced during the Immerse programme enables participants to explore a variety of different topics. The aim is to provide exposure to different topics within the same discipline, each of which is challenging and interesting.

Each syllabus contains a number of different topics and most days of the programme will introduce a new topic which will build upon knowledge gained so far.

Preparatory Materials

Not all programmes have preparatory material, but if yours does, it will be at the end of this Syllabus Overview document. This is to be completed before attending Immerse Education as it ensures that all participants begin their summer programme with the same foundation of knowledge and understanding, ready to explore ideas at a deeper level. Tutors will discuss the preparatory materials during the first academic session.

The preparatory material should take no more than 10 hours to complete.

Tutors and the Syllabus

Throughout the academic sessions, participants will be taught by a dedicated and passionate subject tutor. As a tutor of undergraduate students, our tutors have a wealth of experience in guiding students to academic success.

The Immerse tutors are experts in their field and are on hand to support students’ learning by imparting their enthusiasm for exploring academic concepts in depth.

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Top tips for succeeding

Have fun.

The Immerse syllabus is meant to be challenging but don’t forget, there is a joy to learning and we want you to find it!

Get involved.

Immerse isn’t just about being taught, it is about challenging yourself. Voice your opinion, then question it! Engage in debates in class, carry on those debates outside of class. Try a new activity that you haven’t tried before! Immerse offers participants a whole range of exciting opportunities – seize the opportunity and get involved.

Ask lots of questions

If you don’t understand something, ask! If you do and want to explore something more, ask! You have access to some of the top minds in the entire world, so feel free to pick their brains while you have the chance.

Complete the ‘learning how to learn’ course

This free course gives you easy access to the invaluable learning techniques used by experts in art, music, literature, math, science, sports, and many other disciplines. You’ll learn about the how the brain uses two very different learning modes and how it encapsulates (“chunks”) information. You’ll also cover illusions of learning, memory techniques, dealing with procrastination, and best practices shown by research to be most effective in helping you master tough subjects.

https://www.coursera.org/learn/learning-how-to-learn

“It was an amazing experience, worth every single minute. You

meet so many different people, and leave with wonderful memories

that you will never forget.”

- Rebecca, 2017

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TOPIC 1:

Introduction-In this lesson we will explore the components, processes and objectives of management practice. We will examine how policies, practices and systems influence employee behaviour, attitudes and performance, and the subsequent managerial tools that can be deployed. We will also introduce case studies as a method for testing management theory in practice.• Syllabus overview and introductions• The strategic management ecosystem

» The aims of strategic management » The components of strategic management

◊ Strategic Planning◊ Marketing◊ Innovation◊ Competitive Advantage◊ Organisational Behaviour

• Introduction to Case Studies and the Capstone Project

• Introductory Discussion Article - Euro Disney: The First 100 Days

TOPIC 2:

Strategy-The development of organisational strategy is a cornerstone of management practice, shaping organisational direction, identity and behaviour. In this class we discuss the role of strategy in business, the key frameworks and tools for strategy analysis, and alternative approaches to developing and understanding organisational strategy.• The aims of strategic planning• A basic framework for strategy analysis• Goals, Values and Performance• Strategy as a quest for value• Alternative conceptions of strategy• Strategy in practice – an ecosystems

perspective• Discussion Article - The Pitfalls of Pursuing

Shareholder Value: Boeing

Topics

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TOPIC 3:

Competitive Advantage & Innovation-The sister concepts of ‘Competitive Advantage’ and ‘Innovation Management’ seek to explain how companies differentiate themselves and create value in mature, competitive industries. We will discuss the relationship between economic and social drivers of differentiation and the soundness of different approaches. We will also explore how companies utilise innovation in order to remain competitive, and the impact this has on market dynamics.• The nature and source of competitive

advantage Emergence of competitive advantage

• Sustaining competitive advantage• Cost vs Differentiation• Managing innovation• Sustaining and disruptive innovation• Technological and business model innovation• Incumbent-challenger dynamics• The Innovator’s Dilemma• Discussion Article - Unilever’s Butter-Beater:

Innovation for Global Diversity

TOPIC 4:

Strategic Marketing-Strategic Marketing is concerned with understanding and managing the alignment between what the organisation can offer and the preferences and economic drivers of the market. In this class, we will explore the role of market intelligence, proposition development and brand strategy in the effort to meet and influence the needs of the market.• The aims of marketing: creating competitive

advantage & aligning market needs o The Marketing Mix

• Market intelligence• Discussion Article - Rendova Toilet Paper:

Escaping the Commoditization Trap• Segmentation, targeting and positioning

strategies• Proposition development• Brand architecture• Discussion Article - LG in India: Reinventing the

Brand

TOPIC 5:

Consumer Behaviour-Understanding consumer behaviour is key to functioning in dynamic and multi-faceted markets. In this lesson we analyse the personal and environmental drivers of consumer preferences and choice. We also examine the influence of behavioural economics and psychology on the field.• Foundations of consumer markets• Internal influences: perception, attitudes and

persuasion• External influences: consumer identity, group

and situational effects o Rational choice theory• Behavioural heuristics• Discussion Article: TiVo in 2002: Consumer

Behaviour

TOPIC 6:

Organisational Behaviour-Organisational behaviour - the study of how individuals interact within groups and structures – is a cornerstone of strategic management. In this lesson, we will explore phenomena from the social cognition literature on group-effect dynamics. We will conclude by examining the tools at the disposal of managers to influence these dynamics and their effect on outcomes.• Introduction to organisational dynamics:

individuals, culture, and structure o Individual-level drivers of group behaviour

• Group-effect dynamics• Work design: pace and architecture• Leadership, change and conflict• Power and politics• Discussion Article - Primer on Social Identity:

Understanding Group Membership

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“Immerse was an enriching and challenging course which assisted me to develop and refine goals for the future. I went in with a dream and left the programme thinking it could become a reality.”

- Annabel, 2017

TOPIC 7:

Resource-Based Management: People and Technology-The resource-based perspective emphasises the role of organisational capital and knowledge in gaining competitive advantage. We will explore the role of both human and technological resources in leveraging strategic advantage and the importance of fit between environment and capabilities. Frameworks for developing and nurturing this capital will be explored.The resources of the firm• Human Resources management• Developing people: What companies do?• Discussion Article - How Netflix reinvented

HR HBR Article o Developing organisational capabilities

• Linking new technology and customer needs• NPD and technology development roadmaps• Discussion Article - Innovation at 3M

Corporation

TOPIC 8:

Advanced Topics in Strategy Research: Cognition and Multiplexed Organisations-In our penultimate session, we will focus on advanced topics in organisational research. In doing so, we will explore the relationship between academic theory and managerial practice and identify new research paradigms that are influencing academic discourse in the field. Students should come away with an understanding of some research-level topics that could support university applications.• Sensemaking and Cognition• Framing theory• Temporality• Discussion Article - The collapse of

sensemaking in organizations: The Mann Gulch• Disaster• Hybrid organisations• Sustainability management• Purpose-driven organisations• Discussion Article - Triodos Bank: Measuring

Sustainability Performance

TOPIC 9:

Capstone Project Review-The programme will conclude with a one-day mini conference, in which students will present and discuss the case from their assigned Capstone Project. We will finish up with a workshop and review session to discuss applying for business and management degrees, application tips, and subsequent career options.

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