A business case for sponsorship on

The Open University’s part-time MBA

Presented by Nick Weston, Project Manager to

Paul Samson, Logistics Director, Kingston Pharmaceuticals

20th July 2019

Overview
As part of my career development at Kingston, I would like you to consider providing
financial support for me to study a part-time, flexible MBA with The Open University (OU).

I’m applying for sponsorship because I’m committed to building a career within the business
and feel my future contribution would benefit greatly from developing transferable skills and
enhanced decision making capabilities through an MBA.

This proposal is designed to help you make an informed decision about sponsoring my
studies, giving you an overview of the course itself, the commitment it requires and the cost.

It covers the following areas:

 Why I’ve chosen the OU MBA

 How the programme is structured

 How I intend to fit study around my working commitments

 Which skills and capabilities the MBA will help me develop to benefit the
organisation

 The level of financial contribution I need and the terms of the sponsorship.

1.1 Why The Open University MBA?

Having researched MBA providers I've decided that the OU Business School offers the best
programme for my needs. Amongst all part-time MBAs it is the best placed to fit around my
day to day working commitments.

The OU MBA delivers the knowledge, skills and mindset required for leaders and managers
to thrive in a rapidly changing, digitally designed and highly complex environment.

The OU MBA has a reputation for flexibility, quality, value and impact and the strengths of
the OU programme include:

 Personalisation: To ensure my learning is applicable to Kingston Pharmaceuticals, I can

personalise my OU MBA by selecting relevant electives and final project. I also benefit
from a programme designed for busy professionals and the unique flexibility of the OU
MBA allows me to complete my studies over a period of up to 7 years. There is even
flexibility to stop and start if work commitments become a priority.
 Academic excellence: The OU MBA has triple accreditation from the world’s leading
accreditation bodies AMBA, EQUIS and AACSB. The OU is amongst only 1% of Business
Schools worldwide that are triple accredited. The curriculum features world-leading
research by OU Business School academics, incorporating the latest research addressing
the MBA learning experience. I will also have the opportunity to connect with
academics, MBA alumni and specialist tutors who will help guide my learning.

 The range of topics: I’m impressed with the scope of learning the OU MBA offers in both
the compulsory and elective modules. A wide variety of topics cover various elements
offering a good balance of strategic analysis, skill based learning and management
disciplines that interest me.

 Value for money: The course fees are amongst the lowest of all the triple accredited
MBAs and payment can be made in instalments over the duration of the programme.
Later in my proposal I explain the costs in greater detail, and outline the level of
sponsorship I need to complete the course.

 Work based: I've been impressed by the OU’s practical and applied style of learning and
how they promote 'critical engagement', encouraging students to question management
theories and their application. Project work can be based on real life scenarios within
Kingston Pharmaceuticals and I believe this will allow me to apply my learning directly to
my work.

 Student diversity: The OU MBA offers a diverse curriculum and consistently attracts a
truly international mix of high calibre students. This creates an excellent environment
for collaborative learning at residential schools, tutorials and via the online platforms. In
addition, there is also a 26,000 strong alumni base which offers a very active networking
community.

 Study support: I am confident that the level of support offered through my personal
tutor will enable me to get the maximum benefit from the MBA. There will be some local
tutorial groups, and potentially, time at residential schools. The use of technology means
I will be able to access course materials virtually anywhere and I will be working closely
with fellow students who are encouraged to support peers via online platforms.

 Accessible: While studying with the OU, core elements of the curriculum embed issues
of ethics, sustainability, diversity, corporate social responsibility, governance and
regulation, ensuring I am aware of my responsibilities when considering strategic aims
for Kingston Pharmaceuticals.

1.2 How is the programme structured?

The OU MBA can be completed in two years using the accelerated study route, it can also be
completed in three or even up to seven years if necessary. I intend to complete the
qualification in three and a half years studying part-time.

The programme is divided into two stages. Stage 1 comprises of a compulsory module which
develops core skills in areas such as managing people, marketing, project management,
finance, operations and supply chain management. Stage 2 makes up to two thirds of the
MBA and includes both compulsory modules such as corporate finance and strategy, and
electives which will enable me to focus on developing areas of expertise needed by our
organisation. See the following section for details of the skills and capabilities I intend to
develop.
2.1 How will my MBA benefit my organisation?

I have no doubt that an MBA will enable me to make a greater contribution operationally
and strategically. Below I've listed the specific business needs my MBA will cover followed by
an overview of each module.

 Managing Financial Resources and Performance

 Project Management

 Understanding Corporate Governance and Stakeholders

 Leadership and Management Development

 Strategy Development and Implementation

 Marketing Strategy Development

 Human Resource Management

 Developing Operational Efficiencies

 Sustainable and Responsible Management

 Financial Strategic Development

 Corporate Creativity and Innovation

You’ll be able to see how these needs are explored in the modules below:

B870 Managing in a changing world (compulsory module)

This module will encourage me to develop, as well as challenge, my current knowledge and
skills in order to deal with contemporary and rapidly changing areas of management and
marketing. Using both independent and collaborative approaches to learning, the module
will enable me to integrate and understand ways of managing these core business functions
in the face of globalisation, technological advancements and recent economic, social and
political upheavals.

The core skills it will help me develop are:

 A sound understanding of theories and concepts applicable to managing

organisational performance, resource allocation, management of people and leading
organisations
 The ability to conduct professional inquiries and develop actionable solutions to
problems arising from the contemporary globalised business environment
 An understanding of the ethical implications of management practice and how to
respond to ethical issues as a socially responsible professional
 Effective communication through a wide range of media
 Devising and applying an evidence-based approach to management decisions
B872 Creating and Sustaining Value (compulsory module)

This module provides me opportunities as a reflective practitioner and leader to critically

explore and make sense of the infrastructure, tools and practices that enable access to and
analysis of information within my own organisation.

The core skills it will help me develop are:

 Greater understanding of how decisions and organisational performance can be
optimised. The concepts of understanding, creating, improving and sustaining value
are central to this module
 An understanding of how Business Intelligence can enable the improvement of the
production process and the redesign of business operations in the production of
goods or services 
 The fundamentals of financial management, as a crucial integrative function in the
overall strategy of the organisation 
 How to move beyond functional areas, towards a systemic view of organisational
functions. I will use this systematic view to expand my critical understanding of what
constitutes organisational value and how different values can be implemented
within diverse organisational contexts

B873 Effective Strategic Management in Business and The Public Sector (compulsory
module)

The academic purpose of this compulsory module is to develop a deep understanding of

effective strategic management in businesses and public services. To that end, I will be
introduced to the analysis of organisational environment, decision-making processes and
implementation of preferred choices. Additionally, the module will scaffold my soft skills,
which I will require both to progress in the qualification and succeed in the workplace.

This module will cover the following organisational needs:

 Strategy development and implementation across different contexts

 Being a sustainable and responsible manager

Moreover, it will enhance my appreciation of strategy and its implementation within our
organisation, and specifically help me to understand:

 The strategy process in context of our current management practice

 The importance of analysis of the external and internal environment before making
decisions
 The different levels at which strategy is made and implemented
 The best use of our resources and capabilities, and the impacts of different strategic
options on our stakeholders, culture, and structure
 The relevance of change management and innovation
 How we can improve our decision-making processes, considering risks, ethical
considerations, and overcoming barriers to implementation
B874 Finance for Strategic Decision Making (compulsory module)

This module will provide a range of tools for processing financial information in the
workplace. It covers four broad areas in which my skills will be developed:

 Decision Making Techniques: building on ratio analysis and cost analysis, I will learn
how managers use financial information, including SMART decisions, decision trees,
use of time, value for money and sources of value creation
 Financial Markets and Instruments: I will be introduced to the types of instruments
companies use to raise or manage money, including shares, bonds and derivatives.
Market operations and whether they are efficient will be discussed along with
various approaches to valuing shares and bonds
 Strategic Interactions: I will learn about some of the aspects of relationships both
within the firm and between the firm and external bodies. I will draw on simple
game theory and other ideas to draw conclusions on how organisations relate to
internal and external sources of finance. Aspects of behavioural finance will be
considered
 Financial Risk Management: I will benefit from a short introduction to the sources
of risks within a business and how they might be mitigated. I will consider various
frameworks together with various mitigating actions

B875 MBA project: making a difference (compulsory module)

This project is an integral part of the MBA and an ideal opportunity to link theory and
practice. It will enable me to apply core aspects of my learning to our organisation and
effectively play the role of a consultant addressing a specific business issue or challenge. The
module will ensure my project is developed and delivered with rigour through:

 Scouting: I will work with colleagues to explore a range of potential projects in our
organisation or others, and prepare three proposals which I will discuss with my
tutor and select the best
 Scoping: this phase will enable me to clearly define the scope and objectives of the
project
 Planning for implementation: this involves the process of planning or implementing
my ideas and realising the aims of the project

At each stage I will benefit from individualised coaching by my tutor and throughout the
module will be able to attend day schools, a residential school and online tutorial sessions.
This module develops key senior management skills and encourages considered decision
making. It will give me a flexible framework for solving complex problems and enable me to
develop transferable skills that I can apply to other areas of my job.

BB842 Sustainable Creative Management

I find the idea of applying concepts from sustainability to management interesting and
would like to explore this further. I aim to learn how to apply this within our organisation to
help cultivate longer-term thinking in our approach to management.
This module covers the following organisational needs:

 Corporate creativity and innovation

 Sustainable and responsible management

The module will help me to:

 Relate more effectively to the differing ways people behave in organisations and
appreciate the contextual nature of knowledge, both locally and internationally
 Develop a more creative attitude in myself and others and sustain a creative culture
at work where ideas can grow
 Use a variety of different approaches to deal with problems and opportunities and
assess the advantages and disadvantages of the many ways to transform
organisations
 Initiate action towards organisational improvement, transformation or renewal
 Adapt and apply the approaches taught to involve people, develop ideas, manage
innovation and develop organisations sustainably
 Appreciate the impact of environmental issues and be aware of socially responsible
approaches to management

BB848 Leadership and management in intercultural contexts

As the workplace is becoming more globalised, I am keen to develop my understanding of

the various cultural and institutional differences that exist within our business environment.

This module covers the following organisational needs:

 Leadership and management development
 Managing across cultures and international contexts

This module will help me become more effective in managing people from different cultural
and professional backgrounds. It will help me develop my ability to view ideas and
challenges from a variety of different national and regional perspectives. In doing so it will
enable me to see my own viewpoints in a new light, introducing greater diversity into my
thinking on management and leadership.

Specific areas covered by the module include developing cultural intelligence, brokering
skills and recasting ideas and practices in terms which make sense in local contexts. All of
which are key challenges in international management.

BB849 Supply Chain Management

Supply chain management is a fundamental skill in today’s competitive business

environment and organisations that excel in this function see the benefit in their
performance.
This module will provide me with an in-depth insight in supply chain theory, design and best
practice. Considering issues such as ethics, sustainability and risk management. This
knowledge will enable me to question and reflect upon our organisation and its role in the
supply chain.
BB851 Entrepreneurship: Experience and Perspective

I've chosen this elective module because it will allow me to explore the idea of corporate
entrepreneurship (i.e. acting entrepreneurially within an existing organisation). It applies this
concept to the public, private or voluntary sectors, and will help me appreciate how our
organisation can benefit from contact with entrepreneurial individuals and organisations.

This module covers the following organisational needs:

 Strategy development and implementation
 Corporate innovation

Some of the aspects of entrepreneurship covered are:

 Markets and customers; the development and operation of markets for resources,
goods and services; expectations of customers and equivalent stakeholders, service
and orientation
 Innovation, creativity and enterprise
 Effective communication: how to listen, negotiate and influence others; develop oral
and written communication skills using a range of media, including the preparation
of business reports
 Ethics and value management: recognising ethical situations; applying ethical values
to situation and choices
 Critical and creative thinking: how to manage creative processes personally and in
others; organising thoughts; analysis, synthesis and critical appraisal
 Problem solving and decision making: how to establish criteria, using appropriate
decision techniques including identifying, formulating and solving business
problems; create, identify and evaluate options; implement and review decisions

BB852 Leadership and Management of Public Services

This module offers a holistic knowledge of today’s business environment, with a particular
focus on public and voluntary sectors. While some of their operations differ from private
commercial organisations, this does not mean that efficient operation, effective leadership
and a strong strategic focus are not just as important. This module will appeal to students
with a public or non-profit-driven background. However, the content offers up-to-date
business information that is applicable to all sectors - private, public and not-for-profit. The
key learnings from this module include:

 Forward-thinking leadership and decision-making, including breaking down silos that

exist between departments and units with knowledge of roles and technical
specifications
 Business planning, budgeting and innovation in public and voluntary sectors in
different political contexts
 Understanding of the private (commercial) sector through studying collaborative
projects and public-private partnerships with public and voluntary sectors
BB853 Contemporary Issues in Organisations

I’m interested in improving my understanding of contemporary issues in organisations and

this module will cover many different aspects of this subject.

Examples of contemporary issues include:

 Emerging employment relationships, such as diversity in the workforce, changing
patterns of surveillance and control at work, executive glass ceilings, the gender pay
gap and dignity in work and at work
 Digital business analytics: Data analytics, business analytics, labour market analysis,
digital research methods, teleworking (or virtual work), digitisation of financial
services/transactions
 Emotions management - emotions and financial behaviour of professionals. For
example, how emotions affect traders’ behaviour, and the differences between high
performers and low performers when it comes to emotional management
 The changing face of marketing, where marketing has moved on from basic
advertising and sales promotion, to a more personal and customised approach
towards customers, delivering a whole new level of involvement and experience to
the consumers
 Managing outsourcing, procurement and purchasing
 Western multinational enterprises in emerging markets and vice versa

2.2 How I intend to fit study around my working commitments

The OU MBA is very flexible and predominantly based on learning from home, although
there are some locally based tutor groups. The programme requires between 12-15 hours of
study a week which can be spread in any convenient way, so I do not see this interfering
with my work commitments. There are residential schools over two to four days at key
points in the course.

In line with the company's policy on study leave, ideally I would like to take 5 days’ time off
each calendar year.

Work-based projects

Although the course is a very demanding, I will make sure that it does not compromise my
responsibilities at work. Quite the opposite, I fully expect to be able to apply the skills I learn
in work-based scenarios from a very early point in my MBA.
What is the cost and how much sponsorship will I need?

The OU MBA represents excellent value for money

One of the attractions of the OU MBA is the value for money it offers. As you can see from
the chart below, the fees are amongst the lowest triple accredited UK business schools.

Unlike many business schools, the OU fee includes the cost of books and study materials,
accommodation and food at residential schools and tutorials, access to a bespoke e-learning
environment and project supervision, as well as examination fees.

The figures shown above represent 2019/20 UK fees only.

The cost of my MBA

I plan to complete my MBA over 3.5 years, graduating in 2023.

As the fees are reviewed annually I can only give an indication of the total cost at this stage,
which is £16,320 - £17,900

The initial cost of Stage 1 of my studies would be £5,970

If you are able to sponsor me, I will be able to provide the actual cost of each year's study at
the beginning of each academic year.

The contribution I need from the business:

In deciding my proposed contribution from the business, I would like you to consider the
following supporting information:
  Copies of my performance reviews from my personnel file

 My references from my current line manager Asif Khan, Northeast Regional Director
of Logistics

I'm confident that this proposal demonstrates that benefits the MBA would bring to our
organisation and also reflects the commitment I have to making a real difference at a senior
level.

With all these considerations in mind, I request that you support me by contributing 50% of
my MBA fees. The Open University has a straightforward process for employer sponsorship
and payment can be given at the start of each module. An invoice is raised directly to the
sponsor organisation requiring minimum administration. I would take care of the remainder
of the payment.

The payment for Stage 1 of the programme is needed by 18 October 2019 at the latest,
although it would be beneficial to pay well in advance of this.

I appreciate that you may wish to agree some terms in relation to issues such as:

 My continued tenure at Kingston once the course is completed, and the repayment
of any contribution should I leave within an agreed timeframe.

If we can reach an agreement, the fees can be paid flexibly:

Unlike many traditional MBA programmes, The Open University MBA does not require a
single upfront payment. Individual modules can be paid before study begins. This spreads
the cost over the duration of study.

Alternatively, there is a monthly installment option, which allows payment to be made for
each module over a period of one year at a low rate of interest.

To summarise...

I've given the MBA a great deal of thought and know that it will require commitment and
self-discipline. However I am confident it will enhance how I approach my work and help me
take my contribution to Kingston to a new level.

It's an exciting prospect and I would be very grateful for your support with this opportunity.

Thank you.

Nick Weston
Supporting information

I have enclosed the following documents, which provide a more in-depth guide to the OU
MBA.

 MBA Student prospectus

You can learn more about the Open University Business School and their MBA programme
online at http://business-school.open.ac.uk/