Module Directory

The primary purpose of this module is to introduce students to key principles of retail management. It aims to provide students with a range of theories and practices necessary in the management of retail organisations.

Topics will include a variety of approaches currently prevalent in the retail industry, informed by the practices of actual retailers. Furthermore, it will provide students the opportunity to see in practice the role and integration of other aspects of their studies within a specific management field.

The aims of this module are:

1. To provide an understanding of the nature of retail organisations.


2. To provide an understanding of the theory and practice of retail management.


3. To develop the ability to understand and analyse retail management.

By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:

1. Understand the nature of retail organisations.


2. Evaluate a range of theories and practice of retail management.


3. Demonstrate an understanding of, and the ability to analyse, retail management.

Skills for Your Professional Life (Transferable Skills)

After completing this module students should have:

1. Developed their digital/technical fluency through the use and application of Microsoft Office software package and Encore database.


2. Enhanced their written communication skills through producing discursive coursework assignments.


3. Improved their oral and visual communication skills by taking part in a presentation.


4. Improved their collaborative and team working skills by taking part in team presentation.


5. Improved their critique and feedback skills by acting as a discussant to a team presentation.


6. Enhanced their research skills through researching two coursework assignments and a group project.


7. Recognised the relevance and importance of retail management theory in the current organisational environment through the use of recent news stories/case studies/examples.

This module will be delivered via:

• Nine weekly 2-hour sessions, consisting of a lecture element and an interactive student-led seminar element interpolated with one reading week.

Module delivery will normally take the form of a formal lecture element and a seminar aspect which uses a discussion format including student/group presentations. The purpose of such sessions is to engage in a mutual process of exploration and learning rather than continuing to pursue a teacher/student relationship. Accordingly, students will be encouraged to engage in a participative learning environment, and all are therefore expected to have prepared adequately for each session.

The content of the module is selected with the primary aim of exploring selected theories and practice in the field of retail management. The time allocated allows only a précis of the material that participants will be expected to have mastered during the module. In these circumstances it is essential that participants undertake the prescribed reading and where possible select further supplementary readings from the lists provided. Furthermore, students must realise that the readings provided are not a comprehensive list but rather a starting point for their independent studies.