THIS IS A PROGRAM TO TRAIN AND PRODUCE EFFECTIVE PROFESSIONAL STORES AND INVENTORY PERSONNEL AND MANAGERS.

An enterprise’s success can be greatly affected by the efficiency of its stores operations; efficient stores management can save money, help retain customers and maintain continuous operations; but stores mismanagement can lose an enterprise money, customers and production.  A stores manager must be able to manage stores, stockyards and inventory; and plan, organise and coordinate inventory work; and train, supervise and control stores personnel; this Program teaches how that is done, and how to carry our stores management and stock control tasks effectively and professionally.

MAJOR TOPICS COVERED 

• The stores function in an enterprise and its main activities.
• The need for efficient management of stores.
• The principles of management: recruiting, training, controlling, motivating stores personnel.
• Attributes and abilities looked for in stores/inventorystaff. 
• Health and safety, and accident prevention in stores, stockyards and warehouses.
• Staff and managerial responsibilities for safety; protective clothing, safety equipment.
• Storehouse buildings: factors regarding their location, design and layout.
• Considerations regarding floors, entrances and exits, and sub-stores.
• Planning in stores and stockyards, heating, ensuring efficiency of movement, stores maintenance. 
• Stockyards: materials, location, design, layout, throughflow, protection of stored items.
• Manual and powered stores equipment, materials handling, training of staff.
• Storage, measuring and general stores equipment.
• Facilitating orders and movement of stocks out of the stores.
• Order picking, packaging, avoiding damages, the use of pallets and racks. 
• Protection of stock against loss and damage, causes of spoilage, how to overcome these problems.
• Storehouse and stockyard security, control over keys, prevention of theft and pilfering.
• Fire prevention, fire drills and fire-fighting equipment.
• Ordering stock items, documentation and planning.
• Stock items, inventory identification, codes, creating and understanding coding systems. 
• Stock records: their contents and uses, importance of accuracy.
• Statistics and reports; the role and management of the stores office.
• Procedures for stock receipts and issues, coordination with other departments; packing, despatch.
• Setting stock levels, reorder levels, factors in levels set; costs, ABC, EOQ, forecasting.
• Stocktaking: reasons and purposes, procedures, spot checks, stock valuation, inspections.
• Obsolete and obsolescent stock, disposal of unwanted goods.
• Data and documentation, data safety, computer systems and backups.

THIS PROGRAM IS SPECIALLY DESIGNED TO TEACH THE SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE NEEDED TO BECOME WELL-TRAINED AND SUCCESSFUL PURCHASING AND RESOURCING PROFESSIONAL AND MANAGER.

Whether an enterprise is involved in manufacturing, distribution or providing a service, the function of purchasing or ‘buying’ is a job for trained professionals.  Proficient purchasing can greatly increase the efficiency, competitiveness and profitability of a business; but unwise buying can seriously damage its operations, reputation and profits.  This very practical Program covers the responsibilities and duties of professional buyers, and looks at the importance of policy, quality, supplier relationships and negotiations, and of personnel and planning issues in purchasing management.

SUMMARY OF MAJOR TOPICS

Module 1 – Introduction to Purchasing and Resourcing Management

• Modern purchasing as a professional managerial activity, objectives, purchasing and logistics
• Strategic purchasing, purchasing in the management hierarchy, products, goods and services
• Categories of organizational buyers, channels of distribution, wholesale and retail businesses
• Principles of management, functional and human aspects, policies, standards and performance

Module 2 – Purchasing Objectives and Strategy

• Business planning, purchasing’s general and specific objectives, setting purchasing strategy
• Purchasing strategies, manufacturing for stock, to order strategy, just-in-time (JIT), forward buying
• Total quality management and purchasing, partnership sourcing, the “Pareto Principle” and “80-20 Rule”
• Customer satisfaction levels and costs, sellers and buyers markets, evaluation of purchasing strategy

Module 3 – Purchasing Policy: Formulation, Implementation and Control

• Formulating purchasing policy, market profiles, production cycle times, forecasting demand
• Economic order quantities, influences on purchase decisions, quality approval of supplies, budgets
• Statistical and ABC classifications of stocks, risk analysis, monitoring and control of key costs
• Expertise needs in purchasing, technology, changes in purchasing policy, organisational development

Module 4 – Purchasing Organisation Structure, Responsibilities, Job Structures

• Purchasing organisation, organisational structures, centralisation and decentralisation
• Organisational strengths and weaknesses, SWOT analysis, the purchasing function’s status
• Organisation of purchasing personnel, job structures, specifications, rotation, analysis, changes
• Teamwork in purchasing, team roles, multi-skilled logistics roles, co-ordination with other functions

Module 5 – Control Systems, Procedures and Records

• Purchasing control systems, implementation, control and feedback cycles
• The basic purchasing process, notification, requisition, quotations, supplier selection, orders
• Purchasing documentation, structure of a purchasing manual, policies and processes
• Selection of preferred suppliers, supplier appraisal and research, provisioning, priorities

Module 6 – Information Technology in Purchasing and Supply

• Disadvantages of manual systems, better performance through technology, computer systems
• Computerisation of systems, applications, databases, Gannt, network analysis and flow charts
• Hardware, software, information and processing needs, computerised logistics applications
• Impacts of technology on purchasing and suppliers, e-procurement, e-marketplaces

Module 7 – The Human Resource in the Supply Chain

• Management of the human resource, centralised and devolved HR, relationships with others
• Manpower planning, effective recruitment, selection, interviewing candidates, tests and evaluation
• Training personnel, assessing development needs, training methods, development processes
• Performance appraisal and management, personnel investment processes, project-based development

Module 8 – Management Style, Motivation and Control

• Management attitudes, scientific management, management and motivational theories
• Appraisal of managerial styles, task-oriented, relationships-oriented, situational managerial style
• Managerial styles in purchasing, a motivational audit, conflict resolution, reasons conflicts arise
• Employee grievances and disputes, disciplinary procedure, pay structures, job evaluation

Module 9 – Sourcing Processes and Supplier Relationships

• Principles of sourcing, attributes of good suppliers, making sourcing decisions, price-quality strategy
• Production, make or buy decisions, materials management and requirements planning (MRP)
• Pricing considerations, analysis and structures, discounts, contracts, total cost of acquisition (TCA)
• Supplier relationships, traditional and contemporary, JIT manufacture, partnership sourcing

Module 10 – Quality Management in the Purchasing Function

• Quality management in purchasing, definition of quality, quality policy in purchasing
• Quality control, assurance and approval, specification of quality standards, performance standards
• Total quality management, TQM processes and concepts, barriers to quality competitiveness
• Quality implementation costs, quality costs versus customer satisfaction priorities, quality auditing

Module 11 – Negotiating and Bargaining in the Supply Chain

• Definition and aims of negotiation, negotiators, when negotiation is needed, resolving disagreement
• Situations which require negotiation, the scope, stages and conduct of a negotiation
• Strategy and tactics, poor and good negotiation, body language signals, win-win, effective bargaining
• Personal effectiveness in negotiations, authority, ethics and negotiation, professional practice

Module 12 – Further Purchasing Techniques and Practices

• Support tools in purchasing, logistics database support, data access, JIT systems, team-work
• Supplier tendering procedures, competitive tendering policy, tender documentation, evaluation
• Supplier performance databases, e-commerce in purchasing, buying power, drafting specifications
• Benchmarking, processes, performance drivers, benefits, quantitative and qualitative measuring

HIS PROGRAM PROVIDES DETAILED, THOROUGH, WELL-PLANNED AND LEARNER-FRIENDLY GUIDANCE OF THE ESSENTIAL CONCEPTS WHICH NEED TO BE UNDERSTOOD TO ACHIEVE A SUCCESSFUL PROFESSIONAL CAREER IN THE FIELD OF REAL ESTATE (PROPERTY) MANAGEMENT. IT IS DESIGNED FOR ANYONE WISHING TO STUDY AND/OR UNDERSTAND THE ESSENTIAL CONCEPTS NEEDED FOR REAL ESTATE, SURVEYING, LAND MANAGEMENT, HOUSING, PROPERTY, PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION.

The key concepts of this interesting study and career area are arranged, defined and explained to provide key knowledge and understanding, quickly and conveniently. The most important subjects in land and property fields are introduced and written about by experts with considerable expertise of property management in the modern business environment. The course covers: Planning, Building surveying, Valuation, Law, Economics, Investment, Finance, Quantity surveying, Construction, Regeneration, Sustainability, Property management, and more. The course includes many relevant examples and illustrations and advice to encourage a deep understanding of the subjects.

THE MAJOR TOPICS COVERED INCLUDE:

• Introduction to Real Estate Management 
• Agency – client relationships 
• Building Surveying 
• Commercial Property Management 
• Construction and Development 
• Economics for Real Estate 
• Finance, Investment, Taxation
• Land Management 
• Elements of Real Estate Law
• Planning in Real Estate 
• Property Asset Management
• Quantity Surveying 
• Real Estate and Land Regeneration
• Residential Property & Housing Management 
• Issues of Sustainability and Environment
• Real Estate Valuation

THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES A WIDE RANGING BUT CONCISE EXAMINATION OF ALL THE KEY THEMES, TRENDS AND ISSUES OF CONTEMPORARY INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND WORLD POLITICS.

The Program provides a framework for understanding and analyzing current and future world situations and problems, and how international relations theory, history, geography, politics and other factors influence the globalized world today.  The Program connects the theory and the practice of international relations and world politics and teaches how to apply international relations theory to making and to implementing policy.

SUMMARY OF MAJOR TOPICS

• The meaning of and differences between International Relations and World Politics.
• Globalization and the key actors: states, international organizations, NGOs and individuals.
• National security, national economics and national identity within the scope of international relations.
• International relations and world politics: an analytical framework, theories and points of view.
• Historical factors and influences on in International Relations and World Politics.
• International systems; definitions and scope, global twentieth-century systems; contemporary world powers.
• Understanding physical and human geography and their effect on IR & WP.
• Religion, culture, nationalism and ethnicity: their impact on conflict international relations and policy.
• Globalization and technological, social, economic impacts on humanity.
• Capitalism, global commerce, global governance, export-import, monetary and trade regimes.
• National Security in terms of power, national interests, objectives, threats and foreign policy.
• Policymaking conflicts and dilemmas when considering national security.
• Capabilities and power: political capabilities, social and cultural capabilities, geographic and economic capabilities; military capabilities; measuring power.
• Diplomacy and Foreign Policy; factors affecting the foreign-policy decision making process; modern communications and practices; how diplomacy works, diplomatic processes: recognition of States and Governments, diplomatic immunities, diplomatic missions, communications.
• Diplomacy, disarmament and arms control, concerns of weapons proliferation, negotiation.
• The  development and implementation of international law in global civil society: diplomacy and security; economic and commercial matters; human rights and the environment; international criminal accountability.
• The United Nations (UN): objectives and structure; armed intervention and the use of force.
• International organizations and international law; alliances and coalitions, NATO, security.
• Interstate conflict, the reasons for conflict: international, individual and groups, state and societal levels.
• Policy, national strategy, war and the use of force; deterrence, defence and warfighting.
• Armed intervention, national security, humanitarian intervention.
• Asymmetric conflict, terrorism, causes of terrorism, the changing nature of terrorism; policymaking responses and approaches to terrorism.
• Transnational crime and globalization; assessment of threats.
• Trade theory, competition and comparative advantage; unequal trade and competition; trade and economic impacts on local, regional and national areas; trade and finance, free-trade theory, exchange rate mechanisms and their affects on import and export; the impact of technology on trade.
• Why some countries develop and use technologies and why other countries do not.
• Global governance tasks: sustaining trade and monetary regimes and global trade.
• Development: uneven development between developing and developed countries.
• Poverty and development; capital and sources of finance for development: aid, loans, direct foreign investment, trade.
• Sustaining development: impacting factors such as population growth, the environment, health, military spending and war, resource depletion, health care.
• Human Rights: international factors including religion, culture, globalisation, political systems; definitions of and varied commitment to human rights and the human condition.
• Human rights across cultures; values, ethics and morals that transcend diverse cultures.
• Refugees: treatment; wars, natural disasters and other causes.
• The environment, world challenges, a global perspective: the atmosphere, biodiversity, water, fisheries, land.
• The environment and security; resources, group-identity conflicts, civil strife.
• International organizations and transnational nongovernmental organizations and environmental protection.

A PROGRAM EXPLAINING THE PURPOSES, ROLES AND FEATURES OF MONEY, BANKS, BANKING, FINANCIAL SYSTEMS AND MARKETS, AND THEIR FUNCTION AND IMPORTANCE IN FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC ACTIVITY.

The Program comprehensively covers the roles of financial systems and introduces financial institutions; it looks at interest rates and asset valuation, money supply and demand, and monetary policy and the main types of financial markets. It is written to meet the needs of those requiring good grounding in financial economics theory, combined with institutional and policy matters affecting the world today.

The Program uses many illustrations and examples to explain the subjects. It considers both traditional issues of monetary policy and the independence of central banks, and also more recent, contemporary issues such as the transparency with which central banks conduct monetary policy. 

SUMMARY OF MAJOR TOPICS

Summary of Major Topics:

• The role of a financial system
• Introduction to financial systems
• The UK financial system
• The US financial system
• The determination of short-term interest rates
• The structure of interest rates
• The valuation of assets
• Banks and the supply of money
• The demand for money
• Monetary policy
• Money markets
• Bond markets
• Equity markets
• Foreign exchange markets
• Derivatives – the financial futures markets
• Options, swaps and other derivatives

AN EXCELLENT, HIGH-LEVEL AND WELL-EXPLAINED PROGRAMME ABOUT CORPORATE STRATEGY, BUSINESS POLICY AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE.

This Program covers the key concepts of strategic management and business policy, scanning the environment and analysing the organisation/environment situation, formulating and planning strategy, and then how to implement and evaluate strategy.  Furthermore, it covers corporate governance, ethics, social responsibility and corporate evaluation and control.

It focuses on understanding strategic management concepts, research and strategic theories and developing a framework of analysis to help identify strategic issues and problems.  The Program covers how to develop, assess and consider alternative courses of action, and to analyse potential future actions at tactical and strategic levels. It covers theory and practice by developing an understanding of when and how to apply concepts and techniques for marketing, accounting, finance, management, operations, and information systems.

The Program helps develop a wide range of abilities and to master vital skills; to analyse and evaluate strategic decisions; to research, gather and interpret key environmental data; to understand the present and future environments; to develop analytical and decision-making skills for dealing with  problems in an ethical manner.

Summary of Major Topics:

• Concepts of Strategic Management
• Corporate Governance and Social Responsibility      
• Environmental Scanning and Industry Analysis 
• Internal Scanning: Organisational Analysis
• Strategy Formulation: Situation Analysis and Business Strategy       
• Strategy Formulation: Corporate Strategy  
• Functional Strategy & Strategic Choice
• Strategy Implementation: Organising for Action
• Strategy Implementation: Staffing and Directing      
• Strategic Management, Evaluation and Control

(A more detailed outline of contents is available on request)

AN EXCELLENT, DETAILED IN-DEPTH INTRODUCTION TO FINANCE AND INVESTMENT DECISION MAKING

The Program focuses on the theory and practice of business finance.  It covers the major theories of financial decision making and assesses their practical usefulness, and relates financial and decision-making theory to what happens in actual practice – real-life application.  Where theory and actual financial practice do not match, the reasons why are explained.  The Program covers the business finance environment and provides a very useful framework for financial decision making.  The Program deals in depth with investment decisions: methods and techniques for assessing different investment opportunities, practical aspects of value to financial and other managers/personnel/directors, risk and other relevant issues

Summary of Major Topics:

• The Business Finance Environment         
• Business Finance and the Organisation of Business
• Financial Decision Making – a Framework          
• Financial Accounting Statements & Interpretation
• Investment Decisions  
• Practical Aspects of Investment Appraisal      
• Investment Appraisal Methods
• Investment Risk
• Portfolio Theory and Pricing Models         
• Taxation
• Inflation
• Capital Rationing
• Cash Flows
• Present Value Tables and Annuity Tables

(A more detailed outline of contents is available on request)

A COMPREHENSIVE AND ENGAGING PROGRAM TEACHING HOW TO BECOME A PROFESSIONAL IN EVENT MANAGEMENT.

This Program will provide the knowledge and sophisticated skills required in order to become a professional event manager, and covers strategic planning, risk analysis, marketing, budgeting, cash flow planning, human resource management and much more.

The Program covers strategic management for projects, focusing on event concepts and feasibility, and topics such as legal compliance, marketing, risk and business and event relationships.  It then focuses on operational planning and implementation in clear and focused detail.

The Program helps develop a wide range of abilities and to master vital skills which can be used in project and event management, and to face many different types of business challenges in a diverse range of contexts, and in many management roles and in numerous professional and managerial positions.

Summary of Major Topics:

• The event industry – events, technology, ethics
• Event concepts and ideas – analysis, design, logistics
• Assessing event feasibility and strategic factors   
• Event venues and sites
• Legal and insurance issues regarding events
• Business and client relationships and agreements
• Marketing strategy, segmentation and planning
• Sponsorship issues for events
• Event budgeting, finance and cash flow matters
• Risk assessment and strategy
• The event bids process and factors
• Event project management, project management tools and principles
• Event promotion and public relations
• Staging an event, services, contractors, catering accommodation
• Human resources, staffing, recruiting
• People management, motivation and development
• On-site services
• Safety and security, safety training
• Crowd procedures and control
• Event protocol for speakers, business, religious and cultural events
• Event catering, food, beverages, waste planning
• Environmental management, sanitation
• Event monitoring and control, and evaluation
• Careers and trends in event management