Executive Diploma in Strategic Pharmacy Business Management

  • Overview
  • Course Content
  • Structure
  • Career Opportunities
  • Fees
  • Next Steps

Executive Diploma in Strategic Pharmacy Business Management IPU Logo No Tag   

 

Overview


DBS, in partnership with the Irish Pharmacy Union, are offering a new Executive Diploma in Strategic Pharmacy Business Management. The complexity of managing a pharmacy and its operations is of growing importance as the sector is becoming more competitive. Pharmacy owners and managers need to match consumer demand with shelf supply, by balancing variety and service levels, and optimising demand and profit via a carefully calibrated price and marketing decision. To manage these issues we need to look at, space; ranges; stock; communication and pricing, all in a holistic approach.

Managing a pharmacy deals with innovation, problem solving, people management and resources administration, all really important factors for maintaining competitive advantage in a sector that is experiencing substantial transformation in Ireland.

Our Executive Diploma in Strategic Pharmacy Business Management is suitable for Pharmacists who want to learn the skills required to succeed in this field while dealing with the challenges that the sector is presenting to them.

Pharmacists will gain an understanding of decision-making under uncertainty, the variations in strategy among individuals when there is no “right” or “wrong” path, and then some guidance about the sorts of trade-offs various decisions and strategies engender.

In this course we introduce these multiple learning objectives in a powerful way, giving Pharmacists all the different skills required to become a successful Business Manager.
 

  

Programme Aims and Objectives

The primary objective of this programme is to build and enhance the business capability of pharmacists and business owners as part of both the IPU’s and independent pharmacy strategic objectives for 2021 and into the future.

The key objectives of the programme are as follows:

  1. Enable learners to critically evaluate and review relevant theories, concepts, frameworks, models and key issues in the field of pharmacy retail strategy.

  2. Provide an overview of consumer’s decision-making processes, the influences upon consumers’ behaviour in a broad sense and their implications for marketing.

  3. Equip learners with an understanding of how market environments affect organisations marketing strategies.

  4. Assist learners to understand the fundamentals of organisational behaviour enabling them to appreciate the underpinning of professional management practices.

  5. Enable learners to develop skills to interpret retail data and express its value visually through the use of case studies and datasets.

  6. Demonstrate an understanding of the obligations and limitations imposed by the law on the operation of a retail business.

  7. Provide a framework from which students can analyse the issues involved in applied management practice through a retail business simulation.

  8. Explore how procurement and supply chain management can add value, enhance organisational performance and be a source of sustainable competitive advantage to a retail organisation.

  9. Provide learners’ with an understanding of the core objectives of financial management.

 
Assessment

To meet the requirements of the Diploma in Strategic Pharmacy Business Management, a Pharmacist will be required to complete continuous assessment for all subjects and a final project.

 

Please note this programme is not on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ).

Programme Content

  • Retail Pharmacy Business Strategy

  • Organizational Behaviour in Retail Environment

  • Pharmacy Retail Consumer Behaviour

  • Legal issues and regulation in Retail

  • Pharmacy Retail Marketing

  • Category Management and Retail Purchasing

  • Retail Management Simulation

  • Business Intelligence and Data Visualization

  • Finance for non-Financial Managers

  • Leadership and Communication

  • Capstone Project Preparation


Structure

The 6 month course provides a comprehensive knowledge on building and enhancing the business capabilities of pharmacists and business owners as part of both the IPU’s and independent pharmacy strategic objectives for 2023 and into the future.

Students will attend two full days of delivery per month between October 2023 and April 2024, from 10am - 5pm on a Thursday and Friday (12 classes total).


Timetable

Click here for the Executive Diploma in Strategic Pharmacy Business Management timetable.

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Career  Progression Opportunities

  • Invest in Multiple Pharmacy Businesses

  • Acquiring Existing Pharmacies

  • Opening a new Pharmacy

  • Advance into senior management roles within the organisation

  • Career progression

Student Profile

Students who would partake in this Diploma programme would be trained and qualified pharmacists.  

Running and owning a pharmacy is not for everyone. While it can yield professional achievement, independence and financial success, it can also take time, energy and sacrifice.

You do not need to have management experience or currently own a pharmacy before following this path successfully, but there are certain skills and attributes that may be helpful in order to succeed:

  • Independence

  • Responsibility

  • Wiliness to Learn

  • Persistence

  • Interpersonal Communication

  • Convincing attitude and confidence

Fees

The fee for this Diploma is €2,500 for IPU members, and €3,000 for non-IPU members. This is inclusive of tuition, registration, assessment fees and DBS library membership. This fee must be paid in full before the course begins.  

DBS Diploma students can also avail of a wide range of facilities to assist them in every aspect of their studies, please see below for more details.

DBS Student Facilities

• Online Notes System (DBS Moodle) - is an eLearning system designed to provide you with a range of course material which will enhance and support your learning experience within DBS.

• DBS Library Aungier Street- the Library provides a programme of classes in the areas of Library resources, essay writing skills, avoiding plagiarism and referencing to assist you in your studies.  

• DBS Careers and Appointment Service- which provides a range of services for Diploma students such as career advice and workshops in CV writing and interview skills.

• Subsidised Parking- DBS provides subsidised parking arrangements for students, which provides easy access to all main public transport routes in and out of the city centre.

• Subsidised Student Canteen- Diploma students can avail of the Student Canteen which is open in the evenings and offers a wide variety of choices on its menu.

 

Next Steps

Visit Us

Open days are a great way to help you make your decision about your course of interest. The open day will give you the opportunity to receive one on one advice and direction from leading academics in your chosen subject area, meet current students and also have your questions answered on entry requirements, student support and the admissions process. Find out when our next Open Event is taking place. The Admissions Office is located in our Aungier Street campus and you are welcome to visit the college to speak with a member of our admissions team from Monday to Fridays, 8:45am – 5:15pm. Alternatively, you can contact us by email.

Categories:
  • Full-Time
  • Professional Evening Diplomas
  • Business & Management

Course overview

Certification: 
Dublin Business School

Schedule: 2 full days (consecutive) per month, 10am - 5pm
Intake: September 2024
Duration: 6 months daytime delivery

Contact Us

We are now accepting applications for programmes taking place in 2024. Contact our admissions team for more information

Email: [email protected]
Phone: 01 417 7500
Opening times:
Monday to Friday
8:45am to 5:15pm