Accredited Level 3 Diploma in Business Administration

) to build on knowledge, understanding and skills gained at that level. Or simply starting from a point of wanting to enhance professional skills.

• The course encourages students to develop the critical, analytical and evaluative skills which will enable them To either go on to Higher Education to study a wide range of management courses, including: accounting, personnel, Law, logistics and many others.

This course consists of Ten Units and is a qualification awarded by Oxford Learning College, in its own right; with the quality assurance of a leading awarding body (CIE/ABC) that hallmarks this professional qualification.

Assessment Objectives (AO)
AO: 1

Students must select and demonstrate clearly relevant knowledge and understanding through the use of evidence, examples and correct language and terminology appropriate to the course of study. In addition, for synoptic assessment, students should demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the connections between different elements of their course of study. This assessment, involves two written assignments: one halfway through the course and following the final unit. Both are assessed and graded by the assigned tutor, according to college procedures.

AO: 2

Students must critically evaluate and justify a point of view through the use of evidence and reasoned argument. In addition, for synoptic assessment, students should relate elements of their course of study to their broader context and to aspects of working and career experience.

Quality of Written Communication (QWC)

In addition, OLC require students’ to produce written material in English, candidates must: ensure that text is legible and that spelling, punctuation and grammar (SPG) are accurate so that meaning is clear; select and use a form and style of writing appropriate to studying a complex subject matter; organise information clearly and coherently, using specialist vocabulary when appropriate and Harvard referencing of citation and sources. In this Specification, SPG will be assessed in all tutor marked assignments (TMAs)

To ensure that we maintain quality standards; all our students written assignments are subject to our plagiarism policy and procedure.

Key Features

OLC offer the opportunity to study Business Administration as a professional level 3 validated diploma course. The student will learn and/or review the many aspects of business administration; be able to apply and use that gained knowledge in most business sectors.

This course has several features:

• To develop an understanding of managing business.
• To treat the subject as a professional discipline, providing the academic knowledge, understanding and skills appropriate for specialist study.
• To teach students an enquiring, reflective and critical approach to the study of business administration at a strategic level of responsibility.
• To encourage students to reflect on their own professional business management practice, the norms, perceptions, values and opinions in the light of their study.

COURSE CONTENT

The whole level three diploma has TEN (10) specific units of study, which are sub-divided into topic areas these are:

Unit 1: Introduction to Business Administration

In this unit, student will explore what is business administration. How there is not a ‘one model fits all’ approach. Each business is unique with its own agenda and focus. Although students will learn that many of the theories and strategies of good practice can be used and adapted to suit many different and diverse businesses.

Unit 2: Human Resources (HR) Management

The unit explores how businesses manage people. The changes that have driven HR theories and dynamics into its own sub-discipline within management theory; what is the role of the HR manager or, how this function becomes part of the business owners role and the ambiguity it creates.

Unit 3: Team based leadership

The unit continues to build on the themes of unit two. We explore teamwork; the fine art of delegation; role sets; role conflict; ambiguity and many other features in the dynamics of presenting a winning team.

Unit 4: Management Accounting

This unit focuses the student on the different aspects of management accounting practices. This will include: strategies; methods; manual/computerised tools; good practice; accountabilities and growing trends.

Unit 5: Project Management

A business will frequently be managing a client portfolio of work or project. Sometimes there is a need for a business to offset control of a ‘day to day’ project to one person. In larger organisations this is a frequent new role especially in the building industry. But in the smaller business, the project is usually added to some key member of the core management. We explore in this unit, how projects are best managed and best practice.

Unit 6: Consulting Skills

Whatever the business model, at some point in its lifetime a business will need to seek external advice and guidance; in this unit we explore the various types and usefulness of engaging external consultants. How banks, accountants and professional bodies play a significant part in the ‘helping’ process when businesses, needs an ‘extra pair of hands’ or, ‘timely advice’.

Unit 7: Presentation Skills

Businesses in all shapes and sizes both internally and externally will need to ensure good presentation skills to promote and sustain its image and focus. The many and varied aspects of this important feature of good business practice is considered in this unit.

Unit 8: Strategic Planning

Whatever the size or shape of a business; strategic planning is a crucial tool. This enables a business to maintain its market share; focus its production; service delivery and much more. In this unit we look at the features of good strategic planning and learners will learn some of the ‘know how’ behind business decision making for long term goals.

Unit 9: Concepts of Organisational Change

This unit explores the concepts of organisational change. We will consider the concept of market demand and supply; governance; employability of workforces; downsizing to retain positioning; mechanisation/computerisation; product placement and much more.

Unit 10: The Global Economy

In this final unit we explore the one concept that impacts upon the whole and varied competitive dynamics of business. Using the knowledge gained from the preceding units, we bring together the concepts of good business strategy in a worldwide economy of demand and supply.

ASSESSMENT

The coursework is assessed through continuous assessment with no formal exit examinations.

Assignments

The course has TWO Tutor Marked Assignment (TMA); which are graded: Pass or Fail. 1 at the end of units 5 & 10.

Study Hours (Per Unit)

Approximately: One Hundred and Twenty (120) hours of personal study time, which is supported by the ODL