Business Management (Project Management) BA Honours

Course content

What will you study on the BA Business Management (Project Management)?

You will complete compulsory modules that will develop your essential skills and knowledge in business management. You will broaden your knowledge and examine key topics such as the behaviour of people within organisations, and resource management. You will also focus on developing advanced skills in strategic management and managing business projects.

What will you gain?

You will develop key business skills, knowledge and experience in order to excel in a management career. Companies and organisations require graduates who have expert business knowledge, who can also demonstrate analytical and problem solving skills with the professional acumen to deal with challenges in a fast-paced corporate world. You will learn to work effectively in teams, and be able to present and communicate business management ideas with confidence. We also ensure you develop specialist knowledge in:

• Stakeholders: their expectations and behaviour
• The environment of business and its impact on strategy
• Design, production and distribution of products and services
• Business resources: acquisition, application and control
• Business process: planning, improvement and control

Modules

This module aims to develop the financial understanding and knowledge of students within business organisations so as to enable them to make effective decisions and to assess the cost, economic and financial implications of these decisions. It aims to provide an understanding of the fundamental roles of accounting and finance for business students who do not need to develop specialist knowledge as well as to provide an understanding of key economic principles that inform business thought and practice.

The aim of this module is to provide an introduction to the use of computer software to collect, analyse and present business data. Students will learn to solve business and management problems using Excel or other appropriate software with an emphasis on the application of methods to solve problems, and the interpretation and communication of results. The main aim is to enable the student to become a discerning user of quantitative methods and computers in business analysis, which can be built upon in further study.

The aim of this module is to develop students understanding of the management of organisations. It will introduce management concepts such as the business functions,organisational structure, work design, entrepreneurship, and business ethics. Students will develop the ability to analyse the strengths and weaknesses of various management theories and their application in the management of organisations.

This module is designed to provide you with an overview of key marketing concepts and techniques, as they apply in a variety of organisations and in both conventional and online environments. You will develop knowledge and understanding of the core role of marketing in determining the growth potential of an enterprise, including the value of the marketing mix in ensuring successful marketing implementation and the significance of external and internal operating environments for marketing practice.

The aim of this module is to develop students understanding of how people in organisations interact. It will introduce various people management concepts and human resource processes and practices. Students will develop the ability to compare and contrast a variety of organisational psychology and sociological theories and their application in the management of people.

This module aims to develop students’ knowledge and understanding of operations management within a variety of organisations. It examines different aspects of operations management relevant to the design, planning, control and improvement of business operations. Students will learn to evaluate, select and apply relevant operations management concepts, tools and techniques to solve problems, make informed decisions and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of operational processes.

This module aims to develop students’ knowledge of internal and external business environment and their impact upon choices available to business in planning and decision making. Students will learn to analyse business environments and handle information using different techniques, models and frameworks.

This module aims to provide students with the ability to apply key skills in information systems to the business management domain. The module also aims to enable students to obtain important aptitudes towards using information technology solutions such as business intelligence (e.g. data analytics), digital technology solutions (e.g. smart environments) and modern forms of communication (e.g. social networks) to improve business processes.The module enables students to acquire knowledge in a number of topics aligned to the following key areas: (i) information systems and business intelligence (in particular the development, management, application and implementation of information systems and their impact upon organisations, (ii) communications (in particular the comprehension and use of relevant communications for application in business and management, including the use of digital tools) and (iii) digital business (in particular the development of strategic priorities to deliver business at speed in an environment where digital technology has reshaped traditional revenue and business models).The cross-discipline nature of the module ensures that students will gain experience in using information systems, while engaging in strategic management activities and following a pattern of work resembling project management practices in controlled environments

This module provides students with an introduction to innovation and entrepreneurship. It examines different forms of innovative and entrepreneurial practice including commercial and social enterprise. This includes an introduction into management issues faced by entrepreneurs and small business owners. The module will also introduce students to such concepts as opportunity recognition and the ability to act upon opportunities and problem solving.

The aim of this module is to enable students to identify the multifaceted social processes that are imperative to organisational life. The module will cover a wide array of theories pertaining to organisational behaviour. Students will develop their own abilities to analyse these theories, build up their own views on how to think and feel about these emergent issues as well as empower themselves with the capacity to argue and support these views in an academically rigorous manner.

The aim of this module is to develop students’ understanding of the key areas of HRM and to develop their skills and competence in human resource management practice. Students will become familiar with a wide range of generalist HR policies and practices within the five key areas of the discipline: employee resourcing, employee reward, employee relations, performance management and employee training and development. They will also be provided with the opportunity to develop competencies in areas such as selection interviews, performance appraisals, managing conflict, and conducting grievance and disciplinary interviews.

>The aim of this module is to develop in-depth understanding of theories relating to trade and international business, their application to an increasingly interdependent world, the role of multinational enterprise in the world trade system, and practical issues, such as inco terms,documentation, payment process and instruments, and trade compliance. Taken together these elements should equip students with comprehensive knowledge and a broader sense of running a business beyond the domestic market.

This module will examine the laws regulating the conduct of business and business organisations. The first part of the module sets the context and provides essential material on English Business law (English Legal system, Contract, Tort & Employment) whilst the second part covers Company law and Corporate Governance.

This module aims to further develop and enhance the financial understanding and knowledge of students within business organisations on the subject areas of financial accounting, management accounting and financial management. It aims to provide a more in-depth understanding of the roles of accounting and finance for business students who do not need to develop specialist knowledge and to train students to apply their accounting and finance knowledge and skills into a range of different business situations.

This module aims to familiarise students with the importance of marketing research and insights to business and, in particular, the marketing management process. Students will learn how to conduct a marketing research project, including establishing business research needs, gaining insights into the consumer market, designing an appropriate research design, creating research instruments, gathering data primary and secondary data, conducting both qualitative and quantitative data analysis, and using the findings to improve marketing decision-making.

This module aims to provide students with comprehensive understanding of the design,planning, implementation and evaluation of projects in a variety of sectors. Students will explore how projects are managed using up-to-date project management tools and technologies. The module also aims to develop awareness of the role of projects in the wider economy.

The aims of this module are organised in two parts: in the first part students use the essential components of strategic analysis with the primary aim of developing an applied knowledge of tools and techniques. In the second part students explore a variety of special topics with the primary aim of examining strategy concepts applied in different organisations. Overall, the module aims to build students’ ability to process and interpret information from different internal functions and from multiple external sources for decision-making leading to long term organisational success.

This module aims to develop students’ knowledge and understanding of the role of project plans in delivering strategic objectives. The module will also analyse how the different components of a project are linked and contribute to successful delivery of a project. Students will also enhance their leadership, team working and communication skills by contributing to planning and development of project plans.

Projects are becoming increasingly complex and technology has become an inherent part of the project management arena. This module aims to develop students’ understanding of various technologies and how they can be used for managing and controlling different types of projects. Students will be able to use software applications to design, plan and manage projects. They will be also able to identify the most appropriate software for a given a scenario.

This module aims to develop students’ knowledge and understanding of the project management methodologies (PMM) used by organisations to manage and successfully deliver project objectives. A wide range of different project methodologies and the complex processes they entail will be examined. In order for the students to appreciate the application of such methodologies one key PMM will be examined in detail.

This module aims to develop students’ knowledge and understanding of the role and processes of finance and risk management in project planning and delivery. Finance in projects is influenced by various factors that will be examined. Risk identification,assessment, response development and contingency planning will be analysed to appreciate their relevance for project management. The link between risks and cost will also be explored.

Modules

Work, Organisation and Society (30 credits) - Compulsory

The aim of this module is to enable you to develop a critical understanding of the multifaceted social processes that are imperative to organisational life, and through which organisations may exert influence on ourselves as much as on society at large in order to pursue their objectives. The module will cover a wide array of theories pertaining to organisational behaviour, organisation theory, sociology, psychology and economic issues as far as they are relevant for the understanding of these social processes. You will develop your own abilities to analyse these theories critically, build up your own views on how to think and feel about these emergent issues as well as empower yourself with the capacity to argue and support these views in an academically rigorous manner.

Business Communications in Mandarin (30 credits) - Compulsory

This module aims to build upon and extend your ability to listen, speak, read and write Mandarin Chinese in business contexts, and to promote an understanding of Chinese culture, in general and in the business world. You will analyse the main types of business communications in order to appreciate relevant specialised vocabularies and underlying cultural assumptions.

Business Environment (30 credits) - Optional

In this module, you will begin to acquire the knowledge and skills typically required for more advanced study of businesses and in managerial decision-making. You will learn to analyse business environments and handle information using techniques, models and frameworks that will also start to build higher level employability skills.

Operations Management (30 credits) - Optional

This module aims to broaden and expand your knowledge of the concepts and techniques required for the design, operation and control of business processes. Cases and practical exercises are relevant to a variety of commercial, manufacturing and service organisations. The module builds on the IT and quantitative skills developed in the first year.

Brand Management (30 credits) - Optional

The aim of this module is to develop you understanding of branding, brand management and brand communications. The module will focus on developing strategies to create and sustain successful brands and on developing efficient brand communication strategies.

Business Communication Spanish (30 credits) - Optional

This module aims to build upon and extend your abilities to read, write, listen and speak Spanish in business contexts and to promote an understanding of Hispanic culture in general and in the business world. You will analyse the main types of business communications in order to appreciate relevant specialised vocabularies and underlying cultural assumptions.

Human Resource Management in a Global Context (30 credits) - Optional

This module builds upon knowledge gained in Year 1 on the business environment and the general management functions operating within organisations. It will develop your understanding of the international context of dealing with people issues in organisations.

Sustainable Products (30 credits) - Optional

This module aims to examine the importance of sustainable products to firms in order to reduce climate-related risks. The module explores the factors behind developing sustainable products from the perspectives of the environment, the firm, and the product itself.

Managing Business Projects (30 credits) - Compulsory

This module aims to provide you with a detailed understanding, based on professional work in the field, of the design, planning, implementation and evaluation of projects in a variety of sectors