BA (Hons) Business Management

Subjects covered Year 1 Academic Skills This module seeks to give students knowledge and understanding of the academic skills required for higher education. The underlying theme of the module will be to offer guidance and support, in order that the student can achieve their optimum level of study and successfully meet the requirements of their programme. Business Environment This module seeks to give an introduction to a number of environments within which all businesses in the UK operate. Specifically, local markets and supply and demand; the regulatory environment; the UK macroeconomic environment; and the global business environment. This should hence provide a basis upon which further modules develop knowledge. Teamwork and Leadership Students will experience and evaluate the importance of working in a team and will examine how various leadership styles and approaches to teamwork can deliver advantages to their organisation. They will also assess their own personal strengths and areas for development as a team member and a leader and this will contribute to their own personal development plan. Managing People - Organisational Behaviour This module seeks to develop an understanding of how to manage people within an organisational context. Businesses continually have to adapt to changes in competitive environments and their effectiveness depends on the motivation and behaviour of their workforce. A manager needs to acquire a deeper knowledge of how organisations work, are best structured, what motivates individuals and the role of management as an integrating activity, to ensure that they can work productively and effectively with other people to bring about organisational effectiveness. Introduction to Accounting This module is designed to give the learner an understanding of the sources and management of finance within a business organisation. They will understand basic financial techniques used for making decisions in relation to costing, pricing and investments. Introduction to Marketing Marketing is such a part of everyday life that a knowledge and understanding of its principal theories and models is vital to all aspects of modern management. This module aims to give an introduction to the role of marketing in the organisation and aims to develop awareness of opportunities for marketing in the Digital Age. Consumer Behaviour This module seeks to develop an understanding of consumers and factors that drive consumer behaviour. Studying consumers enables planning of products and services, pricing, devising channels and crafting the right communication message(s) Law & Ethics No business can survive or indeed exist without a legal framework and structure. This module provides both knowledge and an understanding of the significant aspects of our legal framework relating to business management. The legal elements of the module are complemented with a strong element of ethics to reflect the level of professionalism required in the modern business environment. Year 2 Contemporary Issues in Business Conducting a project of research helps in developing self motivation and self discipline in relation to time management and judgement in regard to the chosen topic for study, together with research, evaluative, reflective and organisational skills. It facilitates an in depth understanding of the chosen topic examining a problem critically and reflectively. It also prepares the student for any future academic research or study and develops an ability to present in writing a coherent and logical report, making deductions and syntheses and the production of conclusions and recommendations. Professional Development Portfolio This module extends the classroom study into the workplace by allowing the student to reflect on the roles and responsibilities of employment. The module will require the student to identify their own strengths and weaknesses as the underpinning of personal effectiveness in the work environment; the opportunities and threats to their actual or intended career path and progression and how to achieve their personal goals; the work of their employing organisation and their role within it on a day-to-day basis; and the issues and problems that currently concern their organisation and possible solutions to them. Year 3 Final Year Project The Dissertation is the greatest step in personal development the student will undertake during the programme. It demonstrates the achievement of independent research, intellectual application and time management. It is of particular interest to prospective employers and is considered by many to be the ultimate standard of an honours degree. Project Management & Management Information Systems This module introduces the student to the main issues of project management using the PRINCE2 methodology as a framework for study. The module will allow students not only to examine project management as a management tool but also to examine its use in the industry of interest of the student. HRM in a Business context This module studies the principles and practices of managing people, from a strategic perspective. It will equip students with skills and knowledge relevant to future management careers. This unit will draw on students own employment experiences, along with focusing on many areas relevant to HRM, including: recruitment and selection; performance management, reward and employee relations. International and Ethical Business In a global market place students need to develop an increased awareness of the influences likely to shape their lives as well as the environment where they work. The structure of the module allows students to explore the opportunities for business development in countries other than the UK and to consider current global issues and their likely impact. The module is designed to extend students awareness of the wider business environment, particularly the EU and financial markets, whilst requiring them to analyse the growth potential of a variety of countries in greater detail. Global Marketing Given the dynamic nature of the global marketplace it is essential that students are not only aware of the implications changing international landscape but equally significantly are able to plan, implement and control marketing activities in the global market place. Additionally an understanding of the role of integrated marketing communication in supporting and positioning brands is essential to those marketers. Entrepreneurship & Business The economy needs entrepreneurs in order to be healthy and grow. This unit examines the traits that entrepreneurs display and the way they are able to develop their strategy to deliver goods and services with market appeal. Can entrepreneurship be learned or is it an innate skill? The unit will examine entrepreneurial activity and draw lessons from their ideas and experience, reflecting on the role of creativity and innovation. Assessment A wide range of assessment methods are used in this programme, which have been chosen to suit the subject material being taught. The range of assessment methods you will experience will give you the confidence and capability to complete an Honours degree and progress further in your career. Your Tutor will be on hand to provide support during the assessment process and discuss any queries you may have. The range of assessment methods used in this programme includes: • In-class tests • Assessed practical work • Assessed coursework / assignments • Formative assessment through assignment work feedback • Formal examination • Practical demonstrations • Project report • Project presentation Employability The College is committed to delivering programmes that enhance the employability of our students by equipping them with the essential skills valued by employers. The College has always had a strong vocational and professional focus, effective links with industry and employs a range of strategies to ensure that our graduates are ready to enter the world of work. We have strong links with industry, commerce and professional bodies e.g. CIM, CIMA, CIPD, both nationally and internationally. A number of lecturing staff have been involved in research, lecturing and consultancy work in the UK and overseas in South-East Asia, Western and Eastern Europe.