Business Management BA Honours

Course content

What will you study on the BA Business Management?

You will develop key business knowledge, skills and experience in order to excel in a management career. Companies and organisations require graduates who have expert business knowledge and can also demonstrate analytical and problem solving skills, with the professional acumen to deal with challenges in a fast-paced corporate world.

You will study the operations of organisations: their functions, structure and management and the models and techniques used to achieve successful results. The Entrepreneurship and Small Business modules provide an excellent foundation for setting up and running your own business. In Year 2 and Year 3 you will take one of our specialist pathways, choosing from Business Management (direct route), HR, Marketing, Finance, Project Management, Innovation and Supply Chain.

What will you gain?

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.

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 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.

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 decision sand improve the efficiency and effectiveness of operational processes.

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.

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 description will be available shortly

The aim of this module is to develop students' understanding and critical awareness of issues associated with managing contemporary workforce. Students will learn how increasingly diverse workforce composition and the changing nature of work and socioeconomic environment result in new and unique challenges that managers face today.Through using cutting edge research, case studies and self-reflexive exercises the module will encourage a critical re-evaluation of traditional management thinking and practices and explore alternative approaches and responses to the contemporary management issues.

This module enables students to develop an understanding of strategies commonly used in professional discourse. It integrates concepts and approaches from applied linguistics and social psychology into the management of professional communication in a range of business settings. By exploring and contextualising professional discourse strategies,students will develop systematic and explicit approaches to analysing, evaluating and constructing strategic communication.

The aim of this module is to promote greater awareness of the importance of diversity issues nationally and internationally. It provides insight to the implications of diversity from a societal, organisational, and employee standpoint, exploring diversity debates, concepts and practices regarding equality, fairness and inclusion. Subjects taught highlight the significance of diversity management to careers and business sustainability. A variety of topics are included such as cross-cultural management, gender disparity, unconscious bias, age disability, effective multicultural team-working, and diversity legislation.

The aim of this module is to introduce to students the complexities of starting a business. It draws together a range of theories, concepts, and notions from several sources such as Finance, Marketing, and Strategy. The module utilises the development of a unique business plan through which students will learn, practice, and apply the necessary academic and practical knowledge and skill sets, including team working, required for the establishment of a new business, as well as an understanding of the complexities relating to the functioning of a small business.

This module aims to demonstrate to students the importance of integrated business functions to achieve business success. The module uses a business simulation to provide students with experience of how a firm can integrate key aspects of business and management in order to succeed in a competitive environment.

This module is designed to develop students’ skills and knowledge relevant to planning and conducting a small-scale research project. Students will learn how to do research, including define research aim and objectives, conduct literature review, collect primary data, analyse and interpret data, and organise and present research proposal and final dissertation document. The module requires students to consolidate learning from other modules to plan and complete a small business and management related research project.

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.

This module introduces students to the theories and techniques relevant to the management of global demand and global supply within the parameters of corporate and business unit strategies. Students will develop critical insights in design, implementation and operation of global supply chains while employing these to develop their own case studies.

The aim of this module is to develop a systematic understanding of the role of innovation as a key factor in a dynamic business environment and to equip students with the knowledge,expertise and skills needed to manage the innovation process at both strategic and operational level. The module provides an up-to-date overview of the mainstream theories and models of innovation and illustrates successful organisational practices through case study analysis.

This module description will be available shortly.

This module introduces students to organisation consulting. It builds on learning from prior modules and provides students with a theoretical introduction to consulting and the idea of the learning organisation.Students are required to undertake a live team-consulting project to identify solutions to real business issues. This module also provides students with the opportunity to apply theory to practice and to develop employability skills. These include team-building, communication,interpersonal, and reflective skills that can boost employment outcomes.

This module aims to further develop and enhance the leadership knowledge and understanding of students within business organisations on the subject areas of leadership styles and approaches, ethics, equality and diversity as well as personal leadership development. It aims to provide a more in-depth appreciation of the challenges faced by leaders in contemporary businesses who need to meet the needs of a range of stakeholders,assess the impact of leadership on organisational culture and behaviour as well as recognise when change is necessary.

This module aims to develop and enhance students’ understanding and knowledge of coaching and mentoring in different sectors and contexts. It aims to provide a more in-depth understanding of the roles of coaching and mentoring in supporting individuals and teams,in additional to providing an overview of coaching and mentoring programme design,implementation and evaluation.

This module aims to enhance students’ critical thinking skills by engaging in an in-depth exploration of ethics and social responsibility in business. It aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to identify, analyse, and develop effective responses to ethical issues and challenges in business ity of leadership effectiveness in the 21st Century which include communication and conflict...