Business Management BA (Hons) with foundation year

This module aims to develop your knowledge and understanding of the fundamental concepts in marketing, including digital and social media. Develop an understanding of the role of marketing within an organisation, and the influence of factors in the external environment on marketing decisions including ethics, social responsibility and sustainability. Also develop an understanding of key marketing theories, approaches and strategies related to areas such as buyer behaviour, segmentation, targeting and positioning, branding, digital and social media marketing.

Compulsory

This module aims to provide a holistic view of management and organisation theories and practices, exploring how people interact with each other in the workplace and the role that leaders and managers play in the organisation. Organisational culture, structure and type are examined to consider the impact they have on human behaviour, interactions and organisational outcomes. Examine the role of people management practices and how this affects individual behaviour in the workplace. By introducing concepts such as motivation, engagement and commitment, the module will explore how people work together as a team, and how leaders and managers can understand emotional and psychological responses to work.

Compulsory

Whether qualitative or quantitative, financial or non-financial, data is everywhere and plays a crucial role in informing decision-making. This module introduces the fundamental concepts and principles of business finance and data analytics, and how they can be applied to measure and analyse organisational and functional performance, and support decision-making. Data analytics is a skill set that is becoming increasingly important for finding actionable insights from data and guiding strategic business decisions. This module is designed to help deepen your analytical mindset, develop your understanding of financial information, and prepare you to use relevant financial management and data analytic tools, techniques, and methods to assist the decision-making process both in the short and long terms.

Compulsory

This module aims to enable you to engage critically with sustainability and entrepreneurship in the context of management theory and practice. Explore the relationships between organisations and societies and the impact of significant societal change on different types of organisations. Drawing on UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), examine how organisations respond by altering their practices through innovation and entrepreneurial activities. Ethical business practices and sustainability are further explored, requiring you to reflect on your approaches to ideation in creating social and organisational value.

Compulsory

This module aims to develop your understanding of how well-designed investigations and research work. Develop your understanding of the research process, including literature review, research methodology and methods, data collection and analysis. This module provides you with the foundation for future research activity and the ability to design research to meet specific research objectives. Develop insight and the ability to understand and critique investigations and research undertaken by others. You will also have the opportunity to evaluate how conclusions are reached and analyse the methods used to get to those conclusions.

Compulsory

This module considers how organisations can use their resources in the best possible way to reach their goals sustainably, while also reducing waste, and improving efficiency and effectiveness. Develop an understanding of the allocation of internal resources, including finance, people and talent, production, knowledge and IT resources. Learn how to account and budget for organisational costs and income: this will also entail developing techniques for providing analysis and communication of business performance data to assist management decision-making.

Compulsory

Gain insight into the relationship between the economy, society and the environment within the context of sustainable innovation. Connect with some of the global challenges that are being faced, and value the positive contributions that business can offer to address those challenges through focused business models. Develop critical thinking and analytical skills by looking at complex social and economic sustainability problems. Learn how businesses can help solve these problems to support shared goals for sustainable development. To achieve these aims, examine theories and practices of economic development, globalisation, United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, social entrepreneurship, responsible innovation and sustainable development, Principles for Responsible Management Education, social responsibility, responsible leadership and ethics.

Compulsory

Examine the challenges and complexities which can arise from managing and leading talent across organisational, cultural and international boundaries. Explore human resource management policies and practices in multinational organisations, including for-profit corporations, not-for-profit and third sector organisations. The institutional, ideological and intercultural factors such as cross-cultural communication, leadership, EDI, negotiation and decision-making will also be developed through international teamwork activities in a global virtual team.2 Reflect on yourself and think about how your skills are growing in areas like global citizenship and ethical leadership.

Compulsory

This module² provides you with an opportunity to reflect upon and gain experience for an approved placement undertaken during your programme. A placement should usually be at least 26 weeks or equivalent; however, each placement will be considered on its own merits, having regard to the ability to achieve the learning outcomes..

Compulsory

This module² provides you with an opportunity to reflect upon and gain experience for an approved international study/work placement undertaken during your programme. A work/study placement should usually be at least 26 weeks or equivalent; however, each placement will be considered on its own merits, having regard to the ability to achieve the learning outcomes.

Optional

This module provides you with the opportunity to apply your knowledge and skills to a real-world business issue. You may choose to undertake a research project, a consultancy-style investigation, or a management simulation. Through critical engagement with academic and industry literature, data analysis and reflective inquiry, develop evidence-based insights and propose realistic, practical recommendations. This module encourages independent thinking, problem-solving and analytical capabilities.

Compulsory

Think critically about both the theory and practice of strategy and change. Look at how outside factors like technology, society, laws and the environment affect how organisations change responsibly. Explore how to spot and assess opportunities and challenges to support strategic decisions based on data. Gain the knowledge and skills to understand what an organisation needs during change to create long-term value and stay competitive. Learn how to use change management tools and techniques to create and carry out a successful transformation strategy.

Compulsory

Globalisation now touches the lives of everyone across the globe; therefore, it is important to understand how events, trends, trade and forces play a vital role in international business. This module defines the scope of global business and critical issues compared to organisations operating at a local and national level. Current world trade patterns, social, political and legal environments and the functions of international institutions will be examined. Look at how organisations use Corporate Social Responsibility and governance to help reach their goals in different countries. This module is designed to develop your critical analysis skills and help you to recognise and respond to the dynamics of globalisation for sustainable growth.

Compulsory

Choose one from the following two optional modules²:

• Design Thinking and Project Management – 30 credits

  This module focuses on project management in an organisational setting, developing your understanding and application of the methodologies, stages, tools and techniques required for project initiation, planning, execution, control and termination. Design thinking approaches will be applied to project management to help develop your soft and technical skills. These skills should help you understand the concept of project management, where projects come from, business case development and the selection process. You should learn how to apply this knowledge to various contexts, gaining the skills to lead and work on a variety of projects. The importance of project management scheduling skills, quality, estimating standards, as well as risks and stakeholders' management is emphasised within this module.

• One Planet Marketing – 30 credits

  Explore key aspects of global marketing, including the international marketing environment, social, ethical and cultural influences on buyer behaviour. This module also considers international marketing strategy options available to organisations, including market entry methods and the use and implementation of the marketing mix. Examine the international marketing mix and the extent to which international marketing communications, pricing, product and service strategies should be standardised or adapted to meet customer needs for sustainable competitive advantage.

Availability of optional modules may vary depending on student demand.

Optional