Business Management and Leadership BA (Hons)

This aim of this module is to develop your understanding of the role economics has on organisations. The module will begin with a general introduction to economics and will stress the importance of its study for managers and leaders. You will be encouraged to develop an understanding of the key theories of economics and an understanding that business decisions are made by choices such as: what products/services are to be delivered? What resources are used? Who gets what in an economy?

You will explore key economic theories that help them establish frameworks to understand how decisions made in an economy have an impact upon a variety of organisational contexts. You will be encouraged to appreciate how changes in economic conditions affect supply and demand and impact upon costs.

You will learn how to interpret key financial information and will develop an understanding of accounting-based tools and techniques that managers can apply. You will also aim to develop an appreciation of the underlying assumptions and limitations of those techniques.

The module emphasises the interpretation of financial information, rather than its construction and introduces a variety of theoretical concepts. As a manager or leader in business, you may be required to monitor and measure the performance of an organisation - this module aims to enable you to develop the knowledge and skills required to apply financial methods and techniques to undertake this critical responsibility. By being able to undertake and evaluate this kind of financial analysis of business performance, you will be in a position to make informed decisions in the best interests of organisational success.

Compulsory

This module will help you develop an understanding of the nature of entrepreneurship, enterprise and innovation by examining the business start-up process with respect to new ventures. You will be given the opportunity to assess and develop your own entrepreneurial skills and attributes.

This module encourages an awareness of the value of entrepreneurs to the economy and the social good. It uses tools such as business modelling, lean start up and open innovation frameworks to understand how entrepreneurial innovation has shaped existing products/services and its potential for future innovation. A focus on how Intrapreneurship can be facilitated within organisations and the benefits from this activity to the business will be debated. You will be encouraged to develop business skills, confidence, communication skills, imagination and creativity, and encouraged to maximise their strengths and manage their weaknesses. This unit will be supported by external entrepreneurs and the business community where possible.

Compulsory

This module is designed to provide practical project management knowledge necessary to undertake business projects. The emphasis of this module is on the application of project management concepts and techniques to manage projects. To run such projects successfully, you need to understand why projects fail and how to plan and monitor a project to lead it to successful closure.

The purpose of this module is to develop your knowledge and skills in project management. This includes the development of project plans and management strategies, and how to ensure the successful completion of projects. You will be expected to apply theoretical principles of project management to work-based case studies.

The module covers project management principles, project business case development, project planning and control methods,

This module offers you the opportunity to understand project management fundamentals and to equip you with the necessary tools for project work in your future career.

Compulsory

This module offers you a critical overview of the theories and debates regarding how organisations manage their resources. This module will focus on the range of resources that are used by an organisation to achieve its aims and objectives. These could be time, money, equipment and human resources.

This module is designed to raise your understanding of the resource management issues within contemporary organisations. After a consideration of the historical development of human resource management (HRM) the module will introduce the key principles of HRM focusing upon the core areas of recruitment and selection, through performance management to the release of individuals from the organisation.

Emphasis will be placed on the need to manage resources that are both internal and external to the organisation. You will consider how organisations identify and plan the resources they need and how they manage the supply, continuity and quality of them to achieve aims and objectives. There will be consideration of how to monitor the use of such resources and how disruption to their supply can be managed.

Compulsory

This module¹ 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.

Optional

This module¹ 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

The module aims to give you knowledge of how an organisation sets its strategic direction, controls it and responds to changes in its environment by implementing programmes of change. You will explore how an organisation moves through key stages in its development, whilst trying to achieve a competitive advantage and delivering innovation. It has been designed to provide you with an understanding of the core business areas of strategy and change.

Emphasis will be placed on the development of theories of strategy and change to set the module in a historical concept thus giving the student an appreciation of some of the key strategic thinkers in business, management and leadership.

The module will consider the analysis of both the external business environment and internal organisational context and how these impact upon strategy formulation, planning and implementation. You will develop an appreciation of different strategies for managing change at both a strategic and operational level. Emphasis will also be placed on the monitoring and change that are essential to ensure the organisation is sustainable.

Compulsory

In examining the global trading environment of international businesses this module focuses on both the principles and practices associated with international business activity in a global context. In developing a greater understanding of business in a global world, it seeks to encourage debate and dialogue, give a balanced view and consider different perspectives including an ethical one.

The main aim of this module is to develop your understanding of the international trading environment. In so doing it will examine both the framework that international businesses operate within as well as the principles and practices associated with international business activity.

Compulsory

The main aim of this module is to enable you to identify and analyse contemporary issues in the field of business and management which reflect the modern business world. This module aims to enable students to understand key issues e.g. governance, compliance, accountability and sustainability.

This module will investigate issues managers and leaders face in the contemporary business environment and how these can be addressed and overcome. The key role of stakeholders will be considered and the impact they have on organisations. The influence and power stakeholders have on an organisation’s strategic direction will be considered.

Compulsory

This module will provide you with the opportunity to explore a management issue from both an academic as well as a practical perspective. This investigation will draw upon your knowledge and understanding of management principles and practices. To facilitate this investigation the module will commence with a study of practical research methodologies and ethical frameworks.

The module provides an opportunity for you to develop your interests and backgrounds alongside your future career and study.

The management project itself is designed to develop your abilities to investigate strategies, gather and analyse secondary evidence, and make sound conclusions and management recommendations. The project forms a substantial part of the overall study leading to the Honours award. Accordingly, a high standard of achievement will be expected and the management project submission should draw on the intellectual and analytical skills and link real-life situation-specific knowledge examined through previous and current modules.

Compulsory