What areas will I study?

Units studied include:

• Business environment
• Managing financial resources and decisions
• Organisations and behaviour
• Marketing principles
• Aspects of contract and negligence for business
• Business decision making
• Business strategy
• Research project
• Personal and professional development
• Working with and leading people
• Managing business activities to achieve results
• Managing communications, knowledge and information

*Business and the Business Environment (15 credits). The aim of this unit is to provide students with background knowledge and understanding of business, the functions of an organisation and the wider business environments in which organisations operate.

*Marketing Essentials (15 credits). Marketing essentials introduces the principles of marketing, enabling students to develop a basic marketing plan and to employ elements of the marketing mix. During learning of the underpinning theories and frameworks, students will also be able to relate these to real-world examples, including products/services that may be encountered in our daily lives.

*Human Resource Management (15 credits). The aim of this unit is to enable students to appreciate and apply principles of effective Human Resource Management (HRM). This unit will explore the tools and techniques used in HRM to maximise the employee contribution and how to use HR methods to gain competitive advantage.

*Management and Operations (15 credits). Developing an understanding of the difference between the function of a manager and the role of a leader. Students will consider the characteristics, behaviours and traits which support effective management and leadership.

*Management Accounting (15 credits). An introduction to the fundamentals of management accounting which apply to the wider business environment and the organisations which operate within that environment. Students will explore how management accounting uses financial data to aid planning decisions, and the monitoring and control of finance within organisations.

*Managing a Successful Business Project (15 credits). This unit is assessed by an externally Pearson-set assignment theme. The theme and chosen project within the theme will enable students to explore and examine a relevant and current topical aspect of business in the context of the business environment.

The aim of this unit is to offer students an opportunity to demonstrate the skills required for managing and implementing a project. Students will undertake independent research and investigation for carrying out and executing a business project.

*Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management (15 credits). The definition and scope of entrepreneurship and an understanding of the enablers and barriers to business start-up will be considered in this unit. Students will learn about the influence of national culture and economy on entrepreneurship and will explore the personal characteristics of entrepreneurs and the impact of personal situational factors, including education and background. Students will also learn about the role and importance of small firms to the economy, and about social enterprise and the social economy. Students will also be expected to understand the balance of risk and reward in starting a new venture

*Financial Accounting (15 credits). This unit introduces students to essential financial accounting principles and techniques which will enable them to record and prepare basic final accounts. Students will learn how to prepare accounts for sole traders and partnerships as well as limited companies.

*Research Project (30 credits). This unit is assessed by a Pearson-set assignment. Students will choose their own project based on a theme provided by Pearson (this will change annually). The project must be related to their specialist pathway of study (unless the student is studying the general business pathway). This will enable students to explore and examine a relevant and current topical aspect of business in the context of the business environment and their chosen specialist pathway.

*Organisational Behaviour (15 credits). The aim of this unit is to develop a student’s understanding of the influence culture, politics and power have on the behaviour of others in an organisational context. Students will be in a position to apply the principles of organisational behaviour to a variety of business situations.

*Product and Service Development (15 credits). Product and service development explores the journey from ideas generation through to the launch of a new product or service. It examines the processes behind new product development (NPD) and it also considers the potential risks involved. Through the combination of theory and practice students will develop knowledge and understanding and be able to apply that knowledge within either an organisational or entrepreneurial context.

*Business Strategy (15 credits). An awareness of the different kinds of strategy which could be used in an operational, tactical or strategic role for an organisation will be developed. This will be underpinned by a thorough knowledge and understanding of the theories, models and concepts which could significantly support an organisation’s strategic choice and direction. Aiming to develop sufficient knowledge and understanding of strategy to make a positive, efficient and effective contribution to the development of business plans and operational direction.

*Developing Individuals, Teams and Organisations (15 credits). The opportunity to appreciate that developing knowledge and skills to achieve high performance is a cross-organisation activity. Students will recognise that their own professional development is just one route to improving the performance of those teams and organisations in which they work. The context in which learning takes place and how development needs are linked to learning interventions aimed at supporting an organisation’s strategy will be reviewed. Aiming for students to appreciate the role of lifelong learning and to contribute to the development of others to make a positive contribution to the sustainable growth of an organisation.

Managing Business Activities to Achieve Results (15 credits) This unit focuses on the effective and efficient planning and management of business work activities. It gives learners with understanding and skills needed to design and implement operational systems to improve their effectiveness and efficiency and achieve the desired results for the business.

Managing Communications, Knowledge and Information (15 credits) The unit is designed to develop learner understanding of the interaction between communications, knowledge and information. It also covers how IT systems can be used as a management tool for collecting, storing, disseminating and providing access to knowledge and information.

Please note: This programme is validated with our partner BCU every 4-5 years to ensure it is up to date and current with the business environment. Validation will take place November 2020 and therefore the modules above may change slightly for the September 2021 academic year.