Module description
The aim of this module is to provide you with an understanding of the world of business and of the environment in which it operates, with particular reference to UK and international businesses.
The module takes you through major functional areas of business: marketing, human resource management and finance. Current issues in the world of business will be addressed, including the importance of entrepreneurship, the role of big business, corporate social responsibility, and the impact of technological change.
In the first semester, you will be provided with a formative grounding from which to explore advanced topics within the study of business management, examining questions such as “What is Business For?”, “What good does Business do?” and “How is Business changing?” You will learn about different business structures and cultures, government policy and regulation, and other external influences upon business, with particular emphasis on the issue of globalisation. In the second semester, you will explore three functional areas of business in more depth: Marketing, Organisational Behaviour and Finance.
You will apply your knowledge of business concepts to real-world business cases, developing your critical thinking and analytical skills.
Assessment details
Coursework 50%; Exam 50%
Educational aims & objectives
- To provide you with an understanding of the purpose and function of business
- To develop an understanding of the important influences in the economic and social environment on the decision-making and behaviour of commercial organisations
- To prepare you for the successful study of business at undergraduate level.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the module, you will be able to demonstrate the intellectual, transferable and practicable skills appropriate to this level of module and in particular will be able to:
- describe the nature of business
- use accurately a range of business terminology
- have an understanding of the key features of the academic discipline of business studies
- demonstrate an understanding of business case studies
- carry out basic financial analysis
- research a topic, extract and synthesise information from a range of written and spoken sources, and formulate a response
- actively participate in seminars
- research, develop and deliver a presentation around the topic of a lecture, during a seminar
- master the skills of independent learning and time management
Suggested reading list
Lectures and seminars will be supplemented by classic business texts, contemporary case studies, items from current print and broadcast media, as well as a core textbook:
Required textbook: Ebert, R J and Griffin R W, 2016, Business Essentials plus MyBizLab with Pearson eText, Global Edition, 11th Edition