Business and Management (Top-Up)
BSc (Hons)

New leadership skills and techniques such as mentoring and coaching will be evaluated and developed, alongside the more traditional skills such as communication, persuasion, negotiation and conflict resolution. How these are applied in specific situations, particularly periods of change will be analysed. Students will understanding the impact of organisation’s culture, ethics and values on leadership The interrelation between leadership and management will be explored alongside the place of both at differing levels within organisations. The occurrence and application of leadership principles by individuals without positional power will be evaluated and skills required for good leadership explored and developed. The module will critically evaluate the key theories, research, practices and skills of leadership and management with emphasis given to supporting students to add to their Personal Development Plans in the area of leadership skills. There will be opportunities for students to discover and develop their leadership skills and reflect on means of development to support their future employability.

Module learning outcomes

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

1. Critically examine the links and differences between management and leadership and how leadership principles support organisational values
2. Evaluate and apply effective leadership styles in achieving organisational objectives
3. Demonstrate an understanding of leadership skills effective for team engagement in organisations
4. Critically analyse the impact of organisation’s ethical and value-based approach to leadership

Module content

This module covers the following areas:

• Fundamentals of leadership and its defining characteristics. Differences between leadership and management
• The concepts of leadership and management in an organisational, social, environmental and multicultural context
• Leadership principles that support organisational values
• The key roles that leaders play in creating visions and strategies, and the implementation of leadership and management strategies to meet current and future organisational demands
• Critical issues in leadership and management development, including how leaders are selected, development tools that are available, and issues of evaluation
• How leadership development strategy is formulated and implemented in international and global contexts
• Leading change, and the key challenges that organisations and individual managers face
• How leaders influence and persuade others; legal, regulatory and ethical requirements on leadership demands
• How leaders build employee commitment and engagement, particularly through practising 'Evidence Based Management'
• Leadership skills and values for building teams and securing involvement and participation
• Core communication skills used by leaders to motivate followers
• Thinking skills for leaders: barriers to rational thinking and how they can be overcome
• Promoting collaborative working and engaged followership behaviours

Strategy encompasses the organisations efforts through the setting of goals and objectives to identify opportunities to gain competitive advantage. However, in today's uncertain world, and where the global economy is more closely inter-related, strategy is not just something which organisations plan, it can be changes in the environment which organisations respond to appropriately. Mintzberg in 1978, coined the phrase 'emergent strategy' to describe this. The course is designed to empower you with a set of skills that are critical for making a successful career in senior management of a modern, international and knowledge-based business of either private or public sectors.

Module learning outcomes

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

1. Critique strategic management theory and practice
2. Critically examine available data and information in the development and evaluation of organisational strategic plans and objectives
3. Communicate effectively the information that supports organisational decision making processes

Module content

The module introduces and develops the theoretical concepts of strategic management in a critical way and focuses on the application of the relevant strategic management conceptual frameworks to their own practice. Students will develop a strategic analysis and strategic plan throughout the module, facilitating further application of the theory learned. The combination of the module content and its continuous application allows students to achieve learning outcomes and application of the strategic theories and approaches in a globalised business environment. The module will cover various aspects of the strategic management. An indicative list of topics is given below, however the main aim of the module is to examine contemporary issues within the global business environment that are likely to impact upon strategic management principles:

• What is strategy? Does it matter?
• Analysing the internal environment: resources and competences
• Data and information access and evaluation for strategic decisions
• Business level strategies
• Corporate level strategies
• Collaborations/networks and international strategies
• From strategic analysis to strategy selection
• Organisational direction and purpose
• A study of the internal and external environment and market based strategies
• Strategic management of technology, and schools of strategy formation
• Putting strategy into action through the systems, structures and culture of the organisation
• Communication methods and strategic decision making

Module Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to: 

1. Critically appraise the effects of the external environment and globalisation trends and dynamics on an organisation
2. Identify the opportunities and develop strategies aimed at gaining sustainable competitive advantages
3. Critically evaluate potential risks and change management challenges associated with implementation of a strategic plan

Module Content

The aim of the module is to examine contemporary issues within the global business environment that are likely to impact upon strategic management principles. The module covers various aspects of strategic management and strategy formulation in order for an organisation to be competitive in the global marketplace. An indicative list of topics is given below:

• Analysing the Internal Environment: Resources and Competences
• Analysing External Environment
• Globalisation
• Strategy Formulation – Strategic Choices
• Strategic tools
• Change and Risk Management
• Strategy Implementation
• Production and Supply Chain Management
• Sustainability considerations
• Innovation

This module supports the process of accreditation whilst also enabling students to undertake a piece of research that will further prepare you for professional practice, support professional development and be a prerequisite for master’s level study.

Applied research project will provide you with the opportunity to use and enhance the knowledge and intellectual skills gained during the course, by means of an extensive investigation of a significant management area. The module provides an opportunity for those interested in a specific field to explore an in-depth topic relevant to that area. It also provides the opportunity for you to reflect on the research experience and use what you have learned to guide your future development via a reflective statement and development plan.

As a result of developing and applying an analytical framework based on a specialist issue, you will be able to enhance your own competencies for undertaking future business, management and finance research or analysis. You will be better able to evaluate the research analysis carried out by others and better able to plan their own development.

Module learning outcomes

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

1. Critically evaluates a workplace problem within a relevant area of business and management science to a professional standard using appropriate academic discourse
2. Critically analyse methodological and theoretical arguments, employing appropriate research methods to collect data, analyse, compare and draw conclusions, providing recommendations where appropriate
3. Reflect on the process of undertaking a significant piece of independent research using the ideas and concepts from the course and plan their future development

Module content

• The Applied research project represents a major learning experience for participants, providing an opportunity to pursue in considerable depth and with suitable academic rigour a specific area of management and/or strategy, building on the study of relevant concepts, models and paradigms
• Each study will be supervised by an applied research project supervisor. At the beginning, and as part of this module, a dissertation/project proposal will be individually negotiated and assessed. The proposal will have to demonstrate that the proposed research can be achieved. You will also have to complete an ethical approval form that meets the University’s ethics guidelines
• The final work will comprise a dissertation plus a reflective statement and development plan and will be independently assessed by two tutors, one of whom will be the Independent Study Supervisor

This module concentrates on using the financial information available to assess the relative strengths of companies and to assess the impact of outside forces on their viability. Analytical and forecasting skills will be used to aid decision making.

Module learning outcomes

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

1. Analyse financial statements to make decisions on the strength, sustainability and adaptability of a business
2. Evaluate the influence of internal and external factors on the company’s future prospects

Module content

• Interpretation and analysis of company financial reports
• Forecasting techniques
• Factors affecting share prices
• Evaluation of company’s place within the industry sector
• Vulnerability to external events
• Prediction of likely success or failure based upon extensive research

Module teaching and learning

The module will be taught through a series of online units supported by a mix of learning activities.

This module is based on the self-paced supported online learning delivery model. Learners are provided with a set number of units of learning content. Content can be in text form, can include video and audio material, screencasts or presentations with voiceovers. This content is supported by additional optional activities such as discussion forums to enable students to ask questions of their peers and their tutor to clarify their understanding and to engage in further development of the principles and ideas addressed.

Formative learning activities such as practice examples, worked examples and online quizzes are made available. Such activities enable students to interact and apply and exchange knowledge.

Learners will be provided with the opportunity to participate in a set number of live classroom sessions during the module. These provide students with ‘real time’ access to their tutor and an opportunity to collaborate with their peers. Recordings of these sessions are made available to all students for review by those unable to attend and for students to use as preparation for the module assessment strategy.

Module assessment methods

The module is assessed by 100% coursework, completed individually, split into two equally weighted tasks. Feedback from the first assessment will inform progress and act as feed forward to the second assessment.

Formative assessment

A range of formative assessment methods - providing feedback rather than grades - will be employed. This will include formative assessment during seminars and facilitated learning activities, allowing for peer and tutor feedback.

Seminars and personal tutorials will feature regular formative assessment throughout the semester, through exercises or class discussion.

Summative assessment

Coursework 1 - 50%: A numerical analysis of the performance of two companies from a specific industry sector. To include brief discussions of findings. This is to assess learning outcome 1.

Coursework 2 - 50%: A written report analysing the comparative performance of the two companies examined in coursework one. Word limit 2,500 words. This is to further develop learning outcome 1 and demonstrate learning outcome 2.

This module will focus on fundamental applications of psychology, as a science, for understanding important business, work, and workforce problems. Throughout the module, students will be encouraged to apply contemporary psychological concepts and methods to understand the application of psychology to core work and organisational issues. The module will also cover people's behaviour, thoughts and emotions related to their work. Students will consider how ideas from psychology are used to increase people's effectiveness at work and how these ideas can assist in the development of personal and organisational change needed by people and organisations.

Module learning outcomes

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

1. Critically evaluate key psychological concepts and theories on their role to solve workplace problems
2. Investigate contemporary developments in business psychology as a science, in understanding key organisational and business issues
3. Demonstrate a deep understanding of how human behaviour is influenced by organisations, their behaviour, their systems and their structure

Module content

The module will cover the following areas:

• Social scientific research methods to study people, workplaces and organisations
• Historical and current perspectives, practices and principles of business psychology
• Concepts of the person in psychology and the individual difference approach
• Personnel selection and assessment
• Work satisfaction, job satisfaction and organisational commitment
• Ergonomics and consumer psychology
• Organisational development
• Leadership development
• Talent management
• Culture
• Health and wellbeing at work
• Employee engagement

This module focuses upon key business decisions in the global economic environment which can present both opportunities and threats to an organisation. It includes an assessment of operations management in the supply chain, including procurement and quality systems.

This module will help participants to explore and understand globalisation, how it impacts on business and how businesses can formulate and then act in response. It will introduce concepts, models and frameworks that can be applied to manage supply chains networks and all local operations such as procurement and quality systems that can affect overall global business success. This module explains the workings of the domestic and international economic systems and examine key aspects of the economic environment which affect the business climate. Students will be both introduced to relevant theoretical and conceptual frameworks and given a firm empirical understanding of the international business environment.

Module learning outcomes

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

1. Critically evaluate how the commercial decisions of a business in one country are influenced by the actions of businesses within the supply chain
2. Critically analyse social science concepts, theories and contemporary and pervasive global issues, and the ability to apply them to business and management contexts

Module content

The module will cover various aspects of the changing global environment. An indicative list of topics is given below, however, the main aim of the module is to examine contemporary issues within the global business environment that are likely to impact upon business operations and strategy.

• The rise of globalisation and economic interdependence of nations including discussion on definition and key indicators; globalisation: definition, evolution, implications for countries, firms and people
• Role of global governance and international institutions, including rationale and role of the UN on local policies; international capital and financial markets: New York, London, Frankfurt, Tokyo; world institutions: World Trade Organisation, International Monetary Fund, United Nations
• The formulation of a firm’s responses to globalisation, including pricing policy, costs, production decision: make or buy, location of investment, adapt or die; including market selection
• Consequences for business and consumer theory and evidence
• Environment: global warming - Kyoto agreement
• Supply chain management, procurement and quality systems
• Business and corporate culture
• Mergers and acquisitions
• Firm and stakeholders - ethical issues
• Risk management

Module learning outcomes

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

1. Identify areas of business practice with opportunities to benefit from emerging technologies
2. Critically analyse opportunities for strategic change in response to or anticipation of emerging technologies
3. Identify and develop a business plan to address a specific area of business operation in relation to emerging technologies

Module content

The module will follow a case study lead overview of technological disruption in business, for example, Uber (Taxi) and then talking about the technologies that have enabled this to happen that are fundamentally different from what was available before. Amazon its rise, fall and rise again with video on demand and other value add subscription services. Streaming over content ownership using Spotify as an example, with some counter trends for young people to buying vinyl records.

Big data and analytics are a little more difficult as companies try to keep these a little quieter. There are examples of people using big social data to derive a 'mood' for the region/world and then see if this tracks stock prices. Many shops are now using beacons to track consumers in real time as they move around the store to improve store layout increasing dwell times.

The operation of 'express' or 'local' supermarket stores are predicated on real-time data analytics and communications. By using sales trends in a given sub-region and individual store, deliveries are sent out anticipating and avoiding out of stock scenarios for specific items. Other areas to potentially cover include; text classification techniques and sentiment analysis, summarising textual data, extracting data from social media, visual representation of data, big data and associated analytics.

The course will focus on what being 'market-oriented' means, in practice, to organisations operating in both the commercial and public sectors. The course helps you to understand the challenges of marketing management in manufacturing and service industries: analysing marketing environments; evaluating strategic alternatives and designing and implementing marketing programmes involving decisions about products/services, pricing, distribution and promotion.

Module learning outcomes

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

1. Critique key theories, concepts and models in marketing and its role in the achievement of organisational objectives
2. Critically evaluate organisational current markets and/or sectors within which it operates
3. Develop, implement and evaluate a marketing plan that contributes towards achieving strategic organisational objectives

Module content

Marketing as a strategic business function and its interface with corporate strategic planning. Strategic models, including SWOT, PESTLE, BCG, GE, DPM and their role in the choice of strategy. Competition, industry analysis. Sustainable competitive advantage. These tools are key to understanding the organisations current markets and/or sectors within which it operates. Strategic marketing planning and tactical marketing decisions; key challenges facing marketers, including CSR, global decision-making, government involvement and changing legislation.

• Introduction to strategic marketing - corporate vs marketing strategies
• Strategic marketing as a management process and tool
• Identify and understand marketing ethics dilemmas
• Auditing the external and the internal environments
• Marketing information
• Identifying consumer and business segments
• Formulating marketing goals and specific objectives
• Developing a marketing plan for a commercial or a social organisation to support organisational objectives
• Define adequate control and performance indicators to control the marketing plan
• Evaluation of marketing plans in relation to organisational objectives