Business Management (2 year top-up) BA

This module aims to develop your knowledge and understanding of operations management within a variety of organisations. You'll examine different aspects of operations management relevant to the design, planning, control and improvement of business operations. You'll learn to evaluate, select and apply relevant operations management concepts, tools and techniques to solve problems, make informed decisions and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of operational processes.

This module aims to develop your knowledge of internal and external business environment and their impact upon choices available to business in planning and decision making. You'll learn to analyse business environments and handle information using different techniques, models and frameworks.

This module will give you the ability to apply key skills in information systems to business management. You'll also gain important aptitudes towards using information technology solutions such as business intelligence (e.g. data analytics), digital technology solutions (e.g. smart environments) and modern forms of communication (e.g. social networks) to improve business processes.

You'll study a variety of topics including:

• information systems and business intelligence - the development, management, application and implementation of information systems and their impact upon organisations
• communications - the understanding and use of relevant communications for application in business and management such as the use of digital tools
• digital business - the development of strategic priorities to deliver business at speed in an environment where digital technology has reshaped traditional revenue and business models.

The cross-discipline nature of this module ensures that you'll gain experience in using information systems, while engaging in strategic management activities and following a pattern of work resembling project management practices in controlled environments.

This module will enable you to identify the multifaceted social processes that are imperative to organisational life. You'll explore a wide array of theories pertaining to organisational behaviour and develop your abilities to analyse these theories, build up your own views on how to think and feel about these emergent issues as well as gain the capacity to argue and support these views in an academically rigorous manner.

This module provides an introduction to innovation and entrepreneurship. You'll examine different forms of innovative and entrepreneurial practice including commercial and social enterprise. This includes an introduction into management issues faced by entrepreneurs and small business owners. The module will also introduce students to such concepts as opportunity recognition and the ability to act upon opportunities and problem solving.

This module aims to deepen your understanding of the key areas of human resource management and develop your skills and competence in human resource management practice. You'll become familiar with a wide range of generalist HR policies and practices within the five key areas of the discipline: employee resourcing, employee reward, employee relations, performance management and employee training and development. You'll also be provided with the opportunity to develop competencies in areas such as selection interviews, performance appraisals, managing conflict, and conducting grievance and disciplinary interviews.

This module aims to familiarise you with the importance of marketing research and insights to business and, in particular, the marketing management process. You'll learn how to conduct a marketing research project, including establishing business research needs, gaining insights into the consumer market, designing an appropriate research design, creating research instruments, gathering data primary and secondary data, conducting both qualitative and quantitative data analysis, and using the findings to improve marketing decision-making.

This intensive module provides familiarity with the essential tools and techniques of strategic analysis and a sound grasp of contemporary issues in strategic management. You'll use the essential components of strategic analysis with the primary aim of developing an applied knowledge of tools and techniques. You'll also explore a variety of special topics with the primary aim of examining strategy concepts applied in different organisations. You’ll develop your ability to process and interpret information from different internal functions and from multiple external sources for decision-making leading to long-term organisational success.

This module aims to develop your understanding and critical awareness of issues associated with managing contemporary workforce. You'll learn how increasingly diverse workforce composition and the changing nature of work and socio-economic environment result in new and unique challenges that managers face today. Through using cutting edge research, case studies and self-reflexive exercises, you'll be  encouraged to critically re-evaluate the traditional management thinking and practices and explore alternative approaches and responses to the contemporary management issues.

This module enables you to develop an understanding of strategies commonly used in professional discourse. It integrates concepts and approaches from applied linguistics and social psychology into the management of professional communication in a range of business settings. By exploring and contextualising professional discourse strategies, you'll develop systematic and explicit approaches to analysing, evaluating and constructing strategic communication.

This module aims to introduce the complexities of starting a business. It draws together a range of theories, concepts, and notions from several sources such as Finance, Marketing, and Strategy. You'll use the development of a unique business plan through which you'll learn, practice, and apply the necessary academic and practical knowledge and skill sets, including team working, required for the establishment of a new business, as well as an understanding of the complexities relating to the functioning of a small business.

This module introduces the theories and techniques relevant to the management of global demand and global supply within the parameters of corporate and business unit strategies. You'll develop critical insights in design, implementation and operation of global supply chains while employing these to develop your own case studies.

This module focuses specifically on the development of the competences needed to develop sustainable business. You'll gain the knowledge and skills of sustainable business to make a strong contribution to society, economy and the environment. You'll be enabled through a competency-based approach that links real-world orientation, with personal development and coaching, to the development and management of sustainable business.

This module aims to demonstrate the importance of integrated business functions to achieve business success. You'll use business simulations to gain experience in how a firm can integrate key aspects of business and management in order to succeed in a competitive environment.

This module aims to develop your critical understanding of the political, economic and business management systems of Asian countries and their impact to international business.

The module aims to provide you with an awareness and understanding of the mechanics, challenges and issues related to the different ways of financing an enterprise. The includes an understanding of key financial statements, the financial planning process, sources of funding and the financial risks and rewards of entrepreneurship.

All contemporary organisations operate in an increasingly dynamic environment. This module aims to develop your critical understanding of organisational change and managing organisational change. You'll explore different theoretical frameworks, concepts, techniques and tools for managing change.

You'll hone your practical business management skills through workshops, simulations, role-play, case study analysis and problem-solving exercises. Seminars and workshops are a great opportunity to discuss what you have learnt in lectures and through independent study with your peers and tutors.

Most seminar groups have about 20-30 students.

Work is divided into credits of approximately 12 hours per week in classroom study time. You will need to complete 120 credits per year, which are broken down into modules of typically 30 credits.

You will be studying at our leafy north London campus in Hendon.

Your course timetable will balance your study commitments on campus with time for work, life commitments and independent study. We aim to make your timetable available at least 2 weeks before you the start of term. Some weeks are different due to how we schedule classes and arrange on-campus sessions.

Your weekly timetable will typically consist of:

• 9 hours of lectures
• 9 hours of seminars

Teaching vs independent learning

Your course will require your active participation in learning activities and engagement with your fellow students both individually and collaboratively, working and learning with other students as part of a small group.

Outside of teaching hours, you’ll learn independently through self-study which will involve reading articles and books, working on projects, undertaking research, and preparing for assessments including coursework, and presentations. You'll also use online learning resources and do your own research, directed reading and independent study.

Our excellent teaching and support teams will help you develop the skills relevant to your degree from research and practical skills to critical thinking. Our Sheppard Library is open 24 hours a day during term time. And we offer free 24-hour laptop loans with full desktop software, free printing and Wi-Fi to use on or off campus, even over the weekend.

Your knowledge and understanding is assessed by tests, essays and other written assignments and presentations. You'll also be assessed by practice-based individual and group coursework assignments.

We'll test your understanding and progress with informal and formal tests.

The informal tests usually take place at least once per module, from which you’ll receive feedback from your tutor. The grades from these tests don’t count towards your final marks.

There are formal assessments usually at the end of the module will count towards your module and your final marks.

Assessments are reviewed annually and may be updated based on student feedback or feedback from an external examiner.

To help you achieve the best results, we will provide regular feedback.