BA (Hons) Business Management (Final Year Top Up) Inclusive of Pathway Diploma

Aims of unit

Management has often been defined as ‘creating change through people’ and this unit encourages learners to adopt this approach to change. It is designed for managers or potential managers working at first line or operational levels who are seeking to change ongoing systems and processes in the workplace. Learners will gain the realisation that it is only through the people that they work with that change can become successful.

This unit will allow learners to take a problem solving approach, initially defining issues and then looking at options, before selecting an appropriate route to change. F

inally, the unit looks at planning for implementation and evaluation of the change itself. There will be an emphasis on involving those directly affected, to gain their experience and knowledge as well as their commitment to, and ownership of, the change itself.

Throughout the unit, importance will be placed the need to manage and control the change process by effective monitoring and evaluation. Various change models will be used as the basis of activity.

Aims of unit

This unit is divided into three parts and examines Communications at an organisational level, interpersonal communications and managing internal and external communications. Effective communications are vital to the success of any organisation, to ensure understanding, involvement and commitment to organisational policies and procedures.

Organisations today often need to change their policies and procedures to survive in the developing local and global economies. It is important for managers to realise the importance of sound communication practice and systems to ensure the effective development and dissemination of new ideas and decisions for change.

This unit will help managers explore the links between good communications and the development of workforce understanding and commitment to change by considering what is meant by good communications practice. It will then help them look at their communication skills as well as how to improve links between their team, other parts of the organisation and beyond.

Aims of unit

This unit focuses upon the effective and efficient planning and management of work activities. It provides learners with the knowledge and skills to design, implement and change operational plans to improve effectiveness and efficiency, and to design and monitor appropriate systems to ensure quality of the products and services.

Learners may investigate their own organisation and their role within it. Their research will involve evaluating the importance of business processes in delivering outcomes based on business goals and objectives, establishing customer requirements and developing and implementing operational plans to meet them.

This will include the identification of resources needed, the planning and allocation of appropriate work activities, the setting and monitoring of performance measures and quality standards, and then taking appropriate action or making suitable recommendations to solve problems at work and managing the resulting change.

Consideration will be given throughout the unit to legal, regulatory and ethical requirements, particularly to the maintenance of health and safety. Learners will discover that the objectives of successful managers are largely achieved through others and that the involvement of teams, peers and individuals is crucial to the efficient and effective management of activities.

Aims of unit

This unit looks at the development of practical leadership skills at a non-strategic level within the rapidly changing working environment.

The unit provides an opportunity for learners to explore in depth the attributes and skills of successful leaders. Learners will also be able to consider how some of the leadership theories and models can be applied to specific situations and to learn how leadership skills can be developed.

The unit draws on a selection of established principles and on more recent work. It seeks to consider their relevance to specific working situations.

Aims of unit

This unit focuses on building, developing and supporting teams to enable them to achieve their goals and objectives. Learners must identify the skills and potential of team members while providing opportunities for them to gain new skills and experiences.

Learners will evaluate team roles and their importance when allocating team members to appropriate tasks in order to achieve objectives.

A key factor in a winning team is the team leader. Learners will have the opportunity to examine the qualities required of an effective leader to ensure that tasks are achieved, while building and developing the team and individuals within it. This unit also focuses on methods for monitoring team performance and approaches for handling poor performance and conflict.

Aims of unit

This unit is designed to introduce learners to the nature, role and importance of financial information in organisations from a managerial perspective. Learners will have the opportunity to look at communication and interpretation of financial information for managing organisations, its regulation and structuring and use in decision making, together with the principles of accounting, standards expected, and concepts and conventions that influence the presentation of financial information.

Learners will, through the examination of financial information, learn about the important issues relating to the measurement of efficiency, profitability and solvency, and the different demands on organisations made by different stakeholders. They will also explore the extent to which external confidence is determined by financial performance.

 Learners will examine how financial information can be interpreted, analysed and evaluated, how costs in an organisation can be monitored and controlled, and how the concept of contribution aids decision making.

Build practical knowledge of project management principles, methodologies, tools, and techniques used to plan, coordinate, monitor, and successfully deliver projects.

Develop an understanding of entrepreneurship and innovation, from identifying opportunities and developing ideas to evaluating their potential as sustainable business ventures.

Examine how digital technologies, innovation, and emerging business models are transforming organisations and shaping the demands of Industry 4.0.

Explore corporate governance structures, legal frameworks, regulatory requirements, and ethical considerations that influence responsible decision-making in modern organisations.

Analyse the international business environment and explore the economic, cultural, political, and strategic factors that influence how organisations operate and expand across global markets.

Undertake an independent research project focused on a relevant business issue, applying academic theories, research methods, and critical analysis to investigate a real-world organisational problem.