Business Practice and Analysis
| Module title | Business Practice and Analysis |
|---|---|
| Module code | BEP1020 |
| Academic year | 2019/0 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Miss Stef Foley (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 12 | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 30 |
|---|
Module description
Research published by High Fliers Research Limited (2013) into the UK graduate recruitment market reveals that over half of the top 100 graduate employers interviewed for the survey stated that it was either ‘not very likely’ or’ not likely at all’ that they would offer a job to anyone without work experience. This means that in order to put yourself in the best position for securing your preferred job post-graduation, you need to secure as much work experience as possible during your time at University. Business Practice and Analysis is designed to equip you with the knowledge, skills and experience to secure meaningful internships/work placements during your degree.
This module will teach you how to research, investigate and analyse the world of work. It will enable you to present your learning and yourself in the best possible light to attract employer’s interest. This introductory module to Business Practice will focus on the third sectors. It will explain how in a mixed economy this sector plays a vital role in innovation and service delivery, while at the same time enabling you to gain experience in fields you might not have traditionally considered for future employment. The insight and learning gained through this module will prove highly valuable to you as you progress throughout your undergraduate and post-graduation careers, providing you with insights other traditional commercial workplaces might not be able to offer.
Module aims - intentions of the module
The aim of this module is to equip you with the knowledge, skills and experience required to enable you to secure your preferred job post-graduation. Business Practice and Analysis I is designed as an introductory module which is a pre-requisite for Business Practice II in the second year of the Business BSc programme, which in turn leads onto the final module Practice Based Consultancy. The aim of these three modules is to educate you in the complexities of the world of work, across all three main sectors including: private, public and third. In a time where the traditional roles played by the private and public sectors are increasingly becoming blurred, the innovations created by this paradigm shift in service and commercial provision means there are increasing numbers of opportunities for graduates who wish to work in organisations with a sustainable outlook. This module will enable you to take advantage of these opportunities by teaching you both hard and soft skills associated with analysis and work place based learning.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. analyse the employment market place and identify opportunities for people with your knowledge and skills sets.
- 2. analyse individual organisations and assess their suitability as an employer.
- 3. audit your own skills set and secure opportunities which will make the most of them for the betterment of your own aspirations and those of your employer.
- 4. develop a greater understanding of the voluntary and third sectors as a source of innovation and area of opportunities for the future.
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 5. enhance your employability skills and opportunities
- 6. develop your critical analysis skills
- 7. test your academic learning in areas such as HR, Marketing, Accounting, Project Management and Sustainability and assess how applicable, or feasible it is to apply this learning to the world of work.
- 8. practice your critical analysis skills within the world of work
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 9. cite specific examples of work based learning experiences on your applications for future employment.
- 10. present yourself physically, your ideas, attitudes and skills in a professional manner in order to enhance potential career development opportunities.
- 11. increase your own personal confidence in your ability to make sound judgements about your skills sets, the needs of potential employers and in turn apply successfully for jobs and roles where you will secure job satisfaction and high productivity levels for your employer, or your own future enterprise.
Syllabus plan
- Introduction to module and placement information
- Sector Awareness with a focus on the Third Sector
- Workshops designed to improve self-awareness and develop Career Development Action Plans
- Workshops focusing on practical and professional employability skills including CV and covering letter writing, interview skills, professionalism, presentation and confidence and networking.
- 1-2-1 Employability meetings
- A supported 60-80hr placement
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | 50 | 80 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities | 10 | Introductory workshops and presentation workshop |
| Meetings / Workshops / Employability advice | 10 | To agree placement and work project. Sign-off paperwork |
| Work placement | 80 | With host work placement |
| Independent study | 50 | Independent study |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| CV and Covering Letter Workshop | 2 hours | 3,5,6,9,10,11 | Verbal and written |
| Interview workshop | 2 hours | 1,2,3,5,10,11 | Verbal and written |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 70 | 0 | 30 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Placement Journal | 70 | Ongoing blog/journal documenting 60-80hr placement experience. (Approx. 500 words in a blog post format for every 10hrs worked.) | 1-8 | Written |
| Elevator Pitch | 30 | Individual presentation | 9-11 | Written and verbal |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Placement Journal (70%) and Elevator Pitch (30%) | Application Portfolio (100%) | 1-11 | July/August |
Re-assessment notes
A student will be referred in all components of the student fails the module with a mark of below 40% overall.
A student if deferred via a single component will be reassessed in that component only.
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Moon, J. (2004) A Handbook of Reflective and Experiential Learning: Theory and Practice. London, Routledge Falmer.
Rainbird, H, Fuller A and Munro A (2004) Work Place Learning in Context, Routledge
Taylor R (2010) ed Third Sector Research, Springer
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=4892
as provided and recommended during classes and via ELE
http://www.exeter.ac.uk/fch/work-experience/reflective-writing-guidance.pdf
https://mycareerzone.exeter.ac.uk
Several resources from the University Careers Zone on interview techniques, designing cvs and completing applications
Indicative learning resources - Other resources
All students on the programme will have access to additional material in the form of a customised e-book
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 7.5 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 4 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 01/09/2014 |
| Last revision date | 21/08/2019 |