Business Awareness: Theory and Practice

Module title	Business Awareness: Theory and Practice
Module code	BUS2001
Academic year	2024/5
Credits	15
Module staff	Mrs Fiona Smith (Convenor)

Duration: Term	1	2	3
Duration: Weeks	12

Number students taking module (anticipated)	100

Module description

This module is designed for second and third year, non-business students looking for an introduction to business and management, and greater business insight prior to entering the workplace.

Additional information:

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI)

This module considers how business and management can promote greater EDI within their own team, department, organisation and sector, as well as within wider society.

Internationalisation
Differences relating to the international dimensions of business and management are covered, with a strong emphasis on the UK context to exemplify a variety of different business structures may be possible depending upon local context, and these in turn require alternative approaches for management..

Ethics, Responsibility and Sustainability

Consideration is given to the wider impact of business upon the environment, communities and society as a whole.

External Engagement

The focus of the module is not only to engage with core theories, concepts and empirical examples, but also to understand how institutions and managers perform in practice. Students engage with material sourced from academic as well as reputable business media references.

Employability

This module assists recruitment preparation and enhances employability by developing practical student skills throughout the module. Students also become familiar with aspects of business management terminology, concepts, and organisational examples, thereby enabling them to speak with authority during interviews about the business environment and major trends.

Module aims - intentions of the module

The module aims to:

Introduce students who have no prior academic study of business and management to the fundamental concepts of what a business is, what business does and an overview of how they are managed.
Enhance the employability of students taking the module.
Allow students to consider the impact of business and management on their own futures; as consumers, as employees, as managers and/or as entrepreneurs.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

1. discuss major contemporary developments in the business and management environment.
2. explain what business organisations do and how their activities are structured and how they are managed.
3. explain interventions to improve and/or develop business strategy, stakeholder engagement and management of performance.
4. explain interventions designed to improve business ethics, sustainability and corporate social responsibility.
5. critically evaluate contemporary theory and practice within business and management.

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

6. illustrate what is involved in the activities of businesses by discussing published literature.
7. explain and interpret the theory and practice of management by comparing published literature with organisational examples of practice

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

8. apply critical thinking and problem-solving by developing arguments and justifying effectively using published literature
9. write and verbally communicate proficiently

Syllabus plan

The contemporary trends in the global business environment and their future implications for business and management.
The business of managing: managing and organising a business
The principles of business ethics and corporate social responsibility
Managing individual and team performance at work
Managing change

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
15	135	0

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities	15	Lectures, workshops, group activities, analysis of case studies
Guided Independent Study	15	Preparatory reading prior to taught sessions
Guided Independent Study	30	Self-guided study on ELE
Guided Independent Study	30	Reflection and further reading: Guided reading & completion of exercises.
Guided Independent Study	60	Researching & preparing your assignment & revising for your exam.

Formative assessment

Form of assessment	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Dragon's Den presentation outline	5 minutes	8-9	Oral feedback

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Coursework	Written exams	Practical exams
50	0	50

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment	% of credit	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Business idea presentation (similar to Dragons Den)	50	15 minutes	1-9	Oral and written feedback form
Written assignment	50	2000 words	5-9	Feedback summary to group on ELE

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
Business idea presentation (similar to Dragons Den)	Business idea presentation (similar to Dragons Den)	1-9	August/September Reassessment Period
Written assignment	Written assignment	5-9	August/September Reassessment Period

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Daft, R., Benson, A. & Henry, B. (2020). Management (2^nd ed.). London Cengage.
Flynn, P. (2019). Introduction to Business: A primer on Basic Business Operations. New York, Business Expert Press.
Wetherly, P., & Otter, D. (Eds). (2018). The business environment: Themes and issues (4th ed.). Oxford University Press.

Key words search

Business, management, business awareness.

Credit value	15
Module ECTS	7.5
Module pre-requisites	None.
Module co-requisites	None.
NQF level (module)	5
Available as distance learning?	No
Origin date	01/09/2009
Last revision date	09/08/2021