BA (Hons) Business Management Year Three
The final year of the degree comprises of two core modules and an optional module in the form of a project or dissertation. In addition students choose to take two specialist routes from Human Resource Management, Finance and Economics, and Marketing. This level of choice again enables students to graduate from their degree with a qualification that they have tailored themselves to meet their career aspirations. Please be aware that optional modules run subject to demand.
Core Modules
Corporate Social Responsibility (12 credits)
This module aims to introduce students to the issues currently facing business, in order that students may incorporate ethical, environmental and responsible dimensions into management thinking, particularly strategic decision making. Upon completion of the module students will be able to crystallise the nature of an ethical dilemma and prepare a responsibility profile for a specific corporation. They will be able to outline a strategy for organisational change towards a corporate social responsibility approach, and review the internal and external pressures that affect corporate activity.
Strategic Management (12 credits)
This module will allow students to explore the issues and dimensions of strategic management. Students will be shown the importance of external and internal organisational factors in determining the competitive success of organisations. Students will appreciate the key issues that need to be achieved when implementing strategy, and will be able to apply theoretical knowledge to practical situations involving an organisation’s strategic performance.
Upon completion of the module students will understand the strategic nature of decision processes and behaviour. They will be able to recognise the inter-relationships between strategy identification, formulation and implementation. They will also be able to analyse the competitive environment in which a business is located, and will understand the importance of obtaining and sustaining a competitive advantage.
Optional Modules
Students must also choose an optional module; either a project or a dissertation.
Project (24 credits)
It is recommended that students study the Year 2 optional module ‘Research Methods for Business’ before choosing this module. The Project module enables students to research a business problem or issue within an academic context. Students will complete the project with the ability to identify and justify appropriate research methods. They will be able to undertake a literature review, collect, collate and analyse appropriate research data, and reach conclusions and make recommendations where appropriate.
Dissertation (24 credits)
It is recommended that students study the Year 2 optional module ‘Research Methods for Business’ before choosing this module. The Dissertation module gives students the opportunity to produce a structured, analytical and in-depth review of a current business issue using a range of appropriate, authoritative source materials. Having completed the dissertation students will be able to plan and conduct literature searches, critically review literature, reach conclusions based upon literature analysis and produce a structured and well referenced report.
Specialist Routes
Furthermore students must select two from three specialist routes:
Human Resource Management Route
Strategic Human Resource Management (24 credits)
This module gives students the opportunity to critically appraise concepts and models of strategic human resource management and to evaluate the contribution of human resource management to an organisation. Students will analyse both the practice and theory of human resource strategy with particular reference to the labour market context, recruitment and selection, talent management, diversity, development, organisational learning, performance management, reward and other contemporary strategy areas. Students will learn how to integrate human resource management strategy with business strategy, and to align human resource strategy horizontally showing awareness of professional body standards and best practice.
Employment Relations (12 credits)
This module provides students with a framework for analysing the development, structure and process of UK employment relations. Students will complete the module with the ability to review and critically evaluate employment relations theories and practices. They will be able to analyse the changing nature of employment relations institutions and procedures within the UK, and to assess the relevance of employment relations strategies within both unionised and non-unionised contexts.
Strategic Human Resource Development (12 credits)
This module provides students with the knowledge and skills required to influence the strategic management of Human Resource Development. Students will learn how to critically evaluate the relationship between strategic Human Resource Development, learning and performance, and the perceived importance of integrating learning with working. Students will be able to identify how a strategic approach to Human Resource Development can facilitate in building knowledge productive environments. They will also be able to explore organisational roles, structures and networks that support learning and the management of learning.
Finance and Economics Route
Financial and Risk Analysis (24 credits)
This module will provide students with an in-depth analysis of a firm’s financing, distribution and risk management decisions. Students will finish the module with the ability to assess the implications of the efficient markets hypothesis to the financing and dividend decisions of the firm. Students will be able to evaluate a firms financing decisions, and to analyse corporate dividend policy. They will also be able to evaluate a firm’s short term financing decisions, analyse risk management techniques and the use of derivative contracts, and use real options to evaluate investment decisions.
Personal Finance (12 credits)
This module provides students with the knowledge and framework necessary to make personal financial decisions. Students will complete the module with the ability to analyse and evaluate the role of financial service providers and securities markets, and to critically evaluate the implications of an efficient capital market. Students will be able to explain and evaluate the regulatory and taxation framework and the impact upon personal investment decisions. They will also be able to analyse and evaluate the implications of personal debt and provide recommendations to manage debt. Finally students will learn how to explain and appraise the risk-return trade-off, the role of portfolio theory, market risk and evaluate portfolio performance.
International Finance (12 credits)
This module will give students an understanding of the nature and role of the exchange rate in finance and economics. They will learn about market risk and the mechanisms available to mitigate this risk. Students will be able to use information published in the markets pages of the Financial Times in ‘real-world’ financial problems. They will also be able to identify causality and equilibrium between financial markets and economic activity, using appropriate theoretical models. Upon completion of the module students will be equipped to diagnose the foreign exchange rate risk facing an economic entity and manage this risk using appropriate financial instruments. They will also be able to select derivative products appropriate to market conditions.
Marketing Route
Marketing Communications (12 credits)
This module aims to demonstrate to students the principles and techniques involved in planning and implementing effective marketing communications strategies. After completing the module students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the IMC tools, and the methods to employ these for optimum benefits. They will also be able to design a promotional plan, and to critically evaluate and apply marketing communications theory.
Relationship Marketing (12 credits)
This module will give students the opportunity to investigate recent theoretical developments in relationship marketing in the B2B, FMCG and not-for-profit sectors. Key theoretical developments will be evaluated, and will become the basis for practical application and understanding. Students will also assess and evaluate how relationship marketing is being utilised by organisations, and the problems and opportunities it provides for firms. They will also analyse the future potential of relationship marketing will be examined.
International Marketing (12 credits)
This module seeks to demonstrate to students the principles and techniques involved in marketing in an international context. Students will be given an understanding of the international marketing and trading environment. They will be able to analyse international marketing concepts, tools and techniques, and critically appraise the marketing mix in an international context.
Strategic Marketing (12 credits)
This module will enable students to establish a holistic and empirically based approach to marketing strategy. Students will be able to evaluate alternative strategies for marketing in the light of changing environmental scenarios. They will also understand the dynamics of marketing within a constantly changing environment.
Students will use a series of analytical techniques in the development of marketing strategy. They will be able to distinguish between alternative marketing strategies and select that most appropriate for individual scenarios. They will also be able to creatively adjust marketing strategies to correspond to changing circumstances.