Level 4 core modules

• Economics for Business and Management

  The first part of this module focuses mainly on the internal environment of the individual business and the ways in which this can influence its operations. The business and economic principles which underpin the determination of price and output, of size and location of business activity and other business decisions are outlined in this module. Wherever possible business examples and up-to-date case study materials will be used to illustrate the application of these principles to real-world business decision making. The second part of the module focuses mainly on the external environment and its impacts on business behaviour. The main macroeconomic variables are reviewed and analysed and their impacts assessed at local, national and global levels of business activity.

• Introduction to Accounting and Finance

  The module firstly aims to give students a sound grasp of the basics of financial reporting (context, purposes, regulatory framework). It introduces the principal concepts of financial accounting. The preparation of principal financial statements will also be explored. This module is also designed to introduce students to key management accounting skills necessary to support decision-making. It will emphasise the acquisition and application of skills and knowledge necessary to inform managers responsible for planning, decision-making and control and will provide the underpinning skills and knowledge required for more advanced study.

• International Business In Focus

  The main aims of this module are to provide students with an insight into the factors which affect general business behaviour in a constantly changing global environment. The module will discuss the nature of structural change in an economy and the factors which have accelerated such change e.g. productivity issues and the importance of management performance. The reasons for the growth of firms will be investigated and how such corporate growth often leads to Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and multinational activity.

• Personal Development and Careers

  This module aims to equip the student to function effectively as an independent self-learner within the higher education learning environment, with specific reference to the area of business and management. Students will be introduced to the learning context and the responsibilities of the individual learner. They will be encouraged to develop practical skills identified as being central to undergraduate business degree programmes. These will include time management, reading and note-taking, essay and report writing, referencing, the use of information technology and associated software packages, presentational skills and problem solving, both singly and in groups.

• Introduction to People, Organisations and Management

  The organisational context: This module allows students to explore the organisational context and will furnish students with tools to analyse the organisational environment and the degree of dynamism and complexity in which organisations operate. Organisation structures and approaches to management: Approaches to management from scientific management to postmodern organisations will be evaluated and the way groups and teams are formed and structured. Motivation will also be examined as a motivated workforce can be a sign of a successful organisation and students will be encouraged to reflect critically on theories of motivation and apply them to real life situations and case study scenarios. Management processes: Intensified competition, technological innovation and increased knowledge intensity has resulted in a pattern of 'repeat change'. The results of change programmes are often disappointing and students will examine the triggers for change, why change is resisted and organisations' approaches to change management. Individuals in the organisation: This part of the module focuses on individual differences. The ability to learn, and to continue learning, for individuals and organisations, is crucial in the 21st century. Students will be introduced to a number of learning theories which affect management practices and will have an overview of the learning organisation. Students will examine the role that personality and perception play in shaping and directing our own and other people's behavior.

• Marketing Essentials

  It is important that students in the First Year gain knowledge of the integrated nature of business, and of how the various parts fit together to build a sound business knowledge, before they specialize in Years Two and Three. Students should understand that Marketing is a key functional area of business and management, which, together with Human Resource Management, Accounting and Finance, and other activities involving resource allocation, can determine the success or failure of an organisation. This core module seeks to build a platform of Marketing knowledge and skills to give students a firm base for moving forward into more specialized areas in years 2 and 3 of their programmes.

• Analysis of Business

  The module begins by reviewing various techniques for collecting and presenting data. Some important measures and techniques for making sense of raw data are then introduced which are widely used by businesses when analysing both their internal and external environments. This module builds on the introduction to spreadsheet packages previously encountered within the core Learning and Skills Development in Business module or its equivalent. Students will be helped to develop further their hands-on skills in using such packages in computer workshops.

Level 5 core modules

• International Business

  The module introduces students to the important area of international business. It begins by identifying some important patterns and trends in international business activity. The factors influencing the firm's decision as to the degree of internationalisation and the methods adopted are considered, as is the theoretical and institutional framework within which international business must operate. External challenges to the international firm are examined, such as those in the economic, political, cultural, ethical and legal fields. Possible internal responses to these challenges are evaluated, including strategic, human resource, marketing, accounting and logistical responses. The importance of a multi-disciplinary perspective for purposes of analysis will be emphasised throughout, as will the use of up-to-date case study and applied materials.

• Enterprise and Entrepreneurial Management

  This module will provide an introduction to the behaviours, skills and knowledge surrounding entrepreneurship. The core to this module will involve developing an understanding of the key elements of designing and running the entrepreneurial organisation, such as managing people and other stakeholders, raising finance and managing money, creating profile and generating awareness, selling, and taking either products or services to market. In addition, the module will review the processes associated with entrepreneurial management including: creativity and innovation; managing and leading an entrepreneurial venture; networking and building relationships critical to the development of the organisation; sensemaking and sensegiving related to the competitive positioning of the organisation; commercialising ideas within different entrepreneurial contexts including protecting intellectual property; and the abilities and skills required to sustain and grow an entrepreneurial organisation. The module will review the environment in which enterprising individuals and organisations operate and the cultures and societies which support and inhibit enterprise and entrepreneurship. Finally, the module will consider the case for, and role of, public support in promoting entrepreneurship and variations in patterns of entrepreneurial activity within different international contexts.

• Consumer Behaviour

  The aim of this module is to help students understand consumer behaviour in business-to- consumer (B2C) markets. The behaviour of consumers and the psychological and environmental influences will be explored with an emphasis on a behavioural sciences perspective. Areas to be examined include; attention, perception, memory, learning, attitude, motivation, socio-cultural influences, life-style perspectives and the consumer decision making process. The role of marketing will be constantly discussed illustrating how an understanding of consumers plays an important role in effective consumer marketing. Many theoretical perspectives will be discussed and applied to practical examples demonstrating how theory and practice come together in a market environment. New perspectives in the study of consumer behaviour such as neuro-marketing will be explored.

• Systems and Operations Management

  The module will give students the opportunity to understand the role of systems and operations management and its integration into efficient and effective running of business. It takes a practical approach which will give the students a good understanding of good business practice within the global organisation. The soft systems approach of SSM to systems development will be used to analyse and define business requirements. People and management issues will be reviewed with emphasis on communication, teamwork and effective leadership. Quality management and business excellence focusing on customer relations will be considered. Students will develop an understanding of process analysis and improvement and reflect Business Process Re-engineering using 80/20 principles and Pareto analysis to examine costs, resources allocation, and efficiency related to the delivery of goods and services. The module will consider the impact of systems and operations management and the wider social environment. These skills are becoming an important requirement of employers in many areas of business.

• Business to Business Marketing

  This module is designed to give students an insight into the specific issues involved in strategic business-to-business (B2B) marketing. More businesses sell to other businesses than sell to consumers, and many students are likely to follow marketing careers in business-to-business marketing rather than in consumer marketing organisations. This module will also compliment any studies into small business issues. Particular emphasis will be given in the lecture programme to the national and international background to B2B marketing, the products and services offered and the organisational decision-making and buying process making comparison to business to consumer (B2C) marketing throughout. The lecture programme builds a theoretical framework step-by-step, so that the students can approach any organisational case, and produce an appropriate marketing and sales strategy.

• Marketing Communications

  This module is designed to give students an overall understanding of marketing communications and the part that it plays in marketing and in business success. The tools and techniques used in marketing communications are identified and analysed. The module explores the role of the internet and e-commerce in developing marketing strategies to complement and strengthen those found in traditional marketing approaches and techniques. The module explores Internet Marketing and E-commerce, Advertising, Sales Promotions, Public Relations, Publicity, Personal Selling, Sponsorship, Packaging, Direct Response, Merchandising and Exhibitions. How and why each method is used and the advantages and disadvantages of each is identified, illustrating how the methods interact with the other elements of the marketing mix and how they must all integrate to achieve eventual synergy.

• Effective Team and Performance Management

  This module introduces students to the important role of teams in organisations and their impact upon individual, team and organisational performance. Through experiential learning activities students will develop an understanding of group dynamics and how they as individuals can manage their own personal influence as a member of a team and how they can impact the contribution and behaviour of others in a group or team context. This module is designed to help students understand the value of building strong inter-personal and relationship skills, working with others one-to-one and in group and team environments. The module places a particular emphasis on engaging with and facilitating via others interpersonal effectiveness, problem solving, maintaining team cohesion and personal reflective practice. The module will focus upon the relationship between team task and team purpose. The module aims to provide students with a personal understanding of the underlying processes that cause good and bad relationships and successful and unsuccessful team dynamics.

Level 6 core modules

• Strategic Management Analysis

  The module is designed to provide students with a holistic view of organisation's strategic position and thus the ability to appreciate the importance of strategic decisions at all levels of the business organisation. Its primary aim is to provide a vehicle for considering issues which cut across the functional boundaries of business organisations and which require multi-disciplinary skills in the solution. The module is concerned with the strategic analysis of organisations with regard to their competitive positioning, their strategic fit with their environment and their management style and culture. This analysis will form the platform for reviewing strategic options in response to the competitive environment and for considering aspects involved in implementing such strategic options.

• International Marketing

  This module is designed to provide students with an understanding of marketing from an international perspective. The increased access to new markets across the world means that both opportunities and threats face marketers in the global context. Overcoming culturalissues remains a key challenge, along with the ability to communicate effectively to perhaps a very different target audience. Although the module examines a range of case examples and international markets, special attention is given to the Chinese market. Rapid economic growth, hosting of the 2008 Olympic games, government support and WTO accession means China is an attractive market to many potential investors. However, it still remains a largely unknown market. Given the huge number of multi-national firms now operating in China e.g. Siemens, Ikea, McDonalds' and BP, many employers now expect international marketers to have knowledge outside Europe. The lectures will therefore enable students to analyse marketing issues in an international context by providing a range of theoretical frameworks and practical examples.

• Marketing Consultancy

  This module will give students the opportunity to undertake an in-depth marketing project for a client organisation or to undertake a case study consultancy project. Students will work in groups and be given a live project for which they will be expected to work towards a solution to some 'need' that the client and students will have identified. The course lecturer will act as a consultant/facilitator and be available to advise the student group(s) at the times indicated on the timetable and at any other time as necessary, this being agreed with the group leaders. The project will entail the students visiting the organisation and discussing problem areas identified by clients of the organisation. A specific marketing 'need' will be identified, agreed between the student consultants and the client and a solution.

• Undergraduate Major Project

  The Major Project module allows students to engage in a substantial piece of individual research and/or product development work on a selected topic within the broad business and management field, as appropriate to their interests and background. The project topic will be assessed for suitability to ensure sufficient academic challenge and satisfactory supervision by an academic member of staff. The chosen topic will require the student to identify /formulate problems and issues, conduct literature reviews, evaluate information, investigate and adopt suitable development methodologies, determine solutions, develop hardware, software and/or media artefacts as appropriate, process data, critically appraise and present their finding using a variety of media. One of the main focuses for the design of this module has been the further development of relevant employability and professional skills.

• Sustainable Management Futures

  This module is a core module on all of AIBS Pathways. It is a capstone module that takes a futures perspective on management, organisations and the changing nature of business and enterprise models. It is both a forward looking and integrative module that aims to bring together our students understanding of the evolving context of sustainable management. The module takes a dimensions based view of the notion of sustainable management futures by introducing the 'people, planet and profit lenses' for understanding sustainable management. Our aim is to introduce students to the idea and value of developing a 'futures mindset' from a number of perspectives including ethical and entrepreneurial; tolerant and innovative; and responsible and responsive.

• Organisational Transformation in Practice

  This module provides the opportunity for students to engage with the leadership and organisational challenges of major transformational change in organisations, communities and societies. This is presented through case examples to illustrate the nature of the attitude, values and behavioural change issues required for successful employee engagement in an organisation's change agenda. In the management and leadership field much is written and discussed about behaviour, skills and talents, belief systems, values, identity (both in personal terms and as 'brand' in the context of organisations), vision and purpose. Using various tools, for example IHD's 7 Element Framework, students will be encouraged to make sense of each of these ideas and the inter- relationship between them. This will be set against a real/simulated strategic learning context.

• Retail marketing

  The module applies core marketing principles in a retail context and develops specialist knowledge of the retail industry from a marketing perspective. There are clear links to other business curriculum areas: marketing management, consumer behaviour, human resources, operations management and economics. Retailers are never far from the news and their marketing activities are equally visible to students of retail marketing and to consumers. This makes for an exciting and rewarding area of study as the module examines the fast moving nature of the retail environment and the increasingly difficult task retail marketers face in connecting with consumers in a crowded and competitive market place. Retail marketing is explored through a combination of lectures and a seminar programme where key issues are addressed through discussion of case study material drawn from the popular and professional press, retailer "in-house" publications and traditional and contemporary academic literature.