Business Administration – BA (Hons) Top-Up

This module builds upon the critical appraisal of the current global context in which businesses move operations and resources across the world. Firstly trends about the world becoming more integrated and national borders becoming less significant are reviewed critically. Issues emerging from the growing economic interdependence worldwide – including long-term competitiveness and sustainable growth – which impact on business organisations are then examined focusing on the strategic and operational viewpoint. The assessment will consist of a consultancy simulation where students will work together on researching and presenting concrete examples of challenges faced by managers operating internationally. Research will focus on industries evolving and expanding into the world’s emerging markets. Students will be encouraged as much as it is possible to draw on knowledge and experience from their international peers to reflect on their learning experience and enhance employability.

1. Provide insight into the broad context in which businesses operate, especially the opportunities offered by the development of a global consumer culture, and ongoing economic integration in and around emerging markets
2. Explore practical business management issues arising from the internationalisation of sourcing and operations, against the wider context of the global political economy
3. Develop awareness and understanding of current affairs problems explored by academics and non-academics and be able to appraise them critically by researching sources with an international focus
4. Encourage interaction, collaborative and self-directed learning by using peer knowledge and experience drawing together features of businesses operating in different countries, that is, in a multi-cultural environment
5. Promote the application of concept to practical aspects of international business management and move beyond the module’s remit by developing in students a true global awareness of the realities faced by the international business manager.

This module provides an introduction to the developing field of cross-cultural management, explored in relation to both international and intra-national contexts.

The aims of this module are to develop students’ insight into the meaning of culture and the relevance of the concept to a range of issues of management and organisation; to enable them to critically assess the contribution of key theorists of cross-cultural management to understanding the challenges of organising in culturally diverse contexts;, and to draw on this analysis to develop solutions and recommendations for managing in culturally complex contexts.

This module introduces students to the fundamental aspects of international trade theories, commercial policies, open economy macroeconomics, and the international monetary system. The module will examine both theoretical and contemporary policy issues in the international economy.

This module aims to give students:

1. an awareness of the pattern of world trade and the interdependence of national economies;
2. an understanding of the contemporary policy and institutional issues in the world trade and monetary systems;
3. a good knowledge of the causes of international trade and balance of payments problems;
4. a good understanding of exchange rate determination and alternative exchange rate systems.

In addition to the subject-specific aims, the module aims to enhance students’ writing, cognitive, analytical and presentation skills.

The service sector accounts for a significant proportion of GDP and employment in most developed economies and therefore it becomes essential for students to have an in-depth understanding of the subject of Services Marketing. In this module, students are introduced to a range of services marketing concepts, models, techniques and online activities applicable to service organisations.

The module aims to:

1. Provide an understanding of the theoretical foundations and practical application of services marketing in the private and public sectors.
2. Provide an understanding of contemporary issues in services marketing.
3. Enhance the transferability of students’ knowledge in developing marketing competences across organisational, national and sector boundaries.
4. Develop students’ academic writing, communication and interpersonal skills, including oral presentation.

In this module students consolidate their previous learning by engaging in a research dissertation while simultaneously focusing on their employability. They will pick up the research threads introduced throughout the course by identifying and researching an industry or sector in which they wish to build their careers and they will write up their findings in the form of a dissertation.  

Their research will involve the review of a wide range of publications (secondary data sources) around the broad area of investigation and this will lead to the formulation of a research proposal for their dissertation.  Students will pursue a robust enquiry into a theme emerging from their investigations in their chosen industry, and as the theme emerges, the research methodologies, appropriate methods of data collection, data processing and analysis are evaluated. Both the process and the knowledge and skills gained will inform their approach to their future career and more specifically to their immediate employability. For example, students will be required to identify whether secondary data sources alone will be sufficient to satisfactorily answer their research question. Their ability to critically analyse, synthesise and present data in useable form will contribute to their management capability. This process will therefore inform their research, as well as their future career path.  The undertaking of the investigation, evaluation, synthesis and analysis of data will help them to prepare for the graduate job market.

Researching the industry, identification of contemporary issues and completion of associated activities will enable students to raise their self-awareness, identify their strengths, plan their career and excel in the application process.

In addition, the module will help students to prepare for the graduate job market by ensuring they have an up-to-date and professional on and offline profile. They will prepare an up-to-date CV and they will engage in simulated interviews to enhance their interview skills while simultaneously completing their dissertation.

1. To provide students with the opportunity to synthesise, integrate and develop their learning from related modules and further direct their research;
2. To enable students to identify an industry in which they wish to build their career;
3. To undertake an investigation into a current and contemporary issue within their chosen industry using secondary sources of data and/or primary research;
4. To report on their investigation in the form of a professional dissertation ;
5. To help students to identify and prepare for employment opportunities;
6. To enhance their employability by focusing on the strengths they bring to interviews;
7. To help them to develop up-to-date CVs and on-line personal profiles.
8. To enhance their interview skills.

The module also aims to enhance students’ skills in the following skills:

1. Academic reading and writing;
2. Researching;
3. Data analysis;
4. Self- awareness;
5. Completing tasks and projects;
6. Commercial awareness;
7. Application of knowledge and presentation of data
8. Career management;
9. Report writing