BSc (Hons) — 2025 entry Business Management

Operations management relates to the scoping, planning, directing and controlling of the facilities, processes and people required to transform resources into products and services.  The principles of operations management are used in every industry and every environment.  All organisations perform the functions of strategic planning, process design, supply chain management, forecasting and scheduling, work management, innovation and quality management.  The same skills are required whether operations managers are working in private manufacturing organisations, the public sector, service organisations or not for profit businesses.

This module introduces students to the main principles of accounting and cost management and demonstrates the importance of these to management decision making.

The world is witnessing significant transformation as a result of major contemporary trends and challenges including greening economies, sustainability of businesses, among others. These trends have further exacerbated and accelerated the need for action on sustainability from all stakeholders at the organisational/business, national and international levels. The current debate is on how the current trends are leading to new business practices and the need for new sets of skills in the design and implementation of innovative sustainability approaches across businesses. This is because at the nexus of many of these challenges are businesses who are required to address the concerns of multiple stakeholders including customers, governments etc. This module is designed to explore these issues and challenges in contemporary business environment. By taking a multi-disciplinary approach, this module will explore the challenges businesses face in achieving economic growth and development while seeking to operate in and adhere to sustainable practices. The module will further explore the important role businesses have in the sustainability transformation of society. The module will expand students' knowledge and understanding of sustainability and the critical contemporary business challenges confronting the world today. Students will develop knowledge of the design and innovation for sustainability, how these are integrated across different levels (organisational, national and international) and their influence on institutional practices and performance. The module will also explore the regulatory and international policy environments and the role key stakeholders have in shaping the sustainability and greening economies agenda. Students taking this module will also learn to develop, design, implement and monitor an action plan for sustainability in business practices. With the use an international array of case studies, examples etc., the module will further provide students with the tools to create and develop a way of thinking to reimagine and integrate sustainability practices in businesses.

Personal and professional development is about knowing your self, knowing your self development needs, strengths, weaknesses, interests and where and how to seek development opportunities inside and outside employment and at university. Self-awareness, self-determination, self-image, self-care, resilience, resourcefulness and sustainable ways to navigate turbulent times throughout career(s) are concepts we explore and learn how to utilise in order to successfully manage our careers. Exploration, journaling, introspection, reflection and prospection play a crucial part in this module as well as sharing of experiences and working in teams. Lectures and workshops are designed to deepen understanding about behaviour, attitudes and capabilities individually and as a team. The assessments deepen knowledge, understanding and further personal and professional development that serves students' career paths in the long term. The module works closely with central careers and employability services offered by the university.  

The module provides students with an introduction to the human dimensions of work organizations. It will encourage them to think critically and creatively about the ways in which people shape organizations and are, in turn, shaped by organizations. It will introduce them to individual, group and structural levels of analysis. This module builds the foundations for the subsequent, more advanced study of people and organizations on the HRM Pathway.

The business data project introduces students to a range of analytical frameworks and skills that support the process of making business decisions. The project involves analysing industry and business data and producing a professional report. The project assists students to develop skills in business statistics, data analysis, report writing, and group work.

This module examines the role of Marketing in organisations with an emphasis on the importance and development of marketing strategies. The core objective of many businesses is to attract and retain customers in a competitive environment, with the role of marketing focussing on customers. This module introduces students to the core principles of the discipline and provides and underpinning to later elective modules.

In this module we introduce the fundamentals of people practice. Anyone seeking to develop a career in HR, in the UK or globally will find it to be essential to their professional development. It will also be of interest to anyone with an interest in the management of people or anyone who anticipates building a generalist management career. Our focus is on the employee lifecycle with specific emphasis on recruitment and selection. All employers need to always ensure that they have the right people in the right jobs. This module also explores performance management, employee development and the premise of reward. Teaching of the employee lifecycle ensures students gain basic knowledge about the legislative framework that underpins an employee lifecycle. This module enables students to apply their knowledge through practical assessment and develops collaboration, resilience and teamworking skills.

This module will introduce the concept of the business model to students where they develop an understanding about how key components of a business (product, market and finance) are related to the value creation and its delivery. Students are then presented with a range of tools (including various types of business model canvases and business model types) to help set up (in the context of a new venture creation), describe (in the context of an existing venture), analyse, and improve the business model design. Ultimately, students need to apply their critical understanding of the knowledge, business and research skills to either modify an existing business model design (for an existing venture) or create a new one (for a start-up) to develop sustainable growth strategies. This relates to basic business skills which are applicable for all Business Management pathways.

The prime motivator in business activity is sustainable profitability for shareholders' wealth maximization. It follows that all managers are likely to perform better towards that goal if they understand the mechanisms for achieving sustainable profit by acting in the interest of stakeholders. This module is designed to give students the necessary basic background in finance to enable them to be effective business managers. It covers the fundamental principles of corporate finance and investment in bonds, stocks, and projects, along with day-to-day working capital management.

This module provides students with essential principles for responsible business management. This is achieved by giving students an understanding of three key pillars: - 1. Business ethics 2. Corporate governance 3. Risk Management In the current world of uncertainty, it is imperative that students of business understand and practice responsible management. This requires an understand of the institutional systems that have led to the development and enforcement of corporate governance. The module provides awareness of contemporary ethical frameworks and values of organisations as well as the individual attributes required for responsible management. Students are expected not just to have an academic understanding of business ethics but to embed it into their practice as business ready graduates. Business is about managing risk. Recent events have shown that a good understanding of risk identification, assessment, and mitigation are essential for managing downside risks whilst making the most of upside risks. The module will use recent examples of business failures and scandals to illustrate the importance of ethics, corporate governance, and risk management to responsible managers.

Entrepreneurship and digital marketing are key pillars of the Digital economy. Exploring these two pillars via leveraging emerging technologies (e.g. recognizing the use of generative AI) will offer practical skills for future leaders in a complex business environment.  This module is designed to support students in exploring business opportunities in the Digital Economy and realizing these into a tangible outcome. We will also explore practices and theories around digital entrepreneurship and digital marketing. Students will also develop a deeper understanding of how the products and services are promoted in practice via digital marketing.  Students will engage with an applied project linked with the existing companies which will help prepare them for the Year-In-Industry Placement and in future professional careers.

The module seeks to develop students understanding of their future work in a global employment market, whether that be in the UK or abroad by: Exploring the external factors that will impact upon their experience of work (i.e. global pandemics, war, climate change) Developing their intercultural sensitivity and proficiency in dealing with colleagues from different backgrounds. Developing their understanding of working abroad and the opportunities and challenges this presents.

The module provides students with a theoretical and practical understanding of how business strategy can be formulated in the light of environmental and internal conditions with a particular emphasis on the international context of strategy making. The module equips students with a framework for understanding international business strategy as an interdisciplinary activity within the context of international and competitive markets, leading to corporate decision-making. The module is built on 3 key issues – who is strategy done for, how is strategy formulated and implemented, is strategy driven by organisations or environments. 

Projects provide an efficient and effective means of delivering corporate strategy for both public and private sector organisations.  Fundamental to this is robust project sponsorship and management.  This module is focused at FHEQ Level 6 students that wish to develop, plan, manage and control projects successfully in a business environment.  This requires an awareness of general project management principles, methodologies and the tools and techniques as applied within multi-disciplined projects.  Within this module students will receive a robust grounding in the theory and practice of project management delivered by lectures and by using project management software (MS Project) in a computer laboratory setting

Successful supply chain management is critical at creating competitive advantage both at an operational and increasingly at a strategic level. An effective national and international logistics infrastructure is essential to meeting customer expectations whilst minimising service costs. Development and operation of a global logistics infrastructure is a major challenge and opportunity for supply chain managers. Supply chain management is critical to managing the complexity that global supply networks bring including the issues of sustainability and integration.

Operations management relates to the scoping, planning, directing and controlling of the facilities, processes and people required to transform resources into products and services.  The principles of operations management are used in every industry and every environment.  All organisations perform the functions of strategic planning, process design, supply chain management, forecasting and scheduling, work management, innovation and quality management.  The same skills are required whether operations managers are working in private manufacturing organisations, the public sector, service organisations or not for profit businesses.

This module introduces students to the main principles of accounting and cost management and demonstrates the importance of these to management decision making.

The world is witnessing significant transformation as a result of major contemporary trends and challenges including greening economies, sustainability of businesses, among others. These trends have further exacerbated and accelerated the need for action on sustainability from all stakeholders at the organisational/business, national and international levels. The current debate is on how the current trends are leading to new business practices and the need for new sets of skills in the design and implementation of innovative sustainability approaches across businesses. This is because at the nexus of many of these challenges are businesses who are required to address the concerns of multiple stakeholders including customers, governments etc. This module is designed to explore these issues and challenges in contemporary business environment. By taking a multi-disciplinary approach, this module will explore the challenges businesses face in achieving economic growth and development while seeking to operate in and adhere to sustainable practices. The module will further explore the important role businesses have in the sustainability transformation of society. The module will expand students' knowledge and understanding of sustainability and the critical contemporary business challenges confronting the world today. Students will develop knowledge of the design and innovation for sustainability, how these are integrated across different levels (organisational, national and international) and their influence on institutional practices and performance. The module will also explore the regulatory and international policy environments and the role key stakeholders have in shaping the sustainability and greening economies agenda. Students taking this module will also learn to develop, design, implement and monitor an action plan for sustainability in business practices. With the use an international array of case studies, examples etc., the module will further provide students with the tools to create and develop a way of thinking to reimagine and integrate sustainability practices in businesses.

Personal and professional development is about knowing your self, knowing your self development needs, strengths, weaknesses, interests and where and how to seek development opportunities inside and outside employment and at university. Self-awareness, self-determination, self-image, self-care, resilience, resourcefulness and sustainable ways to navigate turbulent times throughout career(s) are concepts we explore and learn how to utilise in order to successfully manage our careers. Exploration, journaling, introspection, reflection and prospection play a crucial part in this module as well as sharing of experiences and working in teams. Lectures and workshops are designed to deepen understanding about behaviour, attitudes and capabilities individually and as a team. The assessments deepen knowledge, understanding and further personal and professional development that serves students' career paths in the long term. The module works closely with central careers and employability services offered by the university.  

The module provides students with an introduction to the human dimensions of work organizations. It will encourage them to think critically and creatively about the ways in which people shape organizations and are, in turn, shaped by organizations. It will introduce them to individual, group and structural levels of analysis. This module builds the foundations for the subsequent, more advanced study of people and organizations on the HRM Pathway.

The business data project introduces students to a range of analytical frameworks and skills that support the process of making business decisions. The project involves analysing industry and business data and producing a professional report. The project assists students to develop skills in business statistics, data analysis, report writing, and group work.

This module examines the role of Marketing in organisations with an emphasis on the importance and development of marketing strategies. The core objective of many businesses is to attract and retain customers in a competitive environment, with the role of marketing focussing on customers. This module introduces students to the core principles of the discipline and provides and underpinning to later elective modules.

In this module we introduce the fundamentals of people practice. Anyone seeking to develop a career in HR, in the UK or globally will find it to be essential to their professional development. It will also be of interest to anyone with an interest in the management of people or anyone who anticipates building a generalist management career. Our focus is on the employee lifecycle with specific emphasis on recruitment and selection. All employers need to always ensure that they have the right people in the right jobs. This module also explores performance management, employee development and the premise of reward. Teaching of the employee lifecycle ensures students gain basic knowledge about the legislative framework that underpins an employee lifecycle. This module enables students to apply their knowledge through practical assessment and develops collaboration, resilience and teamworking skills.

This module will introduce the concept of the business model to students where they develop an understanding about how key components of a business (product, market and finance) are related to the value creation and its delivery. Students are then presented with a range of tools (including various types of business model canvases and business model types) to help set up (in the context of a new venture creation), describe (in the context of an existing venture), analyse, and improve the business model design. Ultimately, students need to apply their critical understanding of the knowledge, business and research skills to either modify an existing business model design (for an existing venture) or create a new one (for a start-up) to develop sustainable growth strategies. This relates to basic business skills which are applicable for all Business Management pathways.

The prime motivator in business activity is sustainable profitability for shareholders' wealth maximization. It follows that all managers are likely to perform better towards that goal if they understand the mechanisms for achieving sustainable profit by acting in the interest of stakeholders. This module is designed to give students the necessary basic background in finance to enable them to be effective business managers. It covers the fundamental principles of corporate finance and investment in bonds, stocks, and projects, along with day-to-day working capital management.

This module provides students with essential principles for responsible business management. This is achieved by giving students an understanding of three key pillars: - 1. Business ethics 2. Corporate governance 3. Risk Management In the current world of uncertainty, it is imperative that students of business understand and practice responsible management. This requires an understand of the institutional systems that have led to the development and enforcement of corporate governance. The module provides awareness of contemporary ethical frameworks and values of organisations as well as the individual attributes required for responsible management. Students are expected not just to have an academic understanding of business ethics but to embed it into their practice as business ready graduates. Business is about managing risk. Recent events have shown that a good understanding of risk identification, assessment, and mitigation are essential for managing downside risks whilst making the most of upside risks. The module will use recent examples of business failures and scandals to illustrate the importance of ethics, corporate governance, and risk management to responsible managers.

Entrepreneurship and digital marketing are key pillars of the Digital economy. Exploring these two pillars via leveraging emerging technologies (e.g. recognizing the use of generative AI) will offer practical skills for future leaders in a complex business environment.  This module is designed to support students in exploring business opportunities in the Digital Economy and realizing these into a tangible outcome. We will also explore practices and theories around digital entrepreneurship and digital marketing. Students will also develop a deeper understanding of how the products and services are promoted in practice via digital marketing.  Students will engage with an applied project linked with the existing companies which will help prepare them for the Year-In-Industry Placement and in future professional careers.

The module seeks to develop students understanding of their future work in a global employment market, whether that be in the UK or abroad by: Exploring the external factors that will impact upon their experience of work (i.e. global pandemics, war, climate change) Developing their intercultural sensitivity and proficiency in dealing with colleagues from different backgrounds. Developing their understanding of working abroad and the opportunities and challenges this presents.

The module provides students with a theoretical and practical understanding of how business strategy can be formulated in the light of environmental and internal conditions with a particular emphasis on the international context of strategy making. The module equips students with a framework for understanding international business strategy as an interdisciplinary activity within the context of international and competitive markets, leading to corporate decision-making. The module is built on 3 key issues – who is strategy done for, how is strategy formulated and implemented, is strategy driven by organisations or environments. 

Projects provide an efficient and effective means of delivering corporate strategy for both public and private sector organisations.  Fundamental to this is robust project sponsorship and management.  This module is focused at FHEQ Level 6 students that wish to develop, plan, manage and control projects successfully in a business environment.  This requires an awareness of general project management principles, methodologies and the tools and techniques as applied within multi-disciplined projects.  Within this module students will receive a robust grounding in the theory and practice of project management delivered by lectures and by using project management software (MS Project) in a computer laboratory setting

Successful supply chain management is critical at creating competitive advantage both at an operational and increasingly at a strategic level. An effective national and international logistics infrastructure is essential to meeting customer expectations whilst minimising service costs. Development and operation of a global logistics infrastructure is a major challenge and opportunity for supply chain managers. Supply chain management is critical to managing the complexity that global supply networks bring including the issues of sustainability and integration.

This is a core module where students can identify, explore, and analyse contemporary issues in the business, management, and economic environments of the 21st century.  The overall focus of the module is on:   to encourage students to identify and analyse key issues such as inflation and its impact on cost of living from international, national, industry and firm perspectives.    To evaluate the impact of these contemporary issues and suggest critical solutions.  Teaching inputs introduces students to key concepts and theories of business, management, and economics. Contemporary issues are then identified and discussed, encouraging student to utilise key concepts in analysing these issues.  Student through seminars and guided activities are encouraged to carry out research using library resources and reputable internet sources. This develops their research skills by exposing them to a wide range of literature and encourages critical analysis of different perspectives on a topic or issue. This approach guides students through the learning cycle of knowledge, application, and analysis of issues, concepts, and theories. This builds the students confidence and learning skills essential for the degree programmes and professional careers.  Throughout the semester students have additional opportunities to book individual/group sessions to clarify /address any learning issues.  

Introduction to Decision Making is designed to empower students with the knowledge and skills necessary to make informed and effective decisions in the world of business. Content is intended to complement rather than repeat any previous study of business or economics and assumes no previous formal study in these areas. The module places students at the centre of their learning, fostering critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities that are crucial for success in a dynamic and complex business environment. Through a combination of theoretical concepts, case studies, and practical exercises, students will develop the competencies needed to analyse, evaluate, and communicate business decisions that align with organisational objectives and ethical considerations. Students will study basic behavioural and management principles and undertake evaluative exercises to assess the desirability of outcomes. Financial and data-driven decision making will be explored. Underlying ethical themes such as sustainability and equality and diversity will be examined alongside drivers such as profitability and innovation. Assessments are designed to build digital capabilities and enhance employability skills and resourcefulness.

Global Business Contexts is designed to empower students with the knowledge and skills necessary to excel in the global marketplace. The module places students at the centre of their learning, fostering an understanding of international business environments, strategies, and challenges. Students will explore the dynamics of international trade, cross-cultural communication, global market entry strategies, and the impact of globalisation and de-globalisation on businesses. By actively engaging with the material and applying it to real-world scenarios, students will be better prepared to navigate the complexities of international business. The characteristics of different economies will be explored and compared, along with the operations of multinational businesses. The strategic issues which face organisations in a global context will also be examined. The module will build awareness of political, cultural and socio-economic dynamics in and between market economies. There will be an opportunity to develop some of the ethical considerations which have been explored previously in the Introduction to Decision Making (MAN0002) module. The module will build on the knowledge and skills gained in Semester 1. Data analysis will be a significant factor in order to support students to develop their numerical skills in anticipation of their degree-level study.

This is a guided research module where students identify and explore in detail a topic of their choice within the fields of Business, Economics or Hospitality and Tourism Management, then write a 3000-word literature review on their chosen subject. The overall focus of the module is on:  learning to research independently, making best use of the digital resources available through the university library  drawing appropriate conclusions from analysis and investigation of text and data  Teaching inputs guide students in their choice of topic and approach, and provide them with extended opportunities to develop resourceful approaches and relevant skills.  Engaging with in-class activities and online tasks in research, reading and academic writing throughout the semester will prepare students well for discipline specific writing and research challenges at higher levels of degree study and in the workplace.  

The purpose of this module is to build leadership, independent learning and transferable skills which have a practical value for progression, whether that be to undergraduate study or employment.   As the module acronym suggests, students will focus on Creativity, Resourcefulness, Enterprise and Task Evaluation. This will be done through experiential, real-world learning tasks and assessments. The module contains a strong focus on Employability. Could you answer the question: “what will make you more employable than other graduates with the same degree as you?”. CREATE will address this very question and begin the process of you developing a strong personal brand. Through a range of carefully designed tasks, you will develop resilience, digital capabilities and explore a range of theoretical concepts that will be invaluable for your future studies and careers   The module is designed so that, as you progress through the year, you will increasingly be able to build on and apply your learning from other modules on the programme, allowing you to further develop as a well-rounded and high-performing individual.

This is a core module where students can identify, explore, and analyse contemporary issues in the business, management, and economic environments of the 21st century.  The overall focus of the module is on:   to encourage students to identify and analyse key issues such as inflation and its impact on cost of living from international, national, industry and firm perspectives.    To evaluate the impact of these contemporary issues and suggest critical solutions.  Teaching inputs introduces students to key concepts and theories of business, management, and economics. Contemporary issues are then identified and discussed, encouraging student to utilise key concepts in analysing these issues.  Student through seminars and guided activities are encouraged to carry out research using library resources and reputable internet sources. This develops their research skills by exposing them to a wide range of literature and encourages critical analysis of different perspectives on a topic or issue. This approach guides students through the learning cycle of knowledge, application, and analysis of issues, concepts, and theories. This builds the students confidence and learning skills essential for the degree programmes and professional careers.  Throughout the semester students have additional opportunities to book individual/group sessions to clarify /address any learning issues.  

Introduction to Decision Making is designed to empower students with the knowledge and skills necessary to make informed and effective decisions in the world of business. Content is intended to complement rather than repeat any previous study of business or economics and assumes no previous formal study in these areas. The module places students at the centre of their learning, fostering critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities that are crucial for success in a dynamic and complex business environment. Through a combination of theoretical concepts, case studies, and practical exercises, students will develop the competencies needed to analyse, evaluate, and communicate business decisions that align with organisational objectives and ethical considerations. Students will study basic behavioural and management principles and undertake evaluative exercises to assess the desirability of outcomes. Financial and data-driven decision making will be explored. Underlying ethical themes such as sustainability and equality and diversity will be examined alongside drivers such as profitability and innovation. Assessments are designed to build digital capabilities and enhance employability skills and resourcefulness.

Global Business Contexts is designed to empower students with the knowledge and skills necessary to excel in the global marketplace. The module places students at the centre of their learning, fostering an understanding of international business environments, strategies, and challenges. Students will explore the dynamics of international trade, cross-cultural communication, global market entry strategies, and the impact of globalisation and de-globalisation on businesses. By actively engaging with the material and applying it to real-world scenarios, students will be better prepared to navigate the complexities of international business. The characteristics of different economies will be explored and compared, along with the operations of multinational businesses. The strategic issues which face organisations in a global context will also be examined. The module will build awareness of political, cultural and socio-economic dynamics in and between market economies. There will be an opportunity to develop some of the ethical considerations which have been explored previously in the Introduction to Decision Making (MAN0002) module. The module will build on the knowledge and skills gained in Semester 1. Data analysis will be a significant factor in order to support students to develop their numerical skills in anticipation of their degree-level study.

This is a guided research module where students identify and explore in detail a topic of their choice within the fields of Business, Economics or Hospitality and Tourism Management, then write a 3000-word literature review on their chosen subject. The overall focus of the module is on:  learning to research independently, making best use of the digital resources available through the university library  drawing appropriate conclusions from analysis and investigation of text and data  Teaching inputs guide students in their choice of topic and approach, and provide them with extended opportunities to develop resourceful approaches and relevant skills.  Engaging with in-class activities and online tasks in research, reading and academic writing throughout the semester will prepare students well for discipline specific writing and research challenges at higher levels of degree study and in the workplace.  

The purpose of this module is to build leadership, independent learning and transferable skills which have a practical value for progression, whether that be to undergraduate study or employment.   As the module acronym suggests, students will focus on Creativity, Resourcefulness, Enterprise and Task Evaluation. This will be done through experiential, real-world learning tasks and assessments. The module contains a strong focus on Employability. Could you answer the question: “what will make you more employable than other graduates with the same degree as you?”. CREATE will address this very question and begin the process of you developing a strong personal brand. Through a range of carefully designed tasks, you will develop resilience, digital capabilities and explore a range of theoretical concepts that will be invaluable for your future studies and careers   The module is designed so that, as you progress through the year, you will increasingly be able to build on and apply your learning from other modules on the programme, allowing you to further develop as a well-rounded and high-performing individual.