Business BA (Hons)

First half of Year Two – Core modules

Managing and Organising for Human Resources

This module aims to develop an understanding of the human aspects of managing and organising work. It draws upon ideas from disciplines such as work psychology, organisational sociology and human resource management to provide insights into possibilities for managing and organising work. The module considers the nature of the changing context of managing and organising and examines the central issues and contemporary concerns that this presents for HR.

Throughout the module you will be encouraged to develop a critical perspective which encompasses views from both those managing and those managed, as well as a consideration of the wider impact of choices taken in regards to managing and organising work activities. Whilst exploring classic studies in managing and organising, these ideas will also be examined in the context of the contemporary changing international workplace. The module is relevant to a broad range of careers given that HR issues are a concern for all.

Survey Research and Analysis for Business

This module draws on conceptual material in the area of Survey Methods widely used in business and the application of analytic methods to the data generated. One of the primary focuses of this module is to help you understand how to plan and conduct surveys but also interpret the results within the appropriate business context. With the aid of appropriate professional statistical software you will be encouraged to apply statistical methods of analysis to data. The module is designed to allow you the opportunity to analyse and interpret “real data” from various areas of the business world. In studying this module you will develop your knowledge and skills in conducting survey research within business.

You will be given the opportunity to plan and execute a survey; design and implement a survey instrument; analyse survey results using applications software; and interpret and communicate analytical findings.

Marketing Management

This module explores the role of marketing management and its interaction with other business functions. You will study marketing management concepts that support the development of sound marketing strategies, and also have the opportunity to develop effective group and personal skills that are valued highly by employers.

Second half of Year Two

You can either select one of our unique opportunities initiatives below or continue with your taught modules.

Option 1 – Study Abroad

Experience life in another country by studying at one of our partner universities. Choose from a host of countries in Europe or go further afield and study in the USA, South America, Australasia and South East Asia. This is a great opportunity to develop your independence and explore another culture.

Option 2 – Enterprise Project

Explore your entrepreneurial side and start to develop the meaningful and practical skills needed to run your own business. Supported by NTU Enterprise, NTU's centre for Entrepreneurship and Enterprise, during this opportunity you'll work alongside other young entrepreneurs and a dynamic network of mentors and advisors, to develop your own ideas into a live enterprise project.

Option 3 – Internship

Get a taste of the working world and gain some essential industry insight with a 16-18 week work placement. The experience will allow you to put your learning in to practice, with the experience gained improving your future career prospects, and sharpening your interpersonal and professional skills.

Option 4 – Continue with taught modules

If you didn't fancy doing any of the above options then you can continue your studies at university. With a mixture of both compulsory and optional modules, the first will enhance your knowledge and skills set in your area of study, with the later allowing you to tailor your learning experience.

Students on Sandwich courses are eligible to choose the Enterprise project or continue with taught modules in the second half of their second year. They are not eligible for options 1 and 3. However, they are able to use their sandwich year to study or work abroad.

Core modules

Employment and Enterprise

Following on from the Personal Development module in Year One, you will build and further reflect on your personal and professional skills, attributes and behaviours. You will have the opportunity to participate in part-time work, volunteering, consultancy work, business competitions and challenges, and develop a range of skills to enhance your employability.

Digital Entrepreneurship

The aim of this module is to develop your critical awareness of digital entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship within a global marketplace. During the module you will examine the process of developing a digital business that is enabled and / or enhanced by internet technologies, smart and mobile phones and their applications, and other emerging technologies.

Plus one optional module from:

Management Accounting for Decision Making

The manager and entrepreneur of the future must have sound financial skills to enable them to take advantage of their environment. Critical to this process is understanding the environment in which you operate and the financial structure of your organisation. You need to understand the information that is required to successfully manage your organisation and how to interpret it. During this module you will examine a range of management accounting techniques that are used in business decision making, and explore how accounting and finance information could evolve to meet the needs of organisations operating in competitive markets.

You will study the value and limitations of accounting information for managerial decision making, planning and control purposes within organisations, and develop your understanding of problem solving techniques that are frequently used by teams operating in an organisational context, and how these techniques could be used within the accounting and finance framework.

Exploring Strategy and Innovation

This module provides an understanding of business development and strategy with particular reference to processes of strategic management, innovation and business development in the global context. It will develop your understanding of competitive advantage and introduce you to key concepts in strategy, organisational change and development, all drawn from different cultural contexts. You will examine the nature of innovation, and the process involved in bringing it about. This module also seeks to demonstrate how innovation can provide competitive advantage for business firms operating in local, national and international environments.

Over the course of the module you will: ·

• study profitability and the nature and purpose of corporate and competitive strategy in a global context
• explore corporate direction, goals, mission and vision
• analyse the business environment, methods and techniques of analysis and its relevance to competitor and customer development
• explore the nature of technological change and its links to innovation
• classify innovation and innovative activity
• analyse the process of innovation and different perspectives on the process.

Managing the Global Supply Chain

Focusing on operations and marketing, this module your practical understanding of the structure and organisation of supply chains, including sustainability and ethical issues. The areas you will cover include operations, logistics and procurement, and the importance of the flow of goods and information in providing value through global delivery systems.

Placement year

A vital component of our degree courses is the placement year. This time spent working in business provides our students with crucial work experience, which is highly prized and much sought after by employers upon graduation. We have links with a wide range of sectors, firms and organisations that offer student placements. If you have decided to undertake a placement year then this will last for a minimum of 48 weeks during your third year.

Our Employability Team is here to inspire and enhance every stage of your career planning and as a graduate of NTU, you will be able to access their services for three years after your course has finished.

Services they provide include:

• finding placements, internships and part-time work
• pursuing self-employment
• taking gap years and time out
• getting into volunteering
• providing advice on further study.

Or

Taught modules

If you have decided to continue with your studies please view the 'final year' tab for your list of modules.

Developing Professional Impact

This module is designed to expand your horizons and challenge your attitudes and behaviours both in relation to subject specific issues and wider business concerns such as global citizenship and sustainable business practices. It will encourage you to build on your strengths and explore a range of possibilities as you embark on your next steps.

Comparative and International Management

Influences of culture on management, and managing within and across diverse cultures, have become increasingly relevant in today’s business world. This module aims to address the issues of cultural differences, and practical implications of the internationalisation of management, the organisation and its people.

Personal experiences of national and organisational cultures – either through work in multinational corporations or travel far and wide – provide a rich pool of experiences, stories and ordeals that can serve as important inputs into discussions and debates about management, organisations, people and cultural diversity.

This module adds to this experience through theoretical and conceptual knowledge and frameworks concerning different management styles and philosophies from an International Human Resource Management perspective. It uses practical experience and current topical research and case studies to explore key debates and issues central to the international organisations. During this module you will examine and explore problems that arise from these matters and the solutions that are needed.

Managing Information and Knowledge Strategically

Knowledge has become a key term in contemporary organisations. Such organisations are often said to be operating in a ‘knowledge economy’ and to be staffed by ‘knowledge workers’. In particular, an important argument has been that the key strategic tool for securing competitive advantage resides in the knowledge an organisation possesses.

The task of this module is to subject such claims to critical inquiry. In particular, the widespread emphasis on knowledge has tended to understate the important role that information and data play in organisations and this will be a key focus of the module. In addition, the role of information and communication technology (ICT) is important but often either over-stated or under-estimated. We will seek to achieve a balanced assessment of its importance. Finally, the impact of these factors – the inter-related nature of knowledge, information, data and ICT – on the strategies that an organisation might adopt is an important part of the module.

Strategic Marketing

The overall aim of the module is to help you develop an understanding of strategic marketing and to apply this knowledge to contemporary and complex business contexts. You will examine the key concepts, frameworks and models that are involved in the strategic marketing process, as well as the challenges encountered in the implementation and control stages. You will also explore how marketing managers can best respond to a complex, dynamic and increasingly global marketing environment.

The module will provide you with the knowledge and skills required to conduct a comprehensive marketing audit, and will enable you to use the findings from a marketing audit to inform your choice of marketing objectives and alternative strategic choices.

Plus one optional module from:

Research Project

For this module you will undertake a purposeful, individual, in depth study of a relevant topic, developing your independent learning, critical thinking and knowledge of research techniques relevant to your subject area. The project will develop your ability to manage a major piece of work, for which you will be completely responsible, and will be completed over a period of several months. You will learn to utilise and improve your time management and communication skills, as well as test your initiative and resourcefulness.

To support your development during this module you will study essential skills such as critical thinking, conducting a literature review, understanding the appropriate research framework, practical research methods and skills, report and academic writing skills.

Sustainability in Enterprise Project

This module is designed to give you a deeper understanding of sustainability issues affecting firms. It incorporates a live consultancy experience, where you are required to apply your knowledge to critically review aspects of enterprise practice and infrastructure and recommend ways to reduce carbon emissions. You will learn how to critically review sustainability issues presented by an enterprise and analyse evidence, arguments, concepts and data to formulate sustainability and carbon management recommendations for an enterprise.

Plus one optional module from:

Managing Creativity, Design and Innovation

In a highly competitive and globalised market place with increasing expectations and demands of consumers, an organisation’s ability to develop successful products, services and processes is critical. The importance to business of understanding, supporting and managing creativity and innovation cannot be underestimated.

This module will develop your understanding of the relationships between creativity, design and innovation, and explore and debate a range of perspectives concerning their nature. You will contemplate some of the issues facing organisations trying to harness the potential from their creative resources, and be encouraged to develop your own creative skills. You will develop a critical awareness of theories related to the origins and role of creativity at individual, team and organisational levels.

Over the course of the module, you will study a range of topics including: approaches to creativity theory, creativity and innovation as complex processes, design and development in a product and service context, building and sustaining a culture focused on creativity and innovation.

Global Supply Chain Strategy

Working at a strategic level, this module will clarify how marketing, design, distribution, logistics and project management may be integrated, and help you to develop a broader and deeper understanding of how supply chain performance can be strategically improved.

You will cover a number of areas during the module including;

• looking at supply chains from a strategic and global perspective
• key concepts in supply chain improvement
• interpreting lean and agile supply
• supply chain dynamics – Forecasting, information flow and bullwhip
• design for the supply chain – postponement, mass customisation, product life cycle, sustainability
• managing CSR in the supply chain – sustainability, environment and transport
• managing risk in a supply chain.

Corporate Governance and Risk Management

By studying current recommendations and developments in the field of corporate governance both in the UK and in a selection of overseas countries, this module will show you the importance of control and risk management when implementing strong governance measures, and evaluate the ethical and moral dilemmas faced by those entrusted with these responsibilities.