Business Management with Finance BA(Hons)

This module introduces you to how financial information for businesses is prepared, presented and interpreted by internal and external users. As well as delivering theory and technical information, practical application is presented through worked examples, group working and discussions. The objective is to enable you to use financial information for planning, decision making and control, calculate business costings by applying the theory of cost behaviour to different situations and analyse the performance of a business using ratio analysis.

In this module, you will explore the pressing global issues, such as globalisation, climate change, digital age, and sustainability, that businesses are confronted in their operations. Adopting a cross-disciplinary approach, you will gain knowledge and develop a critical understanding of how these issues represent challenges as well as opportunities to business and related organisations. As you progress through the module, you will develop a habit to follow the developments of global events, give them a meaning and consider the causes and consequences of ongoing developments. This module is designed to raise you awareness of an increasingly dynamic business environment.

This module provides you with an introduction to key concepts, theories and research in the field of organisational behaviour. Starting with the important question what is an organisation, this module presents and evaluates up to date research on current knowledge about human and organisation behaviour from the perspective of three levels: individual level (personality, motivation, knowledge and learning), group level (organisational culture, team-working) and the organisational level (leadership, changing world of work, technology). An examination of these three levels will provide an insight into the world of work both for employees and future managers. Emphasis on the module is placed on introducing and applying management theory with a critical perspective adopted throughout. Overall, focus on the module is directed towards equipping you with sufficient knowledge to be able to understand the role of the manager in a contemporary organisation and to critically explore the role of influence a range of behaviours have on organisational outcomes.

In this module you will investigate and explore various analytical concepts and the value they provide to organisations. To support this you will explore the value of analytical data and how this supports the creation of Business Intelligence for decision making. You will investigate different analytical methods and apply them within the business context, looking at strategy, business goals and organisational competitive advantage.

This module examines contemporary issues in Banking and Financial Markets. It will help you acquire a clear perspective of banking, financial and monetary systems and help you understand the functions of financial institutions and markets, alongside the regulatory framework in which banks and financial institutions operate and the implications for the size and structure of financial markets.

This module introduces you to the wider legal, ethical and economic implications of using Fintech, financial such as cloud services, blockchain, data analytics (big data), and artificial intelligence (AI), combined with web based business modules, such as platforms and the impact on accounting and finance professionals. You’ll be introduced accounting software, data analysis, and data visualization via MS excel.

This module aims to provide a firm foundation in project management. The module focuses on the tools and techniques of project planning and control and provides a firm grounding in the relationship between human resource issues and project management. You’ll learn the foundations of project planning, executing the plan and completion, and an understanding of the relationships and management of people, teams and outsourced services, developing the role of the project manager as both a client and service provider.

Discover the world of data analysis for business in this core second year module. Learn about the purpose of data, ethical considerations related to the creation and use of data, and the importance of effective communication with stakeholders when interpreting datasets. Gain skills to identify fake data and understand the role technology plays in both hindering and facilitating strategic decision-making. Practice using statistical software to handle datasets in order to gain a level of proficiency which will help you in the workplace. This module provides a practical and critical understanding of data's role in business, focusing on ethics, analysis, and communication for success in today's business environment.

In undertaking this module, you will explore the theory and practices that inform and enable business start-up and small enterprise development. We will follow the entrepreneurial journey in four phases; creativity and conceptualising the business; understanding context; opportunity spotting and scoping; and business model development. We will use case studies to explore entrepreneurial practices in a variety of contexts. You will appreciate the personal and contextual drivers and challenges faced by those motivated set up enterprises. You will also experiment with opportunity spotting and the formulation of a business model, thus understanding the practice and theory of new venture creation, from ideation to creating a business enterprise.

In undertaking this module you will explore the theory and practices that inform and enable management of people within organisations. ‘People are our greatest asset’ is often said in organisations, but how do you get the best out of your best asset? In undertaking this module, you will explore that creating an environment where people want to work and feel rewarded by their work is one of the biggest differences a manager can make to their organisation. Moreover, in a time when new tech-based advances can be accessed (and downloaded) almost instantaneously across the world, people are increasingly the one differentiator that companies can have that makes them unique and puts them ahead of their competition. But they are also often a business’s largest cost. So, effective people management is important in any type of organisation. Therefore this module will help you look at the importance and benefits of good people management. It will also help you consider the challenges of delivering value creating HR practices both in a conventional business, and now in the increasingly diverse organisation with many forms of contract relationship, locations, and remote working.

This module looks at investment analysis and portfolio management using an innovative experiential learning environment – “The Portfolio Game.” You’ll have the opportunity to learn about financial markets, recognise the measure and value of the risk and return and be aware of the relationships between them and be aware of the opportunities and dangers offered by international diversification, alongside learning about the available hedging techniques of managing a successful investment portfolio.

This module introduces you to different finance, accounting and economic dimensions of multinational financial management. Themes will include the international monetary system , historical and the development of the International Monetary System (IMS), exchange rate system; and risk management within global finance context.

Ever wondered how training and developing employees can add value to an organisation? This module will explore this, looking at how investing in staff in this way builds increased commitment and enhances skills. After a review of HRD, how we identify, plan, develop, deliver, and evaluate training, we will consider interventions to support learning organisations as well as exploring the theories surrounding HRD.

This module aims to explore the complex relationship between business and climate change. Students will gain an understating of the political and policy context surrounding the climate crisis, and insight into debates about the changing responsibilities of business through a wide range of examples. The module will enable understanding of how the need to reduce emissions is shaping the activities of businesses, social enterprises, policy makers, NGOs and communities worldwide.