Course Learning Outcomes

Collectively, course learning outcomes contribute to the development of the undergraduate graduate attributes of:

 Self awareness: to have the attribute of knowing oneself and be able to understand and clarify personal strengths and weaknesses through personal development planning; to be able to develop career management tools and represent one’s own abilities with confidence and self esteem

 Performance in a variety of idioms and contexts: to have the attribute of understanding the limits and applicability of the subject discipline and to be able to perform as a graduate in a variety of idioms and contexts by incorporating into personal, subject and professional practice, a fluent awareness of the subject and the wider picture, and to be able to communicate this effectively

27

 Creative and ethical: to have the attribute of working through problems and making creative and purposeful change and adaptation with an awareness of ethical and moral codes and demonstrating integrity of conduct, including an awareness of, and respect for, cultural diversity.

Links with graduate attributes are referenced in the learning outcomes contained in each of the following four subsections.

The course learning outcomes are formulated with reference to the relevant knowledge and understanding set out in the QAA General Business and Management benchmarks. They relate in general to organisations, the environment and management and in particular to markets, customers, finance, people, operations, information systems, communication and information technology and business policy & strategy.

Contemporary and pervasive issues are also central including sustainability, globalisation, corporate social responsibility, diversity, business innovation, creativity, enterprise development, knowledge management and risk management.

The skills outlined in the QAA document are present in the course learning outcomes.

25a. Knowledge and Understanding Learning outcomes

The student is expected to:

1. demonstrate knowledge and understanding of a wide range of theories and conceptual frameworks from the major disciplines relevant to Business Management (A2);

2. acquire knowledge and understanding of general business management related areas of study as well as the more specialised and contemporary areas of business management including entrepreneurship, leadership, innovation, sustainability, governance, ethics, diversity and globalisation (A2);

3. explain how management procedures and processes allow for effective decision-making against different objectives (A3);

4. appreciate and discuss the impact of the external environment (domestic and international) on these organisations, including economic, ethical, legal, political, sociological and technological influences (A1 and A3);

5. understand and consider how the functional areas of business integrate to allow for appropriate decision-making (A1 and A2);

6. develop an ability to recognise complex business and related social, political and ethical issues and to formulate a clear and coherent research plan (A3);

7. cultivate an appreciation of recent developments in Business Management and of the wider context of Business Management in general, including issues of cultural diversity (A3).

Teaching/Learning Strategies and Methods

The integrated business management curriculum has been designed to engage students in their studies and to enable them to acquire knowledge in a coherently structured way. A key aim of the learning and teaching strategy is to develop students’ abilities and increase their self-confidence. At certificate level the curriculum will provide opportunities for on-going feedback and will encourage students to reflect on their performance in a positive and supportive environment. An holistic approach has been taken to encourage student attendance and participation and this will foster a successful learning environment for intermediate and honours level.

28 In addition, at certificate level there is a particular focus on allocating students to small groups and setting up learning sets to provide peer support and encouragement. These mechanisms are designed to encourage students to develop successful strategies for learning throughout their intermediate and honours level studies.

Students’ learning is organised around direct contact time with the teaching team and directed learning activities.

 The direct contact time takes place through lectures, seminars and workshops whereby information is conveyed through various methods such as case studies, group work, presentations and problem-based learning.

 Students are expected to complement these ‘formal’ learning activities with the reading of material suggested in the modules.

 Extensive use is made of electronic sources including module specific websites and WebLearn. The intention is that the programme will encourage students to develop a keen interest in the subject and by the time they reach Honours level, they are able to formulate personal programmes of study and set personal targets beyond those prescribed by their tutors.

Assessment

Students should expect to be assessed through a variety of methods related to the course outcomes set out above.

Formative assessment such as course work, presentation and group-work will require students to:

 analyse case studies;

 collect, manipulate, represent and comment on information relevant to specific areas of the business environment;

 write reports on specific business problems/issues;

 give presentations.

Summative assessment such as unseen examinations will address all the above outcomes in various forms and will require students to deal with:

 multiple choice tests;

 business problem solving;

 short answers;

 short and long essays.

25b. Cognitive (thinking) skills Learning outcomes

By the end of the course the student is expected to develop higher order skills that are reflected in the student’s ability to:

1. apply intellectual skills and critical faculties with particular emphasis on the development of the skills of analysis, synthesis and evaluation of concepts, ideas and theories that characterise the major disciplines of Business Management (A2);

29 2. develop self-awareness and a range of study skills, problem solving, working with others, communication, self-management and decision-making which will enhance opportunities for future employment (A1, A2);

3. develop intellectual discussion in the business management related core disciplines and an awareness of the academic debates and approach to business related disciplines (A2);

4. initiate and carry out independent and scholarly research and investigation, specifically to develop the ability to review critically relevant literature, retrieve data, to interpret and apply complex information (A1);

5. develop a capacity for critical reflection and judgement in the light of evidence and argument about business management issues (A1);

6. apply the skills of seeking, handling and interpreting business information as part of the process of addressing business problems and formulating new or alternative solutions through independent research, taking into account ethical considerations and cultural diversity (A2, A3).

Teaching/Learning Strategies and Methods

Lectures and seminars represent the central focus of students’ learning:

 The contact time with teaching teams will be organised around various activities which aim to develop and encourage students to become more active and independent in their learning process leading towards independent forms of research;

 Lecture and seminar activities are structured with the purpose of enabling students to progress their development from the basic skills of knowledge and understanding through to the advanced skills of analysis, synthesis and evaluation;

 Many activities require students to carry out independent work prior to meetings with lecturers and to co-operate with their peers. Increasingly, as the course progresses, students will also be required to engage in independent research using primary business materials.

Assessment

Students will be exposed to various assessment strategies which are part of the development and evaluation of the above skills.

10 Formative assessment such as essay writing, case study analysis, presentations and group work will usually be accompanied by summative assessment such as unseen examinations. In addition, students will have a number of opportunities to receive informal feedback on their progress prior to the final assessment.

11 All assessment methods are designed to test the students’ actual level of skill achievements. As students progress through the levels of study they will be assessed using more complex assessment methods such as projects and dissertations.

25c. Transferable skills including those of employability and professional practice

One of the key aims of the course is to prepare students for a career in business management and to enhance life-long learning skills. These skills are a fundamental part of the curriculum and are developed within each module. In particular, students will get the opportunity to engage with employers through a variety of mechanisms in core modules at Intermediate and Honours level. All students compile a Personal Development Portfolio (PDP) to record their personal growth and successes, identify their objectives, reflect on their achievements and plan for their future. In this way, students will get the opportunity to develop specific skills increasing their employability prospects at the end of the course.

30 Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, students are expected to:

1. develop personal skills including skills in study, problem-solving, working with others, independent learning, communication, self-management, self-presentation and decision-making (A1 and A2);

2. interpret and critically analyse business problems in order to produce solutions demonstrating awareness of ethical considerations and cultural diversity (A3);

3. demonstrate an ability to assess their own progress, identify and formulate issues on which assistance is needed and to act on feedback given (A1);

4. demonstrate development of their personal and professional attributes within the context of qualities and transferable skills necessary for career and personal development, lifelong learning and employment, including information management, autonomy, self-evaluation and communication (A1);

5. show an ability to produce an updated personal development plan which reflects on progres and achievement and posits some future directions (A1).

Teaching/Learning strategies and methods

All skills are introduced and initially developed through scheme-wide compulsory modules at Certificate level and via specific core modules at the other levels. The study of business management, its problem solution processes and decision-making issues means that the core skills of communication, numeracy, information technology, self-management, interpersonal skills and the conduct of research are present in all of the core modules on the course. Critical thinking is developed and stimulated throughout the whole curriculum at all levels of study and culminates in the final year Management Investigation and Report module. The development of employability and professional practice skills throughout the course will enable students to record achievement and evidence of personal development planning in their PDP.

Assessment

The transferable skills are assessed via course work, essays, reports and problem-based learning. Practical transferable skills are also developed through case studies, group work and presentations. There is a PDP related assessment at each level in the course and this will reinforce the importance of students developing their employability skills.

25d. Subject-specific practical skills Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, students will have the ability to:

1. acquire appropriate information and knowledge from a variety of sources. Specifically, to use I.T. to access sources of information and to work with discipline based software programmes (A2);

2. conduct general business analysis using a variety of statistical and theoretical tools (A2);

3. be competent communicators of complex ideas and analysis through written and oral expositions (A1);

31 4. design, plan, organise and deliver an individual research report (A2);

5. critically apply knowledge to comment and evaluate real business world facts (A1, A2);

6. search, handle and interpret statistical information relevant in the analysis of the operations of modern business organisations (A2).

Teaching/Learning strategies and methods

Skill 1 is developed through computer sessions that accompany some of the modules on the course and through extensive access to and use of published information (both electronic and non-electronic). Skill 2 is developed throughout the course through formal lectures, seminars and case study analysis. Skill 3 is developed through a combination of formal activities by students who submit material for informal assessment by the tutor. Skill 4 is developed throughout the course in modules that require students to undertake research to produce individual pieces of course work. This skill is progressively developed and culminates with the Management Investigation and Report module at Honours level. Skill 5 and 6 are developed through lectures, seminars, problem-based learning and case study analysis.

Assessment

These skills are assessed through the Honours level Management Investigation and Report module, group and individual presentations, case studies and essays.

32 26. Course structure diagram

BA (Hons) Business Management

(route code)

Single Honours Course – Autumn entry

Course Leader:Andrew Halford

Level semester Code ^{Title status ‡} attribute

s

notes

C Autumn MN1H05C/N Creative and Reflective Business Practice

c A1, A3 Subject HE Orientation Core

MN1026C/N Global Challenges for Business, Management and Leadership

c Subject Core including context

BA1015C/N Understanding Information c A2 Subject IT Core HR1004C/N People Management: Challenges

and Choices c A1, A3

Spring EC1022C/N Economics for Business c A2, A3 AC1010C/N Business Accounting c A2, A3 MK1005C/N Principles of Marketing c A2, A3 BL1006C/N Introduction to Business Law c A2

I Autumn MN2E03C/N Entrepreneurial Action c Subject Employability/PDP Core MN2015C/N Fundamentals of Leadership c A2, A3

BA2014C/N Data Analysis for Business Decision-Making

c

choice of module – see notes* d/e * one from list below or elective (including language)

Spring AC2032C/N Management Accounting for

Decision-Making c

EC2030C/N The Competitive Environment c A2, A3 PDP support module MK2053C/N Marketing in Practice c A2, A3

choice of module – see notes* d/e * one from list below or elective (including language)

H Autumn MN3027C/N Strategy in Action c A2, A3

BL3012C/N Governance, Regulation and Choice of module – see notes* d/e * one from list below or elective

(including language) Spring MN3034C/N Management and the Global

Economy

c A2, A3

MN3P31C/N Management Investigation and Report

c A2,A3 Subject Final Project/PDP core

MN3030C/N Entrepreneurship and Innovation c

Choice of module – see notes* d/e * one from list below or elective (including language).

33 BA (Hons) Business Management

(route code)

Single Honours Course – Spring entry

Course Leader:Andrew Halford

Level semester Code Title status ‡ attributes notes

C Spring MN1H05C/N Creative and Reflective Business

Practice c A1, A3 Subject HE Orientation Core

MN1026C/N Global Challenges for Business,

Management and Leadership c Subject Core including context BA1015C/N Understanding Information c A2 Subject IT Core

HR1004C/N People Management: Challenges and Choices

c A1, A3

Autumn EC1022C/N Economics for Business c A2, A3 AC1010C/N Business Accounting c A2, A3 MK1005C/N Principles of Marketing c A2, A3 BL1006C/N Introduction to Business Law c A2 I Spring AC2032C/N Management Accounting for

Decision-Making c

EC2030C/N The Competitive Environment c A2, A3 PDP support module MK2053C/N Marketing in Practice c A2, A3

Choice of module – see notes* d/e * one from list below or elective (including language)

Autumn MN2E03C/N Entrepreneurial Action c Subject Employability/PDP Core MN2015C/N Fundamentals of Leadership c A2, A3

BA2014C/N Data Analysis for Business Decision-Making

c

Choice of module – see notes* d/e * one from list below or elective (including language)

H Spring MN3034C/N Management and the Global

Economy c A2, A3

MN3028C/N Critical Perspectives on

Management and Leadership c A1, A2

A3 PDP support module MN3030C/N Entrepreneurship and Innovation c

Choice of module – see notes* d/e * one from list below or elective (including language)

Autumn BL3012C/N Governance, Regulation and

Ethics c A2, A3

MN3P31C/N Management Investigation and Report

c A2,A3 Subject Final Project/PDP core

MN3027C/N Strategy in Action c A2, A3

Choice of module – see notes* d/e * one from list below or elective (including language)

34

HR2011C/N HRM: Strategies and Practices

HR2009C/N Issues in Employee Performance*

Autumn

and Applications Autumn/Spring Day City/North HR1004C/N People Management

Challenges and Choices Finance

FS2018C/N Corporate Financial Management Autumn Day City BA1015C/N Understanding Information

Business Law

BL2015C/N Commercial Law

BL2014C/N Business Ethics and the Law BL2016C/N Law of the EU

BL2004C/N Employment Law*

EC2031C/N Work, Pay and Performance EC2029C/N The International Economy*

MN2005C/N Business in Europe (existing module)

Autumn/Spring Day/Eve City/North MN1026C/N Global Challenges for Business, Management and

Day/Eve City/North MK1005C/N Principles of Marketing

Supply Chain Management

TL2003C/N Supply Chain Management Spring Day City/North BA1015C/N Understanding Information

MN2W03 Professional Experience and Development (existing module)

Autumn Day North and City None

HONOURS LEVEL Human Resource Management

HR3012C/N Managing Employee Relations in Contemporary Organisations

Autumn/Spring Day City/North HR2011C/N HRM: Strategies and Practices

Organisational Behaviour

HR3013C/N Developments in Organisational Theory and Analysis

HR3015C/N Organising and Managing across

Autumn/Spring

In document London Metropolitan Business School (Page 31-39)