Programme Specification – BA (Hons) Business Management
1. Awarding Institution/Body University of Gloucestershire
2. Teaching Institution University of Gloucestershire
3. Recognition by Professional Body.
N/A
4. Final award and level of qualification BA Hons
5. Modular Scheme or other University Regulations for Taught Provision
6. Programme title (name on certificate) Business Management Single Honours
7. UCAS code N101
8. JACS code
9. QAA subject benchmark statement(s) where relevant
General Business and Management
10. Date of initial validation May 2000
11. Date of revision February 2011
12. External and Internal reference points
The educational aims and outcomes of the programme have been written with reference to the following reference points.
12a) EXTERNAL
Framework for Higher Education Qualifications (FHEQ) – denoted by (H);
QAA Benchmark Statement for General Business and Management – denoted by (G)
12b) INTERNAL
University of Gloucestershire regulations for Taught Provision; University of Gloucestershire TLA policy including PDP and Skills; Other specified policies e.g. Sustainability, AWP and Student Charter. Further details for the above are available at the University website
13. Main educational aims of the programme
The main educational aims of the business management single honours programme are to provide you, the student, with opportunities to:
study businesses as a whole in different contexts and from different perspectives prepare for the management challenges of the 21st century
engage in a programme of study which requires responding to a variety of authentic business problems
demonstrate your learning through a wide range of assessment methods
undertake a placement year to gain relevant experience and to explore the interface between theory and practice
apply for further study for both professional examinations in the business management area, and/or postgraduate study at MA, MBA, MPhil and/or PhD level
14. Programme outcomes – the programme provides opportunities for you, the
student, to achieve and demonstrate the following learning outcomes:
14a) Knowledge and understanding of:
Challenges arising from the business environment. (G)
Diverse cultures and practices as they affect business management (G and H)
How organisations are financed, deal with customers, manage their employees, and operations. (G)
Business management functions and practices and how they integrate with one another. (G)
How strategies are developed to achieve competitive and sustainable advantage. (G) Approaches to responding to business problems. (G)
Complexity, change and ambiguity in a business context. (G and H)
Pervasive and contemporary issues in business management, including, sustainability, globalisation, Corporate Social Responsibility, diversity, and governance. (G)
14b) Intellectual/ thinking skills – able to:
Think critically and logically. (G and H)
Exercise judgment and independence of thought. (G and H) Analyse, synthesise and evaluate theory and practice. (G and H)
Generate, interpret and analyse data, and other evidence, as required. (G and H)
Evaluate the limitations of proposed solutions and options available in problem solving. (G and H)
Critically reflect on the learning being achieved and on future learning needs. (H)
14c) Subject specific /Practical and professional skills – able to:
Build effective strategies in response to changing market opportunities. (G)
Use both quantitative and qualitative data effectively in the analysis of business and related information. (G and H)
Work independently or as part of a multifunctional team to respond to business problems. (G)
Communicate effectively across a range of management disciplines in finance, marketing, human resources and operations. (G)
Conceptualise business as an integrated whole. (G)
14d) Transferable/key skills – able to:
Apply numerical techniques using both quantitative and qualitative data. (H) Do research in a systematic and professional manner. (H)
Work effectively with others in groups. (G and H)
Use a range of communication technologies. (G and H) Communicate effectively in writing.
Undertake effective presentations. (G)
15. Teaching, learning and assessment – the teaching, learning and assessment
strategies and methods used in the programme to enable learning outcomes to be achieved and demonstrated by you, the student.
15a) Teaching and learning methods
A range of teaching and learning methods are used on the course, including lectures, tutorials, seminars, computer laboratory activities, and group work. These will be supplemented by case studies, guest lectures, projects, and the use of a range of learning technologies. You will also have the opportunity to undertake field study trips to other countries, and study abroad for a period of time. The course adopts an active learning pedagogy designed to engage you in a range of learning activities. Examples of the approach to teaching and learning at each of the three levels are below.
technical analysis in the areas of finance and marketing, and consider the different perspectives of business management.
At level 5 you will study and research a business operation and will be required to respond to a number of operational problems on the module Managing a Business Operations. You will study the role and importance of finance, marketing and human resources to business management. In a critical and considered manner you will be required to appreciate and apply a range of related concepts and theories to business management problems. The limitations of what can and cannot be achieved will be highlighted in various ways at level 5.
At level 6 you will engage at an expert level with issues to do with sustainability, diversity, change, IT and other strategic concerns of business management on all the main modules. In Building and Sustaining Strategy you will analyse the long term challenges of business management, and critically analyse how strategies can be adopted that are sustainable. Following Research Methods your Dissertation or Investigative Study module will require significant skills in independent study and self directed learning. In other modules you may choose to study contemporary questions such as complexity and change, globalisation, and marketing dilemmas. You will come to appreciate not only the contribution, but also the limitations of theory and concepts in offering complete solutions. Level 6 will also challenge you to consider the importance of differences and diverse cultures in business management. Issues of ethics, leadership and governance, and the wider responsibilities of business management, are all studied in the various option modules.
15b) Assessment
Assessment reflects the range of teaching and learning activities outlined above. Methods of assessment you will encounter include essays, examinations, presentations, reflective diaries, group work, role play, case studies, digital stories, optional field trips and projects. Research and independent study begins with the level 4 project and is continued at level 5 on Managing Business Operations, and at level 6 through the Dissertation or Investigative Study.
16. Current Programme Map
Business Management (Single Honours Degree) Course Map
Course Leader: Jim Keane Senior Tutor(s): Colin Simpson
To achieve your award you must pass the correct number of CAT points at each level and meet all award requirements (see UMS Regulations) as well as passing ALL compulsory and core requirements, including:
Level I 4: BMN102, BMN103, BMN106 and two from the following four modules: BMN107, BMN108, SLE170
and SLE171
Level III 6: BMN301, BMN315, BMN316, one from either BMN334 or BMN399, and one from BMN304, BMN312
or BMN314
Level 4
Code and Title CAT
Points
Study Period
BMN102: Business Contexts
Restrictions: Not to be taken with BM101 or IBM101
BMN/ BMN Joint/ Business Management (Human Resource Management)/ Business Management (International Business)/ Business and Management Studies/ International Business Studies/ Business Economics/ BUE only
Corequisites: Take BMN103
30 SEM1-2
BMN103: Management Contexts
Restrictions: Not to be taken with HT101.
BMN/ BMN Joint/ Business Management (Human Resource Management)/ Business Management (International Business)/ Business and Management Studies/ International Business Studies/ Business Economics/ BUE only.
Corequisites: Take BMN102
30 SEM1-2
BMN106: Integrative Project 30 YEAR BMN107: Management Development I 15 SEM1 BMN108: Management Development II 15 SEM2 SLE170: French For Beginners
Restrictions: Not available to students with a recent GCSE grade A or equivalent
15 SEM1-2
SLE171: Spanish For Beginners
Restrictions: Not available to students with a recent GCSE grade A or equivalent
15 SEM1-2
Level 5
Code and Title CAT
Points
Study Period
BMN201: Managing Business Operations
Restrictions: Cannot be counted with BM203.
Prerequisites: Pass BMN102
30 SEM1-2
BMN202: Managing Human Resources
Restrictions: Cannot be counted with HT201.
15 SEM1 or SEM2
BMN203: Marketing For Decision Makers
Restrictions: Cannot be counted with MM203.
15 SEM1 or SEM2
BMN204: Managing International Business
Restrictions: Cannot be counted with IBM201
15 SEM1 or SEM2
BMN205: Management Thinking 15 SEM1 BMN210: International Field Trip
Restrictions: Cannot be counted with IBM205.
15 SEM2
BMN211: Accounting For Finance And Decision Makers
Restrictions: Cannot be counted with FM202, FM210, FM211, FM230 or FM331
Prerequisites: Pass BMN102
15 SEM1 or SEM2
BMN212: Practice of Leadership in Organisations 15 SEM1 BMN213: Managing Corporate Responsibility 15 SEM2 BMN229: Industrial Placement
Restrictions: Cannot be counted with XX229.
120 SEM1-2
SLE271: Intermediate French
Restrictions: Not available to students with a recent good A level pass or equivalent
Prerequisites: SLE170 or a GCSE grade C or above or equivalent
15 SEM1-2
SLE272: Intermediate Spanish
Restrictions: Not available to students with a recent good A level pass or equivalent
Prerequisites: SLE171 or a GCSE grade C or above or equivalent
Level 6
Code and Title CAT
Points
Study Period
ACC301: Corporate Accountability
Restrictions: Cannot be counted with FM306
15 SEM1-2
BMN301: Building And Sustaining Strategy
Restrictions: Cannot be counted with BM301.
30 N/A
BMN303: Cultural Issues In Management
Prerequisites: Pass BMN204
15 N/A
BMN304: Strategic Marketing Principles
Restrictions: Cannot be counted with MM303
Prerequisites: Pass BMN203
15 N/A
BMN307: Managing Operations Globally
Restrictions: Cannot be counted with IBM301 or SG301.
Prerequisites: Pass BMN201
15 N/A
BMN312: Managing Change 15 SEM1 BMN313: New Business Development
Restrictions: Cannot be counted with BUE201, BM304 or SR305
15 SEM2
BMN314: Corporate Financial Management 15 SEM1 BMN315: Strategies for Globally Responsible Leadership 15 SEM2 BMN316: Research Methods 15 SEM1 BMN317: Developing People through business
Not to be taken with HT304 Ht301
15
BMN334: Dissertation 15 SEM2
BMN399: Investigative Study
Restrictions: Cannot be counted with xx399
15 SEM2
MM390: Post Placement Project 15 SEM1
17. Programme Overview
The programme is offered in the following modes of study: Full-time, Part-Time, and Sandwich. Students may enter, interrupt, or leave a programme at the end of each Level.
The language of study is English.
17a) Structure, key features and modules
This section of the programme specification should be read with reference to section 16, the programme map. Modules may be compulsory, core or optional and may have specific pre-requisites.
resources, the aim is to focus on decision making in the four main modules. Level 5 focuses on the strategic issues in business management in a contemporary setting and research. You will consider the issues involved in building sustainable strategies in Building and Sustaining Strategy, with other modules focusing on the important issues such as accountability and ethics, the importance of leadership and change, global issues in business management, and other related topics.
There are opportunities throughout the programme to develop a range of relevant academic and vocational skills including languages at levels 4 and 5. Students will also be required to undertake some independent study for the project at level 4, research a business problem on Managing Business Operations at level 5, culminating at level 6 with either the Dissertation or an Investigative Study. At all stages students will encounter key conceptual and theoretical ideas in business management and will be expected to analyse and evaluate these ideas in an increasingly critical and expert way.
17b) Credit and award requirements
Overall award requirements:
Take 360 CATS with 120 CATS at each level Pass 300 CATS with 210 CATS at Levels 5 and 6
Achieve 30% in the remaining 60 CATS for them to be condoned For the named Course:
Take at least 270 CATS from the Course map
Pass at least 240 CATS from the Course Map with at least 75 CATS at each Level
Pass compulsory and core modules from Course map For Sandwich award:
As for Single Honours Degree plus take and pass 120 CATS placement. Students can only take a placement if they have achieved 90 CAT modular credits at level 5.
18. Additional information
Further information on Assessment; Quality Assurance including Evaluation; Disability and Learning support provision; Criteria for Admission/Recruitment and Careers can be found at the University website. The National Recognition Information Centre (NARIC) provides details of comparative information on all Higher Education programmes.
