International Second Year - Business

This is the first introductory module in management and operations. The course is designed to provide students with an overview of the management function and its role in organisations and society. The module will introduce the latest management ideas, theories and practice in an interesting and relevant manner, whilst still retaining the best of traditional management thinking. It will also focus on the operations function, which is at the heart of all enterprises, whether manufacturing or service-based. Unless this core function is carried out effectively, there is little hope that the rest of the organization as a whole will be effective. The module will cover topics such as the evolution of management thinking, management and corporate culture, managing diversity in a global environment and managing operations.

This is the second introductory module in management and operations. The course is designed to provide students with an overview of the management function and its role in organisations and society. This module focuses on the role of management in responding to the challenge of change within the organisation and how to plan for and implement it. It further considers how management motivates employees, maintains and enhances its services, assesses performance, safeguards quality and undertakes an ethical approach to management. The module also considers decision-making by managers and assesses the significance of both financial and non-financial factors that inform and influence managerial decision-making.

In today’s competitive and ever-changing global market place, customer needs are constantly changing, and new competitors, products and services enter markets. The International marketing module aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills to understand international marketing theory and practice. Upon completion of this module, students should thoroughly understand the complexity of international marketing and appreciate key terms and concepts associated with the International Marketing literature. The module addresses global issues and describes concepts relevant to all International Marketers, regardless of the extent of their international involvement. The module reviews marketing strategy from a managerial, a firm and a country perspective. It provides the transition for students to progress from a purely domestic approach towards the firm, to consider methods for operating in an overseas market, or in a domestic market with increasing competition from abroad.

This module equips students with a sound understanding of sustainability in the business context. It highlights how the transformation in the global political economy has given rise to debates about the nature and role of business in society. It examines the changing expectations of business and how managers have responded to calls for greater social and environmental sustainability. It also highlights some of the key debates in the sustainability field, such as the drivers of corporate responsibility, the extent of responsibility, the governance and implementation of sustainability, and sustainable business models. Delivery of the module is practical and interdisciplinary. Discussion is encouraged around the analysis of sustainability principles in business practice using real-life business cases and scenarios.

The module considers the role of Global Operations and Supply Chain Management in improving the productivity and the competitive positioning of a wide range of companies. It explains how competitive advantage may be gained by focussing on the nature and efficiency of operations within the workplace. It demonstrates how a data-driven and analytical perspective is vital for supply chain analysis and the implementation of appropriate strategies for improvement through the decision-making process. Its fundamental aim is to look at how goods and services may be delivered on time and at a low cost. It provides students with a focus on high-level analytics and the ability to apply these to reviewing, implementing and integrating processes. It considers concepts, techniques and real-world applications in both manufacturing and service sectors. The module content involves consideration of techniques and tools enabling the production and distribution of goods. It stresses the importance of data analytics in making operational decisions. It looks at the design of products and services, capacity management, process design, logistics and transportation ERP, and inventory management. It also introduces students to the entry-level roles that this topic opens up for them in the future, for example, plant manager, department store manager, supply chain manager, logistics manager and business process improvement analyst.

This module considers how businesses operate in different parts of the world and in a global context. There is a focus on the interface between government and business, and the module compares the situations in which local businesses find themselves in a number of different countries, in the UK, North America and East Asia, with their varying approaches to government regulation of business activities. There is also consideration given to businesses which operate globally and the challenges they face, particularly in terms of coping with rapid technological developments and growing concerns about the environment. The impact of globalisation is also considered, and this has given rise to critical movements. After completing this module, students should have developed an awareness of a range of contexts in which businesses operate, how this affects their activities, the increasing opportunities and pressures businesses face in a global context and the arguments around the benefits and problems associated with globalisation.