BA (Hons) Business and Management

Level One

Contemporary Business Analysis

Students are introduced to a range of economic concepts and basic analytical techniques. Upon successful completion students are able to:

• Explain the workings of the price mechanism, the labour market and various forms of market failure.
• Explain the relationship between the firm’s costs, revenues, prices and outputs within various market structures.
• Analyse the interaction between entrepreneur, the firm and its external environment.
• Analyse the inter-relationships between government and key macro-economic indicators.
• Understand the links between the internal and external economy and how this impacts on the firm and its external environment.

Business Planning and Forecasting

This introduces some quantitative techniques fundamental to analysis, planning and forecasting in business. It promotes a critical awareness and understanding of some of the processes, techniques and technology by which numerical information can be collected and communicated. Students practise the systematic use of appropriate industry-standard computer technology for the acquisition, analysis and presentation of data (for example, Excel or SPSS).

Principles of Marketing

This provides an introduction to the theory and practice of marketing. Students are familiarised with key concepts and issues of marketing, giving them a thorough grasp of marketing decisions and what factors affect them. Learning is somewhat directive and progressively students are required to become more independent in their work. There are two different assessment types: individual essay writing and a group presentation. This prepares students for future modules in the programme.

Organisational Behaviour: Evolving Perspectives of Management

A number of competing and contrasting perspectives of past and present thinking on management are explored. In considering the changing and evolving roles of management and managers, the module acknowledges that the study of organisational behaviour is multidisciplinary and draws in particular from psychology, social psychology, sociology, economics and political science.

Financial Communications

This module provides students with an understanding of the relevance of finance and accounting and some of the current issues facing business people. It develops students’ ability to understand and comment upon issues which will arise when pursuing a business career. It examines the underlying reasons behind why organisations spend considerable time and money producing ‘financial communications’, and the extent to which these communications achieve their objectives.

Organising

This module examines the nature of organising. Attention is focused upon different forms of organising and the assumptions that underlie these forms and legitimise their nature. The module focuses particular attention on organising work and work-based organisations in contemporary capitalism. Emphasis is placed upon relationships between assumptions, theory and management action. This interest in connecting assumption, theory and action is central to the management programme and consequently this module serves as a valuable point of departure for students as they experience and reflect on the nature of management and their own assumptions, values and practices.

Organisational Behaviour: Management Context

This module focuses on the impact of group dynamics on the individual, the impact of personality when working with others, and considers the impact of both group dynamics and personality on the workplace from a management perspective. The module seeks to consider the impact of groups on individual behaviour, while observing the impact of individual personalities. The programme introduces theories and models relating to group work while the extent to which students already perceive themselves as managers is explored.

Level Two

Operations Management

This module responds to the need for students to understand the issues surrounding the management of resources and operations. The module sets these issues in the context of:

• Understanding organisations as ‘systems’ seeking to remain viable within their environments.
• The notion of ‘operations management’ as the act of aligning processes and systems to deliver an overall strategy and its marketing objectives, in both the service and the manufacturing environments.

Management Finance

The module includes revision in financial analysis, cash flow planning, budgets and variance analysis, finance and contemporary performance management. At its conclusion, students should have a solid understanding of the key elements of financial accounting, management accounting and finance that inform and affect the manager. Furthermore, students thus have a platform in the principles, models and issues that underpin the advanced aspects of the subject area.

Innovating

In recent years innovation has held a major place in both management theory and organisational practice. In this context, innovation has been defined as economic, social, technological or political activity. This module reviews various accounts of innovation and examines theoretical similarities and dissimilarities of approach. Attention is drawn on the role of product and process in such theories and the varying focus attached to each in theory and practice. By drawing on established approaches to business innovation this module turns particular attention to innovation as organisational processes.

Qualitative Research in Management and Organisations

This module aims to provide students with an introduction to the principal research methods used in the social sciences, the issues surrounding research design, and to develop a critical appreciation of the contribution research makes to management practice through building or extending knowledge, theories and models. It aims to develop students’ skills in designing and planning a research project with critical awareness about the types of methods at their disposal for data collection and interpretation.

Critical Human Resource Management: Managing Diversity

This module engages critically with diversity and equality issues in contemporary organisations. Evaluation of current organisational strategies to promote and manage equality and diversity are key elements of this module. Critical examination of the role of “social justice” and “competitive business” are also incorporated. Social, ethical and philosophical dimensions of diversity in terms of gender, age, race, sexuality and disability will be explored. Historical and contemporary legislation is explored, along with their practical implications.

Level Three

Work Placement Year (Optional)

Level Four

Strategic Management

Strategic management draws upon and integrates a range of business disciplines in examining both theory and practice. In so doing, it bridges the gap between discrete functionalist perspectives and the broader issues involved in general management activity. The module examines the overall challenges, issues and solutions, which are associated with the running of modern organisations.

Dissertation (Elective)

The dissertation is a major independent piece of work intended to develop a student’s ability to actively engage with core disciplinary issues. Students should demonstrate the ability to identify, organise and select from a large body of material in order to produce a coherent, well defined and internally consistent representation of their findings. Students work with their supervisor to research, develop and present their study for assessment following the agreed formats as prescribed by Lincoln Business School.

Management Report (Elective)

The Management Project module shares similarities with the Dissertation module. The major difference is that in the Management Report, students analyse, synthesise and critique their placement organisation. The module is available to students that make use of placement opportunities at levels one and two of the programme. Students complete a reflective log while they are on placement.

Business Project Management (Elective)

Business project management is considered an important management philosophy for how organisations manage changing business environments. All projects have to be managed to a successful conclusion, which relies on complex and important decisions being made through phases of planning, monitoring and controlling. The module focuses on the issues of planning, organisational, procedural, systematic and financial management in order to create a project management structure for a modern business context.

Entrepreneurship (Elective)

The entrepreneurship route has been designed so that students are prepared to pursue careers as owner/managers and contemporary business managers, and understand the issues of modern entrepreneurial activities in contemporary environments. Students also examine the general principles of entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial activity, within a variety of settings.

Financial Management (Elective)

The purpose of this module is to introduce students to the role of the financial manager. The module focuses on the key issues surrounding investment, financing and distribution decisions, specifically:

• The identification and evaluation of investment opportunities in the context of shareholder wealth maximisation.
• Appraisal techniques used in the evaluation of investment opportunities.
• Issues of risk evaluation and determination in the identification, selection and evaluation of investment opportunities.
• The principal financial products available to government, companies and individuals.
• The markets in which these financial products are traded.

Global Marketing Strategy (Elective)

The aim of this module is to equip students with a range of skills enabling them to think strategically in the context of the global business world. It considers the strategic marketing implications for companies operating in a rapidly changing and dynamic global business environment. The module addresses how organisations create and maintain a viable position within the business world, seeking to examine what underpins successful marketing strategies and their practice.

Internet and E-Commerce (Elective)

This module explores the way in which organisations can take advantage of Internet technologies to develop new ways of doing business and add value to their commercial activities. The module develops students’ understanding of electronic commerce (E-Commerce), enhances their competencies in business analysis and introduces them to the practical skills of website development. The module will equip students to make significant contributions to the exploitation of E-Commerce in organisations.

Managing (Elective)

This module adopts a praxis approach to managing. The complexity of the relationship between knowledge, theories and action is explored. The module sets out to identify and deconstruct constructed beliefs on managing and provides students with the skills they need to understand and respond to the challenges it poses.

Marketing Communications (Elective)

The module places marketing communications in the context of business and marketing strategies, and the development of marketing communications objectives that are based on this context. Theories of information processing and buyer behaviour are explored and applied in the development of communication plans. Particular emphasis is placed on elements of the communications mix, media selection and evaluation of the effectiveness and efficiency of communications.

Personal Financial Planning (Elective)

Personal financial planning is the process whereby individuals can determine whether or not they can meet their financial objectives through proper management of their financial resources. This module demonstrates and explores the application of a range of techniques used to help achieve this aim.

Human Resource Management (Elective)

The major function of this module is to locate the Human Resource function in the organisational context. The module explores and examines strategic and operational aspects of the function in light of the contemporary business environment and social context. The practices associated with the management of human resources are examined within what constitutes ‘good practice’, while the issues of implementation are also explored and addressed. The management of change and the development of organisational culture are assessed, and their impact on the process, practices and policies of Human Resource Management (HRM) are analysed.

Venture Creation (Elective)

This module enables students to develop their understanding of the business environment within both a rural and urban context. This helps them to understand differences within the academic context of starting a new venture and the practicalities that affect the level of success.

Students are encouraged to develop independence in their thinking and managing their own time within a framework of direction and support offered by teaching staff. Throughout the course, students are sensitised to issues of codes of professional conduct and ethical behaviour.

Most modules include some lectures. These are designed to inspire and motivate students, introduce them to particular topics and give an overview of current issues and debates within the discipline. Some are given by visiting practitioners who provide ‘live’ case material and offer students industry contacts and careers advice. In addition to tutor-directed seminars, students are encouraged to form their own learning and support groupings.

Our approach is one of collaboration between staff and students. Emphasis is put on using the student group as a resource for learning. In seminars, which typically involve numbers of fewer than 20, students are able to articulate their own thoughts and clarify ideas through discussion with others.

A variety of learning methods used including in-class group exercises, discussions, presentations, evaluation of sample material, and case study analysis. Student participation is encouraged from the start and set as the norm for the rest of the course. Students are expected to prepare prescribed material for seminars as well as generally keep abreast of current developments in their discipline.

A wide range of assessment strategies are used both to facilitate the testing of a wide range of learning outcomes and to reflect the student’s varying learning styles. It also believes that the students benefit from the opportunity to undertake more, and earlier, formative assessment, especially in their Level One studies.

Students are expected to move in a continuous process from a dependent learning state to one of independence. At the end of the degree course, it is expected that students will be much more autonomous and reflexive individuals equipped with a set of skills which will enable them to operate successfully in society and the world of work.

Lincoln Business School is based in the David Chiddick building alongside Lincoln Law School.

The building was completely refurbished in 2010 and provides students with teaching and learning space including lecture theatres, workshop rooms, an IT/language lab and a mooting chamber, along with places to meet and eat with friends and staff.

The building provides high quality spaces for teaching and group learning and is the perfect setting for successful Business School students to learn and develop.

The aim of all the courses in the Business School is to produce independent, enquiring, knowledgeable graduates who enjoy learning, are enterprising, employable, self-aware, able to take career and other opportunities in life, and able to make a positive contribution to society.

All courses run by Lincoln Business School offer students work placement opportunities. These fall within two broad categories:

• A short placement of up to 12 weeks. This is designed to fit in the break between the second and final levels of the degree course.
• A full year (academic year) of work placement, funded by full-time paid employment. This is designed to last between 40 and 46 weeks.

Each student’s experience can include one of these types, and preferably also other work experience such as relevant casual work, voluntary or social enterprise activity or leadership within student clubs and societies.

The Business and Management course at Lincoln Business School combines intellectual rigor with personal development, as well as offering grounding in the core principles of business such as marketing, finance, human resource management, operations and decision making.

Development is a real focus of this course, which means we devote a lot of time effort and attention into building the range and scope into each and every individual student’s personal portfolio.

Students will gain a sound grasp of the principles of both business and management. Studies will be organised around core business subject areas, for example marketing, operations, strategy and around core management subjects.

The course provides the opportunity to gain a range of contemporary business and management skills and knowledge which can be employed within a variety of contexts, addressing the needs of those seeking employment in both the small and medium sized organisations as well as those wishing to work for multinational businesses.

Our graduates excel at managerial roles in a sector that develops new challenges every day.

Graduates go on to management careers across a wide range of global professions including the oil industry, retail, investment banks, computing, airlines while others remain more local or pursue roles in public sector management.

No specific skills are required, although an interest and curiosity about the world of business and management is valued.

The course is contemporary and practical and involves a good deal of participation and problem-based learning.

Students need 260 UCAS points to gain entry onto this course (2012 entry). These should be from at least two full A-Levels, preferably three (or equivalent). They will also need at least five GCSE’s Grade A-C which must include English Language and Maths.

We encourage applications from mature students and we will give special individual consideration if some are in this category and do not have the standard entry requirements.

Students whose first language is not English will also need British Council IELTS band 6.0 or above or equivalent.

2012 Entry	UK/EU	International
Full-time	£9000	£10499
Part-time	£75 per credit point	£88 per credit point
Placement (optional)	Exempt	Exempt
Assessment Only	£38 per credit point	£44 per credit point

 

2013 Entry	UK/EU	International
Full-time	£9000	£11130
Part-time	£75 per credit point	£93 per credit point
Placement (optional)	Exempt	Exempt
Assessment Only	£38 per credit point	£47 per credit point

For further information and funding your study please see our Fees & Funding pages.

Fees and Funding