MM1F17-BUSINESS SYNTHESIS
Module Provider: Leadership, Organisations and Behaviour
Number of credits: 10 [5 ECTS credits]
Level:4
Terms in which taught: Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2019/0
Email: irina.heim@henley.ac.uk
Type of module:
Summary module description:
This module is built around an engaging, cloud based business simulation in which students generate enquiries, sales and orders and build a successful company within the simulation environment. Working in simulated monthly cycles, students explore decision-making in key areas of business (Organisation; Sales & Marketing; Finance; and Operations) and receive feedback to see the consequences of their actions.
Aims:
The aim is to provide students with a general and practical understanding of the nature of business, from the startup phase throughout the initial business growth phase. Students will explore key functions of business (Organisation; Sales & Marketing; Finance; and Operations) and how they are interrelated.
Students will work in a team, planning and deciding together what activities they want to carry out in a cycle/turn in the game. They will then discuss, analyse and document the results of their decisions, which will inform their decision-making in the next cycle. They will also reflect how relevant business theories can be applied to the simulation scenario.
Assessable learning outcomes:
- To describe and discuss the challenges an SME faces in the early growth phase.
- To describe and explore the interrelationship between marketing, sales, operations and finance.
- To work successfully in a team and reflect on one’s own effectiveness within that team;
- To discuss concepts such as sales channels, segmenting, marketing and promotions, pricing strategies and costing
- Basic financial forecastin g
- Organise and communicate information clearly and succinctly
- Critically assess selected academic, professional and media sources relevant to the study of business and management.
Additional outcomes:
This module will assist students to synthesize various parts of the part 1 curriculum building a foundation for more complex strategic business theories.
Outline content:
Key concepts discussed will include
Enterprise startup and growth
Teambuilding
Business Planning
Choose a market segment and analyse the competitive environment
Sales and Marketing
Achieving product/ market fit
The importance of price and costing
Key considerations of operations & supplier management
Managing growth
Basics of performance review
Bu
siness decision making
Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
The principal teaching will take place in tutorials and class discussions. Lectures will introduce students to key business concepts and theories that will then be practically explored in tutorials within the simulation. The simulation allows a highly playful, experiential and iterative learning process, whereby students can safely analyse the outcomes of their business decision-making, then adapt their strategy until an optimal outcome is reached. At the end of the term students will be give n a business scenario in which they need to achieve a high result. This module is built around self-directed learning, students are expected to engage with the simulation outside of the classroom.
| Autumn | Spring | Summer | |
| Lectures | 2 | ||
| Seminars | 8 | ||
| Guided independent study: | |||
| Wider reading (independent) | 10 | ||
| Preparation for presentations | 5 | ||
| Preparation for seminars | 2 | ||
| Group study tasks | 60 | ||
| Essay preparation | 13 | ||
| Total hours by term | 0 | 100 | 0 |
| Total hours for module | 100 |
| Method | Percentage |
| Written assignment including essay | 60 |
| Portfolio | 15 |
| Oral assessment and presentation | 25 |
Summative assessment- Examinations:
Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:
Team presentation: At the end of term, students will be given a business scenario within the simulation as an assignment, and they will have to achieve an optimal outcome within a set number of turns. They will have to prepare a short team presentation on their performance and strategy. Individual written report: Individual students will be expected to submit a personal assessment of how their learning of running a business in the simulation relates to theory and the practice of running a small business
Team Portfolio: Submission of a reflective portfolio, which documents how different functions of the business scenario impacted overall strategy for achieving goals in the simulation. Submission of 3 – 4 A4 pages (minimum 400 words, max 750 words), submission in Week 11
Individual Written Assignment: 1000 word reflective essay, submission in Week 11
Formative assessment methods:
Students will have the opportunity to get feedback during seminars, there will also be a timetabled drop in session for students to get 1-2-1 feedback or as a group.
Penalties for late submission:
The Module Convener will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:
The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: http://www.reading.ac.uk/web/FILES/qualitysupport/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.
Assessment requirements for a pass:
Requirements for a pass: 40%
Reassessment arrangements:
By re-submission of individual written essay.
Additional Costs (specified where applicable):
Last updated: 17 February 2020
THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS MODULE DESCRIPTION DOES NOT FORM ANY PART OF A STUDENT'S CONTRACT.