CE3CBM-Business Organisation and Management

Module Provider: School of Construction Management and Engineering, School of Built Environment
Number of credits: 10 [5 ECTS credits]
Level:6
Terms in which taught: Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2023/4

Module Convenor: Professor Irem Dikmen
Email: i.dikmen@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This intensive course of study provides students with an understanding and appreciation of business principles and methods, as required in the construction industry. Included within the course is a case study company seeking strategic choices which will form the basis of the learning experience.

Aims:
To provide the student with sufficient knowledge to understand and evaluate a business in terms of its goals, business plans, options, marketing strategy, responsible business practice and overall organisation.

Assessable learning outcomes:

On completing the module students should be able to evaluate a business in terms of its: 

• Company ethos and leadership.


• Business plans, taking account of stakeholders and capabilities.


• Marketing strategy.


• Sustainable business initiatives.


• Organisation structure and culture.

Additional outcomes:
' Students will enhance their team working, time-management and presentation skills and gain confidence in using computer analysis.

' They will develop their understanding of business and the relationship between different functions of business, compare strategic opportunities, decision making, implementation and the resulting outcomes.

Outline content:

• Introduction to business and structure of the construction industry.


• Organisational theory and practice.


• Management of change, innovation. 


• Business strategy process and theory.


• Effective marketing plans and processes.


• Case Study Workshops – in-class interactive workshops to understand the practical realities of the course content, culminating in the student’s solving a series of real world business problems.

Global context:
The international context is addressed in both the taught element and the company case study

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
Lectures, participative workshops and private study.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures		20
Guided independent study:		80
Total hours by term		100
Total hours for module	100

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written assignment including essay	100

Summative assessment- Examinations:
n/a

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

The course will be assessed through two essays, with the first accounting for 60% of the marks and the second accounting for 40% of the marks. Each essay examines an accompanying case study which will be provided.  

Formative assessment methods:

Feedback to students through interaction with tutors during case study workshops

A session will be held to introduce the  written assessments, clarify and direct as necessary

Penalties for late submission:

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/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:
A mark of 40%

Reassessment arrangements:

Reassessment is a written assignment combining the two essays into a single submission. The reassessment assignment will make use of a different case study to that of the original assessment. 

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

1) Required text books:  None

2) Specialist equipment or materials:  None

3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear:  None

4) Printing and binding:  None

5) Computers and devices with a particular specification:  None

6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence:  None

Last updated: 30 March 2023