IF0IBJ-An Introduction to Business & Management

Module Provider: International Study and Language Institute
Number of credits: 40 [20 ECTS credits]
Level:F
Terms in which taught: Autumn / Spring / Summer module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2023/4

Module Convenor: Dr Meiko Murayama
Email: m.murayama@henley.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This module covers the fundamental theories in the domain of business and management.

Aims:

The aims of this module are:

1. For students to develop an an understanding of Business and Management. 


2. To provide students with a good knowledge of the key principles and concepts on which business, Introduction to Business and Management and finance practice are based.


3. To make students aware of the role of corporate governance in organisations and the ethical issues faced by organisations and the individuals in them. 


4. To gain a holistic understanding of business and organisations.


5. To encourage students to engage critically with theory, by generating creative solutions to business problems and issues presented as case studies and by evaluating theory in extended pieces of writing.


6. Students will also have opportunities to demonstrate the skills necessary to study effectively both face to face and online remote learning environment including decision making, problem solving, challenging assumptions and quantifying and managing information. 

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the completion of this module students will be able to:

1. Identify, describe, analyse and evaluate the general objectives of business and the context in which it operates.


2. Describe and assess the functions and tasks that businesses perform in order to meet their objectives.


3. Describe and discuss the nature, characteristics, advantages and disadvantages of different forms of business and organisationalstructure .


4. Describe, analyse and evaluate the purpose of financial information produced by businesses, the role that the finance function plays in business and sources of finance available to businesses.


5. Handle quantitative data in order to provide information suitable for Introduction to Business and Management planning, decision making and control.


6. Describe and explain the role that governance and ethics plays in the Introduction to Business and Management of businesses and explain how a business might promote corporate governance, sustainability, corporate responsibility and an ethical culture.


7. Describe and explain the environment in which businesses operate and its impact on businesses.


8. Apply the above knowledge and understanding to analyse and evaluate case based examples.

Additional outcomes:

Students will also be able to demonstrate an improvement in their ability to think critically, to organise their thoughts logically, and to argue persuasively. Students will successfully engage with the University online teaching and learning platform Blackboard, becoming familiar with the features for accessing learning resources (e.g. online live teaching, live group, assessment delivery, assessment submission and performance monitoring). 

Outline content:

• Introduction to Business Management 


• Business objectives and business structures


• Human resource management 


• Business functions – marketing 


• Finance and financial information  


• Business structures and leadership


• Governance and ethics


• Strategy and strategic management

Global context:

Global environment, case studies and examples drawn from around the world.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

The module will be taught through a combination of lectures, workshops (practicals) and seminars (discussions or presentations) as well as online to include screencasts, narrated PowerPoints, live sessions and discussion boards. Students can successfully complete the module on campus or remotely. Tutorials allow students to work through examples at their own pace.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures	30	21	12
Seminars	20	14	8
Tutorials	10	7	4
Guided independent study:
Wider reading (independent)	15	15	20
Wider reading (directed)	30	20	10
Exam revision/preparation			40
Advance preparation for classes		10
Preparation for seminars	20	20	14
Revision and preparation	30	30
Total hours by term	155	137	108
Total hours for module	400

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written exam	50
Report	20
Class test administered by School	30

Summative assessment- Examinations:

One final 2-hour exam in summer (July-August): 50%.

The examination for this module will require a narrowly defined time window and is likely to be held in a dedicated exam venue.

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

Week 11 of spring term (January-March) in-class test:  1 x 1.5 hour test. (10%)

Week 8 of summer term (April-June) in-class test:  1 x 1.75 hour test. (20%)

Week 9 of summer term (April-June) group report: about 2,600 words. (20%)

Formative assessment methods:

Mock test, group work, Q&A, report.

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:

40% to qualify for a degree programme

Reassessment arrangements:

Re-examination in August/September.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

1) Required text books: 

Mottershead, A., Grant, A. and Kelt, J. (2015) Business. Oxon: Hodder Education.  About £30 pounds per book without discount

2) Specialist equipment or materials: 

3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear: 

4) Printing and binding: 

5) Computers and devices with a particular specification: 

6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence: 

Last updated: 30 March 2023