AC109: Introduction to Business

Module code: AC109

Module provider: Business Informatics, Systems and Accounting; Henley Business School

Credits: 20

Level: Level 1 (Certificate)

When you'll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Dr Maggie Cooper, email: maggie.cooper@henley.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: na

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 28 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module introduces students to the study of international businesses focusing on their management and analysis of strategy. It explores different types of organisations and stakeholders as well as the broad environment within which these operate. The course includes study of key concepts, theories and models to enable students to grow their understanding of and ability to analyse contemporary businesses. The use of examples, case studies and a focus on current events ensures that students also develop commercial awareness.

The module is structured to facilitate skill development including critical thinking, different writing styles, feedback literacy, personal reflection, research and team working.

This module introduces students to key concepts, theories and models related to the study and conduct of business. As a core first year module it helps students to understand key terms and ideas that they will see elsewhere on their accounting degree programme and to develop confidence and competence in academic and professional skills.

The module lead at the University of Reading Malaysia is Lee Pei Ling.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Identify, discuss and evaluate business concepts, theories and models
2. Evidence competence in academic skills including academic essay writing
3. Evidence competence in a range of professional skills (for example, the ability to work effectively in a team, take conduct research and analysis and think critically)
4. Evidence self-awareness and the ability to reflect honestly on personal performance

Module content

• Business strategy  
• Business in context – the environment
• Business and the role of government
• Internal analysis of business
• Business in context – globalisation
• Sustainability and business ethics
• Finance, financial management and financial markets

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The module is taught with a combination of lectures and workshops. The larger group lectures, whilst interactive, will focus on providing content and explanation of the course material. The workshops will consist of smaller groups of students where they will work together to actively discuss and apply the lecture material.

Material will be provided on Blackboard before lectures to introduce the concepts and ideas prior to the lecture. This material will be a mixture of readings and other digital content.

Students will work in teams on their team assignment and time will be allocated in the workshops for them to apply the learning from the course material in an interactive manner.

This module may be taught in a different semester if you are studying at our campus in Malaysia.

For students studying at our campus in Malaysia: This module may be taught in a different semester and the breakdown of study hours may differ to those set out in the Study Hours table (please refer to the Module Handbook for the correct breakdown). In addition, you will be required to complete an additional 40 hours of study, taking the total number of study hours to 240 for this module. This is to comply with the Malaysian Quality Agency (MQA).

Study hours

At least 36 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

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

Assessments with numerical marks

• 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 three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/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.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Students submit a first, purely formative essay and receive general feedback. They then submit a draft of the summative essay, with general class level feedback provided, enabling them to re-draft before final submission.

Students submit a formative personal reflection towards the start of the semester and receive general feedback.

Reassessment

Additional costs