Introduction to Business and Management: Study Blocks and Learning Outcomes

Block 1: The Nature of Business and Organizations

It comprises seven study blocks, designed to be studied in sequence. To direct and support your progress through the module, refer to the module website, which contains the study planner. The blocks are:

This block introduces the nature of business and other types of organisations, including some of the key aspects of organisations and their environments, as well as some core ideas about management.

This block introduces the key concepts of work, reasons why people work, and managing people at work.

This block introduces the importance of financial information for business managers, including the need for raising finance and managing financial resources accurately and prudently.

This block provides an introduction to the subject of marketing, including an introduction to marketing strategy, customer behaviour, the mix, social media marketing, social and political marketing and societal and sustainability issues in marketing.

This block gives you an introduction to some basic micro- and macroeconomic concepts and ideas, including supply and demand and price determination, economic growth and national income, money supply and interest rates, and governmental economic and industrial policy.

This block introduces the idea of the wider responsibilities of businesses, beyond their own organisation and its financial goals and obligations.

The block introduces some ethical theories that can help managers make sense of their obligations and discusses important contemporary business ethics issues, including sustainability and human rights.

This block introduces the global context in which large companies and even many small companies now operate. It covers topics and ideas from the meaning and nature of globalisation, drivers of globalisation, the internationalisation and globalisation of enterprises, to ethical issues in international business.

Each block has specific learning outcomes, which describe what you are expected to learn from studying the block in question, but the overarching aim of the module is to enable you to acquire and demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

. the nature of businesses and other organisations, including organisational structure, culture and values

. the principles of the main business functions (human resource management, accounting and finance, and marketing)

. the external environment in which the business operates, including the economic and political context at national and global levels

. the principles of business ethics and the main social and environmental issues faced by businesses and other organisations.

In addition to the learning outcomes that relate to your knowledge and understanding of the study material, the module aims to support you in developing the following cognitive, practical and professional skills:

. selecting and analysing information relevant to a particular problem or issue related to business and management

. applying theories, models and concepts to practical situations

. framing and addressing questions in relation to business and management

. using academic and business and management language appropriately and effectively

. interpreting, using and presenting numerical information effectively and appropriately

. searching for and using relevant digital and non-digital information from sources other than the module materials

. communicating in a professional manner in written work, face-to-face and online, and developing awareness of ethical issues and professional

standards relevant to business and management. Your development of these skills will be supported through the activities that you will be asked to complete (both in the texts and online), tutorials, day schools and information literacy resources (see the next section of this guide). Your command of these skills will be assessed in the tutor-marked assignments (TMAs).

Studying at a distance is challenging and rewarding. The module team is very aware of the commitment that you make and have put together a carefully tailored set of resources to support your learning. The next section outlines the different elements of the module and provides some suggestions for their best use.