Business Administration (top-up) - BA (Hons)

University of Hertfordshire

The module will introduce students to a range of issues and challenges confronting strategic leaders of public, private and third sector organisations in a turbulent global environment. It will focus on the many conflicting perspectives within the subject of strategic management and consider the problems involved in researching and developing strategies and plans and implementing them within the limitations of the organisation. It considers a range of analytical techniques and concepts, both applying them and critically evaluating their usefulness through the use of case study work. The module includes a comprehensive review of current strategic issues, identifying the contradictions and paradoxical nature of strategic decision-making and strategic planning.

This module is essentially workshop-based, where students will role play members of an organisational management team as they develop, plan and implement a new product or service for their organisation. The module will consolidate functional business knowledge and provide students with an opportunity to integrate theories and gain experience in a simulated business environment. Students will be encouraged to reflect upon that experience in preparation for their future business careers.

This module will bring together a range of current research on contemporary strategic issues in business and management and enable students to consolidate their understanding of these issues, whilst giving them the skills and opportunity to examine and evaluate alternative valid views. Students will be asked to use their research skills to develop an in-depth understanding of these contemporary issues while being encouraged to examine and question the legitimacy of alternative approaches to management and to evaluate the impact, if any, of these issues on a business' strategic development. Students are expected to draw on the whole range of knowledge and skills developed during their studies when reviewing research literature and evaluating business and management responses to contemporary issues.

Suggested module content will include the definition and development of digital economy as part of an organisation's strategy, consider different approaches to digital economy which involves the internal and external effects of digital economy, international methods of digital economy and strategic advantage through digital economy.

Global marketing success is a function of perspective, opportunity, motivation, organisation, knowledge and skills. The challenge for today's global marketers is to identify those opportunities appropriate to the firm, to develop appropriate marketing strategies and build and sustain competitive advantages in co-operation with other members of the firm as well as external partners. To this end, the module will provide learning opportunities to appreciate current writings and perspectives on the global marketing environment. Opportunities will be given to analyse different global marketing organisations and their environments, suggest and implement realistic strategies and plans and control mechanisms. The module addresses global issues such as the macro environment, market entry strategies, communication, price, planning and control.

Concepts and issues in International HRM are both introduced and further developed in the module. Students are encouraged to work together in international student teams incorporating life experiences of peers as a vital resource. Typical content includes: the analysis of differences between national and international HRM; aspects of cultural and institutional explanations for international variations in HRM contexts and practices as well as examination of the structures and strategies of MNCs exploring the political/economic environments, ethical issues and major features of HR/employment practice in the Americas, Europe, East Asia and developing countries. An introduction to the theories of expatriate adjustment, equal opportunities in international staffing as well as managing the expatriation cycle-recruitment, training, pay, performance management and repatriation may also be discussed.

This module explores the fundamental economic changes in the global economy and their implications for the core and transition economies (ie previously planned communist economies), as well as the developing countries. Broadly speaking, the module will cover the issues related to the changes in international production networks, technology, global financial structures, trade patterns, income distribution and poverty.

This module explores leadership and management within the context of the business organisation. It examines the development of leadership and management theory as well as discussing contemporary applications of theoretical approaches. Leadership styles and models are analysed, including their impact on follower performance. Key concepts of organisational behaviour, including motivation, structure, group dynamics, culture power and conflict are explored and their impact on leadership and management examined. The content of the module may include: early management theory and its relevance today; the main approaches to leadership theory; the changing role of the leader - alternative approaches; motivation theories and their relationship to leadership and developing individuals; work/life balance; leadership and group behaviour; organisational structures and culture; main bases of power and organisational power relationships; resistance and conflict in organisations and management and leadership in differing organisational contexts.