Introductory description

This is an elective module available for non-WBS students only who wish to study a module covering various elements of business as a foundational subject.
Students must not have studied any other WBS modules that cover accounting, organisational behaviour, strategy or marketing.

Subtitled 'Value-based management', this module is intended for non-business undergraduates who wish to gain exposure to management of business in their final year of study. It covers the core subject areas of general managerial competency affecting the strategic management of business practices (human resources management, accounting, marketing and organisational behaviour) that provide foundation skills needed to run a business.

Module web page

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

Business Strategy
Introduction to Strategy
Analysing the External Environment
Analysing the Internal Environment
Strategy Dynamics & Complexity

Organisational Behaviour
Introduction to Organisational Behaviour
Organisational Culture

Marketing
Introduction to Marketing
Understanding Customers & Consumers
Branding & the Marketing Mixes

Accounting & Finance
Introduction to Accounting & Finance
Analytical Techniques & Approach to Interpretation
Management Accounting & Decision Making

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Understand key concepts in core components of business studies: accounting, foundations of organisational behaviour, business strategy and marketing.
• Apply and integrate these components to analyse a practical business situation, by studying how management decision- making can become more informed.
• Appreciate alternative disciplinary perspectives on value-based management (from accounting, operations, marketing and human resources perspectives).
• Appreciate alternative disciplinary perspectives on management.
• Evaluate how factors both within the organisation and the broader business environment can influence strategic management decision-making.

Indicative reading list

Given the range of topics covered in these modules and the further challenge of providing completely up-to-date coverage of these topics, there is currently no single required or recommended text for the module. Some reading for each subject may be indicated by each instructor during their sessions and via my.wbs, but the following may be useful starting points and references if you wish to explore the topics in more depth (or plan to attempt the assignment for a given subject).

For Marketing:
Dacko, Scott G. (2008). The Advanced Dictionary of Marketing: Putting Theory to Use, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
For Accounting:
Atrill and McLaney, (2019), (11 th edition), Accounting and Finance for Non-Specialists, Pearson, ISBN 978129224401-3
For Organisational Behaviour:
King, D & Lawley, S. (2016). Organizational Behaviour (2nd Edition). Oxford University Press
For Business Policy:
Grant, R. (2018). Contemporary Strategy Analysis (10th edition). John Wiley & Sons. Multiple copies are available in the Library
.Johnson, et.al., Exploring Strategy – Text & Cases, 12th edition, Pearson (2019). Available as an eResource via the Library

Additionally, the following textbooks may be useful for further reading:

Boddy, D. (2017). Management: An Introduction (7th edition). Pearson.
Greenberg, J. (2012). Managing Behavior in Organizations: International Edition (6th edition). Pearson.
Atrill, P & McLaney, E. (2018). Accounting & Finance for Non-Specialists (11th edition). Pearson.
Kotler, P., Armstrong, G., Harris, L.C., & Piercy, N. (2017). Principles of Marketing European Edition (7th edition). Pearson.

Interdisciplinary

this module is available to students across the University who wish to study foundational business topics.

Subject specific skills

Understand key concepts in core components of business studies.

Transferable skills

Apply and integrate these key concepts to analyse a practical business situation.