Business and Management

In this advanced module you’ll get a good introduction to the specific areas of corporate and business law. You’ll gain understanding and knowledge of business activities and how they are affected by business law. You’ll also have the opportunity to examine and test those areas of law against specific cases in various business areas. This will help you develop a good knowledge of corporate and business law, that can be applied to real world business activities.

You’ll gain the underpinning theory, concepts and also some basic skills to understand and engage in the processes of creativity and innovation. You’ll take a holistic approach to look at this subject from a variety of angles. This could be from an

• academic perspective
• an organisational perspective
• a management consultancy perspective
• an entrepreneurial perspective. 

You’ll also have the opportunity and be supported to release and express more of your own creative potential. You’ll explore why creativity and innovation is increasingly being viewed as the key to competitive advantage in the New Economy.
 

This is your opportunity for independent study on an approved topic. It will relate to your programme learning outcomes. You’ll select and discuss a relevant topic area with your Programme Lead/Subject Co-ordinator. Your independent study may involve:

• action based learning 
• be based solely on desk research 
• limited primary research
• group work.

And will be self directed. Through any group work you may have a specific role and responsibilities.
 

In this module, you’ll consider the different exchange rate regimes, both in theory and in practice. You’ll also explore theory of international trade, the costs and benefits of protectionism, national and international measures to encourage competition. You’ll also be able to understand how to prevent anti-competitive behaviour and their rationale, and study the international organisations that control and regulate free trade.

You’ll be able to analyse international data from a variety of sources, and explain international trade patterns including trading blocs and the role of MNCs and FDI.

This module is designed to introduce you to the operational role and functions of people management and how it supports organisations to manage their diverse workforce in an international context. People management is an essential tool for all line managers as it provides them with the skills, knowledge and competencies that equip you to be effective in how you recruit, motivate and reward your staff. This module offers you an operational ‘toolbox’ that covers all the core, fundamental features of people management.

On successful completion of this module, you will be able to identify the essential components of viable people management policies whilst also illustrating their effectiveness and engage in appropriate and accurate communications amongst different business contexts.
 

The aim of any industrial, public sector, retail, or other service organisation is to deliver goods and services of the quality, quantity, cost and availability that will satisfy customers' needs, while at the same time making the most effective use of resources. 

This module will help you to develop an understanding of the issues and themes which are appropriate to company middle and senior managers. This is so you can build your understanding of the principles and techniques which are the foundation of successfully managing operations or processes to provide operational benefits for a business.
 

The module covers various non-profit organisations such as charities and social enterprises, and emphasises the unique aspects of the third sector, which relies heavily on a volunteer workforce. By taking this module, you will gain valuable insights into the day-to-day operations of non-profits and learn how to address strategic issues that these organisations face. Additionally, the module will help you develop both conceptual and practical skills that are essential for non-profit placements, independent study modules, or dissertations.

Overall, you will have a broad understanding of the third sector, its similarities and differences from the private and public sectors, and the opportunities and challenges that come with working in the non-profit sector. By acquiring this knowledge, you can pursue a career in non-profit organisations or become an informed citizen who can contribute to the sector in various ways.
 

While this module addresses a broad range of concepts that fall under the marketing management umbrella, it will be delivered via an extremely practical task structure that facilitates an engaged and productive academic journey. The module takes key marketing principles such as customer centricity and approaches them through the lens of management, giving you a profound understanding of the pillars of marketing. 

On successful completion of the module, you’ll be able to appreciate emerging marketing techniques and theories, perform critical market analysis and apply multi-faceted solutions to marketing problems.
 

Supply chain management is concerned with managing and controlling the activities along a chain of supply. From procuring materials to delivering finished goods that satisfy customer orders. 

This module will help you study, in a global context, the processes necessary to strategically manage the flow of materials and products in order to achieve a competitive advantage. You’ll examine how effective logistics and purchasing systems can become key business enablers. Also you’ll look at how the management of international supply chains must form a significant element of the strategy of any organisation operating on a global basis. By the end of the module you’ll gain a deep understanding of the various threads in a supply chain and that an improved supply chain can be of a significant benefit for a whole business.
 

The work placement is a great opportunity to enhance your CV, preparing you for future employment. You will gain commercial and practical experience, and many students are offered graduate positions by their placement employer. Recently, students have enjoyed inspiring and intellectually challenging positions at IBM, Aldi, BMW, Dyson, Ernst & Young, GlaxoSmithKline, Nestlé and PayPal. During your placement there is a fee which is paid to the university (see tuition fees for more details). It covers the cost of your placement tutor, and the support we provide whilst looking for a placement position and during your placement role. Whilst on your placement you will still be classed as a student. You will be paid a financially sustainable salary which will vary depending on your role, company and location. Learn more about how Oxford Brookes Business School supports students secure a work placement.

This module provides an opportunity for students to investigate the forces shaping the contemporary financial system. A variety of issues will be examined, taking the financial turmoil of 2007-2008 as a starting point. The emphasis will be on both the underlying causes of recent financial developments and the more general implications of these for our understanding of finance and on the possibilities open to regulatory authorities, companies, investors and other interested groups to respond to these
developments.
 

This culminating module draws together research skills developed earlier in the programme to support you in developing an extended study, selecting from a range of topics offered from the Faculty of Business research community. The project includes designing and implementing an investigation which takes account of multiple and possibly conflicting stakeholder objectives; applies suitable research approaches in an ethical manner; and communicates, using suitable technologies, with the intention of making recommendations for practice.
 

This module provides you with an in-depth focus on the skills involved in evaluating business ideas, the practical steps involved in launching a business and the necessary processes of winning the finance. The module also addresses those issues that ventures must consider when planning an exit strategy and so focuses attention on the purpose of business enterprise. In Semester 1 this module explores contemporary theories of entrepreneurship and applies them to real life case studies. In Semester 2 the module focuses upon the preparation of a complete plan for a new business, capable of attracting funding.

On successful completion of this module, you will be able to apply appropriate analytical concepts to provide support for untried venture proposals, understand the range of technical issues faced by those in start-up ventures and reflect on application of entrepreneurship theory, based on experience in a practical setting.

This is your opportunity to embark on independent study of an approved topic that relates to your learning outcomes. Your study will be conducted under supervision and you will select a relevant topic area from your course and you’ll need to get approval from the module leader.

Your study on this module can involve:

• action-based learning
• solely on desk research 
• limited primary research.
   

In this module, you'll have the opportunity to reflect critically on your competencies and develop strategies to enhance your personal and professional development through your work experience. You'll also develop critical self-reflection as a tool for personal and professional growth, while evaluating the contribution of your job role to the success of the organisation. Through work-based learning, you'll develop a range of personal competencies, evidence your progress, and apply theory to practise in assessing organisational practice and individual contribution. Additionally, you'll gain a deep understanding of the functioning of your employing organisation, including its structure, culture, and strategy.

By the end of the module, you'll be equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to critically reflect on your own personal and professional development needs, progress, and contributions to organisational success.
 

International businesses need to understand international marketing strategy to create sustainable competitive advantage. Within this context, you’ll analyse critical success factors, while drawing from a rich theoretical background. Organisations are increasingly conscious of the importance of ethics, professionalism and social responsibility, which are all issues that will be examined in depth, at an international level, in this module.

Upon successful completion of this module, you’ll understand the effects of a rapidly changing global environment on a diverse range of organisations, develop a set of professional values based upon a critical appreciation of diverse cultural perspectives, and you’ll be confident in qualitative and quantitative data analysis.
 

This module aims to equip you with the skills and knowledge necessary to manage effectively in a globalised business environment. You’ll analyse a wide range of management practices, while also evaluating theoretical frameworks and conducting research on national cultures. You will evaluate the strategic implications of culture on business operations and HRM practices, while also developing the aptitude required to manage effectively across cultures.

Benefits to you include gaining a competitive edge in the job market by expanding knowledge about managing in a globalised world and navigating cross-cultural communication challenges. You will also broaden your horizons and increase your cultural awareness and sensitivity, enhancing your ability to work effectively with individuals from different backgrounds.
 

The module aims to develop critical thinking in evaluating the application of change management theory and normative practices to challenges taking place in organisations and wider society. The literature used in the module draws on a breadth of sources including the mainstream and contemporary literature on change management. It aims to increase personal reflexivity and self-awareness. 

After completing this module, you will have an understanding of the nature of change and key theories, frameworks, principles and practices relevant for the management and leadership of change. You'll be able to evaluate critically the actions taken by those leading change. You will be better prepared to lead and manage change in your own managerial careers and have an increased awareness of your own potential for ongoing personal development in leading and managing change.
 

This module enables you to review and develop disciplinary knowledge and research skills within a contemporary global context. The module adopts a broad definition of `international human resource management', to include issues relating to the impact of diversity management, national culture, the debates in the comparative HRM literature and examples of differences in the way HRM is conducted around the world. It also examines how international organisations deal with the extra complexity that operating internationally brings to HRM.

Current issues will also be examined including the foreign vs. local staffing debate, women expatriates, joint venture issues and issues surrounding cross-cultural management.
 

This module will equip you with the necessary skills to appreciate, understand, and cope with a fast paced, and changing business environment. Within a contextual framework of current disruptive innovations, you’ll also evaluate and challenge the norms of business models. 

You’ll gain analytical skills that can be used to evaluate the impact of disruptive innovation, new technologies, modes of employment and their impact on business now and in the future. These analytical and evaluation skills can also be used to develop directed goals for career development.
 

In this module, you’ll develop an understanding of theoretical and practical frameworks for workplace coaching and how it contributes to the effective management of organisations. You’ll practise coaching approaches, while also being coached, allowing you to give and receive feedback on your coaching experience.

Upon completing this module, you’ll:

• develop essential coaching skills to support the development of others,
• be able to critically reflect upon your own development as an individual and practice as a coach,
• and you’ll understand the different frameworks that inform coaching practice.