Friday, 16 October 2015

Reading system

Reading system




  • Essential reading
  • Further reading
  • Books
  • Supplementary literature
  • Other learning resources

Reading and learning resources

Reading and learning resources



A vast array of material has been written about business and management,
and this is a major reason for the subject being such an interesting one.
Many different people, organisations and groups hold widely differing
views on issues in this area. You are going to be taking an academic
approach to the subject, and this needs to be reflected in your reading.
Reading is a vital and central part of your work and successful progress in
this course. It is important that you make use of your academic and study
skills handbook Strategies for success. This will really help you, because
it includes guidance on reading technique. It is possible for everyone to
develop their reading skills, and consciously working on this will be of
great benefit to you.
This subject guide is designed to guide you through academic material in
the major areas of business and management, as set out in the syllabus. It
is important at this stage to understand the reading system, for this will
ensure that you cover all the necessary elements of the main topics in a
comprehensive way.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes



On completion of this course, you should be able to:
• understand the evolution of the business organisation and management
thought, identifying the interconnections between developments in
these areas
• evaluate alternative theories of management critically, recognising the
centrality of decision making and strategic thinking to the managerial
role and functions
• discuss and compare different models and approaches to understanding
the firm, evaluating these in the context of the business environment
• explore the impact of key environmental factors on decision making
and organisational behaviour
• evaluate the significance of contemporary issues in business and
management.

Aims

Aims of Study of Business Management



This has three main aims, and these directly relate to the major
themes that will be emphasised throughout. The course aims to:
• provide a comprehensive introduction to the key elements of the
business organisation, and to competing theories and models of the
firm and its environment, and to provide a critical perspective on the
main functional areas of management
• build a foundation of knowledge on the different theoretical
approaches to management and decision making
• develop analytical skills to identify the links between the functional
areas in management, organisations, management practices and the
business environment.

Introduction

Introduction



Welcome to Introduction to business and management. You have chosen to study a dynamic subject that will stretch your knowledge and challenge your ideas. This is an introductory course, which is designed to engage you with the key concepts, models, debates and problems in the study of business and management. Developing this foundation will be beneficial to your subsequent study of specialised subjects, because you will be able to make connections between different issues. This introductory course is also a chance for you to develop your academic skills, in particular your critical approach to the ideas you are presented with. Studying at this level means actually engaging with what you are reading: considering what is being said in relation to other theories, practical examples, and your own reflections. The subject of business and management offers an ideal opportunity to develop this academic approach, as a wide variety of groups, individuals and organisations offer diverse opinions and theories regarding the workings of business and successful management. Throughout the course you will be taking an active part in your learning, developing your own responses to what you read and so building a deeper appreciation of issues concerning business and management. It is therefore helpful to view this introductory course as an opportunity to develop a solid framework of knowledge, as well as a critical academic approach. Together these will make your work on this course engaging and stimulating, and will equip you with the tools needed to do well in your future studies. In the remainder of this introductory chapter you will be given advice and guidance on the following: • the course aims and learning outcomes • the reading system • your role in using the subject guide • the structure of the course • preparing for the assessment. It is important to understand all of these at the beginning to ensure that you are able to get the most out of the course. The subject of business and management is an important and exciting one. You will learn about the workings of business organisations, how they function, and how they interact with the environment. The subject also includes how these business organisations are managed, including the strategies used to guide them and the decisions involved in the role of the manager. Studying these issues by following the course as it is designed should ensure that although challenging, it will also be an enjoyable and satisfying experience.