Business Studies

This course will help you develop a critical understanding of business organisations and the markets they serve. You will study business behaviour from the perspectives of stakeholders such as customers, employees, shareholders, the government, and the local community. You will also learn about business start-ups, financial planning, people and operations management, marketing, business strategy and the business environment. 

What skills will I develop?

You will develop your research skills, using books, journals, newspapers and the internet, as well as developing economic arguments, critical evaluation skills and problem solving. 

You will develop your skills in debating and presenting, as well as improving your own learning and performance with concise and efficient note taking styles. 

What topics will I study?

The following topics are split across all three components of this course – they can be assessed in any of the examinations, therefore are outlined here:

• What is a business
• Managers, leadership and decision making
• Decision making to improve marketing performance
• Decision making to improve operational performance
• Decision making to improve financial performance
• Decision making to improve human resource performance
• Analysing the strategic position of a business
• Choosing strategic direction
• Strategic methods: how to pursue strategies
• Managing strategic change

_________________________

Component 1 – Examination: Business 1 (2 hours – 33.3%)

• Section A: Multiple choice questions
• Section B: Short answer questions
• Section C: Essay questions
• Section D: Essay questions

Component 2 – Examination: Business 2 (2 hours – 33.3%)

• Section A: Data response questions

Component 3 – Examination: Business 3 (2 hours – 33.3%)

• Section A: Case study and questions

Where does the course lead?

Many degrees such as Accountancy, Management, Finance, Politics, Geography and Law all contain aspects of Business. Many of our former students have gone on to do degrees in Business, Economics, Engineering, Maths or Physical Sciences, and have found the subject useful to them. 

Ultimately, many Business students go on to work for businesses, in a wide variety of industries. Business Studies will also help you to make sense of current affairs and to be more aware of real world economic issues, such as interest rates, unemployment and the business cycle. You will also be developing a range of skills, which will certainly help in your chosen career and make you more attractive to potential employers.