BA (Hons) Business and Management

Teaching And Learning

Independent study is a crucial part of learning at university and you will be required to undertake many hours of self-directed research and reading, and preparation and writing of assessments. Your course is delivered through several modules, which will help you to plan your time and establish a study routine. Outside of your lectures, workshops and tutorials, a range of support is available to assist with your independent study. Our subject-specific librarians will be on hand to direct you to specialist learning and study-skill resources. You’ll also be assigned an academic advisor to give you tailored feedback and support.

Year 1

What you'll learn

Data Decisions & Understanding AI

The bond and evolution of data, analytics, and commercial applications have rapidly changed how businesses operate. This includes the way they make money, sell services and products, measure success, invest in sustainable people and business practices, and the ethical impact decisions have on society. This module will introduce you to the technical terminology needed to understand and confidently explore business data, analytics, and tools. You'll explore the wider context of business information, data types and characteristics, the role of the Internet of Things (IoT), big data, and the impact on individuals and society. You'll also understand how to use digital tools practically to produce an accurate narrative of findings.

Managing Organisations & People

Learn about the people side of business. This module is structured into four main themes: motivation, management, leadership, and teams. You will look at these within the context of culture, political environment, global working, and intercultural competence.

Global Business Environment

Gain an awareness of the economic environment that modern businesses operate in. This module will give you an understanding of the principle economic perspectives and theories relating to the operation of the global economy. You'll study important worldwide macroeconomic issues as you investigate key global markets, economies, and challenges.

Business in Action

Explore the challenges business managers face in a globalised competitive environment. This module will enable you to experience the daily challenges of running a business first-hand through the use of business simulation software. You will understand the differences between public, private, and third-sector companies and the functions and departments of a business, as well as develop your problem-solving abilities.

Understanding Markets & Customers

Become familiar with key marketing principles and appreciate how contemporary marketing concepts are used by organisations. You will gain an insight into marketing challenges and the consequences for organisations that fail to become customer-orientated.

Accounting & Finance for Managers

Examine how managers can understand and use different financial information. You will consider how shareholders can use financial statements as a means of evaluating a firm's performance.

Year 2

What you'll learn

Developing Professional & Employability Skills

Explore the leadership skills and competencies required for managers in a global environment. This module focuses on managerial employability and aims to equip you with skills relating to job search, application and selection, as well as an understanding of your individual ‘personal brand’.

Managerial Decision Making

Understand the nature of managerial decision-making and its complexities, including the tensions between ethics and cost-effectiveness. You will explore the role of cognition, perception, and motivation in decision-making, as well as the negotiation skills essential in effective decision-making.

Future Focused Management for Sustainability

Explore the concepts, theories, and models of management, foresight, future focus, and sustainable development. You'll consider and develop your understanding of management, conceptual models, and behaviours. This module will challenge you to consider your responsibility to think about the future in the work you do and the decisions you make.

Business Finance

Understand the structure of business finance and its application to the decision-making processes in organisations.

Operations & Supply Chain Management

Examine complex businesses and organisations to determine how their operations and supply chain produce competitive advantage and improve performance. You will use a range of real-life scenarios along with qualitative and quantitative data to understand, apply, and analyse concepts and principles from the field.

Managing a Small & Sustainable Business

Build creative solutions to the sustainability challenges facing contemporary new business enterprises. You'll work collaboratively to develop a proposed ethical small business venture. This could be articulated through several contexts, for example, a product or service, process, paradigm, position, or business. You'll then attempt to raise crowdfunding finance by presenting your proposal to an ethical investment bank.

Entrepreneurship in a Challenging Global Economy

Develop your understanding of the challenges that are present in setting up and developing entrepreneurial business opportunities in today’s global economy.

Issues Management & Crisis Communication

Study the theoretical and practical underpinning for global issues management and crisis communication. This module will enable you to learn about issues of communication as a leadership tool in mitigating threats to organisations. You will develop response strategies to different situations, crises, and stakeholders and you will have the opportunity to practice your skills in our simulation laboratory.

Machine Learning & AI for Efficient Management

Study the concepts, theories, and models relating to machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI). This module will also explore the relationship of machine learning and AI to key professions such as accountancy, human resource management, and public relations. You'll learn about key ideas and developments in machine learning, artificial intelligence, and related technologies. You'll understand how you might influence the implementation and use of AI and machine learning in organisations.

Managing the Future Fashion Experience

Develop a detailed knowledge of the structural changes affecting fashion now and in the future, which will affect business strategy. Studying this module will enable you to gain the dynamic presentation skills to underpin the marketing and promotion of these solutions. You will critically evaluate the innovations in digital technology that are transforming clothing to embrace smart benefits and new materials. You'll analyse how fashion brands can manage their marketing and retail experience to meet the changing demands of consumers. Your studies will enable you to identify fashion’s sustainability challenges and strategic management approaches to solving these. You'll create a digital event/exhibition/show to market the benefits of one aspect of future fashion to the industry.

Project Management

This course offers the opportunity to take a ‘sandwich’ year – a year of paid employment in the industry that will build your skills and experience. This is usually taken between the second and third year of your degree, typically making your course four years in total.

Students who choose the sandwich route find it helps with both their studies and getting a job after graduation. It can build your confidence, contacts, and of course your CV. Leeds Beckett advertises lots of placement opportunities and provides support in helping you find the right placement for you.

Year 3

What you'll learn

Consultancy Project

Apply your learning to a strategic organisational issue of your choice. You will develop and manage a client-consultant relationship, and work in a group supported by a member of staff to deliver outcomes for the client using the relevant academic knowledge, skills, and critical thinking. This module will be delivered in collaboration with professional mentors and investors and will add real-life value to your CV.

Business Strategy

Gain a critical understanding of organisations as a whole. You will develop the skills, knowledge, and understanding to critically contribute to the strategies of any organisation by working with complex real-life business problems.

Strategic Human Resource Management for Leaders

Evaluate the role of leadership practice in the implementation of strategic human resource management in organisations and consider the impact of this on those who are managed and on organisational outcomes.

Choose one of the following two core modules:

Governance, Ethics & Corporate Social Responsibility

Explore the importance of ethical business decision-making. You'll look at how the governance of firms should be organised and the consideration of stakeholders in developing approaches to the social responsibility of businesses.

Work Placement

Apply for a placement and undertake a period of paid employment to allow you to develop business contacts and gain an understanding of the jobs and career market.

Leading Innovation & Change

Study a range of key contemporary issues related to the significance of innovation, the implications for organisational structure and processes, leadership, strategic management, and change management. This module will build on and extend your understanding of strategic management issues.

At the end of the course, students will be able to:

1. Evaluate and explore the contribution management makes to understanding and informing business behaviour and performance through the analysis of complex and multi-faceted problems from a range of natural, global, and political contexts.

1. Creatively synthesize, apply, and appreciate the limitations of management and leadership concepts in complex business contexts on a local and global level, employing digital tools, media, and other digital technologies to acquire, analyze, and communicate information to a professional standard.

1. Critically appreciate the management and leadership frameworks arising from different schools of thought as they apply to local, national, and global environments relevant to the contemporary workplace in which businesses operate, and their policy consequences.

1. Employ relevant methods to understand the business market and the mixed economy, and show initiative and enterprise in identifying and acquiring the skills necessary to seek and secure opportunities within such markets.

1. Evaluate and demonstrate the role that leaders and business practitioners play about corporate and personal social responsibility, inclusivity, and full and fair business engagement with stakeholder communities.

You’ll develop a strong global outlook and a range of transferable skills in demand by future employers. You’ll have achieved a high level of personal and professional development, and you’ll be confident in your problem-solving, critical thinking and interpersonal skills. You’ll also have strong digital literacy and know how to take an entrepreneurial and intrapreneurial approach to the workplace.

If you take a paid work placement in your third year, you’ll develop and enhance your employability. Our students have enjoyed paid placements with top companies including:

• Disney

• Warner Brothers

• L’Oreal

• Unilever

• Marks & Spencer

• VW

• KPMG

Our graduates are highly motivated, dynamic, flexible, articulate, numerate, innovative and creative. You could go on to work in roles across a variety of industries, including food and drink, fashion, manufacturing, retail and healthcare.