Qualification

BA Business Administration (BBA)

Course Description:

 The BA Business Administration will appeal to experienced managers who wish to develop their expertise through a thorough examination of the theories and concepts of modern management techniques and organisations. The course will provide you with a thorough understanding of the practical problems faced by both public and private organisations, with the emphasis on the practical application of knowledge to your everyday activities.

Assessment

 The BA Business Administration is assessed by means of a series of assessments per module, a case study exam and a project proposal at year 2 and a dissertation during Year 3.

Entry Requirements
2 “A” levels or equivalent or an advanced certificate in management or Brookes Business School Diploma in Business Management or an acceptable level of education coupled with a number of years experience.
 

Exemptions

Holders of the Diploma in Management, and the BTEC National Diploma in Business Administration or Brookes Business School Diploma in Business Management will be given an exemption from modules at Academic Years 1 & 2. Any exemptions will be awarded at the discretion of the Admissions team on a case by case merit.

Duration of Programme
3 academic years for the whole programme.

Academic Year 1

The first year lays down the foundations and prepares you for the analytical and theoretical arguments that are developed throughout the degree. You will be introduced to some of the core subject areas of management. In addition to an overview provided by the Business Planning module, you will engage with the issues of other specialist areas such as Human Resource and Business Finance. Through this year you will have the opportunity to develop your business and thinking skills.

Module 1 – Business Planning – Term 1

Introduction to thinking skills and management profile. Planning a new venture from first principles to financial forecasts. This module includes a comprehensive guide to Business Planning, Management theory, roles of effective managers, planning and control, strategy and organisations' search for added value, managing the value chain, operations and quality.

This Module covers:

Part A: Planning to succeed
    * Personal profiling & self-assessment
    * Evaluating your business idea
    * Writing a business plan
    * Business structures
    * Basic accounting requirements 

Part B: Market Research
    * Types of Research
    * Survey methods
    * Questionnaires
    * Secondary research
    * Market research analysis   

Part C: Effective Marketing
    * The marketing cycle
    * Marketing plans
    * The cost per sale formula
    * Target customers
    * Business generation
    * The Marketing mix
    * Product life cycles

Part D: Finance
    * Financial planning & control
    * A personal survival budget
    * Start up budget
    * The meaning of profit
    * Direct and fixed costs
    * Break even analysis
    * Costing & pricing
    * Sales forecasting & adjustments
    * Cash flow forecasting
    * Profit & loss forecasting
    * Capital requirements

Module 2 – Managing Human resources and Personnel Skills
Human resources are the most valuable resource of any organisation. This module focuses on management and organisational behaviour, motivation, group processes and the nature of work groups, patterns of structure and work organisation, the impact of technology, human resource management and organisational development. The module also introduces students to practical administration of personnel records, recruitment and selection, Personnel development, employee relations and updates of current legislation.

This Module Covers:

Part 1:   Records, Systems and IT     
Initiating and maintaining accurate records
Manual and computerised systems
IT software and application in Personnel
Data Protection Act 1998
Email and use of the Internet within Personnel

Part 2:   Recruitment and Selection
The importance of recruitment and selection
Overview - Recruitment process
Selection process and making an Offer
Induction
Evaluation

Part 3:    Personal Development  
Introduction
Self-Development in the workplace
Negotiations, and influence
Time management
Continuing Professional Development 

Part 4:  Employee Relations            
Managing employee relations
Interviewing Skills
Grievances in the workplace
Disciplinary matters
Employee involvement               

Part 5:  Legislation in Personnel      
Employment Legislation
Civil Law
Employee protection rights
Trade Unions and redundancy
Other legislation

Academic Year 2

In the second year, you will develop your knowledge of further specialist areas and continue to engage with the debates introduced in the first year. The integrative approach of considering the ethical, cultural, historical and inter-disciplinary aspects of management will be facilitated through modules such as Business Technology, Effective Business Communications and Business Marketing.

Module 3 – Business Finance – Term 3
In today's global environment it is essential that managers can assimilate financial figures.  This module considers accounting information for decision making, planning and control, cost and activity management the budgeting process, performance appraisal and shareholder value analysis.

This module covers:

Part A: book-keeping
    * Why keep books?
    * Book-keeping methods
    * Introduction to VAT
    * The analysed cash book
    * Sales and purchase day books
    * Reconciling the bank account
    * Double entry book-keeping
    * Single entry systems

Part B: Credit Control
    * Cracking the credit problem
    * Is my customer credit worthy?
    * Credit control routines
    * Debt recovery through the courts
    * Statutory demands, insolvency and bankruptcy
    * VAT and tax relief for bad debts
 

Part C: Costing & Pricing
    * Pricing a product
    * Costing a product
    * Pricing a service
    * Break even analysis
    * Contribution theory
    * Absorption costing

Part D: Management Accounting
    * Budgets
    * Cash flow
    * Managing cash
    * The trading budget
    * The profit & loss account
    * Management reports
    * Manual accounting records
    * Computerised accounting records
    * Breakeven analysis

Academic Year 3

In your final year you have the opportunity to pull together what you have learnt in your degree so far, through a dissertation; this is a substantive piece of research that you may choose to undertake in an area of your choice and interest. You will undertake tutorial sessions that seek to develop and integrate your knowledge.

Module 4 – Business Technology – Term 4

Business technology is important for a business. This module highlights the IT benefits for a business by explaining a variety of computer applications, use of hardware, software and peripherals together with the importance of data security for the whole business.

This module covers:

Part A: using Information Technology
    * What does a Personal Computer do?
    * Deciding what a computer can do for your business
    * Common tasks performed by business software
    * Word-processing
    * Databases
    * Spreadsheets
    * Internet
    * Electronic Mail
    * Task and schedule Monitoring
    * Graphics
    * Specifying and choosing a PC
    * Choosing
    * Printers
    * Scanners
    * Digital cameras
    * Modems
    * Choosing software
    * The business case for a PC
    * Data security and housekeeping

Part B: Accounting with Computers
    * Benefits of computerised accounts
    * Getting started
    * How good are your accounts?
    * More about accounting
    * Using spreadsheets
    * Accounting packages
    * Problems and pitfalls
    * Housekeeping & hygiene

Module 5 – Effective Communicating – Term 5
This module focuses on the skills necessary to communicate with people and organisations coming from diverse backgrounds. The essentials of a successful communication to get your message across effectively, which is essential in all business functions, are covered in this module.

This module covers:

Part 1: The Essentials of Communication           
The Importance of Good Communication   Modes of Communication               
The Key Elements of Communication
The Whole Message                
What Does the Recipient Expect?

                                
Part 2:
Sending Informal Messages Memoranda ('Memos')  
Electronic Mail (Email)              
Text Messages                        
Facsimiles or 'Faxes'  

                                                   
Part 3:
Sending Formal Messages Letters – The First Impression 
Letters – Greetings and Sign-Off
The Details                    
Letters – Writing Clearly 
Letters – Writing Accurately       
Formal Emails                
Reports and Proposals                
Reviewing Formal Letters and Reports     Part 4: Two-Way Communication                                                    
The Telephone                        
Using the Answer Phone          
Using the Mobile Phone            
Face-to-Face Meetings 

                                                 
Part 4:
Presentations                                                    
Presentation Skills
First Impressions,
Explaining Your Points Clearly Humour
Inviting Discussion
Ending the Presentation
                                    
Part 5:
Advertising                                              
Press Releases                        
Newspaper Advertisements               
Direct Mail                     
Web Sites                      

Module 6 – Business Marketing – Term 6

One of the core activities of all organisations, be they profit or non profit making, is marketing. An understanding of this subject is essential for any professional wanting to occupy senior management positions. This module will cover all important aspects of marketing such as product mix, pricing, sales closures, niches and market evaluations.

This Module covers: