BA (Hons) Business Management with Foundation Year

BA (Hons) Business Management with Foundation Year, with Marketing & Entrepreneurship pathways

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Last Updated:20 December 2025

Subject: Business Management

Course Overview

Including a foundation year as part of your four-year study programme will give you a head start in your academic and professional life. The foundation year offers the chance to strengthen your skills, knowledge and confidence – with extensive support from our expert staff – before you advance to stage one of your honours degree. It could also be beneficial if you are planning a career change and want to get to grips with aspects of subjects which are new to you.

How CSA will deliver your programme

CSA offers all Level 4 to Level 6 programmes through face-to-face teaching supported by online materials and support. This gives you the best of both online and on-campus study. You’ll spend a day and a half on campus enjoying the benefits of engaging, hands-on activities during face-to-face sessions. Our flexible approach is ideal if you’re balancing work, family or other commitments but still want to progress in higher education and develop your career.

Online and On Campus – the best of both worlds

Online, you’ll join live, interactive evening sessions from home using your laptop or tablet which will offer you further group and individual support. Each session lasts around two hours (with a break) and includes discussions, activities and plenty of opportunities to get involved. You’ll also have access to practice questions, downloadable lesson materials, digital resources and case studies to support your learning.

At CSA, we’re committed to supporting you throughout your journey. During on-campus sessions, you’ll meet regularly with lecturers or tutors who will revisit what you’ve studied online, answer your questions and offer guidance and feedback. You’ll also work with classmates in a friendly, supportive environment that brings key ideas to life.

To make the most of your studies, we recommend setting aside 3–6 hours of independent study each week. With a combination of guided contact time and flexible self-study, you’ll experience a learning model designed to fit your life and help you succeed.

What will you study
Foundation Year

Modules Include:

  • Law and Practice (Core)

  • Politics and Policy (Core)

  • Business and Economy (Core)

  • Society and Culture (May be replaced by Maths and English at Level 2 where students have not achieved these qualifications)

  • Study Skills

  • What’s in the News Culture (May be replaced by Maths and English at Level 2 where students have not achieved these qualifications)

For the Year 1 to Year 3 all modules are set at 20 credits unless otherwise shown.

This module provides an overview of business and management and how recent developments have helped shape current perspectives.. Students will gain an understanding of the broad range of subject disciplines attributed to the world of business and begin to develop an appreciation of the theoretical knowledge and skills required to undertake future study and develop a career path in this area.
This module aims to develop the study skills essential for study at university and within Derby Business School as well as to facilitate the transition into Higher Education. The module will help student understand university systems and processes, the study skills they require to succeed and the role they have in their own learning.
Any future business professional needs to understand the importance of good communication skills and decision making skills from a personal and an organisational perspective. The aim of the module is to provide students with an understanding of business communication and how, through the process of effective decisions making, this impacts on the success of an organisation.

Business communication is the sharing of information between people both inside and outside the organisation. However, effective communication is not always easy or straightforward, methods and processes of communication will be reviewed.

Good communication also provides knowledge and this provides the basis for successful business decisions. Good decision making is vital for any organisation and a range of decision making processes and situations will be explored.

These two elements will be brought together to provide a holistic perspective of personal and business perspectives of communication and decision making and how one informs the other.

For any business student a working knowledge of both quantitative and qualitative data handling skills through the use of Excel and other appropriate software is a necessary requirement. This skill is used extensively within Business based programmes and is transferable to the workplace and any future career.

Optional Modules
If you don’t already have a GCSE or Functional Skills qualification in this subject, completion of this module will enable progression onto the undergraduate programme.
If you don’t already have a GCSE or Functional Skills qualification in this subject, completion of this module will enable progression onto the undergraduate programme. The course covers statistics and probability, number work, geometry, algebra and graphs.
This module equips you with an understanding of the English legal system. Looking at sources of law and considering the impact of European Community Law, and the European Convention on Human Rights, you will then examine the relationship between law, morality and justice. Finally moving on to explore the fundamental differences between civil and criminal law and process and liability.

This module will introduce you to a range of key issues and approaches taken in the study of Politics at undergraduate level. Understanding Politics as the study of competing interests within society, the module addresses questions such as the differences between – and the different forms taken by – democratic, totalitarian and theocratic political systems; the relationships between foreign and domestic policy; and the influence of economics on political debate and decision-making. As well as introducing you to key debates and approaches, the module will also encourage you to develop the critical thinking, writing and analytical skills you will need to study Politics at degree-level.

This module will introduce students to psychology as an integrated and multi-faceted discipline. Students will explore both classic and contemporary aspects of psychology from a position of little or no knowledge. They will gain an understanding of the breadth of psychology and the ways in which the topic areas included can be approached from a number of different theoretical perspectives using a variety of methodological approaches.

This module provides you with an introduction to the study of sociology. It is intended to encourage an understanding of core sociological theories, and to foster an awareness of sociological issues and phenomena. It is designed to develop your appreciation of how we evaluate the social world

The module emphasises core sociological theoretical perspectives, which include Marxism, feminism and functionalism. Theoretical perspectives are compared in their application to, and interpretation of, various social phenomena. The module aims to provide you with a basic of understanding of how we evaluate the lived experience and covers a range of topics in relation to the research process including; statistics, data gathering methods and how evidence is presented.

Year 1

Modules Include:

  • Understanding People in Organisations (Core)

  • Business Economics (Core)

  • Developing an Enterprising Mindset (Core)

  • Operations, Supply Chain and IT (Core)

  • Finance and Business Performance (Core)

  • Principles of Marketing (Core)

This module introduces organisational behaviour (OB) theory and research to help you gain an understanding of the range of individual, group and organisational factors which can influence the way that employees behave in the workplace.

You will practice applying the theory to case study organisations to explore how it can be used as an analytical tool to gain a clearer understanding of the complex causes of workplace behaviour in order to develop effective management

Economics is all around us, present in almost every aspect of our lives. Knowledge of economics will therefore provide you with an essential insight in to how markets work and how firms and consumers make decisions in market economies.

Knowledge of economics is important to businesses as it helps them identify opportunities and potential threats they may face in the environment they operate. Therefore, this module aims to develop your understanding of the core principles of micro and macro-economics.

You will use economic models, theories and ideas to investigate current economic issues. The module will help you develop your understanding of economic information and will enable you to develop your ability and confidence to create your own independent thoughts around current economic issues.

The modern business environment is highly volatile and intensely competitive and is likely to remain so for the foreseeable future. The role of Logistics and Supply Chain Management (SCM) and the operations function; how the organisation actually sources, produces and moves goods and services through the supply chain to demanding customers, becomes a key contributor to superior performance and customer satisfaction. This is equally important to and is supported by Information Technology systems and design which enable the organisation to operate efficiently.

The module provides a framework, to understand the crucial role of logistics and SCM, operations and IT to business success. This module will provide an understanding of the systems and processes whereby, people, capital, materials, equipment, knowledge, technology, information, and time are combined to produce goods and services and move these through supply chains. It provides an overview of the key areas of operations management and Logistics and SCM particularly in maintaining and improving the quality and flow of goods and services and making sure that this is also reflected in the organisation’s performance. The modern organisation cannot stand still, business operations need to be constantly evaluated and improved, against the standards expected in a changing marketplace.

This module will assume no prior accounting knowledge. You will learn how to prepare accounts for small businesses and then apply that knowledge to larger organisations.

Numbers by themselves can be misleading and you will progress to examining accounting statements to assess just how well a business is performing. Managers cannot improve the performance of a business unless they make correct interpretations of situations and learn how to diagnose problems.

Business costs will be identified and analysed to aid decision making relating to the control and viability of projects. Sources of finance will be identified and discussed. This basic financial knowledge is essential to anyone wishing to pursue a career in business, whether on a self-employed basis or in a larger corporation.

This introduction to the “fundamentals of marketing” module will provide you with a basic understanding of the current and emerging marketing principles and techniques within the business environment.

It seeks to establish that sustainable market success within a highly competitive environment can only be achieved by developing products or services based upon an understanding of the external environment and customers’ needs and wants.

During the module you will not only consider how to add value for customers and other stakeholders but also learn to assess the impact that marketing activities have on consumers’ lives.

Your assessment is coursework-based, designed to enable you to demonstrate your ability to approach a business challenge as a marketer and business manager. The assessment methods used on this module will also help you to develop key skills desired by employers, for example digital and visual communication and presentation skills, and business report writing.

Enterprising individuals are necessary within the economy as they create jobs, wealth and value. These individuals do this through applying an enterprising mindset, an individual and unique combination of enterprising behaviours, attributes and skills which can be used in a variety of contexts.

For instance, this could be in starting and growing a business (ie in an entrepreneurial context) or applying their skills to existing organisations, whether large companies, SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) or not-for-profit organisations (ie in an intrapreneurial context – being entrepreneurial inside a larger organisation).

Being able to apply an enterprising mindset is highly desirable in today’s fast-moving business environment where reacting to gaps in the market or competitor actions, dealing with uncertainty, being able to make decisions and take action will all extend your commercial awareness and business acumen. Therefore, this module is all about developing your enterprising mindset and then applying it in a real life situation.

The aim of the module is to help you understand the relevance and interaction of these elements within a business context, and to give you transferable skills you can apply in any organisational situation. Moreover, strong emphasis will be placed upon you to demonstrate these skills and to reflect upon your progress.

Year 2

Modules Include:

  • Sustainable & Responsible Management (Core)

  • Personal & Professional Development (Core)

  • Data Analytics for Business (Core)

  • Employee Engagement & Performance (Core)

Optional Modules:

  • Digital and Social Media (Marketing Pathway)
  • Convergent Media (Marketing Pathway)
  • Social and Sustainable Enterprise (Entrepreneurship Pathway)
  • Innovation and Implementation (Entrepreneurship Pathway)
This module develops key skills for your future employment in business – the ability to use spread sheets for quantitative analysis, and the skills to interpret and communicate the results of data analysis. These are key skills required by the Chartered Management Institute.

The skill base developed gives you the confidence and experience to prepare an analysis of real data to inform a business decision or underpin a business strategy. These skills also prepare you for evidenced based analysis required in other modules within your programme including finance, marketing and strategy. This module contributes to the CMI accreditation for BA (Hons) Business Management students.

This module aims to provide you with knowledge of responsible management including exploring concepts of ethics, leadership, global social responsibility, and creation of sustainable social, environmental and economic value for organisations and corporations utilising the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The module will also encourage you to consider the importance of these issues from both the organisation’s and other stakeholder perspectives. You will also reflect on the relevance of responsible management and leadership as a basis for sustainable competitive advantage. The module aims to equip you with the knowledge and understanding of the complex ethical issues that are encountered by organisations on a frequent basis when trying to achieve these goals.

The module will define and consider terms such as responsible leadership, global social responsibility, corporate governance, and sustainability. It will explore such topics as:

  • Sustainable and responsible leadership and management
  • Stakeholder Analysis and Engagement
  • Poverty and world resources
  • Environmental impacts of business activity
  • Low and net zero carbon economy
  • The global supply chain and sustainability
  • Consumer and social issues
  • Climate change
  • Anti-corruption and ethics ‘moral Compass’
  • Sustainable and Responsible Business practices
The modern business environment is highly volatile and intensely competitive, and is likely to remain so for the foreseeable future. The role of the operations function – how the organisation actually sources, produces and delivers goods and services to demanding customers – becomes a key contributor to superior performance and customer satisfaction.

The module provides a framework, to understand the crucial role of operations to business success. This module will provide an understanding of the systems and processes whereby, people, capital, materials, equipment, knowledge, technology, information and time are combined to produce goods and services.

This module will also provide you with opportunities to experience real workplace operations scenarios where their skills and knowledge can be applied in a practical way with real organisations or in valid case study situations.

It provides an overview of the key areas of operations management, particularly in maintaining and improving the quality of goods and services and making sure that this is also reflected in the organisations performance. The modern organisation cannot stand still, performance needs to be constantly evaluated and improved, against the standards expected in a changing marketplace.

Managing the performance of staff is essential to the smooth running of organisations. This module analyses the range of human resource management (HRM) activities undertaken within organisations to manage the performance of its employees and explores the devolution of many of these roles and responsibilities to line managers. It provides an introduction to the knowledge and skills required to undertake these activities professionally and effectively in the workplace.

By the end of the module students will be able to analyse the causes of poor performance within organisations and the principles and practices of effective performance management. They will be able to explain how these practices can be integrated into high performance work systems (HPWS) and analyse barriers to high performance working and the development of high performance cultures.

Optional Placement Year (Core Modules)
Students need to be aware of the commercial realities and external factors that influence the success of an organisation. This module provides opportunities for students to acquire an understanding of contemporary issues that may impact on industrial and professional practices relevant to a career within their chosen discipline.

During this period of work experience, students can gain a deeper appreciation of the responsibilities arising from both corporate and individual responses to such issues, thus enabling them to relate to the wider world when exploring a personal direction for potential career development.

This module provides a framework for the development of “lifelong learning” skills appropriate to all areas of professional practice; including objective setting, planning, negotiating, implementing, demonstrating and reflecting.

The emphasis in this module is on the analysis and evaluation of the work completed within the organisation. This module also gives students an opportunity to relate their academic knowledge to the work environment.

Optional Modules
Logistics and Supply Chain Management (SCM) is the process of moving raw materials through the supply chain through processing and assembly to final purchase by you the consumer. The UK logistics industry is worth almost £75 billion to the UK economy and employs around 2.3 million people in over 196,000 companies (Skills for Logistics, 2021). One in twelve working people in the UK works in logistics and this number is increasing (Skills for Logistics, 2021). This module examines three main areas: Logistics and SCM, warehouse management and transport management and is designed to provide students with an in-depth understanding of the role each plays within increasingly complex supply chains.

It will allow you to explore the importance of logistics and SCM within an organisation, what logistics means to different sectors and help you to develop some of the techniques and approaches to managing organisational logistics and supply chains. You will experience some of the dynamics of this challenging sector. You will explore the complexity of purchasing and managing an international supply chain, lean systems, innovation and cost reduction. Warehousing and transport are key strategic functions within the organisation’s supply chain, balancing trade-offs between major capital expense and customer service.

The module examines the role of the warehouse within the supply chain at a national and global level. The module will provide an in-depth understanding of the design, operation and management of warehouses, including where and how many. Through critical examination, the module will investigate the interface and relationships between warehousing and the end-to-end supply chain, and the impact warehousing has on the competitive position of the organisation.

The module will provide students with the key analytical tools necessary for designing warehouse networks, utilising space effectively and the most appropriate order-picking systems. The module critically examines the strategic management process across a broad representation of the differing and often conflicting perspectives, from both academics and business practitioners with a strong emphasis on practical applications.

It is up to date with both the latest (critical and evaluative) thinking in supply chain strategy and the current practices and approaches that facilitate overall organisational development and direction. Finally, the module encourages you to develop a wider global/national perspective, increasing your awareness of the impact that effective supply chain strategy has on the competitive position of the organisation and developing your critical/analytical, problem-solving, and strategic decision-making skills.

This module is about the concepts of Leadership and Management. It explores the similarities and differences in the roles and responsibilities of leaders and managers in the workplace and the development of leadership theoretical approaches as well as the practical application of these within organisations. You will analyse the skills and competencies of effective organisational leaders and examine alternative methods of leadership development to enhance these.

Module learning outcomes

  1. Critically evaluate the definition, roles and responsibilities of leadership and management in modern contexts
  2. Assess alternative theoretical approaches to leadership and management and their relevance within contemporary organisations
  3. Discuss different methods of leadership and management development and how to implement and evaluate interventions effectively

Module content

Indicative content:

  • Definitions of Leadership and Management
  • Similarities and Differences between Leadership and Management
  • The balance between Leadership and Management in a contemporary context
  • Contemporary requirements of Management and Leadership
  • Key theoretical approaches through time and critical evaluation of these theories
  • Leadership and vison
  • Practical skills required for Management and Leadership in contemporary settings
  • Modern considerations for ethical and cultural issues
  • Approaches to Management and Leadership development
  • Design, implementation and evaluation of effective development programmes
This module explores approaches to talent planning and resourcing adopted by organisations in response to different labour market conditions and strategic business needs.

You will analyse the range of human resources (HR) tools and techniques used to manage the attraction, retention and departure of employees within the UK legal framework. By the end of the module, you will be able to describe HR planning, recruitment and retention methods and demonstrate skills required to undertake many of these in the workplace.

This module will explore the role that social enterprises and social entrepreneurship contribute to the economy and the attainment of the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The global financial crash of 2008, the fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic, the rising cost of living, poor regard for social values and the failure of many policies aimed at social inclusion and cohesion, signal the increasing need for a way of doing business that promotes social justice and equality. Social enterprises offer an alternative to charitable action and government intervention to address injustices in society. Social enterprises can be distinguished from traditional ‘for-profit’ enterprises by their social mission and social value creation and their focus on ‘doing business by doing good.’

Increasingly governments, businesses, and non-governmental organisations have recognised that the pursuit of economic growth has consequences for the survival of the planet and human existence. Balancing economic growth and prosperity with planetary boundaries presents ‘wicked’ challenges that affect the whole of society both now and in the future.

During this module, students will explore how social enterprises are well placed to address social and environmental externalities caused by economic growth and how social enterprises can contribute to the triple bottom line of People, Planet and Prosperity and the United Nations’ SDGs.

Students will also examine the challenges of setting up and running a social enterprise and explore how social entrepreneurs can apply business models and concepts to ensure their enterprise delivers sustainable social value. The module will be delivered using experiential hands-on learning to develop the skills, knowledge and attributes desirable for social entrepreneurship coupled with the development of a sustainability mindset.

This module will equip you with the skills needed to evaluate the financial data used to produce company financial statements. You will learn the importance of choosing the correct form of finance for a given business.

You will gain an appreciation of the value of corporate governance and the responsibility of good managers to wider stakeholders in the business. Without good management control and coordination of financial resources, businesses frequently fail to meet their potential.

You will study common pitfalls in performance management and how to avoid them. This module will equip you with key skills, such as the ability to understand, analyse and interpret financial, management and non-financial information in the context of modern business. Such skills are vital to any business manager, irrespective of discipline.

This module is designed to critically explore the dynamic relationship between public and third-sector organisations, with a focus on their economic contributions, roles, and the operational challenges they face. In the public sector economics component, you will examine key topics that impact daily life, including taxation, essential public goods, and the provision of critical services. Additionally, this module provides a comprehensive analysis of sectoral income and expenditure trends, organisational structures, and the strategic decision-making processes that influence these sectors. Through this exploration, you will gain valuable insights into how these sectors contribute to the economy and society.
Many contemporary business firms rely heavily on the adoption and use of a portfolio of IT applications and information assets (e.g. database, transaction-processing and decision support systems, web-based interfaces and e-business platforms). This diverse portfolio of systems and data, together with the various groups of staff who maintain or manage them, collectively comprise the corporate ‘IT landscape’ of the firm.

A systematic understanding of this multifaceted landscape, and the way it is resourced, organised and developed, is important for the practice of developing an IT architecture. An IT architecture is an enterprise-wide framework (or strategy) which provides coherence, coordination, risk-mitigation and agility for the various technology, information and human elements that make up the IT landscape. An architectural approach is required to ensure the adoption of new systems or processes is done in such a way that permits smooth integration with older legacy systems within the landscape. A balance has to be negotiated between various aspects of technical design, business processes, staff behaviour & viewpoints, company structure and strategy, in order to evolve the applications portfolio for the benefit of the business. The architectural function is therefore quite complex, as it involves aligning the current or planned IT landscape against diverse and often conflicting considerations, at different levels of granularity. This requires holistic thinking based upon a range of business, technical, project and inter-personal concepts & skills.

 The aim of this module is to enable you to identify high-level architectural issues and solution requirements relevant to the corporate IT landscape of contemporary firms. You will draw upon various concepts and principles of systems architecture, organisational architecture, information architecture, and IT governance that will enable you to achieve a well-grounded understanding of the IT landscape. You will learn about important issues and challenges that may arise when architecting a portfolio of IT applications to deliver business benefits around efficacy, integration or agility. Examples will be drawn from a wide variety of system types, such as databases, workflow, groupware, document management systems, internet & ERP software. Frameworks or techniques for architectural modelling and IT governance will also be covered. This module has an applied orientation, linking theoretical ideas with practice.

This module will give you the tools, techniques and theory behind how digital marketing works within a business environment.

During this module you will learn about best practice and key elements of managing digital marketing in an ‘always on’ 24/7 environment. You will learn how to audit and evaluate competitors’ digital footprints as well as understand how to gain consumer insights using digital techniques.

Your assessment is coursework-based, designed to provide practical life and employment skills, developing an outline digital marketing plan. This assessment will contribute towards key skills sought by employers, including: evaluation, understanding of digital tools, presentation and business report writing.

Employee development is regarded as important to individual, organisational and national growth and success. As organisations change and develop to meet the demands placed upon them by customers, competitors and the changing market place employees need to develop new knowledge, skills and attributes to keep pace.

You will explore the learning and development context within which organisations form their development strategies and plans and critically evaluate a range of development methods to make effective choices in the design, delivery and evaluation of employee development programmes.

Being creative can be thought of as coming up with new and original ideas, whereas innovation can be defined as the development and application of these new ideas to develop new opportunities, create original products and services and to solve problems. Both of these activities are necessary for the innovation funnel to be successful.

In this hands-on module, you will discover how to generate new and creative ideas, and how to develop innovative products and services out of those ideas. Crucially, this may mean looking to other areas and subjects for inspiration and progress.

To do all this, you will have the opportunity to work with other students on a real business problem, finding out your strengths and abilities, but also areas for development. You will work with an actual employer and their organisation, based in the local area, by applying your ideas, combined with the theories we will study, to promote creative solutions to issues they are facing right now.

You are then going to present your ideas, backed up by academic references, in the form of a video presentation. The context for this innovation may be within the small firm or corporate organisation and your scope may include product, service, process, technology and marketing innovations of any kind. Being innovative, creative and confident of your own ideas is a key employability skill in today’s challenging business environment.

This module will develop your knowledge and understanding of the relevant concepts and models as well as appropriate project planning software. It will enable you to develop an effective project plan, monitor the progress of the project, while simultaneously identifying and managing the associated project risks.

The module will equip you to discuss and apply project management methodologies and key project management tools, as well as developing knowledge of the Project lifecycle and comprehension of how to keep project stakeholders informed and ‘on-board’.

Individuals and families face a number of financial planning challenges at different stages of their life cycle. Financial innovation and a fast-changing sophisticated environment characterised by a wide range of financial products, aggressive marketing techniques, easy access to credit, and a lot of hidden risks and costs makes personal/household financial discussions more and more challenging.

Thus, it is vital for individuals to understand the pillars of personal finance and how to make prudent financial decisions that meet personal/family goals and help maintain a decent standard of living in the long term. Therefore, the prime objective of this module is to develop your understanding of money matters and your ability to acquire skills and competence in personal financial management.

The essential skills acquired from this module will not only be applied to key financial matters in your own personal life but will enable you to consider pursuing a future career as a financial advisor or personal financial planner.

On successful completion of the module, you will be able to:

1. Apply the theory of personal wealth and money management to a given scenario.

2. Analyse and critically evaluate characteristics of various instruments/tools and associated risks to achieve personal financial independence and stability.

Year 3

Modules Include:

  • Global Business and Strategy (Core)

  • The Business Consultancy Project (Core) – 40 credits

  • Developing Leadership and Management (Core)

Optional Modules:

  • Marketing Strategy (Marketing Pathway)
  • Content, Copywriting and Creativity (Marketing Pathway)
  • Freelancing, Skills and Working for Yourself (Entrepreneurship Pathway)
  • Developing a Global Enterprise Entrepreneurship Pathway)
This module studies the global business using a combined strategic and economic approach. As part of this module, you will explore the recent major global economic shifts and analyse current international business events.

You will study the key theoretical underpinnings, trends and challenges of international trade and foreign direct investment. You will analyse the importance of government and institutions in controlling/regulating international business behaviour. This will allow you to consider the long-term sustainability of businesses in the ever-changing, and often hostile, global business environment and help you understand the critical role played by strategic management. You will learn how to weigh up a range of complex issues like culture, leadership, corporate governance and others when developing a strategy for an international business.

Throughout this module, you will develop critical practical skills valued by employers and professional accreditation bodies. These include selecting and interpreting data, problem-solving and decision-making, positioning analysis, and developing and evaluating strategic options. Such skills are vital for successful careers in a variety of international and domestic organisations.

This module is about the concepts of Leadership and Management. It explores the similarities and differences in the roles and responsibilities of leaders and managers in the workplace and the development of leadership theoretical approaches as well as the practical application of these within organisations. You will analyse the skills and competencies of effective organisational leaders and examine alternative methods of leadership development to enhance these.

Module learning outcomes

  1. Critically evaluate the definition, roles and responsibilities of leadership and management in modern contexts
  2. Assess alternative theoretical approaches to leadership and management and their relevance within contemporary organisations
  3. Discuss different methods of leadership and management development and how to implement and evaluate interventions effectively

Module content

Indicative content:

  • Definitions of Leadership and Management
  • Similarities and Differences between Leadership and Management
  • The balance between Leadership and Management in a contemporary context
  • Contemporary requirements of Management and Leadership
  • Key theoretical approaches through time and critical evaluation of these theories
  • Leadership and vison
  • Practical skills required for Management and Leadership in contemporary settings
  • Modern considerations for ethical and cultural issues
  • Approaches to Management and Leadership development
  • Design, implementation and evaluation of effective development programmes
Improvements to processes, services, products, people, and systems are core to the strategy of organisations. Improvements bridge the gap between current and required performance to add value and achieve and sustain a competitive advantage in the long-term.

Effective consultation and project management using appropriate business improvement and research methodologies is key to the successful implementation of change. In this module students will explore how to plan, organise, motivate, and control resources to achieve defined goals, on time and to agreed cost and quality criteria.

Using a consultative approach, students will be challenged to make decisions based on their own research to provide practical advice and solutions to real-life scenarios taking into consideration the organisation’s constraints. They will liaise with employers, establish agreed objectives and present their findings in a clear, business focused report and presentation.

Optional Modules

As a student of Marketing and a future Marketing professional, you must have a thorough understanding of the added complexities involved in global marketing and how these impact on the formulation of marketing plans and strategies. Organisations in all sectors and industries face increasing international competition; this could be from multi-nationals or competitors establishing themselves in their domestic environment, the need for foreign suppliers or indeed when they seek to establish operations abroad.

This module seeks to build on the knowledge and concepts you will have encountered at earlier stages of the programme. It aims to familiarise you with a range of issues and concepts encountered by international marketers and to provide the theoretical framework that will enable you to analyse and implement these in a real-life business situation.

Your assessment is coursework-based, designed to enable you to demonstrate your ability to approach a business challenge as a marketer and business manager. The assessment methods used on this module will also help you develop key skills desired by employers, for example, critical analysis, business report writing and presentation skills.

As companies need to become more established in the international environment, the challenge to create, establish, maintain and develop effective policy and practice in managing a more culturally diverse workforce is seen as a pivotal component of business success. The module explores, examines and compares different approaches to HR and how these opportunities available to organisations can facilitate entry or help confirm their position in the global market.
Developing a business opportunity, whether in a new venture or any existing business if often about spotting what you think is an opportunity and then developing a product or service to address that opportunity. However, businesses often develop new products and services in isolation from customers as they do not want their ideas copied by competitors. However, if there is no conversation with and feedback from the potential end customer during this phase, there is a high risk of wasted time and money as that the product will be require further development at best and at worst, could be a total failure.

An alternative approach is that of the lean business venture. In this approach, a minimum viable product or service is developed and tested with potential customers. The results of this are fed back into the further development of fulfilling the business opportunity. However, the immediate customer feedback means less waste and is, as such, a lean process.

This process is what we will be asking you to demonstrate within this module. The aim is for you to take a minimum product or service which addresses a business opportunity, present it to possible customers, learn from their actions and reactions and then develop and improve the product or service. You will then need to reflect on the pros and cons of achieving that goal.

The analysis of financial statements can tell us a great deal about the health of a company and its ability to deal with future challenges, which is a key skill in any business environment, whether or not profit is the primary motivation. This module concentrates on using the financial, economic and non-quantitative information available to assess the relative strengths of entities and their ability to react to the impact of outside forces on their performance.
The rapid development rate of technology has increased customer expectations with regard to when and where we buy and collect our products, which has led to the development of the ‘Omni’ channel concept and making retailers re-think how they store and distribute their products.

Whilst learning about traditional distribution channels, this module will also enable you to explore the Omni channel concept and the potential impacts on distribution centre and outbound logistics activities and operations, together with understanding the vital links between such operations and other aspects of the business (the value chain).

Many organisations focus on the outbound logistics and getting the goods to the customer when they expect them, however, a significant number of retail products are returned with a cost to the retailer – For example, approximately 50% of all on-line clothing purchases are returned! This module will include exploration of the Omni channel concept together with the returns dilemma and the potential impacts on the Logistics function and wider business operations.

This module provides a comprehensive analysis of the principles and practices of the international supply chain and the strategic impact this can have on the organisation.

With the ever-increasing pressure of competition among companies, the move towards consolidation of global production and the improvements in communication and transportation systems the supply market is now a global phenomenon. To that end the sourcing and outsourcing of materials or the engagement of service providers is taking on an international perspective. This alters dramatically the role of purchasing, to a more strategic and global posture. This module explores the forces that guide the development of the supply chain: the supply chain concept, the trends within global business and a strategic shift being taken by an increasing number of enterprises towards core competencies.

This module has been developed in response to demand from employers for graduates who understand the importance and complexity of branding for 21st-century marketing. One of the key challenges for organisations and individuals (eg celebrity) is to create distinctive, sustainable and differentiated identities and positions for themselves in an increasingly cluttered marketplace.

Developing celebrity and brands based on other forms of popular culture that accurately and effectively reflect their goals, values, personality and aspirations on the one hand and benefits and satisfaction sought by a variety of customers on the other is one way in which organisations can increase their visibility, desirability and constructive advantage.

Successful alignment of brand goals with the satisfaction sought by diverse customers also acts as a platform from which to generate customer engagement and brand loyalty in the form of co-creation and brand (re)development.

Maintaining successful popular culture brands is equally challenging and imperative in order to balance product/ service portfolios and so ensure investment funds for future development and growth.

You will develop a thorough understanding of the role of branding in positioning from a unique and interesting context of celebrity and popular culture. It further provides you with an opportunity to evaluate branding strategies and tactics and, using existing research and frameworks as underpinning, to acquire the insights, skills and competences necessary to develop brands in a range of popular culture settings.

This module explores a range of contemporary employment issues that cover individual and collective aspects in organisations. Theoretical perspectives such as unitarism and pluralism, are all components of the module.

The employment relationship has been evolving with the development of emerging technologies and a wider use of contracts and types of employment. Employment Relations studies the interactions and behaviours of the different parties within the workplace and their respective, sometimes diverse interests. Within the employment relationship there are those who work, those who employ them and those who have some impact on the workplace. As the role of Trade Unions and industrial action has reduced over the last decade, the role of legislators and politicians has become more important and this will be explored within concepts of the psychological contract, employee voice, employee involvement, commitment and engagement. This module addresses the UN SDGs No. 5 Gender Equality and No. 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth and provides students with the opportunity to demonstrate application of the UNESCO sustainability competencies to the employment relationship. The focus on power, and the imbalance of power between different groups, within the workplace often leads to some form of action and this module will explore both collective and individual actions, conflict resolutions and informal mechanisms used to achieve a good working relationship.

Module learning outcomes

On successful completion of the module, you will be able to:

  1. Critically evaluate the mechanisms that support the employment relationship in a range of organisational types
  2. Provide advice to management on the design of effective employment relations processes within an organisational context

Module content

Indicative content:

  • The concepts, processes and context of employment relations
  • Power, Authority and Trust
  • The employment relationship and the law
  • Workplace conflict and managing disputes
  • Discipline, grievances and redundancy
  • Employee voice, employee involvement
  • Employee Engagement
This module seeks to develop your understanding of the emerging area of international entrepreneurship and how you can apply that knowledge in a real life situation.

In recent years, international business and entrepreneurship have been coalescing into a single cognate area that is now becoming regarded as cohesive in its own right. Trading blocs such as the EU have placed emphasis on entrepreneurship as an engine of economic growth and the trend towards greater international involvement of SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) is accelerated by technological advances.

At the same time, globalisation has prompted the re-emergence of local cultures which influence the growth of entrepreneurship in diverse ways. We can therefore see a tension between the global and local elements. Creating an in-depth appreciation of these elements will enable you to apply theory to inform, evaluate and enhance potential international entrepreneurial ventures. Ultimately, all organisations need to be aware of the development of international business and that they can no longer rely simply on national trade.

The purpose of this module is therefore for you to explore entrepreneurial activity across boundaries paying attention to cultural and political differences, choice of markets, supply chain relations and appropriate marketing implementation. You will apply your learning to a local SME to produce an international market entry strategy and critically evaluate the process you have undertaken.

This module explores issues concerning how businesses, government and not-for-profit leaders and managers can better integrate the needs of the environment, people, and profits in the short and long term.

In this module, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of what is meant by the term sustainability and the values that help develop a model for business sustainability. You will analyse the UN Global Compact, which is a strategic policy initiative for businesses, and apply this to case studies introduced in the module.

During this module you will be expected to reflect on the theory presented and real-life examples introduced. This will enable you to develop your own thoughts and propose potential solutions to the opportunities and challenges of sustainable growth that face businesses at a local, regional, national and international level today.

How you will learn

Our teaching methods will be varied, interactive and engaging. You will take part in:

  • formal lectures, sometimes involving guest speakers
  • tutor-led and student-led seminars
  • one-to-one and small group tutorials
  • work experience and consultancy projects
  • self-directed study
  • optional placement and internship opportunities
  • joint projects with overseas students.
Careers

By the end of the course you will have sound business acumen and a wide range of practical skills. You’ll graduate with not only a degree in Business Management, but with an extra professional qualification (the CMI Diploma) and a host of real-world experience, so you’ll already have a head start in the careers market.

Because this is such a broad degree, lots of different job roles will be open to you, in areas such as project management, analysis, consultancy, accountancy, operations, human resource management, marketing, sales, logistics and finance.

Entry Requirements
These are the typical qualification requirements for September 2026 entry to the Foundation Year only. 
RequirementWhat we’re looking for
UCAS points72
A LevelDDD
T LevelPass
BTECMMP
GCSEGCSE Maths and English are preferred, however if you don’t have these qualifications you will be able to undertake Maths and English at Level 2 as part of your course of study
Access to HEPass Access to HE Diploma with 60 credits: 45 at Level 3 with a minimum of Distinction: 0, Merit: 30, Pass: 15
English language requirementsIELTS: 6.0 (with at least 5.5 in each skills area)
Fees & Funding

Course Fee: *£5,760

*This is the fee for the Foundation Year. Subsequent fees are £9,535 per year.

You can apply for a student loan to cover the costs of course fees. You may also be able to apply for various grants and loans to support your learning. Specific advice regarding student loans and other benefits can be obtained from www.gov.uk/student-finance.

Please note that all fees are subject to change and they may vary depending on personal circumstances, please enquire with the Registry Department for further information on +44 (0) 20 3576 3423 or email fees@caspianschool.ac.uk.

Please note that all programme content remains subject to final approval by the University of Derby. Any updates or amendments required as part of the approval process will be communicated in due course.

BA (Hons) Business Management with Foundation Year, with Marketing & Entrepreneurship pathways

Key Course Information
Price: Foundation Year £5,760. Subsequent Fees are £9,535 per year.
Intake: September 2026
Duration: 4 Years
Campus: Rainham
Awarded by: University of Derby
How You Will Study: Classroom/Flexible/Blended

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