International Business (Top-up) - BA (Hons)

Contemporary Global Management is a thought-provoking module designed to engage you with fast moving contemporary, political/social and business issues, and to deepen your understanding of how these contemporary issues influence the leadership, management and operation of modern globally connected businesses.

The module will focus on developing future global managers, through the critical analysis of a range of scenarios based on current world issues and how they influence global companies. Topics covered within this module will include but are not limited to climate change, ethics, migration and demographic shifts, leadership, sustainability, social inequalities, deglobalisation and the evolving nature of leadership.

This module progresses on from the Level 4 module Introduction to Data Analytics and AI. Artificial intelligence (AI) has transformed the business world and personal lives, and ‘Big Data’ is everywhere. This module will demonstrate how organisations apply analytical tools and techniques by harvesting and leveraging data to gain a competitive edge. Machine Learning (ML) is an analytical technique that delivers practical value for both organisations plus consumers and is embedded within modern products and services. Business processes, workflows and systems have been revolutionised via automation achieved from machine learning algorithms. You will be exposed to best practice approaches for building, training and evaluating machine learning algorithms such as neural networks, agent-based modelling, reinforcement learning and logistic regression.

You will also build your data literacy by developing the highly in-demand skill of programming, tailored for business analysts. The problem-solving experience gained from adopting AI tools and techniques for solving real-world problems will minimise human error. Additionally, unnecessary human intervention will be eliminated to facilitate more precise data-driven decision making using logical and evidence-based approaches.

This Business Strategy module will explore the key concepts of strategy, formation, and execution that drive successful organisations in today’s complex and dynamic business environment. This module is designed to equip you with the analytical tools, conceptual frameworks and practical insights needed to understand how business create, sustain and renew competitive advantage.

Throughout the module, you will engage with key strategic concepts such as industry analysis, competitive positioning, value creation, strategic innovation, rational approach to strategy development and strategic decision-making. Emphasis is placed on internal and external environmental factors that influence strategic choices, including the assessment of organisational resources, capabilities and core competences, as well as the impact of external forces like market trends, technology advancement and global competition. Also, you will be exposed to current debates on ethical and social responsibilities of business strategy, resource-based strategy and strategic management of business challenges.

There are many similarities between the roles of managers and management consultants. In fact, managers are often considered to be ‘internal consultants’, as Butler (2010) comments “An effective manager is increasingly an effective consultant”.

In line with the Business School’s practice-based approach to teaching and learning, this module adopts a ‘real world’ approach to exploring the nature of contemporary organisations and begins to prepare you for the reality of managing/consulting within them. This is necessary as the management of organisations is often, presented as a rational process based primarily on the logical implementation of activities such as Planning, Leading, Organising, and Controlling. However, the real world in which managers, consultants and organisations operate tends to be far more irrational and complex.

Supply Chain Management has evolved in line with the development of the global economy. It is now widely considered a strategic activity, which manages supplier relationships, enables supply chain/network innovation, reduces cost, and mitigates impact from/on the environment.

This module will give an integrative perspective of the business organisation and underpinning knowledge of Sustainable Supply Chain Management and Logistics. It provides you with an introduction to modern supply chain management, sustainability and sustainable supply chain management principles, processes and the environment within which the Supply Chain manager operates. Core to the module will be an examination of management decision-making and the range of tools and techniques used to support the Sustainable Supply Chain and Logistics processes. You will apply your learning and developing skills to current live case studies and real employer issues so you can see the impact of Supply Chain Management in an increasingly volatile global market.

Additionally, the module will invite guest speakers from relevant industries to discuss real-world applications of supply chain management.

In today’s fast-paced and interconnected world, effective marketing communications are the cornerstone of successful marketing strategy as they give visibility to, and understanding of, an organisation’s products and / or services in order to drive a response from a target audience. The Integrated Marketing Communications module will explore the principles, tools and techniques of marketing communications and look at how these can be used to develop campaigns that resonate meaningfully with the desired audience.

Effective professional practice in marketing communications requires brands to craft a narrative that is consistently delivered across multiple tools and media platforms. Instead of starting with a predetermined medium or tool, a neutral approach to communications planning begins with a thorough understanding of the target audience, marketplace, organisation, and product. This approach ensures that campaigns are thoughtfully designed to address the unique communication challenges at hand, creating solutions that are both relevant and impactful.