BSc (Hons) Business Management (Top-up Degree)

The course aims to:

• Develop knowledge and understanding of the functional areas of leadership, corporate social responsibility, managing risk and managing change.
• Provide knowledge, concepts and principles of conducting research in a business context.’
• Develop an understanding of the role of management with an ability to apply this understanding to work-based problems.
• Prepare students with the skills and competencies for a successful career in business management.

The required qualification for entry to the top up programme is normally an HND qualification with a merit profile. In circumstances where students have achieved less than an average of a merit profile, a recommendation for acceptance to the top-up could be made (as long as the full HND qualification has been awarded), but this would need to be supported by a clear rationale (e.g. extenuating circumstances that have impacted on performance, or an assurance from the admission team that the applicant has the skills and ability to operate effectively at Level 6.

The entire programme is taught in English and applicants have to demonstrate their ability to speak and write in English proficiently.

TERM 1

• Leadership: Theory and Practice (20 cr.)
• Corporate Social Responsibility (20 cr.)

TERM 2

• Managing Risk (20 cr.)
• Managing Change (20 cr.)

TERM 3

• Research Project (40 cr.)

Leadership: Theory and Practice

Views about the appropriate role of leadership reflect the economic, social and political context in which leaders operate. The module examines various theories of leadership with their application to modern day business situations. For example, the link between a successful change initiative and the role of leaders in building trust through the exercise of ‘responsible’ leadership. The module concludes with an analysis of effective leadership and personality traits, ‘followship’ leadership and transformational leadership.

Corporate Social Responsibility

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is often described as the responsibility of enterprises for their economic, environmental and social impact on society. In practice, however, there is no consensus on how to address these issues. The module sets out the background to the growth of CSR including controversies surrounding its application and reporting. This leads to an examination of some of the major issues in CSR including taxation policy and investment, human rights and philanthropy, and environmental with sustainability policies.

Managing Risk

The module examines the nature of risk and the processes for identifying and managing risk in a business enterprise. The characteristics of human error are explored as background to an appraisal of various risk assessment models. Once various risk factors have been identified, and an assessment completed, systems for managing risk can then be evaluated. The module concludes with an analysis of the relationship between risk and safety which leads to an examination of how a ‘just’ culture for balancing safety and accountability can be developed.

Managing Change

The aim of the module is to develop an understanding of the nature, process and management of organisational change. Highlighting various models and approaches to organisational change, the module uses case analysis to examine the interpersonal, group and organisational issues associated with change management in a range of situations. By analysing the usefulness and drawbacks of different models, the most suitable approach in a specific situation, and how to develop an implementation strategy, can be identified.

Research Project (Double Module)

The research project provides an opportunity to integrate and apply knowledge and understanding from the three years of the degree programme to a typical workplace situation, and to develop research skills and review management literature in a specialised area. The project is an original, detailed analysis of a topic selected in consultation with, and supervised by, a member of LSME’s academic staff. The project includes a critical literature review and primary and/or secondary empirical work to address a specific research question.

The course lasts one academic year of full-time study.

The top up programme is delivered through a full-time of formal lectures, workshops and seminars.

Various methods are used to assess each module including essays, reflective assignments, written reports, oral reports, case studies and projects. There are no time constrained examinations.

Students who are awarded a minimum of a 2(2) classification can progress to a range of University Masters programmes in a relevant subject area, including an MBA.