Business Functions

This course presents an introductory over-view of the study of business organisations. The course examines business organisations in terms of their missions and values, their structures and cultures and the key organisational processes which underpin business activity. Although organisations are essentially unique, they also share common features which are explored in detail.

We also present a number of basic models for analysing business organisations and their performance. Business organisations can only be fully understood if we know how they interact with their environments and the course presents a number of ideas for analysing their interaction with their competitors, their markets and the wider set of prevailing circumstances which influence business performance.

Syllabus

Unit 1: The Nature of Organisations

Section 1: Organisations in Business

Section 2: Organisational Growth and Structure

Section 3: The Organisation as a Legal Entity

Section 4: Business Functions

Section 5: Organisational Culture

Section 6: Information

Unit 2: The Business Environment

Section 1: Environmental Opportunities and Threats

Section 2: Social Environment

Section 3: Economic Environment

Section 4: Political Environment

Section 5: Technological Environment

Unit 3: Competition and Change

Section 1: Stakeholders

Section 2: Market Forces

Section 3: Conducting an Environmental Analysis

Section 4: Change and Competitive Advantage

Unit 4: Marketing

Section 1: Introduction to Marketing

Section 2: Markets and Customers

Section 3: The Marketing Mix

Unit 5: Operations and Operations Management

Section 1: What are Operations?

Section 2: Running Operations

Section 3: Design within Operations

Unit 6: Logistics

Section 1: What is Logistics?

Section 2: Logistics in Practice: a Factory Visit

Section 3: Controlling Supply: Materials Planning and Control

Section 4: Supply Chain Management and Distribution Systems

Section 5: Strategy, Performance and Key Measures

Unit 7: Human Resource Management

Section 1: Nature of Human Resource Management and its Function

Section 2: Employee Resourcing

Section 3: Employee Training and Development

Section 4: Employee Relations

Unit 8: Business Strategy

Section 1: Environment, Values and Resources

Section 2: Strategic Planning

Unit 9: Business Planning and Project Management

Section 1: Drawing up a Business Plan

Section 2: Implementing the Business Plan

On completion of your course, you will receive the dual award:

Award 1 is issued by Stonebridge Associated Colleges: Business Functions Diploma

Award 2 is issued by our Awarding Body: Level 3 Business Functions Award

At the end of this course successful learners will also receive a Level 3 NCFE Award Certificate of Achievement. Our course has been accredited under our NCFE IIQ Licence and the course measurable learning outcomes have been benchmarked at Level 3 (using Ofqual's Qualification and Credit Framework (QCF) level descriptors) to allow you to consider the depth of study, difficulty, and level of achievement involved.

There is no experience or previous qualifications required for enrolment on this course. It is available to all students, of all academic backgrounds.