Level 3 + Level 4 + Level 5 Diploma in Business Management

This unit is divided into three parts and examines communications at an organisational level, interpersonal communications and managing internal and external communications. Effective communications are vital to the success of any organisation, to ensure understanding, involvement and commitment to organisational policies and procedures. Organisations today often need to change their policies and procedures to survive in the developing local and global economies. It is important for managers to realise the importance of sound communication practice and systems to ensure the effective development and dissemination of new

ideas and decisions for change. This unit will help managers explore the links between good communications and the development of workforce understanding and commitment to change by considering what is meant by good communications practice. It will then help them look at their communication skills as well as how to improve links between their team, other parts of the organisation and beyond. The unit aims to develop the learner’s awareness of organisational, personal, team and external communications. Communication practices, systems, styles and tools are explored and how they support individual and group’s commitment to organisations and their objectives. Interpersonal communication with an emphasis on analysing the learner’s own personal style to empower and improve personal communication skills is central to the unit. For this purpose, learners should obtain feedback on their input at meetings, presentations, interviews and in discussions with peers and tutors.

This unit looks at the development of practical leadership skills at a non-strategic level within the rapidly changing working environment. The unit provides an opportunity for learners to explore in depth the attributes and skills of successful leaders. Learners will also be able to consider how some of the leadership theories and models can be applied to specific situations and to learn how leadership skills can be developed. The unit draws on a selection of established principles and on more recent work. It seeks to consider their relevance to specific working situations. Through a study of leadership styles, current theory and models learners will be gain an appreciation of leadership skills and their importance at all levels in organisations and for specific purposes.

This unit is designed to introduce learners to the nature, role and importance of financial information in organisations from a managerial perspective. Learners will have the opportunity to look at communication and interpretation of financial information for managing organisations, its regulation and structuring and use in decision making, together with the principles of accounting, standards expected, and concepts and conventions that influence the presentation of financial information. Learners will, through the examination of financial information, learn about the important issues relating to the measurement of efficiency, profitability and solvency, and the different demands on organisations made by different stakeholders. They will also explore the extent to which external confidence is determined by financial performance. Learners will examine how financial information can be interpreted, analysed and evaluated, how costs in an organisation can be monitored and controlled, and how the concept of contribution aids decision making. The overriding aim of the unit is to provide the learner with the necessary knowledge to be able to critically evaluate the financial systems, processes and procedures in their own organisations. Learners will gain understanding of accounting conventions, appreciate measurement for efficiency, profitability and solvency, and the different demands made by different stakeholders. Learners will gain understanding of financial commentary.

Management has often been defined as ‘creating change through people’ and this unit encourages learners to adopt this approach to change. It is designed for managers or potential managers working at first line or operational levels who are seeking to change ongoing systems and processes in the workplace. Learners will gain the realisation that it is only through the people that they work with that change can become successful. This unit will allow learners to take a problem solving approach, initially defining issues and then looking at options, before selecting an appropriate route to change. Finally, the unit looks at planning for implementation and evaluation of the change itself. There will be an emphasis on involving those directly affected, to gain their experience and knowledge as well as

their commitment to, and ownership of, the change itself. Throughout the unit, importance will be placed the need to manage and control the change process by effective monitoring and evaluation. Various change models will be used as the basis of activity. The aim of this model is to introduce different models and practices of change management. The unit further aims to help learners to develop an understanding of the issues and practices involved in the management of change and those activities that contribute to positive organisational change. Learners are encouraged to develop and use their problem solving skills.

This unit focuses upon the effective and efficient planning and management of work activities. It provides learners with the knowledge and skills to design, implement and change operational plans to improve effectiveness and efficiency, and to design and monitor appropriate systems to ensure quality of the products and services.

Learners may investigate their own organisation and their role within it. Their research will involve evaluating the importance of business processes in delivering outcomes based on business goals and objectives, establishing customer requirements and developing and implementing operational plans to meet them. This will include the identification of resources needed, the planning and allocation of appropriate work activities, the setting and monitoring of performance measures and quality standards, and then taking appropriate action or making suitable recommendations to solve problems at work and managing the resulting change. Consideration will be given throughout the unit to legal, regulatory and ethical requirements, particularly to the maintenance of health and safety. Learners will discover that the objectives of successful managers are largely achieved through others and that the involvement of teams, peers and individuals is crucial to the efficient and effective management of activities. This unit aims to enable learners to develop an understanding of the issues relating to the management of activities with a particular focus on problem solving. The unit provides a basis for understanding how different organisations are structured and controlled, and the importance of business goals and objectives. The workings and operations of the organisation are examined and Learners are required to develop and deliver operational plans.

This unit focuses on building, developing and supporting teams to enable them to achieve their goals and objectives. Learners must identify the skills and potential of team members while providing opportunities for them to gain new skills and experiences. Learners will evaluate team roles and their importance when allocating team members to appropriate tasks in order to achieve objectives. A key factor in a winning team is the team leader. Learners will have the opportunity to examine the qualities required of an effective leader to ensure that tasks are achieved, while building and developing the team and individuals within it. This unit also focuses on methods for monitoring team performance and approaches for handling poor performance and conflict. The unit focuses on building, developing and supporting teams to enable them to achieve their goals and objectives. Learners will identify the skills and potential of teams and individuals. Opportunities for teams to develop, gaining new skills and experiences and ways to evaluate and improve their performance are important to the unit too.

The three key themes to this unit examine the socio-economic environment, the way in which markets operate and the relationship between business and governments. The central theme to the unit is the changing roles that exist between business, government and their citizens that create both opportunities and threats for the modern organisation. By understanding the organisational impact of the trends, managers can respond positively to a changing socio-economic

environment. The unit also looks at the external business environment and the different ways that organisations respond to changes. The aim of the unit is to introduce the learner to a number of dynamic factors that affect how an organisation operates and the change in management that is required. By understanding how relationships between public and private sector organisations are affected by socio-economic factors the learner will be better placed to manage that relationship

The unit will look at the different ways that decisions are taking by companies by exploring approaches to decision making, implementing decisions and the way in which knowledge can be used within organisations. With the growth of IT and customisation, few decisions are straightforward enough for managers to

rely on the answers that have been successful in past years. To remain competitive, organisations need to develop decision-making processes that use all the current information and knowledge available in the workplace, workforce and beyond. Consequently, today’s decision making becomes more of a problem-solving process. In addition, increasing workforce empowerment and expectation means that the decision-making process for competitive organisations needs to be a much more participative process. Otherwise, management will not gain the information and knowledge they need and will also lose the commitment required to ensure decisions taken become effective. So, while the act of decision taking effectively remains with the manager responsible, the process of decision making needs to involve all the stakeholders within the managers’ immediate workplace and beyond. This ensures that the decision taken is owned by all whom have to work withit. The unit aims to equip the learner with the means to manage the process of decision-making rather than the outcome or decision itself. By recognising methods of decision taking, the learner can stress the need for greater participation of stakeholders to ensure pro-activity and innovation.

The unit will allow for learners to work in a team to investigate new business formats and a feasibility assessment for a potential knowledge-based product or service opportunity identified by the team. This might be undertaken for a new income stream within an existing business or for a new enterprise. The core unit material will focus on Refining an Idea, Research and Presenting the Plan. All learners will be involved with refining the idea and individual learners will be responsible for doing market research, building a finial plan and creating an operational plan. The aim of this unit is to provide the learner with the knowledge and skills to research a market and plan a development strategy such as the launch of a new business model, new enterprise, product or service line. Learners will need to fully develop and pitch their business development strategy

The unit is designed to help learners understand what is expected from them in working for a growing organisation. The three units explore the relationship between enterprising behaviour and business success, the different ways in which firms can grow and the different types of business that they might be expected to work in. To introduce the concept of working for and managing creatively within a smaller growth organisation. This unit examines how the small business grows, reasons for success and how best to manage available growth options. This will give the learner a greater understanding of fast growth organisations in both private and social sectors of the economy. Learners will develop skills to support their ability to understand business strategy and development with an emphasis on business growth.

This unit is designed to help learners understand the role of customer-centred organisations. The three units are understanding customers, meeting customer need and adding value. Learners will evaluate best practice and the policies and approaches that result in excellent service and delivery within a contemporary business environment. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) is now being actively embraced by organisations within most industry sectors. Furthermore, customer expectations are changing with the result that customer relationships are becoming increasingly more complex to manage. This unit analyses how businesses have responded by looking after their customer base in new and more cost effective ways. The aim of the unit is to provide learners with understanding and insight into customer behaviour. It will develop skills and learners will use tools and practices an organisation can use to retain and improve customer retention and relationships.

This unit prepares learners for working in a commercial environment by providing an insight into the different risk profiles from both an organisation’s and an individual’s perspectives. The three units are understanding business risk, managing risk and innovation and creativity. The aim is to provide learners with an understanding of what makes an effective organisation in balancing out opportunity with change. This unit will involve the learner in developing risk profiles and identifying risk management strategies for selected case studies. These will be available online as used as a means to illustrate the different ways organisations approach change. The course material will be closely linked with creativity and innovation.