Business and Management

Core Modules

Year 1

• Professional Skills 

  In this module, you will develop an understanding of the external and internal environments of organisations and their relevance to help you develop self-awareness and knowledge and skills required to succeed at university, at work and in life generally. You will look at a range of academic and professional literatures, examine the skills and abilities relevant to applying for or working as a professional, and consider how to communicate with academic and business audiences in a clear and effective manner.

• Quantitative Skills and Ideas for Decision Making

  In this module, you will develop an understanding of quantitative studies and how they are employed to business disciplines such as finance and operations. You will look at how quantitative studies relate to differences, associations and relationships in groups and populations, and examine a range of statistical techniques and use data, logical thinking and reasoning to make data driven decisions from an ethical perspective.

• Foundations for Enterprise Internationalisation 

  On this module you'll learn about the management of international enterprises and which cross-border challenges that need to be taken into account when firms consider internationalising. The module also covers the impact of different formal economic, political and legal institutions, as well as more informal institutions, such as culture, religion and language that must all be considered by an internationalising enterprise. The module also identifies the implications concerning business ethics and sustainability

• Fundamentals of Accounting and Finance

  In this module you'll be introduced to the fundamental aspects of financial accounting, management accounting and finance. You'll further be introduced to the underlying framework and concepts of accounting and finance and their role in organisations and society.

• Foundations for Sustainable Business

  On this module you'll explore the foundations of responsible business and will prepare for a business world where the agenda is no longer 'business as usual'. Using case studies, practical examples and new theories on responsible business you'll explore some of the 17 United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals such as climate action, reduced inequalities, responsible consumption and production and their relevance to business.

• People and Organisations

  In this module, you will develop a solid grounding in key concepts relevant to a critical understanding of how organisations function, and why this matters to both employees and prospective managers. Themes such as organisational design, the social and psychological contract, conflict, power, diversity and equality, emotional labour, space and place, and the impact of internal and external forces on organisations, will be looked at through the lens of competing organisational theories such as the classical perspective, Institutional Theory, Systems Theory, and Contingency Theory. You will learn to demonstrate their understanding of, use, discuss, and evaluate these theories making use of a range of tools such as, contemporary case studies, class discussion, class presentations, and simulation exercises.

• Fundamentals of Digital Enterprise

  In this module you will develop an understanding of information systems and how they have become the backbone of contemporary businesses. You will consider how they are used by business managers as a tool for achieving operational excellence, developing new products and services, improving decision making, and achieving competitive advantage. You will also examine the broader organisational, human and information technology dimensions of information systems and how they can be used to provide solutions to challenges and problems in the business environment.

• Principles of Marketing

  In this module you'll examine the principles of marketing, from the role of the consumer - as the key stakeholder for any marketing activity, to marketing theories and concepts marketing segmentation, targeting and positioning, brands and branding and elements of the marketing mix. You'll analyse theories and concepts of marketing in practical contexts and be able to describe how marketing is integral to the success of organisations.

Year 2

• Collaboration and Communication in Business

  This module builds on the knowledge and skills developed in your first year Professional Skills module, to prepare you for the graduate workplace. You will evaluate business functions and processes in an interdisciplinary context and develop effective communication skills for business, demonstrate collaborative leadership of self and others and learn to be able to work effectively in a team.

• The Global Economy

  In this module, you will explore the growth and development of the international or global economy during the twentieth century –that is from the late nineteenth century to the present. You will gain insights into the growth and development of the global economy during the twentieth century and examine the forces shaping the global economy and the institutions to which it has given rise, from the World Trade Organisation to the multinational enterprise. You will be introduced to relevant theoretical perspectives (economic, historical, management, geopolitical) and attention is given to the role of Foreign Direct Investment as a driving force in the integration of developing countries into the globalisation process.

• Responsible Business and Management

  In this module you will review and analyse business responses to sustainability grand challenges. You will appraise the impact on business strategy, practises and operations and will apply gained knowledge to recommendations for responsible business and management practices. The first part of the module looks at environmental challenges (centred on climate change, making links to biodiversity, conservation, resource depletion, pollution, waste) whereas the second part looks at social challenges (centred on inequality, making links to poverty, marginalisation, justice)- in the final part the links between environmental and social grand challenges and the business world are examined.

• Data Visualisation and Analytics

  This module aims to cultivate a reflective and pragmatic comprehension essential for preparing, analysing, and presenting data through visuals in the context of a rapidly evolving job market, heavily influenced by the exponential growth of AI solutions. You will be introduced to the principles of data handling, emphasising efficient and effective practices to uncover insights, with a strong focus on visual storytelling and the development of compelling narratives. You will acquire a thorough understanding of data visualisation and analytics, encompassing advanced concepts, methodologies, techniques, and cutting-edge tools and will gain substantial hands-on experience in manipulating raw data to create insightful visual data narratives, tailored to address the dynamic challenges and opportunities presented by AI-driven markets.

Year 3

• Leading and Leadership in Organisations

  This module aims to provide a comprehensive overview to important and current leadership theories. Working at the boundary of practice and theory, weekly sessions are highly interactive and will be delivered in the form of lectures and workshops. We expect each student to engage proactively with all aspects of the module, including adequate preparation for each session as well as post-class reflections.

   

• Business and Management Impact Project I

  This module connects you with the learning over the course of your studies and real-world business challenges that require critical thinking, analysis, and strategic solutions and you will be exploring the development of impactful business and management research. You will explore a series of business and management topics and the process of identifying a business problem and the collection and analysis of relevant data and finding appropriate solutions, leading you to develop a business, managerial and/or societal impact plan suggesting a couse of action. This will be done through a mix of Royal Holloway and/or external faculty lectures as well as guest speaker and industry talks, and project supervision sessions

• Business and Management Impact Project II

  This module connects you with real-world business challenges that require critical thinking, analysis, and strategic solutions. Through guest lectures from industry speakers in fields such as healthcare, finance, and technology, you will learn about complex issues companies face today – be it managing digital transformation, reacting to market disruptors, improving sustainability, or upholding ethics. You will select an area of interest to focus on your own project on driving impact. This module will help you develop business acumen, problem framing, critical analysis, solution ideation, and written as well as verbal communication abilities.

You will take one of the following:

• Business Negotiation Skills in Context

  The aim of this module is to get familiarised with the importance of business negotiation, by exploring key concepts and frameworks of business negotiation in a variety of contexts. You'll formulate appropriate negotiation and communication strategies to achieve specific goals and reflect on their effectiveness and you'll be introduced to necessary negotiation and communication skills to thrive in professional settings and in negotiation-related functions.

• Management Consulting

  In this module, you will develop an understanding of the management consulting sector, from large consulting firms to small boutique consultancies. This will help you decide on the attractiveness of this sector for their careers. You will be equipped with skills that are key in management consulting, but also relevant and transferable to a wide range of management settings. You will be introduced to the management consulting sector, its controversies and keys skills necessary to enter the sector. You will also examine the processes, relationships and practices involved with management consulting. In particular, we look at consultants themselves, clients, the relationships between them and the ethical issues associated with consulting. You will also develop an assessed practical exercise applying skills common to management consulting.

• Marketing and Entrepreneurial Skills

  This module equips you with relevant entrepreneurial marketing skills to pursue a career in a new business venture or start your own business in a socially responsible and ethical way. You'll learn to identify opportunities, being innovative and implementing changes by analysing the latest market trends, identify usable resources and assess personal competencies to persistently identify and/or create new opportunities. Through various individual and group activities you will engage with practical cases from around the world and discussing how entrepreneurial marketers have adapted their leadership styles in different contexts and implemented their ideas in the market with a socially responsible and ethical mindset.

• Professional Practice: Skills and Careers

  In this module, you'll learn the knowledge and skills needed to be effective in a professional practice environment. You'll focus on communication and the need to adopt different leadership styles in dynamic business contexts. The module focuses on careers in accountancy, but the skills developed are transferable and will be useful in any work environment.

Optional Modules

There are a number of optional course modules available during your degree studies. The following is a selection of optional course modules that are likely to be available. Please note that although the College will keep changes to a minimum, new modules may be offered or existing modules may be withdrawn, for example, in response to a change in staff. Applicants will be informed if any significant changes need to be made.

Year 2

Autumn term - you will choose one of the following:

• Financial Reporting and Analysis

  In this module you will develop an understanding of contemporary issues in the theory and practice of international financial accounting and reporting. You will look at the fundamental characteristics, aims, contents, and structures of the main financial reports through which organisations measure and report their financial performance and position. You will examine the usefulness of financial accounting reports, and the tools and techniques of financial analysis. This module will consider issues related to the recognition and measurement of intangible assets, ways of valuing assets, key regulatory differences and the conceptual framework and you will also critically evaluate the reporting and the financial performance of companies.

• Business, Politics and Corporate Governance
• Project Management

  In this module you will develop an understanding of the role of project management within organisations and its value in achieving organisational objectives. You will look at the process of planning, scheduling, monitoring and controlling resources (physical, technological, human and others) for the achievement of a focussed objective. You will consider the factors involved in promoting organisational change, and critically examine the problems of implementation. You will also examine the techniques used for monitoring and controlling projects, and approaches to project risk management.

• Introduction to Entrepreneurship
• Work and Employment Relations

  This module aims to equip you with a critical and contextual understanding of contemporary issues and debates in work and employment relations. You’ll examine changes in working practices and consider the connections between HR/employment strategies and labour markets, product markets and economic/political environments. You’ll examine core areas of company policy such as: including employee voice and representation, managing conflict at work, pay and reward, and implementing flexible working practices. Trends such as home working, gig working, precarious labour, well-being at work, and debates around automation and the ‘future of work’ will also be considered.

• Intercultural Management and Communication

  In this module you'll learn to define culture and assess its importance in the international business environment. What impact and challenges arise from intercultural settings such a cross-border business negotiations and alliances, and expatriation? You'll be equipped wtih the necessary tools to develop social sensitivity and cultural intelligence and will learn communication techniques and negotiation tactics to be able to respond to potential challenges arising from intercultural encounters.

• Consumer Behaviour

  In this module you will develop an understanding of the nature of consumer behaviour, its relevance to the marketing environment, and impact on society. You will look at the internal and external factors which underpin consumer behaviour theories, and consider the impact of marketing strategies on these. You will also examine the the nature of consumption, markets, and culture, and evaluate the complexity of consumer behaviour.

Spring term - you will choose three optional modules.

One from:

• Business Law for Accounting and Finance
• Operations Management

  In this module you will develop an understanding of the design, planning and control of operating systems for the provision of goods and services. You will look at the tools and techniques used in the development of operational systems and the factors that affect the choice of operating methods. You will consider approaches to the planning cycle, inventory management, and production control techniques, including capacity planning, and the merits of push and pull systems. You will also examine quality control and its management in practice.

• Career Management in a Changing World

  The aim of this module is to encourage you to think critically and practically about your own career development as well as the careers of others (as managers and HRM professionals). It builds on current research and practice in the field of careers studies; utilising theory, research and practical activities, to equip you with the knowledge and skills to enhance and futureproof your career journey and employability in a changing world.

   

• Management and the Arts

  This module will explore the intersections between management and the arts, considering how each can support the other. The role of management within various arts sectors will be examined. You'll gain insight into how artistic and creative practices can inform the practice of management, facilitating creative approaches to problem-solving, communicating and addressing business and societal challenges. This module has been developed for any student considering a career within the arts sector, or anyone wishing to adopt a more creative approach to their working practices.

• Organisations and Accountability

  In this module you will develop an understanding of contemporary issues in the theory and practice of accounting for sustainability. You will look at key issues in the growing ara of sustainability accounting including notions of accountability in the context of sustainability, cultural and religious perspectives on sustainability accounting, elements of sustainability reporting, and the role of accounting in embedding sustainability in decision making.

• Business Information System for Accounting and Finance
• Financial Literacy and Personal Financial Planning

  In this module, you will be introduced the context for personal financial planning and to develop financial literacy. You will develop an understanding of the economic, legal, tax and regulatory systems as they impact personal financial planning decisions. You will consider the influences that affect personal financial planning decisions (for example developing personal goals, and the constraints of personal ethics, religion and culture). The risks and rewards of borrowing and investing decisions will be examined, as well as ways to mitigate those risks. You will explore how to balance short-term and long-term decision-making, including the creation of a personal financial plan. You will also look at contemporary materials such as earnings from typical jobs, from bank accounts and stock markets, and the costs of housing, mortgages, insurances.

• Management, Music and Creativity

  This module explores how exploring and analysing music can help us to deepen our understanding of management, work organisations, working lives and ultimately, ourselves. Through the lens of music, and using a variety of creative approaches, you will critically evaluate core managerial and organisational concepts and theories. You will explore the power of music to engage employees, boost morale, and give voice to workers who might otherwise remain unheard. You will examine the role music can play in helping to identify and tackle our own and others’ unconscious biases. You will analyse work songs, write lyrics to your own company song and develop your own motivational music playlist. You will research and analyse contemporary management dilemmas and challenges and, using creative writing and art, gain new insights into the lived experience of work and imagine alternative futures to current work systems.

One from:

• Strategic Management

  In this module, you will gain a good understanding of the main theories of strategic management and how to apply them in the context of contemporary business environment. You will be introduced to key concepts and debates about corporate and business strategy. The changing context in which the corporate strategy is formulated and implemented will be examined. The module also demonstrates how theoretical debates can be related to corporate strategies via the analysis of case studies covering a variety of industrial settings and situations.

• Management Accounting
• Creativity and Problem Solving
• Managing Organisational Change

  In this module, you’ll discuss, apply and evaluate the core theories and techniques of managing organisational change. You will develop a critically reflective understanding of the emergent discipline of organisational change and change management and examine the theoretical foundations of this field of research and key ideas concerning the context, nature and process of organisational change.

• Marketing Research

  In this module you develop an understanding of the nature and scope of marketing research, and how it is used to support the design and implementation of successful marketing decisions. You look at a conceptual framework for producing research results that are actionable and relevant. You will consider both quantitative and qualitative data collection techniques and methods of data analysis, gaining familiarity with the SPSS software package and how to write marketing research reports to assist decision makers.

One from:

• Digital Innovation and Circular Economy

  This module aims to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the intersection between digital innovation and circular economy principles. You will explore how digital technologies can be leveraged to create sustainable and circular business models, emphasising the role of innovation in addressing environmental challenges. You will critically evaluate the economics and environmental benefits of adopting circular business models and exame how various forms of digital technologies can support circular economy initiatives.

• Entrepreneurship Origins and Development

  In this module you will develop an understanding of how enterprises have evolved and how the position of entrepreneurs has changed over the centuries under different regimes of state formation, institutional change and moral discipline. You will look at how political regimes have either facilitated or hindered entrepreneurship and examine the importance of temporal, geographical and structural issues in entrepreneurship history.

• Human Resource Management

  This module aims to provide an in-depth exploration of the key principles, theories, and practices associated with managing human resources within organisations. It is designed to equip you with a comprehensive understanding of strategic and operational dimensions within HRM and its role in fostering organisational success. Content covers various HR practices and strategies, including recruitment and selection, training and development, performance management, reward management, legal and ethical considerations, and the emerging challenges in the field of HR. You will learn to apply these principles to foster a positive work environment, align HR strategies with organisational goals, and navigate challenges in diverse and dynamic workplaces.

• Multinational Enterprise

  In this module you will develop an understanding of the development and contemporary fluctuations of a key player on the international economic stage, the multinational enterprise (MNEs). You will look at a variety of concepts and frameworks, and with particular reference to the political economy context within which they operate. You will focus on the development and organisation of MNEs, their impacts on host and home countries, MNEs’ role as political actors, and the long-term capability building of MNEs.

• Digital Marketing and Customer Experience

Year 3

Autumn term - you will choose two of the following:

• Responsible Entrepreneurship and Innovation

  In this module you will develop an understanding of responsibility in the context of entrepreneurship. You will look at the entrepreneurial process and consider the inherent ambivalence of both new ideas and their unintended consequences. You will examine the concepts of social entrepreneurship, sustainable entrepreneurship, and minority entrepreneurship, and evaluate how new organisations emerge, grow, and approach responsibility challenges.

• Organisational Ethics and Decision Making

  The module will examine the ethical challenges you will likely face within the workplace and equip you with the knowledge and a range of theoretical perspectives, as well as core academic skills, which will allow you to identify, analyse and propose potential solutions to such challenges.

• Accountability and Sustainability
• Strategic Finance

  In this module you will develop an understanding of the 'time value of money'. You will look at the main principles of finance theory and how these can be applied to commercial problems. You will consider the relationship between risk and return, and examine the valuation of equities, bonds and options and the relative merits of different approaches to choosing and valuing securities. You will evaluate the consequences of a proposed takeover or merger from the perspective of capital markets and assess the relevance of information efficiency.

• Business Simulation

  In this module, you will undertake an online business simulation and apply concepts and knowledge from across their programme to make decisions that will affect the performance of their enterprise. You will experience how different decisions and factors affect business performance while learning about the interrelationships between marketing, operations, finance and sales. Through the realism in the decision-making process, you will be able to appreciate how different functions of an organisation create value for customers.

   

• Social Media, Networks and Business

  In this module you will develop an understanding of social networks and social media platforms from multiple perspectives. You will look at the growth of social media and the connectedness of the networked society, considering recent advances in network science, social psychology, and marketing. You will examine the role of social networking technologies in enabling business innovation and societal change, and critically assess positive and negative impacts of these technologies.

• Corporate Entrepreneurship

  In this module you will develop an understanding of the Corporate Entrepreneurship (CE) process in large established organisations. In particular, the role and importance of the following theories and concepts will be critically evaluated: entrepreneurial traits; organisation structure; entrepreneurial leadership; entrepreneurial strategy and management; corporate venturing; and creativity. Your l will benefit from action and situated learning, and emphasis is given to increasing students’ entrepreneurial attitudes and skills through self-reflection techniques and diagnostics.

• Clusters, Small Business and Entrepreneurship

  In this module you will develop an understanding of how small companies can become internationally competitive. You will look at the theories of clusters, and apply them to the analysis of small and medium enterprises operating in different contexts. You will consider vertical and horizontal collaborative strategies, and their impact on firms' capabilities, resources, and performance. You will examine the relationships between small companies and multinationals, and the mechanisms through which small companies are linked to the global economy. You will also compare different clusters and assess the competitive advantages and disadvantages they generate for companies.

• Current Issues in the Global Workplace
• Motivation and Performance

  In this module you will develop an understanding of why people work, how hard they work, and how motivation relates to employee wellbeing and performance. You will look at theories of people’s needs, values and traits, theories of justice, and the psychological contract. You will consider the role of popular management practices, including the use of pay, leadership, job design, and human resource management, and assess the evidence on the impact of such interventions. You will also examine the social and structural forces that influence work motivation and performance.

• Asia Pacific Business

  In this module you will develop an understanding of multinational business in the Asia Pacific, their worldwide operations, and their impact on Europe. You will look at the contemporary economic, political, and cultural contexts of the Asia Pacific nations, and consider the diversity of the business environments and business practices in the region. You will examine the factors that lay behind the rapid growth of the region in the last five decades, and use empirical evidence to analyse the operation, performance and impact of multinational enterprises originating from there.

• Business in International Comparative Perspective

  In this module you will develop an understanding of the key determinants of economic performance and the success of individual firms, industries and national economies. You will look at the achievements of the world's advanced economies, considering the character of their institutions and businesses, and examine the historical origins of differences in national institutions and corporate capabilities.

• Contemporary Issues in Marketing

  In this module final year students will appraise knowledge and understanding of the changing role of marketing in the contemporary world of business and research. You will gain knowledge and understanding of relevant ethical and corporate social responsibility considerations of contemporary marketing, using research by staff from our school and resources from CIM (Chartered Institute of Marketing).

• Strategic Brand Management

  This module focuses on how strategic brand management can take a cultural approach to give a company a competitive edge. The innovative topics covered deal in depth with how cultural branding can enable marketers to create greater relevance with their target markets and resonate with specific lifestyles. Offering a blend of theory and practice, the module presents case studies of brands that have obtained iconic status using a cultural branding model. Overall, the module looks at how value is produced and consumed in a variety of ways that connect to wider societal issues and debates such as ethical consumerism, environmental sustainability and social diversity.

Spring term - you will choose two of the following:

• Organisations and Accountability

  In this module you will develop an understanding of contemporary issues in the theory and practice of accounting for sustainability. You will look at key issues in the growing ara of sustainability accounting including notions of accountability in the context of sustainability, cultural and religious perspectives on sustainability accounting, elements of sustainability reporting, and the role of accounting in embedding sustainability in decision making.

• Marketing, People and the Planet
• International Financial Accounting

  In this module you will develop an understanding of various aspects of the international financial accounting environment. You will look at the regulatory background to the composition of reporting documents, considering influences on national financial reporting and international differences in financial reporting systems. You will examine approaches to the classification of financial reporting systems, and initatives designed to achieve international harmonisation and standardisation of accounting practices. You will also evaluate communication issues in accounting and analyse the impact of international accountability.

• Strategic Management Accounting

  In this module you will develop an understanding of financial management control strategy. You will look at the dependencies and relationships between business models and operating architecture, capital structure, and off-balance sheet financing. You will consider the context of managing accounting in a changing environment, and evaluate the impact of mergers and acquisitions on businesses. You will examine strategic control tools and techniques such as responsibility accounting and transfer pricing, and assess the relationship between product markets, internal organisation cost structures and capital market expectations.

• Business Data Analytics

  In this module you will develop an understanding of the main managerial and technological principles which underlie business and analytics. You will look at the impact of business data analytics on product and service innovation, and examine the main challenges and risk related to business data analytics activities within organisations. You will learn how to carry out a variety of business data analytics techniques, and consider the impact of legislation, regulation and ethical codes of practice on business data analytics programmes and the organisations running them.

• Business Process Applications

  In this module you will develop an understanding of the principles and concepts of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP). You will look at how firms use ERP systems for strategic effectiveness and consider the key strategic issues facing managers seeking to deploy and exploit such systems. You will examine the challenges facing those responsible for the selection, implementation and management of ERP projects, and gain practical experience using SAP software and other enterprise-level applications.

• Leading and Leadership in Organisations

  This module aims to provide a comprehensive overview to important and current leadership theories. Working at the boundary of practice and theory, weekly sessions are highly interactive and will be delivered in the form of lectures and workshops. We expect each student to engage proactively with all aspects of the module, including adequate preparation for each session as well as post-class reflections.

   

• Innovation, Strategy and the Corporation

  In this module you will develop an understanding of business innovation in the context of new ventures and corporations. You will look at how changes in technology, markets, and society are affecting how new business models, products and services emerge. You will consider innovation as a source of competitive advantage and examine the management of innovation, critically evaluating associated risks and uncertainty. You will also analyse past experiences and how they can be used to exploit future opportunities through innovation.

• New Venture Creation

  In this module you will examines the nature of idea development and develop an understanding and knowledge of the process and key aspects behind new venture creation. You will be equipped with a toolbox for initially developing their business ideas and potentially converting them into ventures. In particular, You will look at how to develop a framework to understand and address the problems that come up in the process of new venture creation in a systematic manner. "

• International Human Resource Management

  In this module you will develop an understanding of the implications of changes in the global organisation of firms and the international workforce for human resource management policy choices. You will look at the differences in business and human resource systems between the UK, the USA, Germany and Japan, and examine the approaches to, and strategies for, human resource management in international business activities. You will consider the problems of transferring human resource management practices from one country to another, and the role of multinational companies as agents of knowledge. You will also evaluate the role of transnational organisations in regulating human resource policies and practices in firms.

• Wellbeing at Work

  The significance of workers’ wellbeing has grown notably in recent years, capturing the attention of organisations, HR professionals, and researchers. This module aims to evaluate how organisational interventions influence worker wellbeing and attitudes through the examination of key theories, models, and policies. It delves into various dimensions of wellbeing and investigates the interconnections between HR management, organisational performance, and employee wellbeing. Ultimately, it offers students an in-depth exploration of how work affects worker wellbeing, drawing from extensive literature debates.

• Emerging Markets

  In this module you will develop an understanding of the emerging markets, commercial realities, and national cultures within the context of the global economy. You will look at the strategic issues and dilemmas that managers face in their efforts to expand into emerging markets, and consider the commercial realities and national cultures of these. You will look at specific cases studies, including the economies of Brazil, Russia, India, China, Turkey and South Africa.

• European Business

   In this module you will develop an understanding of how institutions, policies and processes have shaped the European Union and the European business environment. You will look at the key institutions, policies and processes involved in the widening and deepening of the union, and theories which explain its development. You will consider the national, regional and global influences on European business and examine the complex relationships between the EU and its major trading partners. You will also critically evaluate the challenges facing European countries, policymakers and businesses.

• Advertising and Promotions in the Digital Age