Introduction to Accounting

15 credits
Spring teaching, Year 1

The aim of this module is to introduce you to the terminology, techniques and procedures of financial and management accounting currently in use in business entities. The module will equip you with the necessary skills, knowledge and insights to understand how and why financial accounts are created and how they have developed in the past and will likely develop in the future.

Central to the unit is the introduction of applied analytical skills that will give you the capability of analysing decision-making within business entities giving you greater insight into business behaviour. The module will also create a firm base for specialisation in appropriate accountancy courses in subsequent years. This module will involve the you in group, quantitative and communication exercises that will develop and enhance essential employment related skills and professional skill development.

Introduction to Business and Management

15 credits
Autumn teaching, Year 1

The module provides an introduction to management and organisation. It will introduce you to concepts related to the practice and theory of management and organisation that will be explored and discussed further in other modules on the management and business studies course. 

The module includes discussion and analysis of the relationship between people, the organisation and training, and introduces concepts of ethics, innovation, enterprise and globalisation.

Introduction to Business Law

15 credits
Autumn teaching, Year 1

This module equips those on business programmes with a structural and methodological appreciation of the basis elements of contract and tort law.

The module is divided into three parts:

1. the English legal system
2. contractual obligations; and
3. tortious liability.

Introduction to Economics

15 credits
Autumn teaching, Year 1

This course provides an introduction to the fundamental principles of economics. The first half of the course deals with microeconomic issues including the behaviour of individuals and firms, their interaction in markets and the role of government. The second half of the course is devoted to macroeconomics and examines the determinants of aggregate economic variables, such as national income, inflation, and the balance of payments, and the relationships between them. This course also provides students with a basic introduction to mathematical economics, covering solving linear equations, differential calculus, and discounting.

Introduction to Mathematics for Finance and Economics

15 credits
Autumn teaching, Year 1

This module introduces you to the basic mathematical methods and techniques used in economic analysis, and will enable you to use these skills independently and with confident. These skills also have a transferable content and are useful in other disciplines and applications.

Principles of Finance

15 credits
Spring teaching, Year 1

This module introduces you to basic elements of finance, including principles based on economic or finance theory, and mathematical or statistical techniques used to implement or analyse such principles.  A sound knowledge of these principles will be important for many subsequent modules on your degree course. 

On successful completion of the module, you will have a knowledge of various aspects of finance, such as discounting, sinking funds, valuing securities and the relationship between risk and return.  You will also be able to solve a variety of analytical problems in the field of finance.  These skills will be acquired and developed though discussion of answers to problems set in weekly classes. 

Principles of Organisational Behaviour and Human Resource Management

15 credits
Spring teaching, Year 1

The broad aim of this module is to introduce you to the study of behaviour in organisational contexts, with a focus on individual and group processes and actions. The module will equip you with the knowledge, understanding and skills to function more effectively in organisations, and draws upon a broad and extensive theoretical and practical knowledge base to advance understanding of the complexities of human behaviour in organisations and to inform management thinking and activity.

Critical thinking skills are enhanced through the application of theory to current managerial issues and is supported through the exercise of teamwork, problem-solving and communication skills. You will also be given the opportunity to reflect upon your own capabilities and contribution to team performance.

The World Economy since 1945

15 credits
Spring teaching, Year 1

The module covers the history of the world economy since 1945 and draws mainly on work by historically oriented economists such as Kindleberger and Eichengreen but, where appropriate, will discuss contrasting interpretations offered by other disciplines.

Part 1 consists of: the Golden Age; the economy before 1945; the Post-World War II settlement: the international agenda and the rise of welfare states; and macroeconomic management 1950-1970.

Part 2 consists of: the passing of the Golden Age; the 1970s: wage explosions, oil shocks and inflation; conservative macroeconomics: the end of inflation and the rise of unemployment; and conservative microeconomics: rolling back the welfare state and privatisation.

Part 3 consists of: life behind the iron curtain; the communist economies from 1945 to 1985; and the transition from communism.

Part 4 consists of: beyond the first and second worlds; convergence and divergence; and the rise of East Asia and the divergence of fortunes among the poorer countries.

Finally, part 5 looks at the 1990s and the future.

Banking and Finance

15 credits
Autumn teaching, Year 2

This module is an introduction to both theoretical and practical issues related to the modern banking business. The module begins with an overview of the role and genesis of the financial system and the nature of financial intermediation. It covers the main characteristics and types of banks (e.g., commercial and mutual; retail and wholesale; role of central banks) and analyses recent trends and developments in relation to both domestic and international banking markets. The module also explores the main items contained in banks' financial statements and explains how to assess bank performance by using basic financial ratios. The second part of the module focuses on the main risks of banking, with particular reference to credit risk, and outlines elementary risk management techniques. Moreover, it examines the rationale for bank regulation and distinguishes between the different types of regulation. Particular reference is made to the latest developments on Basel 2 and the Financial Services Action Plan.

Finance for Development

15 credits
Spring teaching, Year 2

This module discusses and analyses the major challenges and current initiatives in the creation of finance industries appropriate to and effective in developing countries. The module focuses on the private financial sector and issues relating to access to finance. After a general overview, the module begins by examining the forms of finance available for larger firms in developing countries, mainly the banking sector and the stock market. Subsequently, it covers the evidence on the effects of financial development on economic growth and the role of institutional factors, such as corporate governance, in financial development. It then moves on to examine the access to finance for smaller firms and households and the implications of a lack of access. Finally, the module touches upon private international sources of finance, namely private capital flows, FDI and remittances to developing countries.

Financial Reporting

15 credits
Autumn teaching, Year 2

This module covers International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and International Accounting Standards (IAS). It provides a balanced and comprehensive framework to enable you to acquire the requisite knowledge and skills to appraise Generally Accepted Accounting Practice critically and to evaluate proposed changes from a theoretical base.

Information Systems

15 credits
Autumn teaching, Year 2

The module introduces you to the application and management of information systems in an organisational environment. It adopts a management perspective to appreciate the identification, analysis, development, organisation and impact of appropriate information systems. Foundations of intra- and inter-organisational systems are examined along with their economic, social and organisational impacts.

Macroeconomics 1

15 credits
Spring teaching, Year 2

This module introduces core short-run and medium-run macroeconomics.

First you will consider what determines demand for goods and services in the short run. You will be introduced to financial markets, and outline the links between financial markets and demand for goods. The Keynesian ISLM model encapsulates these linkages. Second, you will turn to medium-term supply. You will bring together the market for labour and the price-setting decisions of firms in order to build an understanding of how inflation and unemployment are determined. Finally, you will look at supply and the ISLM together to produce a full medium-term macroeconomic model.

Management Accounting

15 credits
Spring teaching, Year 2

This module expands upon the framework of Management Accounting in the first year N1086 module and whilst considering contemporary debates and controversies will eqip you with an advanced appreciation of the traditional management accounting techniques and consider their applicability, strengths and weaknesses.
Through an exploration of "new" techniques including those employing Information Technology, you will develop an undertsanding of current and future directions in the field.

Operations Management

15 credits
Spring teaching, Year 2

This module will provide you with an understanding of how the fundamental principles of operations management can support the improvement of management performance in both public and private organisations. During the module you will apply these principles to both manufacturing and service operations.

You will also examine the systemic and interactive nature of operations management problems and their relationship to the external environment. You will develop quantitative and qualitative analytical skills, through guided problem-based activities and case study analysis.

Statistics for Economics and Finance

15 credits
Autumn teaching, Year 2

This module introduces the statistical techniques used in economics, and involves computer-­based applications. Topics covered include: summarising and plotting data, basic probability theory, hypothesis testing, correlation analysis, and bivariate
and multiple regression analysis. You will be introduced in greater detail to the EXCEL
spreadsheet package, which you will use for your assessed coursework.

Applied Econometrics

15 credits
Spring teaching, Year 3

This module examines in greater depth topics covered in the Introduction to Econometrics module. The module explores the analysis of time series data with particular reference to unit root testing, cointegration and dynamic modelling and also examines the use of models with limited dependent variables (eg the probit model).

Applied Statistics for Finance and Economics

15 credits
Spring teaching, Year 3

This module will introduce you to the empirical use of a variety of statistical methods used in the social sciences.  A key objective of the module is to teach best statistical practice through the use, exploration and analysis of empirical data.  Topics covered include: measuring skewness and kurtosis in empirical data and undertaking tests for normality, goodness-­of-­fit and non­-parametric testing principles; ANOVA and experimental design; OLS and maximum likelihood estimation in the bivariate regression model; the linear probability and the logistic models; detrending, deseasonalising and forecasting using time series data; basic concepts in sample survey methods.

Corporate Finance

15 credits
Autumn teaching, Year 3

The aim of the module is to provide an introduction to issues in corporate finance and for you to become competent at addressing quantitative questions relating to the subject. Topics include: corporate balance sheets, portfolio analysis, risk and return, capital structure, dividend policy, options, international finance issues.

Econometrics

15 credits
Autumn teaching, Year 3

This module studies the application of statistical methods to economic data. The focus is on regression analysis based on the ordinary least squares (OLS) principle. Topics covered include model specification and the analysis of regression disturbance problems (eg autocorrelation and heteroscedasticity).

Strategy

15 credits
Autumn teaching, Year 3

This is a final-year integrative module in strategy, which develops your understanding and skills as a prospective future manager, specifically for formulating an organisation's overall strategic direction.

The module will help you to develop an understanding of the different approaches to strategy: how choices are made between different possible approaches; the content in which choices are made; and how strategies and structures are designed and implemented.

This module will complement and build on the various management skills already developed through earlier business and management modules.

Corporate Social Responsibility

15 credits
Spring teaching, Year 3

Developing Leadership

15 credits
Autumn teaching, Year 3

Organisations have traditionally conceived of leadership as a heroic attribute, appointing the few 'real' leaders to high-level senior positions in order to get them through the hard times. Many observers within organisations are questioning this approach and are beginning to think about the need to recognise and utilise a wider range of leadership practices. Leadership, they argue, needs to be conceived of as something that happens across functions and levels, and that is closely connected with social, cognitive and communicative skills such as those employed in negotiation and decision-making. New concepts and frameworks are needed in order to embrace this more inclusive understanding. This module adopts a systems approach, which focuses on method, people, context, and need. As such, the module offers a perspective that links the two dimensions of people and situation with two additional dimensions of process and content (methods and outcomes).

Entrepreneurship and Small Firms

15 credits
Spring teaching, Year 3

The module provides you with a broad understanding of entrepreneurship and of small firms. Its central theme is that small firms are not simply scaled-down versions of larger firms. 

Please note, this module does not provide practical training in how to start or run a new firm.

Further Statistics

15 credits
Autumn teaching, Year 3

This is a theory module that examines sampling distributions, inference, joint distributions, maximum likelihood estimation, and the classical testing principles relating to the likelihood ratio tests, wald and LM (or score) tests.

Innovation Systems

15 credits
Spring teaching, Year 3

Knowledge, work and organisations

15 credits
Spring teaching, Year 3

This module looks at the pivotal role that knowledge workers play in the creation, application and diffusion of knowledge within and between firms.

You will consider new approaches to managing learning processes in the firm, including developments such as knowledge management and communities of practice, and the novel organisational structures that have emerged to coordinate knowledge-­work activity.

You will explore the diffusion of knowledge between firms through different types of knowledge-worker communities and networks, as well as the role of labour mobility. You will also consider how certain skills are emerging to play a critical role in the knowledge economy - for example, consulting services and knowledge brokering. Finally, you will consider how labour market institutions that impact careers, skills and training of knowledge workers, shape different approaches to knowledge generation. 

Macroeconomics 2

15 credits
Autumn teaching, Year 3

This module is concerned with two main topics. 'The long run' is an introduction to how economies grow, gradually raising the standard of living, decade by decade. Once we have the basic analysis in place, we can begin to explain why there are such huge disparities in living standards around the world. 'Expectations' is a deepening of the behavioural background to modelling, saving and investment decisions, emphasising the intrinsically forward-looking nature of saving and investment decisions and analysing the financial markets which coordinate these decisions.

Public and Nonprofit Management and Organization

15 credits
Autumn teaching, Year 3

This module provides an introduction to organization and management in the public and nonprofit sectors. It combines perspectives from organization studies, management, economics, sociology, political science, and public policy. The first part of the module aims to develop insights into why public action is needed and how it is implemented including the governance of courses and projects, their budgeting and management, and the demonstration of their effectiveness. The second part of the module will examine the nonprofit sector. In addition to comparing the scope of activity, means of delivery and approaches to evaluation in this sector with the public sector, the second part of the module will examine the problems of mobilising support for nonprofit activities including fundraising, the enrolment of volunteers, and the role of professional staff. Seminars will develop more deeply the topics treated during the lectures by considering specific experience in both Anglo-American and more international contexts.