Level 5 Higher Diploma
Business Administration
Overview
| Originating Institution(s) | London Examinations Board |
| Awarding Body | TQUK and London Examinations Board |
| Duration | 9 months – 12 months |
| Award to be conferred | Higher Diploma in Business Administration |
This Higher Diploma is designed to provide a more in depth understanding and application of business administration to equip learners who are keen to take up employment in the business sector. Those who are keen to further their education can progress on to gain entry and acceptance into Year 3 of a UK or Europe Bachelor degree in Business Management.
Programme Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this programme, learners will be able to:
- Demonstrate an in depth understanding of management theories, current issues of management, the development of conceptual frameworks to guide their application within organizations operating in an increasingly global and competitive environment;
- Demonstrate and apply critical skills enabling the investigation and evaluation of valid and relevant management issues and practices;
- Demonstrate command of a range of competencies relevant to cross- border management, including inter-cultural awareness and understanding; and
- Demonstrate a coherent body of knowledge on economic, ethical, environmental, legal, political, sociological and technological factors together with their effects at local, national and international levels upon the strategy, behaviour and management of organisations.
Programme & Curriculum Structure
This programme accrues 120 credits over 8 modules. Each Unit carries 15 credits.
All students undergo an online induction workshop, which is not assessed and aimed at acquiring e-learning skills for the use of the Online Learning portal and E library. In addition, academic expectations, regulations and the concept of independent learning are also covered and the induction will be delivered through a pre- recorded video.
The modules are:
- Managerial Accounting
- Marketing Management
- Operations Management
- Intercultural Management
- International Business Environment
- People and Organisation
- Internet Marketing
- Managing People
Delivery mode
Each taught module will have a total of 12 hours of face to face lectures and 18 hours of online tutoring and online interactions with the Module Leader.
Assessment
Selected units will contain one work-based report with word limitations of usually between 2,000 – 2,500 words. Each unit document will outline the specific word limit. Normally the expected presentation of reports should be structured as outlined below.
General Structure of the Report
- Sections and Page Numbers
- Title Page (including unit title, assignment title, name, word count and date)
- Executive summary (one page)
- Contents (page numbers)
- Introduction
- Analysis Subsections
- Statement or evaluation of alternatives
- Conclusions
- Recommendations (justifications and implementations)
- References (Harvard style)
e.g. WATSON, T., (2010), Organising and Managing Work, 3rd ed, Financial Times-Prentice Hall Publishing. - Appendix A Title
- Appendix B Title
The purpose of the word limitation is for students to:
- Focus on issues;
- Be critically concise; and
- Assist them in their time management throughout the programme.
More specifically and to prevent confusion by students over the word limit, the assessment specifically relates to the section in the report between the introduction and the completion of the recommendations section. It does not include the executive summary, the contents, diagrams, models, tables, references and the appendices. These are, however, expected as part of the presented report. For consistency throughout the programme, students are requested to include the word count on the front of their report.
Grading Scale
| Mark Range | Grade | Classification | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 70% and above | A | Distinction | An outstanding piece of work incorporating and integrating both original and secondary sources with a high standard of presentation. The work addresses the brief as set in full. A creative response demonstrating a thorough understanding, analysis and judgment of the central issues. There is extensive coverage balanced with careful selection and organisation of material. There is substantial evidence of relevant wider reading, which is accurately referenced following the Harvard Referencing Style. |
| 60% – 69% | B | Merit | A good response to the assignment, well-structured and presented incorporating relevant information. The work addresses the brief as set in full. In-depth understanding of salient issues and evidence of wide reading, which is accurately referenced following the Harvard Referencing Style. Extensive analytical coverage with confident and balanced selection and organisation of material. May however lack synergy in places with some important ideas not being fully explored. |
| 50% – 59% | C | Pass | An acceptable answer that covers the majority of the key issues but may not be sufficiently complete to develop a full understanding of the situation. The brief has been addressed, although some area might not be as fully developed as others. Consideration of the academic underpinning and practical application of material may be limited, perhaps providing only partial consideration of the issues. The analysis is generally adequate but may be overly descriptive in places, lacking critical analysis and displaying limited evidence of the application of wider reading. Material is referenced in an adequate fashion, although some of the detail might be incorrect. |
| < 50% | D | Fail | Work contains errors, omissions or poorly expressed ideas; in some cases these omissions may be fundamental. The assessment brief is not addressed to a material extent, either as a whole or in significant dimensions. Lacks an adequate theoretical and conceptual base thereby failing to identify the key issues and possibly demonstrating a basic misunderstanding of the brief. The structure is not always clear possibly due to the student’s own lack of understanding. There is no clear line of argument, with passages not being adequately linked and explained. There is little or no evidence of wider reading. Sources used are inappropriate or are poorly referenced. |
Final Award Grades, Graded Point Average and Final Award Classifications
| Marks | LEB Grade Point Average | LEB Grade | LEB Classification |
| 85 – 100 | 4.00 | A+ | High Distinction |
| 70-84 | 3.75 | A | Distinction |
| 65-69 | 3.50 | B+ | High Merit |
| 60-64 | 3.00 | B | Merit |
| 55-59 | 2.50 | C+ | High Pass |
| 50-54 | 2.00 | C | Pass |
| 45- 49 | 1.75 | D | Marginal Fail |
| 35-44 | 1.50 | E | Fail |
| 0-34 | 1.00 | F | High Fail |
Modules
The following are list of modules for this programme, click on it’s title to read it’s brief specification.
Managerial Accounting
Learning Outcome
Upon completion of this unit, learners will be able to:
- Discuss the concepts of planning and control and how the management accountant can assist the management process now and in the future;
- Select the costing systems that are most appropriate for a given business situation;
- Analyse the impact on management planning and control systems have on managerial behaviour and the organisation’s accounting system; and
- Construct, analyse and present a set of budget statements for a range of budget types (fixed, flexible, zero based).
Indicative Contents
- Cost Accounting Fundamentals: This is an introductory unit which deals with the role of management accountants in the planning and control process. The section covers some of the basic concepts used in management accounting such as the way costs can be classified and reported.
- Cost Information for Decisions: This section deals with how costs are accumulated or allocated to specific products or services within different types of cost systems. This will enable students to decide which particular costing system would be most appropriate for a given business situation.
- Tools for Planning and Control: Section three requires you to use your knowledge of costs and systems to prepare, analyse and present budget statements of an organisation. Students will also explore the behavioural implications of budgetary systems. This section also contains a discussion of the contemporary approach to cost control.
Assessment
Assessment Weighting: 100% Coursework
Marketing Management
Learning Outcome
Upon completion of this unit, learners will be able to:
- Evaluate and challenge prevailing marketing theories;
- Discuss, develop and analyse marketing strategies; and
- Develop, analyse and present marketing plans and reports.
Indicative Contents
- Marketing Planning Theories and Models.
- Situation Analysis.
- Marketing Strategies and Programmes.
- Marketing Organisation and Control.
- Formulating a Marketing Plan.
Assessment
Assessment Weighting: 100% Coursework
Operations Management
Learning Outcome
Upon completion of this unit, learners will be able to:
- To recognise the importance of effective operations management to an organisation; and
- To create, maintain and improve the necessary conditions for productive work.
Indicative Contents
- What is Operations Management?
- Operations and Strategy – including possible contractual/partnership relationships.
- Operations Performance Objectives.
- Managing Process Design.
- Managing Quality.
- Managing Capacity.
- Managing Materials.
- Managing Work and Work Systems.
- Managing Change.
Assessment
Assessment Weighting: 100% Coursework
Intercultural Management
Learning Outcome
Upon completion of this unit, learners will be able to:
-
Understand the role and function of marketing;
-
Gain a better understanding of contemporary management issues from an international and cross cultural perspective;
-
Developed awareness and sensitivity to cultural differences in behaviour in order to improve skills for working in multicultural organisations and markets;
-
Develop the ability to handle differences in intercultural communication styles, to prevent intercultural conflicts; and
-
Gain a better understanding of staffing, training and compensation issues for global operations.
Indicative Contents
- Definition, Role and Development of Marketing.
- Introduction to intercultural Management.
- Rules of the “social game”.
- Intercultural Leadership Management.
- Intercultural Communication.
- Social and Intercultural Competence.
- Intercultural Conflict and Negotiation Management.
- Global Human Resource Management.
Assessment
Assessment Weighting: 100% Coursework
International Business Environment
Learning Outcome
Upon completion of this unit, learners will be able to:
- Understand the context in which international business takes place;
- Distinguish what differentiates international from domestic business;
- Research the international business environment and understand the actors and their interaction in it; and
- Apply knowledge and skills needed to develop solutions and challenges present in the international business environment.
Indicative Contents
- Introduction to and overview of the international business environment.
- The cultural environment.
- The political and legal environment.
- The economic environment.
- Government and parasternal influences on trade and investment.
- Corporate trade and investment issues and international marketing.
- Business-government relations.
- The international financial environment, currency and capital market issues.
- International market selection.
Assessment
Assessment Weighting: 100% Coursework
People and Organisation
Learning Outcome
Upon completion of this unit, learners will be able to:
-
Analyse the effect to psychological and social process on process on individual and group behaviour;
-
Demonstrate the ability to incorporate insights of various influential theories of management and Organizational behaviour in work situations;
-
Diagnose the cause, consequences, and implication of Organizational decisions and actions to bring about improvements in the organization; and
-
Learn how Organisational change affects all aspects of the organization from the individual to the group to the structure and culture of organisation.
Indicative Contents
- Introduction
- Management: An applied Behavioural Sciences Approach. Managing in rapidly changing world.
- Challenging and Opportunities for Organizational Behaviour.
- The Individual
- Personality, Principles, and Ethics. The importance of Learning.
- Motivation.
- Stress Management.
- The Group Teamwork. Leadership.
- Power and Politics. Conflict and Negotiation.
- The Organisation
- Work Design and Technology
- Organisational Culture
- Organisational Change
Assessment
Assessment Weighting: 100% Coursework
Internet Marketing
Learning Outcome
Upon completion of this unit, learners will be able to:
- Identify the key components of marketing strategy and evaluate the extent to which digital technologies change existing marketing models;
- Examine how new models and strategies can be applied to effectively use digital technologies;
- Analyse the impact digital technologies have on consumer behaviour; consumer research and customer relationships;
- Identify best practice in designing the digital customer experience online;
- Demonstrate how Social Media Marketing can be successfully employed.
Indicative Contents
- Digital Marketing Fundamentals
- The Digital Environment: Online market place analysis & models. The rate of environment change. Social Factors, Legal and ethical issues of internet usage. Technological factors, Economic Factors and Political Factors
- Strategic Marketing Objectives: Setting objectives, what can your digital presence accomplish?
- The Digital Marketing Mix: The 4 P’s revisited; Services marketing mix and a final P for Partnerships Digital Consumers
- The Digital Consumer: Online information processing; online buying process;
- Researching the digital consumer
- The Relationship: Relationship marketing, Database marketing, e-CRM
- Digital Marketing Mix: IMC Owned, Paid and Earned
- Paid: Planning, Managing & optimising campaigns. SEM/ SEO SEM / SEO Defined Adwords Overview. Google Online Marketing Challenge. Affiliate Marketing and online partnerships, Email, Interactive Display Advertising and Real Time Bidding.
- Earned: Using Social Media; Viral and WOM in action.
- Owned: Your Website, Website Design and Build, Initiation of website projects, Designing the user experience, Developing & Testing of Content, Online Retail merchandising.
- Digital Marketing Strategy
- Goals of interactive marketing communications, Goal Setting & Tracking, Campaign Insight Budgeting & Selecting the Digital Mix, Integration into overall plan. Performance Management
Assessment
Assessment Weighting: 100% Coursework
Managing People
Learning Outcome
Upon completion of this unit, learners will be able to:
-
Demonstrate understanding of the implications of HR decisions on the workforce and the organisation; and
-
Develop a critical awareness and understanding of current theory and good practice in the management of people.
Indicative Contents
- Introduction to people management, the importance of the human resource to effective organisational performance; the distinction between specialist HR and line management responsibilities.
- HRP, flexibility, recruitment and selection.
- Managing reward, performance & conduct.
- Employee development.
- Managing health & safety, managing stress.
- Diversity management.
- Generating commitment through involvement.
- Employee relations.
- Contemporary issues.
Assessment
Assessment Weighting: 100% Coursework
Entry Requirements
The minimum age to register for this programme is 18 and any one of the following:
- Completion of a level 4 qualification or equivalent or
- Mature applicant with a minimum of 4 years of work experience
AND
- Minimum of a pass in English at O Levels or equivalent
