This module provides a broad grounding in business and management practice and study. You will explore how organisations work by looking at their internal functions (operations, finance and marketing). You'll also learn about the external environment and how the economic and political context helps shape how businesses respond to global challenges. Using a blend of text, audio, video, and interactive online activities, you'll develop vital skills for study and work in business, public or voluntary sector organisations. Particular attention is paid to developing your critical thinking skills. You will also be introduced to mind mapping as a technique to help you express your ideas and creativity.
| Course facts | |
|---|---|
| About this course: | |
| Course code | B207 |
| Credits | 60 |
| OU Level | 2 |
| SCQF level | 8 |
| FHEQ level | 5 |
| Course work includes: | |
| 3 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) | |
| 1 Interactive computer-marked assignment (iCMA) | |
| End-of-module assessment | |
| No residential school | |
This module is divided into five sections. These comprise an introduction and conclusion (both emphasising skills development), and three substantive blocks, each with a crucial theme that integrates the internal functions and external environment.
Introduction
This introduces the rationale for the module and covers skills development around critical thinking, a skills audit, and mind mapping. We believe that developing your critical thinking skills fosters intellectual self-improvement, leads to a more creative mind-set, and allows you to become a better team player. You'll also be introduced to mind mapping as a potential technique to help you express ideas and creativity.
Block 1: Big ideas in organisations
No matter the sector, innovation is a key feature of the contemporary business context. This block explores why new products and services are imperative to contemporary business practice and why investing in their development is crucial to business growth and profitability. This block will provide you with a broader understanding of how innovation infuses the current business world and how internal business functions integrate to facilitate this.
Block 2: Competing in a global context
This block examines the significance of context for organisational innovation and the implications of globalisation for internal business functions. The block will then explore the consequences of the global versus local dynamic for a range of functional areas as well as point out the need for organisations and those who work for them to adapt these internationalising trends to local situations and contexts.
Block 3: Building long-term success
This block introduces you to the concept of fostering long-term value creation. Whilst Block 2 focused primarily on issues of geography and context, just as essential for successful organisational innovation is the impact of time. In essence, how can an innovative idea be effective in the long term as well as the short term? Key themes recurring throughout this block focus on 'nurturing long-term value creation', 'understanding the sustainability of innovations', 'adapting to incremental and radical change'.
Conclusion
This final block draws together the diverse themes from the preceding blocks and encourages you to reflect on what you have learned. In particular, it will make connections between the skills, knowledge and understanding that you have developed in different parts of the module and help you to reflect on how you can harness these for your personal and professional development, as well as prepare you for the end-of-module assessment (EMA).
This module is for anyone who wants a general overview of business studies – to learn more about the world of business and how it operates. It makes as few assumptions as possible about what you already know about business or about your experience of formal academic study. However, as this is an OU level 2 module and if you have no previous experience of studying business, it is strongly recommended that you first study An introduction to business and management (B100).
You'll have access to a module website, which includes:
You'll also be provided with three printed Readers, each covering one block of study, which are an edited collection of longer readings.
You'll get help and support from an assigned tutor throughout your module.
They'll help by:
Online tutorials run throughout the module. Where possible, we'll make recordings available. While they're not compulsory, we strongly encourage you to participate.
The assessment details for this module can be found in the facts box.
The OU strives to make all aspects of study accessible to everyone. The Accessibility Statement below outlines what studying this module involves. You should use this information to inform your study preparations and any discussions with us about how we can meet your needs.
Most of this module's study materials are online. Online materials are composed of pages of text with images, audio and video clips (all with transcripts/subtitles), diagrams, interactive media, animations and multiple choice self-assessed quizzes. Online materials also include links to external resources, online forums and online tutorial rooms. The module also includes a requirement to engage with a printed book of readings for each block. These are also provided electronically on the module website.
You will not be required to work with other students, except for occasionally sharing your thoughts in the tutor group forum, which is recommended but not compulsory.
The study materials contain some diagrams, graphs and photographs. Reading, interpreting and producing examples of these, in particular mind maps, is an important part of the study of this module and is assessed. Figure descriptions are provided for most figures.
You may be required to search for, and make use of, third party material online. Alternatives for required research material can be provided to enable you to meet the Learning Outcomes of the module.
This module has Tutor-Marked Assignments (TMAs), which must be submitted via the online TMA service, an Interactive Computer-Marked Assignment (iCMA) which is completed online, and an End-of-Module Assessment to be submitted online.
You will receive feedback from your tutor on your submitted Tutor-Marked Assignments (TMAs). This will help you to reflect on your TMA performance. You should refer to it to help you prepare for your next assignment.
All University modules are structured according to a set timetable and you will need time-management skills to keep your studies on track. You will be supported in developing these skills.
Shaping business opportunities starts once a year – in October. This page describes the module that will start in October 2025. We expect it to start for the last time in October 2027.
This course is expected to start for the last time in October 2027.