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Diploma of Higher Education in Business Management - Learning outcomes

Educational aims

This qualification will provide you with:

  • a thorough understanding of the theoretical and work-based knowledge relevant to the application of business management in theory and practice 
  • the ability to reflect on experience of business management practices to produce and apply new understanding and skills 
  • an ability to recognise and deal with key individual and stakeholder differences in business management and the issues arising from such diversity
  • a thorough understanding of the operations, structures,  cultures and functioning of business organisations and the complex nature of their key business functions and processes
  • a broad range of important business and graduate skills, which you can bring to your employment in business management more widely
  • comprehensive support and guidance to develop as an independent learner.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding

On completion of this diploma, you will be able to demonstrate:

  • knowledge and critical understanding of the main concepts, theories and principles associated with business management, and how they have developed
  • an understanding of the scope and defining features of business management; as a subject, including an understanding of some major current issues in the given specialisms: accounting, economics, innovation & enterprise, leadership practice, and marketing.

Cognitive skills

On completion of this diploma, you will be able to:

  • apply your knowledge and understanding of a range of professional skills, techniques, practices and/or materials associated with business management, a few of which are specialised or complex
  • gather, critically analyse and evaluate information/data in accordance with the theories, concepts and principles of business management.

Practical and/or professional skills

On completion of this diploma, you will be able to:
  • engage, as appropriate, with practical and professional skills and   demonstrate an awareness of relevant responsible and ethical issues in business management.
  • use a logical process for developing personal development and career, identifying and researching employment options and associated skills and qualification requirements
  • develop career plans identify pathways and begin to reflect on experience and identify transferable principles and concepts.
  • plan, monitor and review your progress as an independent learner and understand the relevance of your learning to your career. 

Key skills

On completion of this diploma, you will be able to:

  • compare critically and use different approaches to issues and problems within business management
  • develop formal plan for tasks, some of which are complex, with logically sequenced steps which identify relevant constraints.
  • implement actions according to a plan and make adjustments in response to unanticipated issues.
  • effectively communicate information, arguments and analysis in a variety of forms, using key techniques of business management effectively, in a way which is appropriate to your purpose and audience, including specialists and non-specialists. 
  • play an active role in group discussion, paying attention to the perspectives of others
  • create and share digital content as appropriate to business management, adopting a responsible and ethical approach.
  • demonstrate the ability to independently find, critically evaluate and use information, data or tools accurately in a range of business management contexts 
  • adopt a range of numerical skills and digital practices (including the use of tools/resources), as appropriate to business management. 
  • consolidate an understanding of academic language and literacy practices in order to effectively engage with the academic knowledge and skills of OU level 2 study. 

Teaching, learning and assessment methods

You will learn independently, using printed teaching texts; directed readings from textbooks and papers; and online activities and resources.
 
We will support your learning with self-assessment questions and exercises, included in the teaching texts; feedback and guidance from a tutor, including, depending on location, support via tutorials, phone or email; online forums; and study guides. We will assess your learning with tutor-marked assignments (TMAs), interactive computer-marked assignments (iCMAs), end-of-module assessments (EMAs) and formal examinations.
 
You will develop your cognitive skills by engaging with analysis and design exercises. These skills are assessed by questions in the TMAs and exams that ask for the application of concepts in given situations. You will be asked to provide evidence of using these skills in your place of work and will be encouraged to reflect on your learning and plan for improvement. You will be supported in developing these skills by guidance provided in the study materials, together with feedback from your tutor and place of work supervisor. Online forums are an integral resource in several modules and you are expected to take part in online discussions moderated by your tutor who will give guidance as needed. Some of these discussions will form part of your assessment. Assessment of your written communication skills will be integral to the programme.
 
You will be encouraged to draw together the skills you acquire through the modules with those you practice in your place of work. Assessment will mainly be based on the evidence you will provide of applying skills in your everyday working environment.