Business Management and Artificial Intelligence

This module introduces contemporary issues in business management, developing your awareness and understanding of factors affecting people and organisations in an ever-changing world. Teaching sessions will examine contemporary sources and debate current issues. 

You’ll study topics such as: 

• Ethics and sustainability in business management 

• Geopolitics and globalisation 

• Changing business cultures and the role of stakeholders 

• Smart technology and big data 

• Business management research and approaches 

• Shifting communication channels 

• Economic controversies 

This module introduces data analysis and the use of AI tools in a business context, using a range of software tools to help make informed ethically sound management decisions. 

 You’ll study topics such as:  

• Technology-driven data collection and analysis processes 

• Understand ‘data’ and analysis  

• Global strategic ethical business decision making 

• Data management practices and procedures 

• Ethical and environmental implications of data analysis and manipulation in the commercial world 

This module introduces different types of businesses and organisations, focusing on operations, supply chain and marketing – developing academic literacy, business skills and future aspirations. You’ll work independently, within groups and in a real-world applied project, developing and applying academic and professional behaviours.   

You’ll study topics such as:  

• Organisational types, scale and span 

• Responsible and sustainable practice 

• Business functions 

• Marketing 

• Supply chain 

• Operations management 

• Excel  

• Academic skills and advising 

• Employability and entrepreneurial advice  

• Applied reflective practice 

This module provides you with the knowledge and insight to lead, develop and engage with a diverse workforce, operating across varied business contexts. You’ll also take part in a simulated international collaboration. 

You’ll study topics such as: 

• Organisational behaviour and development 

• Ethical/legal/business case for equality, diversity and inclusion 

• Role of HR and line managers in developing people  

• Inclusive working environments 

• Employee engagement 

• Responsible, inclusive and ethical leadership 

• Intercultural management 

• Working and studying in other cultures  

This module will cover contemporary applications of artificial intelligence. It will give you an opportunity to explore and investigate a variety of real-world applications of AI technology in the business world. As well as investigating specific applications of AI, you will also be encouraged to design and develop your own AI applications by using and customising existing tools. 

Typically, the module will cover: 

• The types of AI systems typically used in business, their advantages and drawbacks. 

• How AI can be leveraged to deliver improvements and efficiencies in the business environment, including workflows, product design, product prototyping, evaluation, advertising, human resources, chatbots, strategy development, data handling and analytics, forecasting, customer-experience, etc. 

• Evaluating fair and ethically aware AI technologies in the global business environment. 

• Specifying and developing custom AI applications using contemporary AI technologies.

This module enhances your professional development via work-related learning opportunities.  You will gain interpersonal and business problem-solving skills that are key to successful graduate-level employment and learn about the business environment and the world of work.

The module will comprise teaching and individual supervision. Learners will undertake work-related activities e.g. work shadowing, volunteering, short placement, projects and so on.

Indicative content:

• Professional identity
• Reflective practice
• Problem-based research skills
• Teamwork
• Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
• Project management and report writing
• Networking
• Ethical practice

This module builds upon concepts and practical approaches introduced at level 4 and will prepare you for sandwich placement and for level 6 consultancy project.

This module develops theoretical understanding of performance management in organisations and equips you with a range of practical tools and techniques. You’ll work independently and in groups, actively interpreting and analysing both financial and non-financial performance management information.  

You’ll study topics such as: 

• Financial and non-financial performance management data 

• Internal and external reporting 

• Planning and control systems 

• Accounting and control tools 

• Risk management 

• Sources and availability of finance 

• Environmental and economic analysis  

• Market forces and fair trade in a global context

This module introduces computer programming using the procedural problem-solving approach. The focus is on the design and implementation of programs using the procedural facilities of a programming language which is widely used for developing global AI and other software applications. 

You’ll study topics such as: 

• Procedural programming concepts: problem-solving, top-down design and functional decomposition. 
• Software engineering concepts and processes such as software specification, design, implementation and testing. 
• Algorithms and control structures: algorithmic design, control structures - sequence, repetition, selection. 
• Procedures and functions: parameters, return values. 
• Variables and Data Structures: variables and assignment. 
• Basic Data Types: integer, floating point, character, Boolean, arrays. 
• Python or a similar programming language used to develop artificial intelligence software.

Module aim:    

The aim of this module is to enhance students’ professional development through the completion of and reflection on meaningful work placement(s).  

A work placement will provide students with opportunities to experience the realities of professional employment and experience how their course can be applied within their chosen industry setting.

The placement will: 

• Allow student to apply the skills, theories and behaviours relevant and in addition to their course 
• Enable students to enhance their interpersonal skills in demand by graduate employers – communication, problem-solving, creativity, resilience, team work etc
• Grow their student network and relationship building skills
• Provide student with insights into the industry and sector in which their placement occurs 
• Help student make informed graduate careers choices

Indicative Content:  

In this module students undertake a sandwich placement (min 24 weeks / min 21 hours per week) which is integrated, assessed and aligned to their studies.  

Their personal Placement Academic Supervisor (PAS) will be their key point of contact during their placement and will encourage and support students to reflect on their experience, learning and contribution to the organisation they work for.  

To demonstrate gains in professional development, students will be required to share their progress, learning and achievements with their Placement Academic Supervisor and reflect on these for the summative piece of work. 

The aim of the module is to introduce students to the concepts of Business Intelligence and AI-driven data mining tools and techniques. A variety of AI-driven Business Intelligence tools and techniques, supported by relevant technologies will be covered. 

Typically, this module will cover: 

• Exploratory data analysis and visualisation of large data sets.  
• Basic statistics and manipulation of data.  
• Unsupervised and Supervised learning techniques. 
• Evaluation of AI-driven data mining tools and techniques. 
• Application areas may include customer retention, finance and fraud detection and others. 
• The discussion and evaluation of Business Intelligence and its application to various areas of decision-making within an organisation in an ethically aware manner. 
• A critical awareness of the wider sustainability issues of AI with regards the impact on the environment, including the UN SDGs. 

This module will give you the opportunity to learn about and gain direct experience with an increasingly important and exciting facet of business – that of using business games and business simulations to facilitate insight and/or training into business operations. 

Business simulations and business games have developed steadily from the 1970s. They provide opportunities to alter parameters to determine outcomes (cause and effect) as well offering platforms for training and scenario planning. 

Typically, this module will cover:  

• Contemporary global business simulation and business game applications. 

• The benefits of using simulation and business game applications in a business context. 

• How to evaluate business simulation and business game applications. 

• How such systems work, including the effect of using data and applying artificial intelligence to these systems. 

• How to design and implement business simulations and business games using a variety of different technologies, tools and platforms.

This module applies your knowledge of contemporary business management, developing critical and analytical research skills to inform decision-making in a real-life setting. You’ll develop an individual research project with others in small groups – based on a live consultancy brief or your own venture – exploring relevant theories in large group sessions. 

You’ll apply learning and skills such as:   

• Consultancy research  

• Entrepreneurial projects 

• Project design and management 

• Identifying discipline-relevant frameworks and concepts 

• Research methods, including ethics   

• Business report writing 

• Personal and professional reflection  

This module enables you to critically evaluate how organisations develop and implement their strategies in a diverse, digital and global environment. We’ll look through the lens of real-life case studies that bring to life how organisations create their strategies, including applied environmental analysis in a volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous world. 

You’ll study topics such as: 

• Strategy process and its influencers in a global and digital environment 
• Strategy development  
• Complex organisational and environmental circumstances 
• Risk analysis and mitigation 
• Responsible and ethical decision-making