The module aims to give you a sound grasp of the basic concepts required for financial analysis and management. The module will help you understand the role of managerial finance and financial markets and will enable you to analyse and present data using Microsoft Excel. For those studying BSc (Hons) Business Management and BSc (Hons) Business Management with Placement, successful completion of this module fulfils the requirements of the Chartered Management Institute's Unit 520 Managing Finance.
View the full module definitionThis module presents a fusion between the philosophies which underlie marketing, with a strong emphasis of integrating digital and traditional concepts and the real life application of marketing across a variety of sectoral contexts. You'll examine the core marketing concept of customer value and the interplay between marketing and sustainability and the ethical challenges and critiques of modern marketing. You'll gain a wide range of knowledge across a breadth of sectors and be able to adapt these to whatever career or future research you choose. On completion of the module you'll have not only a solid grounding in marketing philosophies and theories but also a critical view of marketing, based around the realisation of the reality of modern digital marketing operations and management in a context of increasing global economic challenges, but also within a context where the customer profile is shifting to become increasingly demanding, critical and questioning of the motivations and ethics behind the marketers activities.
View the full module definitionYou'll explore the factors that affect business, from a mostly external perspective, including elements of globalisation and international business and the fundamental skills needed in the world of business. Political, Economics, Social, Legal, Ecological and Technological factors will be examined in the macro business environment and how these interact in a competitive environment with globalisation, technological and social change to create complex strategic options for organisations. You will also explore in some detail the concept of sustainability and introductory economics.
View the full module definitionYou'll be introduced to a range of organisational behaviour issues that you may encounter in your career and be provided with evidence-informed analyses of ways in which culture, leadership, structure and motivation affect workers and workplaces. This foundation enables you to analyse the human side of management and diagnose problems affecting organisations both independently and as part of a group. You'll have the opportunity to take managerial, critical, symbolic-interactivist and feminist perspectives to business issues and organisational behaviour related theories, models and concepts to build your social capital and critical analytical skills. Specifically, we will equip you with the knowledge and human capitals to understand how people and organisations function in individual, group and organisational levels based on the latest academic evidence on topics such as motivation, leadership, teams, organisational structure and culture. Finally, we aim to inspire you to value and continuously use the best available academic evidence on effective management of people and organisations throughout your career.
View the full module definitionAs an introduction to a broad range of civil legal issues, you'll get an insight and appreciation of the various ways in which the law impacts on the world of commerce and our everyday life. The module provides a foundation across a broad range of fundamental legal principles and concepts of the English Legal System. The rights and obligations of legal entities/individuals under the Law of Contract and the Law of Tort will also be examined.
View the full module definitionEntering third level education is exciting; but it can also be a daunting experience. At ARU, we want all students to make the most of the opportunities Higher Education provides, so they reach their potential, become lifelong learners and find fulfilling careers. However, we appreciate that the shift from secondary education, or a return to formal education is, in itself, quite a journey. This module is designed to ease that transition. You will be enrolled on it as soon as you receive an offer from ARU so you can begin to learn about university life before your course starts. Through Into ARU, you will explore a virtual land modelled around ARU values: Courage, Innovation, Community, Integrity, Responsibility, and Ambition. This innovative module is designed as a game, where students collect knowledge and various complete mini tasks. You will proceed at your own pace, though we expect all students to have completed their Into ARU exploration by week 6. Students who, for whatever reason, are unable to complete by that date, will be signposted to existing services so that we can be confident that they are supported.
View the full module definitionRuskin Modules are designed to prepare our students for a complex, challenging and changing future. These interdisciplinary modules provide the opportunity to further broaden your perspectives, develop your intellectual flexibility and creativity. You will work with others from different disciplines to enable you to reflect critically on the limitations of a single discipline to solve wider societal concerns. You will be supported to create meaningful connections across disciplines to apply new knowledge to tackle complex problems and key challenges. Ruskin Modules are designed to grow your confidence, seek and maximise opportunities to realise your potential to give you a distinctive edge and enhance your success in the workplace.
From creativity comes ideas, different ways of doing things that could transform an organisation, industry, practice, consumer’s lives, the world… This module uses the concept of playfulness to lead to creativity and the chance to identify an opportunity. A variety of ideation techniques will help you develop ideas and subsequent business models. From a blank page, you'll be drawn through the creative process of ideation, risk, failure and revision to develop innovative solutions with the chance to consult with a range of stakeholders in our community to improve your idea, ready for testing. You'll develop entrepreneurial skills that may be used to start a business or bring innovative thinking to solving problems or exploring new opportunities in an existing business. You'll be exposed to a variety of creative processes and have the chance to explore your own ideas or work with local entrepreneurs throughout the ideation process. The first idea is not always the best idea so assessment on this module explores the concept of making continual improvements and evolving a concept through following the ideation process and reflecting on progress.
Unusually, this is the module where it is quite acceptable to fail! Entrepreneurial thinking leads to ideas that may progress to prototyping and testing. You'll develop the prototype, working with designers/manufacturers, and see an idea come to life. We work with local organisations to give you the chance to experiment (and fail) with the development of a new product. External visits will include exciting opportunities like using 3D printers, visiting scientific and technical organisations in Cambridge’s Science Park; speaking to real entrepreneurs who have tested and revised their products; finding out how injection moulding works; learning how to design an app; briefing designers; and so on… You will create a prototype, test whether it meets your set objectives, and plan interventions. Your prototype and accompanying portfolio could be an invaluable tool to show potential employers and showcase your entrepreneurial spirit.
View the full module definitionProject Management is a key skill for any future professional. This module focuses on providing a sound basis for managing or working on project outcomes, cost and time. This module covers: Project Management Body of Knowledge; the importance of stakeholder and risk management; scheduling and costing; monitoring and controlling techniques, time management and resource optimisation; improving the success of projects; and the principles of agile project management.
Entrepreneurs are people who identify and exploit opportunities for new products, marketing or processes to generate economic and social value. Entrepreneurship is not just about new venture creation, it involves using creative or innovative ideas to recognise and develop solutions. You’ll work as part of a team over 3 rounds of activity (such as gamification, experiential learning and simulation) to focus on the identification of an opportunity, the creation of a product or service and pitching a concept to work as part of the team to develop your skills and collaborate with organisations and guest speakers.
In this module, you’ll build your knowledge and skills as you navigate the complexities of international business strategy in dynamic and competitive global environments. It emphasises the importance of business analytics and strategic frameworks in decision-making, fostering innovation, and addressing sustainability challenges across borders. The module is designed to develop your entrepreneurial mindset by encouraging creativity, opportunity identification, and risk assessment in global contexts. It integrates a focus on international innovation and management, enabling you to understand how to drive innovation across borders and manage diverse teams effectively. Additionally, the module enhances employability skills, including strategic thinking, leadership, teamwork, and cross-cultural communication. You’ll learn to apply theories and frameworks to practical business scenarios, with a strong emphasis on sustainability and adaptability in volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) environments.
View the full module definitionYou'll develop understanding of the shift towards more environmentally, socially and economically responsible business practice and in particular focus on the drivers behind this shift; including an understanding of the sustainable development goals and growing business arguments for including a consideration of sustainability in all business and management practice. The module promotes a personal approach to the issues of sustainability and personal and social responsibility. The module includes an authentic assessment where you'll be diagnosing, designing and evaluating an environmental management plan for your households or organisations, while reflecting on your personal responsibility and ethical behaviour. You'll pay special attention to questioning the different responses of business in relation to social responsibility and sustainable management.
From ideation, to prototype and testing, this module is about looking back on experiences and learning from them. An entrepreneur must be resilient, to keep going, and keep trying despite mistakes, lack of funds, or opportunities. You'll look at theories of reflection, and is analytical and theoretical in its approach. We look at the numbers and analysis to work out the next steps, reflecting on previous learning on the course. You'll build your social networks and capital, learn to pitch, find out how to apply for grants and write a successful bid and speak to entrepreneurs to find out what made them successful. We link to the patchwork framework and the entrepreneurial toolkit to help you to pull on your personal resources and we consider diversity and entrepreneurship as you prepare for self-employment or taking your entrepreneurial skills into the workplace. You'll be invited to explore different types of entrepreneurs and reflect on your own skills, knowledge and behaviours. The assessment will be scenario-based critically analysing the resources that can be used to overcome specific issues affecting the entrepreneur.
View the full module definitionYou'll have the opportunity to bring together your learning on live brief assessments and be part of an interdisciplinary team addressing a current issue in business. You'll be presented with a current business issue and be required to research, analyse and evaluate the issue effectively as a team. You'll act as the expert in your field of study to bring the perspective of that specialty to a complex business problem. You'll identify the key problems and issues, conduct literature reviews, evaluate information, investigate and adopt suitable development methodologies, determine solutions, process data, critically appraise and present the findings of your project using a variety of media. You'll create a poster presentation on your project for your team to display, and answer questions on, to an audience of academics and employers at a poster presentation event. You'll write a group business report on the outcomes of your project, evidencing your recommendations alongside an individual piece of reflective work on how you approached the issue, worked successfully as a team member, conducted robust business research and developed sound conclusions and recommendations.
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