Open University

BA (Honours) in Business Management (Accounting)

Knowledge and understanding

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

• Knowledge and critical understanding of the main concepts, theories and principles associated with business management
• Systematic knowledge and understanding in one or more of the following specialisms, and the role they play in enhancing knowledge and practical skills in business management: accounting, economics, innovation and enterprise, leadership practice, and marketing.

Cognitive skills

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

• Synthesise, critically evaluate, and challenge information, arguments, and assumptions from different sources, including current research and scholarship, by the theories, concepts, and principles of business management
• Select and apply your knowledge and understanding to a wide range of the principal professional skills, techniques, practices, and/or materials associated with business management, including in contexts with a degree of unpredictability and/or specialism
• Appreciate the potential uncertainty, ambiguity, and limits of knowledge in business management
• Select and use accurately established techniques of analysis and enquiry outside the context in which they were first studied, and be aware of their limitations.

Practical and professional skills

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

• Critically engage, as appropriate, with practical and professional skills and demonstrate an awareness of relevant responsible and ethical issues in business management
• Regularly review current situation and future personal development, career, and work options, and develop strategies to address factors that may limit choices
• Recognise the importance of developing both technical and non-technical skills and of learning from feedback and self-reflection
• Plan, monitor, and evaluate your learning and seek ways to improve your performance, and potentially, your career prospects.

Key skills

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

• Identify, interpret, and solve complex problems appropriate to business management.
• Reflect on the appropriateness and effectiveness of the problem-solving processes used and identify some key principles which may be relevant in future situations.
• Use a combination of formal, logical planning processes and an understanding of context to identify relevant information and risks and be able to identify alternative strategies and resources.
• Present or communicate, formally or informally, information about specialized topics in a way which is appropriate to your purpose and audience and which encourages the sharing of ideas and different perspectives.
• Communicate with peers, experts, and/or senior colleagues on an academic/professional level.
• Collaborate with others to achieve joint outcomes, playing an active role in facilitating effective group interaction, influencing, and/or leading as appropriate.
• Create, use, share, and repurpose digital content as appropriate to business management adopting a responsible and ethical approach.
• Demonstrate the ability to independently find, critically evaluate, and use a wide range of information, data, or tools accurately in complex contexts.
• Adopt a wide range of numerical skills and digital practices (including the use of tools/resources), as appropriate to business management.
• Demonstrate an understanding of academic language and literacy practices to effectively engage with the academic knowledge and skills of OU level 3 study.

This degree has three stages, each comprising 120 credits.

You’ll study a 60-credit introductory business and management module. Thereafter, for your remaining 300 credits, you'll combine the study of business and management with financial and management accounting practice and strategy, giving you essential skills that apply to a wide range of careers in business and finance.

Stage 1 (120 credits)

You'll study all of the following:

• An introduction to business and management (B100)
• Fundamentals of Accounting (B124)

You’ll also choose one from:

• You and your money (DB125)
• Business data analytics and decision making (B126)

Stage 2 (120 credits)

You'll study all of the following:

• Shaping business opportunities (B207)
• Financial accounting in context (B293)
• Financial analysis and decision making (B294)

Stage 3 (120 credits)

You'll study all of the following:

• Strategic management (B302)
• Management accounting and international finance (B391)

You’ll complete your degree with one from:

• Creating futures: sustainable enterprise and innovation (B327)
• Leadership in a changing world (B329)
• Marketing in action (B328)

Assessment

Our assessments are all designed to reinforce your learning and help you show your understanding of the topics. The mix of assessment methods will vary between modules.

Computer-Marked Assignments

• Usually, a series of online, multiple-choice questions

Tutor-Marked Assignments

• You’ll have a number of these throughout each module, each with a submission deadline
• They can be made up of essays, questions, experiments or something else to test your understanding of what you have learned
• Your tutor will mark and return them to you with detailed feedback

End-of-Module Assessments

• The final, marked piece of work on most modules
• Modules with an end-of-module assessment won’t usually have an exam

Exams

• Some modules end with an exam. You’ll be given time to revise and prepare
• You’ll be given your exam date at least 5 months in advance
• Most exams take place remotely, and you will complete them at home or an alternative location
• If a module requires you to take a face-to-face exam, this will be made clear in the module description, and you will be required to take your exam in person at one of our exam centres.

Skills for career development

This degree course will help you develop a broad set of skills that are of high value to employers, including the ability to:

• Understand key business functions such as marketing, human resources, information management, accounting and finance, and operations in their wider organisational and social context
• Put together reasoned arguments and question assumptions
• Draw together, analyse and critically evaluate information
• Understand the nature of leadership skills and behaviours within organisations
• Communicate effectively, clearly and accurately with others
• Use ICT to research, identify and present information
• Manage time and take responsibility for your personal development.

Career relevance

The skills and knowledge you’ll develop by studying this degree will equip you to follow several career paths and are recognised by employers as having great value for work in management and business. A qualification in business management can lead to opportunities in a wide range of areas such as:

• Middle and senior management positions across all sectors
• Advertising and marketing
• Accountancy
• Human resources
• Banking, including investment banking
• Sales and retail
• Management consultancy
• Business journalism
• Transport and logistics.

Other careers

Employers are keen to utilise the commercial awareness that business graduates offer, as increasing globalisation and continual changes in technology, communications, financial services and distribution of goods and services open up new business opportunities. This awareness can also lead to opportunities in specialist areas concerned with offering guidance to managers, such as management consultancy or business journalism.

Many graduate-level jobs are open to graduates of any discipline, particularly in business, finance, management consultancy and the public sector.

With our unique approach to distance learning, you can study from home, work or on the move.

You’ll have some assessment deadlines to meet, but otherwise, you’ll be free to study at the times that suit you, fitting your learning around work, family, and social life.

For each of your modules, you’ll use either just online resources or a mix of online and printed materials.

Each module you study will have a module website with

• A week-by-week study planner, giving you a step-by-step guide through your studies
• Course materials such as reading, videos, recordings, and self-assessed activities
• Module forums for discussions and collaborative activities with other students
• Details of each assignment and their due dates
• A tutorial booking system, online tutorial rooms, and your tutor’s contact details
• Online versions of some printed module materials and resources.