Higher Business Management

Why Business Management?

Business and enterprise are at the heart of national growth and development. This is reflected in the importance of business education in schools and colleges today. This course offers you the opportunity to acquire skills and knowledge which will allow you to participate in the complex world of business and information. Whether or not you intend to have a career in business, the course will enable you to enhance your individual effectiveness and understanding of business in contemporary society.

Entry to the Course

This is at the discretion of the school but you would normally be expected to have attained one of the following

·         Standard Grade Business Management at Credit level

·         Intermediate 2 Business Management course

·         Intermediate 2 Business Management units – Business Enterprise and Business Decision Areas

or

·         Standard Grade English at Credit level

or

·         Intermediate 2 English course or units

Course Outline

The course consists of 2 units.

Business Enterprise (40 hours)

Business in contemporary society

This section of the unit deals with

·         the role of business in society

·         types and objectives of business organisations

·         the role of enterprise and the entrepreneur

·         stakeholders such as shareholders, customers and employees.

·         factors affecting the operation of business

·         business as a dynamic activity.

Information and Information Technology

This section of the unit deals with

·         sources, types and value of information

·         examples of IT

·         IT in business

·         business software

Decision Making in Business

This section of the unit deals with

·         the nature and types of decision making

·         the decision making model

·         strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats (SWOT) analysis

·         problems of structured models.

Business Decision Areas (80 hours)

Internal Organisations

This section of the unit deals with

·         grouping of activities, such as customers and technology

·         functional activities of organisations, such as marketing and finance

·         forms of organisational structure, such as hierarchical, centralised and decentralised

·         aspects of organisational structure, such as the role of management.

Marketing

This section of the unit deals with

·         the marketing concept, including marketing of products and services

·         the marketing mix, including place and pricing strategies

·         target markets, including niche marketing and market growth

·         market research, including surveys, questionnaires and interviews.

Financial Management

This section of the unit deals with

·         cash flow – use, purpose and interpretation

·         financial reporting, including balance sheets and profit and loss accounts

·         ratio analysis, including gross profit/sales, return on capital and current ratio.

·         budgets – uses, including monitoring and controlling activity.

Human Resource Management

This section of the unit deals with

·         the changing pattern of employment within organisations

·         recruitment and selection

·         training and staff development

·         employee relations

·         legislative requirements

Operations

This section of the unit deals with

·         input, process and output

·         distribution and delivery

·         types of production

·         factors affecting quality.

Core Skills

·         H Problem Solving (Critical Thinking, Planning and Organising, Reviewing and Evaluating)

Assessment

The course is assessed by a combination of internal assessment by your teacher and an external examination, set and marked by the SQA.

Progression

Successful completion of this course may lead to:

Advanced Higher in

·         Business Management

A Scottish Group Award at Higher in

·         Business

·         Business & Retail Distribution

Education (HNC/HND/Degree); Employment in

·         Administration & Management

·         Computing & ICT

·         Hospitality, Catering & Tourism

·         Transport & Distribution.

Further advice and information on these options is available from your subject teacher, guidance teacher/adviser and careers adviser.