Advanced Higher

Business Management

Why Business Management?

The study of Advanced Higher Business Management provides an opportunity to extend and enhance understanding developed in earlier study and retains the aim of placing the key elements of management within a study of business as a whole. Candidates are expected to apply ideas in an extended context and, in this respect, the course broadens and deepens the issues raised at Higher level, particularly with respect to international influences and the principles and practice of management. It will enable  them to extend their problem solving skills in a way that will help them to assess their personal effectiveness as potential members of the business community and to develop further their ability to communicate by means of written and spoken language. This should benefit all candidates, whether or not they subsequently follow a career in business. Candidates will benefit from the theoretical underpinning, practical experience and vocational relevance of the study of business management at this level.

Entry to the Course

You would be expected to have attained an A or B grade in Higher Business Management.

Course Outline 

The course consists of 2 units.

The Management Context

The Current Business Environment

This section of the unit deals with:

·           the growth of trans-national companies in the global economy

·           the importance of multinationals in the UK environment

·           issues raised internationally due to the effects of multinationals

The European Union

This section of the unit deals with:

·           EU policies and how they impact on business

·           current developments in the EU

Business Issues

This section of the unit deals with:

·           current issues affecting business in the UK and how they influence organisations 

Management of organisations

The role of management and management thought

This section of the unit deals with:

·           different models of management and how they are put into practice

Motivation to work

This section of the unit deals with:

·           methods to increase motivation to work

The role of teams in organisations

This section of the unit deals with:

·           character of effective teams and stages of group development

Awareness of the importance of leadership

This section of the unit deals with:

·           leadership styles and their effect on organisations

Much of the work required for the above is undertaken by means of an investigation into an actual business organisation.

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 (the investigation is assessed within a NAB internal assessment) and an external examination, set and marked by the SQA.

Progression

Successful completion of this course may lead to:

Education at Degree level

Employment in

·           Management within any industry

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