Business Functions

Unit 1: The Nature of Organisations

Introduction

Objectives

Section 1: Organisations in Business

Introduction

1.1 What is an organisation?

1.2 What do organisations do?

1.3 Organisations as systems

Summary

Section 2: Organisational Growth and Structure

Introduction

2.1 Growth

2.2 Growth in today's business world

2.3 Organisational structure

Summary

Section 3: The Organisation as a Legal Entity

Introduction

3.1 Sole traders

3.2 Partnerships

3.3 Incorporated companies

3.4 Charities

Summary 38

Section 4: Business Functions

Introduction

4.1 Porter's value chain

4.2 Inbound and outbound logistics

4.3 Operations (production)

4.4 Sales and marketing

4.5 Service

4.6 Infrastructure

4.7 Human resource management

4.8 Research and development

4.9 Procurement

4.10 Management information systems

Summary

Section 5: Organisational Culture

Introduction

5.1 National influences

5.2 What is organisational culture?

5.3 Culture change

Summary

Section 6: Information

Introduction

6.1 Nature of information

6.2 Sources of information

6.3 Accuracy of information

6.4 Information flows and management

6.5 Communication

Summary

Unit Review Activity

Unit Summary

References

Recommended Reading

Answers to Review Activities

Unit 2: The Business Environment

Introduction

Objectives

Section 1: Environmental Opportunities and Threats

Introduction

1.1 The organisation and its environment

1.2 Environmental analysis

Summary

Section 2: Social Environment

Introduction

2.1 Demographics and organisations

2.2 Social structures and behaviour patterns

Summary

Section 3: Economic Environment

Introduction

3.1 Macroeconomy and governments

3.2 Industrial environment

3.3 Changing economic policies

Summary

Section 4: Political Environment

Introduction

4.1 Politics and power

4.2 International business environment

4.3 Environmentalism and social responsibility

Summary

Section 5: Technological Environment

Introduction

5.1 The new industrial revolution

5.2 New products and processes

Summary

Unit Review Activity

Unit Summary

References

Recommended Reading

Answers to Review Activities

Unit 3: Competition and Change

Introduction

Objectives

Section 1: Stakeholders

Introduction

1.1 Who and what are stakeholders?

1.2 Conflicting interests

1.3 Stakeholder power

Summary

Section 2: Market Forces

Introduction

2.1 Industry life cycle

2.2 Porter's five forces

Summary

Section 3: Conducting an Environmental Analysis

Introduction

3.1 Monitoring the environment

3.2 Using environmental information

Summary

Section 4: Change and Competitive Advantage

Introduction

4.1 Responding to the PEST environment

4.2 Responding to the competitive environment

4.3 Implementing change

4.4 Future trends

Unit Review Activity

Unit Summary

References

Recommended Reading

Answers to Review Activities

Unit 4: Marketing

Introduction

Objectives

Section 1: Introduction to Marketing

Introduction

1.1 What is marketing?

1.2 The marketing concept

1.3 Marketing management

Summary

Section 2: Markets and Customers

Introduction

2.1 Customers

2.2 Competition

2.3 Market segmentation

2.4 Marketing research

2.5 Marketing research process

Summary

Section 3: The Marketing Mix

Introduction

3.1 What is the marketing mix?

3.2 Products, services and benefits

3.3 Product classification

3.4 Product life cycle

3.5 Product mix

3.6 Setting prices

3.7 Role of distribution

3.8 Promotion

Summary

Unit Review Activity

Unit Summary

References

Recommended Reading

Answers to Review Activities

Unit 5: Operations and Operations Management

Introduction

Objectives

Section 1: What are Operations?

Introduction

1.1 Definitions

1.2 Transformation for the customer

1.3 Value added

Summary

Section 2: Running Operations

Introduction

2.1 The operations challenge

2.2 Activities within operations

Summary

Section 3: Design within Operations

Introduction

3.1 Product design and development

3.2 System and process design

3.3 Quality and quality management

Summary

Unit Review Activity

Unit Summary

References

Recommended Reading

Answers to Review Activities

Unit 6: Logistics

Introduction

Objectives

Section 1: What is Logistics?

Introduction

1.1 Origins of logistics

1.2 Defining logistics

1.3 Logistics strategy and information technology

Summary

Section 2: Logistics in Practice: a Factory Visit

Introduction

2.1 Factory tour

2.2 Stock control systems

2.3 Physical distribution

Summary

Section 3: Controlling Supply: Materials Planning and Control

Introduction

3.1 Scope and purpose of materials control

3.2 Constraints on material planning and control

3.3 Reordering stock

3.4 Just in time

Summary

Section 4: Supply Chain Management and Distribution Systems

Introduction

4.1 What is supply chain management?

4.2 Relationships in supply chains and partnership sourcing

Summary

Section 5: Strategy, Performance and Key Measures

Introduction

5.1 Logistics strategy, fit and performance

5.2 Benchmarking

Summary

Unit Review Activity

Unit Summary

References

Recommended Reading

Answers to Review Activities

Unit 7: Human Resource Management

Introduction

Objectives

Section 1: Nature of Human Resource Management and its Function

Introduction

1.1 Historical aspects

1.2 HRM or personnel management?

1.3 The function

Summary

Section 2: Employee Resourcing

Introduction

2.1 What is human resource planning?

2.2 Recruitment and selection

Summary

Section 3: Employee Training and Development

Introduction

3.1 The training process

3.2 Staff assessment and appraisal

Summary

Section 4: Employee Relations

Introduction

4.1 Historical aspects

4.2 Procedures

4.3 Legislation and policies

Summary

Unit Review Activity

Unit Summary

References

Recommended Reading

Answers to Review Activities

Unit 8: Business Strategy

Introduction

Objectives

Section 1: Environment, Values and Resources

Introduction

1.1 Values

1.2 Resources

1.3 Environment

Summary

Section 2: Strategic Planning

Introduction

2.1 Types of business strategies

2.2 Choosing a strategy and setting targets

2.3 Implementing strategy

Summary

Unit Review Activity

Unit Summary

References

Recommended Reading

Answers to Review Activities

Unit 9: Business Planning and Project Management

Introduction

Objectives

Section 1: Drawing up a Business Plan

Introduction

1.1 What is a business plan?

1.2 Creating the business plan

Summary

Section 2: Implementing the Business Plan

Introduction

2.1 Initial planning

2.2 Creating a project plan

2.3 Management of progress, costs and risks

Summary

Unit Review Activity

Unit Summary

References

Recommended Reading

Answers to Review Activities

For a more detailed syllabus on this course, click here

Qualifications

On completion of your course, you will receive two qualifications:

Qualification 1: Business Functions Diploma

Business Functions Diploma issued by Stonebridge Associated Colleges, entitling you to use the letters SAC Dip after your name.

Qualification 2: Level 3 Business Functions Award

At the end of this course successful learners will also receive a level 3 NCFE Award certificate of achievement. That means that it is independently accredited at a level of learning equivalent to level 3 on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) for England, Wales and Northern Ireland (in which case GCSE's are at levels 1 and 2 and A Levels are at level 3).

This award has been designed by Stonebridge Associated Colleges to meet specific learners' or employers' requirements. Accreditation by NCFE is a guarantee of quality. It means that this learning programme has been scrutinised and approved by an independent panel of experienced educational professionals and is quality audited biannually by NCFE.

Study Options

This course is an online course. With online study you have access to your entire course from the start of your studies. You can access your course materials, and submit all of your question papers to your personal tutor, online from anywhere in the World using your unique student account.

If you do not have Internet access, or would prefer to study this course via the traditional paper/postal based study method, you can find more information on the course by clicking on the link below.

Fees