B120-14DAn Introduction to Business StudiesDay School 1

Tutor: Phillippa Seaward

Welcome..

• Format for today – Introduction, Book 1, Book 2, questions throughout

• 2 or 3 Breaks• Admin – ‘register’, badges, alarms, phones• Visual aids will be online tomorrow• How’s it going so far?

Learning Objectives

• To meet fellow students and tutor face to face• Explain how the components of B120 fit together• Introduce Book 1• Tackle a small case study example (SWOT)• Introduce Book 2• Consider some concepts of HRM• Practical advice for the TMA’s

Introduction

Introduce the Person next to you

• Their name

• Where they live, or what they do

• Why they are taking B120

• What are they looking forward to

• What are they most scared about

• 5 minutes

Contacting The UniversityThe OU Computing Helpdesk for any IT queries.

Your tutor should not help with IT issues.• Telephone: 01908 653972 • Email: OU-Computing-Helpdesk@open.ac.uk • Website: http://www.open.ac.uk/students/helpdesk/

Regional Support• We are Region 04 – West Midlands• Student Services:

66 High StreetHarborneBirminghamB17 9NBTel: +44 (0)121 426 1661Fax: +44 (0)121 427 9484Textphone: +44 (0)121 428 3513Email: west-midlands@open.ac.ukwebsite: The Open University in the West Midlands (04)

B120 Course Structure

Book 1: What is a business

Book 2: An introduction to HRM

Book 3: An introduction to Accounting & Finance

Book 4: An introduction to Marketing

Book 5: Different ways of looking at business

And 1 Study Companion– A friendly guide covering

the whole course

B120 On-Line ComponentsThere are also on-line components

• Module Web Site• Tutor Group Forum (TGF)• Activity Forums for the books/ topics• B120 Glossary (download from course website)• B120 Course-wide Student cafe• Direct links to Library and other resources• Assignment Booklet and EMA

• Check the B120 website regularly for module updates

Ground rules for TGF & Activity Forums• Include a subject in your message header• Use the well known smilies and acronyms • Read your message before sending• Acknowledge the other person’s right to a point of view even if it is

different from your own• Try not to put anything in an online message you would not be

comfortable discussing face to face• See it as a chance to learn a new method, and new things

B120 Assessment

Tutor Marked Assessments (TMAs)• There are 4 TMAs in B120…..

TMA01: Mini case study based on book 1 TMA02: Case study based on book 2TMA03: Analyse simple Accounts based on book 3TMA04: Case study based on book 4

And the End of Module Assessment

B120 Assessment

Tutor Marked Assessments• If you think you might miss the deadline, contact me• Under certain circumstances an extension can be

agreed• Need to have a valid, plausible reason• Any extension must be agreed before the due date• TMA’s will be marked and returned

within 14 days of cut-off• Read and use the feedback• Late TMA’s do not count towards

your final mark

B120 Assessment

End of Module Assessment (EMA)• Final written assessment• Extended Case Study covering all 5 books• There are no extensions to the EMA deadline• More to come on this nearer the

time..

Each TMA is marked out of 100• 90% for the written assignment• 5% for Activity Forum contribution• 5% for a Précis of one Activity forum discussion

Each TMA / EMA counts towards your final mark• TMA01: 5%• TMA02: 15%• TMA03: 15%• TMA04: 15%• EMA: 50%

TMA / EMA Marking Structure

There are 4 TMA’s, each covering a 4 week cycle

• Week 1: Activity Forum Discussion • Week 2: Activity Forum Discussion• Week 3: Activity Forum Discussion• Week 4: Write TMA

• The TMA cut off is 12 midday• Please note the cut-off dates in your diary

• Activity Forum discussions will run from the next day

The B120 TGF / TMA Cycle

Break

Book 1: Sessions

1. What is a business ?

2. The external environment

3. Business structures

4. Business cultures

5. Business ethics

6. An introduction to business functions

7. Small business and entrepreneurship

Book 1: Key Concepts & Ideas

• Businesses come in all shapes and sizes• A business cannot operate without being influenced by and

impacting upon its external environment• The shape and identity of a business is closely linked to its

structure and culture• Business ethics is an important part of business and of B120• Small businesses, while often overlooked, provide a large

proportion of employment and are an important part of the business world

• Business Types (Public / Private, Profit / Not for Profit)• Morgan’s Metaphors (Morgan)• Stakeholders, STEEP & SWOT Analysis• Business Structures (Pugh & Hickman)• National Cultures (Hofstede, Drennan)• Organisational Culture (Trice & Beyer / Drennan)• The Role of Ethics in Business (CSR)• Stakeholder Analysis (Johnson & Scholes)• Introduction to other Business Functions

Book 1: Key Theories

Activity 1: Streetwise Fashion

Activity 1: Streetwise Fashion

Strengths & Weaknesses

Internal environment, resources and how they are used, structure, culture, brand, people etc.

Opportunities & Threats

External environment, competitors, customers, suppliers,

environment, technology etc.

Activity 1: Streetwise Fashion

Strengths Weaknesses

Opportunities Threats

In mixed groups..In your group, discuss

• Use Book 1 study session 2.2 and essential reading 1

• What is a stakeholder?

• Who are the stakeholders in the case study here? • What do they contribute? • What concerns might they have?

• Take 20 minutes to talk over your ideas and prepare

• Be able to discuss your analysis with the other groups

In mixed groups..In your group, discuss

• Why might a SWOT analysis be useful in this case study? Use the ideas in Book 1, session 2.4 and Essential Reading 2

• Then make a SWOT analysis to explain the possible partnership

• Take 20 minutes to talk over your ideas and prepare

• Be able to discuss your SWOT frameworks to the other groups

Break

• Motivational Theory (Maslow, Macgregor)• Psychological Contract (Guest)• Job Characteristics (Hackman & Oldham)• Taylorism / Socio-Technical Approach (Trist &

Bamworth)• Recruitment / Selection / Induction &

Socialisation• Performance Management• Training and Development• Academic Models of HRM (Harvard vs Michigan)

Book 2: Key Theories

Group Activity• Discuss why people leave your current organisation.• What issues/ problems arise when people leave a job?

• What are the advantages and disadvantages of assessment centres?

• How might they minimise the number of people leaving a job? pp43-44.

• Take 10 minutes to discuss in a small group. Be prepared to feedback

Group Activity• From Section 3.3• Discuss the difference between a job description and a

person specification• Why and when could these be useful?

• Take 10 minutes to discuss. Be prepared to feedback to the group

Preparation for TMA’s

• Backup your work• Send the Test TMA (TMA00)• Date your files while you are working on them• Read the student guidance notes• Don’t under-estimate what is required• Don’t be too shy to ask for advice• Referencing• Word count• Answer the question!!

Preparation for TMA’s

• Use course material• Allocating time / words• Use diagrams• Contribute to the Activity Forum for that topic• Write a Précis of an activity forum discussion• Start early, finish on time

Preparation for TMA01

• Preparation and Advice for TMA01– The word count for this TMA is 500 words– The format is an informal report– It needs to have a structure (it is not an essay)– Base the structure of your report on the questions– Clearly indicate which sections are answering which

parts of the question

– There is guidance on writing informal reports available in student home

– http://www.open.ac.uk/skillsforstudy/essay-and-report-writing-skills.php

Referencing Course Books

Here is the correct reference for your books:• Preston, D (2012), What is a business?, Milton Keynes, The Open University.

• Preston, D (2012), An introduction to human resource management in business, Milton Keynes, The Open University.

• Day, J & Krakhmal, V(2012), An introduction to accounting and finance in business, Milton Keynes, The Open University.

• Schaefer, A (2012), An introduction to marketing in business, Milton Keynes, The Open University.

• Ball, K, (2012), Different ways of Looking at Business, Milton Keynes, The Open University.

Questions

Important Dates

• TMA01:

• TMA02:

• Next Tutorial: