Units of Assessment

Weighting Towards Module Mark (%)

 

Two in-class tests for spreadsheets (L0s 1,2&4)

30

1500-word Individual Business Project (L0 1,2,3,4)

40

Additions to personal e-portfolio (3,4,5&6)

30

Alternative Assessment – none required

Qualifying Condition(s) 

A mark of 40% is required for each unit of assessment to pass the module.

This module is the second part of the School of Management Professional Development Thread .  The content of the Business Information Skills module has far-reaching implications for the student’s future scholarly work, vacation internships, professional training placement and graduate employability.

To ensure that students are able to develop the transferable skills, attitudes and abilities that will enable them to study successfully and to function effectively in modern society with specific focus on the analysis, use and storage of business information.

  To allow students to continue to engage in the personal and professional development process that is integral to the School of Management undergraduate programmes. 

On successful completion of this module the students will be able to:

 1.      Understand the basic concepts of information analysis and storage as used in the business world

2.      Display basic competence in using spreadsheets and business reporting.

3.      Continue to develop as effective, independent and confident self-directed    learners 
 4.      Improve their general skills for study and future career

 5.      Articulate personal goals and evaluate progress towards their achievement

 6.      Reflect on their enhanced employability

·        Spreadsheets – MS Excel

 ·        Using and Analysing Business Information using basic statistics

 ·        An overview of databases and their uses in the storage of business information

 ·        Report writing

 ·        Learning from Experience / Reflection

•  Further use of E-portfolio/Personal learning System

   

The Learning and Teaching Strategy of this module has been designed to help students of all abilities to engage in an effective skills development process whilst enhancing their employability.

Students are encouraged to:

·        assess their current skills (both study-related, work-related),

·        identify areas of weakness and strengths

·        take advantage of appropriate learning opportunities from within this module’s activities and the wider university

·        demonstrate competence

·        and reflect on their progress

Assessment Strategy:

·        Small group workshops/tutorials

o       to develop basic understanding of and competence in Excel and manipulation of data

·        Lectures

o       to develop understanding of business information handling

o       to enhance understanding of employability and effective use of Personal & Professional Development tools

·        Extensive supporting material on the university VLE

·        In-class tests with feedback

o       to assess competence in Excel and manipulation of data

·        Individual Project with feedback

o       to assess application of Word and Excel in an business report

o       to assess use of data in a business report

·        Personal E-portfolio

o       to assess enhancement of employability and engagement in Personal & Professional Development processes including reflection

Essential Reading

Taylor , S., (2007). Business Statistics for Non-Mathematicians.  2nd ed. Palgrave Macmillan.

Recommended Reading

 Rowntree, D., (2000). Statistics Without Tears: A Primer For Non-Mathematicians.  Penguin.

Cameron, S., (2009). The Business Student’s Handbook. 5^th ed. Pearson Education Ltd.

  Background Reading

Other relevant reading materials available on the university VLE