This module introduces the student to the place of their organisation in the wider economy and society and encourages them to explore how the organisation interacts with these elements.

Content will expect to cover the following topics and themes:

Models for understanding the business environment
Use of PESTLE analysis
Use of SWOT analysis
Understanding how competitive forces shape the business environment
The fundamentals of economics
Understanding supply and demand and the rational consumer
Understanding the role of Government, policy and regulation, and the impact of social trends and mores
The Global Economy and its implications


It is also designed to cover the following sections of the Apprenticeship Standard for Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship:

Operational Strategy:
How to develop and implement organisational strategy and plans, including approaches to resource and supply chain management, workforce development, sustainability, taking and managing risk, monitoring and evaluation, and quality assurance
How to manage change in the organisation
Support the development of organisational strategies and plans
Develop and deliver operational plans; set targets and key performance indicators, manage resources, and monitor and measure outcomes to establish operational effectiveness, efficiencies and excellence
Produce reports that clearly present information and data, using a range of interpretation and analytical processes
Gain wide support to deliver successful outcomes

Work-Based Assignment:
Your work-based assignment will be an opportunity to analyse your organisation’s performance within its own sector and evaluate its approach to changes within the internal and external environment. You must demonstrate, through work based evidence knowledge of organisational context. You may wish to use some of the tools studied on this module to analyse various aspects of your organisation’s performance against its strategy. Your analysis should also include approaches to resource and supply-chain management, workforce development, sustainability, risk management, performance monitoring and evaluation and quality assurance. (Learning outcomes 1-3)

Evidence (to be included as appendices, not included in the word count):
Your evidence should relate to opportunities you have had to be involved in strategic activity, in your workplace. the workplace instances discussed in your assignment and can be referred to where necessary. Evidence can include:
Products from your own work
Records of Team Minutes/agendas
Direct observation of your performance by your line manager
Outcomes from oral or written questioning
Personal statements and/or reflective accounts
Professional discussion
Authentic statements/witness testimony
Records of External Customer communications

Scheduled learning and teaching activities: 32 hours
To consist of:
Face-to-face which will include group work, formal teaching, case study analysis, guest speakers and students will be encouraged to share their workplace experiences with others
On-line live webinars to take the form of tutorials involving opportunities for group discussion and presentation, flipped-classroom opportunities, further group work and case study analysis

Guided independent study: 168 hours
To consist of:
Accessing additional on-line content such as videos and presentations
Independent reading to consolidate knowledge gained in the formal teaching
Undertaking formative tasks set by the tutor to consolidate learning
Assessment preparation and writing and gathering evidence
Portfolio building

1. Demonstrate a knowledge of the organisational context - KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING, LEARNING

2. Evaluate the appropriateness of different tools for understanding the business environment - ENQUIRY, ANALYSIS, PROBLEM-SOLVING

3. Consider the effectiveness of your organisation’s approach to changes within the internal and external environment and communicate your interpretation and justification in an appropriate way - APPLICATION, COMMUNICATION, REFLECTION

Department for Trade and Industry: www.dti.gov.uk/employment
www.guardian.co.uk

Begg, D, Vernasca, G., Fischer, S & Dornbusch, R. (2020 Economics, 12th Edition, McGraw-Hall
Brooks, I, Weatherston, J., and Wilkinson, J. (2011) The International Business Environment – Challenges and Changes, 2nd Edition, Prentice Hall (eBook)
Craig, T., and Campbell, D.J. (2012), Organisations & the Business Environment (2nd Edition), Butterworth Heinemann
Ferguson, K. (2002) Essential Economics A Guide for Business Students, Palgrave
Hornby, W. Gammie, B. & Wall, S. (2001) Business Economics, Longman,
Worthington, I & Britton C, (2011) The Business Environment, 7th Edition, Prentice Hall

The module is only open to those enrolled on the Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship programme or the BA (Hons) Professional Management

Modern organisations are operating in a globalist, complex and fast changing external environment. This module helps the student to place their organisation in the wider economy and society, and encourages them to explore how the organisation interacts with these elements.