This highly practical course is the first in a suite of three courses that lead to the award of the Professional Certificate in Management. Designed for managers, aspiring managers, team leaders and supervisors, it uses activities and problem-solving to take you through core topics in organisational behaviour and human resource management. Topics include organisational context and culture, stakeholders, management roles, recruitment and induction, performance management, motivation, team work, managing operations and change.
These are focused primarily on your own work situations and practices, whether these are in the commercial, public or voluntary sectors.
This course is offered with online tuition only. If you wish to study this course outside the European Union you will need to register on this online version. Otherwise you may register for a combination of face-to-face and online tuition by choosing course code B628.
See fees and funding options for study from September 2012.
Course facts
An undergraduate course in Business and Management.
| About this course: | |
|---|---|
| Course code | BZX628 |
| Credits | 30 |
| OU Level | 3 |
| SCQF level | 10 |
| FHEQ level | 6 |
| Course work includes: |
|---|
| 2 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) |
| End-of-module assessment |
| No residential school |
This course is available for study in the countries shown. Fees and financial support may vary by country.
This course enables you to critically reflect on and analyse workplace situations and your own ways of managing. It is ‘solution oriented’ to help you to not only understand work situations from a manager’s perspective, but also to help you to work out what to do, given that you may not be in charge of the organisation you work for. As you work through activities, problems and solutions, you will question the idea that there are single solutions or issues or that there is ‘one best way’. You will come to understand the constraints, choices and demands that operate and learn when to work within them and when and how you may be able to bring about change.
Further information about the certificate to which this course contributes can be found in the Professional Certificate in Management Information and sample study material.
The teaching and learning strategy is problem-based. Through this approach, the course aims to develop the skills an effective manager needs: such as analysis, constructing sound arguments, critical and reflective thinking, problem identification and solving, active listening and communication, sourcing and presenting information, and report writing. Many of these are the same learning skills that any university-level learner requires and will help to equip you for study at postgraduate level.
There is no residential school in this course, but to achieve the Professional Certificate in Management (C31), you will need to take the companion course B629, or its online version BZX629, and B690. B690 comprises a preparatory period, a residential school and, after a revision period, a three-hour examination.
The course has been designed for working managers, aspiring managers, team leaders or supervisors. It is possible to study the course if you work in an informal capacity, for example in a voluntary organisation, or if you have had previous work experience. It is not possible to study the course without any work experience. This is because activities that include problem solving assume that you have current or prior work situations to which you can apply what you are learning.
Managing 1: organisations and people is an undergraduate Level 3 course. It can also be studied as part of the open access route to stage 1 of the MBA (F61). If you have no prior higher education experience pre-course preparatory work is provided (see Preparatory work).
Further information about studying this module as part of the Professional Certificate in Management (C31) can be found in the Professional Certificate in Management Information and sample module material booklet.
If you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
If you have not encountered a problem-based approach to learning before, the Module Guide and The Manager’s Good Study Guide are provided and will be particularly useful at the start of the course. The Module Guide explains the approach and describes the skills required so that you can remedy any gaps in your knowledge. It will also provide an orientation to the course. The Manager’s Good Study Guide enables you to refresh study skills such as reading and note-taking, using logic and building arguments, written communication and report writing, and using numbers.
Written transcripts of any audio components and Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) versions of printed material are available. Some Adobe PDF components may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader. Alternative formats of the study materials may be available in the future. Our Services for disabled students website has the latest information about availability.
If you are a new student, or new to study using a computer or the internet, you will need to inform us of your particular needs as soon as possible, as some of our support services may take several weeks to arrange. Details of how to do this and our range of support services are described in our publication Meeting Your Needs.
You can also find information about accessible study materials, financial support and the Disabled Students' Allowance, equipment and other services, on our Services for disabled students website. It also includes our contact details for advice and support both before you register and while you are studying.
Course books and, via a website, additional resources in digital formats.
All set books will be provided as part of the study materials pack. However, non-native English speakers, particularly those studying outside the UK, may wish to purchase the following book:
The Oxford Dictionary of Business English for learners of English.
This course includes online computer activities – you can access these using a web browser that can play Flash and Shockwave.
You will need internet access and a computer. If you have purchased a new Windows computer since 2005 it should meet your course computing requirements. Check our Technical Requirements section if your computer is older than this or is otherwise unusual. Please note that you cannot use an Apple Mac or Linux computer unless it is running Windows using Boot Camp or similar dual-boot system.
You will need a headset, with a microphone and earphones, to talk to your tutor and other students online during some of the course activities.
You will have a tutor who will help you with the study material and study activities. You can ask the tutor for help and advice. The tutor will also mark and comment on your assignments. If you are new to the OU, you will find that your tutor will be particularly concerned to help you with your study methods.
Other tutor support will be delivered primarily online as you study. In addition, online tutorials will be offered depending on the version of the course for which you register. These tutorials are not compulsory but you are strongly encouraged to participate.
Contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service if you want to know more about study with the OU before you register.
The assessment details can be found in the facts box above.
You must use the online eTMA system to submit your tutor-marked assignments (TMAs).
The eTMAs consist of activities carried out as part of your study of the course. The end-of-module assessment (EMA) is wholly problem-based and will be focused on a workplace situation of your own.
Students who studied this course also studied at some time:
The details given here are for the course that starts in May and November 2012. We expect it to be available twice a year.
See fees and funding options for study from September 2012.
Course facts
An undergraduate course in Business and Management.
| About this course: | |
|---|---|
| Course code | BZX628 |
| Credits | 30 |
| OU Level | 3 |
| SCQF level | 10 |
| FHEQ level | 6 |
| Course work includes: |
|---|
| 2 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) |
| End-of-module assessment |
| No residential school |
This course was very interesting as it fits with my current job. I could start applying all gained knowledge immediately. ...
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I enjoyed this course and would recommend it to anyone who either needs to select a Level 3 business course ...
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