Managing in the workplace
On this page
|
|
|
|
|
| 1 Tutor-marked assignment (TMA) | |
| End-of-course assessment | No residential school |
Register for the course
This course is available for study in the countries shown. Fees may vary by country.
Summary
If you’ve completed vocational study at level 3 and you want to move into undergraduate study, this course is for you. It’s also suitable if you’ve studied An introduction to business studies (B120) and want to complete the Certificate in Business Studies or gain 30 points at Level 1 towards our BA (Hons) Business Studies. The course introduces management ideas and uses activities to build on your existing knowledge and skills. You’ll also use your own workplace experiences to develop an academic understanding of management and valuable study skills, which you’ll demonstrate by writing about management and reflecting on your own skills as a learner.
Please note that this course has a compulsory entry qualification - see Entry for more information.
There is a version of this course specifically designed for people working in delivering public services – see course code BXS121.
Course content
This course begins with a brief outline of the type of learning and subject areas that it covers. It then helps you to assess your own learning style and preferences, so that you will know how to tackle the work ahead.
You will look at six areas of management. These include:
- strategy and the organisation
- marketing
- finance
- leadership, management and motivation
- managing people
- monitoring and evaluation.
Using a textbook, you’ll carry out various activities asking you to compare the theories that you are reading about with what you see around you in your workplace. Some of the activities may be similar to those you have done in your previous work-based learning. Some of them will be new, and have been designed to help you develop your academic skills. These include: critical reading; note-taking for a range of purposes; recognising and evaluating arguments; and learning how to write clearly.
By the end of the course you’ll have developed a new, more theoretical understanding of how and why managers do what they do in organisations. You’ll build a toolkit of management concepts, theories and models that you can use to tackle workplace issues. You’ll also feel more confident in embarking on further undergraduate study.
Vocational relevance
This course is directly relevant to you if you have completed a course at level 3 in the vocational qualifications framework that contains a significant component of business administration or management. If you’re unsure if your qualification fits this description, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
Entry
You must have a NVQ level 3 qualification in management, business administration or customer care or an equivalent vocational qualification which contains a significant business or management related component. Check this list to see if you have the necessary entrance qualifications.
This is an ideal first course if you are thinking of studying at university level, and might want to go on to an undergraduate certificate, diploma or a degree in business studies or management. It is of particular value if you have completed or are just about to complete a competency-based qualification, and now wish to gain further understanding of the academic theories underpinning this area.
If you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
Preparatory work
This course draws on your vocational qualification, so you will find it useful to refer to your portfolio while you are studying this course.
Qualifications
B121 is an optional course in our
- Certificate in Business Studies (C63)
- BA (Honours) Business Studies (B04)
- BA (Hons) Leadership and Management (B54)
- Foundation Degree in Business (G07)
- Foundation Degree in Leadership and Management (G08)
- Foundation Degree in Business Information Technology (G13)
- Foundation Degree in Financial Services (G16)
- Diploma of Higher Education in Business (E42)
- Diploma of Higher Education in Leadership and Management (E43)
- Diploma of Higher Education in Business Information Technology (E45)
- Diploma of Higher Education in Financial Services (E54)
It can also count towards most of our other degrees at bachelors level, where it is equally appropriate to a BA or BSc. We advise you to refer to the relevant qualification descriptions for information on the circumstances in which this course can count towards these qualifications because from time to time the structure and requirements may change.
Excluded combinations
Sometimes you will not be able to count a course towards a qualification if you have already taken another course with similar content. To check any excluded combinations relating to this course, visit our excluded combination finder or check with our Student Registration & Enquiry Service before registering.
If you have a disability or additional requirement
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. Large print versions of the printed course materials can be provided on request. Other alternative formats of the course 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 courses 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 booklet Meeting Your Needs which you can download or request from our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
You can also find information about accessible course 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 materials
What's included
Course guides, textbook, supplementary readings, course website and online forums.
Computing requirements
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 computer since 2002 it should meet your course computing requirements. Check our Technical Requirements section if your computer is older than this or is otherwise unusual.
Teaching and assessment
Support from your tutor
You’ll have a tutor who will help you with the course material, mark and comment on your written work, and whom you can ask for advice and guidance. We also offer group tutorials which you are encouraged but not obliged to attend. Where your tutorials are held will depend on the distribution of students taking the course.
Contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.
Assessment
The assessment details for this course can be found in the facts box above.
You can choose whether to submit your tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) on paper or online through the eTMA system. You may want to use the eTMA system for some of your assignments but submit on paper for others. This is entirely your choice.
Students also studied
Students who studied this course also studied at some time:
Future availability
The details given here are for the course that starts in May and November 2010. We expect it to be available twice a year.
How to register
To register a place on this course return to the top of the page and use the Click to register button. For more information and advice about registration see OU Study Explained.
About this page
An undergraduate course in Business and Management.
Study explained
- Course
- - a module of study that can count towards a qualification.
- Credit points
- - show how much study is required to complete a course or qualification. One credit point represents roughly 10 hours of study.
- Level
- - indicates how difficult a course is. Undergraduate study starts at Level 1.
- Financial support
- - find out if you qualify for support with your fees with our eligibility checker.
- Study explained
- - all you need to know about studying with the OU.
Student Reviews
I would also add that you will need to be comfortable working under your own initiative - this course will ...
Read more
An overview of leadership and management, B121 'Managing in the workplace' is an exploration of the overarching principles of business ...
Read more
Got a question?
Contact an adviser in our Student Registration & Enquiry Service
Email or call +44(0) 845 300 60 90
Browse the prospectus
Request a print prospectus
Share
This PageThe University wishes to emphasise that, while every effort is made to regularly update this site, the material on it is subject to alteration or amendment in the light of changes in regulations or in policy or of financial or other necessity.