HNC/D Business (Pearson)

Unit 1 - The Contemporary Business Environment

The aim of this unit is to give learners background knowledge and understanding of business, of the functions of an organisation and of the wider business environments in which organisations operate. Students will examine the different types of organisations (including for profit and not for profit), their size and scope (for instance micro, SME, transnational and global) and how they operate. Students will explore the relationships that organisations have with their various stakeholders and how the wider external environments influence and shape business decision making.

The knowledge, understanding and skill sets that learners gain in this unit will help them to have an insight into different business functions, which will support them with further study, support the development of analytical thinking and the application of key analytical tools used throughout business planning, and enable them to choose their preferred areas of specialism in future studies and in their professional career.

Unit 2 - Marketing Processes and Planning

This unit is designed to introduce learners to the dynamic world of the marketing sector and the wealth of exciting career opportunities available to support their decision making in their career choices. Students will have the opportunity to learn about the competencies and behaviours required by employers to work in the marketing sector. They will be introduced to the key principles of marketing, enabling them to develop a marketing plan and to employ elements of the marketing mix to achieve results. They will study the underpinning theories and frameworks of marketing while relating them to real-world examples, including products/services that they encounter in their daily lives.

The knowledge, understanding and skill sets that learners will gain on successfully completing this unit will enhance their career opportunities; whether this is setting up their own business or employment in an organisation.

Unit 3 - Management of Human Resources

The aim of this unit is to enable learners to understand and be able to apply principles of effective HRM in order to enhance sustainable organisational performance and contribute to organisational success, holding business outcomes and people outcomes in equal balance. Students will apply HR practices in a work-related context, utilising their knowledge and practising skills and behaviours in relevant professional areas, including resourcing, talent planning and recruitment, learning and development and employee engagement.

On completion of the unit, learners will understand the purpose and scope of HRM activities. They will be able to apply a range of people management skills to enhance the performance of an organisation by finding solutions to people-related problems.

Unit 4 - Leadership and Management

The aim of this unit is to help learners to understand the difference between the function of a manager and the role of a leader. Students will consider the characteristics, behaviour and traits that support effective management and leadership. Students will learn about the theories that have shaped the understanding of leadership and management and how these have provided a guide to action for managers and leaders who want to secure success for their businesses. Students will look at leadership styles, how and why they are used and the extent to which they are effective.

This unit also gives learners an understanding of motivational strategies. They will develop motivational strategies covering intrinsic and extrinsic aspects of motivation. Finally, learners will evaluate the importance of managing performance in achieving continuous improvement.

Unit 5 - Accounting Principles

The overall aim of this unit is to introduce fundamental accounting principles that underpin financial operations and support good and sustainable decision making in any organisation. Students will develop a theoretical and practical understanding of a range of financial and management accounting techniques.

On successful completion of this unit, learners will be able to assist senior colleagues in producing and analysing budgets, drawing up simple financial statements and using financial ratios to interpret performance. Students will also explore wider aspects of accountancy, especially ethics, transparency and sustainability, and gain fundamental knowledge and skills that will enable them to progress to a higher level of study.

Unit 6 - Managing a Successful Business Project

The aim of this unit is to offer learners an opportunity to demonstrate the skills required for managing and implementing a small-scale business project. They will undertake independent research and investigation for carrying out and executing a business project that meets appropriate business aims and objectives.

On successful completion of this unit, learners will have the confidence to engage in decision making, problem solving and research activities using project-management skills. They will have the fundamental knowledge and skills to enable them to investigate and examine relevant business concepts in a work-related context, determine appropriate outcomes, decisions or solutions and present evidence to various stakeholders in an acceptable and understandable format.

Unit 7 - Business Law

The aim of this unit is to enhance learners' understanding of how business law is applied to the running of a business organisation. Students will gain knowledge of business law and examine the impact of the law on business operations and decision making.

The unit will enable learners to illustrate the impact of the law on normal business operations and when registering a company and inviting shareholders to invest in it. They will gain an understanding of the law in relation to market abuse and director responsibilities. Students will be able to recognise the application of employment law while gaining a practical understanding of the skills and experiences undertaken by those practising in a business law context.

Unit 8 - Innovation and Commercialisation

This unit aims to give learners a comprehensive understanding of innovation and commercialisation. In today's competitive landscape it is critical that organisations continually innovate both their product offering and processes to ensure that they remain competitive in the market. Adopting a more commercially driven approach is vital to maximise the Return on Investment (ROI).

By the end of the unit, learners will have gained an understanding of how innovation is fostered, harnessed and managed in organisations. They will learn the value of innovation and its importance to supporting commercial growth. They will also acquire knowledge that will enable them to develop a creative and innovative approach that will benefit them throughout their career.

Unit 9 - Entrepreneurial Ventures

The unit aims to illustrate the concept of entrepreneurship and how having an entrepreneurial mindset can make a contribution to all businesses, be that a new business start-up or existing public and corporate organisations. Students will explore the skills, traits and characteristics of entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship. Students will understand the importance of different size businesses on the economy and the contribution they can all make to society. Students will also learn about the need for intrapreneurs and the impact of disruptive entrepreneurship.

By the end of the unit, learners will have gained research skills and the knowledge that they can develop an entrepreneurial mindset that will benefit them throughout their career. They will understand the contribution that businesses make to the economy and the importance of entrepreneurial activity for all businesses in all sectors.

Unit 14 - Digital Business in Practice

In this unit, learners will explore the impact of a range of digital technologies in the workplace. They will examine how these technologies can support businesses aims and services, allow interaction with customers, for example to promote their business, to encourage people to visit their e-commerce site, to buy goods or services, to drive and increase sales and to provide high levels of customer service. The skills generated through an understanding of the practical and necessary use and application of relevant technologies will enable learners to present themselves as being digitally literate to employers and give them the confidence to succeed in applying modern, digital methods.

Unit 19 - Research Project

The aim of this unit is to offer learners the opportunity to engage in sustained research in a specific field of study. The unit enables learners to demonstrate the capacity and ability to identify a research theme, to develop a research aim and objectives and to present the outcomes of such research in both written and verbal formats. he unit also encourages learners to reflect on their engagement in the research process, during which recommendations for future, personal development are key learning points.

Unit 20 - Organisational Behaviour

The aim of this unit is to develop knowledge and understanding of how organisational behaviour concepts, theories and techniques can be applied in work and management settings in order to enhance individual, team and organisational performance. Students will be able to apply this knowledge in a variety of business situations. They will appreciate how effective application of organisational behaviour principles can be used to explain why people behave and act in particular ways and to predict how employees will respond to certain demands. The unit also develops student understanding of the influence of culture, the operation of power and politics in organisations and how these variables influence the actions and behaviour of people in an organisational context.

On successful completion of this unit, learners will have developed a range of transferable skills and knowledge. This includes core people management skills used to achieve positive organisational outcomes and to create value by recognising individual difference, team working and the creation of inclusive organisational cultures.

Unit 24 - Understanding and Leading Change

The aim of this unit is for learners to understand the different types and scope of change that may occur in an organisation. The unit will aim to illustrate the drivers/triggers for change and how they vary and affect organisations in different ways, including the degree of impact and management’s response to change. Students will gain an appreciation of how the depth of change can influence organisational behaviour both during and after the change.

On successful completion of this unit, learners will be able to apply a range of change management concepts, including diagnosing driving/resisting forces, planning for change and dealing with change in organisational settings. This will put learners in a strong position to contribute to change initiatives in the workplace.

Unit 25 - Global Business Environment

The aim of this unit is to explore the wider position that some organisations have in the global environment. Students will gain an appreciation of the complexities of operating in a global environment, enabling them insight in to an organisation’s current or aspirational global presence.

On successful completion of this unit, learners will understand the wider global environment in which organisations operate. This enables learners to add value to an organisation as they will be able to apply their knowledge in such a way that they could advise senior managers (in large and small organisations) on global matters that they might not have otherwise considered.

Unit 26 - Principles of Operations Management

The aim of this unit is to introduce learners to the role of operations in an organisation, how the nature of operations management has evolved and how it contributes to sustained competitive advantage. Students will understand the key concepts of operations management in an organisational and environmental context, and how this links to supply chain management, products and processes, organisational efficiency and effectiveness, and the achievement of tactical and strategic objectives. A variety of operations management techniques and frameworks will be explored, including continuous improvement, total quality management, benchmarking and risk analysis.

By the end of this unit, learners will have an appreciation of the dimensions of operations management and its central role for organisations across a wide range of sectors. Students will also have the knowledge and skills required to progress to higher levels of study or employment in positions in operations, logistics and supply.

Unit 33 - Marketing Insights and Analytics

This unit is designed to enhance learners' knowledge and understanding of the consumer's decision-making process. To gain competitive advantage and maintain market share, organisations understand the importance of seeking answers to questions such as:

- How do we buy products and services?
- What motivates us to seek out a particular product or service?
- What research do we undertake prior to making a decision?
- Do we seek out other people's opinions through social media and other digital technologies?
- To what extent do other people's opinions influence our own?
- How do we feel after we have made the purchase?

The knowledge, understanding and skill sets that learners gain on successfully completing this unit will enhance their career opportunities, whether they are starting their own business or working for an organisation in a marketing function.

Unit 34 - Digital Marketing

The aim of this unit is to introduce learners to digital marketing and its importance in the successful marketing of organisations. The unit will enable learners to develop an understanding of how organisations use various digital tools and techniques to engage their customers and maintain a competitive advantage.

This unit is designed to give learners the knowledge and tools to work as part of a digital marketing team or to go on to further study in this specific area.

Unit 35 - Integrated Marketing Communications

This unit is designed to develop learners’ knowledge and understanding of marketing communications and the techniques used. They will learn underpinning theories and frameworks of marketing and be able to relate them to real-world examples, for example promotions they are likely to encounter in their daily lives.

The knowledge, understanding and skill sets that learners will gain on successfully completing this unit will enhance their career opportunities, whether they are setting up their own business or if they are employed by an organisation.