HNC in Business (Pearson)

Unit 1 - The Contemporary Business Environment

The aim of this unit is to give students 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 students 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 Process and Planning

This unit is designed to introduce students 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 students 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 students 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, students 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 students 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 students an understanding of motivational strategies. They will develop motivational strategies covering intrinsic and extrinsic aspects of motivation. Finally, students 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, students 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 students 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, students 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 students' 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 students 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 students 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, students 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, students 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 10 - Recording Financial Transactions

The overall aim of this unit is to introduce students to the essential principles of recording and organising business and financial transactions to which every organisation will need to adhere. Students will identify sources of accounting information and how it is then gathered and organised, using the dual entry bookkeeping system, in order to produce a trial balance.

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to contribute effectively to the accounting and bookkeeping function of an organisation and understand how this is then the basis for producing financial statements. Students will be equipped with the knowledge and skills required to progress to a higher level of study.

Unit 11 - Business Data and Numerical Skills

In this unit, students will be introduced to the knowledge and skills needed to be able to support the collection, storage and interrogation of data for business decision making. They will explore methods of collecting data, both manually and online, and the techniques needed to interpret this quantitative and graphical data to produce information to assist business decision making. Students will also explore the numerical analysis techniques and digital platforms required to generate management information. They will gain the knowledge and skills required to present findings, conclusions and recommendations to a business audience.

The skills and knowledge gained from the completion of this unit will support the higher education study of business and academic research projects.

Unit 12 - Executive Recruitment Solutions

The aim of this unit is to give students the employment knowledge and skills required to carry out the role of executive recruitment and the services provided in human resource management. Students will look at the job specification of an executive recruiter, including the key roles and responsibilities, skills requirements and career opportunities. Students will then cover executive recruitment methodology; managing the process and managing client expectations. Students will have the opportunity to conduct an executive search, using a business simulated scenario, to facilitate 'real life' application for a given client brief to demonstrate skills.

Unit 13 - Human Capital Management

This unit will explore the key aspects of human capital management and how it can be used by organisations. Students will explore the transition and evolution from the traditional personnel management function, through to human resource management and now human capital management. Students will have the opportunity to focus on the key aspects of human capital management, including analysis of internal and external factors affecting the labour market and employment demand, workforce acquisition, workforce management and workforce optimisation and review the key interventions used in effective human capital management.

On successful completion of this unit, students will have developed sufficient knowledge and understanding of how human capital management can be used effectively by organisations to create value. Students will develop skills that enable them to adopt the techniques they have learnt.

Unit 14 - Digital Business in Practice

In this unit, students 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 students to present themselves as being digitally literate to employers and give them the confidence to succeed in applying modern, digital methods.

Unit 15 - Operations Management

The aim of this unit is to enable students to explore how operations management manages all business activities to efficiently create and deliver products and services. This includes the transformation of inputs into outputs of finished goods and services, and activities throughout the supply chain. Students will explore the approach to quality management and continuous improvement in the production process. They will receive how operations managers have to look externally as well as at internal processes, considering suppliers' performance and customers throughout the supply chain.

By the end of the unit, students will have an insight into the complex nature of operations, processes and supply chain management, fundamental for understanding the holistic work environment in any industry and organisation.

Unit 16 - Managing the Customer Experience

The aim of this unit is to give students background knowledge and understanding of how hospitality businesses manage the customer experience - from the initial needs analysis through to after-sales follow-up.

Students will consider how technology is changing the way that customers interact with hospitality businesses and how digital initiatives should complement existing customer journeys while recognising that online and offline consumers are distinctly different. Students can then use this knowledge to provide customer service in business and services and in an online context to meet required business service standards.

Unit 17 - Professional Identity and Practice

The aim of this unit is to guide students through the process of self-assessment of skills and competences, personal career planning and the application of different learning and development approaches in a work environment. Students are not necessarily expected to engage in work activities but self-assessment and design must be applied in a specific work context to avoid the experience being generic.

The unit will give students direction on how to prepare for job applications and interviews in a formalised way, with the aim of improving their career prospects. Students are expected to undertake a practical interview arranged and guided by their tutor or a relevant employer.

Unit 18 - Work Experience

This unit aims to enable students to develop personal and professional skills by engaging them in practical tasks and activities in a relevant workplace. This unit is designed to facilitate supervised learning in a workplace that can fit around full-time or part-time student commitments, it enables an employer and an academic supervisor to monitor and support students through a goal-orientated process. The minimum work experience hours required for completion is 80 hours.

Students will be given the opportunity to identify and plan their own skills development in line with a chosen career path or direction. It is expected that students negotiate and agree work experience in an appropriate work context, agreed by the employer and academic supervisor. To allow students to evaluate the process and any shortcomings in their development going forward, they will monitor and record evidence from the tasks and activities they undertake.