MODULE SPECIFICATION UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMMES KEY FACTS Module name Professional Skills Module code BS1203 School Cass Business School Department or equivalent UG Programme UK credits 15 ECTS 7.5 Level 4 Delivery location (partnership programmes only) MODULE SUMMARY Module outline and aims This module will give you an introduction to the skills you will need for success on your degree course and in your subsequent professional career. It aims to help you to develop individual business skills through teaching, practice, practical exercises and the use of case studies. The module will encourage your reflective thinking, team working and an awareness of the current business environment. Content outline The module is very practical and will include: - Learning and reflective skills (use of a reflective journal) - Presentation skills (preparation, presentation style and practice} - Team working (including, motivation, leadership, followership and team roles) - Writing skills (use of business English, formats and numbering and report writing) - Research skills (methodologies, referencing and avoidance of plagiarism) - Networking and the business use of Social Media - Business ethics WHAT WILL I BE EXPECTED TO ACHIEVE? On successful completion of this module, you will be expected to be able to:
Knowledge and understanding: - Understand the techniques of critical and reflective thinking - Understand the need for effective written and verbal communication and know the fundamental principles of academic and business writing - Understand different research methodologies and techniques Skills: - Deliver an effective presentation supported with visual aids - Write a business report - Work together in small teams - Develop and maintain and effective network of business contacts Values and attitudes: - Have developed a degree of inter-personal awareness - Be able to apply ethical considerations to business situations HOW WILL I LEARN? This module will be delivered to you in tutorial groups of up to 20. Each tutorial of 2 will start with a presentation lasting 30-40 minutes followed by group discussions, practical exercises and case studies. The module is designed to be practical, progressive, pertinent to the course, and will give you all the material you need for a successful group report and presentation. After each tutorial you will be given direction as to reading, study and preparation required for the following week on the e-learning system, Moodle. For success in the final assessment, you will need to mange your own time, your relationships with other students and to work as a team in order to produce the final group report itself.
Teaching pattern: Teaching component Teaching type Contact Selfdirected study Placement Lecture Lecture 2 0 0 2 Classes Tutorial 18 130 0 148 Totals 20 130 0 150 Total student learning WHAT TYPES OF ASSESSMENT AND FEEDBACK CAN I EXPECT? Assessments This module is assessed purely by participation and coursework. 25% of the marks available for this module will be awarded for individual attendance and participation. 50% of the marks will be awarded for your written group project, 20% for the final group presentation of your report and 5% for the assessment of the group performance. In this way the importance of effective group working, coupled with informal peer assessment, is reinforced throughout the module. The group report will be submitted at the start of Week 11 and the presentations made in that week as well. Assessment pattern: Assessment component Assessment type Weighting Minimum qualifying mark Coursework Report 55 40 N/A Coursework Oral assessment and presentation 45 40 N/A Pass/Fail? Assessment criteria Assessment Criteria are descriptions of the skills, knowledge or attributes students need to demonstrate in order to complete an assessment successfully and Grade-Related Criteria are descriptions of the skills, knowledge or attributes students need to demonstrate to achieve a certain grade or mark in an assessment. Assessment Criteria and Grade-Related Criteria for module assessments will be made available to students prior to an assessment taking place. More information will be available from the module leader.
Feedback on assessment Following an assessment, students will be given their marks and feedback in line with the Assessment Regulations and Policy. Feedback on the group presentations will be given to you before the end of term and the marks for the report given before the start of the second term. Assessment Regulations The Pass mark for the module is 40%. Any minimum qualifying marks for specific assessments are listed in the table above. The weighting of the different components can also be found above. The Programme Specification contains information on what happens if you fail an assessment component or the module. INDICATIVE READING LIST On learning skills: Cottrell, S. (2005), Critical Thinking Skills, Palgrave, ISBN 1-4039-9685-7. On communication skills: Stanton, N. (2003), Mastering communication, 4th ed, Palgrave ISBN 1-4039-1709-4. On writing skills: The Economist Style Guide, 8th ed (2003), Profile books, ISBN 1-8619-7916-9. On presentation skills: Bradbury, A. (2000), Successful Presentation Skills, Kogan Page, ISBN 0-7494-3259-4. On negotiation skills: Kennedy, G. (2004), Essential Negotiation, Profile Books, ISBN 1-8619-7570-8. On management: Whetten, D.A. and Cameron, K.S. (2011), Developing Management Skills, 8th ed, Pearson, ISBN 0-1351-0302-9. Version: 1.0 Version date: July 2012 For use from: 2012-13
Appendix: see http://www.hesa.ac.uk/content/view/1805/296/ for the full list of JACS codes and descriptions CODES HESA Code Description Price Group 27 Business and Management D Studies JACS Code Description Percentage (%) N200 The study of managing 100 organisations.