BA (Hons) in Business (Blended)

On completion of this module, learners are able to apply the knowledge and understanding of the context, scope, principles and concepts that underpin management accounting. It highlights the importance of costs and the drivers of costs in the production, analysis and use of information for decision-making in organisations. It provides competencies on how to analyse information on costs, volumes and prices and how to take short-term decisions on products and services.

The module aims to provide a balanced approach to both the theory and application of economic concepts. It introduces learners to the fundamentals of microeconomics and exposes them to the principle theories and models used in microeconomics. It also demonstrates how economics can be used by individuals and businesses alike to assess problems and develop solutions. The learners are encouraged to become more astute participants in the economy by employing economic principles and recognising the role of their behaviour, and that of others, on the world around them. In particular, the module introduces economic concepts, an analysis of demand and supply, theories of the firm, competition, elasticity, and behavioural economics.

The principal objective of this module is to outline the role of technology in business and how information technology enables business processes so that an organisation can function and strive in a competitive environment: in other words, how technology is used to benefit business. This is achieved through the acquisition of practical information technology skills but also through an awareness and understanding of the overall role of technology. For all information technology skills that are developed the learners understand the role that these skills play in the overall business function.

This module aims to develop an awareness and understanding of the core functions, skills and challenges of management in a dynamic global business environment. Learners apply management theories and concepts to current business situations, both in Ireland and internationally. Contemporary business management issues are explored using practical examples, case studies and lectures.

Research has shown that the transition from school to college can be a very difficult time for young adults. The initial weeks at college where deadlines are explained, VLEs are demonstrated and college classes begin, can be overwhelming. This module seeks to facilitate this transition to third-level education by providing academic support, personal development skills and a time for reflection in a non-threatening environment.

Learners on first-year business courses often present with a fear of mathematics which they have held since secondary school. This module aims to dispel this fear and instil in learners the confidence to approach problems with an analytical lens. Equipped with this confidence, learners can interpret data and summary statistics, thus contributing to solutions based on solid scientific principles.

This module introduces learners to the key fundamentals of marketing, its role in modern organisations, the importance of understanding customers and aligning marketing activities to create customer value. This module provides academic underpinning via relevant theory and frameworks. This is combined with real-world case studies and examples enabling learners to gain a broad perspective on marketing and its role within organisations.

This module introduces learners to the macroeconomic environment and the principles underlying macroeconomic policies. In particular, it addresses the causes and consequences of aggregate changes in the economy such as inflation, GDP, unemployment and economic growth. Macroeconomics also examines and explores the role of government in influencing the direction of the economy through fiscal and monetary policies. This module also provides learners with real-world scenarios of how economies throughout the globe interrelate.

The aim of this module is to introduce learners to the application of the required knowledge and understanding of the context, scope, principles and concepts that underpin financial accounting. In addition, learners are taught how to apply the principles of double-entry bookkeeping and prepare financial statements for sole trader entities.

The module aims to develop learners’ knowledge, understanding and application of concepts, processes and techniques of operations and supply chain management. Learners relate to the transformation of inputs to outputs and the approach that companies take to increase productivity, quality and service to their end consumer. Learners select and apply appropriate concepts, techniques and methods to the design and planning of operations. Learners demonstrate an understanding of the concepts and theories underpinning the discipline of supply chain management including purchasing and logistics.

This module aims to encourage and promote the critical examination of the theory of organisational behaviour. It identifies factors that influence the behaviours of individuals and groups in organisations. The module creates an environment that assists the learner in recognising issues that impact a company’s effectiveness. Throughout the module, learners consider, discuss and analyse concepts, theories and frameworks to explore their potential contributions in aiding their understanding of organisational behaviours from a contemporary perspective.

The purpose of this module is to develop appropriate skills and knowledge in learners which is intended to prepare them to source employment opportunities and enter the workforce successfully. The module enables learners to gain a broad understanding of the numerous, and diverse range of activities, that combine to secure employment and /or internship opportunities. Furthermore, the module aims to develop learners’ personal and professional skills so that they may act confidently and appropriately in a range of interpersonal business functions.

The aim of this module is to develop an understanding and knowledge of the general principles of Irish law as it relates to business. The learner is introduced to the effect, influence and impact of law in business and, upon completion, they are able to apply relevant law to practical business situations.

The module instils in the learner knowledge and understanding of company law as well as a broad understanding of the rights and obligations of employees and employers as they relate to business. The learner can analyse the strategic importance of ethics to business. The learner can evaluate common ethical problems faced by businesses and display how these can be resolved ethically. The learner understands the importance of culture in setting the ethics framework for managers and employees and can evaluate the role of regulatory forces in the ethical question.

This module introduces the learner to a broad range of contemporary views of human resource practices and policies. Learners gain an understanding of the importance of human resource management in terms of aligning people and business processes. The learner is able to identify the significance of managing the key HR activities such as recruitment, selection, performance, training, etc., in a professional manner.

In addition, the module aims to provide the learner with knowledge of the essential applicable principles in terms of the employer /employee relationship. The module addresses current aspects and changes in employment legislation that can influence the employment relationship and, ultimately, the organisation.

This module aims to engage learners to explore what is arguably one of the driving forces of the current global economic market. The module requires active learning. The module is designed to allow learners to synthesise learning gained from previous modules studied on the programme, applying this learning into devising a commercially viable business proposal.

Their findings are presented as a business plan proposal and oral presentation at the end of the semester. The module explains the entrepreneurship process as an ever-unfinished one, of becoming, but also as one that leads to the creation of sustainable growth within an organisation.

This module aims to provide learners with an understanding of the importance of digital marketing in modern business and to gain insight into current tools and best practices used. Additionally, learners grasp how to use digital marketing strategy frameworks to plan, implement and monitor the effectiveness of digital marketing activities.

This module is designed so that learners develop an understanding of the relationship between business and the information systems used in business. Learners are introduced to the system types, how systems are acquired, security issues and current business information system trends. The module also seeks to engender an appreciation of the importance of business information systems in the day to day workplace.

This module acts as a capstone module where learners apply previously gained knowledge across all the key elements involved in starting up a business in Ireland. These competencies include market and competitive analysis, marketing and marketing communications, people and operations, and financial analysis. The module is designed so as to enable learners to synthesize and apply the above key aspects to develop a viable, comprehensive and credible business plan.

This module introduces learners to the basics of financial management and its application in practice. The module focuses on the critical elements of financial decision-making for organisations, including investment decisions, sources of finance, management of working capital and performance appraisal.

The module aims to provide learners with an in-depth understanding of the link between company decision-making and the operation of capital markets. Over the course of the module, learners understand and appreciate the strong linkages between finance and globalisation. They demonstrate the importance of working capital management and the tools to manage it. Learners explore the financial environment in which firms and managers must operate.

This module introduces the key concepts and frameworks of strategic management. It is primarily concerned with the key managerial decisions that affect the long-term performance of an organisation and, as such, strategic position, choices, and strategy in action are explored.

The module is interdisciplinary and learners build upon existing knowledge of the environments that include the organisation itself, industry, and wider macro-environments. In addition, existing knowledge gained from studying key functional areas including finance, marketing, human resources and operation is synthesised over the course of the module.

The module is designed to develop the learners' skills in diagnosing the strategic health of organisations and providing strategic recommendations to senior management.

This module provides a comprehensive introduction to international business in which the environmental (political/legal, cultural, economic and financial) underpinnings of international business are examined. Learners are introduced to trade and investment trends as well as the internationalisation rationales for both MNCs and SMEs. This module analyses competitive environments and provides a strategic view of international business at both firm and national levels.

This module introduces learners to the major aspects of global marketing. The aim of this module is to develop learners’ skills in the recognition, analysis and planning challenges faced by organisations when marketing globally.

Learners develop a critical awareness of the importance of environmental forces and emerging trends that impact firms marketing on a global level. An international marketing plan with appropriate marketing strategies is designed by learners, providing an opportunity to critically assess the challenges and provide solutions for successful implementation.

Consumer Behaviour in a Digital Era is a multi-disciplinary module that alerts learners to the need to consider marketing activities in relation to other behavioural sciences, particularly, social psychology, sociology, anthropology and economics. It examines social factors such as class, status, the influence of the family and peer groups, and their contribution to the decision-making process of the buyer. It also incorporates the salient issues of cultural change and the development of distinctive subcultures.

This module examines and develops learners’ understanding of the complexities of consumer behaviour in a variety of different environments. The key focus of the module is to enable learners to appreciate the importance of consumers and to adopt a sophisticated approach in understanding consumer behaviour, as a key input to marketing strategy. By the end of this module learners gain an awareness of current consumer trends and digital consumer behavior. 

This module introduces the learner to the principles and practice of selling as a core business function. The relationship between sales management and the marketing environment is explored and tools and techniques are examined which provide insights into methods for successful sales strategy implementation. Skills in client management to optimise sales efforts are also investigated.

The development and communication of brands is a key marketing activity, central to the rest of the overall marketing strategy. This module aims to develop learners’ knowledge of branding strategies and communications. By the end of this module, learners fully appreciate the value of a brand to an organisation. Learners develop a critical awareness of the importance of marketing communications to global branding.

The industry is struggling to understand how to identify and incorporate the right technology into its digital strategy and compete against modern rivals. Learners study how technology is disrupting the business landscape and how leading organisations leverage technology to adapt their business models to remain competitive.

The aim of the module is to provide learners with an opportunity to experience the techniques and practical approaches to managing projects. This includes the core concepts of project management focusing on project justification, the strategic relationships between project and the organisational vision and mission, choosing project alternatives, creating awareness of risk and implementing control mechanisms. Understanding project constraints in terms of time, cost, quality and client acceptance provides a sound introduction to project management. Alternative methodologies are also introduced to learners along with an awareness of new trends in the field.

This module follows on directly from Financial Management, covered in the previous semester, and its aim is to further enhance and deepen the learners’ knowledge of key financial management concepts and practices. The module’s primary objectives are to further explore the principles and concepts addressed in Financial Management; to introduce topics appropriate to the strategic aspects of finance including the impact of risk on the organisation and the various techniques to manage same; calculating the cost of capital; corporate reorganisation; corporate governance and the global financial environment; and to provide the learner with the skills to evaluate complex investment situations.

This module builds on the previous stage 2 modules namely Managing Organisational Behaviour and Human Resource Management. The IHRM module deepens the learners’ understanding of the strategic management of human resources in an international context. Topics including the influence of cross-cultural issues on organisations and factors which involve selecting and managing an international workforce are examined in detail. Learners evaluate industrial relations and labour laws from the perspective of managing an international organisation. They are equipped to address key issues such as expatriation/repatriation, compensation and reward, and cultural diversity. Over the course of the module, learners evaluate and appraise relevant theories in order to inform their practice as business managers.

This module aims to infuse learners with a knowledge of employee relations and their importance to business success. It allows learners to appraise the strategies and practices that organisations use to enhance a mutually successful employment relationship. This module also has the added objective of ensuring that the learner develops an appreciation of the evolving issues associated with this topic. Furthermore, the module encourages the learner to view employee relations from the perspective of both the employer and employee, hence to recognise the ethical issues that are central to this relationship.

The aim of this module is for learners to develop appropriate knowledge within the field of talent development. This module enables learners to critically analyse and evaluate the formulation and implementation of a range of learning and talent development practices and strategies for an organisation to compete in a dynamic, diverse and competitive business environment. This module provides an in-depth understanding of the numerous and diverse activities involved in the talent function.

This module shows how managing performance links the objectives of organisations to the implementation by its members and staff of their job roles. The module reviews motivational theories and examines the relevance of these to job performance. It focuses on the potential linkage to the performance of extrinsic motivation in the form of rewards that can be monetarised and of rewards that cannot be monetarised. Learners familiarise themselves with the ethical perspective relating to linking rewards to performance. Learners develop an understanding of the purpose and process of appraising performance, including the study of the changing approaches to, and methods of, performance appraisals. The module evaluates the extent to which contextual and cultural environments may influence both the implementation of performance management and the use of reward mechanisms.

This module is designed to broaden the learner’s knowledge with particular emphasis on the software used to analyse data. The module builds on previous spreadsheet skills by focusing on data specific analysis and related tools. It also is designed to help learners become aware of the ever-increasing discipline of data analytics and business intelligence used by the organisation.

Upon completion of this module, the learner attains the appropriate knowledge and skills to apply and exercise good judgements in the understanding, analysis and conclusion of the assurance and non-assurance engagement, in the context of best practice and current developments in the field. The module enables the learner’s understanding of the application of underlying regulations and professional standards relevant to the assurance and non-assurance engagement. The learner considers and reflects on the ethical and professional requirements of the auditor in selecting clients, performing assurance and non-assurance engagements and reporting on these engagements.

The aim of this module is to provide learners the opportunity to grasp the theoretical principles behind corporate governance and to examine its application in specific cases. The module focuses on the similarities and differences that exist between the different corporate governance regimes around the globe with an emphasis on looking at a principle versus a rules-based system. International practices along with specific national codes are examined accordingly.

The module evaluates the social responsibility of business. It considers the ethical and social areas of corporate responsibility and the impacts these have on the reputation and success of an enterprise. Learners develop an awareness and understanding of the current challenges and opportunities facing companies in identifying and managing their responsibilities to diverse stakeholders. The aim is to sensitise learners to ethical business issues which, in turn, allows them to recognise potential problems and more responsible business decisions.

Dublin: EUR 4,500.00