Business Management with Business Analytics
BSc (Hons)

Year 1 establishes the foundations of a broad spectrum of business, management and business analytics theories and concepts. Year 2 builds upon this foundation, through the introduction of more advanced concepts and operational aspects of business management and business analytics. Year 3 draws the previous years’ teaching and learning together through development of business analytics, strategy and leadership.

Students’ acquisition of knowledge and understanding is facilitated through the teaching and learning strategies pursued by the various departments from which BSc (Business Management with Business Analytics) modules are drawn. Teaching and learning methods used on the programme include lectures and small group teaching via seminars, tutorials, computer workshops, and simulations. Students’ knowledge and skills are developed through taught material, exercises and coursework of increasing challenge and complexity throughout the programme.

Programme structure: We continually review and enhance our curriculum to ensure we are delivering the best possible learning experience, and to make sure that the subject knowledge and transferable skills you develop will prepare you for your future. The University will make every reasonable effort to offer programmes and modules as advertised. In some cases, changes may be necessary and may result in new modules or some modules and combinations being unavailable. Not all optional modules are available every year.

Introduction to Financial Accounting for Managers

In this module, you will be introduced to the analysis and use of published financial statements. You will explore the concepts underlying financial reporting by companies and gain an understanding of the financial environment in which they operate, developing the skills to work effectively as a future non-accounting manager alongside your accounting colleagues in cross-functional management teams.
By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• Analyse and record basic transactions using double entry bookkeeping and prepare basic balance sheets and profit and loss accounts for simple organisations
• Interpret simple financial reports, including the statement of financial position and the income statement
• Understand the role of judgement in measuring and reporting financial position and performance
• Appreciate the relationships between financial reporting, its regulation, the management of companies, and the commercial pressures that managers face, including an awareness of managers’ responsibilities for reporting on the performance and position of their company

Economics for Business

In this module, you will be introduced to the discipline of Economics, exploring how a modern economy functions at both the microeconomic level, by examining the behaviour of individuals and firms, and the macroeconomic level, where aggregates such as national income, unemployment, and inflation are the focus of attention.
By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• Use appropriate theoretical and analytical tools to understand economics, with particular emphasis on the behaviour of individuals and firms, the implications of government action, and the macroeconomic environment
• Calculate, solve, and interpret quantitative economic problems relating to consumers (such as elasticities of demand), firms (such as cost and revenue analysis and profit-maximising equilibria), and the macroeconomy (such as national income)
• Communicate and present economic arguments in both written and oral form with clarity and conciseness

Entrepreneurship: Innovating New Futures

In this module, you will develop an introductory understanding of entrepreneurship and innovation, exploring key concepts such as creativity and customer need, understanding value, accessing resources, new venture creation, scenario planning, and learning from failure.
You will gain hands-on experience of a range of entrepreneurial skills that are transferable across many contexts, whether you are establishing a startup, taking an entrepreneurial approach to your own career, or working within government or the social enterprise sector. You will also develop broader skills in communication, presentation, writing, and reflecting on your own practice.
By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• Critically discuss the role of entrepreneurs in society and their importance to the economy
• Apply key techniques in venture creation, including creativity, opportunity recognition, and the presentation of business ideas
• Formulate a coherent and well-founded case to investors to back a new venture or project
• Identify and mobilise appropriate resources to launch new products or a new business

Principles of Marketing

In this module, you will examine the key elements of marketing theory and practice and how these connect with other aspects of business management. The module is organised around three themes. The first introduces the fundamentals of marketing, including the branding and pricing of products and services. The second explores the competitive marketplace, focusing on how organisations understand and engage with consumers, including recent developments in digital marketing. The third consolidates your learning by considering how marketers obtain and use information to inform innovation and the marketing planning process.
By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• Appreciate the role of marketing both as the social process of exchange and as a management function within an organisation
• Critically evaluate and discuss marketing theories to construct coherent and evidence based arguments
• Critically evaluate and reflect upon marketing practices through the use of different contexts and examples
• Communicate ideas and persuasive recommendations to address marketing issues and challenges faced by organisations and society

Introduction to Management

In this module, you will be introduced to both traditional and contemporary ideas about management and leadership, exploring a range of theories and practices relevant to the organisation of work. You will examine and contrast major trends in management and leadership thinking, considering the relationship between theory and practice in key emerging areas, and engaging with current issues and debates in the field. The module also provides a supportive environment in which you can develop, test, and explore your own theories and managerial and leadership skills.
By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• Explain the nature of management and leadership and distinguish between the two
• Compare and contrast major trends and theories in management and leadership thinking
• Explore the relationship between theory and practice in key emerging areas of management and leadership
• Engage critically with current issues and debates in management and leadership
• Reflect on and develop your own managerial and leadership skills

Introduction to Business Analytics

In this module, you will be introduced to the core ideas and practical tools of business analytics, exploring how data can support better decisions in organisations. You will examine what data is, how it is collected, and how sampling works, before learning how to visualise data using charts and graphs and describe patterns using measures of averages, variation, and relationships. As the module progresses, you will model links between variables through simple and multiple regression and apply basic forecasting techniques to support planning.
By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• Visualise data effectively and describe patterns using appropriate measures of averages, variation, and relationships
• Build and interpret simple and multiple regression models to analyse links between variables
• Apply basic forecasting techniques to support organisational planning
• Use spreadsheet software to carry out analysis and present findings clearly to decision makers

Employability and Careers I

In this module, you will take the first steps in preparing for your future career as a Business Management graduate. Combining insights from visiting employers with structured employability preparation, the module focuses on two interconnected themes: Opportunity Awareness, exploring the career opportunities available to you as a Business Management graduate, and Self-Awareness, reflecting on your personal interests, motivations, values, and skills. You will also be introduced to the graduate labour market and the careers information, resources, and support available to you throughout your studies.
By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• Demonstrate an awareness of your own skills, interests, values, and preferences, and begin to form clear career preferences through career exploration
• Begin to develop a career planning action plan for the remainder of your time at university
• Utilise careers information and resources effectively -Engage with the graduate labour market and the career management process
• Produce a graduate style CV and cover letter using appropriate language and format in preparation for internship applications

Programme structure: We continually review and enhance our curriculum to ensure we are delivering the best possible learning experience, and to make sure that the subject knowledge and transferable skills you develop will prepare you for your future. The University will make every reasonable effort to offer programmes and modules as advertised. In some cases, changes may be necessary and may result in new modules or some modules and combinations being unavailable. Not all optional modules are available every year.

Statistical Methods for Business

In this module, you will develop both the theoretical understanding and practical skills needed to work with data using R. You will explore and summarise data, examine probability, sampling, and confidence intervals to understand uncertainty and variation, and learn how to test claims and compare groups across different data types. In the final weeks, you will build and evaluate regression models to investigate how different factors are linked.
By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• Apply concepts of probability, sampling, and confidence intervals to quantify uncertainty and variation in data
• Select and apply appropriate statistical tests to test claims and compare groups, including categorical data
• Build, interpret, and evaluate regression models to analyse relationships between variables
• Select appropriate statistical methods for a given analytical context and communicate findings clearly to support business decision making

Techniques for Management Decision Making

In this module, you will explore how techniques based on mathematics and statistics can be used as powerful tools to solve organisational problems. You will examine the business situations in which such techniques apply, develop the ability to use them in practice, and learn how to interpret the results to support better business decisions. The module covers five techniques: forecasting, simulation, decision analysis, network analysis, and linear programming.
By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• Apply each of the five techniques to particular business cases
• Understand when it is appropriate to apply each technique
• Understand the benefits and limitations of each technique

Spreadsheet Modelling for Management

In this module, you will develop the practical skills in spreadsheet modelling, problem structuring, and analytical thinking that organisational recruiters consistently identify as priorities in graduate recruitment. Working with Microsoft Excel, you will be introduced to the basics of dynamic model building, including data handling, filtering and analysis, and the use of functions and charts. You will also develop more advanced skills including optimisation, simulation, and the use of Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) to automate models and construct decision support tools.
By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• Apply analytical and abstraction skills to structure and solve organisational problems
• Build and use dynamic spreadsheet models to support business decision making

Introduction to Operations Management

In this module, you will be introduced to operations management as a core managerial discipline applicable across all kinds of organisation, from private sector manufacturing to public sector services. You will examine the organised processes that underpin the modern world, including transportation, energy generation, retailing, the production of goods, and the provision of medical and educational services. The module combines analytical and constructive approaches, encompassing both qualitative and quantitative methods.
By the end of this module, you will be able to engage competently in the kind of problem solving characteristic of operations management, including:

• Applying basic principles such as lean production
• Demonstrating a fundamental understanding of entities such as supply networks
• Using mathematical models to optimise inventory policies
• Applying systematic techniques of control such as those needed for quality management

Project Management Tools & Techniques

In this module, you will develop a comprehensive understanding of project management, from its strategic relevance within organisations through to the operational and people management skills required to deliver projects successfully. You will explore the full project lifecycle, covering topics including project structure and success, stakeholder management, requirements, planning, estimating, scheduling and resourcing, budgeting, risk management, project monitoring and control, quality, change management, communications and negotiation, and project closure and review.
By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• Understand the strategic relevance of projects within organisations
• Understand the operational management of projects across the full project lifecycle
• Understand and apply the planning processes required to manage projects effectively
• Understand the importance of people management within projects

Employability and Careers II

In this module, you will build on the foundational employability knowledge and skills developed in your first year, progressing your preparation for the graduate job market. You will deepen your career research skills, develop your professional network, and refine the practical tools and techniques needed to compete effectively for graduate roles.
By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• Research different career paths and identify the education and experience required for each profession
• Build and develop professional relationships and utilise networking opportunities, including through social media platforms
• Prepare effectively for job interviews through practice, feedback, and an understanding of the questions and formats you are likely to encounter
• Search for job opportunities, tailor your CV and cover letter for specific roles, and make effective use of online job search resources
• Establish a professional online presence through personal branding, social media channels, and portfolio development

Optional Modules (to choose 3 from)

• Management Accounting for Business Decisions
• Entrepreneurial Mindset
• The Changing Role of Management
• Accounting Information Systems and Auditing
• Microeconomic Analysis
• Social Media Marketing

Programme structure: We continually review and enhance our curriculum to ensure we are delivering the best possible learning experience, and to make sure that the subject knowledge and transferable skills you develop will prepare you for your future. The University will make every reasonable effort to offer programmes and modules as advertised. In some cases, changes may be necessary and may result in new modules or some modules and combinations being unavailable. Not all optional modules are available every year.

Structuring Complex Problems

In this module, you will explore how complex management problems can be structured and analysed in situations where issues are ill-defined, objectives are unclear, or stakeholders disagree about goals and the means of achieving them. You will be introduced to qualitative and quantitative approaches that support complex decision making in practice. Drawing on dialogue to think through strategic problems, identify salient issues, formulate goals, and negotiate action plans, you will also develop the process skills needed to apply these methods effectively in practice.
By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• Understand how problem structuring aids decision making
• Understand the differences between various problem structuring methods and how these differences affect their use
• Identify appropriate situations in which to apply problem structuring methods
• Choose between particular problem structuring methods when analysing a complex problem situation

Digital Business and Organisational Transformation

In this module, you will develop a modern perspective on the role of technology in business, exploring the ways in which technology drives organisational transformation. You will examine the external and internal strategic factors that shape the adoption of technology within organisations and consider how these align with broader business strategy, developing an understanding of how organisations and technology interplay and evolve in response to changing demands and opportunities.
By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• Understand the importance of data and information in today’s business landscape
• Understand the role of information systems in organisations and how they influence business strategy
• Identify different forms of digital business models and employ appropriate theories and techniques to evaluate and transform them
• Develop a dynamic view of how technology evolves within organisations
• Identify organisational capabilities required for digital transformation and innovation

Developing Business Information Systems

In this module, you will explore how to study business operations, analyse organisational situations, and develop appropriate information systems designs. With an emphasis on practical application and extensive use of class exercises, you will develop techniques that are widely employed by analysts in the fields of information systems and general business consultancy, and that are of value whether you go on to become an information systems professional or apply them in general management or consultancy.
By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• Demonstrate a critical understanding of the processes undertaken to develop information systems, the organisational imperatives that have shaped these in the past, and current best practice
• Carry out an analysis of business operations, representing current and planned activities in the form of process models
• Represent existing data stores as unnormalised relations and normalise them to third normal form (3NF)

Project Management: Negotiation and Decision Support

In this module, you will develop your negotiation, analytical, and modelling skills through an immersive challenge. You will engage in meticulous project planning and management as a part of a team. Alongside this task, you will engage in a ‘real-life’ negotiation process.
By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• Plan, manage, and conduct a a project and negotiate with another organisation
• Develop a a solid understanding on the importance of profiling in a negotiation context
• Develop and discover your negotiation technique

Supply Chain Management

In this module, you will examine the principles and practices of supply chain management, building on your understanding of operations management concepts. You will explore supply chain and logistics management applications across a range of sectors including retailing, pharmaceuticals, information technology, and higher education. The module focuses primarily on inter-organisational relationships examined from a variety of perspectives, while also considering how these relate to matters within the organisation, including functional areas such as logistics and procurement. You will also engage with emerging supply chain themes including service supply chains and sustainability.
By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• Understand and critically evaluate the principles of supply chain management
• Understand how a supply network should be organised and effectively managed, taking account of supply strategy, inter-organisational relationships, and logistics issues
• Appreciate the wider societal implications of supply chain management

Optional Modules (to choose 3 from)

• Advanced Management Accounting
• Environmental Economics and Climate Change
• Principles of Strategic Management
• Rethinking Leadership
• Business and Management in the 21st Century: central questions and evaluations

Programme structure: We continually review and enhance our curriculum to ensure we are delivering the best possible learning experience, and to make sure that the subject knowledge and transferable skills you develop will prepare you for your future. The University will make every reasonable effort to offer programmes and modules as advertised. In some cases, changes may be necessary and may result in new modules or some modules and combinations being unavailable. Not all optional modules are available every year.

Teaching is delivered via a combination of small group lectures and group-based tutorial coursework (oral and written presentation).

Lectures convey knowledge, provide conceptual maps and introduce theoretical perspectives, illustrate methods and techniques of analysis and argument and identify policy issues. Small group teaching (seminars, etc.) develop students’ critical understanding of the topics through theoretical discussion, presentations and problem-solving exercises.

Computer workshops facilitate the application of techniques and practical experience of bespoke software.

Students’ skills of reasoning and argumentation, and their general communication skills, are developed through seminar discussion, presentations and written coursework assignments.

Assessment is through examinations, essays, projects, and oral presentations at both the individual and group levels.

Students will be encouraged throughout to undertake independent study to supplement what is being taught/learnt and to broaden their personal knowledge.

All BSc (Hons) Business Management with Business Analytics students will receive their undergraduate degree from the quadruple-accredited Lancaster University Management School in the UK.

Analytical  thinkers with good professional and problem-solving skills are being in demand in a range of industries and organisations.

Given the jobs that Business Analytics graduates can fill, there are career opportunities across a wide range of sectors. Business Analysts are highly sought after for their quantitative and business skills. They can be working directly as a specialist business analyst or utilising their talents in general management, project management, operations and supply chain management, data-driven decision making and consultancy roles in the public and private sector.

Business analysts study a company’s processes, operating procedures, and large data sets to find ways to enhance an organization’s operational efficiency while achieving better performance. They work with management to reduce costs, eliminate, or reduce inefficiencies, and boost the company’s competitiveness in the modern business world. They use their analytical skills to understand and apply data-focused strategies best suited to increase a company’s bottom line.