Undergraduate Higher Diploma in Business Management

This unit provides the learner with an understanding and an explanation and purpose of an entrepreneur venture. It provides also what may be the enablers and obstructions to a small business setup.

This unit introduces learners to the nature, role and importance of financial information in organisations from a managerial perspective.

Learners will be introduced to the principles of accounting, in line with the standards expected based on conventions that guide the presentation of financial information.

The learner will be presented with the essential knowledge to be able to critically evaluate and interpret the financial systems, procedures and processes in various organisations.

The aim of this unit is to help learners understand the difference between the function of a manager and the role of a leader.

Special attention is given to the characteristics, behaviours and traits which support management and leadership.

This unit examines communication at an organisational level, interpersonal communications, and managing internal and external communications.

The success of an organisation or an enterprise depends mainly on effective communication to ensure understanding, involvement and commitment to organisational policies and procedures.

This unit aims to develop the learners’ awareness of organisational, personal, team and external communication.

The aim of this unit is to introduce different models and practices of change management. The unit further aims to assist learners to develop an understanding of the issues and practices involved in the management of change and those activities that contribute to positive organisational change. Learners are encouraged to develop and use their problem solving skills.

The aim of this unit is to enable learners to understand and apply principles of effective Human Resource Management (HRM). Being able to attract, recruit and retain talented staff is at the core of all HRM activity. This unit will explore the tools and techniques used in HRM to maximise the employee contribution and how to use HR methods to gain competitive advantage.

This unit is designed to introduce learners to the core principles of marketing. This would give them the opportunity to develop a basic marketing plan and employ elements of the marketing mix to achieve desired outcomes. The theories and frameworks forms the basis of this unit and directly related to the real word examples. These include products and services which are normally encountered in their normal working environment.

This unit will be assessed by the Domain Academy examination board set assignment. The theme will be provided by the DA board and the learners will choose their own project based on this theme. This theme will be valid for a year which will then be revised and changed by the DA board.

Learners will have the opportunity to explore and examine a current topic in the context of the business environment preferably in Malta or their country of origin. The unit offers the opportunity to the learners to engage in research in a specific field of study related to the theme provided.

On successful completion of this unit learners will have more confidence to engage in decision-making, problem-solving and research activities using project management skills.

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This module introduces students to the context of organisation.  It uses inter-disciplinary theory and research to compare and contrast the contribution of the core social science disciplines to the study of organisation and management.  Students will be introduced to how these theories inspire ways in which organisations can be designed in order to achieve their objectives.  The evolution of management thought is central to a student’s understanding of this module.  They will learn and appreciate the contribution of Taylor, Fayol and Weber to the Classical approaches; and Follett’s and Mayo’s contribution to the Behavioural

approach.  Furthermore, students will learn modern management approaches that include a systems view of organisations, contingency thinking, and the role of knowledge management learning organisations.

The module provides an understanding of the many factors that shape the nature of organisations operating in an increasingly complex business environment. Participants explore this dynamic nature of business and familiarize themselves with organisational structures, functional areas and the impact of the external environment.

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This module provides an introduction to the key concepts relating to people’s behaviour within contemporary organisations. It confronts the challenges managers face in understanding how to effectively manage people as individuals, as a member of a work group or team, and as a member of the organisation.  This takes place within the context of varying structures and cultures which are commonly linked with successful organisational performance. Students are provided with an understanding of the complex processes of social interaction that organisations represent.   They will appreciate the criticality of motivation and understand in detail the needs, process, and self-efficacy theories of motivation.  The module focuses on practical issues and, via a critical consideration of different approaches presented in academic frameworks and research evidence, enables students to make judgments on the behaviour of people in organisations.

The module provides an expansive overview of the key issues and challenges facing organisations in managing their operations and supply chains with the aim of delivering goods and services. Students will be exposed to the fundamental principles, theories and practical activities that constitute this vital area of management. They will learn and appreciate the 16 principles of Operations Management as laid out by Schonberger.  A systems approach is applied to understand and address the challenges of aligning organisational processes to the needs of the business; implementing them effectively, and operating and improving them on an ongoing basis. The coverage is not limited to the operations function and has relevance for managing processes in any part of the organisation; whether the customers are internal or external. It also familiarises core concepts in the management of processes that cross organisational boundaries as part of a supply chain.

The module aims to give students an insight into consumer behaviour from cognitive, social and cultural theoretical perspectives.  It establishes the central role o f consumer behaviour and its relevance to marketing management. It examines in detail the process of consumer decision-making, the influences on buyer behaviour and their implications for marketing in purposeful contemporary organisations.  Students will explore both traditional (economic, learning, psychological and sociological) models; and contemporary models of consumer behaviour, such as the Howard Sheth Model, the Nicosia model, the Engle-KollatBlackwell model, and the Engle Blackwell and Miniard model.  They will develop a knowledgeable understanding of  consumption; both micro view of consumption – decision making and involvement, perceptual processes, attitudes theory, personality, self and motivation; and macro-view of consumption – culture, groups and social processes. The module examines the consumer both as an individual, and as a member of a group and culture.

This unit will be assessed by the Domain Academy examination board set assignment. The theme will be provided by the DA board and the learners will choose their own project based on this theme. This theme will be valid for a year which will then be revised and changed by the DA board.

Learners will have the opportunity to explore and examine a current topic in the context of the business environment preferably in Malta or their country of origin. The unit offers the opportunity to the learners to engage in research in a specific field of study related to the theme provided.

On successful completion of this unit learners will have more confidence to engage in decision-making, problem-solving and research activities using project management skills.

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The module provides an introduction to basic economic theory as it applies to business.  It presents an economic understanding of the world of individual choice, business behaviour, national level economic systems and government economic policy. It demonstrates how economic factors impinge on organisational success. Students will be introduced to micro- and macroeconomic theory and learn how businesses are affected by developments in specific markets as well as by changes at the level of the entire economy. They will understand that economic models have two functions; as a simplification of and abstraction from observed data , and as a means of selection of data based on a paradigm of econometric study.   They will develop analytical skills and apply analytical techniques to business and management problems and to problems of market economics.

This module provides an introduction to the fundamentals of information technology and covers the uses of information systems in business scenarios and business organizations. The module equips students with skills of database management and an in-depth understanding of the role of information systems in this ‘information age’. Organisations are now heavily reliant upon the effective management of information as a resource and are faced with an overabundance of new and emerging technologies. Students will understand that the application of information technology leads to fundamental changes in the structure and nature of organisations. The module provides key concepts, frameworks and strategic technologies that are in practice in contemporary organisations. Students will learn data modelling and data analysis, principles of  relational database design,  enterprise information systems and strategy, privacy and information security, ‘Big data’ and cloud computing, and technology acceptance and diffusion.

The module recognizes the role of integrated marketing communications as an integral process in the creation of effective marketing activities. Students will reflect on the changes occurring in the world of advertising, promotion, public relations, personal selling, digital, and direct marketing. It presents the marketing communications tools that can be employed in an integrated campaign that promotes both synergy, and a continuing dialogue with the consumer. Students will learn to analyse and reflect the changes that are occurring on the world of marketing communications in today’s business world.  They will recognize the process that is followed in a marketing campaign, from situation analysis to evaluation.

This module on accounting and finance places particular emphasis on the understanding of accounting information and financial management. It provides the accounting and financial background desirable for any intending business manager.  Furthermore, it gives an introduction to the analytical tools critical to understand the financial management of an organisation, and the interrelationship between the organisation’s accounting results, financing, and managerial decision-making. Students will learn about the tools necessary for analysing financial statements in order to recognize key trends for a business, and will be able to relate accounting to the broader strategic and operational aspects of a business. An underlying objective is that this module will facilitate conversations with the financial personnel of their organisations.