Economics and Management with a Year in Business

Core Modules

Year 1

You will take the following modules in Economics:

• Principles of Economics

  Principles of Economics is a first-year undergraduate module in how the economy works. The module is suitable for students with or without A-Level economics or equivalent. We will cover the basic theories of macroeconomics (that of the economy as a whole) and microeconomics (the behaviour of individuals, firms and governments and the interactions between them).

  The module adopts the state-of-the-art CORE approach (Curriculum Open-access Resources in Economics) to teaching Principles of Economics. The approach has three pillars which we rely on throughout the module:

  • Formulate a problem that our society is facing now or has faced in the past;
  • Build a theory to explain and solve the problem;
  • Evaluate the usefulness of the theory by using data observations and more novel theories.
• Data Skills for Economists

  Data Skills for Economists is about understanding the data we encounter constantly in everyday life and the data that social science researchers create as they explore and analyse the world around us. We'll endeavour to understand such questions as:

  • Where does data come from and how can we harvest it?
  • What useful information does the data contain?
  • How can we create new data to generate useful insights?

  Computers equipped with statistical software are a big part of the answer to the third question (above) so, accordingly, you'll spend much of your time learning to analyse and display data using the R statistical software package (R is the industry standard).

  We'll develop an ethos of clear communication of numerical information that will be supported by our growing understanding of statistical concepts and our growing proficiency with computers.

  Simultaneously, we'll delve into the seamy underside of the tricksters who try to fool you with falsified data. Understanding their game can provide at least some degree of inoculation against their attacks.

• Mathematics for Economics

  The aims of the module are to cover the basic mathematical and quantitative tools used by economists every day. The module gives an emphasis to the mathematical tools, which are applicable to solving a wide range of economic problems. The first half of the module is devoted to linear algebra, specific functions of one and more variables used in economics, manipulating those functions and finding their minima and maxima. In addition, the first half of this module delivers the rules of integration and differentiation, which prepares the you to apply constrained and unconstrained optimisation techniques in their subsequent 2nd and 3rd year of studies. Constrained and unconstrained optimisation techniques are also discussed. The second half of the module is devoted to optimisation theory which in turn will use the concepts of vectors and matrices, drawn from linear algebra, and require the study of concave functions. The knowledge of matrices will help you solve systems of linear equations, which are used in both microeconomic and macroeconomic planning and forecasting.

• Employability 1

  This module will be composed of an introduction to Employability, library resources, team building, and CV making. Career services will provide a session on self-awareness and decision making and library services will present their relevant resources. Finally, the Economics department will organise some team building exercises.

• Academic Integrity

  This module will describe the key principles of academic integrity, focusing on university assignments. Plagiarism, collusion and commissioning will be described as activities that undermine academic integrity, and the possible consequences of engaging in such activities will be described. Activities, with feedback, will provide you with opportunities to reflect and develop your understanding of academic integrity principles.

   

• Foundations for Enterprise Internationalisation 

  In this module you will develop an understanding of the formal economic, political and legal institutions, as well as cultural, religious, and linguistic differences that must be taken into account when conducting business across borders. You will look at how the global context in which companies operate has evolved over time, considering the role of foreign direct investment and internationalisation strategies. You will examine the motivations for entering a foreign market, the factors determining whether a company enters on their own or in partnership, the risks of entry and how they are analysed, and how companies negotiate with governments.

• Management First

  In this module you will develop an understanding of the academic skills that are both transferable and of value to employers. You will consider how employability skills can be developed throughout your undergraduate studies, and identify the kinds of experiences that you can benefit from beyond the classroom. You will also examine contemporary issues in management and reflect on how you can become a more effective learner.

• Fundamentals of Accounting and Finance

  In this module you will develop an understanding of the basic concepts of accounting, examining its role in organisations and society. You will consider the basic components of financial statements, including income statement, balance sheets, and cash flow statements, and the procedures and techniques for the preparation of these. You will also look at the principles of financial decision making and how to analyse accounting information

• People and Organisations

  In this module you will develop an understanding of organisation as a process and the organisation as an entity. You will look at key managerial activities, examining classical ideas about organisation with the context of nationalisation and humanisation. You will see how these ideas reappear, albeit in a modified form, in contemporary organisations, looking at organisational forms and modern management techniques such as culture management, emotional labour, and charismatic leadership. You will also consider Max Weber’s distinction of formal and substantive rationality and Anthony Giddens’ formulation of the duality of action and structure.

Year 2

You will take the following modules in Economics:

• Macroeconomics

  In this module you will develop an understanding of macroeconomics and macroeconomic policy-making. You will look at a variety of contemporary and historical macroeconomic events, and the differences between the short, medium and long run. You will consider why some countries are rich and some are poor, why different economies grow at different rates, and what determines economic growth and prosperity. You will examine the role of monetary and fiscal policy, its impact on the economy and its limitations. You will also analyse how taxation, budget deficits, and public debt affect the economy.

• Employability 2

  Career services will provide a session on how to be ready to apply for an internship at the end of the second year. Students will prepare for a psychometric test and will undertake a series of a mock interviews in order to improve their interview technique. Finally, students will attend at least one Econ@Work talk to be aware of professional life and challenges.

You will choose one of the following options:

• Microeconomics

  In this module you will develop an understanding of the models of individual optimisation and their applications. You will look at the key determinants of an individual’s behaviour in a variety of circumstances and the behaviour of firms in different market environments, such as perfect competition, monopoly and oligopoly. You will consider how changing circumstances and new information influences the actions of the economic agents concerned, and examine the properties of competitive markets and the need for government intervention to correct market failures.

• Microeconomics

  In this module you will develop an understanding of the behaviour of individuals and firms in the economy. You will look at models of individual optimisation and their applications, considering the key determinants of an individual’s behaviour in a variety of circumstances. You will examine the behaviour of firms in different market environments such as perfect competition, monopoly and oligopoly, and the factors which are important in shaping the decisions that firms make in each market environment. You will learn to manipulate and solve diagrammatic and algebraic models of microeconomics, analysing the properties of competitive markets and assessing the role of government intervention in correcting market failures.

You will take the following modules in Management:

• Strategic Management

  In this module you will develop an understanding of the theories of strategic management. You will consider these theories in the context of contemporary business operations, including the political and regulatory frameworks, in response to technological change, financialisation, the development of new business models, and changes in the way corporate performance is assessed. You will look at key concepts and debates in the theory of corporate and business strategy, and examine the changing context in which corporate strategy is formulated and implemented.

• Marketing Strategy in Context

  In this module you will develop an understanding of the marketing strategies used by organisations. You will look at the elements of the marketing mix and their critical interrelationships, examining the competitive environment, customer insights, market information systems, business models, enterprise competencies, control, evaluation and innovation. You will also consider the sustainability of marketing practices in an increasingly globalised consumer society.

• Managerial Accounting

  In this module you will develop an understanding of the technical and non-technical aspects of management accounting. You will look at traditional costing methods and techniques, such as contribution volume profit analysis (CVP), budgeting, responsibility accounting, transfer pricing, and decision-making, alongside more innovative management tools, including activity based costing (ABC), activity based management (ABM), and the balanced scorecard. You will examine the issues underlying pricing and product offering and consider the importance of quality and cost control as strategic objectives for improving organisational performance.

• Work and Employment Relations

  In this module you will develop an understanding of the significance of human resource management in organisations. You will look at the links between product market and human resourcing strategies, the role of human resources planning in workforce management, and polices such as employee participation and involvement, including the role of trade unions in employment relationships. You will examine the regulation of labour markets, employment discrimination and conflict and resistance at work. You will also consider specific human resources practices, such as recruitment and selection, training and development and pay and performance management.

Year 3

• Year in Business

  This year will be spent on a work placement. You will be supported by the Placements Office and the Royal Holloway Careers and Employability Service to find a suitable placement. However, Royal Holloway cannot guarantee that all students who are accepted onto this degree programme will secure a placement, and the ultimate responsibility lies with yourself. This year forms an integral part of the degree programme and you will be asked to complete assessed work. The mark for this work will count towards your final degree classification.

Year 4

You will take the following modulesin Management:

• Responsible Business in Context

  Having gained an understanding of the workings of key corporate functions in their prior courses, this course will increase students' understanding of the opportunities and challenges that arise from the external business context in the early 21st century. These are evaluated from the perspective of a range of corporate functions and appropriate corporate response structures identified.

You will take the following module in Economics:

• Employability 3

  This third-year course will deepen the elements covered previously in Employability 1 and 2. Career services will provide a session on how to be ready for employment at the end of the year. Students will prepare for a psychometric test and undertake a series of mock interviews in order to improve their interview technique. Finally, students will attend at least one Econ@Work talk to be aware of professional life and challenges.

Optional Modules

There are a number of optional course modules available during your degree studies. The following is a selection of optional course modules that are likely to be available. Please note that although the College will keep changes to a minimum, new modules may be offered or existing modules may be withdrawn, for example, in response to a change in staff. Applicants will be informed if any significant changes need to be made.

Year 1

• All modules are core

Year 2

• All modules are core

Year 3

• All modules are core

Year 4

Optional modules in Economics may include:

• Industrial Economics 1

  In this module you will develop an understanding of the methods and models applied by economists in the analysis of firms and industries. You will learn how to manipulate these models and analytically solve problems relating to industrial economics. You will consider the applications of the models to important policy areas, exploring topics such as collusion, mergers, product differentiation and asymmetric information. You will also also examine the limitations of the theory.

• Financial Economics 1

  The module aims to introduce the student to what factors affect corporate financial decisions. Particular emphasis is given to the concepts of Net Present Value and Risk. The learning outcomes include: Understand what the goals of a firm are; Understand how investments are valued (Internal rate of returns) in order to help with good financial planning); Understand the concepts of risk, agency costs and how they feed into financial decision making; Understand the process of price formation in financial markets; Understand venture capital and different types of debt finance and debt valuation, including leverage.

Optional modules in Management may include:

• International Financial Accounting

  In this module you will develop an understanding of various aspects of the international financial accounting environment. You will look at the regulatory background to the composition of reporting documents, considering influences on national financial reporting and international differences in financial reporting systems. You will examine approaches to the classification of financial reporting systems, and initatives designed to achieve international harmonisation and standardisation of accounting practices. You will also evaluate communication issues in accounting and analyse the impact of international accountability.

• Consumer Behaviour

  In this module you will develop an understanding of the nature of consumer behaviour, its relevance to the marketing environment, and impact on society. You will look at the internal and external factors which underpin consumer behaviour theories, and consider the impact of marketing strategies on these. You will also examine the the nature of consumption, markets, and culture, and evaluate the complexity of consumer behaviour.

• Emerging Markets

  In this module you will develop an understanding of the emerging markets, commercial realities, and national cultures within the context of the global economy. You will look at the strategic issues and dilemmas that managers face in their efforts to expand into emerging markets, and consider the commercial realities and national cultures of these. You will look at specific cases studies, including the economies of Brazil, Russia, India, China, Turkey and South Africa.

• Asia Pacific Business

  In this module you will develop an understanding of multinational business in the Asia Pacific, their worldwide operations, and their impact on Europe. You will look at the contemporary economic, political, and cultural contexts of the Asia Pacific nations, and consider the diversity of the business environments and business practices in the region. You will examine the factors that lay behind the rapid growth of the region in the last five decades, and use empirical evidence to analyse the operation, performance and impact of multinational enterprises originating from there.

• European Business

  In this module you will develop an understanding of how institutions, policies and processes have shaped the European Union and the European business environment. You will look at the key institutions, policies and processes involved in the widening and deepening of the union, and theories which explain its development. You will consider the national, regional and global influences on European business and examine the complex relationships between the EU and its major trading partners. You will also critically evaluate the challenges facing European countries, policymakers and businesses.

• Accounting for Corporate Accountability

  In this module you will develop an understanding of the concept of accountability in the context of the relationships between corporate organisations and their stakeholders. You will look at the main theoretical approaches used to explain corporate reporting practice, including agency theory, signalling theory, stakeholder theory, legitimacy theory and institutional theory. You will examine a selection of International Financial Reporting Standards dealing with complex issues involving the identification, recognition and measurement of assets, liabilities, equity, income and expenses. You will also consider the nature of subjective judgements involved in financial, social and environmental accounting and reporting.

• The Globalisation of Work

  In this module you will develop an understanding of the impact of globalisation on work. You will look at the economic, political and institutional forces that shape the international mobility of workers, and examine the complexity of managing people as work becomes increasingly boundaryless. You will consider the implications of a more integrated global labour market on work organisation, employment relations and national labour market institutions, and critically assess the challenges brought by the mobility of capital and the movement of people to the organisation of work in a global context.

• International Human Resource Management

  In this module you will develop an understanding of the implications of changes in the global organisation of firms and the international workforce for human resource management policy choices. You will look at the differences in business and human resource systems between the UK, the USA, Germany and Japan, and examine the approaches to, and strategies for, human resource management in international business activities. You will consider the problems of transferring human resource management practices from one country to another, and the role of multinational companies as agents of knowledge. You will also evaluate the role of transnational organisations in regulating human resource policies and practices in firms.

• The Individual at Work

  In this module you will develop an understanding of a variety of contemporary issues with respect to individual and group behaviour at work. You will look at the theoretical approaches to understanding individual and group processes, considering work attitudes, identity at work, and issues of work design, such as teamwork, contemporary communication, and managing well-being.

• Business in International Comparative Perspective

  In this module you will develop an understanding of the key determinants of economic performance and the success of individual firms, industries and national economies. You will look at the achievements of the world's advanced economies, considering the character of their institutions and businesses, and examine the historical origins of differences in national institutions and corporate capabilities.

• Brands and Branding

  In this module you will develop an understanding of the nature of brands, branding, and the nature of the consumer society that we live in. You will look at different theoretical approaches to understanding brands and branding, and examine how branding theories are applied in marketing strategies.

• Global Marketing

  In this module you will develop an understanding of the scope and nature of marketing planning, practice and theory in a global context. You will look at the evolution of the global market and consider current topical debates surrounding globalisation. You will examine the complexities of marketing operations and strategies in diverse geographical markets and evaluate the suitability of marketing strategies in addressing the contemporary global business environment.

• Strategic Management Accounting

  In this module you will develop an understanding of financial management control strategy. You will look at the dependencies and relationships between business models and operating architecture, capital structure, and off-balance sheet financing. You will consider the context of managing accounting in a changing environment, and evaluate the impact of mergers and acquisitions on businesses. You will examine strategic control tools and techniques such as responsibility accounting and transfer pricing, and assess the relationship between product markets, internal organisation cost structures and capital market expectations.

• Strategic Finance

  In this module you will develop an understanding of the 'time value of money'. You will look at the main principles of finance theory and how these can be applied to commercial problems. You will consider the relationship between risk and return, and examine the valuation of equities, bonds and options and the relative merits of different approaches to choosing and valuing securities. You will evaluate the consequences of a proposed takeover or merger from the perspective of capital markets and assess the relevance of information efficiency.

• Advertising and Promotion

  In this module you will develop an understanding of contemporary marketing communication management within an international context. You will look at how promotional campaigns are constructed by advertising agencies, and consider the complementarity and inter-dependence of discrete marketing activities within a strategic perspective by creating an outline promotional campaign. You will examine the complexity and salience of ethical issues in marketing and advertising, especially with respect to the wider social influence, and deconstruct promotional communications in terms of their likely intended segmentation and positioning rationale.

• Clusters, Small Business and Entrepreneurship

  In this module you will develop an understanding of how small companies can become internationally competitive. You will look at the theories of clusters, and apply them to the analysis of small and medium enterprises operating in different contexts. You will consider vertical and horizontal collaborative strategies, and their impact on firms' capabilities, resources, and performance. You will examine the relationships between small companies and multinationals, and the mechanisms through which small companies are linked to the global economy. You will also compare different clusters and assess the competitive advantages and disadvantages they generate for companies.

• Responsible Business in Context

  Having gained an understanding of the workings of key corporate functions in their prior courses, this course will increase students' understanding of the opportunities and challenges that arise from the external business context in the early 21st century. These are evaluated from the perspective of a range of corporate functions and appropriate corporate response structures identified.

• Digital Innovation Management

  In this module you will develop an understanding of the main technological and managerial principles behind digital innovation. You will look at the revolutionary impact of digital technology on product and service innovation, and examine the main challenges and risks related to digital innovation initiatives within organisations. You will consider how the latest digital technologies can be used to lead innovation initiatives and analyse the implications of the external socio-economic and regulatory context for digital innovation within organisations.

• Business Process Applications

  In this module you will develop an understanding of the principles and concepts of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP). You will look at how firms use ERP systems for strategic effectiveness and consider the key strategic issues facing managers seeking to deploy and exploit such systems. You will examine the challenges facing those responsible for the selection, implementation and management of ERP projects, and gain practical experience using SAP software and other enterprise-level applications.

• Social Media, Networks and Business

  In this module you will develop an understanding of social networks and social media platforms from multiple perspectives. You will look at the growth of social media and the connectedness of the networked society, considering recent advances in network science, social psychology, and marketing. You will examine the role of social networking technologies in enabling business innovation and societal change, and critically assess positive and negative impacts of these technologies.

• Project Management

  In this module you will develop an understanding of the role of project management within organisations and its value in achieving organisational objectives. You will look at the process of planning, scheduling, monitoring and controlling resources for the achievement of a focussed objective. You will consider the factors involved in promoting organisational change and critically examine the problems of implementation. You will analyse techniques for the monitoring and the control of projects, and approaches to risk management.

• Entrepreneurship: Theory and History

  In this module you will develop an understanding of how enterprises have evolved and how the position of entrepreneurs has changed over the centuries under different regimes of state formation, institutional change and moral discipline. You will look at how political regimes have either facilitated or hindered entrepreneurship and examine the importance of temporal, geographical and structural issues in entrepreneurship history.

• Corporate Entrepreneurship

  In this module you will develop an understanding of the theories and practices related to corporate entrepreneurship. You will look at the management of creativity and innovation in large organisations, as well as the processes and structures relevant to the successful appropriation of opportunities within a market context. You will also consider the barriers that constrain managers and their companies from being entrepreneurial and examine conceptual and empirical evidence of corporate entrepreneurship from real-world examples.

• Innovation, Strategy and the Corporation

  In this module you will develop an understanding of business innovation in the context of new ventures and corporations. You will look at how changes in technology, markets, and society are affecting how new business models, products and services emerge. You will consider innovation as a source of competitive advantage and examine the management of innovation, critically evaluating associated risks and uncertainty. You will also analyse past experiences and how they can be used to exploit future opportunities through innovation.

• Organisations and Accountability

  In this module you will develop an understanding of contemporary issues in the theory and practice of accounting for sustainability. You will look at key issues in the growing ara of sustainability accounting including notions of accountability in the context of sustainability, cultural and religious perspectives on sustainability accounting, elements of sustainability reporting, and the role of accounting in embedding sustainability in decision making.

• Corporate Governance

  In this module you will develop an understanding of a number of diverse international and theoretical positions on corporate governance. You will look at the concepts of control, accountability and transparency within the context of corporate governance, and consider the role of regulation and its comparative national context. You will examine new trends in emerging market business groups and multinationals and analyse prevailing debates on insider- versus outsider-controlled corporate governance regimes.

• Responsible Entrepreneurship and Innovation

  In this module you will develop an understanding of responsibility in the context of entrepreneurship. You will look at the entrepreneurial process and consider the inherent ambivalence of both new ideas and their unintended consequences. You will examine the concepts of social entrepreneurship, sustainable entrepreneurship, and minority entrepreneurship, and evaluate how new organisations emerge, grow, and approach responsibility challenges.

• Marketing Ethics and Society

  In this module you will develop an understanding of the scope and nature of marketing ethics. You will look at the complexity and interconnectedness of moral dilemmas in marketing practice and consider potential responses by stakeholders, such as consumers, businesses and governmental actors, to ethical marketing issues.