Level 3 Business Administration (B) Diploma

Level 3 Business Administration (B) Diploma Course Content

Level 3 Business Administration (B) Diploma Unit 1 – Introduction to Business Administration

It is possible to reach a range of occupations in an office from being an administrative secretary, a personal assistant or managing a certain department or the workplace. Foundation skills are initially taught and these will be built up in following modules so that there is awareness of how to do the job and work effectively with others. Basic skills include how to make good judgments as well as doing the daily duties of e.g. checking mail, writing letters, to more specialised tasks such as managing databases and knowing laws about Human Resource. Business Administration programmes prepare students for a wide range of Administrative, Management and Executive occupations.

Level 3 Business Administration (B) Diploma Unit 2 – Human Resource, HR, Management

The Human Resources Management function, previously referred to as ‘Personnel’ within any organization, can include a variety of activities, but has undergone dramatic changes in the last 20-30 years. Here particularly focus is on managing people and resources effectively using professional personal qualities. Thus, this role has developed into a more interactive and participative function in the coaching and training of people, and helping them rise through the career pathway. The course will examine the major skills and characteristics required for Human Resource Management which include basic professional administrative skills as well as writing reports, presentations, analysis and evaluation, management of resources and people, critical thinking and excellent Interpersonal cross-cultural skills to aid customer relations and manage career Planning and Training.

Level 3 Business Administration (B) Diploma Unit 3 – Team Based Leadership

Much of the work involves solitary tasks, but working with others, clients and colleagues is essential to a good working environment. Thus the development of team based leadership skills requires understanding aspects of “group dynamics” what is commonly called team-based learning and participation in group activities. This section of the course will consist of two main components: (i) Open discussion on leadership and (ii) The objectives for good team based leadership skills. Questions will be asked about what it entails, how to do it effectively, and its application to team situations. The discussion progresses to the qualities and skills required to be a leader, and assessment will be made of examples of leadership styles to see how effective communication works. The key skills addressed will be the importance of attitude, effective listening, understanding empathy, respect and gaining consensus in group decision making, and how to offer constructive advice and feedback e.g. in meetings, during conflict and disharmony, and when doing conducting annual reviews. Generally it is believed that one should lead by experience and that success comes with experience through good practice.

Level 3 Business Administration (B) Diploma Unit 4 – Management Accounting

Managing accounts has now become easy and efficient with the advance of modern methods of management accounting packages. Effective management requires report writing, use of computers, problem solving and decision making. However, this also means that relevant skills e.g. Legal compliance, Budgeting for planning & control, Variance Analysis, Capital Budgeting, must be acquired in order to progress confidently in one’s career. Management Accounting is concerned with the provision of business accounting information and reports to Bosses and Managers to help them keep abreast of the confidential business finances. This course focuses on the techniques and trends in the UK Management Accounting practices but also looks at the international dimension in order to learn from models that have been very successful e.g. the Japanese model.

Level 3 Business Administration (B) Diploma Unit 5 – Project Management

A massive progress in career advancement is in helping others better manage their work. Modern project management helps in planning, organization and control in a structured and managed environment. A suggested model is the Gantt Charts and how Microsoft Project assists the modern project manager. The course will focus heavily on the application of up to date standard government and commerce regulation by helping plan, set up and organise a project effectively. A successful professional shows due diligence by managing risks, establishing change control procedures, and making the business feel it can offer quality of service.

Level 3 Business Administration (B) Diploma Unit 6 – Consulting Skills

If a Business fails or is failing to deliver to their standard, they will bring in business advisory or consulting consultants. The Administration will interfaces with external consultants and business service providers to provide specialist services e.g. Strategy studies, business process reviews, HR consulting etc. and even interim management services of a specialist nature. Their particular focus is on methods of enquiry, scoping of assignments, stakeholder management, report writing, problem solving and decision making, management of risks, understanding the concept of value-added delivery. This is therefore a very attainable career path, and so activities involve conducting consultancy projects involving skills of data collection and analysis, Effective report writing, Creating change, Rational persuasion, Making client presentations, and Training Sessions and Workshops.

Level 3 Business Administration (B) Diploma Unit 7 – Presentation Skills

Presenting effectively and running workshops to a large audience involves using e.g. Microsoft Powerpoint or flipcharts or white boards to deliver a presentation that is useful and interesting to the listener. The function is to supplement content with visual information such as facts and images, add value to build on what people know already and impart new knowledge. Tips for putting together visual presentations, public speaking, how to address people, how to gain audience participation and getting the best from people by assisting in creating professional and effective presentations will be illustrated. The guidelines to conduct and carry out effective business presentations considers: the use of flipcharts / whiteboard, presentation software – specifically Microsoft Powerpoint, format, length and content, use of visual aids in the preparation, prepare hand-outs, and making sure feedback is obtained to help self-reflection. Support will be given to build confidence in public speaking and how best to deliver to the needs of the business.

Level 3 Business Administration (B) Diploma Unit 8 – Strategic Planning

In order for a business to constantly think about how to stay current and best deliver its aims, it needs to plan and be strategic. Business strategic planning methodology is viewed from two different perspectives: (i) Information Systems [IS] – the science of managing both data and information, the life blood within an organization, and secondly Information Technology [IT] the Computer hardware and tools, technology and communications that support the Information Systems. The focus on techniques utilized within the UK Public Sector and in particular the Office of Government Commerce [OGC], and relatively standard approaches used are studied. Key skills are how to conduct a Scoping and Strategy Study, defining Strategy by examining findings, implementation of the planning by progressing a strategy into action plans, writing reports, monitoring and reviewing, and making sure the business executives and staff sticks to the new (often difficult or different) changes. What can go wrong and how to avoid the most common pitfalls are addressed.

Level 3 Business Administration (B) Diploma Unit 9 – Concepts of Organizational Change

Most employees are afraid of change because they feel it threatens their jobs or will make them look incompetent. However, if a business does not deliver, it invokes organizational change, mergers and acquisitions, business process re-engineering, policy change, external change agents and how people deal with change. How best to make sense of Change Management, what underpins the theory of change and how to cope with the intense rate of change since change and technology outpaces our individual ability to keep up with it is considered. This course will focus upon individual, team and organizational change, how to lead and restructure. Management of change involves the leadership and the styles to be adopted for the management of change involving three dimensions of leadership – Outcomes, Interests and Emotions, and its Impact of change in the global economy in the new digital age.

Level 3 Business Administration (B) Diploma Unit 10 – Managing in the Global Economy

As our business skills improve and we rise up the ladder, we have to consider our position in the global economy. I believe that this should be done at all times, so we should always ask questions about the implication of better communication, access to travel and global education to our position in the new global village, the new administrator in the digital age, international business opportunities, dealing with different cultures and backgrounds, aspects of communication and management expectations within the international business scene. Once basic skills are gained in administration, wider and greater knowledge and experience is needed to place us in the wider world of business. A classic example is that of HSBC Bank showing a child conducting her business for the supply of home-made lemonade to the global forum. In order to be effective and current, skills and thought is applied to the challenges of the new era, the future of the internet, wireless economy advances in global telecommunications and understanding of ITIL.