IF0BM: Principles of Business and Management

Module code: IF0BM

Module provider: Global Academy

Credits: 20

ECTS credits: 10

Level: F

When you’ll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Miss Natalie Drake, email: n.drake@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s): IN THE SAME YEAR AS TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST TAKE IF0MOB (Compulsory)

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded: IN TAKING THIS MODULE YOU CANNOT TAKE IF0BMJ (Compulsory)

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2026/7

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 25 March 2026

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module introduces students to themes and theories of business and management, providing a foundation at undergraduate level. The content and study skills taught are widely applicable to a range of subject areas appealing to students on programmes in business, finance and accounting, economics, law, real estate, sociology, international relations, psychology, construction management and more.   

The module enables students to develop their ability to think critically, organise their thoughts logically, and argue persuasively in business and management contexts. Students learn business and management theory such as entrepreneurship, business planning, finance and accounting.  

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to: 

• Demonstrate knowledge of key concepts, functions, and operations within business organisations. 
• Analyse and evaluate internal, external business environments and stakeholders using principles of business and management concepts and theories. 
• Apply financial techniques to assess and propose solutions to practical business challenges. 

Module content

1. Functions of a business and entrepreneurs 
2. Types of business and their legal structure 
3. Business growth 
4. Business strategies and Stakeholders 
5. External business environment analysis 
6. Internal business environment analysis 
7. Business finance 
8. Costs, contribution, breakeven analysis 
9. Budgets and cash flow forecast 
10. Financial statements 

This represents roughly 50% management, and 50% finance and accounting content. 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The module will be taught through a combination of in class lectures and seminars (discussions or presentations). Seminars allow students to work through examples at their own pace and through group discussion. 

For students studying at our campus in Malaysia: This module may be taught in a different semester, and the breakdown of study hours may differ to those set out in the Study Hours table (please refer to the Module Handbook for the correct breakdown). In addition, you will be required to complete an additional 40 hours of study, taking the total number of study hours to 240 for this module. This is to comply with the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA). 

Students studying at theTianjin University Joint Institute in Hainan may experience a different breakdown of study hours from those set out in the Study Hours table (please refer to the Module Handbook for the correct breakdown). 

Study hours

At least 66 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each calendar day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three calendar days;
• where the piece of work is submitted up to three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in you Individual Learning Plan), the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three calendar days of the deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

Where a piece of work is submitted late after a deadline which has been revised owing to an extension granted through the Assessment Adjustments policy and process (self-certified or otherwise), it will be subject to the maximum penalty (i.e., considered to be more than three calendar days late). This will also apply when such an extension is used in conjunction with a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Tasks completed in the seminar sessions will result in peer and tutor feedback. 

Reassessment

Additional costs