BMAN 111 EC
INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences
MOD compiled by: Ms Marcelle Saraiva; Prof Heleneze Lues; Ms Lerato Sentsho; Mr Kagiso
Tsatsimpe
Copyright © 2024 edition. Review date: 2024.
North-West University
No part of this MOD may be reproduced in any form or in any way without the written permission of the publishers.
It all starts here
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Ranked in the top 5% of universities globally by the QS-rankings
Contributes the second largest number of graduates annually to the labour market
Dit begin alles hier
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As een van die top 5% universiteite wêreldwyd deur die QS-ranglys aangewys
Lewer jaarliks die tweede meeste graduandi aan die arbeidsmark
Gotlhe go simolola fano
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Re beilwe mo gare ga diyunibesiti tse 5% tse di kwa godimo go ya ka peo ya maemo
ya QS
Ngwaga le ngwaga go abelwa palo ya bobedi ka bogolo ya badiri mo maketeng ya
badiri
NORTH-WEST UNIVERSITY
Module information
Module code
BMAN 111
Module name
INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
12 credits
Module credits
This implies that you must spend a total of 120 hours to master the
outcomes of this module successfully. For total study hours per study
unit, refer to electronic study material.
NQF level
5
Prerequisites
None
Additional resources or
requirements to
complete module
successfully
Access to internet for eFundi usage.
Lecturer and contact information
Name of lecturer(s)
For all BMAN 111 lecturers, refer to the BMAN111 eFundi site.
Contact details
For all BMAN111 lecturers’ contact details, refer to the BMAN111
eFundi site.
Consulting hours
For all BMAN111 lecturers’ consulting hours, refer to the BMAN111
eFundi site.
Introduction
Purpose of the module
Everyone has a need for products and services. By acquiring products and services, people not
only try to ensure their own survival, but also to improve their standard of living. These products
and services must come from somewhere. In businesses, production factors are combined in an
attempt to provide consumers with products and services that will satisfy the consumers’ needs.
The owners of production factors must be compensated for providing products and services. To
ensure that products and services are being delivered that satisfy consumers’ needs and that the
owners of production factors receive fair compensation, businesses need to be managed.
Businesses are managed by managers who operate in different functions of the business, namely
operations, finance, marketing, human resources and logistics.
Teaching and learning in this module
This module makes use of the multimodal teaching and learning approach by means of a hybrid
mode of delivery (blended learning), which encompasses a combination of face-to-face contact
sessions and online learning. In accordance with the module plan uploaded on eFundi, a new
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lesson that relates to the various functions of a business will be presented on eFundi each week.
This will enable the students to master the set learning outcomes in a structured and progressive
manner on a weekly basis. The lessons consist of various videos and reading material to
supplement learning as well as practical activities to facilitate the application of theory and the
development of critical thinking and problem-solving skills. In addition, students are required to
complete weekly eFundi quizzes upon completion of the lesson. Lessons (online/contact),
activities, eFundi quizzes, class tests, assignments, and a semester test will be used to facilitate
the development of the module outcomes. It is expected from students to access the BMAN111
eFundi site regularly, attend the online/contact lessons and facilitation sessions (when needed),
meet deadlines and complete assessments to benefit and learn from this module.
Module outcomes
Upon completion of this module, the student should be able to demonstrate:
• a complete and systematic knowledge of the nature of business management,
establishment issues of a new business, the different business functions and the basic
elements of a business plan; and
• skills, based upon an informed comprehension of theories and concepts, to identify
established issues of a new business, identify the different business functions and to draw
up a basic SWOT analysis and business plan; and the ability to undertake a literature and
environmental review, prepare a basic report as individual or as a member of a team and to
communicate in writing as well as verbally the report to an audience.
Assessment
Requirements for successful completion of the module
You need a final module mark of at least 50% to pass the module.
Assessment plan:
This module will use continuous assessment, which involves calculating the module mark based
on the weighted averages of the different assessments for the module. These assessments consist
of:
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eFundi quizzes
Assignments
Class tests
Semester test
Action verbs:
Bloom’s taxonomy categorises and orders thinking skills on a continuum from lower order thinking
skills (levels 1-3) to higher order thinking skills (levels 4-6). On a first-year level the focus will
mainly be on the lower level skills and is reflected in the action words in the module outcomes.
Make sure you understand what the action words entail; it will make your learning process easier.
See table with examples and the application of each below.
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Action verbs
Levels 1-3 are indicated in the table below.
Cognitive Level 1: Remembering (Knowledge)
Exhibit memory of previously learned material by recalling facts, terms, basic concepts and
answers. To determine if you reached this level of learning, ask yourself: Can I recall or remember
the information?
Examples of action words that require knowledge
Define
Define requires a short, clear and specific description of the meaning of a term or
concept.
List / Name
Give a list of the required characteristics, facts or items.
Examples of knowledge questions
Name the steps ...
Which criteria would you apply to …?
Define the concepts ...
Cognitive Level 2: Understanding (Comprehension)
On this level it is about interpreting the information based on prior learning. The content or
information must be understood in order to be able to formulate, summarise or explain it in your
own words, without applying it. To determine if you have reached this level of learning, ask
yourself: Can I explain the following concept?
Examples of action words that require understanding
Describe
To describe requires that you give the relevant facts or characteristics.
Discuss
It requires a theoretical answer with an actual example.
Illustrate
To describe something by means of examples.
Explain
A theoretical answer is given with a description of the function / implication of the
elements with examples where possible.
Distinguish To indicate similarities and differences between two things.
Summarise
To give an overview of the most important information in a systematic way.
Examples of questions that require understanding
Explain the requirements with which … should comply.
Distinguish between the different problem-solving styles. Illustrate by means of applicable
(own or real) examples how you would ...Give examples of ….
Cognitive Level 3: Applying (Application)
It requires that you must be able to use the knowledge that you gained and understand in a new
situation. To determine if you have reached this level of learning, ask yourself: Can I use the
information gained in a new way or situation?
Examples of action words that require application
This level not only requires that you describe something by means of an
Illustrate / Give
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an example /
Apply / Use /
Demonstrate /
Motivate
example, but that you apply it in a new situation. Use your own examples
and indicate how a specific method or strategy should be used.
Examples of questions that requires application
Apply ... technique to ...
Illustrate how you would use your knowledge of ... to ...
Give examples of ...
Study material
Your lecturer will use Efundi to make additional study material available to supplement your
learning, such as video links and resources (PowerPoint presentations, case studies etc.). You are
required to frequently check Efundi.
Compulsory study material:
Prescribed textbook for BMAN111
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Title: Introduction to Business Management and General Management. 3rd Edition. Custom
Publication
Year of publication: 2024
Publisher: Oxford
Supplemental study material:
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Will be provided by lecturer
Module plan
In BMAN111 the following topics will be covered:
Introduction Study unit
Introduction
Study unit 1
The business environment
Study unit 2
The tasks of management
Study unit 3
Operations management
Study unit 4
Logistics management
Study unit 5
Financial management
Study unit 6
Employment-relations
management (Human resource management)
Study unit 7
Marketing management
Study unit 8
Principles of entrepreneurship
Study unit 9
The business plan
Consult your BMAN111 program on eFundi concerning scheduled class times and tests
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Time Management
Module administration
Hours per
week
Hours per
semester
Duration of contact/online lessons
1 hour
13
Facilitation/Consultation
1 hour
13
Other non-contact time per semester; therefore study time
89
Writing assessments
5
Total hours per semester
120
Plagiarism, Artificial Intelligence and Academic Integrity
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When you submit an assignment, it should always be your own individual work unless clearly
indicated as a group activity.
Copying text from other learners or sources without giving credit by citing the source and
adding the source to your reference list is considered plagiarism.
When you use information from a source, you should paraphrase the text. This means
reformulating the information in your own words to explain what you have read. The
assignment aims not to reproduce existing material but to ascertain whether you can
integrate texts, add your own interpretation and/or critique the texts, and offer a creative
solution to existing problems.
It is your responsibility to familiarise yourself with the NWU Academic Integrity Policy and not
make yourself guilty of plagiarism.
It is generally assumed that using Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools such as ChatGPT is not
allowed unless clearly stated. You should note that the NWU uses Turnitin to detect
plagiarism and/or the use of Artificial Intelligence.
You are responsible for confirming your lecturers' stance on using AI and familiarising
yourself with the NWU Guidelines on the Responsible and Ethical use of Artificial
Intelligence.
Remember that language editing tools and/or paraphrasing tools are considered a form of AI
and might be flagged by Turnitin. Always save a copy of your original, unedited work before
you submit it to any of these tools.
Plagiarism or the unethical use of AI is a serious offence. Disciplinary steps may include a
significant deduction of marks and/or being reported on the AIITSA system. For more
information, visit the NWU page on Academic Integrity.
It is also unethical and unacceptable to do someone else's work, lend it to someone else, or
make it available to be copied.
Uploading study guides, exams, tests or assignments and their memos onto online platforms
such as StuDocu is also not permitted. These documents are the intellectual property of the
NWU and are subject to copyright laws.
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Study units
Below is an overview of the study units applicable to this module. The outcomes applicable to each
study unit will be made available on eFundi.
Introduction
Recommended time to master the learning outcomes of this study unit: 7 hours
Learning outcomes
The learning outcomes applicable to this study unit will be made available on eFundi.
Study material
eFundi lesson, Introduction chapter
1
The business environment
Recommended time to master the learning outcomes of this study unit: 12 hours
Learning outcomes
The learning outcomes applicable to this study unit will be made available on eFundi.
Study material
Prescribed textbook, Chapter 1
2
The tasks of management
Recommended time to master the learning outcomes of this study unit: 12 hours
Learning outcomes
The learning outcomes applicable to this study unit will be made available on eFundi.
Study material
Prescribed textbook, Chapter 2
3
Operations management
Recommended time to master the learning outcomes of this study unit: 12 hours
Learning outcomes
The learning outcomes applicable to this study unit will be made available on eFundi.
Study material
Prescribed textbook, Chapter 3
4
Logistics management
Recommended time to master the learning outcomes of this study unit: 12 hours
6
Learning outcomes
The learning outcomes applicable to this study unit will be made available on eFundi.
Study material
Prescribed textbook, Chapter 4
5
Financial management
Recommended time to master the learning outcomes of this study unit: 10 hours
Learning outcomes
The learning outcomes applicable to this study unit will be made available on eFundi.
Study material
Prescribed textbook, Chapter 5
6
Employment-relations
management)
management
(Human
resource
Recommended time to master the learning outcomes of this study unit: 13 hours
Learning outcomes
The learning outcomes applicable to this study unit will be made available on eFundi.
Study material
Prescribed textbook, Chapter 6
7
Marketing management
Recommended time to master the learning outcomes of this study unit: 13 hours
Learning outcomes
The learning outcomes applicable to this study unit will be made available on eFundi.
Study material
Prescribed textbook, Chapter 7
8
Principles of entrepreneurship
Recommended time to master the learning outcomes of this study unit: 12 hours
Learning outcomes
The learning outcomes applicable to this study unit will be made available on eFundi.
Study material
Prescribed textbook, Chapter 8
7
9
The business plan
Recommended time to master the learning outcomes of this study unit: 12 hours
Learning outcomes
The learning outcomes applicable to this study unit will be made available on eFundi.
Study material
Prescribed textbook, Chapter 9
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