MG4E7
Business Fundamentals
This information is for the 2020/21 session.
Teacher responsible
Prof Amitav Chakravarti NAB 5.13 and Prof Om Narasimhan NAB 5.06
Availability
This course is compulsory on the MSc in Marketing. This course is not available as an outside option.
This is a non-assessed introductory course.
Course content
The aim of the introductory Core is to deliver some critical business prerequisites to incoming MSc Marketing students. Broadly, there will be four kinds of course materials covered during this one week: (1) Some modules are intended to strengthen participants’ analytical skills. These modules comprise sessions on microeconomics/business economics that enables participants to analyze firms and markets in more depth, and sessions that impart basic knowledge in analytics/statistics that is becoming absolutely essential in the current age of Big Data; (2) Some other modules will expose participants to the fundamentals of other functional areas like Accounting, Finance, & Controls, Leadership, Organizational Behavior, and Team Building; (3) Some modules will look deeper into one of the fundamental skills that marketing managers try to hone—understanding and eliciting consumer insights; and finally, (4) The remaining modules will assist in career planning, coaching for marketing problem solving (e.g., as is common in consulting and/or case study-based interviews), with a broad understanding of the numerous options for internships, employment, companies, functions, and roles.
Teaching
10 hours of teaching over one week prior to the Michaelmas Term. Full details of this will be sent to offer holders as part of their offer pack. The schedule will also include a full programme of activities and talks designed to welcome you to the ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ and the MSc Marketing programme.
Formative coursework
No formal assessment.
Indicative reading
Statistics: Statistics: Anderson, D., Sweeney, D., Williams, T., Freeman, J., Shoesmith, E. (2009). Statistics for Business and Economics (2nd edition), Hampshire: Cengage Learning.
Huff (1991). How to Lie with Statistics. Penguin.
Accounting: Boakes, K. (2010). Reading and Understanding the Financial Times. (2nd edition), Harlow: FR Prentice Hall; and Parker, R. (2007). Understanding Company Financial Statements. (6th edition), London: Penguin.
Quantitative Skills: Hammond, P. and Sydsaeter, K. (2002). Essential Mathematics for Economic Analysis. Prentice Hall; and Jacques, I. (2010). Mathematics for Economics and Business. (7th edition), Pearson.
Writing skills: Wallace, M. and Wray, A. (2011). Critical Reading and Writing for Undergraduates (2nd edition), London: Sage.
Assessment
No formal assessment.
Important information in response to COVID-19
Please note that during 2020/21 academic year some variation to teaching and learning activities may be required to respond to changes in public health advice and/or to account for the situation of students in attendance on campus and those studying online during the early part of the academic year. For assessment, this may involve changes to mode of delivery and/or the format or weighting of assessments. Changes will only be made if required and students will be notified about any changes to teaching or assessment plans at the earliest opportunity.
Key facts
Department: Management
Total students 2019/20: 67
Average class size 2019/20: Unavailable
Controlled access 2019/20: No
Value: Non-credit bearing
Personal development skills
- Leadership
- Self-management
- Team working
- Problem solving
- Application of information skills
- Communication
- Application of numeracy skills
- Commercial awareness
- Specialist skills
