LEVEL 2 AWARD/CERTIFICATE/DIPLOMA IN BUSINESS PRACTICES
Aims
The aims of this suite of qualifications are to provide a range of flexible learning opportunities for learners in a broad range of business occupations which reflect current business practices and enable learners to develop and employ skills which directly impact on their contribution to an organisation and personal effectiveness. The qualifications will enable students to develop functional specialisms in (for example) marketing or finance whilst also promoting an understanding of their contribution to the organisation as a whole through a core unit which requires students to formulate, test and gain support for improving working practices amongst colleagues. The qualifications are structured to enable candidates to study subjects relevant to their current learning needs whilst permitting, over time, the accumulation of knowledge and skills. Candidates may pursue an Award in Business Practices for specific subjects of study, progress to a Certificate covering a broad functional or vocational specialism or a Diploma which requires the development of skills across a number of functional areas. Assessment of candidates’ learning is centred on practical application of knowledge and in particular on demonstrating learning in the workplace and business improvements.
Objectives
The objectives are to enable learners to: • Develop and employ relevant business skills and practices based on current best practice • Select a programme of learning which reflects identified learning needs • Improve their contribution and effectiveness in an organisation • Return to learning through a flexible programme of studies • Provide pathways and progression opportunities to specialist qualifications, plus continuing professional development in the fields of management, finance, marketing and human resource development. An important additional objective is to encourage generalist and specialist functional staff alike to adopt good practice in pursuit of a number of topical organisational issues for example: • Managing stress and conflict (currently a major initiative of the HSE) • Promoting diversity (in support of recent changes to discrimination legislation) • Compliance with general business regulation and legislation (a major initiative of the DTI) In addition to the general aims and objectives described above, specific objectives for each qualification are set out below:
Diploma in Business Practices
The objective of this qualification is to: • provide learners with a broad introduction to the principles of a series of business disciplines, enabling specialists to develop a more generalist approach; • encourage learners to examine practices which exist within their workplace (or a case study organisation) and make comparisons with sound business practices; • promote better business practices through proposing implementing and monitoring change.
Certificate in Business Practices
The objective of this qualification is to: • encourage learners to examine practices which exist within their workplace (or a case study organisation) and make comparisons with sound business practices; • promote better business practices through proposing implementing and monitoring change. Plus for the vocational or functional specialisms
Certificate in Business Practices (Management)
• provide learners with a broad introduction to the principles of managing people and
resources, and the legal framework within which businesses operate;
Certificate in Business Practices (Development)
• provide learners with a broad introduction to the principles of personal development
and the skills to manage working relationships effectively;
Certificate in Business Practices (Finance)
• provide learners with a broad introduction to the principles of financial record keeping
and reporting in a business environment;
Certificate in Business Practices (Sales & Marketing)
• provide learners with a broad introduction to the principles of sales and marketing, and
develop the skills to research markets, promote and advertise products effectively;
Certificate in Business Practices (Customer Services)
• provide learners with a broad introduction to maintaining and improving customer
relations through adopting good customer care and quality assurance measures;
Certificate in Business Practices (Human Resources)
• provide learners with a broad introduction to the principles of personnel and training
administration;
Certificate in Business Practices (Human Relations)
• provide learners with a broad understanding of a range of human relations issues
which affect business performance and the skills to make a contribution to improving workplace relations;
Certificate in Business Practices (Business Start-up)
• provide learners with the knowledge and skills to plan and evaluate a new business
venture;
Award in Business Practices
The objective of the Award in Business Practices is to enable learners to understand and apply individual business topics to their own working environment as part of a commitment to ongoing personal development.
Qualification Structure
Units within these qualifications are either Single or Double guided learning hours and will conform to the following guidelines; Awards Certificates Diploma 3 single units or equivalent 5 single units or equivalent 10 single units or equivalent
All qualifications include a core unit of “Reviewing and Improving Business Practices” The range of qualifications available is as follows:
DIPLOMA
Diploma in Business Practices 1 double or 2 single units from each of any four strands + Core1+ Core 2
CERTIFICATES
Certificate in Business Practices ( Management ) All Strand 1 + Core 1 Certificate in Business Practices ( Development) All Strand 2 + Core 1 Certificate in Business Practices ( Finance) All Strand 3 + Core 1 Certificate in Business Practices ( Sales & Marketing) All Strand 4 + Core 1 Certificate in Business Practices ( Customer Services) All Strand 5 + Core 1 Certificate in Business Practices ( Human Resources) All Strand 6 + Core 1 Certificate in Business Practices ( Human Relations ) 2 double units from Strand 7 + Core1 Certificate in Business Practices ( Business Startup) Units 21, 22, 11 + Core1
AWARD
Award in Business Practices 1 double or 2 single units + Core 1
UNIT TITLE
Core 1 Reviewing and Improving Business Practices Core 2 Integrating Business Practices Case Study
UNIT SIZE
Single Single
STRAND 1 - MANAGEMENT
1 Principles and Practice of Managing 2 Principles and Practice of Employing People 3 Reviewing Staff Performance 4 Complying with Business Law and Regulation Single Single Single Single
STRAND 2 - DEVELOPMENT
5 Coaching Staff 6 Delegation Responsibility and Authority 7 Influencing People at Work 8 Problem Solving at Work Single Single Single Single
STRAND 3 - FINANCE
9 Recording Financial Transactions 10 Measuring and Reporting Financial Performance Double Double
STRAND 4 - SALES & MARKETING
11 Marketing & Promoting a Business 12 Developing Sales Skills Double Double
STRAND 5 - CUSTOMER SERVICE
13 Customer Care in Practice 14 Customer Service Excellence Double Double
STRAND 6 - HUMAN RESOURCES
15 Personnel Administration Practices 16 Training and Development Practices Double Double
STRAND 7 - HUMAN RELATIONS
17 Understanding 18 Understanding 19 Understanding 20 Understanding and Responding to Workplace Stress and Responding to Workplace Conflict and Responding to Workplace Change and Responding to Workplace Equality & Diversity Double Double Double Double
STRAND 8 – BUSINESS START-UP
21 Planning a New Business Venture 22 Financing a New Business Venture Single Single