Undergraduate Course: Business in the Arts I (BUST08016)
Course Outline
| School | Centre for Open Learning |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 8 (Year 1 Undergraduate) |
| Course type | Placement |
Availability | Part-year visiting students only |
| SCQF Credits | 10 |
ECTS Credits | 5 |
| Summary | Business in the Arts is designed to assist non-specialist students to acquire understanding of the nature, structure and workings of contemporary business organisations and the management processes. Through the use of guest speakers, case studies and visits, specific attention will be paid to the application of this understanding to organisations operating in the arts/culture sector. The course is designed to be both self-contained for participants who do not wish to study the subject further, and to prepare students who wish to take additional related modules on return to their respective institutions.
It seeks to provide an integrated introduction to the business environment with a focus on the arts/culture sector, the nature of business organisations, the role of the manager and techniques relevant to management.
Business in the Arts I consists of - Business Policy and Strategy, Marketing, and Operations Management.
Business in the Arts II consists of - Accounting, Finance, Management of Human Resources and Enterprise in the Arts and Culture Industry.
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| Course description |
Business in the Arts I will introduce students to festival event strategy and design; business policy and strategy; operations management; marketing.
The course also employs the Marketplace simulation as a learning environment. Students will learn what it is like to compete in the fast-paced, competitive market where customers are demanding and the competition is working hard to take away your business.
In addition to the course lectures, guest speaker sessions and visits, students will also participate in an on-line business simulation which will allow them to apply their knowledge acquired on the course and explore the interrelations of the major business functions as they run their own company.
Syllabus
Business Policy and Strategy
- Fundamentals of Strategy
- Analysing the External Environment of the Firm
- Analysing the Internal Environment of the Firm
- Pulling It All Together
- Case Study
Marketing
- Marketing and the Consumer
- Marketing Mix 1: Product and Price
- Marketing Mix 2: Place and Promotion
Operations Management
- Management of Service Operations
- Management of Service Quality
- Service Design
Student Learning Experience
Lectures will provide an overview of subject areas and commentary on central concepts. Supplementing the School's faculty will be a wide range of guest speakers drawn from the Arts sector who will provide insights as to how management concepts apply and are put into action in a cross section of organisations. A number of site visits will also provide the opportunity to get a 'behind the scenes' view of venues, and to see at first hand the application of management principles.
The course also employs the Marketplace simulation as a learning environment. Students will learn what it's like to compete in the fast-paced, competitive market where customers are demanding, and the competition is working hard to take away your business.
In the Marketplace, you start up and run your own company, struggling with business fundamentals and the interplay between marketing, operations, finance, and accounting. You are given control of a simulated business and must manage its operations through several decision cycles. Repeatedly, you must analyse the situation, plan a business strategy to improve it and then execute that strategy out into the future. Incrementally, you learn to adjust your strategy as you discover the nature of your real-life decisions, including the available options, linkages to other parts of the business, conflicts, trade-offs and potential outcomes.
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Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | The course is aimed at undergraduate students enrolled on arts and drama courses who have not undertaken courses within the business/management disciplines, but who wish to develop a basic understanding and overview of the area.
Students will be required to have completed at least their first year of their degree with a GPA where available of 3.0.
As the course is an integral component of the Business in the Arts programme it will not be available to students from out-with the programme.
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| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Describe the various ways in which organisations are structured and managed
- Explain and discuss concepts and techniques associated with the chief functional management disciplines
- Understand and discuss the relevance of contextual factors in impinging upon productive performance
- Understand and discuss the relevance of management disciplines as a means of improving productive performance
- Describe the inter-relationships between organisations and the environments in which they operate.
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Cognitive Skills
Appreciate the holistic nature of the contemporary organisation, especially through the business simulation.
Develop an understanding and awareness of the managerial issues experienced by a large cross-section of arts based organisations.
Develop the facility, through case studies and discussions with guest speakers, to analyse and solve organisational problems and issues.
Develop oral skills and the confidence to present, discuss and challenge key managerial issues and concepts in a group setting.
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| Additional Class Delivery Information |
The academic content of the programme runs for four weeks in July followed by an internship for a further four weeks in August. |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Prof Susan Murphy
Tel: (01316)51 5548
Email: |
Course secretary | Miss Jennifer Tempski
Tel: (0131 6)51 4836
Email: |
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