Business Analytics and Management

Business Analytics and Management

Businesses today have more information than ever at their fingertips. However, they need ambitious problem-solvers to turn that information into actionable insights, innovative products, or transformative strategies.

Our new Business Analytics and Management course offers a combination of analytics and management that is highly in-demand in today’s marketplace, as well as practical, hands-on training that prepares you for your future career.

We welcome students from a range of backgrounds, including those who have no prior analytics experience. You’ll learn from experts in fields such as business analytics, operations management and data-driven decision-making - and emerge with the ability to confidently contribute in the workplace from the outset.

The tools available to businesses are evolving at an exciting pace. We update our teaching materials every semester to ensure you graduate with the latest knowledge. You’ll discover how to unlock the potential of Python, Simul8 and a range of AI tools, and learn to pick the most suitable methods for each unique challenge.

You’ll develop your abilities through online and class learning, and apply them to real-world scenarios through live data analysis, collaborative assignments, and projects with industry partners and public sector organisations.

You’ll also benefit from a thriving research community at Kent, which is advancing the world’s knowledge of fields such as data intelligence, predictive analysis, sustainable operations and the ethical use of AI.

Join the next generation of analytics-informed business professionals - and learn to thrive in organisations embracing the opportunities of data and digital transformation.

Year in Industry

Taking a year in industry in the UK or abroad is the perfect way to put into practice the skills you’ve learnt, and build important industry connections.

Year Abroad

Expand your horizons and tailor your degree to suit you with a year abroad, where you'll study at one of our partner institutions for a year. Studying abroad helps you grow in confidence and enhances your employability. You'll make friends in the country you're studying in and meet other adventurous students from around the world.

Foundation Year

A course with a Foundation Year provides a pathway into degree-level study for students from a wide range of educational backgrounds and qualifications. It is the perfect option if you have school-leaving qualifications below the level required for direct entry onto a degree programme. It offers one year of full-time study prior to the start of your BSc course.

Year 0 (Foundation)

The following modules are what students typically study, but this may change year to year in response to new developments and innovations.

Academic Skills Development

Unlock your potential and gain the essential skills for academic success at university. You’ll develop effective study habits, learn to manage your time, and gain strategies for independent learning. You’ll conduct academic research, by learning to find, evaluate, and use academic sources, while avoiding plagiarism. Your writing skills will be developed through extended writing activities, referencing, proofreading, and editing. You’ll also improve your communication skills by learning how to structure a presentation and use visual aids. You’ll develop your critical thinking through analysis, evaluation, and argumentation. By the end of this module, you’ll be building towards working at Level 4.

Business Decision Making

How do businesses operate today? What are their key functions and how are they organised? Most importantly, what do managers need to know in order to make sound decisions?

You’ll develop a broad understanding of essential business management and accounting models, exploring theories that are integral to how businesses work. By looking at fundamental business strategies and different tools of analysis – like break-even calculations, ratio analysis, capital appraisal models, and decision trees – you’ll develop your understanding of the basics of business and start building up your skills in Excel.

Foundation Project: Research & Reflection

Dive into a project that sparks your curiosity and hones your academic skills, as you choose a topic you're passionate about and transform your research into a compelling essay. This module allows you to develop and apply the learning from your Autumn term module 'Academic Skills Development'. You will improve your research and writing skills further and refine your use of sources. While you conduct your reading and research, you’ll engage in reflective practices improving your ability to assess and evaluate your learning using various reflective models. Independence and time management are key skills you’ll develop as you navigate this module.

To maximise your experience, you are expected to prepare and actively participate in our regular tutorials. These are designed to provide invaluable opportunities to seek guidance and develop your project.

Analysing Global Dynamics with Data

Throughout the course, students actively engage in discussions and practical applications, preparing them to confront complex global economic challenges armed with a data-driven approach. By the end of the course, students emerge equipped with the necessary skills to analyse economic data effectively and contribute meaningfully to informed decision-making in the global economic landscape.

Global Business Dynamics

How do businesses effectively function in a global context, understanding their markets and their consumers, while managing and leading responsibly? We’ll explore the importance of globalisation to business and finance, delving into the dynamic nature of marketing through concepts such as the marketing mix, in order to develop a holistic understanding of what is happening in the rapidly-changing global marketplace. By taking a case-study based approach to understanding organizational problems and the dynamic nature of business, you’ll gain essential insights into the contemporary business world, and you’ll develop key skills and confidence to prepare you for the rest of your degree.

For full details of module content, please see website for details.

Year 1

The following modules are what students typically study, but this may change year to year in response to new developments and innovations.

Introduction to Management

How do you effectively manage people in organisations? In this module, we’ll tackle that question by exploring decision-making processes concerning work design, organisational structure, and accountability.

We'll consider classical management perspectives such as scientific management and human relations theory, as well as contemporary issues like culture management and diverse leadership styles. Through case studies, you’ll develop critical thinking skills and gain an understanding of contemporary business operations with an emphasis on reflecting on the ethics and fairness of current workplace practices.

Financial Accounting for Decision Makers

How do companies measure, assess and communicate their financial performance? Managers prepare, read and interpret financial information daily and they use it to communicate company financial results to a variety of stakeholders.

In this module you’ll learn how sole traders and limited companies record accounting transactions using bookkeeping and how they summarise and report their financial results to external stakeholders using financial statements. You’ll also gain essential knowledge of the regulatory framework of financial reporting which guides the process of preparing annual reports for a variety of companies.

Business Skills for a Sustainable Tomorrow

Given the startling pace at which human-driven changes are occurring to our social and ecological systems, what skills do you need to be ready for whatever challenges await you when you graduate?

You’ll look at the biggest challenge facing businesses in every industry today: how to organise themselves in ways that ensure a sustainable future for the global community. You’ll look at various case studies to examine the impact climate change is having on business. You’ll also consider the key theories, concepts, and practices of sustainable business, including the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Economics for Business

Economics are a crucial tool for business to utilise to help make informed decision that support success and drive growth. Devloping a knowledge of microeconomics will help you understand how millions of consumers and producers make decisions, how they interact and use scarce resources.

You will learn how to apply microeconomic theories and tools to understand consumer and producer behaviour, resource allocation, and pricing policy, including cost and benefit analysis. The application of microeconomic theory to real-world situations will help you make efficient decisions as a manager and as an entrepreneur.

Business Analysis Tools

Excel is the industry standard software for data processing and modelling, so if you want to hit the ground running in your career, mastery of Excel is crucial. You'll learn the techniques of Excel and spreadsheet modelling through realistic problems and extensive exercises, giving you real hands-on experience to make rapid progress.

By the end of the module, you wont only have mastered excel to report, model and forecast for businesses, you'll have also developed the confidence you need to present your insights to managers, stakeholders and business leaders.

Quantitative Methods for Business Analytics

Quantitative methods are becoming increasingly important for successful businesses. As business data becomes more complex and sophisticated, higher-level mathematical knowledge is required to understand operational problems better and make informed decisions.

Throughout this module, you’ll develop and consolidate your mathematical knowledge and skills, ensuring that you understand core mathematical concepts and how to apply them to business problems.

For full details of module content, please see website for details.

Year 2

The following modules are what students typically study, but this may change year to year in response to new developments and innovations.

Operations Management

Operations management is the highly important activity of managing the resources devoted to production and delivery of products and services.

We'll explore conceptual, analytical, and practical aspects of how to effectively manage operations in manufacturing and service companies. We’ll look at various types of businesses including in the private, public, and third sector as well as start-up organisations.

Human Resource Management

What are the key policies and practices that shape how we manage people in organisations? You'll learn about all areas of human resource management theory and practice — from planning and recruiting for your human resource requirements through to effective performance and reward management, employee relations and the ethical treatment of staff.

By the end of the module, you will have increased your awareness and developed your knowledge and skills in effective management by looking at practices currently applied within organisations. This skill set is crucial as you progress in your career in HR management through this module, you should have everything you need to thrive in your career.

Project Management

Project management has rapidly emerged as an essential discipline for businesses seeking to achieve strategic and sustainable goals. It can be applied across industries, offering indispensable tools for organisational development. Whatever field you are working in, project managers are in the driving seat of progress.

This module provides in-depth insights into project management concepts, principles, and applications, giving you essential approaches, tools, and techniques which you can apply to various contexts.

Python for Business Analytics

Python has become the most popular general-purpose programming language. It enables fast development, has great community support, and is an industry-standard tool for visualising and analysing business data.

Developing computer programming skills is an important tool in business analytics. You’ll explore the fundamentals of programming, covering essential concepts such as flow control and loops, before advancing into the realm of object-oriented programming.

You’ll explore the practical applications of Python packages, focusing on those specifically relevant to business analytics. These include solving equations, data visualisation, and generating descriptive statistics.

Data Intelligence and Predictive Analytics

In today's business context there is a wealth of data available. Many businesses currently struggle to transform that data into useable information that they can use to make meaningful decisions. We'll learn to extract insights from historical data through interactive visual analytics, communicating complex information effectively and gain hands-on experience in using data to drive positive change in business, environment and society.

We'll also explore advanced techniques for pattern recognition and forecasting, providing the ability to foresee future outcomes and trends. We'll explore real-world case studies from diverse industries, offering a deep understanding of how data analytics is integral to sectors like supply chain management, marketing, healthcare and finance.

Decision Analysis

Making decisions is crucial for managers and businesses, as they shape our lives and impact outcomes at work. However, making smart decisions in the face of complexity and uncertainty can be challenging. How can data support our decisions in such uncertain contexts? Together we'll explore various quantitative and graphical methods that help identify, represent, and evaluate different possible options and make optimal decisions.

For full details of module content, please see website for details.

Year 3

The following modules are what students typically study, but this may change year to year in response to new developments and innovations.

Compulsory modules currently include the following:

Business Strategy

In the rapidly evolving world of business, developing and implementing effective strategies is vital for success. This module equips you with the knowledge and skills necessary to excel in the field of strategic management.

You’ll engage in rigorous analysis and critical thinking to explore a range of strategic concepts. These include the fundamentals of strategic planning, advanced topics in supply chain dynamics, and issues such as quality management, technology-driven innovation, and project/event management.

Throughout the module, you’ll engage in interactive discussions, group projects, case studies, and hands-on exercises to enhance your problem-solving and decision-making skills. By the end, you’ll have the ability to analyse and apply critical thinking to evaluate strategic alternatives and make informed recommendations.

Prescriptive Analytics

Prescriptive analytics goes beyond simply describing past events or predicting future events. It provides insights into what actions organisations can take to make better decisions. Together we’ll learn how to formulate complex problems mathematically and solve them using various techniques.

You’ll discover how to turn data into optimal decision-making strategies by creating powerful mathematical models known as Linear Programming (LP). Through exploring different LP solutions and conducting sensitivity analyses, you’ll be able to inform better decision-making with data.

Additionally, you’ll delve into network models, tackling problems such as transportation, assignment, shortest path, maximum flow, and minimum spanning tree. You’ll learn how to model these scenarios and explore common approaches to solve them effectively. You’ll focus on solving optimisation problems using Excel Solver, which will give you practical skills for real-world scenarios.

Optional modules may include the following:

Digital and Social Media Analytics

Simulation Modelling

Big Data and Machine Learning

Behavioural Science in the Workplace

Understanding Legal Duties in Business

People Operations: An Analytic Approach

New Venture Creation

Corporate Social Responsibility

International Entrepreneurship

For full details of module content, please see website for details.

https://www.kent.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/2027/5092/business-analytics-management