Intro to Business Environments

Course Overview

A business is not an isolated entity. It is influenced by numerous internal and external factors.

The Intro to Business Environments micro-credential will help you to grow your understanding of the complex environment within which companies are managed – both externally and internally.

This 6-week course explores the internal environment of an organisation by exploring the typical functional areas of business.

Learn about the external environment comprising the micro and macro environment, this includes competitive and customer dynamics and how political and technological developments can shape a business’ strategy.

The course also looks at the impact of globalisation on business and how an organisation can best position itself in this complex environment.

Time commitment per week

An average of 10 – 13 hours weekly.

Is this course for you?

This course is for you if you are a manager, business owner or an aspiring leader. Gain a better understanding of the complex environments that impact a business and learn how to navigate those complexities.

Dates

• Class of 2024 May: 13 May – 23 June
• Class of 2024 August: 12 August – 22 September
• Class of 2024 October: 7 October – 17 November

There are no online classes. Course content is released on a weekly basis allowing you to work through course material, and meet weekly targets, at a time that is most convenient to you.

Certification

Upon completion, you will receive a digital certificate of competence and badge. Your certificate and badge can be shared on 100+ social media platforms, making it easy to share your achievement with a single click.

Credential Type

The OpenLearning team has reviewed this course to ensure quality academic learning within the Malaysian and Australian credentialing framework.

An OpenLearning OpenCred is a type of credential that can stand-alone, or interact with a formal qualification. OpenCred courses are market-leading online courses that prepare learners for the future of work.

This course has been designed and developed by experts in the field of psychology. The Intro to Business Environments Skills micro-credential is for anyone needing to upskill in this area and offers 40 hours of learning and assessment.

Learners study online with peers and receive robust academic content while acquiring practical industry-relevant skills.

OpenCreds

Completing this course leads to obtaining an OpenCred.

• 40 hours of learning
• OpenCred classification: Pathway

Stackability

Stack specified combinations of SACAP Global micro-credentials and they can be recognised as equivalent to a module within our degree programme at SACAP South Africa.

Intro to Management and Leadership can be stacked with Intro to Business Environments, and recognised as equivalent to a module within the Bachelor of Applied Social Science Degree.

What You’ll Need

• Access to Microsoft Word
• Google Chrome (recommended)
• Stable internet connection

What You’ll Learn

Over the course of six (6) weeks, through videos, readings and discussions, you will explore the following topics:

Week 1: Introduction to Business Management

Week 2: Business Management in a Globalised Environment

Week 3: Marketing Management and Public Relations Management   

Week 4: Operations Management and Supply Chain Management

Week 5: Financial Management and Human Resource Management (HRM)

Week 6: Summative Assessment

Course Outcomes

By the end this course you will be able to:

• Explain business management and its context.
• Describe the main trends and challenges associated with business management in a globalised environment.
• Discuss the purpose of the marketing management function.
• Discuss the purpose of the Public Relations function.
• Explain the main challenges in operations management.
• Explain the main challenges in supply chain management.
• Describe the purpose of the financial management function.
• Discuss the importance and main features of Human Resource Management.

You will have also created a portfolio of evidence, which you can use to demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of business management in a local and global context, and the internal and external business environments.

The Team

Our short course developers and assessors are expert practitioners. They have been selected for the breadth and depth of experience in their respective disciplines. The team loves sharing their knowledge and online learning expertise to help you get the most out of your learning journey.