Business Management (Innovation and Enterprise)

Key features of the course

• Explores how innovation and entrepreneurship operate in a wide variety of contexts
• Has a strong emphasis on creativity, design-thinking and tackling big societal challenges
• Explores and analyses the interdisciplinary nature of business management
• Equips you with a range of skills valuable to a broad range of organisations and for your own innovative and entrepreneurial venture

Entry requirements

There are no formal entry requirements to study this qualification.

With the exception of the Accounting route, there is the option to study a mathematics module at Stage 1. Whether that module is right for you will depend on your experience and confidence with mathematics. Visit our Open Mathematics and Statistics website for information and to try some diagnostic quizzes.

Skills for career development

This degree course will help you develop a broad set of skills that are of high value to employers, including the ability to:

• understand key business functions such as marketing, human resources, information management, accounting and finance, and operations in their wider organisational and social context
• put together reasoned arguments and question assumptions
• draw together, analyse and critically evaluate information
• understand the nature of leadership skills and behaviours within organisations
• communicate effectively, clearly and accurately with others
• use ICT to research, identify and present information
• manage time and take responsibility for your own personal development.

Career relevance

The skills and knowledge you’ll develop by studying this degree will equip you to follow a number of career paths, and are recognised by employers as having great value for work in management and business. A qualification in business management can lead to opportunities in a wide range of areas such as:

• middle and senior management positions across all sectors
• advertising and marketing
• accountancy
• human resources
• banking, including investment banking
• sales and retail
• management consultancy
• business journalism
• transport and logistics.

Accreditation

The Open University Business School is one of the few institutions worldwide that are triple-accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) the European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS), and Association of MBAs (AMBA). These are internationally recognised quality standards which independently validate the quality of the School’s teaching, research and operations. The School undergoes regular reviews to ensure that standards are maintained and has successfully retained its triple accredited status since 2004. This qualification is accredited through inclusion in these reviews.

Other careers

Employers are keen to utilise the commercial awareness that business graduates offer, as increasing globalisation and continual changes in technology, communications, financial services and distribution of goods and services open up new business opportunities. This awareness can also lead to opportunities in specialist areas concerned with offering guidance to managers, such as management consultancy or business journalism.

Many graduate-level jobs are open to graduates of any discipline, particularly in business, finance, management consultancy and the public sector. 

Exploring your options

Once you register with us (and for up to three years after you finish your studies), you’ll have full access to our careers service for a wide range of information and advice. This includes online forums, website, interview simulation, vacancy service as well as the option to email or speak to a careers adviser. Some areas of the careers service website are available for you to see now, including help with looking for and applying for jobs. You can also read more general information about how OU study enhances your career.

In the meantime if you want to do some research around this qualification and where it might take you, we’ve put together a list of relevant job titles as a starting point. Some careers may require further study, training and/or work experience beyond your degree.

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