The Diploma Programme business management course is designed to develop students’ knowledge and understanding of business management theories, as well as their ability to apply a range of tools and techniques. Students learn to analyse, discuss and evaluate business activities at local, national and international levels. The course covers a range of organizations from all sectors, as well as the socio-cultural and economic contexts in which those organizations operate.

The course covers the key characteristics of business organization and environment, and the business functions of human resource management, finance and accounts, marketing and operations management. Through the exploration of six underpinning concepts (change, culture, ethics, globalization, innovation and strategy), the course allows students to develop a holistic understanding of today’s complex and dynamic business environment. The conceptual learning is firmly anchored in business management theories, tools and techniques and placed in the context of real world examples and case studies.

The course encourages the appreciation of ethical concerns, at both a local and global level. It aims to develop relevant and transferable skills, including the ability to: think critically; make ethically sound and well-informed decisions; appreciate the pace, nature and significance of change; think strategically; and undertake long term planning, analysis and evaluation. The course also develops subject-specific skills, such as financial analysis.

The aims of the business management course at HL and SL are to:

encourage a holistic view of the world of business

empower students to think critically and strategically about individual and organizational behaviour

promote the importance of exploring business issues from different cultural perspectives

enable the student to appreciate the nature and significance of change in a local, regional and global context

promote awareness of the importance of environmental, social and ethical factors in the actions of individuals and organizations

develop an understanding of the importance of innovation in a business environment.

Distinction between SL & HL

The HL course in business management differs from the SL course in business management in terms of the:

recommended hours devoted to teaching (240 hours for HL compared to 150 hours for SL)

extra depth and breadth required (extension units for HL)

nature of the internal assessment task

nature of the examination questions.

Course Structure

Unit 1: Business organization and environment

Unit 2: Human resource management

Unit 3: Finance and accounts

Unit 4: Marketing

Unit 5: Operations management