The Regulation of Business

Module Title	Regulation of Business
Module Code	25-6049-00L
Semester of Delivery	See Module Information Table
Mandatory/Elective/Option	See Module Information Table
Level	6
Credit Points	20

Assessment Mode Weighting	Coursework	50%
	Examination	50%
	NOTE: The University is currently reviewing its assessment regulations for 2008/09 and the assessment package for this module may be subject to change.
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None

Class Contact Hours
Average Weekly	1.5

Directed Learning
Average Weekly	5

Module Leader	Michael Hunt
School	Sheffield Business School
Module Banding	A
Approval Status	Validated

Rationale

In a complex liberal democracy neither business nor government occupy independent environments. Both are inextricably linked in terms of strategy and development. Business are regulated constantly by government and its many agencies to ensure that they remain competitive with one another, but also do not operate to the detriment of society as a whole. However, within a democracy, government policy is greatly influenced by the needs and demands of business which through policy networks and more overt pressure can greatly influence public policy to be coincident with their objectives.

Summary of Aims

To develop an appreciation among public sector and business studies students of the complex inter-relationships between businesses and government that regulate business competitiveness, development and strategy.

Anticipated Learning Outcomes

On completion of the module students should be able to demonstrate

Knowledge of the extent of regulation of business by public sector organisations
A critical appreciation of the effectiveness and desirability of systems of business regulation
An understanding of the inter-relationships and policy networks that exist between the public and private sectors that determine policy on business regulation.
Knowledge of the intermediary organisations that aggregate business policy concerning regulation
A knowledge and understanding of the role of international organisations, and especially the European Union, in relation to business regulation in Britain.
An understanding of theories relating to the effectiveness and desirability of mechanisms for business regulation.
A capacity to relate broad theoretical appreciation of the systems of business regulation to, selected, specific private and public agencies.
A capacity to convey understanding in written and oral presentations.
An enhanced ability to research, debate and analyse social and business issues.

Assessment and Feedback Strategy

Students will be assessed through 50% formative coursework and 50% summative examination.

The formative assessment will be based on written work and also an oral presentation to ensure that students communicate their ideas through a variety of means.

Students will receive feedback from written comments on both their written and oral presentations and when required through surgeries with the tutor.

The summative assessment will be designed to ensure students can combine diverse elements of the course into a comprehensive understanding of the business regulation.

Module Assessment Criteria

Learning Outcome	Assessment Criterion	Level descriptors
Learning Outcome	Assessment Criterion	fail	PASS	2.2	2.1	First
Outcome 1	Course work and examination	Highly inaccurate and incomplete	Some basic knowledge but at a low level of accuracy	working knowledge with most areas of study recognised	sound general knowledge and some capacity to provide knowledge in depth	extensive knowledge and a capacity to provide knowledge in depth
Outcome 2	Course work and examination	Little comprehension or relevance of material	Some capacity for comprehension but at a very perfunctory level	Acceptable level of analysis showing a capacity to grasp the major framework provided in course material	A sound comprehension that shows a capacity to relate together theory and data and literature	A capacity to comprehend theory and to apply this with some originality to data and literature
Outcome 3	Course work and examination	Little comprehension or relevance of material	Some capacity for comprehension but at a very perfunctory level	Acceptable level of analysis showing a capacity to grasp the major framework provided in course material	A sound comprehension that shows a capacity to relate together theory and data and literature	A capacity to comprehend theory and to apply this with some originality to data and literature
Outcome 4	Course work and examination	Highly inaccurate and incomplete	Some basic knowledge but at a low level of accuracy	working knowledge with most areas of study recognised	sound general knowledge and some capacity to provide knowledge in depth	extensive knowledge and a capacity to provide knowledge in depth
Outcome 5	Course work and examination	Highly inaccurate and incomplete	Some basic knowledge but at a low level of accuracy	working knowledge with most areas of study recognised	sound general knowledge and some capacity to provide knowledge in depth	extensive knowledge and a capacity to provide knowledge in depth
Outcome 6	Course work and examination	Little comprehension or relevance of material	Some capacity for comprehension but at a very perfunctory level	Acceptable level of analysis showing a capacity to grasp the major framework provided in course material	A sound comprehension that shows a capacity to relate together theory and data and literature	A capacity to comprehend theory and to apply this with some originality to data and literature
Outcome 7	Course work and examination	Inability to relate theory to empirical framework	Perfunctory awareness of connectivity of theory and empirical content	A modest attempt at relating theory to empirical content	A clear capacity to be able to develop argument through effective use of theory	A capacity to critically evaluate theory in relation to the empirical framework
Outcome 8	Course work and examination	Largely inarticulate and difficult to comprehend	Low level of literary competence	Acceptable but rather basic literary and oral/visual competence	Good use of English and sound oral and presentational skills	Literary emulation of Henry James and excellent oral fluency supported where relevant by good use of visual media
Outcome 9	Course work and examination	No evidence of research or attempt to debate and analyse the issues	Perfunctory research based largely on materials provided by tutors/lecturer and little capacity for debate	Evidence of some research and a capacity to discuss issues	Considerable research around the subject and a readiness to argue and debate issues	Extensive research into the subject area and a capacity to lead debate on the issues.

Teaching and Learning Strategy and Methods

Teaching will be conveyed through

Lectures designed to provide an overview of the material and issues to be covered by the course. These will also be designed to raise controversial issues in order to stimulate debate and argument both in and outside the class.
Seminars which will be based on issues that arise from the course content. Each student will be expected to give a presentation in the seminar on a question of relevance to the course aims in order to initiate discussion and debate.
The course will be supported by class notes and an extensive bibliography. It is expected that students will acquire an understanding of issues in this sector that goes beyond the material that can be delivered in class. Bibliographic material will be extended to inter-net sources, especially for recent Government statements on policy.
Students will be required to reflect upon the issue relating to the regulation of selected businesses or public sector organisations through case studies which will normally draw upon their placement experience.

Indicative Content

What business regulation entails
The socio-economic reasons behind the development of business regulation in Britain
Theories on the economic effectiveness of business regulation.
Theories on the ethical and moral desirability of business regulation
The structure of regulation in Britain
The impact of international regulation and in particular the European Union on practice in Britain
The policy making process for business regulation
The structure and role of representative organisation at national and local levels
The nature and impact of public-private policy networks and partnerships.
The extent to which business interests can shape regulation policy
The impact of regulation on a range of specific businesses to be determined on an annual basis to reflect student's placement experience.

Sheffield Business School, Howard Street, City Campus, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, S1 1WB
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