ACE1047 : Introduction to Agri-Food Business Management
- Offered for Year: 2020/21
- Module Leader(s): Mr Simon Parker
- Lecturer: Mr Karl Christensen
- Owning School: Natural and Environmental Sciences
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 10 |
| Semester 2 Credit Value: | 10 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
Aims
This module is to introduce students to a range of current commercial agribusiness and rural business systems in practical and theoretical contexts. To develop analytical skills for evaluating merits and deficiencies of successful agribusiness and rural systems. To enable students to make further progress in the development of their studies in agribusiness and rural management. To require students to undertake an analytical and problem solving approach to business investigation. To provide students with the fundamental communication skills (written and oral) that satisfies the minimum criteria for succeeding in higher education and commercial environments.
Outline Of Syllabus
Topics to be covered in the rural and agribusiness context: financial management, business strategy, human resource management, the commercial marketing environment, public sector/not-for-profit sector management. Business analysis, consultation and business report presentation
Teaching Methods
Please note that module leaders are reviewing the module teaching and assessment methods for Semester 2 modules, in light of the Covid-19 restrictions. There may also be a few further changes to Semester 1 modules. Final information will be available by the end of August 2020 in for Semester 1 modules and the end of October 2020 for Semester 2 modules.
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 10 | 1:00 | 10:00 | Groups to be allocated by selection |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 3 | 3:00 | 9:00 | Production of consultant's report |
| Guided Independent Study | Directed research and reading | 65 | 1:00 | 65:00 | N/A |
| Guided Independent Study | Skills practice | 40 | 1:00 | 40:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 1 | 8:30 | 8:30 | N/A |
| Structured Guided Learning | Structured non-synchronous discussion | 9 | 1:00 | 9:00 | Each hour of teaching to be broken down into three 20 minute topic discussions |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Workshops | 3 | 1:00 | 3:00 | Semester 2 Only: pre-cursor to each filed visit to discuss purpose and methodology |
| Guided Independent Study | Reflective learning activity | 3 | 1:00 | 3:00 | feedback from each report used to inform the next |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Fieldwork | 3 | 5:00 | 15:00 | Sem 2 Only: Each group to visit 3 business' in semester 2 to undertake consultant assessment |
| Guided Independent Study | Student-led group activity | 1 | 0:15 | 0:15 | Each student to be part of 1 presenting group. |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 30:00 | 30:00 | N/A |
| Guided Independent Study | Online Discussion | 9 | 0:15 | 2:15 | Weekly discussion on the current issues in Agri-Business |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Module talk | 1 | 5:00 | 5:00 | Synchronous online module talk |
| Total | 200:00 |
Jointly Taught With
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| ACE1033 | Introduction to Business Management |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Lectures and compulsory field visits will provide a learning environment for developing a range of theoretical and practical knowledge & understanding to undergraduate, stage-1 students (related to Intended Knowledge Outcome #1,2 & Intended Skills Outcome #1,2). Staff will utilise a variety of teaching methods to ensure that students are actively engaged and participating in lectures and field trips. Group presentations of existing commercial agribusinesses will provide students with the opportunity to further explore the topics and cases covered in the lectures (Related to Intended Knowledge Outcome #1,2 & Intended Skills Outcome #1,2,3,4,5,6). This in-depth analysis of various commercial rural businesses and agribusinesses will expose students to the current market environment in which they operate as consumers and will enter into as professional graduates (Related to Intended Knowledge Outcome #1,2 & Intended Skills Outcome #1,2,3,4,5,6).
Assessment Methods
Please note that module leaders are reviewing the module teaching and assessment methods for Semester 2 modules, in light of the Covid-19 restrictions. There may also be a few further changes to Semester 1 modules. Final information will be available by the end of August 2020 in for Semester 1 modules and the end of October 2020 for Semester 2 modules.
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Case study | 1 | M | 15 | Group work: a 15-min presentation on a chosen agribusiness system (inc. peer assessment). |
| Report | 2 | M | 50 | Ipsative assessment allows the student to undertake a consultants report and then to improve the next iteration using feedback |
| Computer assessment | 1 | M | 35 | Computer-based, multiple-choice, unseen examination |
Formative Assessments
| Description | Semester | When Set | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Report | 1 | M | Ipsative assessment allows the student to undertake a consultants report and then to improve the next iteration using feedback |
| Report | 1 | M | Ipsative assessment allows the student to undertake a consultants report and then to improve the next iteration using feedback |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
1. During the computer assessment, students will show their overall knowledge of rural and agribusiness management functions, demonstrate their knowledge of specific aspects of rural and agribusiness management (e.g. agribusiness management’s contribution to corporate strategy) and demonstrate their ability to analyse specific rural and agribusiness functions. Related to Intended Knowledge Outcome #1 & Intended Skills Outcome #1,2.
2. For the group presentations, students will work in small groups to develop their team work, organisation and presentation skills. Knowledge gained from critically analysing current commercial agribusinesses will be shared with class members. Related to Intended Knowledge Outcome #1,2 & Intended Skills Outcome #3,4,5.
3. Written submission of combined field trip reports, including the first two reports for a formative purpose, and group presentation findings will allow students to develop their skills in writing, referencing, note-taking and formal presentation of report-style communications. Related to Intended Knowledge Outcome #1,2,3 & Intended Skills Outcome #1,2,3.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- ACE1047's Timetable