BSc Management (Innovation, Strategy and Entrepreneurship)

Year of entry: 2024

Course unit details:
Business Law 1: Common Law and Common Business Liabilities

Course unit fact file
Unit code BMAN24761
Credit rating 10
Unit level Level 2
Teaching period(s) Semester 1
Available as a free choice unit? No

Overview

An introduction to the fundamental importance of law in everyday commerce in the common law world. This will deal with the common law approach to law, its creation, dynamic development and practical application to business, focussing on two of the most important areas regulating business obligations : contract law and negligence. It will also deal with risk evaluation and the capacity to influence, develop and change the law itself. 

Aims

This course unit will examine how the law operates to ensure coherence, fairness and efficiency in the conduct of business.

This includes the common law method of creating, interpreting and progressing the law, through two particularly creative areas of business law – contract and negligence. The unit  aims  to demonstrate the commercial status of English law especially, and its important  place in the international business context.

The unit will focus on the practical application of rules to real and hypothetical case studies, and  the everyday relevance via current issues in the business world.

Learning outcomes

On completion of this course unit students should have:

  • A fundamental awareness and understanding of common law attitudes to business regulation and the importance for the international business world.
  • A fundamental awareness and understanding of the original common law system on which the others are modelled worldwide.
  • The ability to research existing law and to track new law as it develops, by locating and updating information from a variety of specialist sources in a fast moving legal area and  by analysing legal trends and assessing their importance for business strategy

  • Teaching and learning methods

    Lectures and Seminars

     

    Virtual Learning Environment

    Lecture slides and seminar materials will be provided on Blackboard

     

    Total study hours: 100 hours split between lectures, classes, self study and preparation for classes and coursework

    Employability skills

    Analytical skills
    Key content enhancing these skills: Working with primary resources such as international databases and live case studies Practical exercises for confidence of application Contextual approach throughout
    Problem solving
    Skills highlighted include: Precision-based subject Group study & team work : allocation ; co-ordination; application & presentation Individual cold-start research Recognition & evaluation of new developments in the field Hands-on application of primary resources Practical case study analysis
    Other
    General skills included: Analysis, interpretation and critical thinking Communication Problem-solving Time management Organization IT and innovation Initiative Commercial awareness

    Assessment methods

    Coursework (100%)

    Feedback methods

    • Informal advice and discussion during lectures and seminars
    • Specific course related feedback sessions
    • Written comments on assessed coursework

    Recommended reading

    These are suggested texts, other texts may be recommended during the first lecture. You are not obliged to purchase any of the texts on this list. If you do purchase a textbook, choose a style which suits you ; if you miss a lecture you will need to supplement your lecture slides.

    !! n.b. always double check you have the latest edition !!

    n.b. page numbers will not be given, you are expected to locate information within given texts as part of your skills development.

     

    General Coverage

    Adams, Caplan & Lockwood Law for Business Students  ( Pearson )

    Jones, Introduction to Business Law  ( OUP )

    Marson & Ferris, Business Law  ( OUP )

    Macintyre, Business Law ( Pearson )

    Riches,  Keenan & Riches Business Law ( Pearson )

    Card & James, Business Law (OUP)  

     

    Various websites, library & other electronic resources and further reading, as directed, including : www.westlaw.co.uk and www.lexisnexis.co.uk  and www.lexology.com  

     

    Various consumer law programmes are available on TV, radio and podcasts (  the LBC ‘Consumer Hour’ is especially useful for you ).

     

    Specialist Areas

    Chen-Wishart,  Contract Law ( OUP )

    Cheshire, Fifoot & Furmston Law of Contract ( OUP )

    Richards  Law of Contract  ( Pearson )

    Taylor & Taylor Contract Law - Directions Series ( OUP )

    Cooke,  Law of Tort  ( Pearson )

    Horsey & Rackley, Tort ( OUP )

    Cheeseman Contemporary Business Law (Pearson )

    Hanson , Learning Legal Skills & Reasoning ( Routledge )

    Haigh, Legal English   ( Routledge  ) 

    Study hours

    Scheduled activity hours
    Lectures 22
    Seminars 10
    Independent study hours
    Independent study 68

    Teaching staff

    Staff member Role
    Fiona King Unit coordinator

    Additional notes

    Programme Restrictions: Available only on the following programmes Level 2 BSc Management/Management (specialism), BSc International Management, BSc International Management with American Business Studies, BSc IBFE, BSc ITMB & BA (Econ); Option  for level 3 BA ( Econ)

     

    Timetablehttps://ughandbook.portals.mbs.ac.uk/Myprogramme/Teachingtimetables.aspx 

     

    For Academic Year: 2024/25

    Updated:  March 2024

    Approved by:  UG Committee

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