(Oxford) Diploma in Basic Business Fundamentals
What you'll learn
- Basics of operations management
- Operational decisions
- Customer services - its importance
- Working with suppliers
- Using technology
- Motivation techniques
- The importance of capacity utilisation
- Break-even analysis
Requirements
- This is a basic course - notepad and writing implements
- Calculator
- Access to computer
- A business dictionary
- Ideally, work experience to enable you to relate this to your work
- An interest in learning the basics of business
- Time to do follow up homework
Description
This is a very unusual course. In terms of CONTENT it is pitched at someone who is just starting on a course in business.
BUT...owing to the speed of some of the lectures, the constant outpouring of ideas, this will be of use for any student studying business.
In particular the material is current as at late May 2023.
The Instructor has many years experience in delivering business courses to age range 15 and upwards. It is recognised that pupils/students can get bored - very easily. Therefore to gain attention, many lectures have short snippets of films in that illustrate the theme of the lecture - and these are films that the Instructor has starred in.
That makes the course unique.
The final seven lectures are 'Revision lectures'. These go over old ground and questions are asked - and asked again. In the Resources section there is a booklet giving prompts.
So this course is absolutely ideal for the beginner to business, who needs to feel involved rather than just watching a bunch of videos. To that end questions are asked during the lecture - and students given a minute to answer. Plus active use of the Q/A is encouraged.
Business fundamentals...business basics for someone who is approaching the subject for the first time and needs a course that is current, approaches the subject in an unusual way and where the whole series of lectures is seen as two-way discussion.
Topics covered:
Quality control
Customer service
Technology
Developing an effective workforce
Organisational structures
Revision (7 lectures)
Cost minimisation
Labour productivity
The environment
Who this course is for:
- Those thinking of a business career
- Students beginning a business course
- Pupils at school studying a 'general' business course
- Students whose first language is NOT English and are looking for a basic introduction to business
Instructors
- 4.5 Instructor Rating
- 10,213 Reviews
- 251,322 Students
- 143 Courses
Studied at:
· University of Oxford (Philosophy and Economics)
· Oxford Brookes (Teacher training)
· University of Glamorgan (Business and Economics)
Qualifications
· Professional qualifications at Masters level
· Business and Economics degree
· Examiner for four major examining boards, at ‘O’ and ‘A’ level.
· Three teaching diplomas plus CELTA
· Qualified fitness trainer
Key academic positions held:
· Principal Oxford School of Learning
· Director of Studies: St Joseph’s Hall, Oxford
· Head of Economics: Cherwell Tutors
· Head of Business and Economics: Pipers Corner School, Buckingham
· Founder: Almost Random Theatre
I have experience in four main areas:
a. Teaching (40+ years of face-to-face experience)
b. Running businesses and conferences
c. Acting in films and theatre
d. Volunteering for a number of charities
Teaching/Instructor experience
Face-to-face: MBA students on a 1-1 basis; at University; Grammar, Comprehensive and F.E. College. This has included being Principal, Director of Studies; Head of Business and Head of Economics at various times in the past 40 years!
I have taught: Economics, Business, Sociology, Politics, English Literature and Psychology.
I have also run seminars for Teachers of |Psychology, Sociology, Businessman Economics.
I have run Therapeutic Art groups at Care Homes.
The success of my Business and Economics students has been featured in several newspapers plus I have appeared on BBC.
Running businesses and conferences.
I started Oxford School of Learning in the 1980s. From the college came Marketing Education Services, OSL Training and Saturday tutors.
In 201 I started Almost Random Theatre and have taken actors to Poland and the Czech Republic as well as running Drama days at schools.
Writing: my plays are sold to schools; I have 100+ books on Amazon; I used to write a regular column for The Guardian and BBC Bitesize.
Acting in films and theatre
My plays are sold to schools. I have performed at Oxford and Brighton Fringes as well as appearing in 100+ films, national TV advertising campaigns and role-played a hospital patient for Buckingham University’s medical degree students.
Volunteering
I have worked/am still working for Care Homes, Multiple Sclerosis Society, Dystonia Society, Stroke Association, Stroke Club, Talkback, Oxford Recovery College, Tandem, Age UK and Sport in Mind. I’ve given my tutorial fees to the Multiple Sclerosis Society and the Dystonia Society. I currently have a GoFundMe page to help lonely elderly people.
- 4.5 Instructor Rating
- 7,483 Reviews
- 182,275 Students
- 52 Courses
Oxford School of Learning was set up in 1986. It became a limited company which was then closed down around 2018 as there was no need to keep it going. The School kept going though, writing/providing books, online courses and issuing the Oxford School of Learning Diploma to those who met difficult criteria.
As the name suggests, Oxford School of Learning is based in Oxford, UK. The original Principal was Chris Sivewright who now delivers various Economics and Business courses for us.