OTHM Level 3 Diploma in Business Management
Course overview
The objective of the OTHM Level 3 Diploma in Business Management qualification is to provide learners with an in-depth understanding of the operations and structure of businesses. The qualification will provide learners with the underpinning knowledge, understanding and skills associated with business activities. It will prompt research, investigation and review of aspects of business which include Business Communication, The Business Environment, People Management, Customer Service, Finance and Marketing.
Successful completion of this qualification will support learners progressing to university, and provide learners with the requisite skills and knowledge to enter the world of work in their chosen sector.
OTHM Qualifications are approved and regulated by Ofqual (Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation). OTHM has progression arrangements with several UK universities that acknowledge the ability of learners after studying Level 3 to 7 qualifications to be considered for advanced entry into corresponding degree year / top-up and Master's / top-up programmes.
Equivalence. OTHM qualifications at Level 3 represent practical knowledge, skills, capabilities and competences that are assessed in academic terms as being equivalent to GCE AS/A Levels.
Entry requirements
The OTHM Level 3 Diploma in Business Management qualification can be offered to learners from age 16. OTHM does not specify entry requirements for these qualifications, but delivery centres are required to ensure that learners admitted to the programme have sufficient capability at the right level to undertake the learning and assessment.
Centres must ensure learners are recruited with integrity onto appropriate qualifications that will:
Structure & units
The OTHM Level 3 Diploma in Business Management qualification consists of 6 mandatory units making a combined total of 120 credits, 1200 hours Total Qualification Time (TQT) and 600 Guided Learning Hours (GLH) for the completed qualification.
Mandatory
Unit aims. The aim of this unit is to provide learners with the fundamental and important skills required to communicate in a business environment. Learners will develop an awareness of different forms of communication: non-verbal, verbal, written and IT. This will enable learners to effectively communicate different messages by selecting the most efficient form of communication based on the situation and the message to be sent.
- State the basic components of communication.
- State barriers to communication in a business context.
- Explain how to overcome barriers to effective communication.
- State different aspects of verbal and non-verbal communication in a business context.
- Explain why verbal and non-verbal communication is important in a business context.
- Explain how to use effective verbal and non-verbal communication in different situations.
- State different types of written communication used in a business.
- Explain why written communication is important in a business context.
- Demonstrate effective written communication for different requirements.
- State different aspects of IT communication used in a business.
- Explain why IT communication is important in a business context.
- Demonstrate effective use of IT to communicate in different situations.
Mandatory
Unit aims. The aim of this unit is to provide learners with an understanding of the concept of a business environment. Learners will develop an awareness of different types of business sectors and forms as well as different business functions. Additionally, learners will be able to gain an understanding of the internal and external environments of a business, where micro and macro-economic factors have a significant influence on business activity. This will enable learners to effectively assess a business' internal and external environments.
- Explain different types of business activity.
- Explain different business sectors.
- Compare different forms of business ownership.
- State the functional areas of a business.
- Describe the activities of a business' functional areas.
- Explain how different functional areas are interrelated.
- Explain different organisation structures.
- Compare the advantages of different organisation structures.
- Compare the disadvantages of different organisation structures.
- Show how an organisation is structured.
- Conduct a SWOT analysis on a business.
- State the factors which form a business' external environment.
- Explain how these factors impact a business.
- Explain how a business can respond to changes in its external environment.
- Conduct a PESTLE analysis on a business.
- Outline how different microeconomic factors impact a business.
- Outline how different macroeconomic factors impact a business.
- Explain why a national government influences a business' economic environment.
- Explain how the international economy influences a business' economic environment.
Mandatory
Unit aims. The aim of this unit is to provide learners with the necessary knowledge and understanding to effectively lead and manage people in a business. Learners will develop an awareness of employee motivation, employee relations and performance management. This will help learners to understand what is required by leaders and managers to deliver and support effective employee engagement.
- Explain different motivational theories.
- Describe ways in which employees can be motivated.
- Explain the benefits to a business of motivated employees.
- Suggest ways in which a business can increase employee motivation.
- Discuss how flexible working and working from home can impact employees' motivations and wellbeing and performance.
- Explain the factors which influence the employer/employee relationship.
- State barriers to effective employee relations.
- Explain the benefits to a business of effective employee engagement.
- Suggest ways in which a business could improve its employee relations.
- Explain ways in which a business can monitor employee performance.
- State different performance management tools.
- Explain the benefits to a business of effective performance management.
- Explain the benefits to an employee of effective performance management.
- Explain different leadership styles.
- Explain the key functions of management.
- Compare key differences between managers and leaders.
- Suggest ways in which a business could improve how it leads and manages its employees.
Mandatory
Unit aims. The aim of this unit is to provide learners with the knowledge and understanding required to operate in a customer service role. Learners will develop an awareness of customer service fundamentals before exploring types of customers and how a business can develop relationships with its customers. Building on an awareness of different interpersonal skills, the unit will also enable a learner to demonstrate they have the skills to work alone and in a team to provide high quality customer experiences.
- State the legislation and regulations which influence customer service.
- Explain the difference between product and service quality.
- Outline examples of good customer service.
- Outline examples of poor customer service.
- Explain why effective customer service is important to a business.
- State the types of customers of a business.
- Explain what influences the behaviour of a business' customers.
- State ways in which to measure levels of customer service.
- Assess the levels of customer service offered by a business.
- Explain how to exceed customer expectations.
- Explain how to negotiate effectively.
- Explain different factors which increase customer satisfaction.
- Recommend ways in which a business could improve its relationships with customers.
- Explain why effective interpersonal skills are important in a customer service context.
- Explain how to balance the needs of customers with those of a business.
- Describe techniques which are used to resolve customer issues and complaints.
- Explain how working with others improves a customer's experience.
Mandatory
Unit aims. The aim of this unit is to provide learners with the fundamental knowledge required to record financial transactions and produce financial statements. Learners will develop an awareness of different finance and accounting techniques such as the double entry accounting system, budgeting and investment appraisal. This will enable learners to effectively record financial transactions and produce accounting statements.
- Explain why a business would keep financial records.
- Explain the purpose of business accounting.
- Explain the accounting requirements of different types of business.
- State different types of business finance at different stages in the growth of a business.
- Explain the different types of accounting and financial statements.
- Demonstrate accurate use of the double entry accounting system.
- Demonstrate accurate bank reconciliation.
- Develop control accounts for accounts receivable and accounts payable.
- Demonstrate how to correct errors in accounting records.
- Explain how absorption and marginal costing is used for decision-making.
- Explain how budgeting is used for financial planning and control.
- Explain how to undertake investment appraisal.
- Produce accurate absorption and marginal cost statements.
- Calculate sub and overall variances.
- Prepare accurate and subsidiary budgets.
- Apply investment appraisal methods to alternative capital investment options.
Mandatory
Unit aims. The aim of this unit is to provide learners with the marketing knowledge and techniques required to effectively engage in marketing activities. This will be supported by an awareness of key marketing and campaign principles which will provide the foundation for producing and presenting market research results and a marketing campaign.
- Explain the role of marketing in business.
- Explain the constraints placed on marketing activities.
- Explain why conducting marketing research is beneficial to a business.
- State ways in which the impact of marketing can be measured.
- Explain the elements of the marketing mix.
- Explain the purpose of marketing campaigns.
- Explain how businesses use digital marketing to support a marketing campaign.
- Explain different methods of primary market research.
- State the factors which influence the choice of primary market research method.
- Conduct primary and secondary research to identify business opportunities.
- Assess market research findings to inform a marketing plan.
- Plan a marketing campaign for a product/service/event.
- Present the marketing campaign to a relevant audience.
- Reflect on feedback to make informed improvements to a marketing campaign.
All units within this qualification are internally assessed by the centre and externally verified by OTHM. The qualifications are criterion referenced, based on the achievement of all the specified learning outcomes. To achieve a pass for a unit, learners must provide evidence to demonstrate they have fulfilled all the learning outcomes and met the standards specified by all assessment criteria. Each unit is assessed by a portfolio of evidence (approximately 3000 words).
Progression
Successful completion of the OTHM Level 3 Diploma in Business Management qualification provides learners with the opportunity for workplace and academic progression to a wide range of OTHM Level 4 diplomas. As this qualification is approved and regulated by Ofqual, many universities acknowledge the ability of learners after studying the OTHM Level 3 Diploma in Business Management and may consider them for direct entry into a range of their Bachelor's degree programmes.
Degrees you can progress to
Our students progress to
- AUArden University
- ARAnglia Ruskin University London
- LMLondon Metropolitan University
- USUniversity of Sunderland London
Career opportunities
Completing this course opens up a range of career opportunities across many industries.
After completing this qualification, you may pursue entry-level roles such as:
These roles exist across a wide range of industries, including business, healthcare, education, retail and the public sector, where digital and IT skills are increasingly in demand.
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