The module requires students to reflect on their learning from year 1 and ongoing Y2 lectures, tutorials and the study texts in the context of realistic business scenarios. The aim is to develop an understanding of how the key developments in the external business environment impact on business practice and decision-making. The module offers students the opportunity to explore a number of pertinent issues facing the modern rural business ranging from the question of globalisation vs domestic strategy to the external pressures of PEST-C factors that are currently influencing strategic decision making for the modern business, including the ongoing global pandemic. It is imperative that students have acquired knowledge of the basic principles of management decision making as well as having a sound understanding of finance, marketing and HR practice common in contemporary SMEs, to enable them to accurately assess the dilemmas facing management in the day to day running of a business enterprise. Students will consider wider influences of social and technological change as well as analysing the current political climate during their study for this module. It is vital that students access contemporary research on current business issues if classroom theory is to be applied effectively to not only academic study but to the student business role post-graduation when in the workplace.

At the same time the module assessments seeks to develop core employability skills through discussion and debate, team working and critical analysis and evaluation of source material.