Where to draw the line in business studies

Abstract

The central focus of business studies courses is the business enterprise. By means of lectures, seminars, case studies, role play and the rest, students are instructed on the legal forms, internal structures, management functions, goals, strategies and descision‐making processes of the business organisation, and on those aspects of the external environment — eg, characteristics of the product and factor markets, and government economic policy — which are seen to relate directly to the business environment. David Fairhurst, a Senior Lecturer in Business Studies at Blackburn College of Technology, argues that such a focus is far too narrow for the modern business student. Using the BEC Higher National Diploma core module Resources for Business to illustrate his theme,the author raises some important questions in deciding where to draw the boundary around the study of business behaviour