MG4E7     
Business Fundamentals

This information is for the 2023/24 session.

Teacher responsible

Heather Kappes MAR 6.21

Availability

This course is compulsory on the MSc in Marketing. This course is not available as an outside option.

This is a non-assessed introductory course.

Course content

The aim of the introductory Core is to deliver some critical business prerequisites to incoming MSc Marketing students. Broadly, there will be four kinds of course materials covered during this one week: (1) Some modules are intended to strengthen participants’ analytical skills. These modules comprise sessions on microeconomics/business economics that enable participants to analyse firms and markets in more depth, and sessions that impart basic knowledge in analytics/statistics that is becoming absolutely essential in the current age of Big Data; (2) Some other modules will expose participants to the fundamentals of other functional areas like Accounting, Finance, & Controls, Leadership, Organizational Behavior, and Team Building; (3) Some modules will look deeper into one of the fundamental skills that marketing managers try to hone—understanding and eliciting consumer insights; and finally, (4) The remaining modules will assist in career planning, coaching for marketing problem solving (e.g., as is common in consulting and/or case study-based interviews), with a broad understanding of the numerous options for internships, employment, companies, functions, and roles.

Teaching

Roughly 12 hours of teaching over one week prior to the Autumn Term. Full details of this will be sent to offer holders as part of their offer pack. The schedule will also include a full programme of activities and talks designed to welcome you to the LSE and the MSc Marketing programme.

Formative coursework

No formal assessment. 

Indicative reading

Statistics: Statistics: Anderson, D., Sweeney, D., Williams, T., Freeman, J., Shoesmith, E. (2009). Statistics for Business and Economics (2nd edition), Hampshire: Cengage Learning.

Huff (1991). How to Lie with Statistics. Penguin.

Accounting: Boakes, K. (2010). Reading and Understanding the Financial Times. (2nd edition), Harlow: FR Prentice Hall; and Parker, R. (2007). Understanding Company Financial Statements. (6th edition), London: Penguin.

Quantitative Skills: Hammond, P. and Sydsaeter, K. (2002). Essential Mathematics for Economic Analysis. Prentice Hall; and Jacques, I. (2010). Mathematics for Economics and Business. (7th edition), Pearson.

Writing skills: Wallace, M. and Wray, A. (2011). Critical Reading and Writing for Undergraduates (2nd edition), London: Sage.

Assessment

No formal assessment. 

Key facts

Department: Management

Total students 2022/23: 84

Average class size 2022/23: Unavailable

Controlled access 2022/23: No

Value: Non-credit bearing

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

Course selection videos

Some departments have produced short videos to introduce their courses. Please refer to the course selection videos index page for further information.

Personal development skills

  • Leadership
  • Self-management
  • Team working
  • Problem solving
  • Application of information skills
  • Communication
  • Application of numeracy skills
  • Commercial awareness
  • Specialist skills