Diploma in Business with Cloud Computing via Online Distance Learning

Introduction to Business Management

The nature of business, business plans and start-ups, legalities – sole traders and partnerships, limited companies, non-profit organisations, public sector organisations.

Strategic Management

Vision and mission, objectives, planning and strategy, contingency planning, implementation, change control.

Operations Management

Production methods, cost, revenue and break-even analysis, quality assurance, production planning, project management.

Marketing

Marketing concepts, market research, market segmentation, positioning and targeting, new product development and the product life cycle, brand awareness, the marketing mix (product, price, place, promotion), competitor analysis, marketing strategies, e-commerce.

Mathematics and Statistics for Business

Financial Mathematics, Calculus and Profit Maximisation, Descriptive Statistics, Measure of Association, Probability, Statistical Inference.

Financial Accounting I and II

Introduction to financial accounting, users of financial information, key accounting models, terminology, need for financial statements, the balance sheet, balance sheet layouts, ratio and the balance sheet.

Macroeconomics

Introduction to macroeconomics, understanding macroeconomics, principles of economics, how the market works, gross domestic product, international trade, open economy, Labour market, income, expenditure and the circular flow, the consumer price index, cost of taxation, employment, cost of living, the Philips Curve, national income, supply and demand for goods and services, money and inflation, the quantity theory of money, interest rates, social costs of inflation, hyperinflation, exchange rates.

Microeconomics

Introduction to microeconomics, trade, trade-offs and government policy, production and supply, elasticities, individual choice in supply and demand, production and cost analysis, competitive markets, oligopoly and monopolistic competition and strategic pricing, uncertainty.

Business Administration

Objectives, the office – planning and organisation, equipping the office, the future of office administration.

Leadership and Communication in the Workplace

Effective communication skills, leadership styles, information gathering and interpretation, problem solving, decision making, workforce planning, conflict resolution, time management, delegation.

Effective Performance in the Workplace

Company organisational culture and structures, building an effective workforce – recruitment, team selection, appointment and termination, training and appraisal, motivational strategies, competition in the workplace. Wage and salary administration, job restructuring.

Employee Relations and the Law

Human resources management, employee representation, industrial democracy including bargaining, consultation and participation, industrial relations - action and disputes. Government policy (including EU and other industrial blocs), consumer protection, workforce protection, equal opportunities legislation, pressure groups. Taxation.

Business Ethics

Business ethics, business and the environment, corporate social responsibility. Commercial Law, Company Law, Contract Law, Employment Law, Law of Tort.

Entrepreneurial Skills

Innovation, research and new product development.

Spreadsheets (Calc)

Introduction to spreadsheets, step by step instructions on using the features, functions and applications for spreadsheets, customizing the spreadsheet software, installing the spreadsheet software, security, platforms, operating system compatibility.

Case studies

Three business management case studies.

CLOUD COMPUTING

Introduction to Cloud Computing

History of Cloud Computing. How Cloud Computing started. The companies behind the creation of Cloud Computing. What is the cloud? Essential Characteristics of a Cloud. Cloud Service Models. Cloud Deployment Models. Community and Hybrid Clouds

Cloud Computing Architecture

Introduction to Cloud Computing Architecture. Horizontal and Vertical Scaling. Architectural Layers of Cloud Environments. Design Patterns. Assessing Design Patterns

Virtualization

Introduction to Virtualization. History of Virtualization. Virtualization vs. Abstraction. Resource Virtualization. The need for Virutalization. Benefits of Virtualisation. Limitations of Virtualisation. Virtualization Concepts and Definitions. Traditional and Contemporary Virtualization. Virtualization Uses

Cloud Computing Life Cycle

Computer Life Cycles. Cloud Life Cycle differences. Implementing a Cloud Computing Life Cycle. Life Cycle Issues. Lifecycles and Security. Cloud Service Lifecycle. Cloud Lifecycle Management. Adoption Lifecycle. Data Security Lifecycle. Systems Development Lifecycle. Virtualization Lifecycle. Application Lifecycle.

Developing a Cloud Strategy

Strategic Analysis. Questioning Your Strategy. Maturity Models. Cloud Maturity Model. 6 Levels of Maturity. External Analysis. PEST. Porter's Five Forces. Porter's Diamond. Internal Analysis. Growth Share Matrix. Strategic Re-Alignment. SWOT Analysis. Introduction to Cloud Hardware. Main Architecture. Typical Cloud Hardware. Memory. Disk and RAID. Network Cards. Cloud Data Centres. Example of Cloud Hardware Providers. VMWare. Cisco Unified Computing System. Reasons for Cloud Software. Mobile Collaboration. Software Brittleness.

Software Development Lifecycle. Software Security Experts. Software Based Encryption. Introduction to Infrastructure as a Service. SPI Model. The Value of IaaS. Building Blocks of IaaS. Enabling Technology for IaaS. Infrastructure Stack. Colocation. IaaS Hardware. Ecological Impact. IaaS Competitive Landscape. Data Protecton and SLAs. Company Considerations for IaaS. Infrastructure Services.

Elastic and Mobile Cloud. Introduction to Software as a Service. What is SaaS? History. Pricing. Architecture. Characteristics. Configuration and Customization. Collaborative Functionality. Adoption Drivers. Adoption Challenges. SaaS Agreements. Customization. Data Ownership. Security. SaaS Litigation. Service Level Agreeements and SaaS. Uptime Guarantee. SaaS Case Studies. SaaS Vendors.

Setting Up & Marketing Your Own Consultancy

The Business Plan, Legalities, Setting Up, the Marketing Strategy, Knowing Your Competitors, Promotional Tools.

Presentation Skills

Preparation and Research, Speech Content, Subject Matter and Objectives, Speech Delivery and Variety, Body Language, Eye Contact, etc., Presentation Aids e.g. Visuals, etc., Management of Locations and Audiences, Presentation Structure.

Business Management Briefs

The projects are an important part of the course. Each course participant is given five project briefs. Participants are asked at the end of the course to produce five business management projects. This gives participants the opportunity to use the knowledge they have obtained during the course in a focused way.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Methods of training

Online Lecture Modules, Subject Expert Feedback Sessions after each Module, Practical Case Studies, End of Module Practical Activities etc.

Subject Experts

Full support is available from our Subject Experts by email at the end of each module and an ongoing basis during the course.

Who Should Apply

Anyone working in the general business sector in a senior or support role which is likely to require Business Management Skills.

Qualifications

Successful candidates are awarded the Diploma in Business and Cloud Computing at Pass, Credit or Distinction level.

Time and Duration

Students have up to 12 months to complete this course

On successful completion of this course you will receive a Diploma level qualification that is certified and awarded by the ICM (Institute of Commercial Management)

The Institute of Commercial Management was founded in 1979 and is one of the leading Professional Examination and Certification Bodies in the world today. Fitzwilliam Institute have developed and provided practical skills training courses in liaison with the Institute of Commercial Management qualifications and certifications framework for over 25 years. The Institute of Commercial Management certifications and continual professional development training awards are recognised throughout Europe, the USA, Canada, Australia, South Africa and Asia in a total of 140 countries, by leading industries, bodies and professions.

next start date: 27th October 2017

Duration: You will have full access to online resources and subject expert support for one calendar year. However, you can complete the course in as little as 4 - 6 months, by dedicating 6-8 hours of study per week.

Course Fees: 995.00 EUR

To secure your place on the course the full fee is required. All fees must be paid in full before the course begins. Please note, the full course fees are inclusive of all course materials and certification costs.

Enrolment intake is strictly limited on this course. Early application is advised. Places are allocated on a first come first served basis.

Fitzwilliam Institute closes on Bank Holidays and for a number of days at Christmas and New Year. Fitzwilliam Institute reserves the right to postpone, cancel or alter courses without notice or to change any of the details in this brochure. Fees are not refundable unless the course is cancelled by Fitzwilliam Institute. Distance Learning courses are provided by Fitzwilliam Institute BGLS Ltd.