Administration & IT
The course consists of two areas of study:
Administrative theory and practice
Candidates develop their understanding of the factors contributing to an efficient administrative function. These include time and task management, effective teams, complying with workplace legislation, the impact of digital technologies, and customer care.
IT applications
Candidates develop skills in organising and managing information using digital technology in administrative contexts. They use software application functions to analyse, process and manage information, in order to create and edit complex business documents. Candidates develop an understanding of barriers to communication and ways of overcoming them to ensure communication is effective. They also develop skills, knowledge and understanding of how to maintain the security and confidentiality of information.
Skills, knowledge and understanding
The following provides a broad overview of the subject skills, knowledge and understanding developed in the course:
- using a range of advanced functions of the following software applications — word processing, spreadsheets, databases and presentation software — in both familiar and unfamiliar contexts
- organising, managing and communicating complex information to a range of audiences
- solving problems in an administrative context
- knowledge and understanding of administration in the workplace and its importance
- knowledge and understanding of effective teams, and time and task management
- knowledge and understanding of key legislation affecting administration and its
implications for organisations - knowledge and understanding of the impact of digital technology on working practices
- knowledge and understanding of the features of good customer care and the benefits of
good, and consequences of poor, customer care - knowledge and understanding of procedures for organising and supporting meetings and
events - using technology for electronic communication in both familiar and unfamiliar contexts
SQA Website – Administration & IT
Business Management
The course consists of five areas of study:
Understanding business
Candidates develop their understanding of how large organisations in the private, public and third sectors operate, make decisions and pursue their strategic goals. They analyse the impact that internal and external environments have on an organisation’s activity, and
consider the implications of these factors.
Management of marketing
Candidates develop their understanding of the importance of effective marketing systems to large organisations. They learn about the relevant theories, concepts and procedures used by organisations to improve competitiveness and customer satisfaction.
Management of operations
Candidates develop their understanding of the importance of effective operations systems to large organisations. They learn about the relevant theories, concepts and procedures used
by organisations to improve and/or maintain quality, and the importance of satisfying both internal and external customers’ needs.
Management of people
Candidates develop their understanding of the issues that large organisations face when managing people. They learn about the relevant theories, concepts and procedures used by organisations when dealing with staff, including retention, training, leadership and motivation.
Management of finance
Candidates develop their understanding of the issues that large organisations face when managing finance. They learn about the relevant theories, concepts and procedures used by organisations in financial situations.
Skills, knowledge and understanding
The following provides a broad overview of the subject skills, knowledge and understanding developed in the course:
- applying knowledge and understanding of the impact of business activities on society, in contexts which have complex features
- applying the ideas of ethical and effective business decision making to solve strategic business-related problems
- communicating relatively complex business ideas and opinions from a range of information relating to the effects of opportunities and constraints on business activity, some of which may be unfamiliar
- understanding how entrepreneurial attributes can help business development and risk management
