The Digital Economy

The Open University via FutureLearn Program

Overview

Whether you work in a micro business, a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) or a large firm, it’s vital to get to grips with new technologies and understand the impact they could have on your operations, sales and long-term success.

With The Digital Economy program from The Open University Business School, you can do just that. You’ll discover how four key business areas are changing in today’s digital economy.

Accessible on desktop, tablet or mobile and delivered in bite-sized chunks, the four online courses in this program provide a flexible way to enhance your business, management and marketing skills, and demonstrate your continuing professional development (CPD).

Find further information about OU registration, the assessment module in this program and your eligibility, as well as our MBA, in the entry requirements.

Academic credit

If you are aiming to use your study of courses in the Digital Economy program to obtain academic credit, please be aware that the final planned presentation of the Open University Assessment Course BXM871 Managing in the Digital Economy starts July 2020. Please ensure that you allow yourself enough time to obtain all four Certificates of Achievement from courses in the program before registering for the Assessment Course. The start dates of the relevant FutureLearn courses in 2019 and 2020 are available here.

Syllabus

Courses under this program:
Course 1: The Digital Economy: Finance for Business Growth
-Learn how to develop a funding strategy for your business; explore different types of finance and learn when, and how, to use them

Course 2: The Digital Economy: Success through Market Segmentation
-Explore how and why market segmentation can be used to improve customer satisfaction and business performance.

Course 3: The Digital Economy: Selling Through Customer Insight
-Uncover new perspectives on the role and behaviour of your customers, to enhance your sales and marketing.

Course 4: The Digital Economy: Effective Supply Chain Management
-Learn how supply chains work in the digital era, and how you can make them more effective and efficient.

Courses

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4 weeks, 3 hours a week, 3 hours a week
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Evaluate how to fund your business investment

Every business needs cash to grow and develop. Some can find enough cash from their operations. Others might need external sources of finance, like a bank loan. So how does a business make robust decisions about borrowing?

Whether you are in a micro business, a small to medium-sized organisation, or a large firm, this online course will guide you through finance options.

You will consider traditional and alternative finance options; evaluate what type of funding is suitable for your business; and develop a financial statement and funding strategy, to make the right decision.

This course is intended for those with an interest in developing their financial skills to make robust decisions when managing business finance. The course does not require any previous experience of this subject.

Find further information about OU registration, the assessment module and MBA in the entry requirements.

Academic credit
If you are aiming to use your study of courses in the Digital Economy program to obtain academic credit, please be aware that the final planned presentation of the Open University Assessment Course BXM871 Managing in the Digital Economy starts July 2020. Please ensure that you allow yourself enough time to obtain all four Certificates of Achievement from courses in the program before registering for the Assessment Course. The start dates of the relevant FutureLearn courses in 2019 and 2020 are available here.
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4 weeks, 3 hours a week, 3 hours a week
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Tailor your offers to your customer’s needs

Marketing is all about putting the customer at the centre of the business. But what exactly does that mean today? And what challenges do marketers face in satisfying ever more demanding customers in the digital age?

In this online course, you will look at how marketers can gain a competitive advantage, by using the vast amount of customer data available, to segment, target and personalise products for their customers.

The course provides an in-depth grounding in market segmentation as a process, revealing how you can adapt it to improve the performance of all businesses.

This course is intended for learners wanting to know about how the digital era is affecting market segmentation strategies of organisations, their customers and stakeholders. You do not require any previous knowledge or experience of marketing to study this course but you could benefit from having some knowledge of business in general.

Find further information about OU registration, the assessment module and MBA in the entry requirements.

IMPORTANT! If you are aiming to use your study of courses in the Digital Economy program to obtain academic credit, please be aware that the final planned presentation of the Open University Assessment Course BXM871 Managing in the Digital Economy starts July 2020. Please ensure that you allow yourself enough time to obtain all four Certificates of Achievement from courses in the program before registering for the Assessment Course. Details of runs of the relevant FutureLearn courses in 2019 and 2020 are available here.
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4 weeks, 3 hours a week, 3 hours a week
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Build a holistic view of your customers

No matter how sophisticated your marketing is, if it doesn’t result in attracting customers, your business is set to fail.

This online course applies fresh thinking to how marketing and selling activities combine to create customers who keep coming back.

You will develop an understanding of how customer relationship management breeds business development success; critically evaluate accepted wisdom on how marketing influences customers; and learn how marketers increasingly draw on powerful information systems to build a holistic view of customers.

This course is intended for anyone who wants to learn about attracting and retaining customers. No previous experience of studying sales or marketing is required, but some basic knowledge of how businesses work would be beneficial.

Find further information about OU registration, the assessment module and MBA in the entry requirements.

IMPORTANT! If you are aiming to use your study of courses in the Digital Economy program to obtain academic credit, please be aware that the final planned presentation of the Open University Assessment Course BXM871 Managing in the Digital Economy starts July 2020. Please ensure that you allow yourself enough time to obtain all four Certificates of Achievement from courses in the program before registering for the Assessment Course. Details of runs of the relevant FutureLearn courses in 2019 and 2020 are available here.
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4 weeks, 3 hours a week, 3 hours a week
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Create value with your supply chain

Goods and services reach end users through increasingly intricate channels, involving people and processes all over the world, supported by advancing technology.

Understanding the key relationships in these supply chains can help you cut costs, boost performance and create more value for customers.

This online course will equip you with a critical appreciation of the way supply chains work, and how to make them work better.

Whether you are a sole trader, in a small to medium-sized organisation, or work for a large firm, you’ll find out how the supply chain is changing in the digital era.

This course is intended for anyone who wants to learn about the effect the digital era is having on supply chains, customers and other stakeholders. No previous experience of studying supply chain management is required, but some basic knowledge of how businesses work would be beneficial.

Find further information about OU registration, the assessment module and MBA in the entry requirements.

IMPORTANT! If you are aiming to use your study of courses in the Digital Economy program to obtain academic credit, please be aware that the final planned presentation of the Open University Assessment Course BXM871 Managing in the Digital Economy starts July 2020. Please ensure that you allow yourself enough time to obtain all four Certificates of Achievement from courses in the program before registering for the Assessment Course. Details of runs of the relevant FutureLearn courses in 2019 and 2020 are available here.