ABE’s Top Tips to Help You Pass Your Exams – Part 2: On the Day!

You’ve worked hard,  you’ve followed our Top Tips for Revision.  Now all you’ve got to do is sit your exam.  To help you get the grade you deserve, follow these simple steps to exam success.

1. Read each questions thoroughly to make sure you understand exactly what is expected of you.   Underline all the command words in the question (these are the ‘instruction’ words, such as ‘identify’, ‘describe’ or ‘explain’).
2. Ask yourself  ‘what does the examiner want me to do?’ so you can give the kind of answer they are looking for. 
3. Plan how you are going to answer the question and tick off each item when you have completed it. Make sure that your answer covers all the command words used in the question.  
4. Take a note of the time allowed for each question and plan your answers accordingly.
5. Keep your answers concise.  You won’t get extra marks for giving information that is not required and it wastes your valuable time.

We recommend you read the document called:  Examination Guidance for Students and Colleges, in the Members Area  under QCF/NQF resources.  It is packed with really useful information including a section on command words which tells you what examiners are looking for according to the words they use – knowing this could make all the difference to your final grade.

Finally, keep calm and remember the exam is only there to help you prove what you have learnt.
We wish you every success. 

Here are some previous blogs with further advice you may find helpful: 
How to revise
How to study
Do share any top tips of your own.
Good luck.

ABE’s Top Tips to Help You Pass Your Exams – Part 1: Revision

Exams are looming and it’s a stressful time!   Everyone tells you to just relax and do your best.  Great advice, but easier said than done!   One thing that can help is feeling well prepared.  With this in mind, we have summarised some top tips to getting top grades:

1. Thoroughly understand the learning outcomes for the units you are sitting.  Every exam paper will contain at least one question relating to each learning outcome so thoroughly understanding them will put you on the path to success. For more information go to the Members Area and read the Study Tips and syllabus for your unit.
2. Don’t be afraid to ask questions.  Sometimes it can feel embarrassing if everyone else seems to understand something and you don’t.  But don’t let what others might think stop you from asking questions if you feel you don't fully understand an explanation (your peers may well be wondering the same thing).  So, if there is anything you are not sure about, ask your tutor to explain it then check and double check your understanding is correct.  
3. Identify your weak areas.  Test yourself using past papers from the Members Area and set a three hour time limit.   Then check the examiners’ reports and suggested answers to see where you did well and where you may need further revision. Make sure you do this early enough to allow plenty of time to develop any weaker areas.    Your college may well organise this for you. If so, make sure you pay close attention to any feedback you are given.
4. Develop a wider understanding of your subject.  Make full use of the ABE resources, academic database and recommended reading lists to ensure you have a broad knowledge of the subject.  The test questions will not be exactly the same as in past papers so gaining a thorough understanding of the subject gives you the best chance of understanding a question in any context.
5. Devise a learning method that works for you.  Use this link to take our fun learning style quiz  to check what type of learner you are.  If you know what helps you memorise and understand best you can build this into your revision.

We hope that you find this useful and wish you every success in the forthcoming exams. 
Here are some previous blogs with further advice you may find helpful: 
How to revise
How to study

Also check out ABE's Top Tips to Help You Pass Exams - Part 2 On the Day

Do share any top tips of your own.
Good luck.

Entrepreneurship in 10 steps, by Gareth Robinson

ABE CEO, Gareth Robinson, has many years’ experience as a Chief Executive and a Managing Director. Some time ago he shared his thoughts on the steps you need to take to start and grow a highly successful enterprise in his blog "Ten steps to help you become a great business leader". 

Here are his highly valued thoughts in an infographic.

What makes a website great?

At ABE websites are on our minds.  This is because the time has come for the current ABE site to be updated to something faster, more responsive, easier to navigate and that will, generally, look pretty fantastic!

Apart from being fantastic, designers and developers asked us if there is anything the new site absolutely must (or must not) do. Like many businesses we have many stakeholders with widely varied requirements and the new site needs to be brilliant for everyone. To ensure we achieve this, we created our top 10 checklist of what we think makes a website great: 

1. It starts with clever design – a well-designed homepage will link you straight to what matters most to you and the business
2. It’s fast - no one wants to sit around waiting for information to load
3. It's about you – it has useful, relevant and more importantly updated content so you find the exact information you are after
4. Location, Location, Location – it delivers content to you based on your location, such as upcoming events in your area
5. It tells you everything – you will know who the company are, exactly what they do and where they do it so you’re not left with half information and unanswered questions
6. Connects you with the rest of the world – like it, share it, follow them
7. You don’t need to read (much) – unless you require detailed technical specifications the best websites are those that provide you with punchy, at-a-glance information with the minimum amount of reading required
8. It has a clear call to action – if you have gone onto the website to achieve something, such as make a purchase or become a member, then you should be guided to a simple and fast process to complete your objective
9. It’s responsive – it goes without saying that nowadays a great website should remain great on all devices
10. It looks awesome – design is a subjective thing, but clever use of imagery, graphics and layout can take a website from the functional to the exceptional. This makes visiting it a pleasurable thing.  

We have another 100 (or a million..) things on our wish list, but these ten are the most important and the new ABE website is being designed to meet this list. But what do you think makes a website great?  If you have some other suggestions let us know…

Alumni profile: Dennis Oriaku, Nigeria

Dennis has completed the ABE Level 6 Diploma and has found it has supports his successful career as an HR supervisor.  He has also found he feels well-equipped to develop further academically and become a business leader.

My name is Dennis Oriaku. I am a level 6 graduate of the ABE Business Management. Since 2012 I have been working with Provast Limited, Nigeria, as the Human Resource Supervisor. I enjoy every bit of my working life which has been filled with achievements; I have won the best staff award consecutively since 2012.

                                                                                                                                 

I chose to study for an ABE qualification because of its worldwide acceptability and the depth of knowledge the programme offered. Also, its seamless progression into degrees and Masters programmes in various countries around the world.

I started out with International Study Centre at Ikeja in Nigeria and later opted for self-study. It was not easy studying on my own and I had to devote time to research on the internet, studying my textbooks and the study packs provided by ABE to advance my knowledge.

ABE qualifications are still in a growth stage in Nigeria. At first some employers didn’t see the need to hire an ABE graduate but that has changed as ABE students have proved by achieving excellence on the job. All my friends who started this great path are working with their ABE qualifications and succeeding in their various jobs.

I wish to continue to a BBA and MBA at Northwood University in the United States of America this year (fall 2015).

ABE helped me to be equipped for the workplace. It was easy for me to fit into the  working environment and it also made me a top performer! ABE studies have also contributed to my professional and career progression and I’m happy to have joined this great organisation.

Through ABE I have been able to understand business and the impact of the environment on businesses. I have also been able to manage my private businesses and I am working on diversifying and partnering for expansion purposes.

                                                                                         

Part of my plan is to become a business mogul and shape the world of business. I see a great Africa economy rising and I want to be a part of this future. I also operate two businesses and am planning on diversifying into other areas as soon as possible.

It’s been a worthwhile journey and I tell you all (members and intending members), “The ABE journey continues……”

Where is your business idea taking you?

If you are thinking of starting a new business, could it be the next disruptive force in the marketplace? Read this article by ABE’s digital marketing manager, Maria Koukou, for some great examples of how new business ideas can disrupt the established marketplace.

Business models are subject to rapid displacement, disruption, and, in extreme cases, outright destruction according to McKinsey Global Institute. Since 2000, more than half of the companies in the Fortune 500 have either gone bankrupt, been acquired or ceased to exist due to disruption.

But what is disruption? Clayton Christensen, Professor of Business Administration at the Harvard Business School, first introduced the Theory of Disruptive Innovation to describe companies which shake up industries by discovering new segments of end users until the established competitors are displaced.

And how do companies thrive in the age of disruption?

A key response to disruption is to constantly innovate business models.

Professor Serguei Netessine from Singapore, revealed that only 5% of companies practice business model innovation and those that do not focus enough on their business models are more likely faced with disruption. For example, companies should be more aware about their customers’ behaviours and needs, otherwise someone else is going to directly address pain points matching the gap between customers’ wishes and what is being delivered to them.

Spotify offers the value of on-demand and interest based music that disrupts radio and Amazon wouldn’t have launched the Amazon Web Services if it didn’t believe that companies did not want to own their infrastructure. Airbnb uses the shared economy model finding a home for everyone around the world while on holiday, reframing the idea around accommodation; it took Airbnb four years to build an inventory of 900,000 rooms when Hilton Hotels after 93 years has reached 600,000 rooms globally.

Now.. how disruptive can your business idea be?

Suggested resources:

Capgemini Consulting

McKinsey Global Institute

Clayton Christensen

Gartner

ABE’s Business Start-up and Entrepreneurship qualifications can give you the know how to turn your innovative flare into business success. Click here to find out more.

Great exam results, now what about the certificate?

Success!   You have achieved your ABE Diploma.  All you need now is your certificate.   This is what happens after results have been published.

First ten days

After publishing results, a period of ten working days is allowed for any Enquiries About Results and Appeals. 

The next ten days

We commit to taking no more than 10 working days from receipt of forms to review and process all Appeals.

Once this process is complete we can then start printing certificates.  No learners should be disadvantaged which is why we cannot print until any queries, that could hold up someone’s certificate,  have been dealt with – we endeavour to complete this process as quickly as possible.

The next four to six weeks

Each person’s certificate is printed individually according to Ofqual requirements.   Because this is a secure process and certificates have built in features which protect them against fraud, printing for so many can take time. 

As much as possible we try to post all certificates together at the same time, so that all learners, ideally, receive their certificates around the same time.  However, postal services between the UK and different countries can vary considerably and, sometimes, even different regions can receive documents at different times. 

Three months after results

Because of the variances in postage we ask you to allow three months from issue of results to receive your certificate. But this is the worst case and usually most people receive their certificate sooner than this.  In the unlikely event that after three months your certificate has not arrived please contact us immediately so that we can trace what has happened to it and, if necessary, issue a replacement.  We can only issue replacements if we are told of a certificate not arriving between three and six months of the result date, so don’t allow too much time to pass before contacting us.

Whilst waiting:  we have published results in a printable format.  This means you can use it as printed evidence of your achievement before your certificate arrives. Also see our check list below to ensure your certificate is dispatched correctly.

We look forward to sending your certificate and wish you every success in your future endeavours.

Your essential certificate checklist

You have the result you wanted.  Now is the time to make sure nothing delays or affects your certificate.  Here are a couple of simple checks to ensure everything goes smoothly!

1. Your name.  Remember the name in Members Area is what will go on your certificate.  This is taken from the information supplied at registration so if your name has been shortened or misspelt, or it has changed, please correct it.  Simply update your details in the Members Area.
2. Your address.  If you have registered through a college, it is most likely that your certificate will be sent to that college.  This works well as your college will log its receipt and ensure it gets to you. If you have registered directly, check that the correct postal address is registered against your name.  We will send the certificate to whatever address is against your account in the Members Area.  So just update it if you have moved or have a more secure location you would like the certificate sent to. 

For full details of the certification process please see our earlier blog, Great Exam Results Now What About the Certificate?

We congratulate all learners who have passed this session and wish you every success in your future endeavours.

9 tips to make studying easier and more efficient

Our Summer intern Julia Marie Lohmann, who is currently in her 2nd year of a business psychology degree, shares her tips for successful study

1. Prepare for your exam phase as soon as you can

I am a person who learns much better when I write down all the information I need to learn for the exam. Studies shown writing down everything helps. People remember facts better.

After my first semester with 16 horrible exams at the end, I promised myself that I would start to summarise the scripts earlier.

My tip for you is to sum up everything during your lectures or lessons. Start by summarising each page of the script and note the extra tips that your tutor gives you.

2. Use the SMART approach

You should use the SMART approach which is usually used in Project management, but it will help you a lot with defining and reaching your goals! Take 5 minutes to write down your goals, according to this format.

S specific
M measurable
A achievable
R results driven
T time-bound

The SMART goals are defined as follows:

The "S" stands for specific, clear and easy defined goals. For example- You will study harder for say four hours each day. Measurable (,,M”) means you can measure your success or not- for example, make a timetable for studying and see if you can stick to it – Plot out when your exams take place, how many, what you need to study, when is your last lecture, how many time do you need to study each subject… etc.

"A" means setting yourself achievable goals. Don’t pressure yourself with unrealistic goals, like getting an 1+ / A / 100% when you just have 3 days left to study and you haven’t started yet. You should try to be realistic and try to go step by step, if you wrote a 4 / D / 50% your achievable goal should be studying for a 3 / C / 60-75% or even a 2 / B / 80%.

You should ALWAYS be "R"esults driven! Try to focus on the result and how happy you would be with good marks and remind yourself that the work is worth it.

Last but not least "T"ime-bound helps you to calculate enough time for studying. Time management is the most important thing to do. You should make a planner or write down the structure of your day to find out if there is time to have dinner with your friends in the evening or if you’d rather stay home and study.

3. Stop snoozing!!!

We all know the struggle!

In the evening we are highly motivated to stay up early and study hard. But then the next morning comes, the alarm clock goes on at 8.30am on a Saturday and we lay in bed and are just thinking: "I am too tired; I can’t study when I’m that tired! Just 10 more minutes".

Then you hit the snooze button on your phone 3 times because you are thinking the same every ten minutes.

SO STOP HITTING THE SNOOZE BUTTON AND GET OUT OF BED!

4. To all the Kings and Queens of distraction

I’m pretty sure a lot of you have the same problem as me, when I am ready with everything and should finally be ready to start studying, my thoughts start drifting away.

I am the Queen of distracting myself, I start recognising that I could vacuum my apartment, wash the laundry, clean the bathroom and I always wanted to rearrange my living room! During study phase and exams my apartment is so clean you literally could eat from the floor. After cleaning and moving things I get hungry and start cooking (avoiding studying went very well so far :D) But last but not least I have to do it anyway, that is what you should remind yourself of.

For all of a sudden cleaning becomes hobby number 1.

My tip, do the cleaning in the evening when you are done with studying or get up early and do it before you start, or have a cleaning pause if studying is giving you a headache. You should always keep in mind that your or your parents are paying for this opportunity to get a better job.

5. Options to learn

Over the years I have tried a lot of learning possibilities…

(a) My favourite variant is to summarise everything on D4 pages and highlight the most important parts with coloured pencils. It is easier to learn and to memorise *and it looks prettier*.

(b) Flashcards are a good option to learn, you can take them with you. Write down the question on the front and the answer on the back, first you learn better because you’ve written it down by yourself and for most people it’s more fun with cards.

(c) You also can record yourself with your phone as a memo; you read out loud the summarised pages which you collected during the lectures. The benefit is: You can listen to it wherever you are. The problem: It also can put you to sleep wherever you are. But maybe some of you like the idea, because this always works with lyrics of songs. I remember more lyrics from random songs than what I studied 10 minutes ago.

6. Set Milestones

When you have structured everything and you’ve got all the information you need to start the actual learning process, you should set milestones. You should set small goals and don’t put yourself under pressure so you are motivated again when you reach your first goal.

You also have to set priorities; friends, parties and your hobbies are no longer the first priority. Set a date when you want and need to finish the first subject and another date when you need to be half way through, it is important to have a good overview so you don’t get stressed.

7. Use check marks

I always use them, as soon as you get a task done put a huge check mark beside it or even cross it out! In red, orange, yellow, live it up. It’s a psychological effect and you get the feeling ‘Hey, I made it, I won, let’s continue, I’ll get the next task done just as easy!’ I find it strangely satisfying to cross things out.

8. Share your progress

Share your progress with your family and friends. If you get the chance to explain certain topics to them, use the opportunity. You will internalize much better if you explain your topic. It also helps if you share your progress with your classmates; you can discuss certain topics and can go more into depth.

Personally, when I tell my patents they are always proud which motivates me even more to be productive.

9. Reward yourself

One thing you always should do is reward yourself after a good learning session. Go out and meet some friends, cook something nice or go shopping. The very healthy ones can treat themselves with session at the gym. Rewarding yourself helps you to relax and to find new motivation.



Julia Marie Lohmann

The ABE membership survey

A big thank you to everyone who took part in our membership survey this March. We had over 7,000 responses and you gave us some really useful and insightful feedback. The survey is being used to inform our on-going work to upgrade and improve whilst ensuring we invest in the areas that matter most to you.

This is what you liked about ABE:

- ABE qualifications have respect;

- Studying for an ABE qualification enhances work performance;

- ABE is a great advantage at university;

- ABE is truly international, you are part of a global family;

      - ABE is flexible, you can study at your own pace.

Your top requests:

- Career support and guidance;

- More employer involvement;

- More convenient access to ABE information.

Aside from local activity that may be specific to your country, this is what we are doing internationally:

Career development

We have set up a new career development tab (under Benefits in the Members Area). This provides a library of links to a range of career development articles, originally shared through our blog and on social media. We will update it regularly with new articles, videos and webinars as they become available.   

Longer term, we plan to increase the number of networking events available to alumni and we are developing more continuing professional development opportunities.

Employer involvement

Employers can now access an information page and also a job advertising service on our website. In the coming months we will be promoting this service to ABE alumni who are now in employed in senior positions at large organisations. 

We will also start highlighting some of the major corporations we are working with or which are employing ABE qualification holders as well as encouraging more direct recruitment of ABE members. 

A more accessible ABE

A new website is being designed. You will be able to find information easily and it will work fantastically on your mobile phone stripping out data heavy elements so that it can be as quick and responsive as possible if you have limited internet access. 

In the longer term, we are in the process of upgrading to a state of the art learner management system. This will allow you instant access to account updates and offer other benefits such as news by text message and access to greater online learning resources facilitated by investment in new technology.

  

There’s more to come

This is just a small snapshot of some of the developments we’re working on behind the scenes. Your thoughts, comments and suggestion are helping to inform all that we do.  

We think you’ll be thrilled with the results!

What's in a logo?

Kate Winter, ABE's Marketing Director, explains the rationale behind ABE's new branding

In my long marketing career, I have initiated re-branding projects and I’ve also been a team member who has had re-branding ‘forced’ on them.  The latter is not a nice place to be. When you don’t understand why a brand is being changed, and you don’t like the new identity, it is impossible to support the project. I once had a new marketing director who breezed in to the company, changed all the branding, and breezed out again, leaving a lot of devastation in her wake.

I wanted to share this with you now that we have unveiled ABE’s new branding.  The timing of the re-brand comes after ABE has made some significant changes internally.  I am one member of a new senior management team appointed by Gareth Robinson, ABE’s CEO, who has been in situ since December 2014. Gareth has assembled his new team with the objective of introducing great energy and results in to the business. He wants to ensure that ABE provides worthwhile qualifications and great customer service, and he is passionate about delivering quality qualifications to our learners.

The new management team is overseeing the transformation of ABE. We have already seen a host of new qualifications being accepted onto the Ofqual framework. These qualifications have been created to reflect current thinking and best practice in business management.  We are currently inviting our centres to pilot the new schemes and reaction so far has been extremely positive.

We have also invested in a new Learner Management System which will make it easier for our learners to interact with us and have clear visibility of their progress through our schemes.  In tandem, we are developing new web sites which will use responsive technology, so that users will have a better experience on their mobile phones when accessing the site and members’ area.

As a backdrop to all of this, we have been undertaking extensive student surveys to find out what our learners think we do well, and what needs to be improved.  It is heartening to hear from thousands of learners that ABE qualifications helped them get their first job or gain the promotion they wanted. Indeed, many of our learners go on to run their own successful enterprises or get responsible positions in government departments and large corporations.

When I came to ABE in March, my first impression with regards to the branding was that it was doing a good job.  There was nothing really wrong at all, but I felt it lacked an element of inspiration. It was when I started reading the testimonials of students that I began to really understand their achievements and how ABE connects them to a world of opportunity. It just seemed right that we should somehow reflect this in our branding. Additionally we felt that ABE is a journey for our learners. They start out on a road with a vision of what they want to achieve. They study with dedication and they achieve their qualifications; many of them stay with us to keep on achieving and pushing themselves. This is now demonstrated in our logo with a pathway – we like to call it the road to success.

The new brand is being applied to exciting campaigns we are running to support our centres. We are currently sending out printed posters as well as digital banners to help prospective students gain awareness of ABE.  We will be rolling out the branding on certificates in due course, but I would like to mention that the branding itself does not affect the certificate validity in any way. In fact it is the Ofqual recognition that is the real currency for our learners.  This remains the same on all our certificates.

By and large, reaction so far has been hugely positive. I know all too well that change isn’t always easy, but together with the rest of the team here at ABE, I am very confident that all the change we are introducing will result in a better experience for our learners and our accredited centres. It is because of them that we exist, and they are at the heart of everything we do.

Kate Winter, July 2015

Emerald updates

As an ABE member, you have access to a large number of academic journals via Emerald, one of the world’s leading publishers of academic research. To access these journals, just log into the Members Area and click on the Academic Journals link on the bottom left-hand side.

These journals are great for doing wider reading around the ABE units that you’re studying, especially if you aren’t able to purchase the books on the recommended reading lists. For an in-depth guide on how to use the database, please see page 4 of the November 2014 Student Focus or the ABE blog at http://abetalk.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/emerald-introduction-to-academic.html. You can also email publications@abeuk.com with any queries about Emerald and how to use it.

New! The Emerald Learning Zone

Link from www.abeukmembers.com - Benefits - Academic Journals

The Emerald Learning Zone includes a selection of useful resources to help you improve your study skills and complements learners at all levels. For advice on writing essays, getting organised, developing your critical thinking and a huge selection of other topics, this is the place to come! For a start, we’d recommend the following articles:

Writing better essays gives guidance on how to write an effective essay, helps to explain grammar and also provides links to external resources that you can use. http://www.emeraldgrouppublishing.com/learning/study_skills/skills/better_essays.htm

Understanding academic writing provides a breakdown analysis of essay, report and case study writing. http://www.emeraldgrouppublishing.com/learning/study_skills/skills/structured_writing.htm

New! Emerald Subject Zones

Link from www.abeukmembers.com - Benefits - Academic Journals

Emerald Subject Zones offer a community area where you can access subject-specific articles, and keep up to date with the latest research and community events. You’ll find special features, field-specific news, top download lists and video content in the Subject Areas, so log in via the ABE Members Area and have a look.

New! Research ‘How To’ Guides

Link from www.abeukmembers.com - Benefits - Academic Journals

Emerald’s set of ‘How to... guides for researchers’ are a series of practical tips and guidance on how to design, develop and present your research. These are divided into two categories, Research management and Research methods and methodology. Here, you’ll find articles on subjects like ‘How to…use search engines effectively’, or ‘How to…undertake case study research’ – particularly useful if you’re writing assignments for the ABE Level 7 Diploma in Business Management!

Newest article highlights 

The articles listed below have been added to Emerald’s database recently. Find your subject area from the headings below, and read the articles to learn something new!

Accounting and Finance

Axel Haller, Chris van Staden, (2014) "The value added statement – an appropriate instrument for Integrated Reporting", Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, Vol. 27 Iss: 7, pp.1190 - 1216

Vera Palea, (2014) "Fair value accounting and its usefulness to financial statement users", Journal of Financial Reporting and Accounting, Vol. 12 Iss: 2, pp.102 - 116

Economics

Asma Mobarek, Michelle Li, (2014) "Regional volatility: common or country-specific? Exploration of international stock market: ", Studies in Economics and Finance, Vol. 31 Iss: 4, pp.406 - 425

Annunziata de Felice, (2014) "Measuring the social capabilities and the implication on innovation: Evidence from a special industrial cluster", Journal of Economic Studies, Vol. 41 Iss: 6, pp.907 - 928

Entrepreneurship

Anders Johan Kjellman, (2014) "Family business explained by field theory", Journal of Family Business Management, Vol. 4 Iss: 2, pp.194 - 212

Dilani Jayawarna, Oswald Jones, Wing Lam, Sabrina Phua, (2014) "The performance of entrepreneurial ventures: Examining the role of marketing practices", Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, Vol. 21 Iss: 4, pp.565 - 587

Strategy and Leadership

Simon C.H. Chan, W.M. Mak, (2014) "Transformational leadership, pride in being a follower of the leader and organizational commitment", Leadership & Organization Development Journal, Vol. 35 Iss: 8, pp.674 - 690

Will Mitchell, (2014) "Why Apple’s product magic continues to amaze – skills of the world’s #1 value chain integrator", Strategy & Leadership, Vol. 42 Iss: 6, pp.17 – 28

International Business

Alain Verbek, M. Amin Zargarzadeh, Oleksiy Osiyevskyy, (2014) "Internalization theory, entrepreneurship and international new ventures", Multinational Business Review, Vol. 22 Iss: 3, pp.246 – 269

Andreas Nölke, (2014) "Brazilian corporations, the state and transnational activity: introduction to the special issue", critical perspectives on international business, Vol. 10 Iss: 4, pp.230 - 236

Marketing

Harlan E. Spotts, Marc G. Weinberger, Michelle F. Weinberger, (2014) "Publicity and advertising: what matter most for sales?", European Journal of Marketing, Vol. 48 Iss: 11/12, pp.1986 – 2008

Kim Lehman, Ian Ronald Fillis, Morgan Miles, (2014) "The art of entrepreneurial market creation", Journal of Research in Marketing and Entrepreneurship, Vol. 16 Iss: 2, pp.163 – 182

Tourism and Hospitality

Pedro Pimpão, Antónia Correia, João Duque, José Carlos Zorrinho, (2014) "Exploring effects of hotel chain loyalty program", International Journal of Culture, Tourism and Hospitality Research, Vol. 8 Iss: 4, pp.375 - 387

André Richelieu, Stéphanie Lessard, (2014) "Long gone the glory days: Is branding of any help? The case of formerly successful European football teams", Sport, Business and Management: An International Journal, Vol. 4 Iss: 4, pp.284 - 297

This article first appeared in Student Focus, Feb 2015, a free magazine for all ABE members.

Make 2015 your most successful year ever!

The start of a new year is a time for reflection when we consider whether we are on the right track to a productive and fulfilling future.  With this in mind, here are five simple but effective New Year's resolutions to put you on the road to success:

1. Devote time to professional development

If you are studying with ABE, then you have already invested in your professional development by undertaking a qualification that will help you build a successful career.  But being an ABE member offers the opportunity to do more than obtain a professional qualification.   You can access a wealth of resources in the Members Area, including the Emerald e-database of over 140 academic journals which provide the opportunity to learn from some of the world’s leading business authorities. 

Spend time taking advantage of these resources and use your ABE membership as an opportunity to become an expert in your field. This, of course, will also increase your chance of getting a fantastic exam result!

2. Learn something new every day

Whether or not you are studying, this is a great affirmation to live by.  Consider everything you do and always question whether things could be done better; learn what works well and how mistakes could have been avoided. This will hone your ability to understand new situations and make the right choices quickly and decisively.  With this ability you are likely to gain a reputation as a strong leader.

3.  Be a great listener

Learning every day depends on listening to those around us.  Talk to colleagues and peers, listen to their feedback and try to understand their point of view. Develop the art of being totally focused on what people are saying without getting distracted by planning your reply or interrupting.  Rather than making their own point, a good listener will ask questions until they have established all the facts and then, if in doubt, check their understanding by summarising what they have heard.   

If you find you are doing all the talking in a discussion, ask someone else to give their opinion and make a point of keeping quiet for a while.  If you disagree with their view, explain why in a way that makes it clear that you respect their opinion. That way, people are encouraged to share their thoughts with you and you benefit from hearing an alternative perspective.

4. Be positive

We all have setbacks, for instance when we don’t get a job, promotion or the exam results we had hoped for.  When this happens it is easy to feel defeated.  But remember, to achieve in life you need to retain a positive ‘can-do’ attitude.  For example, if you don’t pass an exam and say; “It’s too hard, I give up”, you will never learn where your knowledge was lacking or get the qualification you wanted.  However, if you remain positive, look at what went wrong with your paper and study hard in the areas that let you down you will be rewarded with success.   Take inspiration from the words of inventor and entrepreneur James Dyson, who overcame many setbacks in his early career; "Enjoy failure and learn from it. You can never learn from success."

5. Enjoy what you do

Your time is precious so use it wisely.  Take time to understand yourself, to work out what makes you happy and fulfilled and then set your goals based on these values.    A quote from the late esteemed journalist and television presenter, David Frost, sums this up nicely, “Don’t aim for success if you want it; just do what you love and believe in and it will come naturally.”

Good luck!  

Do share your own favourite inspirational New Year's resolution.

Student Profile: Charmaine Anthony

What have you been up to since completing your ABE studies?

I recently graduated with a Masters of Business Administration Degree (MBA), specialising in Human Resource Management, from the Australian Institute of Business via the National Research & Development Foundation (NRDF) in Saint Lucia.  I also had the honour of being awarded valedictorian for the MBA Class of 2014.

You must be delighted; what else have you gained from studying?

While I am still beaming with pride at my accomplishment, I wish to highlight aspects of my personal and professional development that have led to my current success. I am a strong advocate of continuous learning - thus, I have been pursuing higher education over the past few years.

What made you decide to study with ABE?

I have always been a people-oriented individual, who encourages others to develop and grow. The perfect opportunity came my way when I joined the Human Resources team of a regional telecommunications company.  I felt like the door to my home was finally unlocked.  In September 2008 I decided to undertake a Diploma and Graduate Diploma in Human Resource Management with ABE. The course complemented every aspect of my role, and enhanced my overall competencies, as I played a generalist role within the HR function.  During my tenure, my career progressed from HR Administrator to HR Executive - and Learning and Development Co-ordinator for the Eastern Caribbean Group - to being seconded onto two special assignments: leading the set up of the HR function for a new market, and taking on a specialist HR project role in the firm’s Haiti operations after the 2010 earthquake. 

Thereafter I served as HR Manager (Ag) before my departure in 2012.  In June 2010, I was also the proud recipient of ABE Top Paper Award for Personnel Information Systems.

What do you feel you have gained workwise, from your ABE studies?

My ABE studies have contributed significantly to my professional growth and career progression and served as the platform for my newly acquired qualification. The knowledge gained through ABE and my work experience are two factors that set me apart from my colleagues on my MBA programme, thus enabling me to perform exceptionally well receiving nine distinctions and three credits. I have also been identified as a tutor for the ABE Level 5 units, Personnel Administration and Managing People, which started in August 2014 at the ABE teaching centre in Saint Lucia. I am elated by this opportunity, as this demonstrates and reaffirms the value of the qualifications that I have been awarded here in Saint Lucia.

What advice would you give to someone thinking of doing this qualification?

I am assured that this investment has been very worthwhile, and that the returns have been manifold. In the words of Aristotle, “The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet”. The academic journey will not be easy. There will be many challenges to contend with, and you will be required to develop coping mechanisms to fit your circumstances. However, the end result brings about a feeling of accomplishment and pride that is priceless!


Charmaine's story first appeared in November 2014 issue of Student Focus - the free magazine for ABE members.

Guide to the ABE Level 7 Diploma in Business Management (QCF) assignment support materials

If you are studying, teaching, or administering the ABE Level 7 Diploma in Business Management, then you’ll know that the assessment of this qualification differs from ABE’s other levels in that four of the Level 7 Diploma’s five units are assessed by assignment rather than examination.

The following list of assignment support materials is available by following the Level 7 Diploma link on the Members Area of the ABE website.

Administrative

• Assignment Submission Process
  
• Assignment Regulation
• General Assignment Guidance 
• ABE Plagiarism and Collusion Policy
• Assignment Cover Sheet
• Assignment Payment Form
• Enquiry About Results (EAR2) Form

Academic

• Syllabuses and Lecture Guide
• Assignment guidelines (by unit)
• Examiners’ report
• Reading List
• How to use the Harvard system of referencing

This blog will tell you what each of these Level 7 Diploma support materials is for. 

Assignment Submission Process

The Assignment Submission Process document is a flowchart that outlines the various stages of submission, whether you’re submitting through a college or independently. Looking at this should inform you of the stages that your assignment goes through during the marking and moderation process, as well as at what point you will be charged your fees and at what point your results will be released.

Assignment Regulations

This document sets out the various regulations assignments are subject to, as regards submission, marking, plagiarism, and results. Please make sure that you read it so that you are aware of your responsibilities when writing and submitting ABE assignments.

General Assignment Guidance

As suggested by its title, this document explains the features common to all of the four units assessed by assignment – which management skills the assignments will assess, how to select an assignment topic, the general structure of the assignment (although this can vary slightly depending on unit) and the word count. It is therefore essential to read this document at the start of planning your assignment. 

ABE Plagiarism and Collusion Policy

The ABE Plagiarism and Collusion Policy sets out how ABE defines the terms ‘plagiarism’ and ‘collusion’, and the risks you take by engaging in either activity. Plagiarising someone else’s work (copying and pasting from the Internet counts as this!), or colluding with other people to produce an assignment can result in your assignment being awarded zero marks, so please familiarise yourself with the policy and ensure that your work is your own!

Assignment Cover Sheet
This Word document template should be filled in and included as the cover of your assignment. It contains space for your name, ABE membership number, assignment title, and so on.

Assignment Payment Form

You can use this form to pay for your assignment(s). Simply fill in which assignments you are paying for and how you are paying for them, then forward the form to your college to include with your assignment(s). If you are submitting as a private student, this form can be sent to pgdassignments@abeuk.com.

Enquiry About Results (EAR2) Form 
ABE has a wide range of checks and quality assurance procedures in place to ensure that every student who takes an ABE assessment receives a result which accurately reflects their performance in that examination. However, on occasion, a student may consider that their result is not an accurate reflection of their performance. In such cases a student may query or challenge the mark/grade they have received, by using the EAR process.

For assignments, the EAR process costs £50, and involves a clerical check, a full remark of the assignment by a different examiner, and a report on the student’s performance, highlighting where the student could improve in a future sitting. Students may apply for this service by using the EAR2 form.

Syllabuses and Lecture Guides

As for all ABE units, the Level 7 syllabuses and lecture guides outline and expand upon the content that will be assessed in each unit. Please see the blog entries http://abetalk.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/how-to-study-abe.html  and http://abetalk.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/lecture-guides-who-are-they-for.html for more information on these resources.

Assignment Guidelines (by unit)

ABE receives a lot of queries from students asking things like ‘where do I get assignment questions?’, or ‘what should I write my assignment about’? Where the General Assignment Guidance document discussed above will give you a broad idea of how to write your assignment, the Assignment Guidelines by Unit cover the specific requirements of each unit, and whilst there are no assignment ‘questions’, they do tell you what you should write your assignment about. Please read the Assignment Guidelines by Unit thoroughly before attempting your assignment, and follow their instructions closely whilst constructing it.

Reading Lists

The texts recommended in the Level 7 reading lists are particularly useful if you are undertaking self-study, since they’ll provide you with a depth of subject knowledge that you can then put to use when writing assignments.

Examiners’ reports

After the June and December exam sessions, the examiner for each ABE unit writes a report on the performance of students in that session. This covers the common strengths and weaknesses shown by students in that session, and how students could improve in future sessions. If you’re wondering why your assignment didn’t pass, and would like to submit an improved assignment in the future, examiners’ reports are a good place to start.

How to use the Harvard system of referencing

Knowing how to reference sources properly in your assignments is very important, as without proper referencing you are much more likely to commit plagiarism, even if you don’t intend to. This document will teach you how to use the Harvard style of academic referencing – follow its advice, and your assignment shouldn’t have any problems with plagiarism or a high Turnitin similarity percentage.

Resources are available from the ABE Members Area for students studying ABE at all levels.