Business Studies courses are very popular with students, because business organisations - in private, public and charitable sectors - are such an important part of modern life for consumers, citizens and employees. At the heart of a Business Studies degree, you will learn how organisations work effectively to deliver the goods and services that we all value and need for daily life.
Businesses, large and small, are places where people interact and work together - this can lead to enormous value and benefit, but it can also lead to conflict and challenge.
Business Studies offers you great opportunities to gain insights into what motivates people, how they might be treated well as consumers, citizens and employees, and how leaders can lead with integrity. It is a big subject - different courses will have different emphases. Most include course modules on the business and economic environment, on the management of finances, operations and information, on marketing and strategy, and on managing people and organisational behaviour.
Business Studies is also a hybrid discipline, and this makes it both challenging and rewarding. Different aspects draw in perspectives from other social sciences - for example, from economics into business finance and international trade, from sociology into people management and leadership, from psychology into marketing and entrepreneurship, and from statistics into marketing research and business planning.
Christians working in business organisations enjoy the privilege and the opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus in how success is achieved. You can learn a lot from successful Christian entrepreneurs and business leaders, and the different ways in which they approach building success.
Working for the wellbeing of creation
As societies have developed and their economies have grown since the Industrial Revolution which began in Britain 250 years ago, families in small communities have become less economically self-sufficient. They have become almost entirely reliant on organisations, large and small, to provide the essentials for daily life and the services that support human well-being and flourishing. But resources in creation are finite and humans are called to be good and responsible stewards of what God has provided.
Work, whether paid or unpaid, is described in the Bible as integral to human life. Even before the fall, humankind was required to till and take care of the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:15). Work is therefore the way we exercise stewardship in God's creation. In the New Testament we are given a picture of working cooperatively using different skills and gifts (1 Corinthians 12:12-27). "And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." (Colossians 3:17, NRSV)
The Bible describes a largely agricultural world, rather than the industrial or post-industrial world in which we now live. Nevertheless, the Christian principles which underpin good stewardship and leadership have the same importance. Paul in his letter to Galatians (5:22-23) lists the fruit of the Spirit - "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control". These are all the virtues by which Christians in business and management should aspire to live and work. Sadly, Christians, as much as anyone else, can get things wrong. The consequences can be severe, as the Post Office Horizon scandal illustrates.
Organisations use resources of various kinds - manufacturing businesses transform physical resources into useful products, service businesses and public organisations rely more on using 'human resources' and information to deliver useful services to customers and citizens. The contemporary business world is fast-changing and challenging. Think about the opportunities and risks presented by AI, big data, globally integrated financial systems, social media marketing etc.
So, businesses and organisations which employ people should do so in a way which allows individuals to develop their talents and to grow spiritually. This is a different picture from treating employees as merely "human resource". You will learn about how good organisations work well in helping their stakeholders to flourish. You will also study how good organisations motivate, develop and reward their employees. Research in business studies now recognises that human flourishing has a spiritual dimension as well as material and psychological dimensions.
As stewards of God's creation, we share in God's creativity. Creativity and innovativeness are important aspects of being made in God's image. You may well be offered the opportunity to study a course module on business creativity and innovation. In very popular entrepreneurship modules you will have the opportunity to develop new, entrepreneurial ideas, usually working in teams with other students.
Worshipping the God we work for
Worshipping God in an organisational context means making good choices and good decisions. Businesses and organisations face these challenges every day - some may have modest, local consequences; others can have global implications like promoting economic justice.
In the Old Testament the Israelites are chastised for economic injustices: "You shall have only a full and honest measure, so that your days may be long in the land the Lord your God is giving you" (Deuteronomy 25:15).
Business Studies is often taught using a case study method. In the case studies you will encounter you'll see the consequences of good decision making. You will also learn about the consequences when organisations make bad, sinful choices. You will see the consequences of "toxic" leadership on employees, poor financial management on investors, bad marketing activity on consumers, and poor management operations on the natural world. You'll discuss how to put things right and learn from mistakes.
Business strategy is a key component of any business studies degree - studying how to deploy the resources and capabilities that the organization possesses to meet opportunities which exist in the marketplace or in wider society. Decisions need to be made well in a way which is consistent with the values and principles that the organization holds to be important. This means that the organization must be clear on what these values are, and where potential conflicts of interest lie. At the very least businesses must be on the right side of employment and consumer protection law. You will study business ethics and corporate responsibility, usually as a compulsory course module, to equip you in this challenge.
Witnessing to the world
We've already touched on what might go wrong if sinful behaviour creeps in. This is as much about displaying Christian virtues and giftings in the workplace as it is about making morally correct decisions. What is moral and immoral in business is rarely 'black and white'. Popular TV shows such as The Apprentice caricature the nature of business leadership for entertainment purposes, but they do show both the good and bad sides of business relationships.
There are huge opportunities for Christians in businesses and other organisations to witness though their behaviour towards the wider world. Businesses often have wide-ranging relationships with different stakeholders: employees, customers, suppliers, investors, even competitors. These relationships can be fleeting, or they can be very long lasting. Who you will build relationships with will depend on what function or role you are engaged. Perhaps the strongest relationships will be with fellow employees in your team or function.
You might be called to market and sell well. You might be called to manage other people well, or to organise business processes and use information systems well to the wellbeing of people and creation. Being a Christian in business is a seven day a week calling. It isn't a life that can be compartmentalised between secular work divorced from Christian ethical thinking and sacred church life. There will be opportunities to witness to your fellow students in the classroom in the way you approach and discuss the business scenarios you encounter. In terms of your future career, you will have wide ranging opportunities to demonstrate God's love for humankind and to "give an account of the hope that is in you" (1 Peter 3:15).
What's the point of your degree?
The world of business can appear cut-throat and transactional, that is solely concerned with profit on the 'bottom line'. In fact, financial markets can and do make this an imperative for large stock-market listed companies. A cynical view might be that businesses will be socially responsible only for as long as they can afford it or as long as it supports the bottom line. It is therefore easy to become disillusioned and conclude that there will be no place for Christians in this world.
You will not find in the Bible a reference manual on how to run a business. What you will find is a framework on how to make choices, how to treat people, how to look after God's world, and how to behave. Business Studies students go into a wide range of careers and types of organization, and some use their degree to springboard setting up their own businesses. The 'now and not yet' advance of God's Kingdom happens in many ways, and it can and does move forward through the work of businesses and other corporate bodies in trying to make the world a better place. This happens crucially, albeit imperfectly, because of the presence of Christians in building and leading those organisations.
Reflect and discuss
Think: Think back over what you have studied so far in your degree. Where have you seen God's fingerprints? Where have ideas presented to you challenged what you believed to be true?
Live: What do you think your coursemates would know about what is important to you from the way you live? Is there anything you want to change here?
Speak: Are there topics in your subject that are closer to talking about your outlook on life, God or the gospel? Pray for people on your course and for opportunities to share about Jesus with them this term.
Taking it further
- Lead Like Jesus: Lessons from the Greatest Leadership Role Model of All Time, Ken Blanchard and Phil Hodges
- Fruitfulness in the Frontline: Making a Difference Where You Are, Mark Greene
- God's Good Economy: Doing Economic Justice in Today's World, Andrew Hartropp
- A Voice to be Heard: Christian Entrepreneurs Living Our Their Faith, Richard Higginson and Kina Robertshaw
- Business for the Common Good: A Christian Vision for the Marketplace, Kenman L, Wong and Scott B. Rae