Chain store

Chain store(s) or retail chain are retail outlets that share a brand and central management, and usually have standardized business methods and practices. In retail, dining, and many service categories, chain businesses have come to dominate the market in many parts of the world. A franchise retail establishment is one form of chain store. In 2004, the world's largest retail chain, Wal-Mart, became the world's largest corporation based on gross sales.

Opposition

The displacement of independent businesses by chains has sparked increased collaboration among independent businesses and communities to prevent chain proliferation. These efforts include community-based organizing through Independent Business Alliances (in the U.S. and Canada) and "buy local" campaigns. In the U.S., trade organizations such as the American Booksellers Association and American Specialty Toy Retailers do national promotion and advocacy. NGOs like the New Rules Project and New Economics Foundation provide research and tools for pro-independent business education and policy while the American Independent Business Alliance provides direct assistance for community-level organizing.

Business school

A business school is a university-level institution that confers degrees in business administration or management. Such a school can also be known as school of management, school of business, school of business administration, or, colloquially, b-school or biz school. A business school teaches topics such as accounting, administration, strategy, economics, entrepreneurship, finance, human resource management, information systems, logistics, marketing, organizational psychology, organizational behavior, public relations, research methods and real estate among others.

Types

There are several forms of business schools, including school of business, business administration, and management.

London Business School

London Business School (LBS) is a graduate business school and a constituent college of the University of London, located in central London, England. It was established in 1964, after the Franks Report recommended the establishment of two business schools.

LBS offers various academic programmes including the Masters of Business Administration (MBA and EMBA), Sloan Fellowship for experienced business executives (MSc), Masters in Finance (MiF), Masters in Management for students with up to two years of work experience (MiM), PhD, and non-masters classes for business executives.

Over 1,800 degree students from 130 countries graduate from the school each year. A further 10,000 executives attend the school executive education programmes each year. The school has over 35,000 alumni in more than 135 countries, organised through 65-plus alumni clubs.

The school holds the European Foundation for Management Development Equis, accreditation as well as that of the AACSB and AMBA. The MBA, Executive MBA, Sloan Masters in Leadership and Strategy, and Master's in Management programmes are accredited through AMBA.