Financial Management and Decision Making MBA7060
- Subject Code :
MBA7060
MBA7060 Financial Management and Decision Making |
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Assessment Number |
2 |
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Assessment Type (and weighting) |
Coursework (70% of final mark) |
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Assessment Name |
Written Piece - Coursework (3000 words) |
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Assessment Submission Date |
09th Feb 2025 |
Learning Outcomes Assessed:
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Learning Outcomes |
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LO1:Demonstrate a broad knowledge of accounting principles and their use in decision-making and control, including awareness of external regulatory, legal, ethical frameworks, and financial reporting requirements. |
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LO3:Critically evaluate, select and use financial software applications, including spreadsheets, etc., to support problem solving in key business areas. |
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AI Status |
Application |
Notes |
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Category A |
No GAI tool is permitted. |
While grammar and/or spell checkers may be used to correct individual words and sentences, the use of GAI is not allowed. This is because the learning outcomes require you to produce original assessment work without any GAI assistance Any GAI generated content which is presented as your own original work and is not acknowledged will be assessed for academic misconduct. |
Investment financing options, Budgeting, and International accounting regulations
Scenario:
The hard economic realities have resulted in capital squeeze all over the world. Global competition is increasing, and organisations are looking for ways to manage their operations better and raise capital through the most efficient and rewarding way for a better return for their investors. Although interest rates are on the rise in most jurisdictions because of rising inflation, the quest for efficiency and expansion have not been abated. Organisations are now seeking for capital where they can be accessed. They are also looking for better budgetary systems and in addition to this, there is a need to have a better grasp of international accounting regulations and requirements to be a better global competitor.
Assignment Tasks:
Rungrass is a UK-based project management company. The directors believe that there is an opportunity to expand but are not sure about the best financing options for their aspirations. They are also seeking to develop better budgeting systems and have a clear and better understanding of requirements of international accounting principles.
As the financial director of Rungrass, the CEO has asked you to write a report to advise the organisation on the best financing option/s, a new and better budgeting system, and their obligations on the international regulatory and legal standards in accounting.
Using data provided by the organisation, you are to produce a cash budget in Microsoft Excel and use the results to advise and suggest improvements for Rungrass.
In your report, you are required to, among other things, cover the following:
- Introduction: What the report is about and parameters to be covered in the report including an introduction to the need for different financing options in investments, budgeting, and regulatory and legal framework in accounting (10 marks)
- Compare and contrast the merits and short-comings of equity and debt financing and advise Rungrass on which to adopt. (10 marks)
- Apart from the two financing options above, which other available investment financing options could Rungrass consider. Critically evaluate these options. (10 marks)
- Using Excel spreadsheets, prepare a cash budget. (An additional excel case study information is provided for this. (10 marks).
- Critically evaluate the benefit and problems associated with budgeting. (10 marks)
- Compare the different budgeting approaches the Rungrass could consider (10 marks)
- Critically examine the international bodies in charge of and the need for regulation in financial accounting. (10 marks).
- Evaluate known accounting principles as found in the International Accounting Standard Board (IASB) conceptual framework. Evaluate how this affect financial reporting in Rungrass. (10 marks)
- Reflecting on your report, evaluate how your understanding of different financing options, budgeting and International regulatory and legal framework in accounting helped your professional development. (10 marks)
- References (in-text and bibliography), and Presentation (10 marks)
- Appendix
Important and helpful information
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File type |
Word processed/PDF |
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Font |
12 pitch font Arial or Times New Roman |
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Format |
1.5 line-spaced and justified |
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Referencing |
Harvard style |
Please refer to the Module Guide for information regarding indicative reading, guidelines for the preparation and submission of assignments, and the assessment criteria.
Submission
Electronic copies of assignments should be submitted via Turn-it-in
. Please ensure you follow the instructions provided by your module tutor and on the assessment brief.
Submission of assessments may be done on or before the published submission date. Assignments not available at this time will be considered late unless an extension has been previously agreed.
Students who fail to submit assessments by the specified date (without an extension being granted or without accepted Mitigating Circumstances) will be subject to the following penalties:
- Up to 7 calendar days late = 10 marks subtracted but if the assignment would normally gain a pass mark, then the final mark to be no lower than the pass mark for the assignment.
- More than 7 calendar days late = This will be counted as non-submission and no marks will be recorded.
Please note that it is your responsibility to ensure that the assignment is submitted in the format/s specified in the Module Guide or on the Assessment Brief.
YOU SHOULDALWAYSENSURE YOU KEEP A COPY OF ANY ASSIGNMENT SUBMITTED.
In the case of exceptional and unforeseen circumstances, an extension of up to 14 days after the assessment deadline may be granted. This must be agreed by your Programme Leader, following a discussion the Module Tutor. You should complete an Extension Request Form available from Student Services and attach documentary evidence of your circumstances, prior to the published submission deadline.
Extensions over 14 calendar days should be requested using the Mitigating Circumstances procedure.
Some students with registered disabilities will be eligible for revised submission deadlines. Revised submission deadlines do not require the completion extension request paperwork.
Please see the Programme Handbook for further details.
References
Level HE7- It is expected that the Reference List will contain betweenfifteen to twenty sources. As a MINIMUM the Reference List should includefour refereed academic journals and five academic books.
Specific Assessment Criteria/Marking Scheme:
Distinction (70% and above)
An excellent critical synthesis of the leadership behaviour and skills literature will be provided. Relationships between concepts will be expertly elicited. A justified and critical evaluation of your own leadership strengths and weaknesses will be set out and theory expertly linked to findings. Areas and strategies for personal development will be expertly summarised, comprehensively justified and set out in a detailed leadership development plan. Reflections will be succinct, insightful and original. Extensive research demonstrating use of a wide range of contemporary and seminal sources will be evident. Academic writing style, English and referencing will be excellent.
Merit (60% -69%)
A comprehensive critical synthesis of the leadership behaviour and skills literature will be provided. Relationships between concepts will be well elicited. A clear and critical evaluation of your own leadership strengths and weaknesses will be set out and theory linked well to findings. Areas and strategies for personal development will be well summarised, well justified and set out in a clear leadership development plan. Reflections will be succinct and original. Research demonstrating use of a wide range of relevant research sources will be evident. Academic writing style, English and referencing will be good.
Pass (50%-59%)
A critical synthesis of the leadership behaviour and skills literature will be presented. Relationships between concepts will be clearly drawn out. A critical evaluation of your own leadership strengths and weaknesses will be set out with theory linked to findings. Areas and strategies for personal development will be clearly summarised and justified, and set out in a leadership development plan. Some original reflections will be presented. Research demonstrating use of a range of relevant research sources will be evident. Academic writing style, English and referencing will be satisfactory.
Fail (Below 50%):Students who do not meet the requirements of the Pass criteria will not successfully complete the assessment activity.
General Assessment Guidelines for Written AssessmentsLevel HE7
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Relevance |
Knowledge |
Argument/Analysis |
Structure |
Presentation |
Written English |
Research/Referencing |
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DISTINCTION |
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85-100% |
Almost all parts of the report are directly relevant to title/brief. The assumptions of the title and/or the requirement of the brief is expertly addressed in an exemplary manner. |
Exemplary knowledge of concepts, theory and practice is clearly demonstrated is all areas. The interpretation of appropriate concepts and theoretical models with insight is visible. There is exemplary display creativity in conceptual original thinking. |
Work produced is exceptional in analysing essential research materials.An exemplary level of evaluation is made based on an excellent theoretical understanding of work discussed and clear evidence of independent, informed judgement is made. |
An exemplary level of coherence and structure in framed the analysis. Work is articulated and logically structured and has shown complete compliant with recommended format. |
Exemplary presentational style and format commensurate with the nature of work. Excellent use of figures, tables, and plates (where required). |
Exceptional level of language is used with no grammatical errors, excellent punctuation and usage of appropriate formal academic and industry language and terminology. |
Harvard referencing has been applied correctly with no errors throughout the work for in text and end of text referencing. A large variety of current, varied, and suitable sources have been used. Recognition of different perspectives is acknowledged and applied. |
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Excellent Quality |
70-84% |
Most parts of the report are directly relevant to title/brief. The assumptions of the title and/or the requirement of the brief is excellently addressed |
Excellent knowledge of concepts, theory and practice is clearly demonstrated is all areas. The interpretation of appropriate concepts and theoretical models with insight is visible. There is excellent display of creativity in conceptual original thinking. |
Work produced is excellent in analysing essential research materials. An excellent level of evaluation is made based on an excellent theoretical understanding of work discussed and clear evidence of independent, informed judgement being given. |
An excellent level of coherence and structure in framing the analysis. Work is articulated and logically structured and has shown excellent level of compliant with recommended format. |
Excellent presentational style and format, commensurate with the nature of work. Excellent use of figures, tables, and plates (where required). |
Excellent level of English language is used with no grammatical errors. Excellent punctuation, usage of appropriate formal academic and industry language and terminology. |
Harvard referencing has been applied correctly with no errors throughout the essay for in text and end of text referencing. A large variety of current, varied, and suitable sources have been used. Recognition of different perspectives is acknowledged and applied. |
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MERIT |
Good Quality |
60-69% |
Major parts of the work produced is directly relevant to title/brief. The assumptions of the title and/or the requirement of the brief is addressed very well. |
There is very good understanding of theory and practice at this level. Explanation of relevant conceptual material shows very good grasp of the themes, questions, and issues therein. |
Presents a coherent analysis of significant research materials that leads to distinct and original conclusions. Work produced is very good and able to contributes to the expansion of subject-area knowledge and understanding. |
Major parts of the work is coherently articulated and logically constructed. A very good level of compliant with suggested format can be seen. |
Very good presentational style & layout, appropriate to the type of assignment. Very good use of figures, tables, and plates with good levels of explanations |
Well written, with standard spelling and grammar, in a readable style and acceptable format |
Good level of appraisal of up-to-date and/or appropriate literature. Recognition of different perspectives. Knowledgeable use of source material. Uses a range of sources. Harvard referenced with minor mistakes. |
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PASS |
Satisfactory Quality |
50-59% |
Substantial amount of work produced generally addresses the assumptions of the title and/or the requirements of the brief. Work may contain some minor irrelevances in places. |
Demonstrates a good and adequate knowledge of theory and practice for this level. Good attempt in interpreting some appropriate concepts and theoretical models. Shows good level of originality in explaining concepts |
Some analytical treatment, but may be prone to description, or to narrative, which lacks clear analytical purpose. Some attempt to construct a coherent argument, but may suffer loss of focus and consistency, with issues at stake stated only vaguely, or theoretical mode(s) couched in simplistic terms. |
Adequate attempt at articulation and logical structure. A good level of compliant with acceptable format is present. |
The presentational style & layout is largely correct for the type of assignment. Substantial use tables, figures and plates but may lack required explanation |
Written, with only minor lapses from standard grammar, with acceptable format |
Uses a variety of literature which includes some recent texts and/or appropriate literature, though not necessarily including a substantive amount beyond library texts. Competent use of source material. Used Harvard referencing in most places with majority cited correctly |
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FAIL |
Borderline Fail |
45-49% |
Basic understanding of the subject and addressing a limited range of materials. Contains a lot of irrelevant materials. |
There are certain gaps in knowledge of theory and practice at this level. Inadequate knowledge of relevant concepts and theoretical models. In areas, demonstrates only some conceptual grasp. |
Largely descriptive or narrative, with little evidence of analysis and evaluation. A basic argument is evident, but mainly supported by assertion. |
There may be a lack of clarity and coherence and limited attempt at articulation and problems with structure. Some formatting errors are also visible. |
Some weaknesses in the presentational style & layout. Only limited sections are presented logically. Some inappropriate use of figures, tables and plates, and most are largely irrelevant. |
A simple basic style but with significant deficiencies in expression or format that may pose obstacles for the reader |
Limited number of contemporary and relevant sources cited. Work is dominated by material supplied by tutor. Attempted to use Harvard referencing but majority are wrongly cited. |
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Fail |
30-44% |
Materials have little or no relevance to the title and/or brief. Issues are addressed at a superficial level and in unchallenging terms. |
Heavy dependence on description, and/or on paraphrase, is common. Lacks development and may be repetitive or thin Limited understanding and application of concepts. |
Little evidence of coherent argument. Almost wholly derivative: the writers contribution rarely goes beyond simplifying paraphrase. Mostly devoid of originality and creativity. Clear conclusions are not stated. |
Very poorly structured work. Lack of articulation and coherence in concepts and context. Format deficiency is clear |
Work is wholly lacking the presentational style &/or layout required. Figures, tables, and plates are ignored in text or not used where clearly needed. |
Numerous deficiencies in expression the writer may achieve clarity (if at all) only by using a simplistic or repetitious style |
Barely adequate use of literature. Over reliance on basic material provided by the tutor. Little or no attempt to Harvard reference. |
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<30> |
Relevance to the title and/or brief is intermittent or completely missing. The topic is reduced to its vaguest and least challenging terms. |
Clearly shows a lack of basic knowledge of either theory or practice for this level. There is very little or no evidence of conceptual understanding. |
Severely limited arguments. Descriptive or narrative in style with no evidence of critique and originality or creativity. Conclusions are sparse or not in line with context. |
Wholly lacking structured. No visible attempt to articulate or coherently provide concepts and context. Format deficiency is clear. |
Work is completely devoid of the presentational style &/or layout. Figures, tables, and plates are ignored in text or not used where clearly needed. |
Poorly written with numerous deficiencies in grammar, spelling, expression, and style. |
Very limited evidence of required reading and no attempt at Harvard referencing. Clear absence of academic sources. |
