| Unit name | Strategy and Finance and Accounting for Management |
|---|---|
| Unit code | EFIMM0146 |
| Credit points | 30 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Dr. Beckett |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | School of Management - Business School |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Why is this unit important?
This unit is designed to give the MSc in Management programme students a thorough grounding in the fundamentals of Strategic Management and Finance and Accounting. These two key areas are central to the successful operation of businesses, both in the private and non-profit sector. In this unit you will explore the key aspects of what businesses do and the strategic and financial pressures managers face in deciding where and how their businesses should compete. Drawing on real world case studies you will explore how strategic and financial decisions interact with one another. It provides you with a foundational understanding of how businesses are organised, the competitive challenges they face and experience of using tools and techniques to successfully manage businesses in an increasingly uncertain and competitive world.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
In the context of the MSc Management programme this unit is crucial to your understanding of the fundamentals of business, in strategy and finance and you’ll build on the learning from this unit as you move through your programme.
An overview of content
In this unit students will explore theories, practices and complexities of strategy and finance and accounting. Students will develop a detailed understanding of each of these areas and, through joint case studies, teaching sessions and assessment, will learn how these fundamental areas of business relate to, and influence one another.
The unit curriculum is based around several key elements including, environmental analysis, platform business, resources, and capabilities, how organisations are financed, financial accounting, management accounting and performance management. Students will develop their commercial awareness and consider how knowledge is applied to different scenarios and real-world problems.
How will students, personally, be different because of the unit?
Students will gain a deep understanding of the strategic, financial, and accounting challenges faced by organisations in a rapidly changing global environment. They will build on that understanding through the development of professional skills, for example, through groupwork, research, presentations and critical assessment and decision making. The resulting combination of knowledge and skills prepares students to work in a wide range of managerial roles and provides students with insights into organisations which they will be able to use when talking to employers.
Learning outcomes
At the end of the unit successful students will be able to:
Students will attend in person lectures and seminars for the two disciplines Strategy, and Accounting and Finance. During the unit students will also attend seminars to explore and apply the interconnectedness of the two disciplines. Students will be guided through independent and group learning outside of the classroom.
Teaching details
Lectures introduce theoretical concepts and ideas that inform the subject. Additional readings, videos, exercises, and media on the Blackboard online learning environment will develop and support learning.
Seminars explore, develop, and apply understanding via readings, research, exercises, and case studies. Students will be expected to participate in a variety of ways during seminars including small group discussions and presentations.
Combined interactive teaching sessions take place during the unit, offering students an opportunity to draw together their knowledge and understanding of strategy, finance and accounting. Peer-to-peer learning is developed in these sessions. Students work in their assessment groups to develop their understanding of the complex issues facing organisations. During these sessions students receive detailed formative feed-back on their group assessment. This helps promote a cycle of engagement with the group assessment across several interactive teaching sessions. These joint sessions align the students’ learning and assessment with the pedagogical content and structure of the unit.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for your summative tasks (formative)
Students will attend interactive seminars at which both strategy and accounting and finance staff are present. These joint seminars are focused on drawing together the two broad areas of pedagogic knowledge and skills covered on the unit. Students work together in their assessment groups on case studies and preparing for their joint summative assessment. During these seminars students receive formative feedback on their preparation for the joint summative assessment.
Tasks which count towards your unit (summative assessment)
Assessment 1 (10% of final mark) (ILOs 1&3)
Seminar preparation. Seminars are a key focus of learning in this unit. To ensure students are well prepared for their seminars they are required to prepare and submit, in advance of their seminars, five ‘preparations’ based on the seminar tasks. This will involve reading and reflecting on the set tasks.
Assessment 2 (15% of final mark) (ILOs 1&3)
Multiple choice question. Students are required to take seven multiple choice tests. These tests are linked directly to the work completed in seminars. This assessment assesses your learning across the unit.
Assessment 3 (25% of final mark) (ILOs 1,2,3,4)
Timed individual assessment on Finance and Accounting topics. It should take no longer than 10 hours to research, plan and write the assessment.
Assessment 4 (50% of final mark) (ILOs 1,2,3,4)
A 4000-word group assessment based on case study research. In this assessment students are required to integrate their learning in strategy, accounting and finance to develop their critical analysis of the organisation being explored.
Assessments 1 and 2 are taken as you progress through the unit and allow you to accumulate marks overtime. Marks for each assessment are weighted to arrive at an overall unit mark.
When assessment does not go to plan
When a student fails the unit and is eligible to resubmit, failed components will be reassessed on a like-for-like basis.
Assignment 1 – a 1500-word essay on the strategy of an organisation (individual) (ILOs 1&3)
Assignment 2 – a multiple choice test (individual) (ILOs 1&3)
Assignment 3 – a timed assessment (individual). It should take no longer than 10 hours to research, plan and write the assessment. (ILOs 1,2,3,4 )
Assignment 4 – a 2000-word essay on strategy and finance of an organisation (Individual) (ILOs 1,2,3,4). Re-assessment will be individual as when there are small numbers of students failing the unit it is not always possible to create a group
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. EFIMM0146).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
