AC314: Business Analysis

Module code: AC314

Module provider: Business Informatics, Systems and Accounting; Henley Business School

Credits: 20

Level: Level 3 (Honours)

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Dr Alisher Erkaboev, email: alisher.erkaboev@henley.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s): BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST TAKE AC218 AND TAKE AC107 AND TAKE AC305 (Compulsory)

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded: IN TAKING THIS MODULE YOU CANNOT TAKE AC312 (Compulsory)

Placement information: na

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 28 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module aims to develop knowledge, understanding and skills in financial reporting, management accounting and business finance and to synthesise these in their application to real-world business problems and case study scenarios.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Apply knowledge and skills from accounting and finance to underpin the analysis of organisational problems.
2. Analyse, summarise and synthesise the decisions made by and choices available to an organisation with regard to, for example: strategy implementation, performance measurement; financing decisions; investment decisions; the dividend decision; cash management and working capital decisions.
3. Understand and apply business valuation models to a real company.
4. Make recommendations based on reasoned analysis and argument.
5. Write a business report which succinctly addresses the key issues relating to a particular company as they affect investors.

Module content

The case study may require students to revisit the content of other modules. In particular, students will need to revise and develop their understanding of theory, techniques and skills from management accounting, financial reporting, business finance and strategy.

Content may also include the use of business valuation models to assess the future prospects of a listed company and to evaluate its current share price.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Lectures will be used for the exposition of the major concepts, principles and techniques under consideration. Seminars will be used for student-led presentations and/or discussions.

Study hours

At least 30 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Opportunities for informal feedback are available throughout the course in lectures and seminars and may take the form of response to questions and activities and feedback from marked independent study. Exercises will be practised in seminars and additional material made available on Blackboard for independent study. Marking guides and feedback are provided where appropriate so that students can assess their own performance.

Reassessment

Additional costs