MNM1FR: Managing Financial Resources

Module code: MNM1FR

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

Credits: 23.4

Level: Postgraduate Masters Stage 1

When you'll be taught: Full year

Module convenor: Dr Niran Subramaniam, email: n.subramaniam@henley.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

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

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: No placement specified

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list:

Last updated: 28 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

Purpose:

The MFR module is designed for the practising manager, recognising that every aspect of their business has an impact on the bottom line: organisations that do not effectively plan, control and monitor their financial resources are unlikely to achieve their operational targets and/or strategic business objectives. As such, this module covers core topics in financial accounting, management accounting, finance and microeconomics to provide a strong foundation for managerial planning, control and decision making. The module is designed to address the critical issues in planning, managing and controlling to direct financial resources available to an organisation in the most efficient and effective manner to enable making decisions which are essential in achieving the business objectives. 

Module aims:

• Identify the nature of financial information, its purpose and the context of its use in organisations.

• Discuss the principles underpinning the production and use of financial information. 

• Recognise and define the types of financial information, available financial techniques and their relevance to managers in planning, controlling and making decisions. 

• Draw on economic theory and recognising their underpinning in the production and evaluation of financial information. 

• Explain key aspects of economic theory and financial terminology, appreciating the distinction between financial and managerial accounting approaches. 

Module learning outcomes

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

1. Analyse, and interpret financial and economic data effectively with an appreciation for relevance, accuracy and timeliness.

2. Support key management tasks of planning, controlling and decision making in creating/adding value, and in achieving the strategic goals of the organisation. 

3. Have developed a level of confidence in communicating financial and economic issues to enable them to be effective in their discussions and meetings, to effectively contribute to business. 

Module content

Module content
MF module introduces the foundation concepts of accounting and finance, and focuses on the main financial statements used by organisations to present their financial performance and position. It then examines how financial statements can be analysed to gain a better understanding of performance and position. 
In terms of managerial accounting, the focus is then on we cost structures of organisations, and the process of determining the cost of a product or service, and the different costing techniques that can assist in measuring and analysing costs in a way that helps managers understand better what influences their business decisions. The module also covers of microeconomics, an understanding of which is critical for managers in their role as business decision-makers, both in the short and in the long term.
Continuing the exploration of costing, the focus is then on how the key management tasks of planning and controlling are implemented via budgets; and how the budgeting process can assist decision-making related to financial performance, both in the short and in the long term.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Teaching involves lectures within a workshop setting, and include:

• Introducing the key concepts and theories of economics that are essential in managing financial resources with an emphasis on how they are applied in practical business contexts.

• Critically analysing the relevance and appropriateness of financial techniques and economic issues. 

• Synthesising, evaluating and discussing alternative theories and concepts, enabling learners to develop an ability to use and communicate on these key concepts in practice.

Learning involves listening, participating, and debating within a workshop setting, and include:

• Interpreting knowledge and understanding of the financial techniques and economic issues, and working autonomously, as well as collaboratively, managing their process of study, prioritising appropriately. 

Making decisions and recommendations based upon their knowledge and understanding of related theory, c

• Communicating clearly and confidently their analysis through written reports. 

• Managing the research processes to gather required information and data with minimum of guidance and reflecting on their understanding and ability to communicate with others in the subject area. 

The contact hours are shown for one semester in the table below for illustrative purposes only. The actual timing will vary depending on your cohort start date.

Study hours

At least 21 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

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve all of the following to pass this module: 
                                        
i) a mark of 50% in the written exam 

ii) an overall module mark of 50%  

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

This module is subject to the Penalties for late submission for Postgraduate Flexible programmes policy, which can be found at:

https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmissionpgflexible.pdf

The Module Convenor will apply the following penalties to work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted up to one calendar month 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; 
• where the piece of work is submitted more than one calendar month after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

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.

Reassessment

Additional costs