APPENDIX GA36d

LEVEL 7 ASSESSMENT SPECIFICATION

Programme: MBA- Masters of Business Administration

Module: Financial Management

Contribution to
Module code: LCMB7002 100%
Overall Module
Assessment (%):
Lecturer(s): David Coker-GP1 Internal Verifier: Isaiah Oino
Md Kalam-GP2
Jia Miao-GP3

Assignment Title: Financial Management Word count (or 5000 words

equivalent):

Submission To be announced by the Return date of After the Exam

deadline: Assessment team- provisional marks Board
Please refer to the assessments & written feedback:
schedule published on
Students’ Hall in Moodle
All written assessments, where practical and possible, must be submitted via
Submission
Turnitin unless otherwise instructed by the Lecturer. (Please DO NOT put this
method:
assessment specification into Turnitin or it will match many similarities with
other students’ submissions.)
Alternative submission method (if applicable):
Late submission of the assessment will result in a late penalty mark.
Penalties for late submission: Up to one week late, maximum mark of 50%.
Over one week late, 0%. Only the Extenuating Circumstances Panel may
approve a change to submission dates.

Academic Academic honesty is required. In the main body of your submission you must
honesty / give credit to authors on whose research and ideas your work is based. Append
referencing: to your submission a reference list that indicates the books, articles, etc. that
you have used, cited or quoted in order to complete this assessment.
 Module Learning Outcomes
(from module syllabus)
1). Research, apply and evaluate a variety of financial assessment techniques for application to a
case study.- Analyse, interpret and critically assess the financial position of a business,
incorporating conclusions / recommendations and advice to managers / directors

2). Research, evaluate and critically discuss various issues and theoretical frameworks used in the
management and control of financial resources.- Use a variety of techniques in the provision of
managerial and financial information.
Evaluate, assess and advise on issues highlighted from the information generated.
Critically evaluate relevant aspects of techniques applied.

TASK DESCRIPTION
Students are required to choose a public listed company whose shares are traded on a stock exchange
(preferably the London Stock Exchange). Download its most recent annual report(s) covering financial
statements for the past 5 years, and produce a report, no more than 5,000 words which includes an
analysis of the chosen company.

Your reports are expected to cover the following areas:

Part a) [10 marks, 500 words approximately]

A brief history of the chosen company including its business model, market place and major competitor(s),
as well as a review of major recent events over the past five years (e.g. change of directors, profit warning,
legal issue, M&A, or any strategic changes).

Part b) [60 marks, 3000 words approximately]

A critical review of the company’s financial performances including
• Calculation of key financial ratios for the past 5 years (e.g. profitability, liquidity, gearing, efficiency
ratios)
• Critical evaluation of the ratios calculated
• Comparison to major competitor(s) and/or sector average if possible
• Any recommendation on how to improve the financial management of the company
(As a guidance, the calculation of ratios contributes to 10 marks, 40 marks to ratio analysis with
comparisons to competitors and remaining 10% to future recommendations.)

Part c) [30 marks, 1500 words approximately]

Carry out investment appraisal techniques to evaluate the following two projects:

Assume that the company you chose in part a) has been researching the prospects for a range of new
investment opportunities. The cash flow details of two promising projects (which are mutually exclusive) are
given below:

Year Projected Cash Flows (£m)

A B
0 -80 -75
1 25 50
2 25 20
3 20 20
4 55 20

Assume that the company’s cost of capital is currently at 9.75 per cent.
Assume that all cash flows arise at year ends and ignore taxation and inflation.

1. Calculate the Payback Period (PBP), Accounting Rate of Return (ARR) and the Net Present Value
(NPV) of the project. Evaluate the results of these calculations and recommend with reasons which project
should be adopted.
(15 marks)

2. Critically discuss the advantages and shortcomings of the PBP, ARR and NPV techniques as ways
of evaluating capital projects, please use relevant literature (with proper referencing) to support your
discussion. Please also address the non-financial factors that need to be considered.
(15 marks)

Each student is also expected to make a 15-min presentation of their reports at the end of the term (time to
be confirmed), and feedback to the presentation can then be incorporated in the final submission. Although
the presentation carries no weightings to the final module grades, it is a great exercise to have students
build confidence and communication skills that they will need in their future careers.

Please note the following when completing your written assignment:

1. Writing: Written in English in an appropriate business/academic style

2. Focus: Focus only on the tasks set in the assignment.

3. Document format: In business report format or any other suitable format appropriate to the context. The
total word count should be equivalent to a total word count of 5000 words. Ensure a clear title, course, and
name or ID number is on a cover sheet and a reference list using Harvard referencing throughout is also
provided.

4. Research: Research should use reliable and relevant sources of information e.g. academic books and
journals that have been peer reviewed. The research should be extensive.

5. References and Turnitin

Additionally, you should refer to text books, current news items and benchmark your organisation against
other organisations to ensure your assignment is current and up-to-date. High-level referencing skills using
the Harvard Method must be demonstrated throughout your work and all sources listed alphabetically.
Good referencing is a powerful way to reinforce the arguments you make in your writing. The point of
referencing is that you can justify the points you write about and make it easy for the reader to find the
things that you cite.

You must submit your work electronically via the Turnitin link on the university virtual learning platform
(moodle) on or before the deadline set by the assessment team.

Turnitin is a software program that compares a submitted text to other texts in its database. The database
includes published books, journal articles, webpages and other submitted assignments. It checks the
originality of the submitted text against these texts and produces a report that shows the percentage of
writing that is original, and the source of non-original text.

Although Turnitin has been described as a plagiarism detector, it is actually an originality checker. So a
piece of work submitted to Turnitin may have a high percentage of writing that is not original, but this may
include a lot of common phrases or acknowledged quotes. It is therefore important to follow referencing
guidance throughout the coursework.
 GUIDANCE FOR STUDENTS IN THE COMPLETION OF
TASKS
NOTE: The guidance offered below is linked to the five generic assessment criteria overleaf.

1. Engagement with Literature Skills

Your work must be informed and supported by scholarly material that is relevant to and focused on the task(s)
set; you should make use of scholarly reviews and primary sources, as appropriate (for example, refereed
research articles and/or original materials appropriate to the discipline). You should provide evidence that
you have accessed a wide range of sources, which may be academic, governmental and industrial; these
sources may include academic journal articles, textbooks, current news articles, organisational documents,
and websites. You should consider the credibility of your sources; academic journals are normally highly
credible sources while websites require careful consideration/selection and should be used sparingly. Any
sources you use should be current and up-to-date, mostly published within the last five years or so, though
seminal/important works in the field may be older. You must provide evidence of your research/own reading
throughout your work, using correctly a suitable referencing system, including in-text citations in the main
body of your work and a reference list at the end of your work.

Guidance specific to this assessment:

2. Knowledge and Understanding Skills

At level 7, you should be able to demonstrate a systematic understanding of knowledge, and a critical
awareness of current problems and/or new insights, much of which is at, or informed by, the forefront of your
academic discipline, field of study or area of professional practice, with a comprehensive understanding of
techniques applicable to your own research or advanced scholarship. Your work must demonstrate your
growing mastery of these concepts, principles, current challenges, innovation and insights associated with
the subject area. Knowledge relates to the facts, information and skills you have acquired through your
learning. You demonstrate your understanding by interpreting the meaning of the facts and information
(knowledge). This means that you need to select and include in your work the contemporary concepts,
techniques, models, theories, etc. appropriate to the task(s) set. You should be able to explain the theories,
concepts, etc. meaningfully to show your understanding. Your mark/grade will also depend upon the extent
to which you demonstrate your knowledge and understanding; ideally each should be complete and detailed,
with comprehensive coverage.

Guidance specific to this assessment:

3. Cognitive and Intellectual Skills

You should be able to: evaluate critically current research and advanced scholarship in the discipline;
evaluate methodologies and develop critiques of them and, where appropriate, to propose new hypotheses;
deal with complex issues both systematically and creatively to make sound judgements in the absence of
complete data. Your work must contain evidence of logical, analytical thinking, evaluation and synthesis. For
example, to examine and break information down into parts, make inferences, compile, compare and contrast
information. This means not just describing what! But also justifying: Why? How? When? Who? Where? At
what cost? At all times, you must provide justification for your arguments and judgements. Evidence that
you have reflected upon the ideas of experts within the subject area is crucial to you providing a reasoned
and informed debate within your work. Your choice of methodologies to gather data and information must
be rigorously defended. Furthermore, you should provide evidence that you are able to make sound
judgements and convincing arguments using data and concepts. Sound, valid, persuasive conclusions are
necessary and must be derived from the content of your work. Where relevant, alternative solutions and
recommendations may be proposed.

Guidance specific to this assessment:

4. Practical Skills
At level 7, you should be able to demonstrate originality in the application of knowledge, together with a
practical understanding of how established techniques of research and enquiry are used to create and
interpret knowledge in the discipline. This includes acting autonomously in planning and implementing tasks
at a professional or equivalent level, originality in tackling and solving problems, and decision-making in
complex and unpredictable contexts or situations.

You should be able to demonstrate mastery of the leading edge subject-related concepts and ideas as they
relate to real world situations and/or particular contexts. How do they work in practice? You will deploy
models, methods, techniques, and/or theories, in those contexts or circumstances, to assess current
situations, perhaps to formulate plans or plausible, justifiable recommendations to solve problems, or to
propose new models, or to create artefacts, which may be innovative and creative, thereby demonstrating
your understanding of how the boundaries of knowledge are advanced through research and/or application.
This is likely to involve, for instance, the use of real world artefacts, examples and cases, the application of
a model within an organisation and/or benchmarking one theory or organisation against others.

Guidance specific to this assessment:

5. Transferable Skills for Life and Professional Practice

Your work must provide evidence of the qualities and transferable skills necessary for postgraduate-level
employment in circumstances requiring sound judgement, personal responsibility and initiative in complex
and unpredictable professional environments. This includes demonstrating: the independent learning ability
for continuing professional development to advance existing skills and acquire new competences of a
professional nature that will enable you to assume significant responsibility within organisations; that you can
initiate and complete tasks, projects and procedures, whether individually and/or collaboratively, to a
professional level; that you can use appropriate media to effectively communicate information, arguments
and analysis in a variety of forms for a variety of audiences; fluency of expression; clarity and effectiveness
in presentation and organisation. Work should be coherent and well-structured in presentation and
organisation.

Guidance specific to this assessment:

GENERIC ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Level 7
In accordance with the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications, at the end of Level 7 students should be able to demonstrate: a systematic
understanding of knowledge, and a critical awareness of current problems and/or new insights, much of which is at, or informed by, the forefront of their
academic discipline or area of professional practice; a comprehensive understanding of techniques applicable to their own research or advanced
scholarship; originality in the application of knowledge, together with a practical understanding of how established techniques of research and enquiry are
used to create and interpret knowledge in the discipline; conceptual understanding that enables the student to evaluate critically current research and
advanced scholarship in the discipline to evaluate methodologies and develop critiques of them and, where appropriate, to propose new hypotheses. They
will be able to deal with complex issues both systematically and creatively, make sound judgements in the absence of complete data, and communicate their
conclusions clearly to specialist and non-specialist audiences. They will demonstrate self-direction and originality in tackling and solving problems, and act
autonomously in planning and implementing tasks at a professional or equivalent level to continue to advance their knowledge and understanding, and to
develop new skills to a high level. They the qualities and transferable skills necessary for employment requiring the exercise of initiative and personal
responsibility; decision-making in complex and unpredictable situations/professional environments; and the independent learning ability required for
continuing professional development.

Level 7 GOOD to VERY

SATISFACTORY EXCELLENT EXCEPTIONAL
FAIL FAIL MARGINAL FAIL GOOD
(Pass) (Distinction) (Distinction)
(Merit)
Category 0-29% 30-44% 45-49% 50-59% 60-69% 70-84% 85-100%
Engagement Little or no Poor Engagement Engagement Engagement Engagement Exceptional
with literature evidence of engagement with a very with an with a wide with an engagement
(including current reading and/or with essential limited range of appropriate range of extensive range with an
research, reliance on reading. No relevant and range of research- of relevant and extensive range
referencing, inappropriate evidence of credible sources. research- informed credible of relevant and
academic sources. wider reading. Some omissions informed literature, literature, credible
conventions and Views and Reliance on and minor literature, including informed by the literature,
academic findings mostly inappropriate errors. including sources latest research. informed by the
honesty) unsupported and sources, and/or Referencing sources retrieved Consistently latest research.
non- indiscriminate conventions retrieved independently. accurate High-level
authoritative. use of sources. evident though independently. Selection of application of referencing skills
Referencing Heavily reliant not always Some over- relevant and referencing. consistently and
conventions on information applied reliance on texts. credible sources. professionally
used gained through accurately or Referencing may Very good use of applied.
incoherently or class contact. consistently. show minor referencing, with
largely absent. Inconsistent and inaccuracies or no/very few
weak use of inconsistencies. inaccuracies or
referencing. inconsistencies.
Level 7 GOOD to VERY
SATISFACTORY EXCELLENT EXCEPTIONAL
FAIL FAIL MARGINAL FAIL GOOD
(Pass) (Distinction) (Distinction)
(Merit)
Category 0-29% 30-44% 45-49% 50-59% 60-69% 70-84% 85-100%
Knowledge Major gaps in Gaps in Limited Knowledge is Knowledge has Excellent Exceptional
and knowledge and knowledge, with knowledge and accurate and a well-defined mastery of a mastery of a
understanding understanding of only superficial systematic reasonably focus, which is complex and complex and
(A systematic, the subject systematic understanding of detailed. A reasonably specialised area specialised area
conceptual matter is not understanding. the concepts systematic extensive, of knowledge. A of knowledge.
understanding of systematic. Some significant and principles understanding of coherent and systematic, An exceptionally
knowledge, and a Substantial inaccuracies within the the field of study detailed, with a excellent critical
critical awareness inaccuracies. No and/or irrelevant subject area, informed by, to critical understanding of awareness of
of current
awareness of material. No which to some some extent, awareness of the concepts of current problems
problems and/or
new insights, current critical marginal extent, current research current problems the subject and/or new
much of which is problems, awareness of is informed by and scholarship, and/or new informed by insights. An
at, or informed by, insights or the current current research A critical insights. current research outstanding
the forefront of latest research problems, and scholarship. awareness of Exhibits good and scholarship. understanding of
the discipline; a and/or advanced insights, or latest Some critical current problems understanding of Highly critical the concepts of
comprehensive scholarship research within awareness of and/or new the breadth and awareness of the subject, well-
understanding of within the the discipline. current problems insights though depth of current problems informed by
techniques discipline. and/or new this may be contemporary and/or new current research
applicable to their
insights, but under-developed and established insights. A and scholarship.
own research)
often under- occasionally. views, and the critical, A critical,
developed. work is, at least awareness of sophisticated
in part, well- how the and nuanced
informed by boundaries of awareness of
current research knowledge are how the
and scholarship. advanced boundaries of
through knowledge are
research. advanced
through
research.
Cognitive and Wholly or almost Largely Limited attempt Some critical Sound critical Excellent critical Exceptional
intellectual wholly descriptive work, at critical evaluation/ evaluation/ evaluation/ critical
skills descriptive work. with superficial evaluation/ critique of critique of critique of evaluation/
(Critical Little or no use of critical critique of current research current research current research critique of
evaluation of evaluation or evaluation of current research and and and current research
current research critique or research and and methodologies, methodologies, methodologies, and
and attempt at a methodologies. methodologies, though slightly Proposes new Proposes methodologies,
methodologies systematic Absent or weak tending towards underdeveloped hypotheses, innovative Proposes
and develop approach. development of description. in places, where hypotheses, innovative
critiques of them
Failure to hypotheses and Limited attempt Proposes appropriate. Can where hypotheses,
and, where
develop judgements. to propose new adequate but deal with appropriate. Can where
Level 7 GOOD to VERY
SATISFACTORY EXCELLENT EXCEPTIONAL
FAIL FAIL MARGINAL FAIL GOOD
(Pass) (Distinction) (Distinction)
(Merit)
Category 0-29% 30-44% 45-49% 50-59% 60-69% 70-84% 85-100%
appropriate, to arguments, Information hypotheses. Can limited new complex issues synthesise appropriate.
propose new leading to accepted deal with hypotheses, systematically complex issues Exemplary
hypotheses; make illogical or invalid uncritically, uses complex issues where relevant. and with some systematically systematic and
sound judgements. generalised but not Can deal with creativity. Ability and creatively. creative
judgements in the
absence of
Unsubstantiated statements systematically or complex issues to make sound Ability to synthesis of
complete data.) generalisations, made with scant creatively. Some but not fully judgements investigate complex issues.
made without evidence and evidence to systematically or based on data contradictory or Ability to
use of credible unsubstantiated support creatively. Ability (that may be incomplete investigate
evidence. opinions. Ideas emerging to make incomplete) information and contradictory or
sometimes judgements but judgements make strong, incomplete
illogical and these may be based on data persuasive, information and
contradictory. underdeveloped (that may be arguments and make strong,
or with a little incomplete) but sophisticated persuasive,
inconsistency / with some judgements. arguments and
mis- tendency to sophisticated,
interpretation. assert/state nuanced,
May assert opinion rather judgements.
rather than than argue on Potential for
argue a case. the basis of journal
reason and publication or
evidence. doctoral
research.
Practical skills Limited or no Rudimentary An awareness An appropriate A very good An advanced Exceptional
(Originality / use of methods, application of and mostly application of application of a application of application skills
creativity in the materials, tools methods, appropriate standard range of knowledge, in complex,
application of and/or materials, tools application of methods, methods, methods, unpredictable,
knowledge, tools techniques. and/or well-established materials, tools materials, tools materials, tools contexts,
and techniques Little or no techniques but methods, and/or and/or and/or drawing skilfully
and in tackling appreciation of without materials, tools techniques. techniques. techniques. on the latest
and solving
the context of consideration and/or Clear Very good The context of research within
problems in
complex and the application. and techniques, with appreciation of consideration of the application is the discipline.
unpredictable Limited competence. occasional the context of the context of well considered, Can identify
professional understanding of Flawed errors. the application. the application, and insightful. complex
situations; the application of appreciation of Basic Mainly with perceptive Can identify problems and
practical use of theory to the context of appreciation of consistent, insights. Can complex propose
established practice or the application. the context of accurate and identify problems problems and sophisticated,
techniques of making Weak the application. logical and propose propose original
research and appropriate links understanding of Theoretical application of appropriate excellent solutions.
enquiry to create
between the two. the application of knowledge and theory to solutions in solutions. An
and interpret
Level 7 GOOD to VERY
SATISFACTORY EXCELLENT EXCEPTIONAL
FAIL FAIL MARGINAL FAIL GOOD
(Pass) (Distinction) (Distinction)
(Merit)
Category 0-29% 30-44% 45-49% 50-59% 60-69% 70-84% 85-100%
knowledge in the Very weak theory to understanding practice, making complex and excellent grasp An outstanding
discipline.) problem-solving practice, with applied in appropriate links unpredictable of techniques application of
skills in complex only occasional practice, but not between the two. contexts. applicable to techniques
and evidence of always making Can identify Evidence of own research or applicable to
unpredictable making logical links problems and originality and advanced own research or
contexts. appropriate links between the two. propose mostly creativity. scholarship. advanced
between the two. Can identify appropriate Shows originality scholarship.
Weak problem- problems and solutions in in application of Shows originality
solving skills in propose basic complex and knowledge and in application of
complex and solutions without unpredictable techniques, and knowledge and
unpredictable fully appreciating contexts, with of how techniques, and
contexts. the complexity of elements of established of how
unpredictable originality. techniques of established
contexts. enquiry create techniques of
and interpret enquiry create
knowledge in the and interpret
discipline. knowledge in the
discipline with
assimilation and
development of
cutting edge
processes and
techniques.
Transferable Communication Communication Can Can Can Can Can
skills for life medium is medium is poorly communicate in communicate communicate communicate communicate
and inappropriate or designed and/or a suitable effectively in a well, confidently professionally with an
professional misapplied. not suitable for medium but with suitable format, and consistently confidently and exceptionally
practice Work is poorly the audience. some room for but may have in a suitable consistently in a high level of
(Exercise of self- structured, Work is poorly improvement. minor errors. format. suitable format. professionalism.
direction, disorganised presented in a Mostly ordered Mostly coherent, Work is Work is Work is
autonomy and and/or disjointed presentation and organised work, coherent, fluent, coherent, very remarkably
personal confusingly manner. It is structure in in a suitable well-structured fluent and is coherent, very
responsibility; expressed. Very loosely, and at which relevant structure and is and organised. presented fluent and is
plan and weak use of times ideas / concepts for the most part Can work very professionally. presented
implement tasks
language and/or incoherently, are reasonably clearly well Can work professionally.
at a professional
level; independent very structured, with expressed. Work expressed. Can autonomously autonomously Can work
learning; use inappropriate information and may lack work effectively and/or as part of with initiative. outstandingly
appropriate media style. Little or no ideas often coherence in independently a team, with a Where relevant well and
to communicate evidence of poorly places. Can and/or as part of good can work professionally
Level 7 GOOD to VERY
SATISFACTORY EXCELLENT EXCEPTIONAL
FAIL FAIL MARGINAL FAIL GOOD
(Pass) (Distinction) (Distinction)
(Merit)
Category 0-29% 30-44% 45-49% 50-59% 60-69% 70-84% 85-100%
effectively and autonomy (or expressed. work as part of a a team, with contribution to professionally within a team,
professionally to a collaboration, Weak use of team, but with clear group activities. within a team, showing
variety of where relevant) language and/or limited contribution to Demonstrates showing advanced
audiences; in the completion inappropriate involvement in group activities. comprehensive leadership skills leadership skills.
fluency of
expression;
of tasks. Little or style. Weak group activities. Demonstrates professional, as appropriate, Demonstrates
systematic no evidence of independent Demonstrates the skills postgraduate managing exemplary
approach; clarity the skills initiative (or some but not all required in employment conflict and professional,
and effectiveness required in collaboration, if of the basic skills professional, skills. meeting postgraduate
in presentation professional, relevant). required in postgraduate obligations. employment
and organisation.) postgraduate Limited evidence professional, employment, Demonstrates skills and a
employment. of the skills postgraduate with some areas excellent strong appetite
required in employment, of strength and professional, for further
professional, with some areas some of minor postgraduate development.
postgraduate of minor weakness. employment
employment. weakness. skills and a
strong appetite
for further
development.
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