PFIN015/101/0/2023

Tutorial Letter 101/0/2023

Introduction to Financial Management

PFIN015

Year module

UNISA Centre for Life-Long Learning

This tutorial letter contains important information about your module.

Note: This is a fully online module and therefore it is only available on myUnisa.
Dear Student

1 INTRODUCTION
Welcome to the module Introduction to Financial Management (PFIN015). You have enrolled for
an interesting yet challenging module. You will have to devote at least 120 hours to studying the
prescribed book, answering the assignment questions, submitting these via myUnisa, preparing
for the examination, and finally taking the examination during October/ November.
It is advisable to acquire the prescribed book and an HP10BII+ financial calculator as soon as
possible. The list of bookstores are available from the myUnisa website at
https://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/myunisa/default/Books/Official-Booksellers.
Please note that we do not know the price of the prescribed book at the various stores.
Since this is a fully online module, you will need to use myUnisa to study and complete the
learning activities for this module. Visit the website for PFIN015 on myUnisa frequently. The
website for your module is PFIN015-23-Y.
Owing to the nature of this module, you can read about the module and find your study material
online. Go to the website at https://my.unisa.ac.za and log in using your student number and
password. You will see [PFIN015-23-Y] in the row of modules displayed in the orange blocks at
the top of the web page. Select the More tab if you cannot find the module you require in the
blocks displayed. Then click on the module you want to open.
We wish you much success in your studies!

2 PURPOSE AND OUTCOMES

2.1 PURPOSE
The purpose of this module is to explain the fundamental principles of financial management,
explaining accounting concepts involved in compiling financial statements, how to analyse
financial statements, the role of the time value of money, as well as how to measure risk and
return.

2.2 OUTCOMES
For this module, you will have to master several outcomes:
On completion of this module, you should be able to:

• Apply the fundamental principles of financial management.

• Understand how financial markets and institutions function.
• Compile financial statements.
• Read and interpret financial statements.
• Compile a budgeted statement of financial performance and budgeted statement of
financial position.
• Use a financial calculator in order to perform the time value of money calculations.
• Assess risk and return.
• Perform valuations of financial assets.

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3 CURRICULUM TRANSFORMATION
Unisa has implemented a transformation charter based on five pillars and eight dimensions. In
response to this charter, we have placed curriculum transformation high on the teaching and
learning agenda. Curriculum transformation includes the following pillars: student-centred
scholarship, the pedagogical renewal of teaching and assessment practices, the scholarship of
teaching and learning, and the infusion of African epistemologies and philosophies. These
pillars and their principles will be integrated at both programme and module levels as a phased-
in approach. You will notice a marked change in the teaching and learning strategy
implemented by Unisa, together with how the content is conceptualised in your modules. We
encourage you to embrace these changes during your studies at Unisa in a responsive way
within the framework of transformation.

4 LECTURER(S) AND CONTACT DETAILS

4.1 LECTURER(S)
Any enquiries of an academic nature concerning this module, such as an enquiry about a
specific calculation in the prescribed book, may be directed to Prof Marozva using:
E-mail: marozg@unisa.ac.za. In the e-mail subject line, please ensure that you include PFIN015
and your student number. We will only respond to queries sent from an official mylife email
address.

4.2 CONTACT DETAILS FOR QUERIES

For administrative queries regarding registration matters, study material matters, graduation and
certificates, as well as account queries, please contact the responsible administrative
department as per the details below:

For SLP enquiries - ucl@unisa.ac.za

For Registration enquiries – uclregistrations@unisa.ac.za
For Study material enquiries - uclstudymaterial@unisa.ac.za
For myUnisa enquiries – myUnisaHelp@unisa.ac.za
For myLife enquiries – myLifeHelp@unisa.ac.za
For Moodle enquiries - mymodule22@unisa.ac.za
For Assignment enquiries - assign@unisa.ac.za
For Finance enquiries – uclfinance@unisa.ac.za
For Results or exam enquiries - uclexaminations@unisa.ac.za
For Certificate enquiries - uclcertificates@unisa.ac.za

DIVISION OFFICE TEL NO/E-MAIL ADDRESS

UCL Helpdesk, 5th Floor, Room 9, (012) 352 4288/4383/4039/
GENERAL ENQUIRIES/
Solomon Mahlangu Building, 4087/4326/4335
FACSIMILES
Pretoria e-mail: UCL@unisa.ac.za
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 DIVISION OFFICE TEL NO/E-MAIL ADDRESS
REGISTRATIONS 4th Floor, Room 401, (or (012) 352 4307/4322
(also re-registrations; Solomon Mahlangu Building, Fax-to-e-mail: 086 686 3401
additions; Pretoria e-mail: UCLregistrations@unisa.ac.za
cancellations)
Rooms 12 & 13, (012) 429-4801/4920
STUDY MATERIAL Samuel Pauw Building, Fax-to-e-mail: 086 641 7262
Muckleneuk Campus, Pretoria e-mail: UCLstudymaterial@unisa.ac.za
CBM Finance Section, 4th Floor, (012) 352-4227/4349/4229
Rooms 406 & 408 Solomon /4236//4163/4215
STUDENT FINANCES Mahlangu Building, Pretoria Fax-to-e-mail: 086 641 7259
e-mail: UCLfinance@unisa.ac.za
Centre Assignment Section, (012) 352-4274/4174/4278
5th Floor, Rooms 52, 54 &58, Fax-to-e-mail: 086 640 2060
Solomon Mahlangu Building, e-mail: UCLassignments@unisa.ac.za
Pretoria
Unisa Assignment Section Fax: (012) 429-4150
ASSIGNMENT
Room 02-027A Cas van Vuuren E-mail for assignment enquiries only:
ENQUIRIES
Building, Pretoria assign@unisa.ac.za
PLEASE COPY
UCLassignments@unisa.ac.za
when you send your enquiries to
assign@unisa.ac.za
(012) 352-4245/4294/Fax-to-e-mail: 086 682 9651
e-mail: UCLexaminations@unisa.ac.za
Fax: (012) 429-4150
General enquiries: exams@unisa.ac.za
EXAMINATIONS Remark applications: remark@unisa.ac.za
(Cancellations; Centre Examination Section, 5th Re-check applications: recheck@unisa.ac.za
exemptions; Floor, Rooms 61 & 63,Solomon Applications for aegrotat and special examinations:
examination centre Mahlangu Building, Pretoria aegrotats@unisa.ac.za
changes) PLEASE COPY
UCLexaminations@unisa.ac.za when you send
your general enquiries, remark applications, re-
check applications and aegrotats applications.
CERTIFICATES Certificate Section, 5th Floor, (012) 352-/4348/4058/4059/4252
Rooms 57, 62, 64 & 65 Solomon Fax-to-e-mail: 086 692 4805
Mahlangu Building, Pretoria e-mail: UCLcertificates@unisa.ac.za
Remember to have your student number available whenever you contact the University.
Please note that your lecturer will not be able to assist you with any administrative matters
such as registrations, student accounts, and certificates.

5 RESOURCES
5.1 JOINING MYUNISA
The myUnisa learning management system is the University's online campus, which will help
you communicate with your lecturers, with other students and with the administrative
departments at Unisa.
To go to the myUnisa website directly, go to https://my.unisa.ac.za. Click on the Claim UNISA
Login on the top of the screen on the myUnisa website. You will then be prompted to give your
student number to claim your initial myUnisa details as well as your myLife e-mail login details.
For more information on myUnisa, consult the brochure Study @ Unisa, which you received
with your study material: www.unisa.ac.za/brochures/studies.

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5.2 PRESCRIBED BOOK

You must acquire the following prescribed book:

• Marx, J, De Swardt, CJ, Pretorius, M & Rosslyn-Smith, W. 2017. Financial management

in Southern Africa. 5th edition. Cape Town: Pearson.

For this module, PFIN015, you must study the following chapters from the prescribed book for
examination purposes:

Chapter Title of chapter

1 The financial goals of a firm

2 Financial markets, institutions and securities
3 Understanding financial statements
4 Analysing financial statements
5 Business and financial planning
6 Risk and return
7 The time value of money
8 Valuation of shares and debentures

5.3 LIBRARY SERVICES AND RESOURCES

The Unisa Library offers a range of information services and resources:

• For a general Library overview, go to

https://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Library/About-the-Library
Library @ a glance
• For detailed Library information, go to
https://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Library
• For research support and services (eg personal librarians and literature search services), go
to
https://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Library/Library-services/Research-support

The Library has created numerous Library guides to assist you: http://libguides.unisa.ac.za

Recommended guides:

• Request recommended books and access e-reserve material:

https://libguides.unisa.ac.za/request
• Requesting and finding library material: Postgraduate services:
https://libguides.unisa.ac.za/request/postgrad

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• Finding and using library resources and tools (Research Support):
https://libguides.unisa.ac.za/research-support
• Frequently asked questions about the library:
https://libguides.unisa.ac.za/ask
• Services to students living with disabilities:
https://libguides.unisa.ac.za/disability
• A-Z databases:
https://libguides.unisa.ac.za/az.php
• Subject-specific guides:
https://libguides.unisa.ac.za/?b=s
• Information on fines & payments:
https://libguides.unisa.ac.za/request/fines

Assistance with technical problems accessing the Unisa Library or resources:

https://libguides.unisa.ac.za/techsupport

Lib-help@unisa.ac.za (insert your student number in the subject line please)

General library enquiries can be directed to Library-enquiries@unisa.ac.za

6 STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES

The Study @ Unisa website is available on myUnisa: www.unisa.ac.za/brochures/studies

This website has all the tips and information you need to succeed at Unisa.

6.1 FIRST-YEAR EXPERIENCE PROGRAMME @ UNISA

For many students, the transition from school education to tertiary education is beset with
anxiety. This is also true for first-time students to Unisa. Unisa is a dedicated open distance and
e-learning institution. Unlike face-to-face/contact institutions, Unisa is somewhat different. It is a
mega university and all our programmes are offered through a blended learning mode or fully
online learning mode. It is for this reason that we thought it necessary to offer first-time students
additional/extended support so that you can seamlessly navigate the Unisa teaching and
learning journey with little difficulty and few barriers. In this regard we offer a specialised student
support programme to students entering Unisa for the first time. We refer to this programme as
Unisa’s First-Year Experience (FYE) Programme. The FYE is designed to provide you with
prompt and helpful information about services that the institution offers and how you can access
information. The following FYE programmes are currently offered:

• FYE website: All the guides and resources you need to navigate through your first year at
Unisa can be accessed using the following link: www.unisa.ac.za/FYE

• FYE e-mails: You will receive regular e-mails to help you stay focused and motivated.

• FYE broadcasts: You will receive e-mails with links to broadcasts on various topics related to
your first-year studies (eg videos on how to submit assignments online).

• FYE mailbox: For assistance with queries related to your first year of study, send an e-mail
to fye@unisa.ac.za.

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7 HOW TO STUDY ONLINE

7.1 WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO STUDY FULLY ONLINE?
Studying fully online modules differs completely from studying some of your other modules at
Unisa.

• All your study material and learning activities for online modules are designed to be
delivered online on myUnisa.
• All your assignments must be submitted online. This means that you will do all your
activities and submit all your assignments on myUnisa. In other words, you may NOT post
your assignments to Unisa using the South African Post Office or a courier service.
• All communication between you and the University happens online. Lecturers will
communicate to you by e-mail and SMS, as well as use the Announcements function on
myUnisa.

7.2 MYUNISA TOOLS

The main tool that we will use is the Lessons tool. This tool will provide the content of and the
assessments for your module. At times you will be directed to join discussions with fellow
students and complete activities and assessments before you can continue with the module.
It is very important that you log in to myUnisa regularly. We recommend that you log in at least
once a week to do the following:

• Check for new announcements. You can also set your myLife e-mail account so that you
receive the announcement e-mails on your cell phone.

We trust that giving you extra ways to study the material and practise all of the activities will help
you succeed with online modules. To get the most out of the online module you MUST go online
regularly to complete the activities and assignments on time.

8 ASSESSMENT
8.1 ASSESSMENT PLAN
• To complete this module, you will be required to submit one (1) compulsory assignment.

• All information on when and where to submit your assignments will be made available to
you via the myUnisa site for your module.

• Due dates for assignments, as well as the actual assignments are available on the
myUnisa site for this module.

• To gain admission to the examination, you will be required to submit one (1) compulsory
assignment.

• Your assignment will comprise of multiple choice questions (MCQs).

• The assignment weighting for the module is 20%.

• The examination will be a timed online MCQ exam.

• The examination will count 80% towards the final module mark.

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 8.2 ASSIGNMENT NUMBERS
• There are no assignment due dates included in this tutorial letter.

• Assignment due dates will be made available to you on the landing page of myUnisa for
this module. We envisage that the due dates will be available to you upon registration.

• Please start working on your assignments as soon as you register for the module.

• Log on to the myUnisa site for this module to obtain more information on the due dates
for the submission of the assignments
8.3 Assignment due dates

• Modules offered by Unisa are offered online (all information is available via the internet).
In all cases of online engagement, we use myUnisa as our virtual campus.

• From 2022, the myUnisa virtual campus is offered via a new learning management
system. This is an online system that is used to administer, document and deliver
educational material to you and support engagement with you.

• Look out for information from your lecturer, as well as other Unisa platforms, to determine
how to access the virtual myUnisa module site.

• Information on the tools that will be available to engage with the lecturer and fellow
students to support your learning will also be communicated via various platforms.

• The University undertakes to communicate as clearly and as frequently as is necessary

to ensure optimum advantage in the use of the new learning management system.

• Additional information on the use of the myUnisa site for the module, as well as features
to engage and communicate with your lecturer and other students will also be made
available via the online site for the module.

• Therefore, log on to the myUnisa site for your module to gain more information on where
to complete and/or upload your assignments and how to communicate with your lecturer.

8.4 Submission of assignments

As indicated in section 8.1, you need to complete one (1) assignment for this module. Details on
the assignments will be shared on myUnisa.

8.5 YEAR MARK AND EXAMINATION MARK

Your mark for this module will be determined as follows:
Year mark

Your year mark, based on the mark obtained for the compulsory assignment, contributes
20% towards your final mark, while your examination mark contributes 80%.

Your year mark and examination mark must be 50% or higher for you to pass the
module/subject. However, you must obtain a minimum of 40% in the examination,
regardless of your year mark. If you obtain less than 40% in the examination your year
mark will not be taken into account and you will fail.
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For example:
Mark for Assignment 01 = 50% and twenty percent of the assignment mark = 10%

Assume an examination mark of 50%, and 80% of the examination mark = 40%

Final mark = (20% assignment mark) + (80% examination mark)

= 10% + 40%
= 50%

You will need a final mark of at least 40% to qualify for a supplementary examination.

For general information and requirements as far as assignments are concerned, see the
brochure Study @ Unisa, available from www.unisa.ac.za.

8.3 COMPULSORY ASSIGNMENT

As indicated above, you need to complete one (1) compulsory assignment for this module.
Details on the assignment are given below:

Aim: To evaluate your knowledge of some of the fundamental aspects of Financial

Management.

8.4 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• From 2022, the myUnisa virtual campus is offered via a new learning management
system. This is an online system that is used to administer, document and deliver
educational material to you and support engagement with you.

• Look out for information from your lecturer as well as other Unisa platforms to determine
how to access the virtual myUnisa module site.

• Information on the tools that will be available to engage with the lecturer and fellow
students to support your learning will also be communicated via various platforms.

• The University undertakes to communicate as clearly and as frequently as is necessary

to ensure optimum advantage in the use of the new learning management system.

• Additional information on the use of the myUnisa site for the module, as well as features
to engage and communicate with your lecturer and other students will also be made
available via the online site for the module.

• Therefore, log on to the myUnisa site for your module to gain more information on where
to complete and/or upload your assignments and how to communicate with your lecturer.

8.5 THE EXAMINATION

Examination information and details on the format of the examination will be made available to
you online via the myUnisa site later in the year. Look out for information that will be shared with
you by your lecturer and e-tutors (where relevant), and for communication from the University.
Examinations for this module are offered online only in October/ November.
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 9 ACADEMIC DISHONENESTY
9.1 PLAGIARISM
Plagiarism is the act of taking the words, ideas and thoughts of others and presenting them as
your own. It is a form of theft which involves several dishonest academic activities, such as the
following:

• Cutting and pasting from any source without acknowledging the source.
• Not including or using incorrect references.
• Paraphrasing without acknowledging the original source of the information.

9.2 CHEATING
Cheating includes, but is not limited to, the following:

• Completing assessments on behalf of another student, copying from another student

during an assessment or allowing a student to copy from you.
• Using social media (eg WhatsApp, Telegram) or other platforms to disseminate
assessment information.
Submitting corrupt or irrelevant files.
• Buying completed answers from “tutors” or internet sites (contract cheating).

9.3 MORE INFORMATION ABOUT PLAGIARISM CAN BE DOWNLOADED ON THE LINK

BELOW
https://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/myunisa/default/Study-@-Unisa/Student-values-and-rules

10 STUDENTS WITH DISABILITY

The Advocacy and Resource Centre for Student with Disability ARCSWiD) provides an
opportunity for staff to interact with new and returning students with disabilities.

• If you are a student with a disability and would like additional support or need additional
time for assessments, you are invited to contact your lecturer on marozg@unisa.ac.za so
that you can be assisted.

11 IN CLOSING
Do not hesitate to contact us by e-mail if you are experiencing problems with the content of this
tutorial letter or with any academic aspect of the module.
We wish you a fascinating and satisfying journey through the learning material and trust that
you will complete the module successfully.
Enjoy the journey!
Prof Godfrey Marozva
©
Unisa 2023

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