MBF7202 - Financial Strategy and Business Operations

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
Synthesise strategic financial objectives, and their interdependence with, and possible constraints on, corporate strategies.
Evaluate the financing requirements of an organisation and strategies for meeting those requirements, including opportunities for merger, acquisition, and divestment.
Calculate returns and forecast performance, and evaluate procedures for local and global investment projects.
Interpret the role of non-financial considerations, including contracts, procurement, and supply chain management, in financial strategic decisions.

Content:

This module develops advanced understanding of the strategy and operations of businesses as organisations and associated financial management (and accounting) functions. Students will be introduced to the role of strategic financial objectives for an organisation, and measurement of current and forecast performance, variations in economic and business factors, and alternative financial strategies. Students will also apply concepts such as long- and short-term financing for organisations, risk factors and stakeholder requirements, as well as appreciate the importance of non-financial requirements relating to procurement, supply chain management and contracts.

Learning and Teaching Information:

The module will be delivered via a series of weekly 2.5-hour teaching blocks, comprising whole-group interactive lecture and seminar covering fundamental theories and applications. Lectures and seminars will be supported by in-depth applied workshops.

The module will present students with selected scenarios for basic analysis in order to develop both analytical competence and the ability to identify and apply appropriate techniques in a range of typical situations. Students will be provided case studies and problems in which they will be required to analyse and apply concepts such as debt and equity management, calculation of returns, evaluation and control of investment projects, liquidity, performance, and creditworthiness.

The module will make use of current newsworthy case studies and developing business trends and so the nature of the topics and exercises will vary. Students will be provided with, and/or directed to, relevant reading and additional questions/ exercises to support their progress through the module material.

Lectures/Seminars
Hours: 25
Intended Group size: Cohort

Workshops/Tutorials
Hours: 5
Intended Group size: Cohort or variable-size groups

Guided independent study
Hours: 170

Further details relating to assessment
Company financial report: Students will be required to prepare a corporate financial report detailing the financial strategy and performance of a large corporation of their choice. Students will be assessed on their ability to analyse, measure, and interpret the impact of debt and equity management, control and evaluation of investments and mergers, working capital management, and risk assessment on the formulation of financial strategies, as well as their interplay with non-financial considerations.

Formative feedback: Weekly lectures and workshops are taught in an interactive manner, providing semi-formal discussion and debates, peer critique and feedback, as well as quizzes and individual or group presentations, which offer ample opportunities for feedback and feed forward to students before their assignments.

Assessment:

001 Report; 4,000 words; end of term 1 100%

Fact File

Module Coordinator - Andrew Gilliland
Level - 7
Credit Value - 20
Pre-Requisites - NONE
Semester(s) Offered - 7T1

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