School of Management and

Business
Ysgol Rheolaeth a Busnes

Module Handbook

MMM7120
Financial Analysis and Decision
Making

Semester 1

2014/2015
Contents
Module Handbook Details.............................................................................................3
Aims of the Module...................................................................................................3
Brief description.........................................................................................................3
Learning Outcomes....................................................................................................4
Transferable and Employability Skills.......................................................................4
Lecture Programme........................................................................................................5
Teaching information.................................................................................................6
Attendance.................................................................................................................7
Semester Assessment.....................................................................................................7
Supplementary Assessment........................................................................................7
Unacceptable Academic Practice Regulations...........................................................8
Assignment Submission.............................................................................................8
Penalties for Late Submission of Assessments......................................................9
Submission through the Medium of Welsh............................................................9
Special circumstances....................................................................................................9
Reading List.................................................................................................................10
Detailed Topic Content List.........................................................................................11
Appendix 1: Coursework Test Brief............................................................................17
Appendix 2: Group Project Assignment Brief.............................................................18
Appendix 3: Examination Brief...................................................................................21

Ysgol Rheolaeth a Busnes

School of Management and Business

Module Handbook Details

Module Identifier
Module Title
Academic Year
Module
Coordinator
Office
Email address
Other staff
involved
Checked by

MMM7120

Financial Analysis and Decision Making

2014-2015
Megan Williams
Room 2.32 Rheidol Building
rww@aber.ac.uk
Dr Yizhe Dong (yid1@aber.ac.uk), Sera Gondwe
(srg4@aber.ac.uk)
Please insert initials and date when this handbook has
been internally moderated

Aims of the Module

This module aims to give students a wellinformed, practical grasp of
accounting, finance, financial analysis and financial decisionmaking as
pertinent to the aspiring general manager. It brings together key topics
from financial accounting, management accounting, finance, and data
analysis.

Brief description
From financial accounting, the form of accounting aimed at parties
external to the business, we cover key topics in the preparation of
financial accounts; and analysis and interpretation of the principal
financial accounting statements which are the income statement (or
profit and loss account), statement of financial position (or balance sheet)
and cash flow statement. From management accounting, we deal with the
requirements for and practices of accounting for the benefit of parties
internal to the business, as they seek to plan, monitor and control the
business in a wellinformed and effective manner. From finance, we
consider how businesses may be funded and how that funding should be
managed; decisions as to where the business should invest its resources;
and analysis of business performance in stock market terms. As regards
generally applicable quantitative techniques, the module covers the
calculation and use of descriptive statistics, and the graphical
presentation of data.
The overriding concern is that students should be able to speak the
accounting and financial language of business; be able to take an

active and constructive part in discussions of or based on accounting

and financial information; and understand and appropriately employ
accounting and financial information and techniques in making
business decisions.
Underlying themes for the module are the need for interpretation as
well as raw analysis; relating accounting and finance to other aspects of
business to allow for integrated insight; appreciation of uncertainty and
risk; and creation of value.

Learning Outcomes
On completion of this module, students should be able to:
1. List, describe, explain, compare and contrast different elements in:
Accounting context, usage, approaches, regulation,
practices and analysis Business funding
Financial decision making
Business planning and monitoring
2. Account for simple transactions and produce simple financial and
management accounting statements
3. Interpret financial accounting statements
4. Cite, explain, appropriately select and apply formulae/techniques to:
Analyze accounting and market-based information
Make short and long-run financial decisions
Describe and present data
5. Integrate different forms of analysis in order to generate a well
reasoned and holistic assessment of an organizations financial
performance and position

Transferable and Employability Skills

1. Problem Solving:
Identify the precise problem to be solved
Assess which data are pertinent to the problem
Recognize that alternative solution methods might be available
Select and apply appropriate methods for solving the problem
Assess the reasonableness of problem solutions and interpret those
solutions
2. Research Skills:
Identify which information sources are available to:
i. facilitate module study (understanding, wider reading)

ii. provide information to facilitate the analysis of business

performance and prospects
iii. provide raw input to the production of the group project
Select the most pertinent information for retrieval
Retrieve information
Reassess the pertinence and assess the credibility of
retrieved information
Properly reference/attribute information sources
3. Communication:
Develop confidence in and clarity of oral communication via:
i. tutorial participation
ii. project team group discussions
Develop clarity and focus of written communication via:
i. group project production
ii. development of answers to self study questions
Develop and use appropriate subjectspecific vocabulary in oral and
written communication
4. Improving own learning and performance:
Identify and distil the key issues covered by lectures, tutorials and
self study
Identify and use a range of learning resources
Investigate benefits of small group working on self study
Structure study to accommodate intensive learning
5. Team work:
Develop experience of team work and develop team working skills
via group project
6. Information technology:
Use a variety of electronic web and librarybased resources to
review available information and retrieve pertinent information
Use various software packages for the production of the group project
report (text, numerical tables and analysis, graphics)
Use software to complete elements of the self study (e.g.,
spreadsheets for ease of tabulated numerical calculations,
production of summary statistics, production of graphs, etc.)
7. Application of number:
Develop an easy familiarity with numerical data sources and
numerical data
Apply numerical data to problem solving with care and accuracy
Assess the reasonableness of and interpret numerical solutions
Support assertions/arguments with appropriately developed and
presented numerical data
Calculate and use descriptive statistics
8. Personal development and career planning:
Develop skills in financial analysis and decision making which are
essential to the aspiring general manager
Identify a variety of potential career routes within the financial and
professional services sector

9. Subject Specific Skills

Identify and use sources of financial information
Understand, analyze, interpret and synthesize between financial
accounting, management accounting and marketbased financial
information
Make wellbased financial recommendations and decisions
Bring financial analysis and decision making skills to the service of
the business in strategizing, marketing, operating, etc

Lecture Programme
Please see Detailed topic content list below for an indication of the
lecture programme.
Formal feedback will be given on your class test during the Wednesday
lecture on 3rd December.

Teaching information
This module is delivered by means of:
Lectures:

Four hours of lectures per week

Wednesday 9.00 10.50
Friday 13.10 15.00

Help classes:

One one-hour help class per week

Tuesday 15.10 16.00

Tutorials:

Ten one-hour tutorial/seminar classes

Self-study:

Self-study reading and assignments

Attendance to all sessions except help classes is compulsory.

Help Classes
Weekly help classes are being held to support your studies on this
module, in addition to lectures and seminars/tutorials.
Help classes provide a time and space in which you may ask any
questions you wish about the module in an informal, riskfree environment
in order for you to clarify and improve your understanding of module
topics, and of what is required of you, and to avoid getting behind or lost.
No question will be regarded as laughable or too easy.
It is not compulsory for you to attend the help classes, but the vast
majority of you will benefit from help class attendance perhaps not
every week (although that is fine), but certainly from time to time. As

regards the operation of help classes, here are the key points:
We will cover questions from students attending in person
We will end the class when the questions run out, or end of the hour,
whichever is earlier; or if no one turns up or nonone asks a question ...
so do, please, arrive on time and be prepared to ask your questions
We will not introduce any new topics, materials, work, etc. that have not
been covered in lectures or tutorials
We will not cover material ahead of its being covered in lectures and
tutorials ... so help classes are not the place to ask questions on your
advance reading of later topics; nor the place to ask for help with tutorial
questions not yet covered in tutorial sessions
SelfStudy
Set out under Detailed Topic Content List below is the essential reading
for each topic, plus suggestions for further/wider reading. In addition to
the reading, a selfstudy assignment sheet will be provided for each topic.
In the selfstudy assignment sheets, those questions and problems to be
prepared for tutorials are clearly identified.
Over the course of the module, approximately 150 hours of selfstudy is
required from each student with approximately 110 hours being spent on
the selfstudy reading, assignment sheets and tutorial/seminar
preparation, and approximately 40 hours spent on group work.
Online Learning Environment
There is a Blackboard online learning environment site for this module.
The sections most commonly used for this module are Content and
Assignments. Lecture slides, addenda and ancillary materials will build up
in the Content section week by week. Selfstudy assignment sheets will be
posted in the Assignments section (with solutions to certain exercises
posted in arrears). The Assignments section will also be used to convey
information (beyond that given in this Handbook) on module assessment
elements and advice on preparation for those assessments; and will
include the portal by which an electronic version of students group
assignments must be submitted. Blackboard should be accessed and
reviewed regularly and often.

Attendance
All sessions in this module are compulsory. A register will be taken in
every session. Those who fail to attend sessions will have to respond to
their absences via the online attendance management system (SAMS).
There may be UK Border Agency issues for those whom it applies if
attendance expectations are not met.

Semester Assessment
%
weightin
g

learning
outcomes

Inclass test (unseen)

20%

1, 2, 3, 4

Group project

20%

3, 4, 5

Endofsemester examination (3
hours)

60%

1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Type of assessment
Semester
assessment:

Supplementar Repeat failed element(s) or

y
equivalent
assessment:

as above as above

See Appendices for full details of the assessments for

headings, weightings, word limits etc
Appendix 1: Coursework Test Brief (9.00 Wednesday 26 th November
2014)
Appendix 2: Group Project Assignment Brief (15.00 Thursday 4 th
December 2014)
Appendix 3: Examination Brief (notified by University at a later date)

Supplementary Assessment
Repeat failed elements or equivalent

Unacceptable Academic Practice Regulations

It is unacceptable academic practice to commit any act whereby a person
may obtain, for himself/herself or for another, an unpermitted advantage.
The Regulation shall apply, and a candidate may be found to have
committed unacceptable academic practice, regardless of a candidates
intention and the outcome of the act, and whether the candidate acts alone
or in conjunction with another/others. Any action or actions shall be
deemed to fall within this definition, whether occurring during, or in relation
to, a formal examination, a piece of coursework, the presentation of
medical or other evidence to Examination Boards, or any form of
assessment undertaken in pursuit of a University qualification or award.
Please make yourself aware of the academic guidelines (available in the
Schools general office) on unacceptable academic practice. Acts, amongst
others, that will be punished include: plagiarism, collusion, fabrication of
evidence or data, unacceptable academic practice in formal examinations
and recycling of data or text.

Assignment Submission
From September 2014, Aberystwyth University is moving to e-submission
for text-based word-processed assignments. You'll be asked to submit your
work through AberLearn Blackboard using one of the e-submission tools
built into Blackboard. Your lecturer will tell you when and where to submit
your work, but here are some helpful tips to get you started with esubmission:
If you have a chance to practice using e-submission, take it. Some
staff set up a practice submission so that you become familiar with
using it. Have a go before your first real assessment, so you know
what to do when you submit your work.
If you are planning to use your own computer to submit work:
o Check you have a supported web browser on your computer
(http://www.inf.aber.ac.uk/advisory/faq/636/ ) - if you don't,
please contact is@aber.ac.uk for advice;
o Use this computer when doing your practice submission;
o If you encounter any problems on your own computer, you should
use the university computers available in a number of locations
across the University.
Watch a video on how to submit:
(http://www.inf.aber.ac.uk/advisory/faq/524/).
Don't leave it until the last minute before submitting your work - if
you are stressed and working right up to the clock, mistakes are
easier to make. Give yourself some extra time and submit your
assignment early. That way, you won't risk missing the deadline. You
can find the university policy on late submission on the AU website
here (http://www.aber.ac.uk/en/student/ug-issues/)
Follow all the instructions on screen whilst you are submitting,
including details of file size, file format etc. Please use a short file
name (15 characters is a good length).
If you are using the Turnitin tool, keep the receipt that will come to
your AU email account. Please note that for all of the e-submission
tools, you can also check your receipt of submission by clicking the
link where you originally submitted the assignment.
If your tutors are using e-marking, you may be able to receive your
feedback through the same link. Please check with your tutors to find
out how you will receive feedback.
If you have any problems, contact your department straightaway
with details of what happened. Technical problems can be reported
to bb-team@aber.ac.uk. Please take screenshots of any error
messages.
If you believe that your submission has not gone through correctly,
have a look at the Failed Submission Policy at
http://nexus.aber.ac.uk/xwiki/bin/download/Main/guides+
%2D+Blackboard/failed%2Dsubmission%2Dpolicy.pdf

Please note that computer problems are not considered by the

University to be special circumstances for late submission
(http://www.aber.ac.uk/en/student/ug-issues/ ).

Penalties for Late Submission of Assessments

Deadlines for written work are taken seriously. Students need to manage
their time responsibly so that they can submit work on time.

Assessments must be submitted to the Department according to

individual departmental requirements and published deadlines.
Work submitted after the deadline will be awarded a zero.
A resit will be allowed in Part One if the module is failed overall, but
will not be allowed in Part Two.

A resit will not be allowed at Postgraduate level if the module is failed

overall

Submission through the Medium of Welsh

Whilst all students can submit through the medium of Welsh please be
aware that if the class tutor/lecturer is not fluent in Welsh then the work will
be translated into English before marking.

Special circumstances
Students must consult their departments published procedures for
assessments that are unavoidably submitted late. Special Circumstances
will normally only be considered on the following grounds, with appropriate
supporting documentation:

Illness
Severe personal/family problems (e.g. family bereavement)

The following will not be considered as Special Circumstances:

Computer failure (you should ensure adequate backups)

Printer queues (you should manage your time better)
Lack of access to resources (better planning will ensure this does not
happen)
Illness for which a medical certificate is not available
Poor time management
More than one deadline on the same day
Inability to answer question or struggling with the material
Crisis Games, Performance Productions, or Departmental study trips
Non-academic activities

10

Approved by Senate 13 June 2012

Reading List
The core text for the module (a recommended purchase) is:
Atrill, P. and McLaney, E. (2013). Accounting and Finance for Non
Specialists, 8th Edition. Pearson.
The sixth edition (2008) and the seventh edition (2011) are widely
available. Either edition is fine. References in the module to the core text
relate to the eighth edition. If you have the seventh (or an earlier)
edition, you must cross check the contents/index with the eighth edition
to establish the correct references.
A number of texts provide good coverage a significant proportion of
module topics, and a number of these have been (or are sure to be!)
published in various editions. Examples include:
Atrill, P., Financial Management for Decision Makers [NB. this is
not the same book as the core text / recommended purchase
(above)]
Brealey, R., Myers, S. and Allen, F., Principles of Corporate Finance
Jones, M., Accounting
Collier, P., Accounting for Managers
Parker, R., Understanding Company Financial statements
Dyson, J., Accounting for NonAccounting Students
Davies, T. and Boczko, T., Business Accounting and Finance
Fraser, L. and Ormiston, A., Understanding Financial
Statements
Marney, J.P. and Tarbert, H., Corporate Finance for Business
Further resources will be notified in lecture slides; and/or referenced
in self study assignments; and/or made available via Blackboard.

11

Detailed Topic Content List

Set out below are the intended learning outcomes and motivation(s) for
each topic, essential reading, and suggestions for further/wider reading. In
addition to the reading out below, there is a selfstudy assignment
document for each topic. In the selfstudy assignment sheets, those
questions and problems to be prepared for tutorials are clearly identified.
1. Introduction and context
Outcome/motivation
Describe what accounting is and explain its nature and purposes
Describe the various forms of business organisations
Explain the identity of accounting information users and their
information needs
Describe what governs the preparation and reporting of financial
information Explain the meaning and importance of corporate
governance
Accounting and governance play an important role in business and
management
Essential reading from the core text (Atrill and McLaney)
Chapter 1: Introduction to accounting and finance
Chapter 4: Accounting for limited companies (this chapter
includes some information on sources of finance,
which is useful also for topic 3a)
Further reading
Walker (2010) [available via Blackboard]
Sunder (2010) [available via Blackboard]
Dye and Sunder (2001) [available via Blackboard]
The UK Corporate Governance Code [available via Blackboard]
Wider reading
Weetman, P. (2006)
Financial and Management Accounting: An
Introduction, 4th edition, Harlow, England: Pearson Education
Ltd. [Chapters 1 and 4]
Elliott, B. and J. Elliott. (2013) Financial Accounting and
Reporting, 16th edition, Harlow, England: Pearson Education
Ltd. [Chapters 10, 11and 31]

12

2a. Accounting basics

Outcome/motivation
Identify and describe the key concepts and conventions that
underlie financial accounting
Understand the accounting equation and its link with financial
statements
Appreciate how business events/transactions are recognised,
measured and disclosed/presented in financial statements
Essential reading from the core text (Atrill and McLaney)
Chapter 2: Measuring and reporting financial position
Chapter 3: Measuring and reporting financial performance
Chapter 5: Measuring and reporting cash flows
Further reading
Chapter 2 Transaction Analysis of Harrison, Jr. W.T. and C.T.
Horngren, 2008, Financial Accounting, 7th ed., Pearson
Education Inc.: NJ [available via Blackboard; large file]
2b. Principal financial statements
Outcome/motivation
Understand the major components of (published) financial
statements
Be aware of the official presentation format of each key
statement
Be aware of some of the complex items in published financial
statements Appreciate the different informational roles played
by different statements
Financial statements are a rich source of information for
analysing companies financial affairs
Essential reading from the core text (Atrill and McLaney)
Chapter 2: Measuring and reporting financial position
Chapter 3: Measuring and reporting financial performance
Chapter 5: Measuring and reporting cash flows
Essential further reading
Metalrax plc annual report [required for tutorial; available via
Blackboard; large file]
2c. Approaches to financial statement analysis
Outcome/motivation
Understand how to conduct financial statement analysis and interpret
financial statements

13

Appreciate the roles and limitations of financial statement analysis

It is important to be able to understand/interpret financial statements
as FS are an important source of information
FSA reveals information about a companys financial strengths and
weaknesses useful in managerial and wider decision making
Essential reading from the core text (Atrill and McLaney)
Chapter 6: Analysing and interpreting financial statements
3a. Sources of business finance and working capital management
Outcome/motivation
Describe the various sources of finance and the main elements
of working capital
Explain the advantages and disadvantages associated with the
various sources of finance
Discuss the purpose of working capital and the nature of the
working capital cycle
Describe the various control techniques/measures that can be
used to manage different elements of working capital
Finance (including working capital) is the lifeblood of every
organisation and hence it is important to know how to source
and manage it
Essential reading from the core text (Atrill and McLaney)
Chapter 11: Financing the business
Chapter 12: Managing working capital
3b. Cost of capital
Outcome/motivation
Reiterate the finance is not free; but that it is costly to the business
Understand the different types of financing/funding have different
costs
since they present the lender/investor with different levels of risk
Learn how to calculate the cost of different types of funding .and
the overall cost of the businesss funding (WACC)
An appropriate choice of funding is an important contributor to firm
value and shareholder wealth
Essential reading from the core text (Atrill and McLaney)
Chapter 11: Financing the business
4. Summarizing and representing data
Outcome/motivation
Understand and calculate measures to summarise/describe sets of

14

data
Understand and employ methods to present sets of data
The ability to summarise, describe and represent sets of data is an
essential skill across a range of subject areas, including business,
accounting and finance
Key amongst the benefits are facilitating analysis and improving
communications
5. Understanding and interpreting stock market information
Outcome/motivation
Ability to assess company performance in stock market terms
Understand and apply the riskreturn paradigm of investment
assessment
Appropriately distinguish between total risk and systematic risk
A huge proportion of individuals wealth is invested, directly or
indirectly, in the listed shares of large firms.
Assessment of attractiveness and performance of firms in stock
market terms is, therefore, essential.

6a. Management accounting: cost analysis, classification and

determination
Outcome/motivation
Define the common terminologies used in cost and
management accounting
Describe how costs can be differently classified and
analysed
Explain how total cost of production/services can be determined
using traditional as well as contemporary methods
Management accounting plays an essential informational and
managerial role in every organisation
Costs and costing concepts are fundamental in various
aspects of managerial decision making
Essential reading from the core text (Atrill and McLaney)
Chapter 8: Full costing
Further reading
Cooper and Kaplan (1988) [available via Blackboard]
Various management accounting textbooks by C Drury, C T
Horngren, etc.
6b. Management accounting: shortterm decision making
Outcome/motivation
Understand the application of marginal costing/ contribution

15

approach
to shortterm operational decision making
Apply the relevant costing approach to make management
decisions
The relevant/marginal costing approach is highly useful in dealing
with short term decision making
Essential reading from the core text (Atrill and McLaney)
Chapter 7: The relevance and behaviour of costs

7. Longterm investment appraisal techniques and decisions

Outcome/motivation
Understand various investment appraisal techniques and use them
in long run strategic decision making
Understand investment appraisals/capital budgeting in an
international context
Longterm decision making is a common and vitally important
managerial task
Essential reading from the core text (Atrill and McLaney)
Chapter 10: Making capital investment decision

8a. Planning and monitoring business activities: planning and

control systems
Outcome/motivation
Understand what a Budgetary Control System (BCS) is and its
role in the management process
Understand the key features and functions of a budget
Appreciate the behavioural implications and limitations of
budgeting
Understand the roles of standard costing and variance analysis
in the control process
Appreciate the principles behind variance analysis and why
variances might arise
Budgetary control systems are central to the effective
management of any organisations
Essential reading from the core text (Atrill and McLaney)
Chapter 9: Budgeting
Essential further reading (articles on Blackboard)
Hope, J. and Fraser, R. (2003) Who needs budgets? Harvard
Business Review, February, pp.108115

16

Neely, A., Bourne, M. and Adams, C. (2003), Better budgeting or

beyond budgeting?,
Measuring Business Excellence, 7 (3), pp.2228
Beyond Budgeting Round Table (2006) White Paper
Further/wider reading
Relevant chapters from Drury, C., Management and Cost
Accounting, Colin Drury (various editions/years)
Critiques of budgeting:
Wallander, J. (1999), Budgeting an unnecessary evil,
Scandinavian Journal of Management, 15 (4), pp.405421
Jensen, M.C. (2003), Paying people to lie: the truth about the
budgeting process,
European Financial Management, 9 (3), pp.379406
Empirical surveys of budgeting process:
Dugdale, D. and Lyne, S. (2006), Budgeting: are budgets
still needed?, Financial Management, November, pp.32
35
Ekholm, BG. and Wallin, J. (2000), Is the annual
budget really dead?, The European Accounting
Review, 9 (4), pp.519539
Libby, T. and Lindsay, R.M. (2010), Beyond budgeting or
budgeting reconsidered? A survey of NorthAmerican
budgeting practice, Management Accounting Research, 21
(1), pp.5675
Overview of budgeting:
Neely, A. Sutcliff, M.R. and Heyns, H.R., (2001), Driving
Value through Strategic Planning and Budgeting, New
York, NY: Accenture
Hansen, S.C., Otley, D.T. and Van der Stede, W.A. (2003),
Practice developments in budgeting: An overview and
research perspective, Journal of Management Accounting
Research, 15, pp.95116

8b. Planning and monitoring business activities: divisional

performance measurement
Outcome/motivation
Understand the purposes of divisional performance measurement
Understand the various financial and nonfinancial
measures used in performance evaluation
Essential reading
Measuring Performance, chapter 10 in Atrill, P. and McLaney, E.
(2010) Management Accounting for Decision Makers, 6th ed.,
Harrow: Pearson Education Limited [available on Blackboard]
[Note: although by the same authors, this is not the module core
text book]

17

Further recommended reading

Kaplan, R.S. and Norton, D.P. (1992), "The balanced
scorecard: measures that drive performance," Harvard
Business Review, 70 (1), 7179 [available on Blackboard]

Ysgol Rheolaeth a Busnes

School of Management and Business

Appendix 1: Coursework Test Brief

Module identifier
Module title
Module coordinator
Weighting in module
Test date
Duration
Learning Outcomes
addressed
in this assignment

MMM7120
Financial Analysis and Decision
Making
Megan Williams
20%%%
%
9.00am Wednesday 26th November

1 hour
1, 2, 3, 4

Coursework test information and directions

The coursework test is a multiple choice test.
Well ahead of the test, you will be provided with: (i) a copy of the cover
sheet of the test question booklet, which includes instructions for
answering the test and information on the scoring system; and (ii) a
specimen of the multiple choice test answer sheet, which includes
instructions for recording your answers. You are strongly advised to
familiarise yourself thoroughly with these documents.
The coursework test venue will be advised at a later date, however please
ensure you arrive promptly .

18

Having entered the test room:

o

Remain silent, and refrain from communication with anyone other than an
invigilator.

Leave your notes, mobile phones / pagers / similar items (switched off), bags,
coats, etc. at the back of the room.

Take a place where a test paper has been placed, but do not touch the test
paper until told to do so.

You should have with you your student number, your student id card, pencils,
erasers and an approved calculator.
o
You may not have any other materials with you (no rough paper, notes,
books, etc.)

You may not leave until you are dismissed at the end of the test
At the end of the test you must remain silent, and refrain from
communication with anyone other than an invigilator, until you are well
clear of the test room.
Test booklets must remain intact and handed in whole at the end of the
test; you should not detach any pages.

Appendix 2: Group Project

Assignment Brief
Module identifier
Module title
Module coordinator
Assignment title
Weighting in module
Submission deadline

Required length/word
limit
Learning Outcomes
addressed
in this assignment

MMM7120
Financial Analysis and Decision Making
Megan Williams
Group Project
20%
3pm on Thursday 4th December 2014
Note: this is the final submission deadline; but see
also interim deadlines below
4,000 words, plus judicious appendices
Note: see below for more detailed rules
3, 4,
5

Assignment
Working in teams, you are required to produce a report upon the
recent performance, position and prospects of two companies which
compete in the same in industry sector.

19

There are three deadlines explained below, in respect of:

Team membership
Team choice of industry and competitors with in that industry
Submission of the team report
Team membership
You are required to organise yourselves into teams of five or six members.
Once you have a complete team, ONE (and only one) of the members must e
mail a list of team members to Dr Yizhe Dong (yid1@aber.ac.uk) for approval.
If you are not in a team apprised to and agreed by Dr Yizhe Dong
3pm on Thursday 23rd October 2014, you will be assigned to a team.
If your team has only five members at that point, it may have
another person assigned to it.
We will publish final team lists on Blackboard, in confirmation of the
membership of each.
Choice of industry and two industry competitors
No more than three teams will be allowed to choose the same industry. No
team may choose the financial services industry. No team will be allowed to
choose an industry competitor company which has been chosen by another
team. No team will be allowed to choose an industry competitor company
which appears in the list directly below (Companies which may not be
chosen for the group project coursework assessment).
ONE (and only one) member of your team is required to submit the teams
choice of industry and two competitor companies within that industry by e
mail to Dr Yizhe Dong (yid1@aber.ac.uk) for approval by 3pm on Thursday
6th November 2014. Submissions will be dealt with on a first come first
served basis by email. You may wish to include a second choice of industry
and/or competitor companies in case your first choices have already been
taken. If your team does not make an approved choice before the
deadline, a choice will be made for you.
Hint: Before settling on choice of industry and, particularly, two industry
competitors, think about:
i.

what kind of information you will need in order to be to complete

this assignment, and make sure you will be able to get it such
information is bound to include, for example, financial statement
and share performance information (but, further, see also below
Hints concerning the report)
ii. the need for comparability of the information you will collect on
the two industry competitors
iii. the need for you to be able readily to understand, analyse and
interpret that information.
In sum, this means you should be looking for industry competitors which
are both listed companies; which are both based in the same jurisdiction;
and, further, which are based in the UK or a jurisdiction with a similar

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financial accounting and reporting framework (e.g., USA, Australia, etc.,

etc.).
Companies which may not be chosen for the group project:
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
(AMD)
Amazon.com, Inc.
Associated British Foods plc
AUDI AG
BASF SE
BP plc
British Sky Broadcasting Group
plc
Canon Inc.
Cobham plc
DS Smith plc
BP plc

GKN plc
HewlettPackard Company (HP)
J Sainsbury plc
Marks and Spencer plc
Pfizer Inc
Sina Corp
Stagecoach Group plc
The Procter & Gamble Company
Vodafone Group plc
Volkswagen AG

Submission of team report

Maximum length 4,000 words, plus judicious appendices. Any material in
the main body of your report (i.e., excluding appendices) beyond 4,000
words may be ignored. Material submitted in appendices which should be
in the main body of your report will be counted as part of the main body.
Your submission must be fronted by a standard handin cover sheet,
duly completed.
You must include a final appendix (in addition to any others you may
wish to include) which sets out the sources which you consult, quote,
etc. as part of this coursework assessment. References to sources
should be in standard form.
Your submission should be word processed and be produced
principally in black on white. Judicious use of colour is acceptable.
You are reminded of the need to provide a clear, well
structured submission, with appropriate, accurate and concise
use of language.
Report to be submitted by 3pm on Thursday 4th December. The
submission to be made by ONE (and only one) using Tunitin as specified
in Assignment Submission
Please ensure you are aware of unacceptable academic practise and
submit your group report in a timely manner
Hints concerning the report
You are advised that your report is unlikely to be considered complete or
compelling without the following (although this list is not intended to be
exhaustive, nor highlight the relative importance of its elements):
Analysis of industry business environment and strategy Analysis of
financial accounting information
Analysis of stock marketbased information
Discussion upon corporate governance and regulatory compliance

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Discussion upon management capability

Coverage of other pertinent matters, e.g. social issues, risk
management, etc. A balanced approach
Wellreasoned conclusions; and a recommendation regarding each of
the two companies you have considered, as to whether you would
suggest investors buy, hold or sell the shares in that company
Clear format and structure (clear and useful headings and sub
headings; page numbering; contents page; executive summary;
judicious use of footnotes, appendices, graphics and diagrams;
readable fonts; and appropriate and accurate language, etc.)
Accurate, complete and clear referencing of all information sources

Ysgol Rheolaeth a Busnes

School of Management and Business
Appendix 3: Examination Brief
Module identifier
Module title
Module coordinator
Weighting in module
Examination date
Duration
Learning Outcomes

MMM7120
Financial Analysis and Decision Making
Megan Williams
60%
University examinations period
3 hours
1, 2, 3, 4, 5

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addressed

in this assignment
Examination information
The examination is a closed book examination. Each student will be given
the same examination paper.
Examination questions may have multiple parts; and examination
questions may include both numerical/problem solving and discursive
elements.
All topics taught in the module are potentially examinable.
Well ahead of the examination date, you will be provided with a copy of
the examination question paper cover sheet. You are strongly advised to
familiarise yourself thoroughly with this document.

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