BUSINESS FINANCE - 2020/1

Module Overview

The prime motivator in business activity is sustainable profitability for shareholders' wealth maximization. It follows that all managers are likely to perform better towards that goal if they understand the mechanisms for achieving sustainable profit by acting in the interest of stakeholders. This module is designed to give students the necessary basic background in finance to enable them to be effective business managers. It covers the fundamental principles of corporate finance and investment in bonds, stocks, and projects, along with day-to-day working capital management.

Module provider

Surrey Business School

Module Leader

SOPP Rachel (SBS)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 5

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 1

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None

Module content

Indicative content includes:

• The importance of Corporate Finance within a business and the role of the Corporate Treasurer.


• Corporate Financial Goals -including not-for-profit entities and sustainability goals.


• Financial Analysis and Planning – including performance against stakeholder goals and planning for growth.


• Time Value of Money – discounted cash flow valuation for multiple periods and compounding over period of less than a year including application to investment and financing sources.


• Asset Valuation – valuing bonds and equities


• Capital Investment Appraisal- using tools such as average accounting return, net present value, internal rate of return, payback, discounted payback and profitability index.


• Working Capital Management and Cash Models - including operating cycle and the management of cash, inventories, accounts payable and accounts receivable.

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

Not applicable

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate both the theoretical concepts and their practical application.

The module has number of learning outcomes that directly related to the topics delivered in various weeks. The two assessments (i.e. mid-term test and final exams) are designed to capture learning in all the topics.

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

A one-hour mid-term test (30%) comprising multiple choice questions.

A two-hour closed-book final exam (70%).

Formative assessment and feedback

Formative feedback will be given in a continuous manner during the course of the module.  the weekly tutorial sessions and office hours are used to provide individual formative feedback to students.  Students also have the opportunity to sit a mock class test and mock exam to gain a greater insight into progress and areas requiring further study.

Formative and summative feedback on the mid-term test will be given in the teaching week following the test.  This will enable students to assess their learning at that stage and to further prepare for the final exam.

 

Module aims

• Provide an understanding of the principles of financial management and an appreciation of the role of the finance function in the commercial life of a business
  
• Provide techniques for use in evaluating the financial needs of a business and in financial planning
• Evaluate and compare different investment opportunities and sources of short and long-term finance

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to facilitate active learning and to support students in achieving the learning outcomes. This is achieved through participation of the students in the tutorials that cover worked examples, use of videos in the lectures, participation of the students in the lecture (whenever possible), use of SurreyLearn, weekly office hours, use of additional exercises (accompanied by solutions) for students to solve on their own time.   

The learning and teaching methods include:

• Weekly one two-hour lecture incorporating class-room participation (whenever possible) and videos with real life examples for better understanding (i.e. 11 x 2 hours)


• Weekly one-hour tutorial sessions for solving problems to understand the contents covered in lectures. The tutorials cover worked examples which are an integral part of the module. Tutors will provide the necessary support during these sessions for deeper understanding. (i.e. 11 x 1 hour)


• SurreyLearn discussion forums to address any issues related to the content, learning and teaching environment, and delivery of the module and/or specific topics.


• SurreyLearn will be used for delivering an optional mock MCQ mid-term test and a mock final examination, giving the participants an opportunity to obtain formative feedback.


• Utilizing SurreyLearn as the main pool of resources including lecture handouts, tutorial problems, mock exercise, and discussions. Besides using SurreyLearn as the main means of communication to establish resource efficiency and communicational effectiveness.


• Weekly office hours provided by the tutor(s) and lecturers.


• Support of lecture material by directed reading in selected textbook

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: MAN2089

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2020/1 academic year.