AF4038 - Financial Decision Making

You will learn by means of lectures (24 hours) and seminars (12 hours), supported by tutor-directed study (82 hours) and independent learning (82 hours). The lectures will use gapped handouts. These will introduce you to different types of financial information and will demonstrate, through use of worked examples, how this information can be used to make decisions. You will then be required to apply these methods by undertaking exercises in advance of your seminar. Your tutor will work through these with you in the seminar session. This will provide you with a means of formative assessment and feedback, by enabling you to determine your level of knowledge and understanding of a topic and ability to apply the techniques you have learnt. The solutions to the seminar activities will then be placed onto the module’s eLearning Portal (eLP) site for future reference. You will also be provided with supplementary questions in relation to each topic area which will help you to consolidate your level of knowledge and understanding. Solutions to these exercises will be made available through the module’s eLP site.
You will be required to complete a test after each of the three decision making areas has been covered in lectures. These will be located on the eLP. The tests will contribute to your summative mark for the module, this will also function as an additional vehicle for formative assessment and feedback.

You will be supported by a teaching and learning plan (TLP) that outlines the pattern and content of formal sessions, tutor-directed study and independent study. Support in relation to the day to day operation of the module will be provided by the module tutor in the first instance. You will also receive feedback from tutors in seminars, facilitated by the formative assessment activities, during which you will have an opportunity to ask any questions you may have in respect of the subject matter. The e-learning portal will house the gapped lecture notes and all seminar and directed study exercises and solutions, and an electronic reading list will provide you with information in respect of the supporting texts. Your lectures will be recorded and uploaded to the e-learning portal which you will be able to access to consolidate your knowledge and develop understanding.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

Knowledge & Understanding (KU):

• You will demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the use of financial information in business and management. (MLO1)

• You will demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the use of financial information in the process of making justifiable operational, entrepreneurial and performance evaluation decisions. (MLO2)

Formative assessment:

You will be required to undertake exercises in advance of your seminars and will receive class-based feedback from your tutors in respect of these on an on-going basis. You should be aware that formative feedback can, and will, occur in any communication with the academic tutor.

Summative assessment:
You will be required to sit three tests via the eLP during the semester – one for each of the three main topic areas (15%) (MLO1).

This will comprise one element:
1 1/2 hour closed book examination at the end of the module, consisting of multiple choice questions (85%). (MLO1 and MLO2).

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This ‘Financial Decision Making’ module will provide you with the knowledge and numerical and problem- solving skills that will greatly enhance your employability in any business environment. By analysing and interpreting their financial statements, you’ll be able to assess the performance of businesses in terms of their profitability, solvency, financial structure and working capital management. You’ll also be able to make decisions around planning and control for a business as a whole, and evaluate individual projects by using investment appraisal techniques that take into account risk and uncertainty.