Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Postgraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2007-2008 (archived)

Module BUSI49115: FINANCIAL PLANNING AND CONTROL (FT)

Department: Economics, Finance and Business (Business)

BUSI49115: FINANCIAL PLANNING AND CONTROL (FT)

Type Tied Level 4 Credits 15 Availability Module Cap
Tied to N1K017
Tied to N1KC17

Prerequisites

  • None.

Corequisites

  • None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • None.

Aims

  • To build on the core module "Managing Finance" by:
  • developing students' understanding of the financial control processes of business and their systems context introduced in the core theme;
  • providing students with the ability to evaluate alternative mechanisms to deliver information for management control and decision making;
  • providing students with a critical understanding of the centrality of management accounting information to wealth creation.

Content

  • Understanding Cost Behaviour.
  • Short Term Budgeting.
  • Resource Allocation and Capacity Costs.
  • Activity Based Costing Systems and Activity Based Management.
  • Financial Measures of Performance, International Dimensions.
  • Balanced Scorecard.
  • Incentive Measures and Performance.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • By the end of the module students will have:
  • a knowledge of the behaviour of costs;
  • a critical understanding of the context of the information needs of management;
  • explored and have an appreciation of recent academic literature and its implications for current management practice;
  • a critical understanding of the impact of management accounting on key strategic issues faced by organisations;
  • developed an appreciation of the limitations in application of wealth creation models.
Subject-specific Skills:
  • By the end of the module students will have:
  • the ability to critically evaluate the role of budgeting in effective management control.
Key Skills:

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • Learning outcomes will be met through a combination of lectures, groupwork, case studies and discussion, supported by guided reading. The written assignment will test students' understanding of relevant concepts and their ability to apply and interpret what they have learned to the analysis of a particular issue in depth.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
Workshops (a combination of lectures, groupwork, case studies and discussion) 24
Preparation and Reading 126
Total 150

Summative Assessment

Component: Written Assignment Component Weighting: 100%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Written Assignment 4,000 words maximum 100%

Formative Assessment:

None.


Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University