Postgraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2011-2012 (archived)
Module BUSSNEW: Business Economics and Accounting
Department: Business School (Business) [Queen's Campus, Stockton]
BUSS41115: Business Economics and Accounting
| Type | Tied | Level | 4 | Credits | 15 | Availability | Available in 2011/12 | Module Cap | None. |
|---|
| Tied to | N5K207 |
|---|---|
| Tied to | N5K309 |
Prerequisites
- None
Corequisites
- None
Excluded Combination of Modules
- None
Aims
- To develop skills in the application of economic analysis in business decision-making and planning
- To provide students with a critical understanding of key economic aspects of the business environment and the impact of changes in that environment at national and international level
- To provide students with a critical knowledge and understanding of the use of financial reporting external to the organisation, and of financial statements - their underlying principles and fundamental techniques of analysis and interpretation.
Content
- Markets, information and transaction costs
- Organisations, costs and the profit motive
- Competition and welfare
- Strategic behaviour by firms
- Global business and the macroeconomic environment
- Performance and business decisions
- Critical understanding of information conveyed through corporate reporting
- Analysis of company performance based on financial data
Learning Outcomes
Subject-specific Knowledge:
- Have a specialist knowledge and understanding of: the importance of, and interaction between demand, costs and prices at the level of the firm and the market; the interrelationship between the competitive environment, government policy and business decisions.
- Have a critical understanding and appreciation of the complex nature of the economic business environment.
- Have a specialist knowledge and understanding of the use of financial data within organisations.
- Have a specialist knowledge and understanding of the analysis of financial data for evaluating the financial prospects of organisations.
- Have a critical understanding of the uses and limitations of corporate financial reports in internal and external business analysis.
Subject-specific Skills:
- Be able to apply economic understanding in the analysis of business decisions.
Key Skills:
- Written communication; planning, organising and time management; problem solving and analysis; using initiative; computer literacy.
Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module
- The learning outcomes will be met through a combination of lectures, guided reading, individual exercises and group discussion of case studies.
- The assessment of the module, by the written examination, is designed to test the acquisition and articulation of knowledge.
- The assessment of the module, by the written assignment, is designed to test conceptual understanding and skills of application and interpretation within the business context.
Teaching Methods and Learning Hours
| Activity | Number | Frequency | Duration | Total/Hours | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lectures/workshops | 10 | 1 per week | 2 hours | 20 | |
| Seminars | 4 | 1 every other week | 1 | 4 | ■ |
| Preparation & Reading | 126 | ||||
| Total | 150 |
Summative Assessment
| Component: Assignment | Component Weighting: 50% | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Element | Length / duration | Element Weighting | Resit Opportunity |
| One written assignment | 1,500 words maximum | 100% | |
| Component: Examination | Component Weighting: 50% | ||
| Element | Length / duration | Element Weighting | Resit Opportunity |
| Unseen written examination | 90 minutes | 100% | |
Formative Assessment:
Group case study. Participation in DUO-based self-assessment exercises.
■ 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