Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Undergraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2017-2018 (archived)

Module ECOS2191: FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

Department: Business School (Economics and Finance) [Queen's Campus, Stockton]

ECOS2191: FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

Type Tied Level 2 Credits 20 Availability Available in 2017/18 Module Cap Location Queen's Campus Stockton
Tied to N400

Prerequisites

  • Business and Finance

Corequisites

  • None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • None.

Aims

  • To provide students with an understanding of how businesses operate and how accounting and finance functions support businesses in achieving their objectives.
  • To enable students to recommend relevant options for financing a business, recognise and manage financial risks and make appropriate investment decisions.

Content

  • Key principles of corporate finance
  • Different forms of business and organisational structure
  • Corporate governance and corporate responsibility
  • The role of the accountant
  • Financing options
  • Managing financial risk
  • Investment decisions and valuation

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • Have an awareness of the key principles of corporate finance
  • Have an understanding of the general objectives of businesses and the functions and tasks that businesses perform in order to meet their objectives
  • Have knowledge of the nature, characteristics, advantages and disadvantages of different forms of business and organisational structure
  • Have an awareness of the financial risks facing a business and the principal methods of managing those risks
Subject-specific Skills:
  • be able to identify the purpose of financial information produced by businesses, specify how accounting and finance functions support business operations, and identifying sources and methods of financing for businesses and individuals
  • be able to specify the role of the accountancy profession and why the work of the profession is important
  • be able to identify the role that governance plays in the management of a business and specify how a business can promote corporate governance, sustainability, corporate responsibility and an ethical culture
  • be able to specify the impact on a business of the economic environment in which it operates.
  • be able to identify the capital requirements of businesses, assess financing options and recommend relevant methods of financing
  • be able to apply appropriate investment appraisal techniques taking into account other factors affecting investment decisions
Key Skills:
  • have developed a range of generic transferable skills relating to library research.
  • have acquired appropriate skills for synthesis of data.
  • be able to show critical thinking and creativity.
  • have developed problem solving skills.
  • be able to apply numerical, information and IT skills at an appropriate advanced level.

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

  • Learning will be based on knowledge transfer from lectures, seminars and personal study; investigation of cases and real world organisations which will underpin the seminars will encourage students to develop awareness of cultural differences and apply these to the development of their skills in managing themselves and others in such contexts. .
  • Seminar activities and discussions will provide technical understanding of the main corporate finance and financial management techniques.
  • Background research on the relevant key concepts of corporate finance will provide the ground for critical review of different financial management theories to understand the motive behind each corporate financial technique; this will be examined through the summative assignment.
  • The examination will address students' understanding of the main corporate finance theories and technical mechanisms through problem solving and reflection on learning.
  • Background research on the main corporate finance theories and relevant concepts will provide the subject matter of the formative assignment.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
Lectures 10 4 per week 2 hours 20
Seminars 4 Weekly 2 hours 8
Critical Review Discussion 1 Annual 2 hours 2
Preparation and Reading 170
Total 200

Summative Assessment

Component: Assignment Component Weighting: 30%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Individual assignment based on critical review 2500 words 100% Same
Component: Examination Component Weighting: 70%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Written examination 2 hour 30 minutes 100% Same

Formative Assessment:

Mock exam


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