Module ECOS1241: Business, Technology and Finance

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

ECOS1241: Business, Technology and Finance

Prerequisites

• None

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

Content

• Business objectives and functions
• Business and organisational structures
• The role of finance
• The role of the accountancy profession
• Governance, sustainability, corporate responsibility and ethics
• External environment
• Technology

Learning Outcomes

• On completion of this module students should:
• 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 understanding of the purpose of financial information produced by businesses
• Have an understanding of the role of the accountancy profession and why its work is important
• Have an understanding of the role that governance plays in the management of a business, and how a business can promote corporate governance, sustainability, corporate responsibility and an ethical culture
• Have an understanding of the impact of the economic environment in which it operates
• Have an understanding of the key features, benefits and risks of different technologies

• On completion of this module students should:
• Be able to identify sources and methods of financing for businesses and individuals
• Be able to critically analyse the impact on a business of the economic environment in which it operates
• Be able to identify the characteristics of big data, and the different types and sources of data
• Be able to specify different types of cyber risk and attack, and the steps organisations can take to improve cyber security
• Be able to specify the features and uses of cloud accounting, the internet of things, and distributed ledger technology

• Critical analysis and judgement skills
• Problem solving skills
• Data analytics

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 and webinars, underpinned by online activities (including video material and discussion boards) and independent study which will help students acquire appropriate practical skills associated with the main concepts and principles of business and financial decisions.
• The summative assignment will take the form of a 2500-word business analysis report. This will assess students’ understanding of the broad concepts of businesses and their different regulatory and professional frameworks; their understanding of the different concepts and theories of business operations; and the diversity of its environment. Finally, it will assess their awareness of the threats and opportunities associated with the business environment, leading to different business behavioural patterns.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Individual assignment (1500 words)

■ 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