Module Identifier EC35720  
Module Title BUSINESS FINANCE PROJECT  
Academic Year 2002/2003  
Co-ordinator Mr Nicholas Perdikis  
Semester Intended for use in future years (Taught over 2 semesters)  
Next year offered N/A  
Next semester offered N/A  
Pre-Requisite Years 1 & 2 core modules of proposed BSc(Econ) Business Finance  
Mutually Exclusive EC34520 Business Economics Project  
Course delivery Lecture   7 Hours  
  Seminars / Tutorials   4 Hours 3 x 1 hr group supervision + 2 x 30 min. individual supervision sessions per student  
Assessment Semester Assessment   1 x 6000 word group report (Semester 1), 1 x 6000 word individual report (Semester 2)    

Learning outcomes

Students will learn to investigate the current economic environment of a firm or financial organisation, and analyse and evaluate its financial strategy with respect to particular features of its external or internal environment. Working in small groups, each choosing its own financial or market sector, students will first prepare and present a (group) situational report (max. 6000 words) on the sector.
The group report will identify key (on-going or prospective) changes in the sector's economic and financial environment that are relevant to firm's business financial strategies. This (group) part of the project includes, as objectives, the development of team-working and presentational skills, and its methods of assessment are designed to encourage these.
Each student, focusing on a different firm or organisation in the group's sector, will then prrepare a detailed individual report (max. 6000 words) on the strategy questions and possible answers that arise as a consequence of a key issue of change in its business financial environment. This part of the module is designed to allow students to develop individually business finance research skills drawing on techniques learnt earlier in the degree scheme, as well as encouraging networking with other students investigating other forms or organisations in the same sector.

Aims

This module is a final year focal point of the proposed BSc(Econ) Business Finance degree scheme. It aims for students to integrate learning from various parts of the scheme; develop practical skills in business finance research methods; develop team-work, time-management, initiative, report-writing and presentational skills; and foster a sense of distinctive identity among students on the scheme.

Brief description

This is a final year core module involving supervised preparation of group and individual reports on economic and financial aspects of the operating environment of a financial sector and a firm or organisation within that.

Transferable skills

Team-working skills are linked to the preparation of the group report. Individual initiative and time-management are related to the individual report. Research skills, networking and presentational skills are linked to both assessment elements.

Reading Lists

Books
A Adamson. (1990) A Student's Guide to Assignments, Projects and Research. Thamesman Publications, Oxford