Assignment Brief
MBA7060 Financial Management and Decision Making
Assessment Number
AS2
Assessment Type (and weighting)
Individual written report (70% of final mark)
Assessment Name
Written report – Coursework (3000 words)
Assessment Submission Date
19th May 2025 via Turnitin @23:59hrs
Learning Outcomes Assessed:
LO1: Demonstrate a broad knowledge of accounting principles and their use in decision-making and control, including awareness of external regulatory, legal, ethical frameworks, and financial reporting requirements
LO3: Critically evaluate, select and use financial software applications, including spreadsheets, etc., to support problem solving in key business areas.
Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) Applications in this Assessment
AI Status
Application
Notes
Category A
No GAI tool is permitted.
While grammar and/or spell checkers may be used to correct individual words and sentences, the use of GAI is not allowed. This is because the learning outcomes require you to produce original assessment work without any GAI assistance
Any GAI generated content which is presented as your own original work and is not acknowledged will be assessed for academic misconduct.
Assessment Task Scenario:
Financial accounting regulation, investment appraisal and project financing options.
Most economies are beginning to recover from the widespread economic downturn caused by the 2020 COVID pandemic. Opportunities for expansion are starting to show green shoots in many countries and businesses across the world are now seeking to exploit these opportunities. There are expectations that the monetary policy makers of countries will start to reduce interest rates as reduction in inflation have been observe in many climes.
The continuous increase in demand for some goods and services all over the world has fuelled many businesses quest to go international. Businesses that have not previously shown interest in exploiting these opportunities are now seeking to have more understanding of the international regulatory and legal framework in financial accounting, improve the process of investment appraisal as well as the financing options available for business project financing.
Assignment Tasks:
Bolly Consulting Ltd is an Indian-based software manufacturing company. The directors believe that there is potential for growth in their product globally. To exploit this opportunity, they are seeking to have more understanding of the international regulatory and legal framework in financial accounting, finding better ways to improve their capital investment appraisal techniques and seek better project financial options. They are also considering opening a new office in a neighbouring country or install a new software at the head office in India to help it do business better.
They have approached you as management consultant to help advise and determine which option is the best for them.
Your job is to write a report to advise Bolly Consulting Ltd on their obligations on the international regulatory and legal standards in financial accounting, evaluate and suggest the best investment options and recommend the best financing option/s.
Using data provided by the organisation, you are to complete a Payback period (PBP) and Net Present Value (NPV) investment appraisal technique in Microsoft Excel and use the results to advise and make recommendations for Bolly Consulting Ltd.
In your report, you are required to, among other things, cover the following:
Introduction: What the report is about and parameters to be covered in the report including the meaning and significance of international financial accounting regulatory and legal obligations, project appraisal techniques and business financing methods (10%)
Critically evaluate the main international financial accounting regulatory bodies, the regulations and legal obligations for organisations such as Bolly Consulting Ltd and standards and principles in financial accounting. (10%)
Explain whether or not there is legal obligation in carrying out investment appraisal and critically examine some of the elements Bolly Consulting Ltd should consider when carrying out project appraisals using NPV technique (10%)
Using Microsoft Excel spreadsheet produce investment appraisal tables using Payback Period (PBP) and Net Present Value (NPV) techniques” –. (An additional excel case study information is provided for this) (15%)
Applying theories and practice use the result of the Payback Period (PBP) and Net Present Value (NPV) techniques, to decide which investment Bolly Consulting should embark upon. Provide the reasons for this decision. (5%)
Critically evaluate the merits and limitations of Payback Period (PBP) and Net Present Value (NPV) investment appraisal techniques. (15%)
In the light of the investment decision, critically evaluate different financing options and make recommendation on which financing method should be used to fund the investment decision (15%)
Reflecting on your report, evaluate how your understanding of international regulatory and legal framework in financial accounting, investment appraisal techniques, as well as business project financing methods has helped your professional development? (10%)
References (in-text and bibliography) and quality of work (10%)
Appendix
Important and helpful information
File type
Word processed/PDF
Font
12 pitch font – Arial or Calibri
Format
1.5 line-spaced and justified
Referencing
Harvard style
Important and helpful information
Please refer to the Module Guide for information regarding indicative reading, guidelines for the preparation and submission of assignments, and the assessment criteria.
Submission
Electronic copies of assignments should be submitted via “Turn-it-in” NO LATER THAN THE DEADLINE.
Please ensure you follow the instructions provided by your module tutor and on the assessment brief. Submission of assessments must be done by submission date. Assignments not available at this time will be considered late unless an extension has been previously agreed.
Students who fail to submit assessments by the specified date (without an extension being granted or without accepted Mitigating Circumstances) will be subject to the following penalties:
Up to 7 calendar days late = 10 marks subtracted but if the assignment would normally gain a pass mark, then the final mark to be no lower than the pass mark for the assignment.
More than 7 calendar days late = This will be counted as non-submission and no marks will be recorded.
Please note that it is your responsibility to ensure that the assignment is submitted in the format/s specified in the Module Guide or on the Assessment Brief.
YOU SHOULD ALWAYS ENSURE YOU KEEP A COPY OF ANY ASSIGNMENT SUBMITTED.
In the case of exceptional and unforeseen circumstances, an extension of up to 14 days after the assessment deadline may be granted. This must be agreed by your Programme Leader, following a discussion the Module Tutor. You should complete an Extension Request Form available from Student Services and attach documentary evidence of your circumstances, prior to the published submission deadline.
Extensions over 14 calendar days should be requested using the Mitigating Circumstances procedure.
Some students with registered disabilities will be eligible for revised submission deadlines. Revised submission deadlines do not require the completion extension request paperwork.
Please see the Programme Handbook for further details.
Declaration:
At the end of the assessment, you must declare any software tools including Generative AI (GAI) applications that you used in developing and completing the assessment
Minimum Secondary Research Source Requirements:
References
Level HE7 – It is expected that the Reference List will contain between fifteen to twenty sources. As a MINIMUM the Reference List should include four refereed academic journals and five academic books.
GENERAL ASSESSMENT GUIDELINES – LEVEL HE7
%
Relevance
Knowledge
Argument/Analysis
Structure
Presentation
Written English
Research/Referencing
DISTINCTION
Exceptional Quality
85-100%
Almost all parts of the report are directly relevant to title/brief.
The assumptions of the title and/or the requirement of the brief is expertly addressed in an exemplary manner.
Exemplary knowledge
of concepts, theory and practice is clearly demonstrated is all areas.
The interpretation of appropriate concepts and theoretical models with insight is visible.
There is exemplary display creativity in conceptual original thinking.
Work produced is exceptional in analysing essential research materials. An exemplary level of evaluation is made based on an excellent theoretical understanding of work discussed and clear evidence of independent, informed judgement is made.
An exemplary level of coherence and structure in framed the analysis. Work is articulated and logically structured and has shown complete compliant with recommended format.
Exemplary presentational style and format commensurate with the nature of work. Excellent use of figures, tables, and plates (where required).
Exceptional level of language is used with no grammatical errors, excellent punctuation and usage of appropriate formal academic and industry language and terminology.
Harvard referencing has been applied correctly with no errors throughout the work for in text and end of text referencing. A large variety of current, varied, and suitable sources have been used. Recognition of different perspectives is acknowledged and applied.
Excellent Quality
70-84%
Most parts of the report are directly relevant to title/brief.
The assumptions of the title and/or the requirement of the brief is excellently addressed
Excellent knowledge
of concepts, theory and practice is clearly demonstrated is all areas.
The interpretation of appropriate concepts and theoretical models with insight is visible.
There is excellent display of creativity in conceptual original thinking.
Work produced is excellent in analysing essential research materials. An excellent level of evaluation is made based on an excellent theoretical understanding of work discussed and clear evidence of independent, informed judgement being given.
An excellent level of coherence and structure in framing the analysis. Work is articulated and logically structured and has shown excellent level of compliant with recommended format.
Excellent presentational style and format, commensurate with the nature of work. Excellent use of figures, tables, and plates (where required).
Excellent level of English language is used with no grammatical errors. Excellent punctuation, usage of appropriate formal academic and industry language and terminology.
Harvard referencing has been applied correctly with no errors throughout the essay for in text and end of text referencing. A large variety of current, varied, and suitable sources have been used. Recognition of different perspectives is acknowledged and applied.
MERIT
Good Quality
60-69%
Major parts of the work produced is directly relevant to title/brief.
The assumptions of the title and/or the requirement of the brief is addressed very well.
There is very good understanding of theory and practice at this level.
Explanation of relevant conceptual material shows very good grasp of the themes, questions, and issues therein.
Presents a coherent analysis of significant research materials that leads to distinct and original conclusions.
Work produced is very good and able to contributes to the expansion of subject-area knowledge and understanding.
Major parts of the work is coherently articulated and logically constructed.
A very good level of compliant with suggested format can be seen.
Very good presentational style & layout, appropriate to the type of assignment.
Very good use of figures, tables, and plates with good levels of explanations
Well written, with standard spelling and grammar, in a readable style and acceptable format
Good level of appraisal of up-to-date and/or appropriate literature. Recognition of different perspectives. Knowledgeable use of source material. Uses a range of sources. Harvard referenced with minor mistakes.
PASS
Satisfactory Quality
50-59%
Substantial amount of work produced generally addresses the assumptions of the title and/or the requirements of the brief. Work may contain some minor irrelevances in places.
Demonstrates a good and adequate knowledge of theory and practice for this level.
Good attempt in interpreting some appropriate concepts and theoretical models.
Shows good level of originality in explaining concepts
Some analytical treatment, but may be prone to description, or to narrative, which lacks clear analytical purpose.
Some attempt to construct a coherent argument, but may suffer loss of focus and consistency, with issues at stake stated only vaguely, or theoretical mode(s) couched in simplistic terms.
Adequate attempt at articulation and logical structure.
A good level of compliant with acceptable format is present.
The presentational style & layout is largely correct for the type of assignment.
Substantial use tables, figures and plates but may lack required explanation
Written, with only minor lapses from standard grammar, with acceptable format