The module will be delivered through a blended learning approach as defined in the Programme Specification. Theoretical learning will be embedded in workplace and community activity through the Reflective Journal and work undertaken for the Skills Report.

The key learning activity will be study of the Module Course book, which will contain the written equivalent of a full lecture programme. Course Books include a number of tasks to be carried out as formative assessment, with opportunities to obtain online, email and telephone support in the completion of these. Supported by Google VLE applications

1. File store: Google Drive
2. Chat facility: Google Hangout
3. Blog Facility: Google Classroom
4. Audio-visual connection (groups and individual): Google Hangout
5. E-mail: Google mail via Classroom
6. List of links: Google Classroom

The residential session will include an introduction to the Course Book by the module tutor, together with a workshop session intended to help students contextualise the planned learning within their work. Opportunities will also be provided to work with tutors and the course leader on the reflective journal, the skills report and the assessment, in preparation for the independent study at a distance.

Half way through the module there will be a workshop delivered by VLE. This will involve the module tutor interacting with students in a prepared format. The course leader will also lead the students in a review of reflective journals and skills development.

30 credits

Student contact hours will include
Residential classroom based activity and workshops: 8
Module Tutor contact via webinar: 4
Course leader support for Reflective Diary through webinar: 4
Workplace Link manager support for workplace learning targets: 2
Workplace mentor meetings: 2
Optional tutorial support from Learning Counsellors and Course Leader: 5

Total 25 hours contact

In addition a typical student would be expected to spend time in the following activities (hours):
Course book reading and tasks: 90
Assessment preparation and execution: 90
Self-directed reading from core texts: 95

Total 275 hours directed and self-directed study

Lap top/projector
Text books
Internet
Handouts
VLE
Online access to University Library
Physical and online access to Library of Birmingham

KYRA Course book (tutorial in print)

Dyson, J.R. (2010) “Accounting for Non-Accounting Students”, Prentice-Hall, London

Handy, C. (1995) “The Empty Raincoat: making sense of the future”, Random House, London

Barrow, C. (2013) “The 30 day MBA” Kogan Page, London

60% Business plan 4000 words (LO 1,3)
20% Reflective Journal (LO 4)
20% Skills Report (LO 2)

Case studies and worked illustrations will be employed throughout.

At the outset of the module you will consider the concept of a “Market Economy¿ in which goods and services are distributed by the actions of buyers and sellers. You will understand that financial managers need to appreciate the changes in the role and definition of accounting and financial management which now includes the social capital of “community and environment¿ in addition to more traditional economic capital considerations of “profit and loss¿.

You will learn about the origins of financial management and reporting and about the 4 fundamental accounting concepts: The Money Measurement Concept; The Periodicity Concept; The Entity Concept; The Cost Concept

You will then study the concept and preparation of the two main statements in financial reporting: The Balance Sheet; The Profit and Loss Account

Next you will study Management Accounting and how this differs from Financial Accounting. You will study ratio analysis which is a powerful technique for investigating published Year End Reports. Then you will then focus on how costs behave in a business and you will examine the use of one particular technique, called Cost Volume Profit Analysis. Finally, you will explore the important concept of budgetary control and its role within business.

You will consider the various ways in which a business can raise funds and how you might assess the relative merits of projects. This section will examine common sources of funding and the concept of the ‘rate of interest’ and will outline some of the factors that can have an impact on the rate of interest that a firm will be required to pay.

You will study the importance of Sustainability, stakeholders and cost-benefit analysis.

Finally you will examine how to prepare a successful business plan, examining organisational structure, market structure, communication and conflict.