1.1 Determine what financial information is needed and assess its validity

QUALIFI ASSESSMENT DOCUMENT

Qualifi Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership

Assignment brief – Unit 703 Finance for Managers

INTRODUCTION

Prior to attempting this coursework assignment, Learners must familiarise themselves with the following policies:

• Qualifi Quality Assurance Standards
• Qualifi Quality Policy Statement
• Centre Specification Can be found at https://qualifi.net/qualifi-level-7-diploma-in-strategic-management-and-leadership/

The aim of this unit is to support learners in understanding and using financial information and data.  This unit is important to learners as it support financial decision making.

ASSIGNMENT GUIDELINES

All work must be submitted in a single electronic document (.doc/.docx file). The assignment must be the Learner’s own work and not copies of theories or models. Direct quotes should be kept to a minimum and shown in inverted commas. Models described and other quotes used must be properly attributed and referenced as appropriate. Learners must acknowledge or reference any sources that have been used to complete the assignment, listing reference material and web sites used.

PLAGIARISM AND COLLUSION

In submitting the assignment Learner’s must complete a statement of authenticity confirming that the work submitted for all tasks is their own. The statement should also include the word count. Plagiarism and collusion are treated very seriously. Plagiarism involves presenting work, excerpts, ideas or passages of another author without appropriate referencing and attribution. Collusion occurs when two or more learners submit work which is so alike in ideas, content, wording and/or structure that the similarity goes beyond what might have been mere coincidence.

APPENDICES

Separate Appendices should not be used. Any use of tables, graphs, diagrams, Gantt chart and flowcharts etc. that support the main report should be incorporated into the back of the assignment report that is submitted. Any published secondary information such as annual reports and company literature, should be referenced in the main text of the assignment but not included.

CONFIDENTIALITY

Where a Learner is using organisational information that deals with sensitive material or issues, they must seek the advice and permission from that organisation about its inclusion. Where confidentiality is an issue, Learners are advised to anonymise their assignment report so that it cannot be attributed to that particular organisation.

WORD COUNT POLICY

Learners must comply with the required word count, within a margin of +10%.These rules exclude the index (if used), headings and information contained within references and bibliographies. When an assessment task requires learners to produce presentation slides with supporting notes, the word count applies to the supporting notes only.

REFERENCING

A professional approach to work is expected from all learners. Learners must therefore identify and acknowledge ALL sources/methodologies/applications used. The learner must use an appropriate referencing system to achieve this. Marks are not awarded for the use of English; however the learner must express ideas clearly and ensure that appropriate terminology is used to convey accuracy in meaning.

SUBMISSION OF ASSIGNMENTS

All work must be submitted in a single electronic document (.doc/.docx file) in your Learning Portal or to submit to the Assessor/Centre Administrator.

MARKING AND GRADES

Qualifi uses a standard marking rubric for all assignments, and you can find the details at the end of this document. Unless stated elsewhere, Learners must answer all questions in this document.

LEARNING OUTCOMES AND ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

ASSIGNMENT TASKS

Learners may use their own employment context, or that of another organisation with which they are very familiar, as the basis for their assignment. However, in the case that they are not able to do so, please use the below scenario:

Scenario

You are a senior manager in a business unit of a medium sized enterprise, with functional management and organisational leadership responsibilities. You are responsible for all aspects of the performance management of your team and its contribution towards the achievement of business goals.

Task 1:  FORMATIVE TASK – Budgets and Strategic Objectives

Explain how an organisation balances the need for a budget that supports its organisation’s objectives with financial constraints and accounting conventions. Your answer must include:

• An outline of how a budget can be used to support an organisation’s objectives (LO 1.1, 1.2, 2.2) 
• Identify and explain the impact that financial constraints and accounting rules have on any organisation (LO 1.2, 2.1
• Discuss the nature of the balances and compromises that organisations must make in pursuit of two different goals (LO 1.3, 1.4)

Formatting:

• 450-550 words
• Justified alignment
• Single-spaced
• 12pt Times New Roman font
• Use an appropriate referencing system for footnotes and citations

Task 2: SUMMATIVE – Evaluating Financial Proposals

Write a proposal for a method by which you would evaluate a new financial proposal within your organisation. Your answer must contain the following:

• An outline of the criteria by which any proposal will be judged, including reference to scholarly research in this area (LO 3.1)
• Identify and explain the way in which you will generate information to use these criteria in your analysis (LO 3.2, 3.3)
• Evaluate the likely effectiveness of this method in accurately assessing the viability of proposed expenditure. (LO 3.2, 3.4)

Formatting:

• 950-1100 words
• Justified alignment
• Single-spaced
• 12pt Times New Roman font
• Use an appropriate referencing system for footnotes and citations