Assignment 2 briefing
MyAcounting Lab Task
Case Study Introduction
Rubric
Nelson Databases – Marketline Advantage,
and Key Note.
http://advantage.marketline.com.ezproxy.nort
hampton.ac.uk/
Research and Referencing
Assignment Brief
The aim of this assignment is to test
your knowledge and understanding of
key accounting and corporate finance
concepts, theories and tools that can
be used to critically analyze
organizations.
Finance Director
You are about to be appointed as the FD
of a company. The company is not doing
so well and have decided to appoint you
as the FD not only to help with their
finance, but their future strategy.
Part A
• You must introduce your company from the list provided, when was it set up,
head office location, type of business, main competitors, size of the market or
sector, % of market etc
• Identify the profits, earnings- economic conditions, financial ratios and
interpret the results for 5 years on the financial performance.
• See for the database
• https://advantage-marketline-com.ezproxy.northampton.ac.uk/
• Compare the result with their competitors or the sector average. How well is
your selected company doing when compared to the other others in the sector?
• Analyse Investment (dividends) ratios and interpret the results for 5 years on
the financial performance.
• Financial stability and liquidity ratios and interpret the results for 5 years on
the financial performance.
• Review the Rubric
Part B
• Research the website for any information about the company’s
performance or any news that has an impact on their performance.
• Then critically reflection on the company portrayed by journalists
and other financial reports, please make sure you reference where
you got the information from.
• An evaluation of the corporate governance of the company. This
area is about whether the company is complying with corporate
governance rules, leadership, independence , diversity on the
board, effectiveness, independence . Please do not just say the
company said they are complying.
• What is your strategy for the future?. You need to convince the
board that you are the right person for the job as FD . Here is the
point to write about the sector and how critical this sector is to the
UK economy and how you can help the company perform better
• Don’t forget to reference your work
Practical Activities
Nelson
Orbis
EBSCO Host
Key Note
Research and Referencing
Research
Adapted from: Edgar Dale (1969) Audio Visual Methods in Teaching, Holt, Rinehart and Winston
RESEARCH: Reading
1) How would you define these…?
2) How do you think
you might evidence
them to your tutors…?
Bloom’s Taxonomy
Analysis, Synthesis, Evaluation?
- +
= Critical, Academic Writing at Level 7
Descriptive Analytic Opinionated
Writing Style:
Overstates what happened
Argues one-sidedly
Argues without evidence
Avoids details that disagree
Makes links between items
(whether they are there or not!)
Gives value statements
States what happened
States what something is like
Says how to do something
Lists details
States links between items
Gives information
• Break down
• Multiple
perspectives
• Organising into
Trends/ Themes/
Patterns
Descriptive
States what happened
States what something is like
Says how to do something
Lists details
States links between items
Gives information
Critical & Analytical
Identifies the significance of what
happened
Evaluates strengths & weaknesses
Argues a case based on evidence
Evaluates the significance of details
Shows the relevance of links
Draws conclusions
Opinionated
Overstates what happened
Argues one-sidedly
Argues without evidence
Avoids details that disagree
Makes links between items
(whether they are there or not!)
Gives value statements
Critical Analytical Writing
Thinking Tools for Development: PLEA & PEEL
Problem P
• Rough topic area?
•Define component parts
•Identify a narrow focus
Literature L
• What information do
you need?
•Where will you look?
• Relevant sources?
•Variety of sources
•Key authors
•Stay focused on topic!
Evaluate E
• Question the literature
•Why was it written?
•Who is it aimed at?
•How old is it?
•Is there any bias?
Analyse A
• Interpret content
•Identify themes
•Group themes/
arguments together
• Plan sections/structure
•Stick to rationale
Point P
• What are the main
points to be
considered?
• Identify your areas
and provide a line-ofreasoning
Evidence E
• What evidence do you
need: different
sources?
• Who are the key
authors in your area?
• Identify ‘key’ sources
•Referenced
Explain E
• Make clear in more
detail, fact and idea by
analysing
• Question the readings
• Develop your
evaluation and
synthesis
Link L
• Link to the next
paragraph
• Link back to question
Identifying
Establishing
Presenting
Reaching
Argument
Key journal databases
ABI Global (Scholarly content for literature review)
Business Source Premier * new for 2014
Emerald (Journals and EMCS)
Sage
ScienceDirect
Taylor and Francis
Wiley
Plan your search
• Identify your main theme(s) and issues
• Break your search down and explore
keywords/search terms
Alternative words and spellings, Americanisms,
plural/singular
• Create meaningful search strategies
Example research plan
It’s all about the money: why small businesses fail in the
UK
Small business
Business failure
UK
SMEs/SME
Business forecasting Small-to-medium sized enterprises
Business strategy
Strategy Strategies
Failure Great Britain
Bankruptcy
United Kingdom
Business failures Cash flow Financial leverage
Financial ratios Financial performance Credit risk
Small business financing
Extending your search
• Follow trails
Find My Reference
Items not held in the library
• Interlibrary loans
• SCONUL Access
Final advice
•Referencing
–Keep a good record of what you
have found
–Allow time
–Use recommended guides and
tools
–Refworks – linked from A-Z list
Critical writing
Critical writing and referencing
Key features of good writing
A good piece of work:
– answers the question
– is written clearly and succinctly
– is appropriately referenced
– sequences ideas logically
– contains evidence of extra reading
– contains evidence of analysis
– backs up evaluative points with evidence
– adheres to academic and linguistic conventions
Bloom’s taxonomy
Bloom, B.S., Engelhart, M.D., Furst, E.J., Hill, W.H., & Krathwohl, D.R. (Eds.). (1956). Taxonomy of Educational Objectives – The
Classification of Educational Goals – Handbook 1: Cognitive Domain. London, WI: Longmans, Green & Co.
Bloom – Critical thinking
What, where, why, who, when, how…
Else?
Evaluate
Bigger picture
All relevant component parts
Key Tasks
• Description: What, where
• Analysis: How, Why
• Evaluation: So what? What if? What next?
Critical Analytical Writing
DESCRIPTIVE WRITING
States what happened
States what something is like
Says how to do something
Lists details
States links between items
Gives information
CRITICAL ANALYTICAL WRITING
Identifies the significance
Evaluates strengths and weaknesses
Argues a case based on evidence
Evaluates the significance of details
Shows the relevance of links
Draws conclusions
Evaluating texts
Currency
Language
Author
Sources
Subject area
Constructing an Argument
A good argument contains reasons and a conclusion and is based on clear, sound
assumptions.
• Reasons should be:
– supported by evidence where appropriate
– relevant
– cite reliable authorities
• Reasoning should be:
– logically correct
– clear and explicit
• The conclusion should be:
– clearly stated and unambiguous
– supported by the reasons
– appropriately qualified
– may include further consequences or implications
Distinguishing Fact, Opinions and Arguments
There were 20 adverts an hour on
TV yesterday
I think there should be fewer
adverts on TV
Adverts for toys should not be
shown on TV because research
suggests that …
Can be checked against
evidence (usually)
Are personal beliefs. These
are not always based on
good evidence, and may
conflict with evidence.
Reasons (including facts)
are given to support the
views expressed..
Procrastination
• Barriers:
– Overwhelmed?
– Bored?
– Don’t know where to start?
– Need to read more?
– Can’t concentrate?
– Everything I write is rubbish!
– Do anything but study!
Critical Thinking Checklist
• Ask and explain why
• Look for hidden assumptions – question everything!
• Consider alternative viewpoints
• Evaluate your sources
• Evaluate authors’ arguments
• Make a case: give reasons and a conclusion
Why referencing is important….
• To support an argument, to make a claim or to provide evidence
• To acknowledge others’ ideas or work
• To avoid plagiarism
• To show the breadth and depth of your reading
• To allow the reader to locate the references easily and so evaluate your
interpretations
• To avoid losing marks!
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