[ahmad1984]

Yes you can easily complete your project as an average student normally take 25-30 days. Thanks.

[ahmad1984]

You can start working on your project now as there will be no major changes in November 2015 session. I stated this based on my experience with OBU from last 7-8 years. Thanks.

[ahmad1984]

As far as selection of company for your project under topic 8 is concerned, OBU don’t impose any restriction and students have full option to select any company but you have sufficient information about this company along with its associated sector. Important aspects that you need to take in your mind during selection of company are as follows;

• Identify major internal and external reasons for specific to requirements of the topic.
• Vast information is widely available (either through primary and secondary sources of information)

i Ill personally suggest to select any well know local company from oil and gas, fertilizer or tobacco sector.

[ahmad1984]

then focus on the country where its headquarter resides…thanks.

[ahmad1984]

Anwers:

1. You need to focus on the country in which your company resides. In multinational companies, they have operations globally but we need to focus on one entity (either parent, subsidiary or associate).

2. No , you don’t need to resubmit your SLS again even you change topic and company in re-submission. I confirmed this from OBU.

[ahmad1984]

Very informative…..Good Work!

[ahmad1984]

@Wasimbaig…

This aspect has already discussed in detail somewhere in this forum. Please search it and you will find the answer.

PS: Search always before posting any question. Thanks.

[ahmad1984]

@Sameed

You should not mention this again in NP margin section rather you can write “as explained above in GP margin section”…. Your main focus in NP margin should be discussion on movement of indirect costs and you must provide some reasons for such fluctuation.
thanks.

[ahmad1984]

There are many way to present ratio working in excel file but you must understand that examiner only want to check your back end working for calculation of different ratios.

thanks.

[ahmad1984]

@Soban…

You need to upload five files on online portal of OBU. These files are as follows:

1. Research Report (Contain part 1, part 2 and part 3 of report)
2. Appendix (in topic 8, better to provide excel file)
3. List of Reference
4. SLS
5. Presentation

[ahmad1984]

it should be “An evaluation of the business and financial performance of OBU Co between
1 January 20011 and 31 December 2013 (Topic 8)”

Better to refer pg. 26 of Information Pack as this aspect explained there.

[ahmad1984]

you should mention this “Appendix 1”, Appendix 2 ……

You can add multiple files as appendices.

[ahmad1984]

Extract from Information Pack:

The programme requirement is that you use the last 3 financial reports that are
available, or will be available, at the start of the submission period. If the results are
not going to be published in time for you to include them in your report, then you
should use the previous 3 year’s results. The Programme Director has advised that
any Company results that are published (in any form) less than 90 days before the
start of submission do not have to be used.

Please refer pg. 39 (pg. no mentioned in bottom of page) of Information Pack for further detail.

PS: Students must read Information pack as answers of most of their queries already provided there.

Thanks.

[ahmad1984]

If specific information not provided on FS then you can use many other ratios. Your main objective under financial analysis is to analyse performance of the company rather then analyzing it under specific ratios. Better to choose any other ratio to analyse it.

Thanks.

[ahmad1984]

@pallavirai

As there are five major categories of ratios i.e. Profitability, Short term solvency, long term solvency, working capital and shareholders’ ratios. if you ignore one particular category (i.e. Working capital ratios) due to non availability of information then it is fine.

I mentored many students and most of the student don’t provide explanation on Working Capital ratios so you can ignore payables and receivables turnover.

PS: Make sure you cover at least four major categories of ratios out of five to get good grades in your RAP.

[ahmad1984]

@Blowy

Answers:

1. Don’t ignore table of content as it is required as per suggested structure provide in Information Pack (ref: section 7.d.xi pg.43)

2. yes you can shorten name of your company must provide complete name with abbreviation in bracket. e.g.Mobil Oil Nigeria PLc (MON Plc)

Some tips to reduce overall words in RAP are as follows:

? Don’t write FY 2011 as you can write simple 2011 or FY2011(without space).
? 1.2 % (with space) can write as 1.2% (without space)
? Try to merge long paras into small paras.
? Try to remove spaces in references or other words like USD 50 can write as USD50 etc.

Thanks,

[ahmad1984]

Agreed with @Trephena

[ahmad1984]

I only describe broader level reasons for movement in NP margin of the company. Student must research on it and try to find root cause for such movement based on information provided in annual report along with some external sources….

[ahmad1984]

your title would be “An Evaluation of the Business and Financial Performance of XXX between 01 April 2011 to 31 March 2014.

Please refer pg. 26 (Section 7.b) of Information Pack as this aspect explained there.

[ahmad1984]

Sorry period would be 01 April 2011 till 31 March 2014….

[ahmad1984]

your analysis period would be 01 April 2012 till 31 March 2014.

[ahmad1984]

Overall Approach for Topic 8:

This topic relates with critical assessment of business and financial performance of selected organisation over a three year period.

Analysis is a careful study of something to learn about its parts, what they do, and how they are related to each other while Evaluation is the making of a judgment about the amount, number, or value of something.

During preparation of RAP on this topic students have to carry out financial and business analysis of selected organisation. Financial analysis is the process of understanding the risk and profitability of an organisation through analysis of reported financial information, by using different accounting tools and techniques. Business Analysis is the practice of enabling change in an organizational context, by defining needs and recommending solutions that deliver value to stakeholders.

Topic number 8 is the most demanding topic among all students because they can directly use models and frameworks which they have studied in their ACCA qualification. Moreover, students don’t need to use primary source of information(as access to primary sources of information is very difficult for major chunk of students) and entire project can easily complete through usage of secondary sources of information. Some key points that student must consider during preparation of RAP are as follows;

Choose company for which you have sufficient information and you should well aware off different parameters of associated sector of your selected company. Without , fair knowledge at inception of project, your analyses will not be more focused and it is high probability that you may discuss various aspects in your RAP that are not important. In short, basic understating of overall operations of selected company and associated sector is essential to get good grades under topic number 8.
Discuss all aspects of ratio analysis logically and properly link with providing various internal and external factors along with micro and macro level factors.
Whenever, discuss trend of any ratio then student must consider and discussed various internal and external factors along with micro and macro level factors that actually impact on movement of specific ratios under specific span of time. Internal reasons for movement in different ratios of your selected company mainly gets from annual reports (especially report to shareholders section, key achievement sections, financial performance section, chairman/MD review section etc.) of the company along with articles on websites and newspapers pertaining to your selected company. On the other hand, External reasons for movement in different ratios of your selected that mainly you get from sector reports (in which your selected company operates) over websites (especially website related to business activities or economy of country), articles related to associated sectors over online journals , business magazines , newspaper etc.
Discuss performance of competitor with your selected organisation in parallel rather than at the end of each ratio as inline discussion of both primary (i.e. selected) company and opponent company will help reader of your report to analyze your work quickly.
Keep balance of information gathered from various mediums (e.g. annual reports, newspaper, online journals, books, etc.) so that marker can understand that you used vast mediums of information as vast research is essential to pass good grades and proper presentation of usage of vast information is an important key to pass RAP under topic number 8.
Use one or maximum two business models so that you can describe each aspect of selected model in good manner by also consider overall allowed words under part 3 of RAP (i.e. 4,500 Words).
Provide enough graphs to reader of your RAP so they can easily get a quick idea of which company is performing well without even reading text within your RAP. This aspect is called IT skills which is extremely important to pass RAP under topic number 8.
There are many others key success factors of passing RAP under topic number 8 that cannot explain here in detail so student should engage well qualified mentor for their RAP so that they can get regular advise from him/her on various technical aspects of this topic that ultimately help him/her to get good grades.
Key features / requirements:
Critical assessment of financial performance of the organisation in specific period of time (i.e. last three years).
Critical assessment of business performance of the organisation in specific period of time (i.e. last three years).
Proper discussion on financial and business performance of the selected organisation through consideration of various internal & external factors along with both micro and macro level factors.
Provide proper conclusion based on overall performed work by keeping all practical aspects in consideration.
*Feedback from project mentor is essential to get good grades in RAP.

Key Success Factors:
Good knowledge of broader categories of all ratios.
Excellent knowledge and application of all selected accounting and business models.
Proper linkage of all aspects of selected accounting and business models through providing practical examples/reasons.
Comparison of primary organisation (i.e. selected organisation) with opponent organisation alongside in whole discussion in RAP.
Proper application of all selected aims and objectives (that decided in inception of RAP) in appropriate sections of RAP.
Proper answering of all research questions (that decided in inception of RAP) in appropriate sections of RAP.
Usage of proper research methodology to achieve good result against all selected aims and objectives (that decided in inception of RAP).
Maintain proper sequence of all discussion in logical manner by keeping all requirements of the topic.
Logically conclude all performed work at the end of Research Report by keeping in consideration of all requirements of the topic.
*Feedback from project mentor is essential to get good grades in RAP.

Major benefits for choosing this topic:
Student will practically apply his/her bookish knowledge into real life.
Student will get aware about proper application of various accounting and business models.
Various techniques learned under this topic will substantially help student in his/her professional life.
Major possible limitations faced by student under this topic:
Students may not entertain well by the management of selected organisation in provision of required information due to various issues (e.g. confidentiality aspects, non availability of authorized person to disseminate information to student for research work, etc.)
Student may not find good stuff from internet or other sources (due to weak research approach) to bring ideas for improvement in the project.
Student may be confused due to variation in actual information (verbal or documented) provided from primary sources with the result that he/she actually derive from his/her research work as per requirement of the topic.
*Feedback from project mentor is essential to get good grades in RAP.

Suitable organisation under this topic:
The most suitable organisation under this topic is that for which student have access to management of the company and moreover management of the company is willingly provide all required information to student as required under the topic. Selection of most appropriate organisation is very essential as student must have better understanding of overall operations of the organisation and moreover he/she also have enough knowledge of the sector in which his/her selected organisation actually operates. Based on better knowledge of the organisation and respective sector , student will be able to interlink various aspect of overall operations of the selected organisation with all requirements of the topic that ultimately help him/her in getting good grades.

In short student need to assess following aspects in selection of organisation for RAP.

Student’s own interest related to overall business of the organisation;
Accessibility of information from primary sources (not necessary in topic 8);
Accessibility of information from secondary sources;
Knowledge of overall operations of the organisation;
Knowledge of overall associated sector of the organisation;
Availability of time from concerned officials of selected organisation (extremely important in topic 8);
Basic idea of requirements of selected topic and their applications on proposed organisation in inception of RAP.
*Feedback from project mentor is essential to get good grades in RAP.

Suggested approach for this topic:
Under this topic, student must plan properly from inception so that he/she can complete all tasks effectively in proper manners. First of all, student must gain excellent understanding of major requirements of this topic and he/she need to critically assess all aspects of requirement by defining detailed strategy. Student need to assess that what process that he/she actually follow to meet all requirements that only possible through detailed planning in inception of RAP.

Student need to prepare overall content of RAP under topic 8 that describes logical sequence of all tasks that need to adhere by the student. This content will also help student to keep on right track from inception and at the same time student can also assess time factor against planned vs. actual tasks through considering his allocated time for complete preparation of RAP.

After finalization of overall content of RAP under topic 8, student need to start working logically from gathering of information as per requirement of topic. Student need to assess all gathered information very critically through consultation from mentor. Mentor feedback on key areas of RAP is very essential so student should share his/her thoughts with project mentor regularly to get efficient guidance in time accordingly.

In short, there is no 100% suggested approach for topic 8 as keeping broader level approach (described above) , detailed approach under topic 8 varies due to student’s perception that he conceived from requirements of the topic along with available information of selected organisation. Whatever, the approach you will follow , keep getting guidance from project mentor at every step so that you can meet all requirements of topic and get good grades.

*Feedback from project mentor is essential to get good grades in RAP.

Availability of Information:
Student have to complete his/her RAP based on provision of information directly from management of the organisation (i.e. primary sources of information) along with vast information available through different mediums (internet, newspaper, books, etc.) under secondary sources of information. Availability of information from primary sources under topic number 8 is not essential as this topic can complete without getting any information of the selected organisation. Student need to ensure that he has access of vast information from secondary sources of the selected organisation and there is no issue for them in getting information.

In short, student need to assess very critically before opting this topic for RAP as all requirements of this topic only meet if student have enough information about selected organisation. If there is any doubt on provision of required information during perpetration of RAP then student should not select this topic for RAP as it impact on overall evaluation of information and overall grades of RAP.

*Feedback from project mentor is essential to get good grades in RAP.

[ahmad1984]

Overall Approach for Topic 6:

This topic solely focuses on motivation in employees. Employees motivation describes an employee’s basic enthusiasm about work and incentives given to accomplish work. Motivating employees about work is the blend of satisfying the employee’s requirements and prospect from work and workplace factors that facilitate employee motivation.

Organisation can boost employees’ morale by rewarding and acknowledging their work. There are various ways for motivating employees such as giving them support, monetary rewards, and good working conditions among others.

Employees are organisation’s livelihood. How they feel about the work they are doing and the results received from that work directly impact an organization’s performance and, ultimately, its stability. For instance, if an organization’s employees are highly motivated and proactive, they will do whatever is necessary to achieve the goals of the organization as well as keep track of industry performance to address any potential challenges.

An important aspect that student should consider under this topic is that he/she should have broader level understanding (indirectly) of various factors that motivates students to perform specific tasks within an organisation but student must understand that they need to apply their overall understanding with respect to motivation of employees through proper usage of particular theories (e.g. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, Herzberg’s two-factor theory, Vroom’s expectancy theory, Locke’s goal theory etc.) and describe all aspect of selected theories in context of selected organisation. Keeping on rite track without providing irreverent information during application of particular theory in the RAP is essential to get good grades in RAP.

Key features / requirements:
Assessment of key factors that actually motivate employee.
Application of various employees’ motivational theories on selected organisation.
Assessment of performance of selected organisation in the light of employees’ motivational theories.
Provide some quantitative and qualitative analysis (wherever applicable) to substantiate above mentioned aspects in proper manner.
Maintain proper balance in explanation / analysis of different aspects that required under this topic.
*Feedback from project mentor is essential to get good grades in RAP.

Key Success Factors:
Proper application of key aspects of various employees’ motivational theories.
Avoidance to provide irrelevant information other than required in selected theories.
Proper linkage of various aspect of employees’ motivational theories on selected organisation.
Proper application of all selected aims and objectives (that decided in inception of RAP) in appropriate sections of RAP.
Proper answering of all research questions (that decided in inception of RAP) in appropriate sections of RAP.
Usage of proper research methodology to achieve good result against all selected aims and objectives (that decided in inception of RAP).
Maintain proper sequence of all discussion in logical manner by keeping all requirements of the topic.
Logically conclude all performed work at the end of Research Report by keeping in consideration of all requirements of the topic.
*Feedback from project mentor is essential to get good grades in RAP.

Major benefits for choosing this topic:
Student will practically apply his/her bookish knowledge into real life.
Student will aware off various employees’ motivational theories.
Student will learn about different factors that motivate employees.
Various techniques learned under this topic will substantially help student in his/her professional life.
Major possible limitations faced by student under this topic:
Students may not entertain well by the management of selected organisation in provision of required information due to various issues (e.g. confidentiality aspects, non availability of authorized person to disseminate information to student for research work, etc.)
Student may not find good stuff from internet or other sources (due to weak research approach) to bring ideas for improvement in the project.
Student may be confused due to variation in actual information (verbal or documented) provided from primary sources with the result that he/she actually derive from his/her research work as per requirement of the topic.
*Feedback from project mentor is essential to get good grades in RAP.

Suitable organisation under this topic:
The most suitable organisation under this topic is that for which student have access to management of the company and moreover management of the company is willingly provide all required information to student as required under the topic. Selection of most appropriate organisation is very essential as student must have better understanding of overall operations of the organisation and moreover he/she also have enough knowledge of the sector in which his/her selected organisation actually operates. Based on better knowledge of the organisation and respective sector , student will be able to interlink various aspect of overall operations of the selected organisation with all requirements of the topic that ultimately help him/her in getting good grades.

In short student need to assess following aspects in selection of organisation for RAP.

Student’s own interest related to overall business of the organisation;
Accessibility of information from primary sources (extremely important in topic 6);
Accessibility of information from secondary sources;
Knowledge of overall operations of the organisation (extremely important in topic 6);
Knowledge of overall associated sector of the organisation;
Availability of time from concerned officials of selected organisation (extremely important in topic 6);
Basic idea of requirements of selected topic and their applications on proposed organisation in inception of RAP.
*Feedback from project mentor is essential to get good grades in RAP.

Suggested approach for this topic:
Under this topic, student must plan properly from inception so that he/she can complete all tasks effectively in proper manners. First of all, student must gain excellent understanding of major requirements of this topic and he/she need to critically assess all aspects of requirement by defining detailed strategy. Student need to assess that what process that he/she actually follow to meet all requirements that only possible through detailed planning in inception of RAP.

Student need to prepare overall content of RAP under topic 6 that describes logical sequence of all tasks that need to adhere by the student. This content will also help student to keep on right track from inception and at the same time student can also assess time factor against planned vs. actual tasks through considering his allocated time for complete preparation of RAP.

After finalization of overall content of RAP under topic 6, student need to start working logically from gathering of information as per requirement of topic. Student need to assess all gathered information very critically through consultation from mentor. Mentor feedback on key areas of RAP is very essential so student should share his/her thoughts with project mentor regularly to get efficient guidance in time accordingly.

In short, there is no 100% suggested approach for topic 6 as keeping broader level approach (described above) , detailed approach under topic 6 varies due to student’s perception that he conceived from requirements of the topic along with available information of selected organisation. Whatever, the approach you will follow , keep getting guidance from project mentor at every step so that you can meet all requirements of topic and get good grades.

*Feedback from project mentor is essential to get good grades in RAP.

Availability of Information:
Student have to complete his/her RAP based on provision of information directly from management of the organisation (i.e. primary sources of information) along with vast information available through different mediums (internet, newspaper, books, etc.) under secondary sources of information. Availability of information from primary sources under topic number 6 is very essential as this topic cannot complete at all without getting specific information of the selected organisation. Student need to ensure that he has access of vast information from management of the selected organisation and there is no confidentiality concerns by them as well.

In short, student need to assess very critically before opting this topic for RAP as all requirements of this topic only meet if student have enough information about selected organisation. If there is any doubt on provision of required information during perpetration of RAP then student should not select this topic for RAP as it impact on overall evaluation of information and overall grades of RAP.

*Feedback from project mentor is essential to get good grades in RAP.

[ahmad1984]

Extract from Re-Submission Guide

“You do not have to physically meet with your mentor – you can use conferencing
facilities/Skype instead. Telephone calls and emails are not sufficient for
presentation purposes”

[ahmad1984]

Under topic 8, you should provide extracts of statement of financial position and statement of comprehensive income along with ratios (with formula) in appendix. Kindly don’t provide entire Financial Statements in appendix as you can only provide extracts in appendix.

Extract from Information Pack

“If you choose approved topic area 8 ‘The business and financial performance of an
organisation over a three year period’ then it is likely that you will use the published
financial statements of the organisation as an information source. You must include
appropriate extracts from the organisation’s financial statements as an Appendix.
However, these extracts are not included in the word count”

[Author]

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