Archived – Welcome to all newcomers and returners to the OBU Forum

[trephena]

Happy New Year to you @profdire

We always recommend starting with the Information Pack to get an overall picture of what is required.

You seem to have already decided on Topic 8 – is this a mentor influenced decision? I ask because the new list of restricted industry sectors for this are very limiting. P35 was the first submission period for these but I suspect the pass rates to be down and very few high grades to be awarded for T8s.

Personally I would never choose this topic – in the past that was because I felt it was boring and unimaginative – however I genuinely feel other topics are not only more interesting but offer a better chance of securing a higher grade.

So for most people starting out I would recommend they at least look at our forum threads on NEW Topic 17 (corporate governance), Topic 18 (marketing) or Topic 20 (CSR) [all of these can be found by using a few key words in our forum search facility].

If your mind is already made up and you are content to just get a C then fine but definitely if you are looking for a higher grade pass I think you are unlikely to achieve it with Topic 8. This is because as I have said it is ‘unimaginative’ and offers fewer opportunities and scope for critical thought and developing arguments (unlike the other 3 topics I have mentioned). If you consult the assessment criteria you will see that critical thought and evaluation are needed for both B & A grades.

[moomi]

Hello everyone.Can somebody please tell me whether i will get an email regarding my result or I have to login?

Secondly, at what time the result will be release ?

And what will be written so that i can know whether I have passed or not ?

[trephena]

Log into your OBU account (the one you use to upload your submission work ) after 21 March. You willl get one of three alternatives: a pass grade or full feedback sheet if you have failed. Or if your work has been referred there will be a message informing you that the result is deferred and that you will be contacted by the Academic Conduct Office

[sonimaina]

Hi Trephena.My results just came out and i have not passed.I choose topic 6.I actually dont know the way forward,kindly help

[trephena]

Sorry for the day in responding- I have been away for a few weeks and only just noticed your post. I suggest you post your feedback on the OBU Marker-speak thread then I can see what was wrong.

With Topic 6 it is usually a poor questionnaire and/ or inappropriate or insufficient analysis in terms of relating the results back to theory

[Anonymous]

Dear Trephena

Hope you are doing well.
I am planning to submit my RAP for the P37 Nov.2018.
I am struggling to choose the topic.
My mentor suggest me to choose topic 8 but I saw the new industry sectors for P37 and P38 which are not very easy I would say.
For T17 I don’t know much about it, I currently have’t pass P1 yet, the material that I have for P1 also out of date (Version 2014).

Could you please kindly give me some advice about how and where to start to choose the topic?

Many thanks!

[trephena]

Yes I think the new industry selections for Topic 8 are dreadful !

The trouble is so many mentors, particularly those in Pakistan, are so locked into Topic 8 they are incapable of thinking outside the box and embracing different topics or encouraging students to take up different topics.

As I have already explained on this Forum, New Topic 17 requires good research rather than adherence to the latest provisions of the CG Code so having the latest book is immaterial (particularly as everything these days is on the internet). The key is to choose a company about which there has been a good amount of criticism about its CG practices (a few of these are mentioned on the post P35 Corporate Governance thread.

I always think Topic 18 (Marketing) is another good topic to choose and if done well can get a good grade so read through that forum thread too to get some ideas

[Anonymous]

Dear Trephena

Thank you for your promptly reply.

I will look into Topic 18 before I make decision.

Many thanks!

[llkkjj]

Dear Trephena,

Is there an average time i should budget to complete this project?

I.E hours/week or in total on average as i don’t know how time intensive this is?

Thanks.,

[trephena]

How long is a piece of string? It very much depends on the grade you want and your ability (some people are more in tune with the requirements than others who are totally clueless). I think less than a month is pushing it as just writing 7,500 relevant words plus 2,000 for the personal reflective statement and putting together a presentation, doing adequate referencing and also a spreadsheet takes more time than most students estimate.

You are being sensible by considering this now – so why delay – why not start now? Then if you complete it ahead of schedule you can relax.

Personally I recommend 3 months because the more time you allow and devote to it the more likely you are to get a good grade. As to how many hours a week again it depends on you and your desired grade. Some topics are more engrossing than others – e.g. Topic 17 – in other words you might find that the more you research the more drawn in and interested you become and then you are motivated to spend more time (usually this reflects in a higher grade)

[llkkjj]

Dear Trephena,

Thank you for your reply,

Another 2 questions:

1: Which in your years of experience would say are the “Easiest” topics to chose. I know this is quite subjective, maybe more passable topics than others?

2: I don’t think there are any pass rates? provided I work really hard, and get a reputable mentor I.E “The Learning Luminarium” as suggested by Opentuition, would I virtually be guaranteed a pass? again i know this is very subjective but i assume the mentors will not let me submit the project until they are certain i would pass?

[trephena]

Topics using secondary data are usually easier. I asked my marker frriend -and she says Topics 8, 17 and 18, and possibly 20 are the ones to go for. Although like me she is not keen on the new industry sectors for Topic 8.

Personally I would go for 17 (Corporate Governance) or 18 (Marketing). In terms of passing the rates are fairly similar (approaching about 70% according to her).

No decent mentor should let you submit – especially now that the submission fee for P37 & P38 is GBP 340 – it is a case though that many mentors lack the capacity to make an assessment of the likelihood of it passing (see our thread Advancing the Quality of the OBU-OT Experience – Recommended mentors as these mentors are more likely to be able to make a realistic assessment about how likely your work is to pass)

[llkkjj]

Dear trephena,

Thank you very much for your detailed reply , as Im waiting for my last F paper result, i should be in a position to know in mid July and my aim is then to aim for the November submission period.

[Frank]

Hi Trephena,

hope you enjoyed Greece though you left the sun here!

thanks for your response on T17.

Many thanks
Frank

[trephena]

@llkkjj – good you should have plenty of time to do a good project then without stressing yourself out. Spent some time now thinking about a topic – I suggest you read some of our threads on different topics as they give some insight to what is involved. A company and Topoc that interest you is also a good idea as it will keep you motivated

[Anonymous]

hello i’m new to the forum and I’m really not finding easy to choose a topic. ACCA is my first really exposure to accounting so i need your advice

[trephena]

It is probably ‘safer’ to go for a topic that requires only secondary data as many students struggle when it comes to primary data collection (for definitions of what primary and secondary data means please look at the Information Pack).

Secondary data topics are: 5 (Islamic banking), 8 (business & financial analysis), 15 (working capital); 17, (Corporate governance); 18 (Marketing) and 20 (Corporate and social responsibility). Unfortunately the prescribed industry sectors for topics 8 & 15 are not very good unless perhaps mining and mineral extraction is a key industry in your country (in which case you might be able to do ttopic 8 quite well) or if you are good at costing and management accounting maybe a topic 15 for a mine might be possible.

Otherwise that leaves 17, 18 or 20 (unless you are familiar with Islamic banking!) We have special forums for these so I suggest that you take a look at each of these for ideas of what’s involved and problems (for Topic 17 make sure you look at the thread for Topic 17 from Period 35 onwards as the topic title and requirements have changed. Note: You may need to look at pages 2 or 3 of our listed threads to find topic 18 or 20 .

Then think about what company may be suitable and what interests you

[jokhang]

I am currently doing topic 8. An analysis and evaluation of the business and financial performance of an organisation over a three year period.
My mentor told me that I should include 4 years of financial year end account eg 2014 – 2017, in order to analyse and evaluate the financial year of 2015, then 2016 and 2017.
However, I have read through some samples, that students are only including 3 financial year end accounts.
Should I listen to my mentor? Will I fail if I include 4 financial year instead of 3?

[trephena]

I am not sure why you are posting this query here when there is a thread for General queries Topic 8.

The topic title is 3 years so say 1 Jan 2015 to 31 Dec 2015 makes for the first year and 2016 and 2017 the second and third years. However there is possibly sense in what your mentor is saying because to understand and analyse a business you need to understand the management strategies and the rationale that lies behind them. You do this by reading the written reports within the annual report. Some strategies take time to be effective so earlier reports such as 2014 may help you understand the company performance in 2015 and onwards.

You will not be failed if you do 4 years but you are likely to be failed if you take a year by year approach rather than discussing the trends as a continuous period of 3 years (or 4 years). However there is no real extra merit in doing 4 years apart from understanding and getting to grips with strategies as explained above.

[chidozie]

I have chosen topic 17 but I am struggling with models to apply in my research. Please which models do you think is appropriate for topic 17.

[GillianM – OBU Registered Mentor]

As your question directly relates to Topic 17 that is the thread you should post to.

The Assessment criteria talk about using appropriate models and business techniques (not just models). For Topic 17 the relevant CG code is part of this, discussing (briefly) agency theory and/or stewardship theory and considering a stakeholder model and evidence of application of these would be the ‘norms’ for this topic to satisfy the first two assessment criteria (see Appendix 1 of Info Pack)

(Please post any further queries to the relevant topic thread)

[basharmab]

Sir/Madam, I would like to submit my RAP for Topic 20 in the period 37. I have recently made this decision. However i am not capable enough to pay mentor fee and did not resort to any mentor therefor. If i get a latest rich CSR sample report that will be my huge good for me. I will have my report reviewed by a registered mentor on request with minimal honorary fee. Can u pls help me by providing a sample report? My email basharbd.mab@gmail.com

[trephena]

There is no prescribed format for Topic 20 and a sample report would not really be of much use as the appropriate headings and content depend on which organisation is chosen.

You are best off looking at Part 5 of the information pack where it sets out a suggested structure in general terms. You will need to discuss a model (Carroll’s or Triple Bottom line or similar) and use plenty of headings and sub-headings throughout when discussing the different aspects of weak CSR

Yes I understand that the cost of a mentor can seem a lot of money.
However good ones do take a lot of the worry out of completing the work as they know how to advise on focus, content and structure.
Through the 3 meetings they are able to guide and direct your research and writing. OBU actually has a scheme of bursaries for extreme hardship where there is help with mentoring (free of charge if you qualify). As the submission fee is GBP 340 it would probably be better to explore this possibility with acca@brookes.ac.uk first (there may possibly even be a reduced submission fee). Otherwise without proper professional mentorship your chances of failing are higher (so likely to involve another GBP 340 for the resubmission)

Whoever you are proposing to use for signing off your work will actually be making false statements if they have not mentored you – a sign they lack integrity. You really should contact the University if there is a genuine problem about money for fees or consider deferring to P38 and saving up for a mentor who is reputable who will be able to give you sound advice on your work

[iusamaali]

Please Help!
I submitted my rap in period 34, my case was referred to academic conduct officer due to plagiarism in sls its more than an year case is still outstanding its been 6,7 month my ACO has not responded I have sent her multiple reminders.She told me not to contact ACCA but i am very frustrated now what should I do should I report this issue to ACCA?

[iusamaali]

Please Help!
I submitted my rap in period 34, my case was referred to academic conduct officer due to plagiarism in sls its more than an year case is still outstanding its been 6,7 month my ACO has not responded I have sent her multiple reminders.She told me not to contact ACCA but i am very frustrated now what should I do should I report this issue to ACCA?

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