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SQAHigherNationalDiplomainBusinesswithAccounting Page1of16
SQAHIGHERNATIONALDIPLOMAINBUSINESSWITHACCOUNTING
UNITSPECIFICATION
SQAHigherNationalDiplomainBusinesswithAccounting Page2of16
YEAR1UNITS
1.BusinessAccounting(F84M34)
This2-creditUnitenables students todevelop their knowledgeandunderstanding in thepreparation
and use of accounting information within a business organisation. Students will develop skills in
preparing basic financial andmanagement accounting reports and in interpreting and using financial
informationfordecisionmaking.
TherearefiveOutcomesinthisUnit.ItisrecommendedthatOutcomes1and2areassessedseparately
andthattheassessmentisintegratedforOutcomes3,4and5.
In Outcome 1 students will prepare the financial statements for a limited company comprising an
income statement, statement of financial position and statement of changes in equity and and
incorporatingyear-endadjustments.
Outcome 2 focuses on the preparation of management accounting information and students will
prepare a cash budget. Further, students will calculate the break-even point for making business
decisions;forexampleconsideringthelaunchofanewproduct.
ItisrecommendedthatOutcomes3,4and5aredeliveredandassessedusinganintegratedapproach.
TheseOutcomescover:usersoffinancialinformationandthepurposesforwhichitisneeded;sources
offinanceavailabletoabusiness,bothshorttermandlongterm;andananalysisoftheperformance
andfinancialpositionofabusinessbylookingatstatementsofcashflowsanduseofaccountingratios.
Theassessmentcouldtaketheformofacasestudycoveringthesethreeareas.
2.BusinessLaw:AnIntroduction(F84P34)
This 1-credit Unit is designed to introduce students to law within a business environment. It is
specificallyfocusedonScotsLawbutmaytakeintoaccountsomeaspectsofEnglishLaw.
TheUnitexaminessourcesofScotsLawandcontractualrelationships.TherearethreeOutcomes:
Outcome1explainsthemainsourcesofScotsLaw.Outcome2explainsthelawofcontract.
Outcome3distinguishesthe legalcharacteristicsofthevarioustypesofbusinessrelationships—sole
trader,partnership,registeredcompany,limitedliabilitycompany.
TheUnitmaybetaughtbyusingreportedcasesfromcurrentlawjournalsandotherrelevantsources.
Students shouldbeencouraged to gather information fromvarious sources, eg the internet, journals
andnewspapersandusetheseinclassdiscussions.
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AssessmentforallthreeOutcomesmaytaketheformofopen-bookassessmentsbasedonacasestudy
and/orrestrictedresponsequestions.Studentsmaycompiletheirresponsesfromtheirownresearch.
Usefulwebsitesarewww.acas.org.ukandwww.gov.uk
3.Communication:BusinessCommunication(H7TK34)
This 1-credit Unit is designed to help students analyse, summarise, evaluate and produce complex
writtencommunication. Italsodevelopsstudents’ skills inpresentingandresponding tocomplexoral
businessinformation.ItisrecommendedthisUnitbetaughtandassessedwithinthesubjectareaofthe
group award. The practical skills developed and assessed in this Unit may be integrated with other
Units.
Outcomesmaybeintegratedwithelementsofthecoursewhichrequiretheanalysisandproductionof
complexwrittenand/ororalcommunication.
TherearethreeOutcomes,whichmaybeintegratedwithelementsofthecourserequiringtheanalysis
andproductionofcomplexwrittenand/ororalcommunication.
Outcome1analysesandevaluatescomplexwrittenbusinessinformationanddevelopsskillsinreading
andanalysingcomplextext,summarisingkeyinformationandevaluatingthesuitabilityofwrittentext
foritspurpose.
Outcome 2 assists students in the production of complex written business documents. It covers
selectionofrelevantinformation,sequencingforimpactandeffectiveness,appropriatenessoflanguage
andstyleforformalbusinessdocuments.
Within the documents spelling, punctuation and grammar should be accurate. Students are also
requiredtoreferencesources.
Outcome3requiresstudentstopresentandrespondtocomplexoralinformationinabusinesscontext.
Studentswillplananddeliveraninputtoaformalbusinessrelatedevent.Theeventmaytaketheform
ofameeting,event,webinar,etc.
ItispossibletointegrateOutcome2andOutcome3,combiningthereportandmeeting/event.Tutors
shouldbeadvisedsettingupthemeetings/eventscanbetimeconsumingand it is recommendedthe
report is marked at key stages and students given constructive feedback. For each Outcome,
assessmentisundertakeninopen-bookconditions.Centresshouldensuretheauthenticityofstudents’
work.
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4.CreatingaCultureofCustomerCare(H1F034)
This 1-credit Unit enables students to recognise and evaluate effective customer care. The Unit
emphasisesthatcustomercareisakeyareaofimportanceandvaluetoorganisationsandis,therefore,
criticaltotheworkofeveryemployee.
TherearetwoOutcomesandstudentevidencecanbegatheredinavarietyofways,egpresentations,
casestudyanalysis,structuredquestions,oralquestioning,e-portfolio,etc.
Outcome1focusesontheanalysisofthefactorswhichcontributetoacultureofcustomercareandthe
achievementofhighstandardsofcustomercare.
Outcome2studentsapplytheseprinciplestoanorganisationandevaluateitscustomercarestrategy.
5.EconomicIssues:AnIntroduction(F7J834)
This1-creditUnitintroducesstudentstofundamentalissuesineconomicswithaparticularemphasison
the business environment. Students will learn about the basic economic problem and how the
consumerandothereconomicagentsaddressthisproblem.Studentsareintroducedtotheoperationof
marketsandactionsthatcanbetakentohelpavoidmarketfailure.TheUnit introducesthetheoryof
NationalIncomeandthecircularflowofincomemodel.
Studentsarerequiredtoanalysecomplexinformationonnationalpoliciesandtheirapplication.
InOutcome1studentsarerequiredtoexplaintheallocationofresourceswithintheeconomy. Inthis
theywillcoveraspectssuchasthebasiceconomicproblem,opportunitycost,determinantsofdemand
andsupply,interactionofdemandandsupply,andpriceandincomeelasticity.
InOutcome2 students are required to explain the theoryofNational Income. In this theywill cover
areassuchascircularflowofincome,injectionsandwithdrawals,multiplier,measurementofnational
income, comparison of national incomebetween countries and national income growthmeasured in
monetaryandrealterms.
InOutcome3 students are required toexplain andevaluate the roleof governmentpolicy in theUK
market. In this theywill cover the role of government inmarket failure, current Government policy,
Governmentpolicyinstruments,andevaluationofGovernmentpolicy.
ThisUnitmaybeassessedusinganintegrativeassessmentapproachforOutcomes1and2,orbyusing
an individual instrument of assessment for eachOutcome. Controlled conditions are requiredwhere
sampling takes place. Assessments may involve the use of stimulus materials and if appropriate,
studentsmaybringwiththemadefinedamountofnotesassourcematerialforassessmentundertaken
undercontrolledconditions.
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Outcomes1and2willbeassessedusingspecificquestionswhichmaybebaseduponstimulusmaterial
andmustbeassessedundercontrolledconditions.
Outcome 3 could be assessed under open-book conditions and may take the form of a short
investigative exercise with a suggested word guide of approximately 800 to 1,000 words in length
excludinganyappendices.
6.Economics1:MicroandMacroTheoryandApplication(F7J635)
InthesecondhalfofYear1,theintroductoryUnitinEconomics—EconomicIssues:AnIntroduction—
isfollowedbyamorein-depthUnitcalledEconomics1:MicroandMacroTheoryandApplication.Itis
strongly recommended that the introductory Unit in Economics is passed before progression to this
Unit.
This1-creditUnit isdesigned tobuildon students’ knowledgeof introductoryeconomics andexpose
themtomicro-economicandmacro-economicapplicationsoftheory.TheUnitallowstheintroduction
ofcurrentissuesineconomicsandprovidesanopportunityforstudentstoanalyseandevaluatethese
issues.TherearethreeOutcomesforthisUnit.
InOutcome1studentsarerequiredtoexplain thecostsof the firmandthemarketstructureswithin
which firms operate. Areas to be covered are costs of the firm,market structures, price and output
behaviour,profitmaximisation,andalternativestoprofitmaximisation.
InOutcome2studentsarerequiredtoanalysetheimpactofunemploymentandinflation.Areastobe
coveredaretypesofunemployment,typesofinflation,theimpactofunemploymentonindividualsand
businesses,andtheimpactof inflationonindividualsandbusinesses.Recenttrendsinunemployment
andininflationarerelevanttothisanalysis.
InOutcome3studentsarerequiredtoevaluategovernmentuseofmacro-economicpolicy.Areastobe
coveredaretheaimsoffiscalpolicy,fiscalpolicymethodsintheUK,aimsofmonetarypolicy,monetary
policymethodsintheUKandsupply-sidepolicies.
Assessment of Outcome 1 will take place in unsupervised conditions and may take the form of an
investigative exercise. Assessment of Outcomes 2 and 3 of this Unit will take place in controlled
conditionsandmaybeassessedbyquestionsbasedonstimulusmaterial.Studentswillbepermittedto
useaspecifiedamountoftheirownnotes.
7.InformationTechnology:ApplicationsSoftware1(D75X34)
This 1-credit Unit is designed to enable students to use Information Technology (IT) systems and
applications independently to support a range of information processing activities and to develop a
SQAHigherNationalDiplomainBusinesswithAccounting Page6of16
broadknowledgeofthetheoreticalconceptsofITapplications.
TherearetwoOutcomes:
Outcome1 focuses onoperating a rangeof IT equipment independently, giving attention to security
andtootherusers.
In Outcome 2 students use a range of software application packages to meet complex information
requirements.
Assessment is largelypracticaland lends itself toa singleassessmentcontaininganumberof tasks in
theformofaprojectorcasestudy.AnobservationchecklistshouldbeusedforOutcome1.Outcome2
requires the student to use four ormore software packages, and to integrate twoormore different
datatypes,egtext,number,graphics,audioorvideo.Examplesofsoftwareapplicationswhichmaybe
usedincludeWord,Excel,Powerpoint,Publisher,Access,OutlookandtheInternet.
ThereisscopetolinkassessmenttootherUnits,egITinBusiness:Spreadsheets(F84V34)whichuses
Excelforspreadsheets.
8.ITinBusiness:Spreadsheets(F84V34)
This1-creditUnitisdesignedtoallowstudentstodevelopanunderstandingofspreadsheetdesignand
how to use spreadsheet features and functions for practical and effective use. There are three
OutcomesfortheUnitandopen-bookconditionsshouldbeusedfortheassessment.
InOutcome1studentsarerequiredtocreateaspreadsheetdesignandprovidesolutionsforabusiness
scenario.
InOutcome2studentsshouldpresentspreadsheetdataingraphicalformandinterprettheresults.
In Outcome 3 students should provide solutions to a business scenario using spreadsheet statistical
functions.
Itispossibletolinkassessment1,2and3usingacasestudyandtheassessmentmaybepresentedina
varietyofforms,egprinted,submittedelectronicallyorinhardcopy.Anassessmentexemplarhasbeen
provided for thisUnitand thisusesacasestudy forOutcome1 todesignandproducespreadsheets.
FromthespreadsheetsproducedinOutcome1materialisprovidedforthegraphsforOutcome2.Afile
isprovided for the students forOutcome3whichcontains the information fromaquestionnaireand
thisisusedtoproducestatisticalfunctionsforOutcome3.
ThereisscopetolinktheassessmenttootherUnits,egInformationTechnology:ApplicationSoftware1
(D75X34).
SQAHigherNationalDiplomainBusinesswithAccounting Page7of16
9.ManagingPeopleandOrganisations(F84T34)
This2-creditUnitconsistsoffourOutcomesandassessmentisopen-book,basedonquestionsonacase
studyofarealorfictitiousorganisation.Studentswouldnormallybegiven2–3weekstoresearchand
preparetheirsubmissions.Tutorscouldusequestioningtoauthenticatelearningandensureresponses
arestudents’ownwork.
OnecasestudycanbeusedforassessmentofallOutcomesbutitwouldberecommendedthatstudents
submit each Outcome separately. This approach helps students manage their assessment load, plus
studentsbenefitfromtutorfeedbackandreflectivelearning.
In Outcome 1, students focus on the characteristics and purpose of the organisation and its
environment. Theywill understand the importance of organisational goals, objectives andpolicy, the
influenceofkeystakeholdersandstrategiesofcontrol.
In Outcome 2, students will analyse factors that contribute to workplace performance. They will
considertheoreticalmodelsandrelatetoindividualperformanceandmotivation.Teamworkshouldbe
encouraged and students given the opportunity to reflect on factors contributing to their team’s
performanceintasksset.Teamtaskscouldbesetthatencouragestudentstoworktogetherresearching
and presenting key theories. In addition to the use of structured questions, some form of group
assessmentcouldbeusedtoaddvaluetoteamwork.
InOutcome3,studentswillanalysefactorsthat influencemanagerialperformance.Theywillexamine
the roles and activities of managers, ways to measure managerial performance and theories of
leadership. There is scope to integrate with Outcome 2 and use team tasks to assist with research
activitiesandhelpstudentsexploretheeffectivenessofdifferentleadershipstyles.Structuredquestions
could be supplemented by evidence from team work. Students should be encouraged to submit
evidence of reflective learning on their team/leader’s performance, eg what did they do well, what
couldtheyimproveon,actionplanforimprovements.
In Outcome 4, students are required to identify and compare alternative approaches to organising
peopleandactivitieswithintheworkplace.Tutorsshouldensurethereisenoughscopewithinthecase
study or real organisation to evidence this. The organisation should be one thatwould benefit from
restructuring andprovide studentswill scope to cover the range required andpresent an alternative
structure.
10.Marketing:AnIntroduction(F7BX34)
This1-creditUnit givesabroad introduction tomarketing. Thereare twoOutcomeswhich shouldbe
incorporated in an integrated project. Students are required to produce a reportwhich explains the
natureofmarketingandthemarketingdecisionstakeninrelationtoanorganisationoftheirchoice.The
SQAHigherNationalDiplomainBusinesswithAccounting Page8of16
reportshouldinclude:
Anintroductionthatprovidessomebriefinformationabouttheorganisationtheyhavechosenandthe
key characteristics of themarketing concept. Students will be required to explain the organisation’s
micro and macro environment. Students will explain why market research is important for the
organisation, and two examples of how the organisation could collect and usemarket research. The
examplesmust includeonequalitativeandonequantitative technique.The reportwill thencoveran
explanationofthe importanceandbenefitsofmarketsegmentationandtargetingtotheorganisation
and theprocess that theorganisationmayuse to segment and target themarket.An explanationof
marketingtheory,supportedbyexamplesofthefollowingshouldalsobeincluded:
o Productmixdecisionsthattheorganisationhastaken
o Place—howtheorganisationmakestheproductorserviceavailabletothecustomer,egchannelsofdistribution
o ThePricingmethodsusedbytheorganisation
o Theorganisation’sPromotionalmix
o TheimportancetotheorganisationoftheroleofPeople,ProcessandPhysicalevidenceinthemarketingofproductsorservices
The report should also show how the organisation’s marketing mix responds to changing marketconditions.
TheUnitmaybeassessed inavarietyofways,egbya separateassessment foreachOutcome.Bothassessments may take place under controlled conditions and be designed to encourage students torelatemarketing theory to relevant examples.Alternatively, there is theopportunity to integrate theassessmentofOutcomes1and2.Thiscouldbedoneunderopen-bookconditionsandwouldbebasedonacasestudy,projectorotherstimulusmaterial.
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11.RecordingFinancialInformation(F7JV34)
This1-creditUnitfocusesondevelopingbook-keepingskillsandtherecordingoffinancialinformation.There are four short Outcomes and assessments although it is possible to integrate these into twoassessments, if this suits the student group, by combining Outcomes 1 and 2 and also combiningOutcomes3and4. Outcome1 covers the recordingof financial transactions in thebooksoforiginalentryandcovers salesand sales returns,purchasesandpurchase returns,bank transactions receivedand paid, cash received and paid. It also covers accounting for Value Added Tax (VAT) on thesetransactions.Outcome2followsdirectlyandinvolvesthepostingofthebooksoforiginalentrytothesales,purchaseandgeneralledgeraccountsapplyingdoubleentrybook-keepingprinciples.
Finallystudentswillextractatrialbalancefromtheledgeraccounts.TheseOutcomesmaybeassessed
separatelyortheassessmentmaybecombined.
Outcome 3 covers the completion of a VAT Return by identifying relevant inputs and outputs and
calculatingtherelevantamountsforthereturn.
Outcome 4 covers control mechanisms which may be incorporated into a book- keeping system. In
particular,studentswillprepareabankreconciliationandusejournalentriestocorrecterrors,including
theuseofasuspenseaccount.
Outcomes3and4maybeassessedseparatelyortheassessmentmaybecombined.
12.PreparingFinancialForecasts(F84R35)
This1-credit financialUnit contains fourOutcomesalthough it is recommended that thedeliveryand
assessmentofOutcomes1and2becombinedandthatthedeliveryandassessmentofOutcomes3and
4becombinedalso.
Outcome1coversthepreparationofanoperatingstatementandtheclassificationofcostsintodirect
and indirect. Students also learn about the analysis of overhead costs and methods of determining
profitusingmark-upandmargin.
Outcome 2 further develops the analysis of costs for a business throughmarginal costing to provide
relevantdatafordecisionmaking.ThisOutcomealsolooksattheeffectofchangingcostsandrevenue
levelsonthetotalcontributionmadebythegoodsandservicesanorganisationproduces.
Outcome 3 introduces students to the important business process of budgeting and covers the
preparation of functional budgets and flexed budgets. Further, students will calculate variances
betweenbudgetedandactualrevenuesandcostsforanorganisation.
Outcome4involvestheuseof investmentandprojectappraisaltechniquestoassesstheviabilityofa
project. These techniques include traditional and discounted cash flow and their uses in decision
SQAHigherNationalDiplomainBusinesswithAccounting Page10of16
making.
TheuseofaspreadsheetpackageisencouragedforOutcomes3and4.
13.BusinesswithAccounting:GradedUnit1(H0J134)
This1-creditUnitwillprovideevidencethatstudentshavemettheaimsofthefirstyearoftheGroup
Award. It assesses the student’s ability to integrate knowledge and skills and problem solving across
fourofthefirstyearUnits.
This Unit covers the integration of a range of knowledge and skills achieved through study of the
mandatoryUnits,butfocusingon:
F84M34 BusinessAccounting
F7J834 EconomicIssues:AnIntroduction
F84T34 ManagingPeopleandOrganisations
F7BX34 Marketing:AnIntroduction
14.BehaviouralSkillsforBusiness(F84L35)
This 1-creditUnit is designed to enable students to explain the functionof amanager and recognise
effectivebehaviouralskills.AholisticapproachcanbetakentothethreeOutcomesusingacasestudy,
withasetofstructuredquestions.Alternativelystudentscouldbe issuedwithasetofguidelinesand
askedtosubmitareportbasedonthecasestudyoronanorganisationoftheirchoice.
Outcome1 examines the role of themanager anddifferencesbetween themanager and the leader.
StudentsshouldbereferredbacktoOutcomes2and3inManagingPeopleandOrganisations(F84T34).
Outcome2coversassertivenessskills, influencingskills,negotiationstrategies,meetingsandbriefings,
conflictmanagement(clearlinktoUnitCommunication:BusinessCommunication).
Outcome3analysestechniquesusedbymanagerstomanagethemselvesandothers—problem-solving
anddecisionmaking,timemanagementanddealingwithstress.
Trainingvideos,roleplay,groupdiscussionandarangemanagementdevelopmentactivitiesworkwell
in this Unit. This Unit also provides students with a good opportunity to reflect on their own
skills/behaviours recognising their strengths, areas for improvement and completion of a personal
action plan. They should be encouraged to recognise their personal strengths and areas for
improvement.
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15.BusinessContractualRelationships(F84N34)
The1-creditUnitdevelopsstudents’knowledgeofthelawasitappliestothebusinessenvironment.It
examinesconsumerlegislation,thelawinemploymentandtheLawofObligations.
IthasthreeOutcomes:
Outcome 1 explains the key statutory provisions relating to consumer protection— Sales of Goods,
UnfairContractTerms,ConsumerCredit,FalseandMisleadingTradeDescriptionsandProductLiability.
Outcome2explainsthekeyelementsofthelawinemployment—contractofemployment,dismissal
andtermination,discrimination.
Outcome3explainsthekeyelementsofthelawofobligation—generalprinciplesofdelict,negligence
anddefences.
AssessmentforallthreeOutcomesmaybeopen-bookbasedonacasestudywithrestrictedresponse
questions.Assessmentsmaybe integrated.Studentsmaycompileresponsesfromtheirownresearch.
Usefulwebsitesarewww.acas.org.ukandwww.berr.gov.uk
16.BusinessCultureandStrategy(F7J735)
This 2-creditUnit buildsonManagingPeople andOrganisations (F84T34) fromYear 1 andenhances
students’ understanding of business strategy and culture. There are five Outcomes and a holistic
approachmaybe taken toall fiveOutcomes.A single instrumentof assessment canbe issued in the
formofacasestudyoraninvestigationintoanorganisationofchoice.Tutorsshouldensureanychosen
organisationwilloffersufficientevidencetocoverthefullrange.Studentsshouldbefamiliarwiththeir
chosenorganisationandensure theycaneasilygatherdata required tocompleteallOutcomes.Clear
guidelinesshouldbeissuedfortheinvestigativereport.
It is advisable tutors monitor student progress and offer formative assessment feedback after
completion of each Outcome. If students research an organisation of choice, then they should be
encouragedtopresenttheir findingstotheclassgroup.Thisprovidesan insight intothestrategyand
cultureofavarietyoforganisationsandenhancesstudentlearning.Italsoprovidestheopportunityto
developCoreSkillsinCommunicationandProblemSolving.
Outcome 1 examines how management analyse the organisations relationship with its external
environment.
Outcome2assessestherelationshipbetweenorganisationalcultureandorganisationalbehaviour.
Outcome3explainstheinfluenceofbusinessstrategyonorganisationalbehaviour.Outcome4explains
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howtomanagebusinessstrategy.Outcome5analyseshowtomanagechangewithinanorganisation.
17.CompanyLaw:AnIntroduction(DE5H35)
This1-creditUnit introducesthe importantaspectsofcompany lawand isdesignedforstudentswho
wishtopursueacareerinaccountingandfinance.TherearefourOutcomes.
In Outcome 1 students gain knowledge and understanding of the separate legal personality of a
company and its legal consequences, together with the formalities and documents required for
registeringacompany.
Outcome2involveslookingatthecapitalandfinancingofacompanyincludingordinaryandpreference
sharecapital,loancapitalandbothsecuredandunsecuredborrowings.
Outcome3coversthemanagementandadministrationofacompanyandfocusesonareasrelatingto
Directors,theCompanySecretary,theAnnualGeneralMeetingandpassingofResolutions.
Outcome4dealswithinsolventcompaniesandcoversvoluntaryliquidation,compulsoryliquidationand
administration.
TheassessmentforallOutcomescouldbebasedaroundonecasestudy.
18.Economics2:TheWorldEconomy(F86E35)
This1-creditUnit introduces theworldeconomy, themain focusbeing thekey featuresof theglobal
economicenvironment. Itadvanceseconomicconceptsandallowsstudentstodeveloptheir research
andanalyticalskills.Thecoreeconomic issuesthatarefocusedon inthisUnitaretrade, international
payments,exchangeratesandeconomiesundergoingchange.
InOutcome1studentswillexplaininternationaltradeandtheroleoftradeorganisations.Areastobe
includedaretradetheory,barrierstointernationaltrade,protectionism,theWorldTradeOrganisation
andTradingblocs.
InOutcome2 studentswill analyse thebalanceofpaymentsandexchange rate regimes.Areas tobe
coveredarethestructureoftheUKbalanceofpaymentsaccounts,recenttrendsintheUKbalanceof
payments account, the relationship between exchange rates and the balance of payments, exchange
rateregimesandtheeffectsofexchangeratesoneconomicagents.
In Outcome 3 students will evaluate world economies. Areas covered will be the characteristics of
NewlyIndustrialisedCountries(NICs),theissuesfacingNICs,characteristicsofLessDevelopedCountries
(LDCs),issuesfacingLDCsandtheimpactoftransnationalsinNICsandLDCs.
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Assessment could be undertaken by using one instrument of assessment which allows students to
developtheirresearchskills.Aninvestigativeapproachcouldbetakenbythestudenttoenablethemto
gatherevidence.Thismaybeintheformofaportfolio.
19.FinancialReportingandAnalysis(F7R435)
Across the four Outcomes of this 2-credit Unit, students develop their knowledge of the underlying
conceptsandstandardsthatareappliedinpreparingfinancialstatements,preparefinancialstatements
ofa limitedcompany forpublication,prepareaconsolidatedbalancesheet foragroupof companies
andanalysecompanyfinancialstatementsidentifyingappropriatesourcesoflongtermfinance.
The use of UK Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (UK GAAP) or International Accounting
Standards(IAS)willbeacceptableforthedeliveryandassessmentofthisUnit.
Outcome 1 covers the underlying accounting concepts and the legal framework governing the
preparationoffinancialstatementsoflimitedliabilitycompanies.
Outcome 2 involves the preparation of financial statements for a limited company for publication
includingtheprofitandlossaccount,balancesheet,notestotheaccounts,disclosureofcontinuingand
discontinuedoperations,a statementof recognisedgainsand losses,a reconciliationofmovement in
shareholders’fundsandincorporatesrelevanttaxation.
Outcome3coversthepreparationofaconsolidatedbalancesheetforagroupofcompaniesfollowing
theacquisitionmethodofaccounting.
In Outcome 4 students will analyse company financial statements using accounting ratios covering
profitability,liquidity,efficiency,capitalstructureandinvestment.Furtherstudentswillidentifysources
of long term finance appropriate for an organisation. Students will produce a report with
recommendationsontheirfindings.
20.InformationandCommunicationTechnologyinBusiness(F84W35)
This 2-credit Unit is designed to develop students, knowledge and skills in identifying, evaluating,
managing and presenting business information to facilitate and influence decision-making. There are
fiveOutcomesinthis2-creditUnit.
In Outcome 1— students are required to identify and evaluate the role of business information in
decisionmaking.
In Outcome 2— students are required to describe and evaluate data communications and new ICT
innovations.
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InOutcome3—studentsare required toplanprojectdevelopmentworkusingprojectmanagement
softwaretomeetclientneeds.
In Outcome 4 — students are required to schedule project development work using project
managementsoftwaretomeetclientneeds.
In Outcome 5 — students are required to create a presentation using appropriate presentation
software.
Outcomes 1, 2 and 3 can be linked using an appropriate case study. Outcome 3 requires the use of
ProjectManagementsoftware.Outcome4isapracticalactivitybasedonOutcome3andtheevidence
presentedasareport.Outcome5isapracticalassignmentusingpresentationsoftware.ThisOutcome
couldbelinkedwiththeUnitBusinesswithAccounting:GradedUnit1(H0J134).
ForthedeliveryofthisUnitstudentsshouldbeabletopull togetherconceptsand ideasfromvarious
otherUnitssuchasBehaviouralSkillsforBusiness(F84L35),BusinessCultureandStrategy(F7J735)and
BusinesswithAccounting:GradedUnit1(H0J134).
21.ManagementAccountingforDecisionMaking(F82J35)
This 2-credit Unit enables students to provide and evaluatemanagement accounting information for
use in short to medium term decision making and focuses on the preparation of cost statements,
applyingmarginalcostingtechniques,usinglimitingfactoranalysisandappraisingcapitalprojects.
Outcome 1 looks at the preparation of a relevant cost and revenue statement for a specific
managementdecision,forexampletheacceptanceorrejectionofaspecialorder.Itincludessunkcosts,
committedcosts,incrementalcosts/revenueandopportunitycosts.
InOutcome 2 studentswill build onmarginal costing and break-even techniques to evaluate various
decisionsfacinganorganisationincludingoptimumuseof limitingfactors;makeorbuydecisions;and
changestoprocess,costsandvolume.
Outcome3 involves applyingmarginal costing techniques to provide information to produce amulti-
productprofitvolumegraphwhichhighlightsthebreak-evenpointandmarginofsafety.Studentswill
produceareportwithrecommendationsontheirfindings.
Outcome4coversproductmixdecisionsinvolvingmorethanonelimitingfactor.Studentswillidentify
theoptimumproductmixandprepareaprofitstatementfortheproductmixidentified.
Outcome 5 covers the appraisal of capital investments using accounting rate of return, payback, net
presentvalue,andinternalrateofreturn.Thisappraisalincludestheeffectsoftaxationandinflation.
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22.StatisticsforBusiness(F84K35)
This1-creditUnitofthreeOutcomesintroducesstudentstostatisticalconceptsanddescriptivestatistics
usedinbusiness.
InOutcome1studentswillberequiredtoexplainstatisticaltechniquesforcollectingdata.Areastobe
coveredaretypesofdata,sourcesofdata,surveymethodsandsamplingmethods.
InOutcome2studentswillberequiredtousestatisticaltechniquestoanalyseandinterpretdata.Areas
to be covered are presentation of quantitative data, presentation of qualitative and ordinal data,
measures of central location, measures of dispersion, index numbers, analysis techniques and
interpretationtechniques.
InOutcome3studentswillberequiredtousesoftwaretoproduceforecastsanddiagrams.Areastobe
coveredarescatterdiagrams includingpredictorandresponsevariables, linearregressionforecasting,
Pearson's product-moment correlation coefficient, time series forecasting, histograms, analysis skills
andinterpretationskillsandtheuseofappropriatesoftware.
Outcome 1 could be assessed using an assessment containing short response questions and given
circumstancescoveringallaspectsofOutcome1.
Outcome2couldbeassessedbyanopen-bookassessmentcarriedoutincontrolledconditions.Theuse
ofcalculationaidssuchasascientificcalculatorand/orappropriatesoftwareispermitted.Studentswill
have topresentdata indiffering formats,performcalculationsanddraw inferences from interpreting
figuresandprovidemeaningfulcomment.
Outcome3couldbeassessedbyanopen-bookassessmentcarriedoutundercontrolledconditions in
whichstudentsuseappropriatesoftware.
23.BusinesswithAccounting:GradedUnit2(H0J235)
This2-creditUnitwillprovideevidencethatstudentshavemettheaimsoftheGroupAward.
Itwillbeassessedbyaprojectinvestigation.Theprojectwillinvolvetheinvestigationofabusinessissue
andtheassessmentofitsimplicationsforabusinessoranumberofbusinesses.
ThisUnitcoverstheintegrationofarangeofknowledgeandskillsachievedthroughoutselectedUnits
oftheHND:
F84M34 BusinessAccounting
F84R35 PreparingFinancialForecasts
F7J834 EconomicIssues:AnIntroduction
SQAHigherNationalDiplomainBusinesswithAccounting Page16of16
F7J635 Economics1:MicroandMacroTheoryandApplication
F86E35 Economics2:TheWorldEconomy
F7BX34 Marketing:AnIntroduction
F84T34 ManagingPeopleandOrganisations
F7J735 BusinessCultureandStrategy
F84W35 InformationandCommunicationTechnologyinBusiness
D75X34 InformationTechnology:ApplicationsSoftware1
F84V34 ITinBusiness:Spreadsheets
H7TK34 Communication:BusinessCommunication
F84L35 BehaviouralSkillsforBusiness
F84P34 BusinessLaw:AnIntroduction
F84N34 BusinessContractualRelationships
F84K35 StatisticsforBusiness