Assignment workshop: research, planning and referencing

This week’s topics

Assignment workshop: research, planning and referencing

1. Unpacking the assignment brief and criteria
2. Finding and evaluating sources
3. Planning and referencing
4. Writing a Business Research Report

What you will be able to do

• 1.1 Analyse the factors that guide and drive decision making in business.
• 1.2 Assess the significance of financial factors in business decision making.
• 1.3 Evaluate the characteristics of business risk that impact on financial and business decisions.
• 2.1 Compare the accrual and cash flow approaches to accounting and financial reporting and the implications of each for business decision making.
• 2.2 Evaluate the structure and content of final accounts and their uses for business decision making.
• 2.3 Interpret financial information in balance sheets, income statements as well as sources and applications of funds statements.
• 2.4 Differentiate between financial decisions relating to capital expenditure and those relating to revenue expenditure.
• 3.1 Appraise various sources of short-term and long-term financing for businesses.
• 3.2 Critically examine key factors affecting the choice of source of financing.
• 3.3 Evaluate various techniques used for appraising and making decisions regarding capital expenditure.
• 3.4 Explain the possible benefits and drawbacks of off-balance sheet financing.
• 4.1 Critically analyse the corporate governance, legal and regulatory environments of different business ownership structures.
• 4.2 Compare and contrast stakeholder interests of owners and managers in decision making.
• 4.3 Evaluate the significance of Return on capital Employed (ROCE), Earnings Per Share (EPS) and other overall performance measures for the long-term sustainability of businesses.
• 4.4 Differentiate between business ethics, governance and accounting ethics as controls on business accountability.

Activity

Start with this week’s video, then: Plan the unit assignment against every criterion; source and reference the evidence.

Study materials

Videos

• Writing a Business Research Report · YouTube · Galton College · 11 min · for registered students

Further resources

• Harvard Referencing quick guide 2025 (York St John University) · PDF · Other, report · for registered students
• Writing for Success, ch. 8.1–8.3: Prewriting, outlining and drafting · PDF · Saylor Academy, textbook chapter; pp. 281–318 · for registered students
• Evaluating Information: Applying the CRAAP Test · PDF · Other, report · for registered students