Module Learning Objectives:
Knowledge & Understanding:
- Develop an appreciation of various data sources accessible from the university. Understand how to analyse and interpret data in practical situations (ML01).
Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
- You will develop professional communication and presentation skills, which are appropriate to the data sets you have researched and analysed. You will learn how to present your material in a clear and professional manner (ML02)
- Throughout the module you will reflect on your own understanding of data and experiences by the preparation of your reflective journal (ML03)
Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
- You will develop your enquiry and awareness of legislation that governs data processing and data handling in organizations. (ML04)
In response to current global challenges, your assignment is to compare and contrast the financial performance of three companies. You are required to assess the financial performance of the selected companies within similar services, in one particular sector of business, Specifically, you are required to:
Choose three businesses within either the healthcare, technology, or energy sector.
The three companies chosen must be:
(a) Ensure the selected companies are similar in terms of their main service, preferably competitors (e.g., if you choose the healthcare sector, consider companies providing similar services such as pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, or healthcare services). Please ensure that the companies are of comparable sizes e.g. employee head counts and financial performance.
(b) Verify that the chosen firms have at least seven years of accounts available from 2015 to most recent.
(c) Explicitly reference any missing data, especially due to the pandemic, and explain how you have considered its absence.
(d) Utilize key secondary sources such as: Company House (UK), the financial databases FAME, or Bloomberg to gather real company data. (It is not mandated to use only these sources, but preferable)
You will produce a professional written report of findings involving both data collection and financial analysis from your chosen companies, including a brief discussion of relevant GDPR implications of the information you have included within your report. For each of the companies, please include some information in respect to:
- The historical ownership of the companies.
- The general comparison of the performance of the three companies over the reporting period i.e., 2015 to present.
- Summarize the impact of the pandemic on each company`s fortunes from 2020 to the present, incorporating industry-wide news.
(Hint: this should preferably include both generic news items in respect to the wider industry, and specific case items).
- Relevant graphical representations comparing at least three elements of the key financial metrics/account ratios.
- Calculate the average profits over the period of accounts available.
- Provide a separate Excel file as an appendix containing structured and labelled data sets, calculations and statistical analysis including graphs and calculations, on which your report is based. The use of further analytic tools will be welcomed.
(Part 2) Word limit: 500 words
Write a short reflective journal style statement based on your understanding and experiences of collecting, analysing and interpreting financial data.
