2298 Finance, Analytics and Strategy CW2 Assignment Brief 2025 | UCB

Assignment Task:

Context: 

• Globalisation has significantly transformed the finance sector, introducing opportunities for market expansion, cross-border investments, and financial innovation, but also amplifying challenges such as currency fluctuations, geopolitical risks such as trade disputes, and financial market integration complexities. This assignment explores how financial strategies can be developed by finance managers to navigate global dynamics and achieve long-term value creation for the financial firm. By utilising data-driven approaches and advanced analytical techniques, you will examine how organisations can adapt to global challenges and optimise strategic decision-making.

Task

• You are required to write an individual 2,000-word formal report that evaluates the impact of globalisation on the financial strategy of finance managers. You must analyse how financial data and analytics can be leveraged to address global challenges, enhance decision-making, and optimise outcomes. Your analysis should include a critical exploration of real-world financial strategies, case studies, and scholarly research.

Marking Criteria:

• Below are the marking criteria that align with both the task(s) set and the quality of your document.  Clear weightings/marks will be noted for each criterion.  
• The overall mark awarded for this assignment will explicitly show how the mark was calculated based on your performance against each criterion.
• Introduction: 5%
• Section 1: Dynamics of Globalisation: 20%
• Section 2: Financial Analytics in a Global Context: 20%
• Section 3: Strategic Responses to Challenges: 20%
• Section 4: Decision-Making Frameworks: 15%
• Recommendations: 5%
• Conclusion: 5%
• References: 5%
• Presentation and Layout: 5%

Task and Document Format Guidance:

Introduction (Approx. 150 words) – 5%

Provide an overview of the impact of globalisation on the finance sector and the critical importance of strategic decision-making in an international/globalised business environment. Outline the structure and objectives of your analysis.

The Dynamics of Globalisation in Finance (Approx. 400 words) – 20%

Evaluate the main ways in which globalisation has influenced financial markets, and specifically the strategies of finance managers. Topics may include:

• Opportunities for cross-border/international trade; investment; and market entry.
• Risks associated with exchange rate volatility, geopolitical uncertainty, and regulatory arbitrage.
• The challenges and benefits of integrating financial systems globally (e.g., regional markets like the EU, ASEAN, ECOWAS, NAFTA, etc).
• Provide examples of how companies in the financial sector have addressed these dynamics.

Advanced Financial Analytics in a Global Context (Approx. 400 words) – 20%

Evaluate the role of analytics in addressing global financial challenges and exploiting opportunities. Explore:

• The use of predictive analytics in currency forecasting, market trends, and risk assessment.
• The application of big data in identifying cross-border investment opportunities.
• Case studies or examples of financial institutions using analytics to gain competitive advantages in global markets.

Strategic Responses to Global Financial Challenges (Approx. 400 words) – 20%

Critically examine strategies used to manage globalisation-related challenges in finance. Consider:

• Hedging techniques for managing currency and interest rate risks.
• Strategies for navigating diverse regulatory environments.
• Methods to enhance global financial resilience, such as diversification and supply chain financing.
  Include examples or case studies of organisations successfully implementing such strategies.

Decision-Making Frameworks for Global Finance (Approx. 350 words) – 15%

Explore decision-making frameworks used in formulating global financial strategies. Topics may include:

• The role of scenario analysis in planning for geopolitical or market disruptions.
• Strategic models such as PESTLE, Porter’s Five Forces, or game theory in global finance.
• How data-driven decision-making ensures adaptability in volatile global markets.

Recommendations (Approx. 150 words) – 5%

• Report MUST include a set of recommendations synthesised from the application of critical analysis of the findings and scholarly research identified above (NB: must not include any new information unless derived from the findings above).

Conclusion (Approx. 100 words) – 5%

Summarise the key insights from your analysis, emphasising the importance of combining analytics with strategic frameworks to navigate globalisation in finance. 

• For additional guidance on this assignment, please access the assignment vodcast available on Canvas

2298 Learning Outcomes:

• Analyse contemporary managerial challenges
• Apply data analysis techniques (including financial data) to systematic strategic decisions