Assignment Tasks
Question 1: Learning outcome 1 and 2 – (30 marks)
(a) Critically analyse the legal, financial and regulatory environment of
health and social care.
(10 marks)
(b) Critically evaluate the use of alternative funding options such as Private
Finance Initiatives (PFI), agency partnerships, competitive tendering
and outsourcing in the health and social care sector.
(10 marks)
(c) Discuss agency theory in the context of the NHS. Explain the
importance of and ways of communicating with stakeholders in the
context of budgeting.
(10 marks)
(LO 1 & 2)
(30 marks)
(1500 words)
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Question 2: Learning outcome 3 and 4 – (35 marks)
Write a 2000 word briefing document covering the following points;
(a) Critically discuss the impact of financial constraints, costs and budgets
on health and social care service managers, their clients and other
stakeholders.
(15 marks)
(b) Explain the particular challenges of budgeting in public sector
organisations
(5 marks)
(c) Critically discuss the advantages and disadvantages of incremental and
zero-based budgeting.
(15 marks)
(LO 3 & 4)
(35 marks)
(2000 words)
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[870]
Question 3: Learning outcome 3 – (25 marks)
Sams Ltd is specialized in producing and selling washing machines. In 2018, the manufacturing cost per unit included:
£
Direct material 125
Direct labor (20 minutes per unit) 45/hour
Variable manufacturing overhead 20
Variable selling expenses 15
Variable administrative expenses 10
Fixed costs for the year ended 31 December 2018 were:
£000
Fixed manufacturing 1,100
Fixed selling and distribution 1,450
Fixed administrative 675
The company produced and sold 220,000 units at £225 per unit.
In 2019, management has decided to increase the selling price by 25% and to maintain the same contribution margin ratio as last year. This increase in price is to meet an increase of £1,450,000 in fixed costs in 2019. The company has produced and sold the same quantity in 2019 as last year.
Required
(a) Calculate the break-even point and margin of safety in both units and
revenue for the two years, 2018 and 2019, and briefly comment upon
the results.
(10 marks)
(b) Critically discuss key assumptions attached to the breakeven model,
within the light of the reality of today’s business environments.
(15 marks)
(LO 3)
(25 marks)
(500 words)
