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Finance for strategic decision-making

This module will provide you with the necessary tools to use financial information and other data for making management decisions. You'll learn a range of accounting and data analysis techniques, and you be introduced to the workings of financial markets and financial instruments. Additionally, the module will use Excel spreadsheets and discuss good spreadsheet practice.

Vocational relevance

The module is designed for professionals from a wide range of contexts and backgrounds who need to actively engage with the challenges of using financial and other quantitative information for making decisions.

Qualifications

B874 is a compulsory module in our:

Excluded combinations

Sometimes you will not be able to count a module towards a qualification if you have already taken another module with similar content. To check any excluded combinations relating to this module, visit our excluded combination finder or check with an adviser before registering.

Module

Module code
B874
Credits

Credits

  • Credits measure the student workload required for the successful completion of a module or qualification.
  • One credit represents about 10 hours of study over the duration of the course.
  • You are awarded credits after you have successfully completed a module.
  • For example, if you study a 60-credit module and successfully pass it, you will be awarded 60 credits.
15
Study level
Across the UK, there are two parallel frameworks for higher education qualifications, the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications in England, Northern Ireland and Wales (FHEQ) and the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF). These define a hierarchy of levels and describe the achievement expected at each level. The information provided shows how OU postgraduate modules correspond to these frameworks.
OU Postgraduate
SCQF 11
FHEQ 7
Study method
Distance learning
Module cost
See Module registration
Entry requirements

Find out more about entry requirements.

Module details Entry requirements Module registration Study materials

What you will study

The module aims to equip you with a range of techniques, skills and knowledge to enable you to make effective strategic decisions.

Unit 1: Decision-making techniques
This unit provides an overview of macroeconomics and financial forecasting considerations. Then, having learned some basic ideas around probability, you'll be introduced to the powerful technique of decision trees. Finally, you'll learn how to evaluate business investment cases.

Unit 2: Financial markets, institutions and instruments
In this unit, you'll discover how markets operate, who the key players are and what instruments are traded within them. This will include discussions on shares, bonds, derivatives and the foreign exchange market.

Unit 3: Introduction to strategic decision-making and statistical modelling
For the first half of this unit, you'll be introduced to game theory: a method of making decisions whilst trying to predict and take account of the reactions of others. The second half is an introduction to data analysis as you learn how to handle and interpret data.

The three units in this module will require you to study for approximately seven hours per week.

Teaching and assessment

Support from your tutor

Your learning will take place within a tutor-facilitated group of up to 15 students. Your tutor is responsible for providing individual tuition, professional advice and support, mentoring, assessment and regular feedback on your performance throughout the module. Online tutorials and a Day School are provided to help you revise key concepts and prepare for assessments.

Contact us if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.

Assessment

The assessment details can be found in the facts box.

Course work includes

1 Tutor-marked assignment (TMA)
End-of-module assessment

Future availability

Finance for strategic decision-making starts twice a year, in May and November. This page describes the module that will start in November 2025 and May 2026. We expect it to start for the last time in May 2028.

Regulations

As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the academic regulations which are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.

Entry requirements

This is a compulsory module in our MBA and Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration programmes. It can only be studied after successfully completing the first two modules Managing in a changing world (B870) and Creating and sustaining value (B872).

Register

Start End England fee Register
01 Nov 2025 Apr 2026 £1830.00

Registration closes 16/10/25 (places subject to availability)

Register
02 May 2026 Oct 2026 £1830.00

Registration closes 16/04/26 (places subject to availability)

Register
This module is expected to start for the last time in May 2028.

Future availability

Finance for strategic decision-making starts twice a year, in May and November. This page describes the module that will start in November 2025 and May 2026. We expect it to start for the last time in May 2028.

Additional costs

Study costs

There may be extra costs on top of the tuition fee, such as set books, a computer and internet access.

Ways to pay for this module

We know there’s a lot to think about when choosing to study, not least how much it’s going to cost and how you can pay.

That’s why we keep our fees as low as possible and offer a range of flexible payment and funding options, including a postgraduate loan, if you study this module as part of an eligible qualification. To find out more, see Fees and funding.

Study materials

What's included

As well as the individual tuition provision, you'll have access to regular opportunities for engagement with other students, university library access, an extensive variety of specially written resources, mainly online and designed exclusively for this module, audio-visual material, published articles, case studies help you develop your management thinking abilities.

You will need

You will need access to Microsoft Excel (or alternative spreadsheet software). As an OU student, you will have free access to Microsoft Office 365 for the duration of your studies and for up to two years after. Excel is included in this package along with other applications such as Word and Outlook mail and 1TB of online storage with OneDrive.

Computing requirements

  • Primary device – A desktop or laptop computer. It’s possible to access some materials on a mobile phone, tablet or Chromebook; however, they will not be suitable as your primary device.
  • Peripheral device – Headphones/earphones with a built-in microphone for online tutorials.
  • Our OU Study app operates on supported versions of Android and iOS.
  • Operating systems – Windows 11 or latest supported macOS. Microsoft will no longer support Windows 10 as of 14 October 2025.
  • Internet access – Broadband or mobile connection.
  • Browser – Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge are recommended. Mozilla Firefox and Safari may be suitable.

If you have a disability

Elements of this module are delivered online and include the use of real-time online discussions and an interactive whiteboard space, so time spent using a computer and the internet will be extensive. If you use assistive technology or have a hearing or speech impairment and have concerns about accessing this type of virtual environment and materials, you can visit the system provider's website for information and contact The Open University to discuss it further before registering.

Written transcripts of any audio components and Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) versions of printed material are available. Some Adobe PDF components may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader. Alternative formats of the study materials may be available in the future.

To find out more about what kind of support and adjustments might be available, contact us or visit our disability support pages.

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