Overview and aims
This module is designed to critically evaluate internal and external financial information and to use this to appraise corporate performance and strategy. The module aims:
- to critically evaluate the role of value maximisation in corporate objectives
- to demonstrate expertise in financial analysis of corporate performance
- to select and apply appropriate financial tools and techniques to both long- and short-term decisions and recommend appropriate courses of action
- to assess the informational content of financial reports on external and internal stakeholders
- to demonstrate an awareness of the role of finance in a strategic decision-making context
Module content
- Shareholder value maximisation versus stakeholder value maximisation
- Internal and external financial statements and reports
- Financial analysis: tools, techniques and assessment
- Role of financial strategy in corporate strategy
- Evaluating long term decisions: tools, techniques and appraisal
- Evaluating short term decisions: tools, techniques and appraisal
- The ethical and sustainable practices associated with the discipline
Learning outcomes
After studying this module you should be able to:
- critically evaluate the arguments for and against shareholder value maximisation and alternative corporate objectives
- assess the quality of information provided in financial reports
- engage in critical discussion of a range of financial concepts and theories
- demonstrate understanding and critical awareness of the impact of ethical and sustainable practices on the discipline
This module will help you gain the skills and qualities to:
- identify, justify and apply established financial tools and techniques to critically analyse financial performance
- select and use appropriate financial modelling tools
- articulate and justify feasible appropriate solutions to strategic financial problems