CQUniversity Unit Profile
FINC19011 Business Finance
Business Finance
All details in this unit profile for FINC19011 have been officially approved by CQUniversity and represent a learning partnership between the University and you (our student).
The information will not be changed unless absolutely necessary and any change will be clearly indicated by an approved correction included in the profile.
General Information

Overview

This unit covers the basic concepts, tools and techniques that financial managers use in the contemporary business context. You will learn about the principal functions of financial managers, the different business structures, and capital markets and financial securities. You will also examine the valuation of investments and portfolio, project evaluation, the cost of capital, market efficiency, risk management, basics of foreign exchange and international financial market, and dividend policy. Completion of the unit will raise your awareness on how businesses and corporate organisations decide on short and long term investment decisions, and the global and domestic economic and contextual factors which influence these decisions.

Details

Career Level: Undergraduate
Unit Level: Level 2
Credit Points: 6
Student Contribution Band: 10
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.125

Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

ECON11026 or STAT11048

Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).

Offerings For Term 3 - 2018

Brisbane
Distance
Melbourne
Sydney

Attendance Requirements

All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).

Class and Assessment Overview

Recommended Student Time Commitment

Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.

Class Timetable

Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville
Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Assessment Overview

1. Practical and Written Assessment
Weighting: 30%
2. Online Quiz(zes)
Weighting: 10%
3. Examination
Weighting: 60%

Assessment Grading

This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.

Previous Student Feedback

Feedback, Recommendations and Responses

Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.

Feedback from Student and Self-reflection

Feedback

Some of the formulae and math explanations can be more elaborate.

Recommendation

Some of the weekly resources will be elaborated to clarify math and formulae.

Feedback from Student and Self-reflection

Feedback

Including some real life examples will aid the learning further.

Recommendation

Some of the weekly resources will be augmented with real-life case studies or examples.

Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. Identify and explain the critical problems corporate financial managers encounter and solve
  2. Apply financial mathematics and synthesize related information for corporate valuations and financial decision making
  3. Analyse and form investment decisions using sound capital budgeting techniques
  4. Analyse risk and return for financial decision making
  5. Explain the valuation of financial securities (bonds, shares etc.) and the role of efficient markets
Alignment of Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Graduate Attributes
N/A Level
Introductory Level
Intermediate Level
Graduate Level
Professional Level
Advanced Level

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes

Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5
1 - Practical and Written Assessment - 30%
2 - Online Quiz(zes) - 10%
3 - Examination - 60%

Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes

Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5
1 - Communication
2 - Problem Solving
3 - Critical Thinking
4 - Information Literacy
5 - Team Work
6 - Information Technology Competence
7 - Cross Cultural Competence
8 - Ethical practice
9 - Social Innovation
10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes

Assessment Tasks Graduate Attributes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
1 - Practical and Written Assessment - 30%
2 - Online Quiz(zes) - 10%
3 - Examination - 60%
Textbooks and Resources

Textbooks

Prescribed

Business Finance

Edition: 1st (2017)
Authors: Parrino, Kidwell, Au Yong, Dempsey, Morkel-Kingsbury, Ekanayake, James & Murray
John Wiley and Sons
Milton Milton , QLD , Australia
ISBN: 9780730350651
Binding: Hardcover

Additional Textbook Information

E-book version may be used as an alternative to the hard copy. Paper texts can be purchased from the CQUni Bookshop here: http//bookshop.cqu.edu.au (search on the Unit code)

May involve the use and installation of a customized software. Further details will be advised later.

IT Resources

You will need access to the following IT resources:
  • CQUniversity Student Email
  • Internet
  • Unit Website (Moodle)
  • Different online resources indicated on Moodle.
  • MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) or compatible software
Referencing Style

All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 6th Edition (APA 6th edition)

For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.

Teaching Contacts
Tasadduq Imam Unit Coordinator
t.imam@cqu.edu.au
Schedule
Week 1 Begin Date: 05 Nov 2018

Module/Topic

Introduction to finance and time value of money [TVM]

Chapter

1 & 3 (Partial)

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 2 Begin Date: 12 Nov 2018

Module/Topic

Cash flow and valuation

Chapter

3 (Partial) & 4 (Partial)

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 3 Begin Date: 19 Nov 2018

Module/Topic

Risk and return

Chapter

5 (Partial)

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 4 Begin Date: 26 Nov 2018

Module/Topic

Bond valuation and loans

Chapter

4 (Partial) & 6

Events and Submissions/Topic

Vacation Week Begin Date: 03 Dec 2018

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 5 Begin Date: 10 Dec 2018

Module/Topic

CAPM (Capital Asset Pricing Model), share valuation and introduction to foreign currency market

Chapter

5 (Partial) & 7 & Additional resources on Moodle

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 6 Begin Date: 17 Dec 2018

Module/Topic

Capital budgeting basics & capital budgeting for foreign investment

Chapter

8 & Additional resources on Moodle

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 7 Begin Date: 31 Dec 2018

Module/Topic

Advanced issues in capital budgeting

Chapter

9 & 10

Events and Submissions/Topic



Knowledge and Valuation Assessment Due: Week 7 Friday (4 Jan 2019) 11:59 pm AEST
Week 8 Begin Date: 07 Jan 2019

Module/Topic

Cost of capital

Chapter

11

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 9 Begin Date: 14 Jan 2019

Module/Topic

Raising capital

Chapter

13

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 10 Begin Date: 21 Jan 2019

Module/Topic

Capital structure policy

Chapter

14

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment 2 (Online Quiz) opens on Friday (25 Jan 2019) 9:00am (AEST)

Week 11 Begin Date: 28 Jan 2019

Module/Topic

Dividends and dividend policy

Chapter

15

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 12 Begin Date: 04 Feb 2019

Module/Topic

Revision

Chapter

Review of key concepts covered in prior weeks

Events and Submissions/Topic



Online Quiz Due: Week 12 Monday (4 Feb 2019) 11:59 pm AEST
Exam Week Begin Date: 11 Feb 2019

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Term Specific Information

Please note teaching contact from the link indicated on Moodle.

Also, both eBook and printed version of the book are fine.

A financial calculator is not a must. However, a calculator with scientific functions is essential.

The key study resources are the lecture slides, workshop documents, and the book.

Assessment Tasks

1 Practical and Written Assessment

Assessment Title
Knowledge and Valuation Assessment

Task Description

    You can attempt this assessment individually or as a group of no more than two students. To form a group, you may consider getting in touch with one of your peers on the same campus or another campus or another distance learning student. For groups, only one member of the group should submit. The assessment constitutes a set of mathematical problems and associated theory and discussion questions and case studies (real world scenario, or hypothetical or virtual world scenario). The contents are based on weeks 1-5 (inclusive). The assessment aims at both judging your competence regarding the topics encountered and making you familiar with the applications of these concepts in real-world information processing. Further details, including the specific questions to be answered, will be provided within the Assessment block in Moodle by Week 2 Monday.

    Some points to note:

    1. You may use Equation Editor, MathType to indicate the calculation steps. If you use the financial calculator, please show the formula and figures in the formula further to the financial calculator steps. You may also be required to use Microsoft Excel or similar software for assessment questions.
    2. The explanations in discussion questions should aim at one brief paragraph or multiple paragraphs depending upon the question and marks allocated. If you use sources to support your decisions, please use in-text referencing to acknowledge the source. However, you are not expected to reference the formulae.
    3. You should submit as a doc/docx/rtf format through the submission link on Moodle.


Assessment Due Date

Week 7 Friday (4 Jan 2019) 11:59 pm AEST


Return Date to Students

Week 10 Monday (21 Jan 2019)

Return information will be advised on Moodle


Weighting
30%

Assessment Criteria

The assessment judges your ability to solve the set problems and discuss the relevant issues, further to your capability to use online resources. Marks allocated for this assignment consider the following aspects:

  • Completeness
  • Accuracy of the calculations
  • Quality of explanations
  • Presentation
  • Proper use of references
  • Model construction (if any) using Microsoft Excel

More details are on Moodle.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online Group

Submission Instructions
Online and may be a group of two members

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Identify and explain the critical problems corporate financial managers encounter and solve
  • Apply financial mathematics and synthesize related information for corporate valuations and financial decision making
  • Analyse and form investment decisions using sound capital budgeting techniques
  • Analyse risk and return for financial decision making
  • Explain the valuation of financial securities (bonds, shares etc.) and the role of efficient markets


Graduate Attributes
  • Problem Solving
  • Critical Thinking
  • Team Work
  • Information Technology Competence

2 Online Quiz(zes)

Assessment Title
Online Quiz

Task Description

Complete an online quiz through the relevant link in Moodle. The quiz will open on Friday of Week 10 at 9 am and will close on Monday of Week 12 at 11:59 pm. It consists of 15 questions (both multiple choice and true-false questions) relating to weeks 6-10 inclusive and covers both theoretical concepts and math problem-solving. You have 65 minutes to complete this online quiz. You will be unable to re-open the quiz after the indicated dates and times. Therefore it is your responsibility to complete the quiz within the specified period. If you experience a computer problem you cannot solve, you are required to contact the unit coordinator by email at the earliest. Notably, the online system records your attempt on the quiz. Thus, decisions regarding any computer issue are likely to consider these records (if any). Some further details on the quiz structure will be advised on Moodle by Week 10 Monday.


Number of Quizzes


Frequency of Quizzes


Assessment Due Date

Week 12 Monday (4 Feb 2019) 11:59 pm AEST

Available from Friday 25 Jan 2019 9:00 am to Monday 4 Feb 2019 11:59 pm only (AEST)


Return Date to Students

Week 12 Tuesday (5 Feb 2019)

Your online quiz results will be automatically generated and displayed upon completion of the quiz. You will have access to your completed quiz to check the questions you got wrong after the quiz closes.


Weighting
10%

Assessment Criteria

You will be assessed on your problem-solving and critical thinking skills. The nature of this assessment item indirectly assesses your information technology competence.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Please note the dates and time the quiz will remain open. You need to ensure that you attempt the quiz within this period.

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Identify and explain the critical problems corporate financial managers encounter and solve
  • Apply financial mathematics and synthesize related information for corporate valuations and financial decision making
  • Analyse and form investment decisions using sound capital budgeting techniques
  • Analyse risk and return for financial decision making
  • Explain the valuation of financial securities (bonds, shares etc.) and the role of efficient markets


Graduate Attributes
  • Problem Solving
  • Critical Thinking
  • Information Technology Competence

Examination

Outline
Complete an invigilated examination

Date
During the examination period at a CQUniversity examination centre

Weighting
60%

Length
180 minutes

Exam Conditions
Closed Book

Materials
Dictionary - non-electronic, concise, direct translation only (dictionary must not contain any notes or comments).
Calculator - all non-communicable calculators, including scientific, programmable and graphics calculators are authorised
Academic Integrity Statement

As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.

Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.

When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.

Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.

As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.

What is a breach of academic integrity?

A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.

Why is academic integrity important?

A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.

Where can I get assistance?

For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.

What can you do to act with integrity?