Overview
This unit provides a fundamental understanding of corporate goals and the allocation of resources, the raising of funds and undertaking of investments by firms, as applicable in organisational management. You will be introduced to a range of financial decision making concepts such as financial goals, financial markets, financial mathematics, risk and return, asset pricing, capital budgeting, cost of capital, capital structure and dividend policy. This is a task oriented unit, which requires you to learn and apply basic financial tools and concepts for financial decision making. If you have successfully completed the unit FINC20006 you should not enrol in this unit.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
There are no requisites for this unit.
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 - 2017
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).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Postgraduate 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
Assessment Overview
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.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback – Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
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 Academic misconduct cases in the unit in Term 1 2017
Educate and raise awareness about plagiarism and academic misconduct earlier in the term
1) Define and explain with examples plagiarism to students at the start and during every workshop leading up to all the assessments 2) Develop assessments to make plagiarism difficult by making assessment unusual and difficult to reproduce online or solutions bought online 3) Produce assessments in various parts. For instance, in Brisbane the students were offered the opportunity if they wish to submit one draft by email if they were unsure of in-text and source referencing, before submitting their final assessment. The drafts were not graded, just comments were added as to the quality of reference sources used and how the in-text sources were being used 4) Explain and demonstrate to students how Turnitin works and how similarity is detected 5) Provide examples of correct citations using exemplars of various papers 6) Tell students regularly to create unique assessments to earn high marks 7) Inform students about support services. In some instance with the consent of the student make contact with student support services on the student's behalf
- examine and describe financial goals in the context of modern firms and financial managers
- analyse the role of financial markets and their functions in a developed economy
- interpret the importance of applying time value of money and risk-return trade-off concepts in finance and how markets value financial instruments, and calculate the values of those instruments and other cash flows relevant to make financial decisions
- analyse and evaluate fixed asset acquisition proposals and make value maximising capital budgeting decisions using appropriate capital budgeting techniques
- compute overall costs of capital (and its components) and interpret its implications to financial decisions
- critique and communicate the ways in which financing and dividend decisions are made to maximise the value of the firm.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 20% | ||||||
| 2 - Practical and Written Assessment - 20% | ||||||
| 3 - Group Discussion - 10% | ||||||
| 4 - Examination - 50% | ||||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
| 1 - Knowledge | ||||||
| 2 - Communication | ||||||
| 3 - Cognitive, technical and creative skills | ||||||
| 4 - Research | ||||||
| 5 - Self-management | ||||||
| 6 - Ethical and Professional Responsibility | ||||||
| 7 - Leadership | ||||||
| 8 - 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 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 20% | ||||||||
| 2 - Practical and Written Assessment - 20% | ||||||||
| 3 - Group Discussion - 10% | ||||||||
| 4 - Examination - 50% | ||||||||
Textbooks
Financial Management Principles and Applications
Edition: 7th (2016)
Authors: Titman, S; Martin, T; Keown, A.J.; Martin, J.D.
Pearson Australia
Melbourne Melbourne , Victoria , Australia
ISBN: 9781486019649
Binding: Hardcover
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
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.
a.kaleem@cqu.edu.au
a.mcinnes@cqu.edu.au
g.small@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Getting started - Principles of finance
Firms and the financial markets
Chapter
1 and 2
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Understanding financial statements, taxes and cash flows
Financial analysis - Sizing up firm performance
Chapter
3 and 4
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment item 3 - Participate in Workshop/Online Moodle Forum
Module/Topic
The time value of money - The basics
The time value of money - Annuities and other topics
Chapter
5 and 6
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment item 3 - Participate in Workshop/Online Moodle Forum
Module/Topic
An introduction to risk and return
Risk and return- Capital market theory
Chapter
7 and 8
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment item 3 - Participate in Workshop/Online Moodle Forum
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Debt valuation and interest rates
Chapter
9
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment item 3 - Participate in Workshop/Online Moodle Forum
Module/Topic
Share valuation
Chapter
10
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment item 3 - Participate in Workshop/Online Moodle Forum
ASSESSMENT 1 due Thursday 21 December 2017
Assessment 1: Practical Assessment Due: Week 6 Thursday (21 Dec 2017) 5:00 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Investment decision criteria
Analysing project cash flows
Chapter
11 and 12
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment item 3 – Participate in Workshop/Online Moodle Forum
Module/Topic
Risk analysis and project evaluation
Chapter
13
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment item 3 – Participate in Workshop/Online Moodle Forum
Module/Topic
The cost of capital
Chapter
14
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment item 3 – Participate in Workshop/Online Moodle Forum
Module/Topic
Capital-structure policy
Chapter
15
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment item 3 – Participate in Workshop/Online Moodle Forum
ASSESSMENT 2 due 26 January 2018
Assessment 2: Case Study Due: Week 10 Friday (26 Jan 2018) 5:00 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Dividend policy
Chapter
16
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment item 3 – Participate in Workshop/Online Moodle Forum
Module/Topic
Revision
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Revision and exam related discussion
Assessment 3: In-class Workshops Due: Week 12 Friday (9 Feb 2018) 6:00 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Written Assessment
For Assessment 1, on-campus and distant (FLEX) students have the option to work in a group of 2 or as an individual. Importantly, working in a group promotes collaborative learning and knowledge sharing to enhance the learning experience. Therefore, your teachers prefers it if you can manage to work in a group of 2.
The task includes 4 calculation and 2 theory questions from the prescribed textbook. Specific instructions and the marking criteria will be posted on the Moodle site. In summary key expectations include:
- students are encouraged to include tables, figures and appendices to support answers [IMPORTANT NOTE 1: to avoid exceeding file size limitations, avoid images with very large file sizes].
- do not include in your assessments any jpeg/jpg files or similar scanned picture files of your answers. Only provide images (jpeg/jpg/or similar) of pictures, figures or tables that you are unable to adapt or modify in MS-word for purposes of your assessments. Make sure you reference the sources of any images correctly.
- type in all your formulas using the <Insert><Equation> function in Microsoft-word and include citation as a footnote for formulas or as an in-text reference citation or you risk high similarity
- create your own timelines in Microsoft-word or Microsoft-excel. Do not copy and paste timelines from any website, other students papers or other sources, or you risk high similarity
- answers to each theory question should be around 450 words, excluding in-text referencing and reference list, tables / figures and appendices
- to demonstrate your research skills, answers to theory questions should draw supporting evidence from at least 8 different peer-reviewed references
- all content [including the narrative, diagrams, figures, tables and appendices] must be referenced using APA reference formatting [IMPORTANT NOTE 2: support on referencing is given on the Moodle site for this course].
- text must be 1.5 spacing and use either Arial or Times Roman 12 pt, with 16 pt bold for major headings and 14 pt bold for sub-headings.
- submission is online via Moodle in Word format only (.doc or .docx). Do not upload your assignment in PDF or other format.
- Only ONE member PER GROUP is to submit the assessment.
This assessment is worth 20% of the total mark for this unit.
Week 6 Thursday (21 Dec 2017) 5:00 pm AEST
Assignment 1 Managerial Finance
Week 8 Monday (8 Jan 2018)
Assignment 1 Managerial Finance
Along with task instructions and questions, a comprehensive marking rubric and mark sheet is provided on Moodle.
- IMPORTANT NOTE 1: For calculation questions, full marks will only be awarded when the answer is accurate, the right formula is used AND all calculation steps, applicable diagrams/figures/tables/timelines are shown.
- IMPORTANT NOTE 2: For theory questions, the minimum standards include clear and correct explanations, using your own words and adherence to APA referencing formats [see also marking criteria for standards of 'Excellence']. Where copying from other sources resulted in high percentage similarity, marks will be deducted. Serious cases are reported for academic misconduct.
The assignment will be marked out of 100 marks and scaled down to 20.
- examine and describe financial goals in the context of modern firms and financial managers
- analyse the role of financial markets and their functions in a developed economy
- interpret the importance of applying time value of money and risk-return trade-off concepts in finance and how markets value financial instruments, and calculate the values of those instruments and other cash flows relevant to make financial decisions
- analyse and evaluate fixed asset acquisition proposals and make value maximising capital budgeting decisions using appropriate capital budgeting techniques
- compute overall costs of capital (and its components) and interpret its implications to financial decisions
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Self-management
2 Practical and Written Assessment
Assessment 2 gives on-campus and distance (FLEX) students the option to collaborate and work in a group of 2 or individually.
Working in groups promotes collaborative learning and knowledge sharing to enhance the learning experience. Therefore, your teachers prefers group assignments.
The assessment centres around a case study which requires research and application of the theories, concepts and techniques that are needed to make financial decisions in competitive business environments.
Comprehensive instructions and marking criteria are available via Moodle. In summary the key expectations are:
- response to case study must be in report format including executive summary, introduction, body, conclusion, appendices and reference list [see also marking criteria on Moodle for full instructions].
- fonts must be either Arial or Times Roman 12 pt and 1.5 spacing for narrative, 16 pt bold for major headings and 14 pt bold for sub-headings.
- inclusion of diagrams and tables to support the response is strongly encouraged
- all supporting material, diagrams and tables must be properly referenced using APA in-text referencing formats
- type in all your formulas using the <Insert><Equation> function in Microsoft-word and include citation as a footnote for formulas or as an in-text reference citation or you risk high similarity
- create your own timelines in Microsoft-word or Microsoft-excel. Do not copy and paste timelines from any website, other students papers or other sources, or you risk high similarity
- support for the response should draw from a minimum of 5 different peer-reviewed references as well as a range of appropriate web-based internet and/or professional texts and sources.
- word count is approximately 1,500 words (i.e. 4 pages) excluding in-text referencing, diagrams and tables.
- submission is online via Moodle in Word format (.doc or .docx).
IMPORTANT NOTES
- To avoid exceeding file size restrictions, do not use images or scanned pictures(jpeg/jpg/or similar) with large file sizes
- Do not include in your assessments any jpeg or jpg files or similar scanned picture files of your answers. Only provide images (jpeg or jpg or similar) of pictures, figures or tables that you are unable to manually adapt or modify for purposes of your assessments using MS-word. Make sure you reference the sources of any images correctly.
- Referencing support is given on the Moodle site for this course.
- Only ONE member PER GROUP is to submit the assessment.
- Do not submit in PDF format. Submission must be as a Microsoft-word doc only.
This assessment is worth 20% of the total mark for this unit.
Week 10 Friday (26 Jan 2018) 5:00 pm AEST
Assignment 2: Managerial Finance Case Study
Week 12 Friday (9 Feb 2018)
Assignment 2: Managerial Finance Case Study
A comprehensive marking rubric is provided in Moodle showing both criteria for excellence and how marks are awarded.
For example:
- calculation component of case study is graded based on the accuracy in the calculations, showing the right formulae used and the steps shown in arriving at the answers,
- narrative component is graded based on concise descriptions, depth of research and analysis, relevance and usefulness of diagrams, figures, tables and/or timelines, and
- theory component is graded based on clarity of explanation, using your own words as far as possible and properly formatted referencing.
The assessment will be graded out of 100 and scaled down to 20 marks.
- examine and describe financial goals in the context of modern firms and financial managers
- analyse the role of financial markets and their functions in a developed economy
- interpret the importance of applying time value of money and risk-return trade-off concepts in finance and how markets value financial instruments, and calculate the values of those instruments and other cash flows relevant to make financial decisions
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Research
- Self-management
- Ethical and Professional Responsibility
3 Group Discussion
For On Campus students, from Week 2 to Week 11 inclusive, each lecture / workshop will include practical exercises and discussion questions and your responses will be used by your lecturer/tutor to assess your in-class participation.
For Distance Learning students, a set of practical exercises and discussion questions [designed to be completed each week in Weeks 2 to 11] will be emailed to you for completion. Feedback will be returned via email each week. A grade of up to 1% per week will be awarded for the responses and as well as for participation in the scheduled on-line discussions.
Week 12 Friday (9 Feb 2018) 6:00 pm AEST
Assessment 3: On-going from weeks 2 to 11.
Week 12 Friday (9 Feb 2018)
Assessment 3: On-going in-class activities.
This assessment is designed to reinforce progressive learning throughout the term.
On Campus students ONLY:
Workshop exercises will be integrated into course content in weeks 2 to 11. Student participation will be graded based on responses to exercises conduced in class and will include discussion questions, calculations and mini projects. Exercises may be completed individually or in groups of 2.
Attendance is required to be eligible for a possible grade of 1% each week.
The total grade for this assessment is 10%.
Distant learning (FLEX) students ONLY:
FLEX STUDENT Workshop Exercises will be uploaded into course content in weeks 2 to 11 and form part of the weekly on-line sessions conduced by course-co-ordinator. Exercises will include discussion questions, calculations and mini projects. It is anticipated that FLEX STUDENT will respond individually however working as a group of 2 is optional.
Participation in on-line workshops is required to be eligible for a possible grade of 1% each week.
The total grade for this assessment is 10%.
On-line session times will be posted on Moodle.
- examine and describe financial goals in the context of modern firms and financial managers
- analyse the role of financial markets and their functions in a developed economy
- interpret the importance of applying time value of money and risk-return trade-off concepts in finance and how markets value financial instruments, and calculate the values of those instruments and other cash flows relevant to make financial decisions
- analyse and evaluate fixed asset acquisition proposals and make value maximising capital budgeting decisions using appropriate capital budgeting techniques
- compute overall costs of capital (and its components) and interpret its implications to financial decisions
- critique and communicate the ways in which financing and dividend decisions are made to maximise the value of the firm.
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Research
Examination
Dictionary - non-electronic, concise, direct translation only (dictionary must not contain any notes or comments).
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?
