FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING & MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING - SBS DEPARTMENT

Transcription

1 MODULE DESCRIPTOR TITLE CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND ETHICS SI MODULE CODE 25-7A12-00S/N CREDITS 15 LEVEL 7 JACS CODE N400 - Accounting SUBJECT GROUP FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING & MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING - SBS DEPARTMENT Finance, Accounting and Business Systems MODULE LEADER Neil Fletcher NOTIONAL STUDY HOURS BY Tutor-led Tutor-directed Self-directed Total Hours TYPE MODULE AIM(S) To help students understand corporate governance, as located within an international perspective, from a variety of academic paradigms including socio political. To introduce a variety of ethical theories and to encourage ethical reflection throughout the module and beyond. This will be done by, inter alia: Developing participants' nuanced understanding of a variety of relevant corporate governance issues and case studies relating to the UK and other countries. Considering the historical development of international corporate governance, particularly in the light of political, social, cultural and economic influences. Facilitating an appreciation and understanding of comparative approaches to corporate governance adopted in other countries. Enabling participants to interact with ethical concepts and apply them to the issues covered in the module, potentially encouraging the students to apply such thought in their future careers. Facilitating consideration of possible future directions for the development of governance, both in the UK and within the global business and commercial arena. Critiquing the use of case studies in academic research and understanding that a case study is not a methodology: it is a source of data. MODULE LEARNING OUTCOMES By engaging successfully with this module a student will be able to After successfully completing the module students will be able to: Explain the nature, purpose, importance and relevance of corporate governance to organisations and society. Understand how the historical development of corporate governance is embedded within national and global economic development. Appreciate systems of governance and control found in countries around the world. Critically apply a variety of ethical paradigms to corporate governance issues and cases. Discuss views on possible future directions of corporate governance. Utilise case study data in an academically robust manner. INDICATIVE CONTENT

2 These are examples of the content of the module The company: including shareholder rights and activism History and development of international corporate governance Conceptual frameworks: including social political paradigm and agency theory The board of directors, composition and remuneration: with allied theories International comparisons: including a review of key codes, guidance and law Reporting, transparency and accountability Corporate social responsibility and the moral obligations of corporations Key ethical theories and practical ethical reflections The use of case studies in the study of Corporate Governance. te: due to limitations in time the course will primarily look at Publically Listed Companies. Other types of organisations eg. charities have significant corporate governance issues, but time does not permit a treatment of these types of organisation. LEARNING AND TEACHING METHODS Students will be supported in their learning, to achieve the above outcomes, in the following ways Lectures/talks Informal lectures/talks will be given to inform, inspire, encourage and occasionally provoke the students with regard to the core syllabus content. Where appropriate, story telling will be used because of its powerful pedagogic implications (eg. Coulter, Michael and Poynor, 2007 and Abrahamson, 1998). Seminars Seminar session time will be used to optimise the learning of individual students. Typically seminar times might include: The use of video and whole class discussion to investigate case studies (eg. Enron) Tutor led small group discussions - based upon prior research and reading done outside of the seminar Critical writing hints, tips and examples (eg. showing examples of student's work on the screen and critiquing this with the whole class) Materials The module guide will contain details of key readings for all sessions. Students will be shown how to obtain case study data: thus creating their own bespoke depository of resources. A Blackboard site will be maintained that will included lecture and seminar series outline assessment guidance notes on each of the lecture topics a massive bank of corporate governance materials details of some key case studies Assessment and feedback strategy The assessment strategy will be linked to the feedback strategy.

3 There will be two pieces of written coursework set: these will involve critiquing case study data using a variety of academic corporate governance paradigms. Whole countries and company accounts are considered to be "case studies" in the context of this internationalised module. The coursework will be split into two parts. This will allow summative written feedback to given on the first part of the coursework - to help students with the second part of the coursework. If time allows: students will be allowed to drafts of their writing to the tutor before the submission dates of the coursework (and a small selection of anonymised pieces of work) will be shown to the whole group and critiqued. This will give an opportunity for a degree of formative feedback to be given. Furthermore: the seminar sessions that include tutor led small group discussions will create an environment for students to be able to receive informal formative feedback. Full summative feedback will be given on both of the parts of the coursework. This feedback will include reference to "what a student did well" and also to "what a student needed to do to get a higher mark". Use of case studies and scenarios The internationally infamous Enron case study will be used to introduce Corporate Governance. This will be done by utilising SHU Video on Demand resources and also source documents (eg. the actual Enron Annual Report and Accounts). Students will be given full access to online materials detailing the World Com debacle, another classic Corporate Governance case study. Narrative reporting sections detailing Board Composition from a selection of Annual Reports and Accounts from around the world will be used to contextualise the role of Directors in Corporate Governance. ASSESSMENT STRATEGY AND METHODS There will be two pieces of written coursework set: these will involve critiquing case study data using a variety of academic corporate governance paradigms. Whole countries and company accounts are considered to be "case studies" in the context of this internationalised module. The coursework will be split into two parts. This will allow summative written feedback to given on the first part of the coursework - to help students with the second part of the coursework. Full summative feedback will be given on both of the parts of the coursework. This feedback will include reference to "what a student did well" and also to "what a student needed to do to get a higher mark". Task Task Description. 1 eg. Locating Corporate Governance for a chosen country 2 eg. Analysing Corporate Governance Issues in a chosen country Task Type Task Weighting % Word Count / Duration In-module retrieval available Coursework words Coursework words ASSESSMENT CRITERIA The coursework will comprise of two parts. Part 1: (around 2,000 words) worth 50% Part 2: (around 2,000 words) worth 50% An average mark of 40% will be required to pass the module. An example marking grid is set out below (exact details might change with the nature of the coursework).

4 Learning Outcome Outcomes 1,2 3 and 5 Pass 40-49% 50-59% 60-69% Distinction 70% Tendency to be descriptive Identification of Some issues identified some key issues Limited knowledge of topic Weak literature review Some attempt to conclude Sound analysis Reasonable knowledge of topic Sound literature review Competent attempt to conclude Critical and reasoned analysis Identification of key issues Good knowledge of topic Critical consideration of literature Perceptive and insightful analysis Identification of key and potential issues Excellent understanding of topic Perceptive critique of literature Critical and reasoned conclusion Perceptive and insightful conclusions Outcomes 4 and 6 Limited (ie. very descriptive) application to situation. Competent (ie. showing some criticism) attempt to relate to situation Reasoned (ie. showing a developing use of academic thought) application to situation Insightful (ie. powerful academic work) application to situation FEEDBACK Students will receive feedback on their performance in the following ways The assessment strategy will be linked to the feedback strategy. There will be two pieces of written coursework set: these will involve critiquing case study data using a variety of academic corporate governance paradigms. Whole countries and company accounts are considered to be "case studies" in the context of this internationalised module. The coursework will be split into two parts. This will allow summative written feedback to given on the first part of the coursework - to help students with the second part of the coursework. If time allows: students will be allowed to drafts of their writing to the tutor before the submission dates of the coursework (and a small selection of anonymised pieces of work) will be shown to the whole group and critiqued. This will give an opportunity for a degree of formative feedback to be given. Furthermore: the seminar sessions that include tutor led small group discussions will create an environment for students to be able to receive informal formative feedback. Full summative feedback will be given on both of the parts of the coursework. This feedback will include reference to "what a student did well" and also to "what a student needed to do to get a higher mark". LEARNING RESOURCES (INCLUDING READING LISTS) Indicative corporate governance texts Monks, R. and Minnow, N., Corporate Governance, Wiley. Solomon, J., Corporate Governance and Accountability, Wiley.

5 Indicative ethics texts Collins, D. Business Ethics: How to design and manage ethical organizations, Wiley. Griseri, P. and Seppala, N., Business Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility, South-Western Cengage Learning. Suggested academic journals Corporate Governance: an International Review The Journal of Business Ethics Other: Blackboard A massive bank of materials is available on Blackboard. This includes, for example, the vast majority of all the UK Corporate Governance codes and reports since Web links Helpful web links will be given in the module guide (eg. and )

6 SECTION 2 'MODEL A' MODULE (INFORMATION FOR STAFF ONLY) MODULE DELIVERY AND ASSESSMENT MANAGEMENT INFORMATION MODULE STATUS - INDICATE IF ANY CHANGES BEING MADE NEW MODULE EXISTING MODULE - NO CHANGE Title Change Level Change Credit Change Assessment Pattern Change Change to Delivery Pattern Date the changes (or new module) will be implemented n/a MODULE DELIVERY PATTERN Module Begins 07/10/ /10/ /01/ /05/2013 Module Ends Is timetabled contact time required for this module? Are any staff teaching on this module non-shu employees? MODULE ASSESSMENT INFORMATION Does the Module Require Either Overall Percentage Mark of 40% Overall Pass / Fail Grade FINAL TASK According to the Assessment Strategy shown in the Module Descriptor, which task will be the LAST TASK to be taken or handed-in? (Give task number as shown in the Assessment Strategy) Task. 2 MODULE REFERRAL STRATEGY Task for Task (as shown for initial assessment strategy) Single Referral Package for All Referred Students