MSc Accounting

Year of entry: 2024

Course unit details:
Corporate Governance

Course unit fact file
Unit code BMAN72912
Credit rating 15
Unit level FHEQ level 7 – master's degree or fourth year of an integrated master's degree
Teaching period(s) Semester 2
Available as a free choice unit? No

Overview

This course is concerned with the relationship between theories, methods and regulation in the area of corporate governance. The importance of corporate governance became more exposed at the beginning of the twenty-first century as a series of corporate meltdowns from managerial fraud, misconduct, and negligence led to significant loss of shareholder wealth. This course provides students with advanced understanding of how a company is directed and controlled and, in particular, with the role of the management and the need to ensure that there is an effective framework for accountability of directors to owners. Also, the course provides a discussion regarding recent developments in the corporate governance regulatory agenda.

Pre/co-requisites

BMAN72912 Programme Req: BMAN72912 is only available as a core unit to students on MSc Accounting & Finance, and as an elective to students on MSc Accounting. MSc A&F students must take at least one of BMAN70232 and BMAN72912

Aims

The aim of this course unit is to explain and evaluate major theoretical and research approaches to the analysis of issues in corporate governance and accountability. This course will give the students an international perspective on some of the most fundamentally important issues facing global business and society today and develop an advanced theoretical and practical understanding of the fast-changing fields of governance and accountability.

Learning outcomes

On completion of this unit successful students will have achieved the following learning outcomes:

  • Appreciate the challenges in developing a coherent and effective corporate governance system;
     
  • Understand the role of key governance players, such as, the board of directors, executive managers, shareholders and other stakeholders within the firm as well as regulators;
     
  • Grasp the importance of providing appropriate incentives to executive directors and the difficulties in creating an optimal incentive structure;
     
  • Acknowledge the significance of external corporate governance mechanisms, like the financial reporting environment and the market for corporate control;
     
  • Recognise the importance of alternative models of governance. The methods of assessment for this unit allow students to demonstrate achievement of all intended learning outcomes.

Assessment methods

Written Examination (100%)

Feedback methods

Informal advice and discussion during a lecture, seminar, workshop or lab.

Responses to student questions from a member of staff  during office hours as well as feedback provided to a group via an online discussion forum.

Recommended reading

The Core Text for this course is: “Corporate Governance Matters: A Closer Look at Organizational Choices and Their Consequences” by David Larcker and Brian Tayan (Pearson, 2nd edition).
 
Each lecture handout provides a list of references which cites the relevant chapters from the core text as well as a number of supplementary sources. These are primarily relevant academic journal articles but also include case studies and news articles.

 

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
Lectures 20
Independent study hours
Independent study 130

Teaching staff

Staff member Role
Konstantinos Stathopoulos Unit coordinator

Additional notes

 
Informal Contact Methods
 
Office Hours
 
Online Learning Activities (blogs, discussions, self assessment questions)
 

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