BUSMAN 703 : Financial Decision-making

Business and Economics

2025 Quarter Three (1256) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Focuses on decision-making, budgeting and the management of financial resources. Examines value creation from investments, and the management and control of financial assets.

Course Overview

BUSMAN 703 (Financial Decision Making) introduces students to the fundamentals of understanding and interpreting different sources of financial information in terms of accounting and finance. Students will learn how to use this data to advise management on cost, budgeting, financial statements, and financial investments through key analytical models. The course will use both theory and practice to develop these skills in the interpretation of financial information. The course is designed to prepare students for management roles where the ability to understand, analyse and communicate financial information for financial decision-making is a key capability. 
All students should be capable of achieving the learning outcomes of this course and utilise the learnings in the ‘real-world’ business environment/workplace. The goal is to provide you with the learning support you  require to ensure that you complete this Quarter satisfied that the course has been challenging, rewarding and enjoyable. Your performance and achievement in this course will reflect the preparation and effort that you make throughout this Quarter. 
   

Course Requirements

Restriction: BUSADMIN 765, 775

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 7: Collaboration
Capability 8: Ethics and Professionalism

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Identify and describe the fundamentals and uses of financial information and its context in the market. (Capability 3, 6.1 and 7)
  2. Demonstrate an understanding of the key components of annual financial statements and synthesise financial insights to support financial decision-making. (Capability 3, 4, 6.1, 7 and 8)
  3. Demonstrate an understanding of costing information and how it is used to support the budget process and budgeting techniques used in financial decision making. (Capability 3, 4 and 5)
  4. Evaluate and apply theoretical approaches to determine the cost of equity and debt and examine practical considerations related to this process. (Capability 3 and 4)
  5. Evaluate investment projects by applying various capital budgeting techniques and justify the advantages and disadvantages of these techniques. (Capability 3 and 5)
  6. Communicate and work professionally and effectively in a team. (Capability 3, 5, 6.1 and 7)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Assignment 30% Individual Coursework
Test 40% Individual Coursework
Final Project 30% Group & Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5 6
Assignment
Test
Final Project

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15-point course, and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15-point course they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 100 hours of reading and think about the content and 50 hours of work on assignments.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected.
Lectures will be available as recordings. 

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Textbook:

Marshall, McManus, and Viele. (2023) Accounting: What the Numbers Mean (13th edition). McGraw-Hill Education.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Student feedback has been incorporated into the course design. 

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Published on 18/11/2024 12:26 p.m.