BUNW B512 Syllabus

Indiana University Northwest

School of Business and Economics

COURSE SYLLABUS

 

Instructor Name: Dr. Bala Arshanapalli
Email: barshana@iun.edu
Phone: (219)980-6919 

 See the **Course Guide/Schedule**for
session themes, readings, resources, and all assignment due dates.

Course Description 

This online course will help you understand the theory of financial management and its applications in business.  Basic accounting concepts and their use in financial statement analysis are discussed. Discounted cash flow and rate-of-return analysis are used to evaluate projects. Issues of Capital Structure and Dividend Policies are discussed. Break-even analysis is employed to measure the impact of changes in volume and costs. An introduction to scenario analysis, short- and long-term financial management, international finance, and operating budgets and their preparation is provided.

Course Goals and Objectives 

At the end of this course, students should be able to:

1. Identify the functions of financial management in public, private and not-for-profit organizations.
2. Apply the principles of shareholder- and stakeholder-value based management. 
3. Identify the role of financial markets, institutions and interest rates in the financial management of organizations. 
4. Use ratio analysis and other tools in evaluating organizational financial performance.
5. Explain "time value of money" concepts and apply these concepts in managerial decision-making. 
6. Use "net present value", "internal rate of return", and "project risk" analysis in making capital budgeting decisions. 
7. Apply the principles of financial planning and control through operating budgets, short-term financial management, and working capital management.
8. Develop long-term financing strategies that recognize cost of capital and capital structure.
9. Integrate value based management, ethics, globalization, and electronic commerce into financial decision-making.

Course Materials 

Required Text

Brigham, Eugene F., and Erhardt, Michael C. (2011). Financial management: Theory and practice (with Thomson One – Business School Edition 1- year Printed Access Card) 13th Ed.. Ft. Worth, TX. South-Western/Thomson Learning. ISBN 9781439078099.

.

Recommended Texts

Any Accounting Text Book.

The Wall Street Journal

Grading Information 

Grades will be determined as shown in the following assignment chart.  Detailed descriptions of assignments are available below and from the assignment links in the chart. Due dates are detailed in the Course Schedule.

Class Policies Regarding Graded Work 

**The following policies are in effect for all individual and group deliverables throughout the semester, unless noted otherwise. **

Course Requirements 

There are four types of graded deliverables required in this class: class participation; midterm and final examinations; end-of-chapter problems (individual); and a group assignment. All are described in detail below. Evaluation of the course should also be considered a course requirement.

**All due dates are noted in the Course Guide/Schedule.**

Individual Class Participation (10% of course grade)

Each student is expected to actively participate in discussing the issues raised in the weekly conferences.  Each week your instructor will post an excel template that you should complete. The template gives an overview of the entire chapter. I strongly recommend that after reading the chapter complete the template and then do the mini case as suggested in the schedule. My previous experience suggests that students who complete the weekly templates tend to do well in the class. Generally, the responses are in direct response to the issue or are thoughtful responses to postings by other students. Thoughtful, substantive input is given more weight than quantity. Responses reflecting additional research from trusted Internet sources (i.e., from recognized sources such as cfo.com, Strategic Finance magazine, IU Web Databases) are particularly valued and enrich our online learning. Additional participation credit is earned by postings to other conferences created by your instructor (Introductions, News/Items of Interest, etc.). The first assignment is to post an introduction to yourself in the Introductions conference.  The due date is noted in the Course Guide/Schedule.]

Midterm and Final Exams (Individual Work: 30% of course grade each)

Both midterm and final examinations will be given. For both exams, exam questions will be posted in Original Test and Survey section of the Oncourse on the date indicated in the Course Guide/Schedule. Your answers must be submitted for a grade no later than 11:59 p.m. Central Time on the date indicated in the Course Guide/Schedule. All work on exams are to be individual work, no assistance from others.

Late exam responses will not be accepted. There will be no makeup exams unless for documented emergencies.  The exam is to be your work and your work alone, with no assistance from others.

Homework Problems (20% of course grade)

End-of-Chapter problems are assigned in most of the weeks in the course as individual work. They are to be submitted for a grade in your individual Assignments Folder in our classroom by the due dates indicated in the Course Guide/Schedule. While answers to these homework problems are provided in Appendix B of the text, the important thing is that you understand how to solve them. You need to show your work, including formulas and intermediate results. It is best to use a spreadsheet program for this (excel is the most common/preferred) and submit your spreadsheet workbook with your submission. I have the option of substituting homework problems that are not part of the end-of-chapter problem sets. It is important that you work the homework problems, mini cases and some of the additional self-study ones with the solutions provided so that you gain a strong foundation in applying principles and theories. Having a robust set of problem solving skills is a critical success factor for successfully completing your degree program.

Group Assignment (10% of course grade, including participation in the group work)

Class members may "self-select" their own teams/groups during the first week of the semester. Each group must include 4-5 members. A forum will be available for team sign-up. If you have fewer than three members in your self-selected group, the instructor will add members. If you are not a member of a group, the instructor will assign you to a group.

Peer evaluations will be conducted to ensure each group member carries her/his own weight in completing the project.  The instructor reserves the right to adjust grades based on input from the peer evaluations. I encourage you to use the group folder to exchange your work with other group members. This would allow me to see your group interaction.  

The group assignment consists of a mini case at the end of chapter 10 of your text. More details are available by referring to the course schedule.

Post your group's response(s) in your Study Group Folder which will be located in the resource section of Oncourse by the due date indicated in the Course Guide/Schedule. 

In your answers, be sure to include full justification for your group's responses. Document your participation and contribution in the Study Groups area of the Oncourse. The drafts should be posted (but not edited) in the group's folder. The final set of answers is to be posted in your study group conference as a main topic with the word "final" in the topic title. 

The grade for the team submission will be determined, and then the individual grades may be adjusted, based on the quantity and quality (or lack) of participation and contributions.  Merely agreeing and providing feedback will not result in a full grade. Actual contributions and participation earlyand often are required. Peer evaluations will be conducted after submission of the group project. The instructor reserves the right to adjust an individual's grade based on evidence of a lack of cooperation and poor performance.

IU Academic Policies  

This course is governed by IU academic policies in the following areas:

• Grading Guidelines
• Writing Standards
• Academic Integrity and Plagiarism
• Course Evaluations
• Students With Disabilities

GRADING GUIDELINES

According to the School of Business and Economic's grading policy, the following marks are used:

A (90-100) = Excellent
B (80-89) = Good
C (70-79) = Below standards
F (69 or below) = Failure
FN = Failure for nonattendance
I = Incomplete
W = Withdrew

The grade of "B" represents the benchmark for the School of Business and Economics. It indicates that the student has demonstrated competency in the subject matter of the course, e.g., has fulfilled all course requirements on time, has a clear grasp of the full range of course materials and concepts, and is able to present and apply these materials and concepts in clear, well-reasoned, well-organized, and grammatically correct responses, whether written or oral. The Instructor reserves the right to assign minuses and pluses within each grade category.

Only students who fully meet this standard and, in addition, demonstrate exceptional comprehension and application of the course subject matter earn a grade of "A."

Students who do not meet the benchmark standard of competency will fall within the "C" range or lower. They, in effect, have not met graduate level standards. Where this failure is substantial, they may receive an "F" for substandard performance. The "FN" grade means a failure in the course because the student has ceased to attend and participate in course assignments and activities but has not officially withdrawn.

ACADEMIC STANDARDS

Graduate students are expected to maintain a 3.0 or higher grade point average (GPA) at all times, with no grade of F. An assessment of academic standing is made of each student at the end of every semester.  

Additional Information 

SUCCESSFUL STUDY USING ONCOURSE

The home page of Oncourse has links, video tutorials and several tips and updates to help you navigate the website. IU has prepared a reference page containing links to information about a variety of resources to help you function successfully in your online Oncourse class.

 Right to Accommodation for Individuals with Disabilities

Indiana University is committed to creating a learning environment and academic community that promotes educational opportunities for all individuals, including those with disabilities. Course directors are asked to make reasonable accommodations, upon request by the student or the university, for such disabilities. It is the responsibility of students with documented physical or learning disabilities seeking accommodation to notify their course directors and the relevant campus office that deals with such cases in a timely manner concerning the need for such accommodation. Indiana University will make reasonable accommodations for access to programs, services, and facilities as outlined by applicable state and federal laws.

Campus support office:
Jason Griffith, Disabilities Coordinator, Hawthorn 234, 219-980-6943
Student Support Services www.iun.edu/~supportn