Module description
What is the module about?
The aim of the module is to provide a thorough introduction to the subject of corporate governance. Corporate governance is defined as the mechanisms which restrict management from taking actions that are detrimental to shareholders and stakeholders. We will consider the different mechanisms, the logic behind them, how they work in practice, and what empirical research tells us about their effectiveness.
The corporate governance mechanisms will be examined using examples from famous business cases, such as Disney, Enron, Facebook, Lehman Brothers, and Tesla. Students will be assessed by their understanding of the different mechanisms and their application to real life cases.
Who should do this module?
This module is for students who wish to understand the role and effectiveness of various corporate governance mechanisms in the governance and performance of modern corporations.
There are no pre-requisites for this module. However, students should be aware that basic maths, accounting, and finance concepts are frequently discussed, whilst some case studies will venture into more advanced accounting and finance topics. Students without a sound knowledge of the basic concepts in accounting and finance will be at a disadvantage and are discouraged from enrolling.
Provisional Workshop Outline
Workshop 1: Introduction
Workshop 2: International governance
Workshop 3: Board of directors
Workshop 4: Labour market for executives
Workshop 5: Executive compensation
Workshop 6: Financial reporting
Workshop 7: Shareholder rights
Workshop 8: Market for corporate control
Workshop 9: Shareholders
Workshop 10: Corporate governance ratings
Assessment details
100% Examination
Teaching pattern
Weekly workshops
Suggested reading list
Key text or background reading
This will be available when teaching starts.
Each workshop is associated with one or more chapters from key readings, which provides coverage of theory, empirical evidence, and case studies.