This course provides an introduction to fundamental financial and management accounting concepts, equipping students with the knowledge to understand financial statement construction and the role of accounting information for both internal and external stakeholders.

The first part of the course explores financial accounting as "the language of business," covering essential concepts, principles, and procedures that underpin the accounting process. Students will learn how business transactions impact financial statements through the accounting cycle and how financial information is analyzed for decision-making. Additionally, the course introduces key objectives, elements, and challenges of sustainability reporting.

The second part of the course focuses on management accounting and its role in helping managers plan, direct, control, and make informed decisions. Students will be introduced to various cost concepts and learn how different cost structures serve distinct managerial purposes, depending on the organization's needs.

The increasing availability of data is changing how organisations think about themselves and interact with the world. Data is helping improve the profits of businesses, the quality of life of individuals, the performance of sports teams, and social interactions. In this course, you will learn how to use data and analytics to improve the service and operations of organisations while also supporting responsible decision-making in areas such as Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

The course will expose students to real-world examples of how analytics is applied across various domains, such as price and demand prediction, product quality control, employee performance analysis, expert decision analysis and learning, and policy evaluation.

Furthermore, the course will cover applications specifically related to ESG and CSR, including healthcare service delivery, fair and ethical human resource management, and policy evaluation for social impact. Through these examples, you will learn how to use analytics tools such as linear regression, logistic regression, classification and regression trees, random forests, and visualization techniques in practice. The statistical software R will be used in the course, and the class demo will be presented in R Markdown Notebook. Students are encouraged to create their assignments and practices using the R Markdown Notebook.

This module aims to provide you with fundamentally important ideas about what to look for in making good and informed investment, financing and dividend decisions. Our analysis will focus on how the right decisions can lead to the enhancement of your firm’s value. In examining investment decisions, we will evaluate existing investments in terms of their fit to a firm’s overall strategy and economic value. To the extent that new investments are essential to the future growth and development of a firm, the assessment of new investments will be a critical area of study. We will also explore the various means of financing a firm, including the appropriate sources of funding in the various stages of development of a firm, the suitability of the vast array of financial instruments in the financial markets and the achievement of an optimal financing mix.

In essence, dividend decisions involve the determination of how much to reinvest and how much to return to shareholders. As such, we shall look at the impact of dividend policy to future growth and development of a firm, and the rationale behind the return of cash to shareholders. The concepts of risk and returns, of options value and applications in corporate finance, and how to balance off the risks versus returns in asset pricing models will be discussed. This trade-off is equivalent to finding optimal value or valuation of the opportunities that present themselves to corporate business. In addition, the module will also cover important valuation principles/methodologies, applications to mergers and acquisitions situations, and value enhancement models.

The ESG considerations have become a central focus for the investment community, shaping how capital is allocated and influencing corporate strategies. Investors increasingly recognize that strong ESG performance can drive long-term value creation, mitigate risks, and enhance financial returns. The emphasis on ESG in investing is no longer just a trend but a fundamental shift, reinforcing the idea that financial performance and sustainability are intrinsically linked. Regulatory pressures, shifting consumer preferences, and the demand for sustainable business practices have pushed asset managers, pension funds, and institutional investors to integrate ESG metrics into their decision-making processes.

Your professional success in any organisation depends not only on technical, functional and professional skills, but also on the ability to manage human capital challenges in organisations. This encompasses the ability to successfully work with others to achieve organisational objectives and advance employees’ well-being and job performance. Managing the sustainability of human capital is a critical lever for organizational performance. Overall, you will benefit from a deeper understanding of, and an ability to apply, a range of concepts and frameworks for managing people and organisations. 

This module introduces you to the theoretical concepts and analytical tools required for formulating and implementing appropriate strategies that affect the enduring success of the entire organisation. Topics covered include external and internal environmental analyses, business-level strategies, corporate-level strategies, strategy process and implementation, and special topics such as competitive dynamics and competition in high-tech industries. This module emphasises the application of theory to a number of real-world strategic issues. You are encouraged to synthesise knowledge from other business courses into a comprehensive understanding of corporate competitive advantages.

By the end of this course, students will be able to have a comprehensive understanding of strategic management and apply analytical techniques to identify strategic issues and design appropriate courses of action. You will also be able to understand how the latest technological advancements, pressures to operate sustainably and ethnically, and geopolitical trends affect firms’ strategies, and to formulate strategies that are socially responsible and environmentally sustainable.

This module presents the design of business processes and supply chains to be sustainable and provide better value in a global context. We will analyse the design of innovative business processes and supply chains that provide firms with a strategic competitive advantage, utilise global resources and markets, and align business goals with environmental and social responsibility.

This module should be of particular interest if you aspire to a career in designing and managing business processes, either directly (e.g., V.P. of Operations, Logistics Manager) or indirectly (e.g., management consulting). It will also be useful to entrepreneurs who intend to serve new markets, or use new technologies, or to those who wish to strategically reposition their offerings in an existing market. The module should also be of interest to those who manage interfaces between operations and other business functions such as finance, marketing, managerial accounting and human resources.

This module introduces you to the complexity of managing an organisation that is operating in geographically dispersed and legally, institutionally, socio-economically and culturally diverse environments. Managing international business is an expansive topic with a broad scope as it entails dealing with multiple functions (e.g. research and development, human resource management, supply chain management, production, servicing, and marketing) concurrently in multiple regions of a multinational enterprise (MNE). You will learn to understand the challenges facing MNEs, including ethical and environmental concerns along the global value chain and societal impact of their global footprints, as well as the relevant strategies they employ.

Successful firms are those that integrate the objectives and resources of the organisation with the needs and opportunities of the marketplace better than their competitors. They identify untapped sources of customer value, and deliver and capture more customer value than their competitors. The role of marketing management in organisations is to identify customers' unfulfilled desires, determine which customers the business should serve, decide on the appropriate products and services, and determine the optimal methods of pricing, promoting, and distributing the products or services.

Consumers increasingly expect companies to minimize their environmental impact, uphold fair labor practices, and operate with strong corporate governance. Therefore, for long-term sustainable customer relationships, firms need to consider environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations.

This module will equip you with strategies to successfully communicate solutions to organisational problems. Since the course emphasises the importance of effective written and spoken communication within a business setting, you will be exposed to strategies that will enable you to communicate your ideas and values in a clear, persuasive and memorable way. You will, therefore, learn the art of producing impactful business documents and delivering engaging presentations in various business contexts. By the end of the module, you will be able to function as proficient communicators who are ready to embrace the communicative challenges inherent in today’s dynamic business environment.

This module introduces you to new venture creation and design thinking tools for identifying new and better ways of providing products and services that meet customer expectations. In Part 1, the opportunity recognition process is introduced. We will look at how external factors (context, available resources) and intrinsic factors (motivation, network, risk propensity) interact to create opportunities that an entrepreneur then chooses to seize.

In Part 2, the qualitative design thinking process (based on the IDEO/Stanford Design School process) is introduced (empathise, define, ideate, prototype, test). We will discuss applications of design thinking to product and service innovation, along with variations in design contexts, including the private sector, government and social sectors. You will learn to think like an innovator, from the initial idea to managing resources, building partnerships with committed stakeholders and dealing with contingencies. In parallel, you are encouraged to consider your individual accomplishments and how these might support new venture creation. You will work on past accomplishments, gaining the skills, knowledge and abilities that create a unique set of means by which to drive your own innovation projects.

Professional success is largely dependent on success in managing differences and fostering collaboration among people and organisations. However, in today’s highly dynamic and complex managerial environment, which is marked by increasing interdependence and often by conflicts of interest, it can be extremely challenging to bring together the relevant “players” – internal and external stakeholders who have different interests, perceptions, attitudes, behaviours, or values – to forge efficient, profitable and lasting agreements. Professionals who understand the science and practice of negotiation are much better equipped to navigate these differences and create agreements that advance their own interests, and also the interests of the other parties involved.

The competencies to communicate cross-culturally well are indispensable in this age of globalisation. This module looks at corporate culture and provides strategies on how to read a person. We will explore features of culture such as individualism/collectivism, power distance, masculinity/femininity, and issues related to intercultural adaptation, ethnocentrism, prejudice, stereotyping and racism. The aim of this module is to develop intercultural competencies, which will make business practices more meaningful and significant.

Using a country-specific study as its base, the ‘Business Study Mission’ module examines the rapidly developing business environment and the available opportunities in a particular city or region. Emphasis is placed on the socio-political, cultural and legal environments, and the influence they exert on business practices.

The study of consumer behaviour is an important part of the science underlying the development of marketing programmes. Consumer behaviour is a natural extension of the application of the marketing concept that prefaces the study of marketing. Consumer research is a prelude to the formulation of marketing programmes. This module introduces important theories, methods and findings of research on attention, comprehension, memory, attitude formation and choice.

In this course, we will take a deeper look at the role behavioural science plays in people’s path to action, whether​ it be search, evaluation, purchase behaviour, or more. We will examine how brands and companies leverage the​ theories and principles of behavioural science to shape, shift, or even completely disrupt people’s preferences in​ marketing contexts—with the aim to better achieve marketing objectives and positively impact the bottom line.​ We will also discuss the tools to implement and measure the impact of behavioral science. To achieve these​ learning objectives, in this course we will directly examine extant theory, research, and scientific findings​ concerning the behaviour of individuals, with the goal of understanding how marketing managers can use these​ ideas to design their products, advertising, and marketing programs.​

This module is designed to meet the increasing needs of industry and recruiters in applying quantitative and analytical skills for understanding consumer decision-making. Business managers use marketing data to assess the return on their investments and better understand their customers. The module gives you an opportunity to analyse real-world marketing problems and learn through “hands-on” experience. We will use developments in statistical science to examine solutions to important issues faced in consumer analytics. There will be various datasets and tools provided and used in the class to get practical experience. Specifically, we will discuss market and customer segmentation techniques, regression and choice modelling, economic models of pricing, retail and web analytics, with the emphasis being on understanding, interpreting and the proper use of these research techniques. The primary aim of this module is to learn new skills and tools that will allow you to develop important quantitative acumen for understanding consumer analytics.

The world of commerce is going rapidly beyond brick and mortar, and is increasingly relying on digital technology. Today, customers expect a consistent buying experience across all retail channels - in store, on the web and on mobile devices. This leads to a host of business models that require or can benefit from new functional expertise and processes. The objective of this module is to provide you with the necessary skills to evaluate the changing business world and identify opportunities to harness and optimise businesses through digital technology. The module focusses discussion around digital business and covers aspects relating to business strategies, digital business supply chains, fulfilment technology and innovations, technology leverage for management and consumer insights. The module consists of two parts covered over four weeks each: (i) business strategies and operational challenges for digital business and (ii) the applications of consumer analytics to digital business.

Understanding consumers is at the heart of a successful marketing process. Methods of generating consumer insights such as in-depth interviews and focus groups, ethnography, survey research, systematic observational research and experiments are key to diagnosing both the current status of a market as well as the issues underlying a specific marketing challenge. The course will cover a variety of these methods of generating consumer insights as well as the statistical methods used to analyse survey data.

You will learn how to use insights generated to address marketing issues such as uncovering consumer needs, segmentation, product design, pricing structure and evaluation of promotions. The module will be taught using a combination of lectures, case discussions, in-class workshops, guest lectures and a group project. If you wish to work in consulting or in branding/marketing/advertising in B2C organisations, you will find this module particularly useful.

The first half of the course examines the social and environmental impact of current consumption patterns and looks at how consumers can be influenced to make product choices that are sustainable. Theories in psychology will be drawn upon in looking at ways to change consumer behaviour and in examining the relationship between consumption and wellbeing.

The second half of the course looks at how traditional marketing tools can be modified and how new tools can be effectively applied to market sustainable products more effectively. For example, it delves into how a product can be designed, promoted, priced and distributed to mitigate its environmental impact over its entire life cycle (from supply chain to disposal). Case studies of companies with strong sustainability initiatives will be used to illuminate current best practices.​

This module is a blend of theory and practice that begins by describing the investment environment, developments in investment theory, and the principles and practices of valuation. The focus is on the analysis of equities and equity portfolio management. The topics covered include the valuation of companies, stock valuation, the portfolio investment process, asset allocation, portfolio construction and portfolio performance evaluation. Throughout the course, we will place emphasis on a global perspective.

This module focuses on the role of financial markets in facilitating the flow of funds to finance investments by corporations and governments. It builds on the foundations provided by FNCE680 Corporate Finance & Financial Management and our focus will be to understand how financial markets work practically. We will systematically examine equity, debt, foreign exchange, derivative, real estate and insurance markets and describe the participants and types of instruments offered. We will learn how and whether one should invest or participate in each of the different markets and also examine the role of financial institutions such as commercial banks and mutual funds.

This module aims to provide you with insights into the role of the investment banking industry in facilitating the raising of capital for corporations, in the equity and debt, or mergers & acquisition (M&A) markets, to assist a corporation to grow. The structure of investment banks and how each division inter-relate, will be discussed, e.g. corporate finance, Equity Capital Market (ECM), Debt Capital Market (DCM), Sales & Trading, Operations, Global Markets, Compliance, etc. You will learn about how primary market deals relating to equity, debt and M&A are structured to maximise share value, as well as how these are skilfully executed to ensure that values are preserved and achieved. You will also be taught about the fundamentals of valuation as well as the best practices in financial modelling. This module is not only useful for future investment bankers but also for those interested in learning about raising capital in corporations.

This module aims to provide you with an advanced study of Corporate Finance beyond the essentials. You will be exposed to complex financial issues and be equipped with the necessary analytical tools to make sound financial decisions. The module covers a wide spectrum of topics such as optimal capital structure, mergers & acquisitions, pay-out policy and corporate restructuring . It will focus on understanding core financial tools that help managers understand strategic and tactical financial problems, developing the linkage between corporate financial decisions and value creation in firms and providing a framework to help managers make optimal financial decisions.

This course helps student understand how sustainability challenges poses risks and opportunities to businesses and investors. It exposes students to emerging theories and practices on how businesses and investors can apply finance to manage sustainability risks and opportunities. Students will also learn how to frame managerial and investment objectives that are consistent with business sustainability. Topics covered in the course include Socially Responsible and Impact Investing, Microfinance, Responsible Lending, Green Finance, Climate Change and Finance Implication, and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Firm Performance.​

The objective of this module is to introduce Decision Analysis, which is the application of the scientific method to managerial and personal decision-making. The decision analysis approach of analysing decisions consists of defining a problem, developing a model, acquiring data, developing and testing a solution, and analysing and implementing results. Decision models can be categorised as Prescriptive, Predictive and Descriptive. This module will discuss some Prescriptive and Descriptive models, particularly quantitative modelling tools such as linear and integer programming, decision tree analysis and simulation.

A supply chain comprises firms, organisations, and individuals, linked through physical (material), information and financial flows, and whose activities enable products and services to be created and reach consumers. In the last few decades, supply chain managers have reoriented their focus beyond the traditional logistics issues towards the development of integrated risk management approaches to handle the multiplicity and magnitude of risk factors in global supply chains. These risk factors include disruptions arising from natural and man-made disasters, fast-changing customer preferences, tight financial credit environments and fluctuating exchange rates and commodity prices. Building a functional supply chain requires careful planning and consideration of a variety of risks, and it is of paramount importance to integrate management of physical flows, information and financial flows in dealing with such risks. All logistics and supply chain organisations that effectively manage their supply chain risks enjoy a level of robustness and resilience that leads to unprecedented levels of operational excellence with all consequential advantages. The objective of this module is to provide you a framework for supply chain risk management and to outline a portfolio of proven strategies to access, reduce, hedge and mitigate supply chain risks.

With the convenience of the Internet at our fingertips, e-commerce has grown into a huge industry and the world of business is changing rapidly beyond brick and mortar. Customers not only shop through different retail channels - in store, on the web and on mobile devices, but also expect a consistent buying experience across these channels. This creates a host of new business models, such as marketplaces and omni-channel retailing, that require new sets of skills to manage. The objective of this module is to provide you with these necessary skills. Topics that will be discussed include online retailing, marketplaces, logistics and technologies, omni-channel retailing, consumer analytics and the sharing economy.

This course provides students with foundational knowledge and techniques on how to embed sustainability into business operations. Students will learn how firms develop effective programs and strategies in waste reduction, pollution prevention and product stewardship. Topics covered in the course include Ecologically Sustainable Organization (ESO), Environmental Regulations and Incentives, Environmental Management Systems, Sustainable Supply-Chain Management, Green Purchasing, Green Buildings, Life Cycle Analysis, Product Stewardship, Remanufacturing and Recycling, Industrial Symbiosis, and Green Technology.

With the globalisation of operations and the penetration of technology into virtually every business activity, projects are becoming more and more challenging and demanding. Increasingly complex products, processes and services, vastly shortened time-to-market windows, and the need for cross-functional expertise make project management an important skill for success. Project management aims to improve an organisation’s ability to plan activities and control the ways in which it utilises resources, and minimises risks. Professionals launching and managing these projects must understand the concepts, methods, techniques and tools that support modern project management, covering project selection, initiation, planning, implementation, control and evaluation. The participants will get hands-on experience with state-of-the-art software tools for project and project portfolio management.