Business Finance, 7.5 credits

Main field of study

Course level

Advancement level

Entry requirements

• Bachelor’s degree equivalent to a Swedish Kandidatexamen in Business Administration or Economics, or equivalent
  or
  Bachelor’s degree equivalent to a Swedish Kandidatexamen including at least 60 ECTS of Business Administration-related courses (for example Accounting, Marketing, Organization Theory, Strategy, Finance, HRM)
• English corresponding to the level of English in Swedish upper secondary education (Engelska 6)
  Exemption from Swedish

Intended learning outcomes

After completion of the course, the student should on an advanced level be able to:

• identify, explain and analyze the key financial  indicators of a firm’s performance and development
• identify and specify business problems, challenges and opportunities using financial information and conducting a systematic analysis of a company
• select adequate financial approaches to business problems and create action plans
• apply both strategic and operational perspectives on financial planning and investment
• recognize and analyze the complexity of managerial decision-making by taking into consideration both financial and other strategic business factors

Course content

This course builds upon the idea that contemporary managerial decision-making requires knowledge of finance both as an academic discipline and as a practical toolkit. Thus, the course integrates theory and cases in order to create business situations where critical business issues require effective solutions. The following moments are included in the course:

• Financial statements, cash flows, and evaluating a firm’s performance for both strategic and operational purposes. The key financial ratios and other indicators are analysed and relevant problems and challenges are highlighted.
• The principles of financial forecasting, planning and budgeting.
• A firm’s capital structure and analyzing the different kinds of debt, shareholder value and dividend decisions and processes of working capital management.
• Investment alternatives and analyzing investment decisions at different stages of organizational growth. Estimating value of a project taking into consideration issues of risk, inflation, and interest rates.
• Financial decision-making in a wider perspective where finance is seen as part of business strategy stemming from both financial and other considerations. The challenges of strategic management in international environments are highlighted.
• Analysis of actual financial reports is done reflecting on transparency and financial practices of employees and investors.

Both theoretical and practical relevance of these topics is shown in the course.

Teaching and working methods

The course is designed to encourage active participation and the students are involved in various forms of interactive learning situations. The basic learning pillars are:

• Interactive lectures, complemented by individual studies to introduce students to the research areas, lay a theoretical foundation, and provide a basis for discussion;
• Cases and group seminars where the students will discuss and apply what they have learned during lectures and reading to practice their ability to analyse complex situations, and present reasonable and relevant solutions to problems in these areas;
• Individual paper-writing based on lectures, readings, cases and team discussions.

Langugage of instruction: English

Examination

The course will be examined through a number of elements that are spread out over the duration of the course and will encompass: 

• Individual and group papers
• Individual and group analysis and presentation of casework 
• Active participation in seminars
• A written final assignment

A more detailed description of each element and its weight in the final grade can be found in the course study guide.

If special circumstances prevail, and if it is possible with consideration of the nature of the compulsory component, the examiner may decide to replace the compulsory component with another equivalent component.

If the LiU coordinator for students with disabilities has granted a student the right to an adapted examination for a written examination in an examination hall, the student has the right to it.

If the coordinator has recommended for the student an adapted examination or alternative form of examination, the examiner may grant this if the examiner assesses that it is possible, based on consideration of the course objectives.

An examiner may also decide that an adapted examination or alternative form of examination if the examiner assessed that special circumstances prevail, and the examiner assesses that it is possible while maintaining the objectives of the course.

Students failing an exam covering either the entire course or part of the course twice are entitled to have a new examiner appointed for the reexamination.

Students who have passed an examination may not retake it in order to improve their grades.

Grades

Other information

Planning and implementation of a course must take its starting point in the wording of the syllabus. The course evaluation included in each course must therefore take up the question how well the course agrees with the syllabus. 

The course is conducted in such a way that there are equal opportunities with regard to sex, transgender identity or expression, ethnicity, religion or other belief, disability, sexual orientation and age.

If special circumstances prevail, the vice-chancellor may in a special decision specify the preconditions for temporary deviations from this course syllabus, and delegate the right to take such decisions.

Department