CG Group Project 2009 assignment

MSc Management 2009/2010

Corporate Governance

Group project assignment

Background

The scandals at Enron, WorldCom and Parmalat have placed the corporate governance systems of modern corporations under closer scrutiny than ever. Lapses in the personal and professional integrity of accounting firms and their corporate clients have undermined confidence in capital markets and led to substantial erosion of trust in institutions of modern capitalism. As a result, investors and regulators are forcing companies to improve disclosure policies, to rethink their relationships with auditors and strengthen corporate boards as part of a wide ranging reform of corporate governance.

Objectives

The main objective of this assignment is to verify students’ understanding of the practical and theoretical corporate governance issues that modern organisations deal with. More specifically, the objectives of the assignment are to:

1.Analyze aspects of corporate governance and business strategy in the context of

globalisation.

2.Apply relevant theories and/or frameworks of corporate governance such as agency

and stakeholder theories, research on Corporate Social Responsibility, etc.

3.Develop your answers by applying relevant theories to a particular case study and

other industry examples, citing all key references and recognizing the limitations of

your analysis.

4.Discuss the implications of your answers for corporate governance theory and

international management practice. This should also include discussion of corporate

governance-related recommendations.

5.Evaluate the implications of (4) and conclude by reflecting on the key answers to the

questions of this assignment.

Specific tasks

You will be asked to work in groups to analyse and report on a real company case that has been allocated to your group. This should include:

o analysis of a firm’s competitive environments and its risk assessment (500 words), including:

-competitive pressures;

challenges

-strategic

o evaluation of the effectiveness of major governance practices (1,500 words), including:

-Board and Board committees;

-Main shareholders;

-Executive remuneration schemes;

-Internal and external audit

o a consideration of the firm’s relationship with stakeholders and its policy in terms of corporate social responsibility (500 words);

o your suggestions for improving the corporate governance mechanism so your company will be able to deal more effectively with strategic challenges

identified above (500 words).

Methodology and presentation.

Use various sources of information, including company websites, Thompson-One-Banker, , Investext Analysts' Reports, Reuters Significant Development Reports and other relevant sources available at Cass Business School. Use your imagination and experience. If you have a family business, or have work experience, feel free to use this as a foundation (as long as your group is happy to do this). Marks will be awarded for the originality, creativity and relevance of your work.

Maximum length: 3000 words on A4 paper including cover page, table of contents,

tables/figures/graphs, references, etc. Use 12pt font size Times New Roman, with 2.5cm margins all around and double-spaced. References, table of contents, and

tables/figures/graphs may be single-spaced with a font size 10. The word limit is exclusive of any appendices (if applicable). Note that the word limit is non-negotiable and essays that exceed the set limit will be penalized. This is to ensure optimal length consistency and fairness for all submitted reports. Internal disputes should first of all be decided within your group. I will arbitrate if no other solution is possible.

You need to submit a hard copy of the coursework in the coursework submission box on the 3rd floor AND an electronic copy in the CassLearn, by 4.00pm on Monday, 9 November 2009.