ACC40100 Corporate Governance and Accountability

Academic Year 2022/2023

This module introduces students to all major aspects of corporate governance, including the basic concepts, theories, regulatory framework and best practice underlying corporate governance. The module also covers corporate governance principles and the application of those principles in practical situations.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

After completing this module, student should be able to:
1. Appreciate corporate governance in an overall business context, including origins, definitions, and mechanisms- Understand the theories and principles behind corporate governance regulations;
2. Understand developments in corporate governance internationally and in the UK/Ireland- Compare and contrast alternative corporate governance approaches internationally- Understand the role of boards, individual directors and management in companies;
3. Appreciate best practice in relation to the operation of boards and board sub-committees

Indicative Module Content:

1. Introduction to corporate governance
2. Theoretical perspectives on corporate governance
3. Corporate governance regulations – legal, stock exchange
4. Differences in governance – by organisational type
5. (i) Interactions between executives and boards (ii) Board protocols
6. Social psychology, board biases and board decision-making
7. Roles and relationships
8. Accounting and reporting responsibilities of directors and boards
9. Role and function of audit committees
10. Executive remuneration and incentives
11. Speaking up, Whistleblowing and Silence in Organisations

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

26
Specified Learning Activities

99
Total

125
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Every lecture commences with students presenting a reading, followed by “News of the week” newspaper coverage of corporate governance issues relevant to the module. The lecturer discusses the module notes which contain examples and illustrations from both Irish and international public company annual reports from which students learn to appreciate and understand corporate governance issues. A problem-based learning approach is adopted with the module materials containing directors' dilemmas, together with extensive multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and problem questions for students to practice their new-found knowledge of corporate governance. 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Continuous Assessment: Assessment of the corporate governance statements and policies of a group of companies (in groups) Week 5 n/a Graded No

15
Continuous Assessment: Preparation of a detailed governance document for the board (in groups) Week 8 n/a Graded No

15
Continuous Assessment: Report on the anatomy of a corporate governance failure of the student's choice (individual assignment) Coursework (End of Trimester) n/a Graded No

55
Continuous Assessment: Comprehensive assessment and critique of the corporate governance practices of a company of the students' choice (in pairs) Week 12 n/a Graded No

15

Carry forward of passed components
No
 
Remediation Type Remediation Timing
In-Module Resit Prior to relevant Programme Exam Board
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

On their return, groups'/pairs'/Individuals' assignments are accompanied by written comments on the strengths and weaknesses of each assignment

Name Role
Ms Agnieszka King Tutor