ØABED3700 Valuation - Equity Research Course description

Management control is essential in all organizations. Inappropriate management control systems can result in underperformance, large financial losses, damaged reputation, and bankruptcy. This course focuses on how management control systems should be designed to achieve value creation in decentralized organizations. Based on economic, psychological, and sociological perspectives on human behavior in organizations, the various forms of responsibility centers, transfer pricing approaches, budgeting processes, performance measures, and incentive systems are discussed aiming to foster holistic understanding of the mechanisms that different management levels can use to stimulate effort and focus on value creation for the stakeholders in line with the organization’s strategy.

None

After completing the course, the student should have the following overall learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student has

• a theoretical understanding of quantitative methods for analyzing data
• an understanding of the role of empirical evidence in evaluating economic, managerial, and business problems
• an understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of different statistical methods

Skills

The student can

• formulate empirical questions
• gather, obtain, and organize quantitative data
• conduct statistical analysis using software
• interpret statistical results

General competence

The student can

• think critically and understand the role of assumptions in arguments
• communicate effectively about economic, managerial, and business issues
• develop a well-organized argument that states assumptions and hypothesis, which are supported by evidence
• use and appropriately cite different data sources

The following coursework requirements must have been approved in order for the student to take the exam:

• Coursework: Three written assignments must be handed in by set deadlines during the term. Students work individually or in groups of up to four members. The scope of the assignment (number of pages) varies depending on the nature of the assignment. The expected number of pages is less than 20 in total for the three assignments.

The purpose of the work requirement is for the students to achieve a deeper understanding of the syllabus and to develop skills in assessing management control systems.

All required coursework must be completed and approved by the given deadline in order for the student to take the exam. If one or more coursework requirements have not been approved, the student will be given one opportunity to submit an improved version by the given deadline.

The exam in the course is a supervised exam of 4 hours.

The following aids are permitted:

• All written and printed aids
• Calculator (see regulations for the use of calculators in the programme description)

Grade scale A-F

The exam papers are assessed by one internal and one external examiner.

At least 25% of the exam papers will be assessed by two examiners. The grades awarded for the papers assessed by two examiners form the basis for determining the level for all the exam papers.

Einar Belsom