MGMT 134 - Financial Management
YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR
GRADING
Grading weights will be as follows: * indicates written assignment
*Group Case Studies (2) - 60%
Individual Topic Presentation - 20%
Individual Class Participation - 20%
If the individual oral presentations are not made on the dates scheduled (see schedule), you will receive a grade of "F" on that portion of your course grade; and you will not be allowed to make up the requirement. Plus/minus grading will be utilized. IF YOU DO NOT COMPLETE THE CLASS ASSIGNMENTS - YOU FAIL!
CASES
All materials turned in must be typewritten. Materials that are not typewritten will not be graded. Library research is encouraged, when appropriate, to enhance the case assignments. Attempt to limit case writeups to three (3) double-spaced pages. Exhibits, charts, tables, etc. may be included beyond the three-page length. Please remember that quality, not quantity, is the essential ingredient in successful case analysis. Late cases will be penalized one letter grade per class session late, regardless of reason. All projects must be written up and turned in. For all instructor-assigned case and topic presentations all class members are expected to prepare in advance and participate in the discussion.
Each group will be required to complete (2) instructor-assigned cases. Both
a written and an oral report will be required for the group case studies. Group
oral case reports should be approximately 40 minutes. Case assignments will
receive two grades. On the date the case is presented to the class a grade
and written feedback will be provided to the group. That grade is for the oral
class presentation only. The grade that will be provided on the written case
assignment will incorporate the previous oral case presentation grade as well
as the grade for the written assignment. The grade shown on the written case
will be a comprehensive grade for that case.
The companies covered in the case studies have Internet-based web pages. Those web pages will provide valuable information that can be used in making the industry analysis. In addition, the EDGAR database provides extensive information about individual companies. This includes quarterly reports and 10-K reports for most companies. There is a wealth of information on the Internet. Most of it is easy to find and access.
If any difficulties develop with lack
of participation by any group members, those should be brought to my attention
as soon as possible so that I can try to help the groups work those problems
out.
CLASS PARTICIPATION
Class participation credit will come from case discussion and from topic discussion. Even if you are not making a presentation for a particular week, you are expected to be prepared to participate in class discussion on each case and on each topic. You are expected to read and research each case that is covered in the course. Further, you are expected to read current articles each week from popular business publications such as Business Week, The Wall Street Journal, Fortune, Forbes, etc. or from the Internet corresponding to the scheduled topics for that particular week. These readings are intended to prepare you to take part in the class discussion each week. I will attempt to call on you each week to solicit your input. If your comments/responses in class are judged by me to be substantive you will receive a check mark in the grade book. If you are absent when called upon you will receive a zero in the grade book. A zero is neutral (no credit). If you are not prepared to respond when called upon you will receive a minus in the gradebook. It takes two checks to offset a minus in the gradebook. You should strive to get at least ten checks (net) for class participation during the semester. Be prepared from the beginning. Ask me if you do not understand your responsibility for this (or any) aspect of the course requirements.
BE VERY CAREFUL NOT TO BRING A COMPUTER VIRUS INTO OR OUT OF THE
CLASSROOM. USE THE VIRUS SCANNERS BEFORE USING ANY DISK IN THE LAB OR IN THE
CLASSROOM.
TOPIC PRESENTATION - IMPORTANT! READ CAREFULLY!
Each student will present an oral report of 15 minutes or less on an assigned
topic relating to financial management. The sequence of these topics is shown
in the course outline. DO NOT utilize a textbook approach to presenting your
topic. Presentations utilizing what I consider a textbook approach will
receive a maximum grade of "C"!
Try to bring in fresh new material relating to your topics. Visual aids are generally particularly helpful. You are strongly encouraged to use Power Point for these presentations. It is useful to utilize pauses in your presentation to allow questions from the class. Getting the class involved in the discussion is encouraged. Do not hurry non-stop through the presentation and then try to avoid questions. One further caution or suggestion – do not apologize or make excuses before or during your presentation. This is an important fact to remember in any speaking exercise. Also, I do not allow any use of commercial endorsement such as any pyramid sales campaign!
FINALLY, I DO NOT WANT TO SEE (OR HEAR) ANY CELL PHONES OR BEEPERS IN THE CLASSROOM! THEY ARE DISRUPTIVE AND UNNECESSARY DURING THE BRIEF TIME WE ARE IN CLASS TOGETHER. IF YOU HAVE URGENT CALLS OR BUSINESS TO ATTEND TO, PLEASE DO IT BEFORE OR AFTER CLASS.
Return to Dr. Pletcher's MGMT 134 Syllabus.
Last updated:
Created by:
Dr. Dale Pletcher, Professor of Finance
School of Business Administration
California State University, Sacramento
E-mail: pletcher@cba4.cba.csus.edu