Corporate Governance
Duration
- One Semester or equivalent
Contact hours
- 36
On-campus unit delivery combines face-to-face and digital learning.
2023 teaching periods
| Hawthorn HB7 HE Block 7 |
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|---|---|---|
Dates: Results: Last self enrolment: Census: Last withdraw without fail: |
Aims and objectives
This unit examines the laws relating to corporate governance in Australia. It provides an introduction to the regulatory framework of corporate governance before focussing on the legal duties, responsibilities and powers of the key organs with a corporation: the company directors (board of directors); executive officers (management) and shareholders including the obligations that arise in the event of corporate insolvency. The discussion involves an examination of the role of the public regulator, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, private litigation by shareholders and compliance within ASX listing rules and corporate governance principles and guidelines.
1. Critically analyse corporate governance, accountability and compliance in relation the role of the company director
2. Critically analyse the operation of the Australian legislative and regulatory frameworks as they relate to compliance and risk in context of the role of the company director
3. Demonstrate advanced knowledge of corporate governance and directors’ duties and critically evaluate existing legal theories, principles and concepts
4. Critically examine, research and analyse existing and emerging legal issues relating to corporate governance and directors’ duties
5. Proficiently communicate corporate governance principles and their application in industry contexts to a range of audiences and function cohesively as an effective leader or member of a group
Unit information in detail
- Teaching methods, assessment, general skills outcomes and content.
Teaching methods
This unit will be delivered in block or intensive mode Block mode may consist of blended, intensive and immersive teaching, which can include full day teaching and weekend teaching requirements – as specified in the Unit Outline.
Student workload:
For all teaching and learning structures (both face to face and online), students are expected to spend an average of 150 hours per unit in total over the duration of the study period
This includes all:
• Scheduled teaching and learning events and activities (contact hours timetabled in a face-to-face teaching space) and scheduled online learning events (contact hours scheduled in an online teaching space), and
• Read all prescribed materials and/or view videos in preparation for each class
• Attend and engage in all scheduled classes (face to face or online)
• Start assessment tasks well ahead of the due date, and submit assessments promptly
• Read / listen to all feedback carefully, and consider it for future assessment
• Engage with fellow students and teaching staff (don’t hesitate to ask questions)
Assessment
| Assignment 1 | Individual | 10-20% |
| Assignment 2 | Individual | 40-60% |
| Assignment 3 | Group | 30-40% |
General skills outcomes
• Problem solving skills
• Analysis skills
• Communication skills
• Ability to tackle unfamiliar problems
• Ability to work independently
Content
• Overview of the current framework of corporate governance and the duties of directors and other officers
• Who is subject to duties?
• To whom are duties owed?
• Duties to act with care and diligence, in the best interests of the company, and for a proper purpose
• Duty to avoid conflicts of interest
• Corporate opportunities and related party transactions
• Role of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) in enforcing directors’ duties
• Role of shareholders in corporate governance
• Preventing insolvent trading
• Role of industry corporate governance guidelines and the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) Corporate Governance Principles and Recommendations
Study resources
- Reading materials.