Human Capital Management
This course introduces the student to the strategic financial and accounting methodologies required to aid the non-financial manager in decision-making. In addition to examining the relationship between finance and the other strategic functions in the organization, particular emphasis will be placed on the impact that finance has on shaping technology-related decisions. At the end of the course, students will be expected to have learned the fundamental financial tools and techniques necessary to be an effective strategic manager. The goal is for students to understand a company's decision-making opportunities and processes, and apply these techniques to real-life financial decisions. Topics include (but are not limited to) accounting/finance theories and concepts; financial statement analysis; budgeting, forecasting and variance analysis; capital budgeting and project analysis; cash flow analysis; and time value of money. Students will learn fundamental financial concepts through real-world group assignments, problem solving and term projects. The student who successfully completes this course will have the ability to: understand basic fundamental concepts and principles of finance/accounting and how they are used to create financial reports; analyze financial statements and recognize their importance; use discounted cash flow analysis to analyze competing projects; use modeling techniques for budgeting, forecasting and benchmarking analysis and applications.