UNIVERSITY OF SUNDERLAND

Module Code: UGB395

Module Title: CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND ETHICS

Learning outcomes:
The assignment covers all module learning outcomes.

1. Critically discuss the key sustainable corporate governance and ethics concepts.
2. Demonstrate a distinguished understanding of different theoretical perspectives on
corporate governance and understand their assumptions about key actors, motives,
and control mechanisms.
3. Explore international comparative perspectives of corporate governance, focusing
on the system found in the UK and contrasting this with a range of different
corporate governance systems in countries around the world.
4. Construct critical thinking about a range of approaches and options for corporate
accountability and ethics requiring the organisation of thoughts, analysis,
synthesis, and critical appraisal.

Assessment guideline:

• Weighting – 100% of the marks for this module

• This is an individual assignment of 3,000 words. (+ 10%) excluding appendices,
reference list, and bibliography.

• The short report hand in date is TBC

• The assignment must be submitted ONLINE through TURNITIN© by the due
date. Only assessments submitted through TURNITIN© will be marked. Any
other submission including submission to the library in hard copy will be treated
as a non-submission.

Students should approach this assignment as an academic essay, weighing the arguments for
and against each issue, making comments on the literature and drawing logical conclusions.
Academic referencing using the Harvard referencing approach is a key requirement of the
assignment to demonstrate wider reading and to underpin the discussions, ensuring they have
relevant depth. Students are encouraged to be inquisitive and innovative in their approach as
to what should be included in this report.

The University policy on cheating collusion and plagiarism will be applied to this piece of
work.
Assessment Brief:
Each student selects his/her own company to study (‘Disallowed Company: Enron).
Approval of the chosen company is on a first-come, first-served basis, as no more than two
students will be allowed to study at the same company.

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The requirement is that you analyse in depth one company based in any country. It is not a
requirement that the company be a UK company. The scope of this analysis is to draw from
the material discussed within the module.

Analysis contents:

 A short section setting out Basic Factual Information about the company, such as
nature of the business, size, segmental breakdown, brief history and stock market
listings.

(approx. 250 words - 5 Marks)

 Corporate Governance: You have to identify the approach applied on your chosen
company and examine the :

1. Internal Corporate Governance Mechanisms that are applied in your

business : structure, substance, and purpose (e.g., board effectiveness, the
role of non-executive directors, and remuneration structures)

2. External mechanisms, especially the role of institutional investors

3. Shareholder and Stakeholder perspectives in an ethical context

4. Effectiveness of the corporate governance regime applied in business

(ethics – accountability, transparency and engagement )

(approx. 500 words- 20 Marks)

 Evaluate the corporate governance failures and weaknesses that have led to the
collapse/ or damage of the chosen company and the consequences of weak corporate
governance. You should relate the failure/weakness of the company with the role of
transparency, audit, internal control and risk management in the business.

(approx. 750 words- 25 Marks)

 Critically evaluate how globalization has impacted corporate governance structures

and practices on an international scale, considering issues such as cross-border
investments , socially responsible investments and corporate financial
performance. Your discussion should include information of :

1. Government regulations and corporate governance worldwide –

(Consider the regulatory frameworks and the influence of legal and other factors
on the evolution of CG systems

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 2. Ethics and CSR in a Global Context (Consider the relationship between
corporate ethics, social responsibility and globalization and explore howe
companies navigate ethical dilemmas and engage in sustainability reporting
assurance )

3. Discussion of the Corporate Governance reforms to highlight the

necessity of reforms

(approx. 1500 words- 50 Marks)

Short report submission:

Students are required to submit a short report to Canvas, giving brief information on their
chosen company.

Brief information on the company has chosen:

• Company name
• Country of incorporation
• Stock exchange listings
• Industry sector(s)
• Corporate governance failure reason/s: ethical Standards problems in the corporation

The short report is used to enable ML to approve your company selection. They will not be
approved if already another two students have chosen them.

Thus, to choose your company you need to ensure at the earliest possible stage that:
• you can obtain the necessary reports (in English) and other information.
• your chosen company is quoted, and share prices are available.
• you can obtain sufficient information about competitors.

For your company selection to be approved and to give you time to prepare for the
assignment we would like you to submit an electronic copy of the short report via canvas by
TBC

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KEY POINTS
The assignment aims to understand the key areas of Corporate Governance and Ethics using
extracts, examples, and approaches to Corporate Governance issues. This will include
investigating topics from throughout the course linked to the ethics and accountability issues.
Some of the principles, concepts and models will be more relevant to their chosen approach
than others and so it is likely that different students will formulate different approaches to the
problems.

Student assignment should aim to provide readers with comprehensive knowledge and
critical reviews of these areas covering, for example:

• Knowledge of a variety of topic related to corporate governance within the concept of

CSR, ethics, and accountability.
• Knowledge of comparing a range of definitions of corporate governance within the
practitioner community and several theoretical frameworks that are applied to the
corporate governance discipline.
• Individual understandings of, comments on, arguments and contributions to the topic,
such as key qualitative characteristics, true and fair view/fair presentation, creative
accounting.

Therefore, the assessment encourages students to explore how corporate governance and
accountability may be enhanced and how a more ethical business environment may be
nurtured. This engages the student in the academic literature that they then need to apply in
their assessment.
THE FRONT COVER OF YOUR ASSIGNMENT MUST SHOW:

1. Your name.
2. Your student registration number.
3. Your Programme of Study (e.g., BA (Hons) Business and Financial Management, BA
(Hons) Accounting and Finance)
4. The word count (excluding the reference list, bibliography, and any appendices).
5. The name of your UGB395 module leader and tutor.

FORMAT GUIDE:

• All text should be in a clear font such as Arial or Times New Roman.
• All text should be 12-point except for headings.
• The text should be in a single column and left-aligned.
• One and a half spacing between lines, including appendices and bibliography, but
excluding quotations, footnotes, or captions, which may be single-spaced.
• References: Harvard

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 Undergraduate Assessment Criteria

These should be interpreted according to the level at which you are

working
Categories
Grade Relevance Knowledge Analysis Argument and Critical Evaluation Presentation Reference to
Structure Literature
86 – The work examined is exemplary and provides clear evidence of a complete grasp of the knowledge, understanding and skills appropriate to the level of the qualification.
100% There is also unequivocal evidence showing that all the learning outcomes and responsibilities appropriate to that Level are fully satisfied. At this level, it is expected that
the work will be exemplary in all the categories cited above. It will demonstrate a particularly compelling evaluation, originality, and elegance of argument, interpretation, or
discourse.
76- The work examined is excellent and demonstrates comprehensive knowledge, understanding and skills appropriate to the level of the qualification. There is also excellent
85% evidence showing that all the learning outcomes and responsibilities appropriate to that level are fully satisfied. At this level, it is expected that the work will be excellent in
the majority of the categories cited above or by demonstrating particularly compelling evaluation and elegance of argument, interpretation, or discourse.
The work examined is of a high standard and there is evidence of comprehensive knowledge, understanding and skills appropriate to the level of the qualification. There is
70 – clearly articulated evidence demonstrating that all the learning outcomes and responsibilities appropriate to that level are satisfied at this level it is expected that the
75% standard of the work will be high in the majority of the categories cited above or by demonstrating particularly compelling evaluation and elegance of argument,
interpretation, or discourse.
Directly relevant to A substantial Good analysis, clear Generally coherent May contain some Well written, with Critical appraisal of
60 – the requirements knowledge of the and orderly, with and logically distinctive or independent standard spelling up-to-date and/or
69% of the assessment relevant material, consistent links from structured, using an thinking; may begin to and grammar, in a appropriate literature.
showing a clear analysis to solutions of appropriate mode of formulate an independent readable style with Recognition of
grasp of themes, problems in a work argument and/or position concerning theory an acceptable different perspectives.
questions, and context. theoretical model(s) and the application of format Very good use of
issues therein practice in a work context. source material. Uses
a range of sources
 Some attempt to Adequate Some analytical Some attempt to Sound work which Competently Uses a variety of
50 – address the knowledge of a fair treatment, but maybe construct a coherent expresses a coherent written, with only literature which
59% requirements of range of relevant prone to the argument, but may position and evaluates the minor lapses from includes some recent
the assessment: material, with description, or to a suffer a loss of focus appropriateness of standard grammar, texts and/or
may drift away intermittent narrative, which lacks and consistency, with approaches to problem- with an acceptable appropriate literature,
from this in less evidence of an a clear analytical issues at stake stated solving in a work context format though not
focused passages appreciation of its purpose, and which only vaguely, or only in broad terms and in necessarily including a
significance does not consistently theoretical model(s) uncritical conformity to substantive amount
link analysis to couched in simplistic one or more standard beyond library texts.
solutions of problems terms views of the topic Competent use of
in a work-based source material.
context.
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40 – Some correlation Basic Largely descriptive or A basic argument is Some evidence of a view A simple basic style Some up-to-date
49% with the understanding of narrative, with little evident, but mainly and a very basic evaluation but with significant and/or appropriate
requirements of the subject but evidence of analysis supported by of the appropriateness of deficiencies in literature used. Goes
the assessment but addressing a which links to assertion and there approaches to problem- expression or beyond the material
there are instances limited range of solutions of problems may be a lack of solving in a work context format that may the tutor has
of irrelevance material in a work-based clarity and coherence starting to be formed but pose obstacles for provided. Limited use
context. mainly derivative. the reader of sources to support
a point.
35 – Relevance to the A limited Heavy dependence on Little evidence of Almost wholly derivative: Numerous Barely adequate use
39% requirements of understanding of a a description, and/or coherent argument: the writer’s contribution deficiencies in of literature. Over-
the assessment narrow range of on paraphrase, is lacks development rarely goes beyond expression and reliance on material
may be very material common, poor and may be repetitive simplifying paraphrase and presentation; the provided by the tutor.
intermittent and evidence of linking or thin does not adequately writer may achieve
may be reduced to analysis to proposed evaluate the clarity (if at all) only
its vaguest and solutions of problems appropriateness of by using a simplistic
least challenging in a work-based different approaches to or repetitious style
terms context. solving problems in a work
context.
The evidence provided shows that the majority of the learning outcomes and responsibilities appropriate to that Level are satisfied - For Compensation consideration.
30 – The work examined provides insufficient evidence of the knowledge, understanding and skills appropriate to the level of the qualification. The evidence provided shows that
34% some of the learning outcomes and responsibilities appropriate to that Level are satisfied. The work will be weak in some of the indicators.

15- The work examined is unacceptable and provides little evidence of the knowledge, understanding and skills appropriate to the level of the qualification. The evidence shows
29% that few of the learning outcomes and responsibilities appropriate to that Level are satisfied. The work will be weak in several of the indicators.
0-14% The work examined is unacceptable and provides almost no evidence of the knowledge, understanding and skills appropriate to the level of the qualification. The evidence
fails to show that any of the learning outcomes and responsibilities appropriate to that Level are satisfied. The work will be weak in the majority of all of the indicators.