Portfolio Management & Investment Analysis

Code

BUSI4591

School

Nottingham University Business School

Level

4

Credits

10

Semesters

Autumn Malaysia

Summary

The module examines the risk and return characteristics of classes of financial securities (equities, bonds, derivatives) and the processes and consequences of combining these securities in portfolios. The traditional mean-variance approach is extended in two ways, first by recognising that return distributions may not be well described by mean and variance, and secondly by examining the possibility that investors take into account non financial, ethical concerns in their portfolio building decisions. Any finance module, and a portfolio management module in particular, needs, post 2008, to reflect (and to reflect on) the gap between textbook treatments and "the real world". Standard textbook treatments offer "the efficient markets hypothesis", "the capital asset pricing model" and "the Black Scholes model" in a relatively uncritical way, but post 2008 these models have been ridiculed in the financial press as
"unrealistic". This major difference of opinion is examined in the module.

Target Students

Only students registered on the MBA programme.

Classes

33 lecture hours, i.e. 3 hours per session (inclusive of small-group activities) for 11 sessions.

Assessment

• 100% Coursework 1: 3,000 words

Assessed by end of autumn semester

Educational Aims

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and understanding
This module develops a knowledge and understanding of:

The dynamics of the global economy and international business &/or an awareness of cultural, legal/regulatory, political, and economic differences across countries &/or an appreciation of management issues from a global perspective.
Markets - the development and operation of markets for resources, goods and services
Finance - the sources, uses and management of finance
The use of accounting and other information systems for managerial applications
The management of resources
Tools and techniques for transforming (big) data into useful information for business analysis and decision support
Strategic management - the development and implementation of appropriate strategies within a changing environment
Strategic risk management and issues of compliance’

Intellectual skills
This module develops:

Being able to think critically and be creative: manage the creative processes in self and others; organise thoughts, analyse, synthesise and critically appraise. This includes the capability to identify assumptions, evaluate statements in terms of evidence, detect false logic or reasoning, identify implicit values, define terms adequately and generalise appropriately
Being able to solve complex problems and make decisions: establish criteria, using appropriate decision-making techniques including identifying, formulating and solving business problems; and the ability to create, identify and evaluate options; the ability to implement and review decisions
Using information and knowledge effectively in order to abstract meaning from information and to share knowledge, including the use of quantitative skills

Professional practical skills
This module develops:

The ability to conduct research and enquiry into business and management issues either individually or as part of a team through research design, the collection and analysis of qualitative  data, synthesis and reporting
The ability to conduct research and enquiry into business and management issues either individually or as part of a team through research design, the collection and analysis of  quantitative data, synthesis and reporting
The ability to recognise the need for and initiate change and to be able to manage change

Transferable (key) skills
This module develops:

Effective communication: networking, listening, oral and written communication of complex ideas and arguments, using a range of media, including the preparation of business reports
High personal effectiveness: critical self-awareness, self-reflection and self-management; time management; conflict resolution, displaying commercial acumen, the ability to continue to learn through reflection on practice and experience

Conveners

• Dr Kin Boon Tang