This course is an organizational leader's introduction to the world of business and finance, focusing on financial accounting, financial statement (10K) analysis, financial reporting and governance, and strategic analysis of a company's stated growth objectives. Cadets first study the principles of financial accounting in order to be able to assess a company's measurement of its performance. Cadets then learn about financial reporting and governance within to assess how an organization reports results, measures performance, implements accountability and incentive structures, and how organizations are guided by internal and external governance. This includes a focus on the dangers and conditions that have led to many recent corporate fraud scandals. Cadets then continue to build on these foundations by learning about strategy fundamentals to improve economic performance and resource allocation within an organization. This includes dissecting the statements of the company via its financial statements and the implications for future revenues and profits based on the larger market and economic environment. The course culminates with a capstone project involving financial statement analysis of a major U.S. corporation that enables cadets to make a real-world decision about a company as users of financial statements. This course prepares cadets for financial economics electives.
