Assessment Task

Part 1 (1,200 words)

Assessment Criteria:

Demonstration of knowledge of the issues and evidence of wide reading to support your analysis

Demonstration of your ability to apply the knowledge to identify keys issues leading to your recommendations

Evidence of sound reasoning and the exercise of professional judgement to support your recommendations

Development and statement ofconciserecommendations for presentationto the management committee of the venture capital fund

Overall structure and professional presentation of your report to the management committee of the venture capital fund

High quality written communication of concepts and terms as the members of the management committee of the venture capital fund can be assumed to be professionally competent in corporate governance

Case Study 1

‘After an initial cash injection, either from personal savings or a sympathetic family member (often referred to as seed funding), most entrepreneurs will have to approach professional investors to obtain additional capital necessary to bring their ideas to life. This process (Stage 1 funding) is the first big test of a company's viability. Failure to convince those with deep pockets thatyour business model issound, or that your prototypecanbe replicated, willmean that your company is unlikely to progress.

For those who do obtain Stage 1 funding, what follows is a period of intense creativity and concentrated effort as the company is established. Some businesses may be able to fully commercialise their operations by the end of this process, but for most, particularly those with newly created products, an evolving product line or international aspirations, a second round of investment (Stage 2) from venture capital or private equity funds will be needed.'

Stapleton (2016, p.120)

Required

Assume you are a corporate governance consultant working for a venture capital fund. The venture capital fund requires you to advise the fund on the best way to transition the corporate governance practices of a small to medium sized enterprise (SME) to a company ready for initial public offering (IPO) and listing on the stock exchange.

You are required to prepare a report to be submitted to the management committee of the venture capital fund identifying and making recommendations on the best corporate governance practices to be introduced intoallentrepreneurial growth SME companies intowhichthe venture capital fund will invest.

Part 2 ( 1,200 words)

Assessment Criteria:

Demonstration of knowledge of the issues and evidence of wide reading to support your analysis

Demonstration of your ability to apply the knowledge to identify keys issues leading to your recommendations

Evidence of sound reasoning and the exercise of professional judgement to support your recommendations

Development and statement of concise recommendations for presentation to the Chairman

Overall structure and professional presentation of your report to the Chairman

High quality written communication of concepts and terms as the Chairman can be assumed to be professionally competent in corporate governance

Case Study 2

Rrecentyears have witnesseda growing interestincorporate social responsibility and in calling corporations to account for their impact on the environment and on non-shareholding stakeholders. ... It is no longer possible to isolate corporate governance, viewing it as an issue for companies and their institutional and other shareholders. Society at large has to assume ownership of good corporate governance.'

Jill Solomon (2013, p.258)

Required

Assume you have been appointed as an Independent Director to a company listed on the Australia Stock Exchange. The Chair of the Board hasjust returned from a meeting with institutional investors where the company's reporting of its corporate social responsibility was questioned.

The Chair has asked you to write a report to be submitted at the next board meeting that provides recommendations so that the company can implement international best practice in the area of corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosure and corporate governance practice.