External Reporting Issues Assessment Research Report

Purpose of Assessment:

The purpose of this assessment is to enable students to demonstrate their discipline knowledge, research skills, and written communication skills within the context of a specific external reporting issue.

This assessment item assesses the following learning outcomes:

Knowledge & Technical Skills - Demonstrate and apply integrated and advanced discipline and professional practice knowledge, including knowledge of relevant research principles and methods.

Higher Order Thinking - Exercise independent judgment and initiative in adapting and applying knowledge and skills for effective planning, problem solving and decision making in diverse contexts.

Professional Communication - Use information literacy skills, and communicate effectively and professionally in written forms and using media appropriate for diverse purposes and contexts.

Social, Ethical & Global Understanding - Demonstrate and apply knowledge of ethical and legal principles and practices of business in critically analysing and effectively responding to complex business issues.

Investigate and critically evaluate contemporary accounting issues, and apply to the annual report of an ASX-listed company.

(Students are required to complete this report only on their allocated ASX-listed company. Self-selection of companies is not permitted.)

The ASX Corporate Governance Council observes that:

Research has shown that increased gender diversity on boards is associated with better financial performance (ASX Corporate Governance Council, 2014, p. 11).

However, on 16 June 2017, the Sydney Morning Herald, reported that: There are still 13 companies on the ASX 200 that have no female directors, and six have not had a female director in the past two years.

That is the latest result of the Australian Institute of Company Directors AICD) gender diversity report, which revealed the monthly appointment rate for women dipped in the first half of the year, hovering around 30 per cent (compared to 44 per cent during 2016).

This equates to just 17 female appointments compared to 40 male appointments in the first five months of 2017.

AICD chairman Elizabeth Proust said the drop was of "significant concern" and would make it harder to hit the AICD's target is for 30 per cent board representation by the end of 2018 (Khadem, Nassim, 16 June 2017, Australia's gender shame: 13 ASX 200 boards with no women, Sydney Morning Herald).

Required:

1. Review the academic and professional literature that investigates the issue of gender diversity on corporate boards and, where relevant, the board committees (that is, the audit, nomination, and remuneration/compensation committees), and summarise your findings. While your literature search should be global, there should also be a strong focus on Australian-based research findings.

2. Analyse the board and board committee gender diversity of your allocated ASX company. Do your research findings in (1) above support the board and committee structure in your company? Explain your response. Describe the gender diversity recommendations you would make for the board and board committees of your company.

3. From a social and ethical perspective, should corporate gender diversity in listed Australian companies be mandated? Provide your view on this issue and justify your response.

Attachment:- Assignment Files.rar