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 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 1

‘The case for increasing the representation of women in Australian company board is overwhelming. It is not only the right thing to do but the smart thing to do, in terms of improving business performance.

And now the director community is setting itself a new and ambitious standard to help achieve that goal. This week the Australian Institute of Company Directors has announced a major step forward in efforts to increase the number of women on boards by setting a target of 30 percent for female directors. For ASX 200 companies, the goal of having at least 30 percent women is to be reached within the next four years'.

John Brogden, Managing Director and Chief Executive, Australian Institute of Company Directors, ‘More Women Directors makes good economic sense', The Sydney Morning Herald, Friday 10 April 2015, p.17 8

Required

Assume you have been employed as a corporate governance professional by a company listed on the Australian Stock Exchange. The Chairman of the company has decided to address the issue of gender diversity on the company's board.

As an initial step in the process of increasing the gender diversity of the board the Chairman has employed you to prepare a report that critically analyses and assesses the evidence that gender diversity on a company board is associated with improved business performance and also provide recommendations on how the company should initiate a gender diversity policy for the board. Your report will be tabled at the next board meeting for board members to review and evaluate your recommendations.

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 AII

Overall structure and professional presentation of your report to the ASA

High quality written communication of concepts and terms in ordinary English as the report will be published on the ASA web site and not all readers can be assumed to be professionally competent in corporate governance

Case Study 2

‘A company's Code of Ethics should go beyond simple rules and instead focus on core values. Before drafting a Code of Ethics, it is fundamental that a company has identified and formulated its values. Developing a Code of Ethics is a process as much as an outcome.

In assessing the need for a Code of Ethics the company should begin by studying its internal ethics climate, the amount and type of ethical guidance its employees and officers receive, and the risk the company faces without such a Code. As a second step, the company should seek buy-in from every part of the organisation, from senior management to workers.

Most importantly the company should ensure that a broad consultative process takes place within the company. The company must also recognise that the ‘tone at the top' matters, and that public and demonstrable commitment by senior management and directors is a key component to the implementation of a Code of Ethics.'

International Finance Corporation (2010, p.80)

Required:

Assume you have been contracted as an independent corporate governance consultant to a company listed on the Australian Stock Exchange.

As part of the consultative process to implement the Code of Ethics you have been employed to write a report on behalf of the Board for distribution to shareholders advocating the benefits of the adoption of a Code of Ethics.

The Chairman has requested that your report should include examples and evidence from contemporary cases of corporate governance failure and malpractice that demonstrate the need for a corporate Code of Ethics.

Length: 2,400 words total (+/- 10%), comprising 1,200 words for each of the 2 parts in the question.

Reference list and cover sheet details are not included in this word-limit total.