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The Open University

Organisations and the financial system

The Open University via OpenLearn

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Overview

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Learn about the main types of financial resources available to organisations, how these funds can be used to start up a new business or sustain day-to-day operations, as well as develop long-term expansion plans. This free course, Organisations and the financial system, introduces the key operational and decisional features of the process of business financing and also considers organisations’ specific structures and goals.Transcript

Syllabus

  • Introduction
  • Learning outcomes
  • 1 An overview of financing Small and Medium Enterprises
  • 1 An overview of financing Small and Medium Enterprises
  • 1.1 Key sources of finance for business organisations
  • 1.2 Internal sources of finance
  • Debt factoring
  • Invoice discounting
  • Working capital management
  • Retained earnings
  • 1.3 External sources of finance
  • Bank finance
  • 2 Alternative funding sources for Small and Medium Enterprises
  • 2 Alternative funding sources for Small and Medium Enterprises
  • 2.1 Crowdfunding
  • 2.2 Peer-to-peer lending
  • 2.3 Business angels
  • 2.4 Venture capital
  • 2.5 A comparative view of different sources of finance
  • 3 Company financing: stock and bond issuance
  • 3 Company financing: stock and bond issuance
  • 3.1 The stock and bond markets
  • 3.2 Stock issuance
  • Issuing shares in practice
  • Initial public offerings
  • 3.3 Bond issuance
  • The mechanics of bonds
  • The secondary market for bonds
  • 3.4 A bird’s-eye view on public-sector financing
  • 4 Decision making in the process of business financing
  • 4 Decision making in the process of business financing
  • 4.1 Financial resources and the main categories of expenditure
  • 4.2 External growth strategies: mergers and acquisitions
  • Financing mergers and acquisitions
  • 4.3 Paying back shareholders: dividend distribution and share repurchase
  • 4.4 Decision making in practice: a scenario-based adventure
  • 5 End-of-course quiz
  • 5 End-of-course quiz
  • Conclusion
  • References
  • Acknowledgements

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Reviews

5.0 rating, based on 1 Class Central review

3.5 rating at OpenLearn based on 2 ratings

Start your review of Organisations and the financial system

  • Profile image for Enrique Enriquez
    Enrique Enriquez @EEnriquez
    17
    This course on Organisations and the Financial System offers a lucid, well-structured exploration of equity, debt, and public-sector finance. Its treatment of IPOs, bond mechanics, and capital deployment reflects a commendable balance of theoretical clarity and practical relevance. The distinctions between private and public financing, alongside the nuanced discussion of shareholder returns and M&A strategies, are intellectually rigorous yet accessible. The descriptions provided were precise, the certificate of participation was issued as stated, and the estimated completion time was accurate. Overall, the course succeeds in cultivating a foundational understanding of financial decision-making within diverse organisational contexts.
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