General Course Information
1.1 Course details
| Course code: | LLAW6320 / JDOC6320 |
| Course name: | The Business of Governing Corporations |
| Programme offered under: | LLM Programme / JD Programme |
| Semester: | First |
| Prerequisites / Co-requisites: | No |
| Credit point value: | 9 credits / 6 credits |
1.2 Course description
This course explores the concepts as well as major debates in corporate governance and the board of directors from the often-competing perspectives of regulatory expectations and business demands. The course will facilitate students to recognise the different approaches to how companies should, or might, be governed in view of legal and regulatory expectations.
To appreciate the different viewpoints of corporate governance and the board, students will be introduced to the literature from both regulatory and business disciplines. In terms of regulatory expectations, it would include an analysis of hard and soft laws as well as best practices. In comparison, the business literature shall explore subject matters like leadership, strategies, culture, board evaluation, digital transformation, ESG, risk management and resilience. Therefore, students are expected to develop an interdisciplinary appreciation of how companies are or should be governed, and to what extent directors’ performance prospects are driven by market expectations. Such interdisciplinary approach will offer students an opportunity to develop insights and pragmatic problem-solving skills to enhance corporate governance outcomes.
1.3 Course teachers
| Name | E-mail address | Office | Consultation | |
| Course convenor | Angus Young | alyoung@hku.hk | CCT 301 | By email |
Learning Outcomes
2.1 Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs) for this course
CLO 1 Develop necessary reasoning and problem skills to deal with the multi-stakeholder engagements and complex issues relating to corporate governance and the board of directors.
CLO 2 Critically examine the limitations of the corporate governance from both regulatory and business perspectives.
CLO 3 Apply knowledge and understanding to adapt to new and uncertain situations and problems related to corporate governance in an ever-changing business world.
CLO 4 Evaluate the role the board of directors and the regulatory mechanisms as well as develop coherent and solid arguments in devising possible solutions to new challenges in corporate governance responding to a multitude of complex issues.
CLO 5 Expand critical thinking and autonomous learning skills, to enable students to gain knowledge in an area of considerable commercial interest which will enhance employability potential in the financial services, listed companies, regulators and public authorities.
2.2 LLM and JD Programme Learning Outcomes (PLOs)
Please refer to the following link:
LLM – https://course.law.hku.hk/llm-plo/
JD – https://course.law.hku.hk/jd-plo/
2.3 Programme Learning Outcomes to be achieved in this course
| PLO A | PLO B | PLO C | PLO D | PLO E | PLO F | |
| CLO 1 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| CLO 2 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| CLO 3 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| CLO 4 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| CLO 5 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Assessment(s)
3.1 Assessment Summary
| Assessment task | Due date | Weighting | Feedback method* | Course learning outcomes |
| Class participation | TBC | 10% | 3 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
| Coursework and formal prepared presentation | Assignment due: 8 Nov 2023 | 10% | 3, 5 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
| In-class small groups coursework discussions | TBC | 10% | 3, 5 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
| Take home exam^ | 7 Dec 2023 | 70% | 1, 3 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
^ Students are required to pass the exam to be eligible to pass the course.
| *Feedback method (to be determined by course teacher) | |
| 1 | A general course report to be disseminated through Moodle |
| 2 | Individual feedback to be disseminated by email / through Moodle |
| 3 | Individual review meeting upon appointment |
| 4 | Group review meeting |
| 5 | In-class verbal feedback |
3.2 Assessment Detail
To be advised by course convenor(s).
3.3 Grading Criteria
Please refer to the following link: https://www.law.hku.hk/_files/law_programme_grade_descriptors.pdf
Learning Activities
4.1 Learning Activity Plan
| Seminar: | 3 hours / week for 12 teaching weeks |
| Private study time: | 9.5 hours / week for 12 teaching weeks |
Remarks: the normative student study load per credit unit is 25 ± 5 hours (ie. 150 ± 30 hours for a 6-credit course), which includes all learning activities and experiences within and outside of classroom, and any assessment task and examinations and associated preparations.
4.2 Details of Learning Activities
To be advised by course convenor(s).
Learning Resources
5.1 Resources
| Reading materials: | Reading materials are posted on Moodle |
| Core reading list: | TBA |
| Recommended reading list: | TBA |
5.2 Links
Please refer to the following link: http://www.law.hku.hk/course/learning-resources/