ENG M 401 & 620 Section X1
Fundamentals of Engineering Finance

September 2010 – December 2010


Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 5:00 PM to 5:50 PM

ENGM 620 Seminar Wednesdays 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM

in ETLC 1-003

This Course Home Page is located at:

http://www.ualberta.ca/~mlipsett/ENGM401_620/ENGM401_620.htm

And was last updated on December 2, 2010


 

This course is now complete.

 

Upcoming Lectures:

 

Current Assignment:

 

Links to Course Information:

Lecture Schedule and Links

Assignment Schedule and Links

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ), Guide to Calculations, Examples Directory, Glossary, errata in course text (4th ed.),

Sample Midterm#1, Sample Midterm #2, Sample Midterm#3, General Course Information, course overview and format, and course outline

Other Topics in Engineering Management, A Suggested Reading List.

 

Current Announcements:

 

If you have a discrepancy in the marking of Problem 1 of Assignment #8, please contact your TA. (Please note that in a course, you should show your work for how you found an answer for a problem, even though Problem 1i) only asked for a yes/no answer.)

Old Announcements:

Midterm #2 will be held on Monday November 8, 2010, in class. Good luck.

Lectures 19, 21, and 22 are not available as audio files.

For Assignment #7, question 1 iv), the margin of error for equivalence is within $1.

Because of the ambiguity on the title page of the assignment, students who handed in Project #1 by 5 pm on Thursday Oct 21, 2010 will not have marks deducted for lateness. Next time there will not be as much leniency (and there will be very clear instructions on the due date and time).

Project #1 has been handed out. Please contact the instructor to pick up a project (one copy per student). The project is to be done individually.  The instructor will respond to questions by email (but not necessarily instantly!); and responses that provide additional guidance will be posted on the FAQ.

The average on midterm #1 was 75.7 %. Marks have been distributed on eclass.

Assignment #4 is due by 4 pm on Oct 8, 2010 in the marking box outside the Mechanical Engineering main office (4th floor MECE 4-9, just down the hall).

Oct. 1, 2010: Midterm #1 is on Monday Oct 4, 2010, in class.

In the marking guide for Assignment #3, the correct answer for Problem 1 i) is false, not true. (In the circumstance described, the unit profit associated with an incremental sale will be higher than the average unit profit, but the contribution margin is unchanged.)

Sept 23, 2010: Remember to check the FAQ regularly for answers (or at least more information) to questions posed by other students about course material and the assignments. Also, the Guide to Calculations has more explanation about how to do the calculations described in the lectures.

Sept 20, 2010: For Assignment 2 Problem #2, you can add a separate asset account called “equipment” to show the value of the new equipment; and step 9 talks about book value and asks about the cost incurred in making it ($750) or its likely sale price ($2500). Sorry, that is a typo. It should read $850, not $750.

I will not be available during regular office hours on Wednesday Sept 22nd because of a PhD examination; but I will be in my office on Wednesday morning and on Thursday afternoon. I will also respond to emails. You can also contact the TAs to help answer your questions.

June 21, 2010: Formal announcements made to the class during lectures may be subsequently posted on the course website.

 


Approximate Lecture Schedule (Subject to Change):

(links are to files in pdf format, two slides per page)

Week 1:

Wednesday Sept. 8, 2010: Lecture #1 Course Introduction and ENGM 620 Seminar Introduction; Annotated Lecture 1

Thursday Sept. 9, 2010: Lecture #2  Engineering, Business, and Society; Annotated Lecture 2

Week 2:

Monday Sept. 13, 2010: Lecture #3 Introduction to Financial Statements ; Annotated Lecture 3; Simple Bookkeeping Example #2

Wednesday Sept. 15, 2010: Lecture #4 Income Statements ; Annotated Lecture 4 and Seminar: Intro to Cash Flow Statements ; Annotated Seminar

Thursday Sept. 16, 2010: Lecture #5  Income Statements (2); Annotated Lecture 5

Week 3:

Monday Sept. 20, 2010: Lecture #6 Income Statements (3); Annotated Lecture 6

Wednesday Sept. 22, 2010: Lecture #7 Depreciation (1);  Annotated Lecture 7

  And  Seminar: Some Reflections on Poverty (presented by Peter Flynn)

Thursday Sept. 23, 2010: Lecture #8 Depreciation (2)

 ; Annotated Lecture 8

Week 4:

Monday Sept. 27, 2010: Lecture #9 Income Statements (4); Annotated Lecture 9

Wednesday Sept. 29, 2010: No lecture or seminar

Thursday Sept. 30, 2010: Lecture #10 Balance Sheets (1);  Annotated Lecture 10 (This lecture includes Midterm preview & tips)

Week 5:

Monday Oct. 4, 2010: Midterm #1 (in class)
Wednesday Oct. 6, 2010: Lecture #11 Balance Sheets (2) ; Annotated Lecture 11

Thursday Oct. 7, 2010: Lecture #12 Leverage

 ; Annotated Lecture 12

Week 6:

Monday Oct. 11, 2010: Statutory Holiday: No lecture
Wednesday Oct. 13, 2010: Lecture #13 Leverage (2) & Introduction to Sources & Uses of Funds (reposted) ; annotated version

Thursday Oct. 14, 2010: Lecture #14 Cash Flow Statements (reposted); annotated version with sources & uses example; some effects of exchange rates

Week 7:

Monday Oct. 18, 2010: Lecture #15 Cash Flow Statements  (2); Annotated Lecture #15;  some effects of exchange rates - innovative approaches
Wednesday Oct. 20, 2010: Lecture #16 Ratio Analysis; Annotated Lecture #16 Project #1 due at start of class; seminars

Thursday Oct. 21, 2010: Lecture #17 Ratio Analysis (2); Annotated Lecture #17

Week 8:

Monday Oct. 25, 2010: Guest lecture: Brad Johns, VP Moneta Energy Services, Calgary (who will talk on how engineers and engineering managers add value to technology companies, and how to manage your own career)
Wednesday Oct. 27, 2010: Lecture #18 Time Value of Money; Annotated Lecture 18; seminars

Thursday Oct. 28, 2010: Lecture #19 Time Value of Money (2); Annotated Lecture 19 (lecture presented by Prof John Doucette)

Week 9:

Monday Nov. 1, 2010: Lecture #20 Interest Calculations, Annotated Lecture 20
Wednesday Nov. 3, 2010: Lecture #21 Interest Calculations (2); Annotated Lecture 21; (audio not available) seminars

Thursday Nov. 4, 2010: Lecture #22 Interest Calculations (3) and (brief) midterm preview – Annotated Lecture 22; (audio not available). Remember to do Sample Midterm #2!

Week 10:

Monday Nov. 8, 2010: Midterm Exam #2 (in class)
Wednesday Nov. 10, 2010: Lecture #23 Present Worth Analysis; Annotated Lecture 23; seminars

Thursday Nov. 11, 2010: Statutory Holiday: No lecture

Week 11:

Monday Nov. 15, 2010: Lecture #24 Present Worth Analysis (2); Annotated Lecture 24 ;
Wednesday Nov. 17, 2010: Lecture #25 Rate of Return; Annotated Lecture 25; midterm review; seminars

Thursday Nov. 18, 2010: Lecture #26 Other Analysis Techniques; Annotated Lecture 26

Week 12:

Monday Nov. 22, 2010: Lecture #27 Inflation; Annotated Lecture 27
Wednesday Nov. 24, 2010: Project #2 due at the start of class  Lecture #28 After Tax Cash Flow; Annotated Lecture 28 ; seminars

Thursday Nov. 25, 2010: Lecture #29 Sensitivity Analysis & Uncertainty; Annotated Lecture 29

Week 13:

Monday Nov. 29, 2010: Lecture #30 Decision Analysis;  Annotated Lecture 30
Wednesday Dec. 1, 2010: Lecture #31 Valuation; Annotated Lecture 31

Thursday Dec. 2, 2010: Lecture #32 Course review

Week 14:

Monday Dec. 6, 2010: Midterm Exam #3 (in class)
Wednesday Dec. 8, 2010: Personal Finance for Engineers (P. Flynn)

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Assignments:

(links are to files in pdf format) Problem numbers refer to the fourth edition of the text.

 

There is no specific format for assignment submissions: typed and handwritten are both acceptable. Neatness counts! (That’s part of being a professional.) If the TA can not read your writing, or follow the logic of your solution, then you will likely lose marks. Make sure that you put your name and student number on your assignment so that you get credit for the work.

 

Assignments are due in class. There is an assignment drop box near the Mechanical Engineering office on the fourth floor of the mechanical Engineering Building. It is labeled ENGM 401 X1, but it is also for ENGM 620 Section X1.

 

Please respect the “48 Hour” rule: do not automatically contact the TA (or instructor) if your mark is not what you expected. Review the solution guide, and only contact the TA if there is indeed an issue.

 

Assignment #1: Assigned on Sept. 8, 2010, due in class on Sept. 16, 2010

Assignment #2: Assigned on Sept. 16, 2010, due in class on Sept. 23, 2010

Assignment #3: Assigned on Sept. 23, 2010, due in class on Sept. 30, 2010

Assignment #4: Assigned on Sept. 30, 2010, due in class on Oct. 7, 2010 (extension to 4 pm Oct 8/10)

Assignment #5 Assigned on Oct. 7, 2010, due in class on Oct. 14, 2010, but will be accepted until 4 pm on Fri. Oct. 15 in the marking box outside MECE 4-9. The assignment has been reposted to reflect the change in due date and a reduced requirement for Problem #3 (you don’t have to produce the statement of cash flow and comment on the health of the company).

Assignment #6: Assigned on Oct. 18, 2010, due in class on Oct. 28, 2010

Assignment #7: Assigned on Oct. 28, 2010, due in class on Nov. 4, 2010

Assignment #8: Assigned on Nov. 4, 2010, due in class on Nov. 15, 2010; Due date extended to Thursday Nov. 18/10.

Assignment #9: Assigned on Nov. 24, 2010, due in class on Dec. 1, 2010

 

Optional assignment: Course feedback in lieu of a missed assignment, or to improve one assignment mark (details found here), must be handed in by the end of class on Dec. 8, 2010 at the latest.

 

Marked assignments will be handed back in class and then can be picked outside the instructor’s office at MEC E 5-8J.

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Projects:

Projects are more substantial assignments, involving more detailed analysis and interpretation. Projects are to be done individually and without help. Projects will be handed out, and the handout must be submitted as part of the project.

 

Project #1: Will be handed out in class on Oct. 7, 2010, due at the start of class on Oct. 20, 2010.

Project #1: Will be handed out in class on Nov. 15, 2010, due at the start of class on Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2010. (this is a change from the original schedule, which was to have the project due on Nov 22/10)

·         Projects will only be accepted late due to a documented medical or personal emergency. A project that is otherwise late will have a penalty:

            10% penalty within first 24 hours of being late (“late” is after 5:10 pm on the classroom clock, when the TA leaves with the projects),

            30% between 24 and 48 hours late,

            60% penalty between 48 and 72 hours late, and

            not accepted after 72 hours without a justified reason.

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General Course Information

Instructor: MG Lipsett, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Management Group

Telephone: 780-492-9494

Email:  Michael (dot) Lipsett (at) ualberta (dot) ca

Office: 5-8J Mechanical Engineering Building (5th Floor West)

Office Hours: Wednesdays 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. (or by appointment)

I can be consulted whenever my office door is open; however, I may ask that you make an appointment for a later time. Emails will be answered, but instant response is not guaranteed. Answers to questions will be posted on the FAQ for the benefit of all. (So please check the FAQ first; and remember to refresh your browser to get the latest version of the web page.)

Teaching Assistants:

Enrique Fernandez (for students with surnames A-G). Email: efernand (at) ualberta (dot) ca

   Office hours: Wednesdays 1 to 3 pm in MECE 6-27.

Roya Vaghar Anzabi (for students with surnames H-R). Email: vagharan (at) ualberta (dot) ca

   Office hours: Mondays 3 to 5 pm in MECE 6-29.

Roberto Gallardo (for students with surnames S-Z). Email: robertog (at) ualberta (dot) ca

   Office hours: Thursdays after 3 pm in MECE 4-37.

Course Text (required):

ENGM 401 Marking Scheme:
    Assignments*:                     18%
    Individual Projects:             12%
    Midterm Exam #1:              20%
    Midterm Exam #2:             25%
    Midterm Exam #3:              25%

ENGM 620 Marking Scheme:
    Assignments*:                     18%
    Individual Projects:                         12%
    Team Project (seminar):      15%
    Midterm Exam #1:              15%
    Midterm Exam #2:              20%
    Midterm Exam #3:              20%

        *Assignments are due in class and cannot be accepted after solutions have been distributed. Assignments can be handed in early to the instructor. There is an assignment drop box near the Mechanical Engineering office on the fourth floor of the mechanical Engineering Building. It is labeled ENGM 401 X1, but it is also for ENGM 620 X1.

 

Re-exam rule: If a re-exam is granted, the exam will be comprehensive (i.e., use material from the entire course as covered in that lecture section) and the exam mark will replace the combined mark of all midterm exams given in the course.  The rest of the term work (projects, assignments, etc) will contribute to the new grade as before in the same fraction.

If a student misses a midterm for a documented and accepted reason (medical or personal emergency), then other midterm marks will be scaled proportionally to yield the 70% contribution to the final mark.

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Course Overview and Format

Course Overview:
The application of the fundamentals of engineering economics, financial analysis, and market assessment to engineering alternatives in the planning, development, and ongoing management of industrial enterprises. The course covers the use of engineering, economic, financial, and market assessment information in investment and business operation decisions in technology oriented companies.

Course Format:
This course will be lecture based, primarily using slides in pdf format that will be made available in advance from the course web-site. These lecture slides are supplemented with notes for selected discussions, and with in-class spreadsheet and problem-solving examples. Required reading and other student resources are contained in the textbook and the course web-site (this site). Formal announcements made to the class may be subsequently posted on the course website.

The key difference in ENGM 620 with respect to ENGM 401 is a greater emphasis on investment analysis for technology companies. Students in ENGM 620 form small groups to research the financial valuation of a publicly traded company and its performance in the market. Later in the course, each group presents their assessment in a formal presentation to the class during the Wednesday evening time slot.

Other resources available on the web site include: Frequently Asked Questions, guide on how to do the financial calculations , a glossary of some of the terms used in the course, errata in course text (4th ed.) , other topics in engineering management, sample midterms, and other relevant material such as tools for skeptical thinking.

All overheads and notes for the course are subject to copyright. Reproduction for distribution other than for your personal use is prohibited unless explicit specific permission is granted.

Additional Reading (strictly optional, NOT required):


The outline for the course is located here.

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Note:
The University of Alberta is committed to the highest standards of academic integrity and honesty. Students are expected to be familiar with these standards regarding academic honesty and to uphold the policies of the University in this respect. Students are particularly urged to familiarize themselves with the provisions of the Code of Student Behaviour (online at www.ualberta.ca/secretariat/appeals.htm) and avoid any behaviour which could potentially result in suspicions of cheating, plagiarism, misrepresentation of facts and/or participation in an offence. Academic dishonesty is a serious offence and can result in suspension or expulsion from the University. Policy about course outlines can be found in Section 23.4(2) of the University Calendar.

Feedback:
Good managers are committed to effective interactions with the people they work with. It is critical that there be good lines of communication, not only for stating expectations but also for accepting feedback on performance. (Of course, this communication has to go both ways to be effective: the employee has to trust the manager to accept feedback non-judgmentally.) In this course, the instructor welcomes constructive feedback (which can be positive or negative) and any suggestions for improvements to the course. Discussion during the class can significantly improve the learning experience. If you have a question for clarification or a relevant comment (or if the instructor has made an error…), please share it with the class. Feedback can also be submitted to substitute for one missed assignment, or to improve the mark of a single assignment. Please refer to the list of topics for feedback found here.