In this module, you will first learn about accounting and why it - as well as financial statements as a key component of accounting - is important to all types of organizations. You will then engage in an overview of key aspects of financial statements, including how they reflect an organization's position and performance. Finally, you will be introduced to accounting for transactions, which comprise the "building blocks" of financial statements. By the end of this module, you will have been introduced to key dimensions of accounting, and thus have created a foundation for a deeper dive into these concepts (presented in other related modules and courses).

In this module, you will be introduced to the basic concepts about the time value of money: the present value, the future value, and the net present value. There are widespread applications of time value of money in our daily life and business valuation. Some examples include mortgage plan selection, pension plan choice, and investment decisions. And, of course, the time value of money affects organizational valuation and decision-making as well. You will then turn to different forms of financing, including debts (e.g., bonds) and equity (e.g., stocks). How a company finances its operations, strategy, and long-term investment has major implications for its valuation, as well as its success.