Decision Economics Learning Centre

Decision Economics Consulting Group develops custom designed business courses which significantly boost career success by providing individuals with an enhanced capability to make informed economic business decisions within their organization. Our public course offerings include:

Financial Literacy (One Day)

This one-day course provides the skills needed to read and understand financial statements and to communicate with financial professionals. It is designed for staff in non-financial functions requiring a working knowledge of the “language of business” and is a desired pre-requisite to DECG’s Project Economics and Strategic Decision Making courses.

Using a round-table discussion format, DECG will review the annual report of a leading Canadian company to illustrate financial concepts.

Topics covered include:

  • evaluating the relevance of the audit opinion
  • understanding the income statement and its role as a report card
  • making sense of the balance sheet
  • comprehending the thinking behind “accrual accounting”
  • appreciating the elegance of the cash flow statement
  • analyzing the financial health of a company using financial ratio analysis.

At the end of the day, participants will be able to knowledgeably read and analyze a set of financial statements, evaluate the meaning of financial data, and communicate with financial professionals in an informed manner.

Project Economics (Two Days)

This two-day course builds on Financial Literacy and develops the skills to competently analyze the economics of capital projects. Participants will be exposed to state-of-the-art project economics techniques such as the net present value/weighted average cost of capital approach to project valuation and sophisticated risk analysis techniques such as real options valuation. The course is designed for all staff with capital project decision responsibility, authority, or influence, as well as those who are involved in business case preparation. Financial staff, project managers, analysts and consultants would also benefit.

Using an interactive lecture/illustration/problem solving approach, DECG will review the theory and practice of project economics using a Canadian company’s project for illustrative purposes.

Topics covered include:

  • Recognizing that maximization of firm value is the correct economic decision criterion
  • Reviewing the rationale for the net present value/weighted average cost of capital model
  • Estimating cash flows relevant to capital project analysis and valuation
  • Calculating the discount rate
  • Incorporating tax issues into the project economics valuation
  • Using risk analytical techniques (including real options valuation) to assess the impact of uncertainty on decision choice

By the end of the program, participants will have a solid understanding of the principles and practice of project economics.

Strategic Decision Making (Two Days)

This two-day course builds on the Project Economics course and provides insights into the economic logic and business concepts needed to make and present persuasive business cases. The Strategic Decision Making course is designed for individuals with capital project decision responsibility, authority or influence as well as those involved in business case preparation who have a prior understanding of financial statements and project economics. Financial staff, project managers, analysts and consultants would also benefit.

Using an interactive lecture/illustration/problem solving approach, DECG will review the principles of strategic decision making using a Canadian company’s project as a case example.

Participants will learn to:

  • Avoid common decision mistakes
  • Manage risk in a proactive manner
  • Understand and apply the DECG decision-making framework
  • Specify decision criteria, constraints and alternatives
  • Estimate and evaluate the impacts of alternatives from a variety of
  • economic and non-economic perspectives
  • Prepare cogent, succinct, logical and persuasive business cases

Participants will be given an opportunity to make group presentations. By the end of the program, they will have prepared and presented a defensible business decision case to a senior management audience.

Introduction to Business Valuations (Two Days)

This two-day course introduces business valuation concepts to decision makers contemplating the sale of their businesses. It is not intended to be a replacement for business valuation specialists; rather it is intended to inform decision makers about valuation techniques. The course is designed for all staff with business valuation decision responsibility, authority, or influence, as well as financial and project staff who would be involved.

Key features of the course are its use of a business valuation decision making framework, concentration on the Free Cash Flow valuation model, use of an illustrative business valuation case, interactive learning approach, and facilitators experienced in the theory and practice of business valuation.

Topics covered include:

  • Business Valuation Decision Making Model
  • Valuation Alternatives
  • Income Based Approaches
  • Asset Based Approaches
  • Market Based Approaches
  • Adjustments, Discounts and Premiums

Short-Term Financial Management (Two Days)

This two day course will discuss the basic principals of Short-Term Financial Management covering such topics as:

  • Liquidity
  • Corporate Cash Management
  • Cash Forecasting and Financial Planning
  • Short-term Investing and Planning

The course will extensively use case studies related to the above topics with emphasis on the application of Excel spreadsheets. It will be designed for those directly involved in short-term financial management, those supervising such functions or those doing the accounting for the functions.

To register for any of the courses or acquire further information, e-mail us at info@decisioneconomics.com or contact one of the Decision Economics principals directly: