Final Reflective Narrative Summary

Note: There is no essay assignment for this course. The representative work is the Final Reflective Narrative Summary.

Final Reflective Narrative Summary

Kun Zhang
Shurley Instructional Materials, Inc. · Software Developer / Project Manager Intern
Ottawa University · BUS 7600: Managerial Finance

Introduction

As a Software Developer and Project Manager Intern at Shurley Instructional Materials, Inc., I work on both technical tasks and project planning. My job is not only about writing code, but also about understanding project goals, timelines, and resources. During the past several weeks, learning corporate finance has helped me see how financial ideas are used in real business decisions. Topics such as cash flow analysis, capital budgeting, risk and return, diversification, and capital structure helped me understand how companies create value. This course showed me that finance is not just about numbers, but about making better decisions for long-term growth.

Practicum Experience and Course Material

In my practicum, I found that cash flow analysis and capital budgeting are very useful concepts. The Warf Computers case helped me understand that a company can be profitable but still have cash problems. Even if net income is positive, large investments can reduce available cash. This idea is very relevant to project management. In software projects, new systems or upgrades may look useful, but they need enough financial support. This case taught me to look beyond accounting profit and think more about cash availability and project sustainability.

The MBA decision case helped me understand how finance can be used for long-term planning. This case showed how education can be treated as an investment. By using net present value, I learned how to compare future benefits and current costs. This changed the way I think about career decisions. Instead of focusing only on salary or school reputation, I now think more about opportunity costs and long-term outcomes. This way of thinking can also be applied to large project decisions.

The retirement portfolio case improved my understanding of risk and diversification. Before this case, I mostly focused on returns. However, learning about risk-adjusted return and the Sharpe ratio helped me see that higher returns usually come with higher risk. In my practicum, project decisions also involve similar trade-offs. Some features may bring high value but also have higher technical risk. Others are safer but offer smaller benefits. Understanding diversification helps me make more balanced decisions.

The capital structure case had a strong influence on how I view financial decisions. Financial theory suggests that using debt can increase firm value because of tax benefits. However, this case also showed that managers’ experiences and risk preferences matter. Financial decisions are not always purely based on formulas. As a project manager, I also need to balance data analysis with team concerns and leadership opinions. This case helped me understand that good decisions require both financial knowledge and judgment.

Overall, studying corporate finance has improved my analytical thinking. I now think more carefully about costs, risks, and long-term value when reviewing project ideas. I feel more confident discussing financial topics with managers and understanding how technical projects support overall business goals.

Future Learning and Personal Goals

In the future, I want to continue learning more about financial modeling and risk analysis. While I understand basic concepts such as NPV and capital structure, I want to learn how to build more detailed financial models. I am also interested in learning more about how uncertainty affects decision-making.

In my career, I plan to use financial analysis more often in project planning. For example, I want to estimate project costs, expected benefits, and risks before making recommendations. Connecting technical work with financial performance will help me become a better project manager. This practicum experience helped me move beyond only focusing on technical problems and toward understanding how financial thinking supports long-term business success.