the allocation of scarce resources to identified possible strategies among competing opportunities and taking necessary actions to monitor the progress of the chosen opportunity so as to achieve set objectives. Introduction Strategic Financial Management is the identification of the possible strategies capable of maximizing an organization’s net present value; the allocation of scarce capital resources
between competing opportunities; and
the implementation and monitoring of the chosen strategy so as to achieve stated objectives. Strategy and Strategic Strategy - This is the process of planning something or carrying out a plan in a skillful way. Strategic – this is done as part of a plan that is meant to achieve a particular purpose. Strategic Financial Management – those aspects of the overall strategic plan of an organization that concern the financial managers. The Scope of Strategic Financial Management Decisions regarding investments in the assets of the company: The most appropriate level and mix of the assets. (acquisition of assets) Decisions regarding how such investment should be financed: the optimum level and mix of funding requirements for the assets. (cost of asset acquisition) The Scope of Strategic Financial Management These two main decision will focus on providing answers to the following questions: Should a new factory be built for the purpose of producing (and selling ) a new product or should a company already involved in the production of such a product be acquired? Should an organization make a particular component in-house or should it buy it from outside? In financing the investments, should the company rely solely on funds from owners or should it mix these funds with those from lenders? The Scope of Strategic Financial Management These two main decision will focus on providing answers to the following questions: Ifa mix of funds is the option taken, what proportion of each source should be used? How should the funds be made available and at what cost? Should dividends be paid now or should earnings be re-invested and dividends paid later? The Scope of Strategic Financial Management These two main decision will focus on providing answers to the following questions: Ifthe organization decides to pay dividend, what proportion of the available earnings should be paid and what proportion should be retained for future expansion and growth? Should the organization be paying a fixed Peso amount or a fixed percentage of earnings every year? What should be the appropriate level of stocks to hold at any point in time? The Scope of Strategic Financial Management These two main decision will focus on providing answers to the following questions: Should the company extend credit to customers and how much should be given to each customer? Should the company take advantage of cash discount if offered by suppliers? Which type of banks’ facility arrangement should be put in place – term loan, overdraft or both? Implication of the word “strategic” in Strategic Financial Management The word “strategic”, to financial management, means that decisions to accept or reject proposals have to be based on strategic or LONG-TERM factors. Other related activities in which financial managers are involved
Financial managers match each aspect of
the business plan with the financial resources available and ensure that each plan, in financial terms, falls within the total funds available. A production plan, for instance, must not only be perfect with the overall strategic plan but must also be financially feasible. Other related activities in which financial managers are involved
Financial managers, along with other
managers, are involved in monitoring and controlling the activities of the organization. Actual resources used are compared with planned resources, deviations are highlighted, and appropriate corrective actions are taken in each case. Other related activities in which financial managers are involved
Financial managers concern themselves
with the events in the legal, political, and socio-economic environment, since it may affect the organization’s cash flow. STEPS IN STRATEGIC FINANCIAL DECISION-MAKING 1. Determine the objectives of the organization 2. Identify all possible courses of action 3. Collect, collate and record data in respect of each alternative course of action 4. Analyze, summarize and present data in a form suitable for decision making. 5. Arrive at a decision, taking into account quantitative, non-quantitative, social, cultural, normative psychological factors etc. STEPS IN STRATEGIC FINANCIAL DECISION-MAKING 6. Execute the decision, through pragmatic and coordinated action, to actualize the plan. 7. Highlight the differences between planned/ target results and actual results. 8. Take necessary corrective action(s) that will improve performance or lead to the adjustment of the original plan. AXIOMS OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT Axiom 1: The risk-return trade-off
We won’t take additional risk unless we
expect to be compensated with additional return. Almost all financial decisions involve some sort of risk-return trade off. Axiom 2: The time value of money
A PESO received today is worth more
than a PESO received in the future. Axiom 3: Cash, Not Profit, is King
In measuring value, we will use cash flows
rather than accounting profits because it is only cash flows that the firm receives and is able to reinvest. Axiom 4: Incremental cash flows
It is only what changes that counts. In
making business decisions, we will only concern ourselves with what happens as a result of that decision. Axiom 5: The Curse of Competitive Markets Why it is hard to find exceptionally profitable projects? In competitive markets, extremely large profits
cannot exist for very long because of
competition moving in to exploit those large profits. As a result, profitable projects can only be found if the market is made less competitive, either through product differentiation or by achieving a cost advantage. Axiom 6: Efficient capital markets
The markets are quick and the prices are
right. Axiom 7: The agency problem
Managers won’t work for the owners
unless it is in their best interest. The agency problem is a result of the separation between the decision makers and the owners of the firm. As a result, managers may make decisions that are not in line with the goal of maximization of shareholder wealth. Axiom 8: Taxes affect business decisions When we evaluate new investment/business proposals, we will see income taxes playing a significant role. When the company is analyzing the possible acquisition of a plant or equipment, the returns from the investment should be measured on an after-tax basis. Otherwise, the company will not truly be evaluating the real value of cash flows generated by the new business / investment. Axiom 9: All risks are not equal
All risks are not equal since some risks can
be diversified away and some cannot. The process of diversification can reduce
risk, and as a result, measuring a project’s
or an asset’s risk is very difficult. Axiom 10: Ethical dilemmas are everywhere in Finance Ethical behavior is important in financial management, just as it is important in everything we do. Unfortunately, precisely how we define what is and what is not ethical behavior is sometimes difficult. Nevertheless, we should not give up the quest.