• What are the three measurements of financial return and why is each measurement required to properly evaluate a business venture or a product investment?

• What are the major sources and uses of cash and why is it important to distinguish between profitability and “free” cash flow?

• Why is profitability “necessary” to maximize financial success and shareholder value but not “sufficient”?

• Why is “cash flow” income or “free” cash flow the “necessary and sufficient” measurement of financial return?

• What is the financial "common denominator" that factors in profits, investments and free cash flow and how do you calculate it?

• Why shouldn't break-even analysis be used as a return on investment (ROI) analysis technique?

• Why are return on equity (ROE) and return on assets (ROA) “accounting” measurements of return on investment (ROI) and not the “real” measurements of ROI?

• What are the various techniques used to measure return on investment (ROI), which one is the “proper” technique and what are the measurement criteria?

• What is the difference between the net present value (NPV) and the internal rate of return (IRR) of a business venture or a product investment and is the IRR a valid return on investment (ROI) analysis technique?

• What is the difference in the ROI calculation for a business and a product that is part of the business?

• What is reverse planning and is it a useful and effective technique for managing the financial and quantitative assumptions that are pervasive in new product development programs and business ventures?

• How does each of the three major financial statements differ in respect to timing and measurement of the financial aspects of a business?

• How do the three major financial statements relate to one another and how do you analyze a business using its financial statements?

• What are the working capital accounts, how do they differ from net working capital and why are they important in respect to managing the cash requirements of a business?

• What are the differences between cost of sales, direct costs, indirect costs, manufacturing overhead, variable costs, fixed costs, gross margin, etc.?

• What does it mean to capitalize an asset and why are software development expenses typically capitalized?

• How do you calculate the cost of individual financing methods and the weighted average cost of capital (WACC)?

• Normally, why is common stock the most expensive method to finance a business and why do companies dislike issuing preferred stock?

• Why does cash invested in new or existing products, marketing and sales programs, manufacturing automation equipment, information technology software and systems, etc., have to earn a return considerably greater than the weighted average cost of capital (WACC)?

• Besides increasing cost in what ways does the WACC impact the type and number of investment opportunities, for example, new product investments that a business can undertake?

• Why do companies have four different measurements of financial value?

• Why does maximizing the creation of shareholder value maximize the return to all the stakeholders, for example, stockholders, customers, employees, etc.?

• What are the components of shareholder value creation and how do they relate to one another?

• What are value based management techniques and how can they help to maximize the return to shareholders?

• How do you calculate the minimum amount of profits and “free” cash flow required to provide a sufficient return to stockholders?

• What is the difference between common stock, preferred stock, treasury stock, bonds, debentures, warrants, etc.?

• What are the preferred methods of financing a business and when is a business financially self-sufficient?