Course outline Code: ACC610 Title: Strategic Management Accounting Faculty of Arts and Business School of Business Teaching Session: Semester 1 Year: 2016 Course Coordinator: Dr Monte Wynder Office: K2.08 Telephone: +61 7 5430 1263 Email: mwynder@usc.edu.au Consultation Times: As advised on 1. What is this course about? 1.1 Course description In Strategic Management Accounting you will learn to use a range of analytic tools for costing, decisionmaking, planning and control and consider their applicability within the context of strategic management. You will work in a team to use a computer spreadsheet application (MS Excel) to provide quantitative data to support strategic decision making. 1.2 Course content The role of accounting information in management decision making Workflow and Process Analysis Project management and cross-functional teams Measuring and reporting sustainability An introduction to cost terms and inventory costing Product and service costing Determining how costs behave Activity-based costing and activity-based management Pricing decisions and customer-profitability analysis Flexible budgets, direct-cost variances and management control Strategy, balanced scorecard and strategic profitability analysis Making presentations 2. Unit value 12 units
Page 2 3. How does this course contribute to my learning? Specific Learning Outcomes Assessment Tasks Qualities On successful completion of this course you should be able to: Prepare and analyse complex management accounting data. Utilise management accounting data to convincingly communicate strategic initiatives. Incorporate social and environmental objectives into management accounting analyses. You will be assessed on the learning outcome in task/s: 1, 2 and 3 Knowledgeable. Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming: 1, 2 and 3 Creative and critical thinkers. 1 and 2 Sustainability-focussed. 4. Am I eligible to enrol in this course? Refer to the Coursework Programs and Awards - Academic Policy for definitions of pre-requisites, corequisites and anti-requisites 4.1 Enrolment restrictions Must be enrolled in a postgraduate program 4.2 Pre-requisites Nil 4.3 Co-requisites Nil 4.4 Anti-requisites Nil 4.5 Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills A basic awareness of the features and functions of Microsoft Excel 5. How am I going to be assessed? 5.1 Grading scale Standard High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL)
Page 3 5.2 Assessment tasks Task Assessment No. Tasks 1 Mid-semester examination 2a Excel spreadsheet Budget Project - Project Plan 2b Excel spreadsheet Budget Project - Spreadsheet 2c Excel spreadsheet Budget Project - Presentation 3 Final examination Individual or Group Weighting % What is the duration / length? When should I submit? Where should I submit it? Individual 20% 1 hour Week 5 In lecture Group 6% N/A Week 5, Friday, 5pm AEST Group 15% N/A Week 11, Friday, 5pm AEST Group 9% Presentations 3 minutes per individual Week 12 Individual 50% 2 hours Central examination period 100% 1 file per group online via 1 file per group online via In tutorial In exam venue Assessment Task 1: Mid-semester examination Goal: You will demonstrate your understanding of Workflow and Process Management, Project Management, and Sustainability Reporting. Product: Exam Format: This is an individual assessment. The mid-semester examination is an unseen, closed book, one-hour examination, comprising both theoretical and practical questions. The material covered in the examination will be drawn from topics 1-3. Criteria Correctly applying relevant techniques to practical questions. Discussing and analysing problems and applying appropriate theories. Generic skill assessed Skill assessment level Problem solving Developing Applying technologies Developing
Page 4 Assessment Task 2a, 2b and 2c: Excel spreadsheet budget project project plan, spreadsheet and presentation Goal: Product: Format: Criteria You will develop collaboration skills through the production of a strategic management project using Microsoft Excel. Spreadsheet budget report which includes a Project Plan, Spreadsheet and an Oral Presentation. In teams of three (3), you will plan and organise the preparation of a spreadsheet budget and memo. Details of the assignment will be made available to you in the first lecture. PART A Project plan (6 percent) The project plan should identify the major tasks involved in completing the report, the resources available (ie individuals and their strengths), assign responsibility for tasks to specific team members, and identify anticipated completion dates (to be completed using MS Project). PART B Spreadsheet (15 percent) Design a spreadsheet template to analyse the profitability of the organisation and the impact of your recommendations. PART C Presentation (9 percent) You will present your recommendations. In doing so you should draw attention to the relevant aspects of your spreadsheet model and demonstrate how it supports decision making. Each team member is to present for a maximum of three (3) minutes each. The presentations will be marked individually. Generic skill assessed Skill assessment level Collaboration Organisation Communication Assessment Task 3: Final examination Goal: You will demonstrate your competence in the analytic tools presented in this course. Product: Exam Format: The final examination is an unseen, closed book, two-hour examination, comprising both theoretical and practical questions in an extended answer format. Criteria This is an individual assessment. Generic skill assessed Skill assessment level Problem solving Applying technologies 5.3 Additional assessment requirements SafeAssign In order to minimise incidents of plagiarism and collusion, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks are submitted electronically via SafeAssign. This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work that SafeAssign has access to. If required, details of how to submit via SafeAssign will be provided on the site of the course.
Page 5 Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying: a) The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4% b) The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale c) You have not failed an assessment task in the course due to academic misconduct 5.4 Submission penalties Late submission of assessment tasks will be penalised at the following maximum rate: 5% (of the assessment task s identified value) per day for the first two days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. 10% (of the assessment task s identified value) for the third day 20% (of the assessment task s identified value) for the fourth day and subsequent days up to and including seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. A result of zero is awarded for an assessment task submitted after seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. Weekdays and weekends are included in the calculation of days late. To request an extension you must contact your course coordinator to negotiate an outcome. 6. How is the course offered? 6.1 Directed study hours On campus lecture: 2 hours per week On campus tutorial: 1 hour per week 6.2 Teaching semester/session(s) offered Semester 1 6.3 Course activities Teaching What key concepts/content will I Week / learn? Module What activities will I engage in to learn the concepts/content? Directed Study Independent Study Activities Activities 1 The role of accounting information in management decision making and Workflow and Process Analysis 2 Project management and crossfunctional teams 3 Measuring and reporting 4 Friday, 25 th March Good Friday Public Holiday sustainability An introduction to cost terms and inventory costing 5 Assessment Task 1: Mid-semester Examination Mid Semester Break Reading distributed on Reading distributed on Textbook Ch 14 Textbook Ch 2
Page 6 Assessment Task 2 (Part A): Project Plan Due 6 Product and service costing 7 Determining how costs behave 8 Monday, 25 th April Anzac Day Public Holiday 9 Monday, 2 nd May Labour Day Public Holiday Activity-based costing and activitybased management Pricing decisions and customerprofitability analysis 10 Flexible budgets, direct-cost variances and management control 11 Strategy, balanced scorecard and strategic profitability analysis Assessment Task 2 (Part B): Spreadsheet due 12 Making Presentations 13 Review and Revision Study Period Central Examination Period End of Semester Break Please note that the course activities may be subject to variation. Textbook Ch 5 Textbook Ch 3 Textbook Ch 6 Textbook Ch 9 Textbook Ch 11 Textbook Ch 15 Reading distributed on 7. What resources do I need to undertake this course? 7.1 Prescribed text(s) Please note that you need to have regular access to the resource(s) listed below: Author Year Title Publisher Horngren, C.T., Datar, S., Foster, G., Rajan, M., Ittner, C., Wynder, M., Maguire, W., and Tan, R 2014 Cost Accounting: A Managerial Emphasis 2 nd Edition Pearson: Frenchs Forest 7.2 Required and recommended readings Lists of required and recommended readings may be found for this course on its site. These materials/readings will assist you in preparing for tutorials and assignments, and will provide further information regarding particular aspects of your course. 7.3 Specific requirements You will be required to have access to a computer. Computers are provided on campus. It is your responsibility to have a calculator
Page 7 7.4 Risk management There is minimal health and safety risk in this course. It is your responsibility to familiarise yourself with the Health and Safety policies and procedures applicable within campus areas. 8. How can I obtain help with my studies? In the first instance you should contact your tutor, then the Course Coordinator. Student Life and Learning provides additional assistance to all students through Peer Advisors and Academic Skills Advisors. You can drop in or book an appointment. To book: Tel: +61 7 5430 1226 or Email: StudentLifeandLearning@usc.edu.au 9. Links to relevant University policies and procedures For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including: Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs Review of Assessment and Final Grades Supplementary Assessment Administration of Central Examinations Deferred Examinations Student Academic Misconduct Students with a Disability http://www.usc.edu.au/university/governance-and-executive/policies-and-procedures#academic-learningand-teaching 10. Faculty specific information Locating Journal Articles If you have been notified that the journal articles in this course are available on e-reserve, use the on-line library catalogue to find them. For journal articles not on e-reserve, click on the "Journals and Newspapers" link on the Library Homepage. Enter the journal title e.g. History Australia, then search for the volume and issue or keyword as needed. Assignment Cover Sheets The Faculty of Arts and Business assignment cover sheet can be found on or on the USC Portal at: Faculty of Arts and Business (Students) > Forms. It must be completed in full identifying student name, assignment topic, tutor and tutorial time. This must be attached securely to the front of each assessment item prior to submission. Claims of loss of assignments will not be considered unless supported by a receipt. Help: If you are experiencing problems with your studies or academic work, consult your tutor in the first instance or the Course Coordinator as quickly as possible. Difficulties: If you are experiencing difficulties relating to teaching and assessment you should approach your tutor in the first instance. If not satisfied after that you should approach in order your Course Coordinator, Program Coordinator then Head of School. General enquiries Student Central - Building C Tel: +61 7 5430 2890 Fax: +61 7 5430 2882 Email: Studentcentral@usc.edu.au