ACCO 1095, Management Accounting: ACTIVITY BASED COSTING
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acco_1095_management_accounting.pdf
BUSINESS SCHOOL
Course Study Guide
2012–13
Management Accounting
ACCO 1095
ACCO 1095, Management Accounting 2012-13 2
Contents
1. WELCOME .................................................................................................................... 3
2. INTRODUCTION TO THE COURSE ................................................................................... 4
2.1 AIMS ....................................................................................................................................4
2.2 LEARNING OUTCOMES .............................................................................................................4
2.3 LEARNING AND TEACHING ACTIVITIES ..........................................................................................5
3. CONTACT DETAILS ........................................................................................................ 6
4. COURSE CONTENT AND DESIGN .................................................................................... 7
4.1 SESSION PLAN ........................................................................................................................7
4.2 SESSION REQUIRED READING ..................................................................................................12
5. ASSESSMENT DETAILS ................................................................................................ 13
5.1 SUMMARY OF ASSESSMENT ....................................................................................................13
5.2 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ASSESSMENT ................................................................................13
Essay: ...................................................................................................................................13
Excel:……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 14
Exam:………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 15
6. OTHER DETAILS .......................................................................................................... 16
ACCO 1095, Management Accounting 2012-13 3
1. Welcome
Welcome to study at the University of Greenwich Business School and a particular welcome to the course Management Accounting (ACCO 1095). This course is designed to develop core skills in both the subject area and in general undergraduate level academic areas and although we do expect you to work hard, you should be more than rewarded by added employability that comes from being skilled in this area. As its name implies, this course is designed to introduce you to the decision making element of accounting by analysing and practicing some of techniques available within management accounting. Much of what you learn in this course should integrate with the other courses on the programme. For example, there are large overlaps of shared knowledge between financial and management accounting and in addition as you proceed through your degree you will build upon the skills you acquire in this course within future courses, in particular Current Issues in Management Accounting. As you study this course make sure you look for these linkages and try to integrate your understandings. This document outlines the course’s main features and provides you with the key information
you need during the course but if you have any queries about the running of this course
please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Karen Brickman
Email [email protected]
ACCO 1095, Management Accounting 2012-13 4
2. Introduction to the Course
Management accounting “Management accounting combines accounting, finance and management with leading edge
techniques needed to drive successful businesses. It combines technical skills with business
and management skills.” (Weetman, 2010: 2). This course provides opportunities for students
to select and apply their learning to specific contexts relevant to some of the topical business
problems discussed on a daily basis within the news.
2.1 Aims
This course develops the costing techniques introduced at Level 1. It aims to allow students to
understand how a wider range of accounting techniques may be used by management for the
purposes of planning, control and decision making. This course will improve the students
understanding of management accounting in an organisational setting. Therefore, students
will not only be asked to demonstrate their ability to answer numeric questions but will also
be asked to explain their solutions and methods. This course aims to bring management
accounting techniques into a practical setting by requiring students to translate management
accounting problems into Excel based models.
2.2 Learning Outcomes
2.2.1 Knowledge and understanding of:
The context within which Management Accounting is used for planning and control purposes. Appreciate how budgets and variances are used to control and measure performance. Understand the use of various costing systems and techniques. Understand how to use cost information for decision making and risk measurement purposes. Understand and apply techniques used to appraise Capital Investment projects.
2.2.2 Intellectual Skills:
Appreciate the shortcomings of and alternatives to using financial performance measures.
2.2.3 Subject practical skills: Prepare budgets based on varying levels of activity. Measure and analyse performance using appropriate variances. Prepare cost estimates using appropriate assumptions. Evaluate both short and long-term decisions using cost information. Prepare decision making exercises on Excel.
2.2.4 Transferable skills:
ACCO 1095, Management Accounting 2012-13 5
Appreciate the impact on management information of using different costing systems and techniques. Incorporate considerations of risk and uncertainty into decision recommendations. Students will be able to work through problems and appreciate the role of Excel in managing accounting information. In addition students will be able to present in writing the application of a specific area of Management Accounting within the context of published work. Prepare budgets based on varying levels of activity. Measure and analyse performance using appropriate variances. Prepare cost estimates using appropriate assumptions. Evaluate both short and long-term decisions using cost information. Prepare decision making exercises on Excel.
2.3 Learning and teaching activities
The course will use formal lectures to introduce students to the basic areas of knowledge and
to demonstrate techniques. Intellectual Skills: Seminars will be mainly used for students to
discuss and interpret the management information generated. Subject Practical Skills: Lab
tutorials will be used to encourage students to use Excel to help develop their practical skills.
Transferable Skills Seminars will focus on developing discussion and will also include sessions
for student presentations.
ACCO 1095, Management Accounting 2012-13 6
3. Contact Details
Room Email address Phone number
Course Leader:
Karen Brickman
QM229 [email protected] 0208 3317678
Tutors
Liz Warren QA255 [email protected] 0208 3319067
Dr Gerhard Kristandl QA255 [email protected] 0208 3318039
Kevin Williams QA255 [email protected] TBA
Programme Coordinator:
Elvina Moonien
QA255
[email protected] 0208 331 9276
Please note that email is the most efficient way to contact your tutor and course leader.
Please see your programme handbook for more detail.
ACCO 1095, Management Accounting 2012-13 7
4. Course Content and Design
4.1 Session Plan
Week beginning
Wk Session Title and Description Reading to complete
21/09/12 1 N/A New arrival week (induction)
28/09/12 2 Lecture Introduction - Traditional costing and
Activity Based Costing (ABC)
Chapter 11
Seminars Course requirements and coursework
discussion
Course handbook
05/10/12 3 Lecture Customer profitability
Chapter 10
Seminars Traditional costing and Activity Based
Costing (ABC)
Chapter 11
12/10/12 4 Lecture Theory of constraints
Chapter 9
Seminars Customer profitability
Chapter 10
19/10/12 5 Lecture JIT, Throughput Accounting and Back-flush
accounting
Chapters 4 and 21
Seminars Theory of constraints
Chapter 9
26/10/12 6 Lecture Accounting issues in pricing
Chapter 10
Seminars JIT, Throughput Accounting and Back-flush
accounting
Chapters 4 and 21
02/11/12 7 Lecture Budgeting 1
Chapter 15 and
16
Seminars Accounting issues in pricing Chapter 10
ACCO 1095, Management Accounting 2012-13 8
09/11/12 8 Lecture Budgeting 2
Chapter 15 and
16
Seminars Budgeting 1
Chapter 15 and
16
16/11/12 9 Lecture Process costing
Chapter 5
Seminars Budgeting 2
Chapter 15 and
16
23/11/12 10 Lecture Cost estimation techniques
Chapter 23
Seminars Process costing
Chapter 5
30/11/12 11 Lecture Financial reports to managers and
Management accounting essays
Academic
journals
Seminars Cost estimation techniques
Chapter 23
07/12/12 12 Lecture **
Seminars **
14/12/12 13 Lecture **
Seminars **
ACCO 1095, Management Accounting 2012-13 9
21/12/12 14 Lecture **
Seminars **
24/12/12- 13/01/13
15- 17
Christmas Break
18/01/13 18 Lecture Introduction to capital budgeting
Chapters 12, 13
and 14
Seminars Research essay - help
25/01/13 19 Lecture Research essay – hand in 25th January, NO
attendance required.
Seminars Research essay – hand in 25th January, NO
attendance required.
01/02/13 20 Lecture Life cycle costing
Chapter 21
Seminars Introduction to capital budgeting
Chapters 12, 13
and 14
08/02/13 21 Lecture Principles of environmental costing Chapter 21
Seminars Life cycle costing
Chapter 21
15/02/13 22 Lecture Advance variance analysis (1)
Chapter 17
Seminars Principles of environmental costing Chapter 21
22/02/13 23 Lecture Advance variance analysis (2) Chapter 18
ACCO 1095, Management Accounting 2012-13 10
Seminars Advance variance analysis (1)
Chapter 17
01/03/13 24 Lecture Risk and uncertainty (1)
Chapter 12
Seminars Advance variance analysis (2)
Chapter 18
08/03/13 25 Lecture Risk and uncertainty (2)
Chapter 12
Seminars Risk and uncertainty (1)
Chapter 12
15/03/13 26 Lecture Decision making (1)
Chapters 8 and 9
Seminars Risk and uncertainty (2)
Chapter 12
22/03/13 27 Lecture Decision making (2) – revision pack to be
handed out in the lecture.
Chapters 8 and 9
Seminars Decision making (1)
Chapters 8 and 9
25/03/13- 14/04/13
28- 30
Easter Break
19/04/13 31 Lecture Revision (1)
Revision pack
Seminars Decision making (2) Chapters 8 and 9
26/04/13 32 Lecture Revision (2)
Seminars Revision (1)
Revision pack
03/05/13 33 Lecture Drop in sessions
Seminars Revision (2) Revision pack
10/05/13 34 Drop in sessions
13/05/13- 31/05/13
35- 37
Exam Period
** these session will be replaced earlier in the term with excel lab sessions, three times 2hour sessions. You will be required to sign up for these sessions on moodle.
ACCO 1095, Management Accounting 2012-13 11
Award Ceremonies 6-18 July Resit Exam Period 19 August 2013 – 30 August 2013 Resit Coursework due 14 August 2013
ACCO 1095, Management Accounting 2012-13 12
4.2 Session Required Reading
Weeks required for completion:
Reference
30 Drury, C. (2012) Management and Cost accounting. 8th Edition. Cengage
Learning EMEA.
It is vital for this unit that you are able to understand the techniques we
cover in a real world setting, therefore not only are you encouraged to read
good quality newspapers but also to examine the case studies provided in
this text book.
ACCO 1095, Management Accounting 2012-13 13
5. Assessment Details
5.1 Summary of assessment
Assessment Title Weight towards final grade
Length Due Date Anticipated Return Date
Header Sheet number
Essay 30% 2,000 25.01.13 at 3PM
15.02.13
Portfolio Excel 15% Various ** TBA
Examination 55% 3 Hours May 2013 TBA
** The date of this assessment will be determined on which group you select on Moodle.
5.2 Detailed description of assessment
Essay:
You are required to write an extended essay of no longer than 2,000 words on the following:
1) “ABC is still relevant for companies in all geographical locations – critically discuss” Hints: Students should analyse the academic journals, professional (CIMA & ACCA)
literature and other sources such as the economist and good quality newspapers to support your discussion.
Students should NOT: simply as assume the title of this essay is a fact, it is NOT, this is
a statement. The critical analysis is KEY to this essay.
You must use the following article within your work as well as others which you have
found throughout your own research, failure to do so will severely reduce your grade.
We expect a minimum of five academic journal( CIMA & ACCA literature do not count
as academic journals) articles to be used plus other sources mentioned above, the
other articles should not be simply ones you have taken from this article:
Stratton, W., Desroches, D., Lawson, R. & Hatch, T. (2009) Activity-Based Costing: Is it still
relevant? Management Accounting Quarterly. Spring, pp31-40
Note – you are required to find four research studies which have examined companies
within four different countries, use should try and find countries which are different in
terms of culture. China, America, Tunisia and Portugal would be considered as having very
different cultures, please note this is just an example.
This article must be cited in your essay and referenced in your bibliography.
ACCO 1095, Management Accounting 2012-13 14
You should use the library search tool to find this journal. This is located on the students’ portal
under ‘IT and library’. The university has full access to this article you do NOT have to pay for
it.
Important points
The essay should be properly referenced throughout using the Harvard style and have the list
of references cited in the essay presented at the end of the assignment in the form of a
bibliography. Students MUST use academic sources for their research. Failing to reference
your work will result in a plagiarism enquiry.
1. This is an individual coursework - any collaboration beyond, perhaps, sharing information on relevant material is entirely unacceptable. This will also result in a plagiarism enquiry.
2. Sources such as Wikipedia are not acceptable as valid research sites.
Using Jisc
Your work will go through the jisc system when you submit your work on moodle. Please
submit your work prior to the deadline so you have an opportunity to see the jisc report and
amend where needed. If you are unsure contact your course leader.
Problems submitting via moodle?
You should contact the business school office and your course leader, please note the
deadline is 3pm.
Please remember that any submission after the deadline is automatically considered as a 0%
unless you have extenuating circumstances.
Checklist for submission:
The following should all be in ONE PDF file – more than one file will not be accepted.
A. Header sheet
B. Essay
Excel: You will be required to complete a time constrained, in class test.
ACCO 1095, Management Accounting 2012-13 15
Exam: In term 3 you will be expected to complete an exam worth 55% of you course grade. It will be a closed book exam and the duration of the exam will be three hours.
If you would like to be more familiar with the layout of the exam, past exams are available on
the Moodle site for this course.
Marking Criteria for Essay
Marking Criteria Marks allocated to criteria:
Focus Does the essay set up a clear essay question to address? Does the essay stay within and fulfil the topic parameters?
10
Synthesis Does the essay bring together the literature in a significant manner that addresses an essay question?
30
Soundness Does the essay indicate a comprehensive understanding of the topic area and literature discussed?
40
Clarity of structure Is the essay well organised and logically constructed to achieve synthesis while being mindful of the needs of the reader?
10
Mechanical Soundness Is the essay clearly written, spell checked and grammatically sound and referenced appropriately?
10
ACCO 1095, Management Accounting 2012-13 16
6. Other Details
The majority of information relevant to you while you study at the University has been
brought together into your programme handbook. Please refer to your programme handbook
for any further information you might require including:
How to submit assignments,
Deadlines and extenuating circumstances,
Plagiarism and referencing,
Who to go to for advice or if you are concerned,
How to provide us with feedback,
Key administrative procedures.
