Use of accounting data in the managerial decision-making process and in the analysis and control of business operations. Prerequisite: Acc 501 or equivalent and CSC 503.

Educational or learning objectives

1) Advance the capacity to develop and communicate independent judgments.

2) Abstract business principles from a variety of accounting and business information.

3) Discriminate among conflicting accounting data and synthesize large amounts of data generated by an accounting system.

4) Summarize the cost and benefits of contemporary managerial accounting techniques.

5) Present and explain the evolving role of the finance function.

1) Comprehensive performance measures

2) Knowledge management

3) Reporting the cost of quality and the cost of capacity

4) Effective benchmarking

5) Process analysis

6) Implementing activity based costing and management tools

7) Understanding the role of financial accounting versus managerial accounting

8) Contrasting the decision-making process in large versus small businesses

9) Ratio analysis, breakeven analysis, contribution margin analysis, budgeting, standard costing

Current Textbook

Students will assess and discuss a variety of readings from contemporary accounting journals. No specific text is required, although you may find it useful to have access to a contemporary managerial accounting text. You will need to have internet access to retrieve some of the readings.

Evaluation

This course incorporates the influence of the globalization on US businesses, along with the general impact of technology on the generation of information and its dissemination. A significant proportion of your evaluation will require both written and oral communication skills. The course does address the creation of traditional accounting information, but only a moderate amount of quantitative skills are required.

The course requires students to think critically regarding the usefulness and applicability of various contemporary managerial accounting information. This may be particularly challenging for individuals with little or no exposure to real business environments.

To the extent possible, students will be asked, and the instructor will make every attempt, to tie the subject matter to areas of individual interest. This will necessitate a dynamic classroom environment that can readily adapt to different circumstances and interests.

One team project will be assigned. It will involve producing a video which involves the 1998 Student Case Competition conducted by the Institute of Management Accounting.

Students will write a paper which critically evaluates an issue that is selected and agreed upon by both student and instructor.

The two exams will be in the form of take-home exams. The questions will require students use the assigned material to analytically evaluate the concepts discussed in class.

Activities:

1. Regular participation in class discussion.

2. Outside reading in magazines and journals of interest, and assigned readings, along with being prepared to discuss them.

3. Two exams - midterm and final

4. Paper on a managerial accounting issue.

5. Presentation of Video.

The requirements of this syllabus are tentative and subject to change at the discretion of the instructor.