ACCTG 321 : Strategic Management Accounting

Business and Economics

2020 Semester One (1203) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

A study of the design of revenue and cost management systems to facilitate strategic decisions. This includes activity-based costing and activity-based management. The learning environment is student-centred with the seminar leader's role being that of facilitator rather than lecturer. Students work not only as individuals but also in teams. The learning environment is a combination of lectures, case studies and related readings.

Course Overview

The aim of this course is to provide an understanding of the importance of management accounting systems in supporting organisational efforts to survive and prosper in today's competitive environment. Management accounting systems have an important role to play in the successful formulation and implementation of competitive strategy. An organization’s success in developing, implementing and managing its strategic objectives depends on its ability to foster appropriate strategies then monitor, evaluate and manage their implementation.

This paper is primarily organised around seminars, during which students participate in group presentations and discussions of the use of management accounting systems in case studies. It therefore requires reading of multiple case studies and related materials to identify key concepts and application of those concepts to the case studies. The course has a strong emphasis on student self-learning. In meeting the learning objectives students will acquire knowledge and skills that are valuable in the work environment.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: ACCTG 221 or 291

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Commerce

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Prepare and interpret management accounting information to support the implementation and evaluation of an organization's strategic objectives. (Capability 1)
  2. Apply a structured approach to analyse complex, case-based accounting problems. (Capability 2 and 3)
  3. Communicate accounting analyses and justified recommendations in verbal and written forms. (Capability 4.1 and 4.2)
  4. Work collaboratively to debate case problems and synthesise solutions. (Capability 4.3)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Assignments 15% Individual Coursework
Presentation 15% Group Coursework
Seminar preparation 15% Individual Coursework
Final Exam 55% Individual Examination
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4
Assignments
Presentation
Seminar preparation
Final Exam

Workload Expectations

Following University workload guidelines, a standard 15 point course represents approximately 150 hours of study.

During a typical teaching week there will be 1 hour of lectures and 2 hours of seminars. You will be expected to spend 3 hours preparing the case study for the week, which includes background reading, reading and annotating the case, attempting calculations and recommendations, and submitting your work. For the 12 teaching weeks, this totals to 72 hours. Since the course as a whole represents approximately 150 hours of study, that leaves a total of 78 hours across the entire semester for independent study, e.g. reading, reflection, preparing for assessments/exams, etc.

Learning Resources

Every student must purchase their own copy of the case studies to comply with copyright laws. Case studies are available via the Case Centre. Details about this will be announced in Week 1 of the course.

Learning resources comprise the readings provided, case studies, class discussions, the University library, fellow students, previous and concurrent courses, and teaching staff. Selected readings will be made available on Canvas.

Other Information

There is a strong emphasis on reading and interpreting case studies in this course. Success in assessments and the final exam requires students to have and in-depth knowledge of all the case materials.

Digital Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

There is a compulsory digital case pack that all students must purchase to comply with copyright requirements. Details will be provided in Week 1 of the course. Students who do not purchase this case pack will not be awarded coursework marks.

Note lectures (1 hour class) will be recorded, but seminars (2 hour class) will not be recorded.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website at http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page: https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

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Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter (https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html).

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Published on 17/12/2019 10:43 a.m.