Units

---

Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

All firms, regardless of industry type, make use of a range of existing management accounting techniques to accumulate and track costs of their products or services. This data is used to develop both long-term and short-term plans and strategies which help firms achieve and maintain their competitive advantage. Accordingly, Accountants need to know about the costing techniques used by firms, understand cost terminology and cost allocation methods, and be able to identify and provide management with relevant information to inform their decision making.

Aims

The aim of this unit is to help students develop their knowledge, understanding and use of budgeting and costing systems and of the process involved in identifying, accumulating and analysing relevant costs for management decision making.

Objectives

Course Learning Goals (Undergraduate)

The QUT Business School has established the Assurance of Learning (AOL) Goals to meet contemporary industry needs and standards. Achieving these learning outcomes will assist you to meet the desired graduate outcomes set at QUT - aligned with other internationally renowned business schools. Students will develop the following capabilities relevant to a contemporary global and sustainable business environment:

Have knowledge and skills pertinent to a particular discipline (KS)

1.1 Integrate and apply disciplinary theory and skills to practical situations
1.2 Incorporate the use of technology appropriate to the discipline and context

Be critical thinkers and effective problem solvers (CTA)

2.1 Identify, research and critically analyse information relevant to a business problem or issue, be able to synthesise that information in order to evaluate potential solutions, make recommendations or otherwise effectively address the problem or issue

Be professional communicators in an intercultural context (PC)

3.1 Communicate effectively through written tasks appropriate to varied contexts and audiences
3.2 Communicate effectively through professional oral presentations appropriate to varied contexts and audiences

Be able to work effectively in a Team Environment (TW)

4.1 Demonstrate effective team skills in order to contribute appropriately to the production of a group output

Have a Social and Ethical Understanding (SEU)

5.1 Apply ethical reasoning, standards or codes of practice relevant to the discipline and make decisions that are informed by social and cultural understanding

Upon completion of this unit, you should be able to:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of the available management accounting systems which are widely used;
2. Prepare costing reports using different budgeting and costing systems;
3. Demonstrate an understanding of the role costing data and reports have in the management decision making process; and
4. Be able to use these data and reports for decision-making.



The specific course learning goals and unit objectives that apply to this unit are shown in the assessment section of this unit outline.

Content

The content of this unit has been selected with the specified aim and objectives in mind. The majority of the unit examines the accumulation and analysis of information prepared for the traditional needs of management and still relevant today, e.g. data for budgeting, product costing, decision-making and performance evaluation. The issues covered in management accounting are techniques practiced both in Australia and overseas.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

This unit encourages you to conceptually link the theoretical aspects of the unit with the practical aspects, which will enable you to apply your knowledge to a wide variety of accounting situations. There are three elements to the learning and teaching strategies employed in this unit:

1. lectures,
2. tutorials, and
3. additional weekly practice questions.

All three are included to enable you to fulfil the aim and objectives of the unit as discussed above.

Lectures will provide an introduction to the topics and will complement rather than substitute the textbook. Lectures will also include relatively simple worked examples to illustrate cost accounting techniques and processes. For all lectures the PowerPoint slides are available on-line prior to the lecture. The value of attending lectures is you can see problems being worked, rather than just being presented with the outcome of the process.

The basic understanding provided in lectures will be further developed through tutorials and the weekly practice questions. Fully-worked solutions to all questions will be provided on-line after the tutorial.

Tutorials commence in week 2. You are required to attempt the tutorial questions before the tutorial. The tutorials give you:
· the chance to resolve any questions;
· the opportunity to see 'how' problems are worked; and
· discuss with tutors 'why' something is done a certain way.
Attendance at tutorials is strongly recommended.

To ensure that you do not get behind in the work, you are encouraged to complete all weekly questions in the allotted week.

Proper attention to the teaching and learning strategies should enable students to meet the assessment requirements of the unit. You will be assessed on your developing knowledge, understanding and skills using a range of inter-related assessment methods.

Assessment

The assessment in this unit aims to support your achievement of the learning objectives for both Discipline Knowledge and Other Generic skills. Assessment has been designed in order to allow you to both:
- receive feedback on your learning as you progress toward the development of knowledge, understanding, skills and attitudes (formative assessment); and
- demonstrate your learning in order to achieve a final grade (summative assessment).Students will receive feedback in various forms throughout the semester which may include:

• Informal: worked examples, such as verbal feedback in class, personal consultation


• Formal: in writing, such as checklists (e.g. criteria sheets), written commentary


• Direct: to individual students, either in written form or in consultation


• Indirect: to the whole class

Assessment name: Multiple Choice Quizzes
Description: Two on-line quizzes (linked to the text book) will be held. The first quiz will be on Week 1-3, the second on Week 4-6.
Length: 30 minutes for each quiz
Formative or Summative: Summative
Relates to objectives: Objectives 1, 3 and AoL: KS (1.1), CTA (2.1)
Weight: 20%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Weeks 6 and 10


Assessment name: End of Semester Examination
Description: The final examination will consist of both practical and theoretical questions.
While the final is not an open book examination, students will be permitted to bring into the examination one white A4 double-sided page, containing any material at all (any size, handwritten or typed, any colour, any margins). Pro-formas will be provided in the examination for various items (these will be identified throughout the lecture notes and in the revision lecture).
Length: 2 hours working plus 15 minutes perusal
Formative or Summative: Summative
Relates to objectives: Objectives 1, 2, 3 and AoL: KS (1.1), CTA (2.1)
Weight: 60%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Central Exam Period


Assessment name: Report
Description: The assignment is a case study which includes material covered in five lectures in the unit. Students are required to prepare a series of management accounting reports, and also prepare a written report to management addressing specific issues
Length / Duration: Case study comprises written (no more than 1000 words) and practical elements
Formative or Summative: Both
Relates to objectives: Objective 3 and AoL: KS (1.1), CTA (2.1), PC (3.1)
Weight: 20%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 12


Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

Texts

Horngren C. T., Datar S. M., Foster G., Rajan M. V., Ittner C., Wynder M, Maguire W., Tan R. (2011) Cost Accounting A Managerial Emphasis (1st Australian Edition), Pearson Australia.

Recommended References

Horngren C. T., Datar S. M., Foster G., Rajan M. V., Ittner C, (2009) Cost Accounting A Managerial Emphasis (13th edition), Pearson Education, New Jersey.

Langfield-Smith K., Thorne H., and Hilton, R. W. (2006), Management Accounting: an Australian Perspective, 4th edition, McGraw-Hill, Sydney.
Mowen, M. M., Hansen, D. R., Mitchell G, Tibbits, G. (2006), Management Accounting, Thomson, Melbourne.

Other Resources
Additional references can also be found on Blackboard.

top

Risk assessment statement

There are no out-of-the-ordinary risks associated with lectures or tutorials in this unit. You should, however, familiarise yourself with evacuation procedures operating in the buildings in which you attend classes and take the time to view the >Emergency video.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 07-Feb-2013