ACCTING 3503 - Strategic Management Accounting

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2021

This course builds on material covered in Management Accounting (ACCTING 2500) and examines many of the current issues in management accounting. One of the primary objectives of this course is to develop students? analytical and problem-solving skills by using several case studies. It is assumed in this course that students have an appreciation and good understanding of the basic cost accounting concepts and techniques. Since the early 1990s, management accounting has been in the process of continual change. While some firms still use traditional methods of management accounting such as costing, performance measurement and cost analysis, an increasing number of firms are using innovative management accounting techniques such as activity-based costing, strategically oriented performance measurement systems and strategic cost analysis. This course deals with many of the present-day management accounting techniques. Moreover, it also considers the skills and competencies that management accountants should develop in order to take advantage of the many opportunities offered by the new management accounting techniques.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code ACCTING 3503
    Course Strategic Management Accounting
    Coordinating Unit Accounting
    Term Semester 2
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 3 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Prerequisites ACCTING 2500
    Course Description This course builds on material covered in Management Accounting (ACCTING 2500) and examines many of the current issues in management accounting. One of the primary objectives of this course is to develop students? analytical and problem-solving skills by using several case studies. It is assumed in this course that students have an appreciation and good understanding of the basic cost accounting concepts and techniques.

    Since the early 1990s, management accounting has been in the process of continual change. While some firms still use traditional methods of management accounting such as costing, performance measurement and cost analysis, an increasing number of firms are using innovative management accounting techniques such as activity-based costing, strategically oriented performance measurement systems and strategic cost analysis.

    This course deals with many of the present-day management accounting techniques. Moreover, it also considers the skills and competencies that management accountants should develop in order to take advantage of the many opportunities offered by the new management accounting techniques.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Sabiha Shaikh

    Lecturer in charge: Sabiha Shaikh
    Email: sabiha.shaikh@adelaide.edu.au


    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes

    On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

    1. Explain how management accounting information is used in strategic decision making.

    2. Illustrate the process of strategy formulation, communication, implementation and control within an organisation.

    3. Explain how to integrate conventional and contemporary management accounting techniques into a strategic management accounting framework.

    4. Solve practical and applied problems by using research papers and case study analysis.
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)
    Deep discipline knowledge
    • informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies
    • acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1
    • accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)
    1,2,3,4
    Critical thinking and problem solving
    • steeped in research methods and rigor
    • based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development
    • demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment
    3,4
    Teamwork and communication skills
    • developed from, with, and via the SGDE
    • honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies
    • encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning
    1,2,3,4
    Career and leadership readiness
    • technology savvy
    • professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
    • forward thinking and well informed
    • tested and validated by work based experiences
    1,2,3,4
    Intercultural and ethical competency
    • adept at operating in other cultures
    • comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts
    • able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes
    • demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges
    1,4
    Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
    • a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal
    • open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers
    • able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate
    4
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    Textbook

    Merchant K. A., Van der Stede W. A, 2017 Management Control Systems – performance measurement, evaluation and incentives, 4th edition, Pearson.

    This book can be purchased as either e-version or hard copy at:

    https://www.pearson.com.au/9781292110554






    Recommended Resources


  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    The University expects full-time students (i.e. those taking 12 units per semester) to allocate a total of at least 48 hours per week to their studies. Students in this course are expected to be present at all seminars each week throughout the semester.

    This course is taught through a dual mode.
    Face to Face and online class options are available for Offshore / Interstate students in this course. Refer to Course Planner and the location of each activity to identify online and face to face classes.· Lectures – will ALL BE ONLINE. They will become avialbe to students each week through the Echo360 module on MyUni. Lectures are designed to provide an outline of various concepts that are useful in applying in real-world problems.·

    Tutorials – Are designed to give opportunity for  reflection on and the application of materials covered in lectures and to
    discuss issues relating to course matter. Please check your student email and MyUni as course-related announcements are communicated via email.Consultation hours of the tutors will be advised on MyUni Course
    homepage.

    The Lecturer and Teaching Assistant are available for student consultation. We will notify students of the appropriate consultation times in due course. Moreover, please check your student email as course-related announcements are normally communicated via email.
    Workload

    No information currently available.

    Learning Activities Summary
    Lecture schedule
    Week Topic Reading
    Week 1 The Control Function Chapter 1
    Week 2 Control Alternatives
    Results, Action, Personal, and Cultural Controls
    Chapter 2 & 3
    Week 3 Control Effects
    Control Tightness and Costs
    Chap 4 & 5
    Week 4 Design and Evaluation of Control Systems Chapter 6
    Week 5 Responsibility Centres Chapter 7
    Week 6 Mid-semester test
    Week 7 Planning, Budgeting and Incentives Chapter 8 & 9
    Week 8 Financial performance measures, Myopic Problems Chapter 10 & 11
    Mid-semester break
    Week 9 Uncontrollable Factors Chapter 12
    Week 10 Corporate Governance and Auditors Chapter 13 & 14
    Week 11 Ethical Issues Chapter 15
    Week 12 Control for Not For Profit Orgs Chapter 16
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Assessment Task Task Type Due Weighting Learning Outcome
    Mid Semester test (online) Individual Week 6* 10% 2 & 3
    Individual Assignment (online submission) Individual Week 10* 15% 1 & 2
    Class participation Individual Every week  5% 3 & 4
    Final exam  Individual 70% 1, 3 & 4
    * Specific time and other details will be informed at MyUni.
    Assessment Detail
    Mid-semester test
    There will be a mid-semester test during week 6. The test may include short questions.

    Individual Assignment
    The individual assignment needs to be submitted at the MyUni course homepage. Detail of the assignment will be informed at the MyUni course homepage.

    Tutorial marks
    Tutorial marks will be based on students’ preparation and participation during tutorial classes.

    Final exam
    This will be a two-hour exam. All lectures, tutorials and readings (relevant textbook chapters) are examinable.

    In order to pass the course, students must achieve an overall mark of 50%
    Submission

    No information currently available.

    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
  • Fraud Awareness

    Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.