Overview
This unit engages students to establish an advanced understanding of the nature and development of accounting theory and its application and regulation. It builds on the students' technical skills and their foundational knowledge of accounting practice. The topics covered include the history and development of accounting, traditional approaches to the formulation of accounting, standard setting and institutional arrangements, harmonisation of accounting standards, a range of theoretical perspectives and the links between accounting theory, research and practice.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Students must successfully complete ACCT20071 Foundations of Financial Accounting prior to enrolling in this unit. Students who have successfully completed ACCT29083 Theory of Accounting cannot enrol in this unit.
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 2 - 2018
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Postgraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback – Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Unit evaluations
Authentic assessment wanted
The final assessment will involve the application of theory to the analysis of listed company reports.
- Critically evaluate the Australian accounting and reporting regulatory environment, comparing it to regulatory environments in other countries as well as their progress in the international harmonisation project
- Work individually and as part of a team to analyse complex and current business issues through the lens of appropriately selected and applied theories
- Select and use effective project and research skills to evaluate and synthesise accounting knowledge, and communicate findings in an appropriately professional format
- Reflect on feedback from others and improve research and communication skills accordingly.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 - Online Quiz(zes) - 20% | ||||
| 2 - Group Work - 30% | ||||
| 3 - Written Assessment - 50% | ||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 - Knowledge | ||||
| 2 - Communication | ||||
| 3 - Cognitive, technical and creative skills | ||||
| 4 - Research | ||||
| 5 - Self-management | ||||
| 6 - Ethical and Professional Responsibility | ||||
| 7 - Leadership | ||||
| 8 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | ||||
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
| Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | |
| 1 - Online Quiz(zes) - 20% | ||||||||
| 2 - Group Work - 30% | ||||||||
| 3 - Written Assessment - 50% | ||||||||
Textbooks
Financial Accounting Theory
Edition: 4th (2014)
Authors: Craig Deegan
McGraw-Hill Australia
North Ryde North Ryde , NSW , Australia
ISBN: 9780071013147
Binding: Hardcover
Additional Textbook Information
Any further information about the textbook and reading will be provided in the class
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 6th Edition (APA 6th edition)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
t.lama@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
An introduction to theoretical perspective of accounting
Chapter
1
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
The regulation of financial accounting
Chapter
2 & 3
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
International experience in financial accounting
Chapter
4
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Normative theories: values and measurement
Chapter
5
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Normative theories: the conceptual framework projects
Chapter
6
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Theories of voluntary disclosure of accounting information: Positive Accounting Theory (PAT)
Chapter
7
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Theories of voluntary disclosure of accounting information: systems theories
Chapter
8
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Theories of voluntary disclosure of accounting information: accountability, social and environmental reporting
Chapter
9
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Positive theories concerning the use of, and response to accounting information
Chapter
10 & 11
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Alternative perspective of accounting: critical and post-structuralist views
Chapter
12
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Contemporary issues
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Unit review
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Online Quiz(zes)
This assessment item is an individual task. It includes two online tests of 10 marks each. Each test will consist of 20 randomly generated questions of 0.5 marks each.
Both tests will appear in Moodle on Monday of Week 6 and remain open until the due date and time provided. While the tests are available, you may undertake either test at any time of your choosing. You may undertake each test once only. Make sure you are prepared.
Once started, each test will be available for 40 minutes.
The online tests will cover the following material:
Online Test 1: Modules 1–6.
Online Test 2: Modules 7–11.
Each test will generate 20 questions from a large pool of questions covering the specified modules. That means that in any one online test, the modules may not be covered equally.
Any student who experiences technical difficulties with Moodle or network communications while trying to do these tests should email the unit coordinator immediately, and where appropriate a second attempt may be arranged.
Students must carefully note the due date and time for these tests. The online tests will disappear once this deadline has passed and will not be made available after this time. You are expected to ensure that you have undertaken the tests within the time period provided. If you are planning on doing any of these tests on the niht of closing, then be prepared for the risks of doing this. There may be many other students trying to access Moodle at the same time, Moodle may not be available, or there could be other difficulties. This will be unfortunate, but the online tests will not be opened up again. Please do not try and do your tests on the last day or night.
2
Other
Exam Week Friday (19 Oct 2018) 11:45 pm AEST
Both quizzes must be completed on or before the due date specified. There is no provision for an extension for this assessment.
Exam Week Friday (19 Oct 2018)
The result of these online quizzes will be made available as soon as the quiz is submitted.
Each question is worth 0.5% of the overall unit assessment. Each question is multiple choice, with only one correct (or most correct) answer.
- Critically evaluate the Australian accounting and reporting regulatory environment, comparing it to regulatory environments in other countries as well as their progress in the international harmonisation project
- Work individually and as part of a team to analyse complex and current business issues through the lens of appropriately selected and applied theories
- Knowledge
2 Group Work
The objective of this assignment is to assist students to learn and develop a range of skills such as researching, reviewing literature, critical analysis, evaluation and communication in a team work environment. The assignment must be completed in a group consisting of no more than 4 members. On-Campus students must form group within first 3 weeks of the term which must be within the same class. Distance students will liaise with the unit coordinator to help find a group. An online discussion and collaboration space for distance students will be provided in Moodle in Week 1. This will enable distance students to find fellow distance students who may be willing to form team. The assignment requires your group to write a comprehensive literature review on the topic provided. Your group assignment work must meet basic academic and professional standards which include articulate, critical, supported by evidence, free from errors, and most importantly, free from plagiarism. It is important that each member of the group contributes approximately equally in completing this group assignment.
Week 6 Friday (24 Aug 2018) 11:45 pm AEST
Assignment must be submitted on or before due date specified via Moodle submission facility
Week 9 Monday (10 Sept 2018)
Marked assignments with appropriate comments/feedback along with mark sheet will be uploaded the Moodle by the return date specified.
· Quality of research and literature review - 80%
· The readability (format, presentation, English expression and articulation) of your literature review -10%
· The evidence of contribution to the group by way of peer review by your team member -10%
- Critically evaluate the Australian accounting and reporting regulatory environment, comparing it to regulatory environments in other countries as well as their progress in the international harmonisation project
- Work individually and as part of a team to analyse complex and current business issues through the lens of appropriately selected and applied theories
- Select and use effective project and research skills to evaluate and synthesise accounting knowledge, and communicate findings in an appropriately professional format
- Reflect on feedback from others and improve research and communication skills accordingly.
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Research
3 Written Assessment
This assignment requires you to undertake research in corporate social/sustainability (CSR) reporting practice of a company listed on Austrian Stock Exchange (ASX). You will use a recent CSR reports of a chosen company and conduct an in-depth examination of CSR reporting practice of the company addressing the followings:
· Descriptive analysis of its presentation and reporting of CSR information
· Comparative analysis of its reporting practice and CSR reporting guidelines (i.e. Global Initiative Reporting)
· Critical analysis of its CSR reporting motivation and practice using the concept of legitimacy and stakeholder theories
· Present comprehensive summary of your research findings
Week 12 Friday (5 Oct 2018) 11:45 pm AEST
Assignment must be submitted on or before the due date specified via Moodle submission facility.
This assessment item will not be returned to students until final grades are certified. Students are asked to check the Moodle site after that time for their marks and associated comments/feedback.
This assignment will be marked using the following criteria.
· Descriptive analysis of CSR reporting – 25%
· Comparative analysis of reporting practice and CSR reporting guidelines (e.g. GRI) – 25%
· Critical evaluation of CSR reporting using the concept of legitimacy/stakeholder theories – 25%
· Presentation of summary findings – 15%
· Quality of reports (e.g. writing and presentation) – 10%
- Critically evaluate the Australian accounting and reporting regulatory environment, comparing it to regulatory environments in other countries as well as their progress in the international harmonisation project
- Work individually and as part of a team to analyse complex and current business issues through the lens of appropriately selected and applied theories
- Select and use effective project and research skills to evaluate and synthesise accounting knowledge, and communicate findings in an appropriately professional format
- Reflect on feedback from others and improve research and communication skills accordingly.
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Research
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
