CQUniversity Unit Profile
ACCT20076 Foundations of Management Accounting
Foundations of Management Accounting
All details in this unit profile for ACCT20076 have been officially approved by CQUniversity and represent a learning partnership between the University and you (our student).
The information will not be changed unless absolutely necessary and any change will be clearly indicated by an approved correction included in the profile.
General Information

Overview

This unit introduces management accounting and enables you to explain its role in efficient resource allocation. You will be introduced to the traditional and modern approaches to costing for evaluation and effective decision making. The role of management accounting in performance evaluation is addressed in such areas as budgeting, cost-volume-profit analysis, variance analysis, job costing, process costing, and activity-based costing.

Details

Career Level: Postgraduate
Unit Level: Level 9
Credit Points: 6
Student Contribution Band: 10
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.125

Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

Prerequisite: ACCT20070 Accounting in Australia

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 - 2020

Brisbane
Melbourne
Online
Sydney

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).

Class and Assessment Overview

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

Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville
Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Assessment Overview

1. Online Test
Weighting: 10%
2. Practical and Written Assessment
Weighting: 30%
3. Take Home Exam
Weighting: 60%

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.

Previous Student Feedback

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 'Have your say' - survey

Feedback

1. I believe due to the current facility of online class it is a bit difficult to get engaged but other then that it is good. It would be better if we could return to face to face classes. 2. As this semester went online, we are not able to do practical questions properly like we used to do before. I think it would be better if we do more practical questions in class by discussing every steps. So more focus should be given for solving practical questions during class

Recommendation

In term 2, I have created breakout rooms during our weekly zoom workshops and have students of 5-6 work in groups. Students are sent into breakout rooms and work together the problems/analysis/interpretations as a group. I visit each breakout room and facilitate the discussions and then I bring the group back together and discuss the solution as a whole. I have undertaken this for the past three weeks this term (Term 2, 2020) and has worked really well so far. I also award participation marks to the groups based on my observations and this encourages the students to engage with each other.

Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. Analyse and report on the usefulness of management accounting for ensuring that business resources are allocated effectively and efficiently
  2. Interpret, analyse and report on the behaviour of costs and their management
  3. Interpret and report on the purposes of budgeting for planning and control, including the calculation and analysis of budget variances
  4. Analyse and report on alternative methods of valuing and allocating overhead costs, and correctly apply the most appropriate methods for a given situation
  5. Analyse and report on the interaction between inventory costs, profit and loss, and the balance sheet, and explain their relevance to the firm's financial position
  6. Demonstrate application of selected theories into various management accounting phenomena.
Alignment of Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Graduate Attributes
N/A Level
Introductory Level
Intermediate Level
Graduate Level
Professional Level
Advanced Level

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes

Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5 6
1 - Online Test - 10%
2 - Practical and Written Assessment - 30%
3 - Take Home Exam - 60%

Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes

Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5 6
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 Test - 10%
2 - Practical and Written Assessment - 30%
3 - Take Home Exam - 60%
Textbooks and Resources

Textbooks

Prescribed

Foundations of Management Accounting

Edition: 2 (2018)
Authors: Sardesai
Pearson
Melbourne Melbourne , Victoria , Australia
ISBN: 9781488623844
Binding: Paperback

Additional Textbook Information

If you prefer to study with a paper copy, they can be purchased at the CQUni Bookshop here: http://bookshop.cqu.edu.au (search on the Unit code). eBooks can be purchased at the publisher's website.

IT Resources

You will need access to the following IT resources:
  • CQUniversity Student Email
  • Internet
  • Unit Website (Moodle)
Referencing Style

All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 7th Edition (APA 7th edition)

For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.

Teaching Contacts
Ann Sardesai Unit Coordinator
a.sardesai@cqu.edu.au
Schedule
Week 1 Begin Date: 13 Jul 2020

Module/Topic

The Manager and Management Accounting

Chapter

1

Events and Submissions/Topic

Teaching staff will form groups of students who will work in groups and engage in group participation and discussion during weekly online zoom workshops. Students will remain in the same group for the entire term.

Assessment Task 1: Online Trial Test

Week 2 Begin Date: 20 Jul 2020

Module/Topic

An Introduction to cost Terms and Purposes

Chapter

2

Events and Submissions/Topic

Teaching staff will form groups of students who will work in groups and engage in group participation and discussion during weekly online zoom workshops. Students will remain in the same group for the entire term.

Assessment Task 1: Online Test 1

Assessment Task 2A: Class Participation 1

Week 3 Begin Date: 27 Jul 2020

Module/Topic

Cost-Volume-Profit Analysis

Chapter

3

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment Task 1: Online Test 2

Assessment Task 2A: Class Participation 2

Week 4 Begin Date: 03 Aug 2020

Module/Topic

Job Costing

Chapter

4

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment Task 1: Online Test 3

Assessment Task 2A: Class Participation 3

Week 5 Begin Date: 10 Aug 2020

Module/Topic

Activity-Based Costing and Activity-Based Management

Chapter

5

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment Task 1: On-line Test 4

Assessment Task 2A: Class Participation 4

Vacation Week Begin Date: 17 Aug 2020

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 6 Begin Date: 24 Aug 2020

Module/Topic

Allocation of Support Department Costs, Common Costs and Revenues

Chapter

15

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment Task 1: Online Test 5

Assessment Task 2A: Class Participation 5

Week 7 Begin Date: 31 Aug 2020

Module/Topic

Master Budget and Responsibility Accounting

Chapter

6

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment Task 1: Online Test 6

Assessment Task 2A: Class Participation 6

Week 8 Begin Date: 07 Sep 2020

Module/Topic

Flexible Budgets, Direct Cost Variances and Management Control

Chapter

7

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment Task 1: Online Test 7

Assessment Tast 2A: Class Participation 7

Week 9 Begin Date: 14 Sep 2020

Module/Topic

Flexible Budgets, Overhead Cost Variances, and Management Control

Chapter

8

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment Task: Online Test 8

Assessment Task 2A: Class Participation 8

Assessment Task 2B: Practical and Written Assessment (20%) due on Thursday 17 September 11:45 PM AEST.


PRACTICAL AND WRITTEN ASSESSMENT (Part A & B) 30% Due: Week 9 Thursday (17 Sept 2020) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 10 Begin Date: 21 Sep 2020

Module/Topic

Decision Making and Relevant Information

Chapter

11

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment Task 1: Online Test 9

Assessment Task 2A: Class Participation 9

Week 11 Begin Date: 28 Sep 2020

Module/Topic

Performance Measurement, Compensation and Multinational Considerations

Chapter

23

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment Task 1: Online Test 10

Assessment Task 2A: Class Participation 10

Week 12 Begin Date: 05 Oct 2020

Module/Topic

Revision

Chapter

Topics 1-11

Events and Submissions/Topic

None

Review/Exam Week Begin Date: 12 Oct 2020

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Exam Week Begin Date: 19 Oct 2020

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Term Specific Information

Students to note that assessment tasks for this unit start from Week 2.

Students should either buy an eBook or a hard copy of the text book and bring the same to class beginning week 1.  This will ensure that students aer able to undertake the weekly quiz and weekly class participation in an effective manner.

Assessment Tasks

1 Online Test

Assessment Title
Online Test

Task Description

Each of the 10 on-line tests is worth 1% of the total grade for the unit. The on-line tests will be open on a weekly basis from weeks 1 to 11, with week 1 being a trial on-line test to get the students familiar with the process.

The materials assessed in each on-line test will be on key concepts to be covered in the following week's workshop. For example on-line Test 1 (opens on the Friday of week 1 and close on Monday of week 2) will assess the content to be taught in week 2. The purpose of the on-line test is to enable the students to prepare for the workshop prior to attending the workshop. This will allow students to grasp the material covered during the workshop, engage effectively with teams, and create a good learning environment in the workshop.

Each on-line test will open at 12.00 PM AEST on the Friday and close at 09:00 am on Monday the following week. You have a window of 68 hours to review your learning materials and attempt the on-line test.

You can only make one attempt at each on-line test and you have 20 minutes to complete each on-line test after you start it. Each test will consist of 10 questions.


Assessment Due Date

Due every week from weeks 2 to 11


Return Date to Students

Results will be available on Moodle immediately after the close of each online test


Weighting
10%

Assessment Criteria

No Assessment Criteria


Referencing Style

Submission

No submission method provided.


Submission Instructions
Submit within 20 minutes from starting time. You only have one attempt for each test. Please start the test at least half an hour before it closes at 9am on the Monday. The test closes at 9am and the system will log you out automatically.

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Analyse and report on the usefulness of management accounting for ensuring that business resources are allocated effectively and efficiently
  • Interpret, analyse and report on the behaviour of costs and their management
  • Interpret and report on the purposes of budgeting for planning and control, including the calculation and analysis of budget variances
  • Analyse and report on alternative methods of valuing and allocating overhead costs, and correctly apply the most appropriate methods for a given situation
  • Analyse and report on the interaction between inventory costs, profit and loss, and the balance sheet, and explain their relevance to the firm's financial position


Graduate Attributes
  • Knowledge
  • Communication
  • Cognitive, technical and creative skills
  • Self-management
  • Ethical and Professional Responsibility
  • Leadership

2 Practical and Written Assessment

Assessment Title
PRACTICAL AND WRITTEN ASSESSMENT (Part A & B) 30%

Task Description

This assessment task consists of two parts - PART A - Weekly Workshop Participation 10% and PART B - Written Assessment due in Week 9, 20%.

PART A - This assessment task consists of active student engagement during the weekly workshops over 10 weeks from week 2 through to week 11.

Each of the workshop participation is worth 1% totaling to 10% of the total grade for the unit.

Students within the workshop will be divided into groups during week 1 and required to stay within the group for the remainder of the term.

Students will be assessed on actively engaging with their group during the workshop sessions wherein they will be required to work out problems, analyse and interpret the working of problems within their groups.

The purpose of this is to enable students to actively engage in discussions during the workshop and arrive at solutions/conclusions by working together as a team, thereby creating a conducive learning environment.

PART B - This assessment task consists of a case study and student groups will be required to review the case study and prepare an executive report.

Content and format of the executive report will be provided on moodle when the assessment task becomes available.

The assessment task will be available in moodle in Week 5 and is due in Week 9.

This assessment task is to be completed in a team of 3-5 students. Group numbers will depend on enrollment numbers each term. This assessment task is worth 20% of the total grade for the unit.


Assessment Due Date

Week 9 Thursday (17 Sept 2020) 11:45 pm AEST

Part A occurs every week from weeks 2-11. Part B is due on Thursday in Week 9 before 11.45 PM AEST.


Return Date to Students

Results for Part A will be available via the grade book on moodle every week beginning week 3 to 12. Assignment 2B will be due back on Thursday, Week 11.


Weighting
30%

Assessment Criteria

The assessment criteria for both Part A and Part B of this assessment includes the ability to interpret, analyse and report on the behaviour of costs and their management.

Students will also be assesed on the ability to analyse and report on the usefulness of management accounting for ensuring that business resources are allocated effectively and efficiently.

When preparing your assignment, students should refer to specific assessment criteria outlined within the assignment as well as to any relevant advice posted in Moodle by the Unit Coordinator.


Referencing Style

Submission

No submission method provided.


Submission Instructions
Part A is in class and Part B is online

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Analyse and report on the usefulness of management accounting for ensuring that business resources are allocated effectively and efficiently
  • Interpret, analyse and report on the behaviour of costs and their management
  • Interpret and report on the purposes of budgeting for planning and control, including the calculation and analysis of budget variances
  • Analyse and report on alternative methods of valuing and allocating overhead costs, and correctly apply the most appropriate methods for a given situation
  • Analyse and report on the interaction between inventory costs, profit and loss, and the balance sheet, and explain their relevance to the firm's financial position
  • Demonstrate application of selected theories into various management accounting phenomena.


Graduate Attributes
  • Knowledge
  • Communication
  • Cognitive, technical and creative skills
  • Research
  • Self-management
  • Ethical and Professional Responsibility
  • Leadership

3 Take Home Exam

Assessment Title
TAKE HOME EXAM 60%

Task Description

The take-home exam is open-book and will be scheduled during the university exam period. You will be advised during the term of the scheduled date and time of the take-home exam.

The take-home exam will involve:
1. Downloading a document from Moodle that contains the questions,
2. Completing answers to these questions in a Word document, and
3. Submitting your document in Moodle.
Further information on the take-home exam will be available in Moodle.


Assessment Due Date

Students will be provided 3.5 hours to undertake the take-home exam. This includes, reading time and time to download and upload exams.


Return Date to Students

The take home exam marks will be released when the final grades are released by the university.


Weighting
60%

Assessment Criteria

No Assessment Criteria


Referencing Style

Submission

No submission method provided.


Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Analyse and report on the usefulness of management accounting for ensuring that business resources are allocated effectively and efficiently
  • Interpret, analyse and report on the behaviour of costs and their management
  • Interpret and report on the purposes of budgeting for planning and control, including the calculation and analysis of budget variances
  • Analyse and report on alternative methods of valuing and allocating overhead costs, and correctly apply the most appropriate methods for a given situation
  • Analyse and report on the interaction between inventory costs, profit and loss, and the balance sheet, and explain their relevance to the firm's financial position
  • Demonstrate application of selected theories into various management accounting phenomena.


Graduate Attributes
  • Knowledge
  • Communication
  • Cognitive, technical and creative skills
  • Self-management
  • Ethical and Professional Responsibility

Academic Integrity Statement

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?