Insegnamento a.a. 2021-2022

30007 - PROGRAMMAZIONE E CONTROLLO / MANAGERIAL ACCOUNTING

Dipartimento di Accounting / Department of Accounting


Per la lingua del corso verificare le informazioni sulle classi/
For the instruction language of the course see class group/s below
Vai alle classi / Go to class group/s: 32
BIEF (6 cfu - I sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/07)
Docente responsabile dell'insegnamento / Course Director:
TIM MARTENS

Classes: 32 (I sem.)
Instructors:
Class 32: TIM MARTENS

Class group/s taught in English

Suggested background knowledge

To feel comfortable in this course it would be preferable to be familiar with financial accounting and financial statements analysis. Anyway, there are no obligatory prerequisites.

Mission & Content Summary

MISSION

The most successful managers need clear details on the economic and financial performances, acquired through their activity, to run winning companies. They use a deep understanding of where (in which business segment, product, distribution channel, geographical area, etc.) they are able the produce the bests results and how (pricing strategy, cost efficiency, profitable investment, service, quality, care, etc.). Managerial Accounting is the subject providing the set of knowledge to drive performances in the right direction implementing successful strategies. Cost measurement, cost management, pricing decisions, costs and decision making, product costing, budgeting and reporting, capital budgeting, and return on investments, performance management, and decentralization are essential tools and techniques to grant effective performance management. The mission of this course is to explore the role of Managerial Accounting and its tools in supporting the strategy implementation, in directing the managerial decisions and in appraising the performances to run successful companies.

CONTENT SUMMARY

The most important topics we consider during this course are the following:

  • Cost definition and cost classification.
  • Cost behaviour and Break Event Point analysis.
  • Costs and decision making in actual contexts.
  • Pricing decisions.
  • Traditional and Activity Based Cost accounting systems.
  • Job costing and process costing systems.
  • Budgets, standard costing systems and variance analysis.
  • Reporting systems.
  • Responsibility accounting.
  • Decentralization and performance measurement.
  • Transfer pricing.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILO)

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

At the end of the course student will be able to...
  • Appreciate the role of quantitative accounting techniques to support decision-making.
  • Understand the relationships between costs, revenues and profit at various activity levels.
  • Comprehend management accounting as models to analyze business decisions and advise on the most appropriate course of action.
  • Appreciate the role of the planning and control mechanisms in formulating standards and budgets and in assigning responsibility to managers.
  • Understand the principles of cost allocations for pricing, stock valuation, and decision making in marketing, sales and operations.

APPLYING KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

At the end of the course student will be able to...
  • Evaluate the best option in decision making to maximize the company’s result.
  • Set profitable prices compared to the costs incurred by the company.
  • Define goals and target to meet the expectations of stakeholders.
  • Motivate managers to accomplish the expected performances.
  • Delegate targets’ acquisition to the team of collaborators.

Teaching methods

  • Face-to-face lectures
  • Exercises (exercises, database, software etc.)

DETAILS

During the lessons, a selected number of exercises are solved in class.


Assessment methods

  Continuous assessment Partial exams General exam
  • Written individual exam (traditional/online)
x x x

ATTENDING STUDENTS

  • The exam consists of two partial written tests. Students pass the exam if both tests are positive. The final grade is the average of the two grades (rounded) + additional points.
  • During the lessons, 4 small optional assignments are distributed to students without notice. The assignments are individually solved by students and returned to the instructor after 10-15 minutes. Each assignment receives a “pass or fail” grade. Each pass provides one additional point (there are no negative points for fails). In any case, the additional points accumulated during the lessons are optional and not necessary to reach the maximum grade.
  • The partial written tests will be managed in face to face or online (depending on Covid-19 restrictions). Each partial tests in face to face will consist of 3 exercises + 1 qualitative open questions in 50 minutes. The partial test online will consist of 12 multiple choice questions in 25 minutes + 2 exercises in 25 minutes. 
  • The exercises and most multiple choice questions are addressed to test the role of quantitative accounting techniques to support decision-making; to understand the relationships between costs, revenues and profit at various activity levels; to understand the principles of cost allocations for pricing and to evaluate the best option in decision making to maximize the company’s result.
  • The qualitative open questions and some multiple choice are addressed to test the comprehension of management accounting as models to analyze business decisions and advise on the most appropriate course of action; to appreciate the role of the planning and control mechanisms in formulating standards and budgets and in assigning responsibility to managers to set profitable prices compared to the costs incurred by the company to define goals and motivate managers to accomplish the expected performances.

NOT ATTENDING STUDENTS

  • The exam consists of a final written exam. In this case, students need to enter one of the formal exam dates.
  • The additional points, eventually accumulated during the lessons, are considered valid and added to the final written exam up to the end of February 2021. In any case, the additional points accumulated during the lessons are optional and not necessary to reach the maximum grade.
  • The final written exam will be managed in face to face or online (depending on Covid-19 restrictions). The final written exam in face to face will consist of 4 exercises + 2 qualitative open questions in 70 minutes. The final written exam online will consist of 16 multiple choice questions in 35 minutes + 3 exercises in 35 minutes. 
  • The exercises and most multiple choice questions are addressed to test the role of quantitative accounting techniques to support decision-making; to understand the relationships between costs, revenues and profit at various activity levels; to understand the principles of cost allocations for pricing and to evaluate the best option in decision making to maximize the company’s result.
  • The qualitative open questions and some multiple choice are addressed to test the comprehension of management accounting as models to analyze business decisions and advise on the most appropriate course of action; to appreciate the role of the planning and control mechanisms in formulating standards and budgets and in assigning responsibility to managers to set profitable prices compared to the costs incurred by the company to define goals and motivate managers to accomplish the expected performances.

Teaching materials


ATTENDING AND NOT ATTENDING STUDENTS

  • The reference textbook is: C.T. HORNGREN, G.L. SUNDEM, D. BURGSTAHLER, et al., Introduction to Management Accounting, Pearson Prentice Hall, 2014, Sixteenth Edition (chapters 1-14 version or chapters 1-17 version).
  • The course materials (slides, solutions, mock exams, etc.) are available on the e-learning.
Last change 02/08/2021 18:02