UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA
ALBERTA SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
DEPARTMENT OF ACCOUNTING AND BUSINESS ANALYTICS
ACCOUNTING 322
INTRODUCTION TO ACCOUNTING FOR MANAGEMENT DECISION MAKING
SYLLABUS
WINTER 2024
|
Instructor: |
Li Xiao, PhD |
Classes: |
|
Office: |
Bus 3-40F |
B01: MW 11:00 am – 12:20 pm (BUS 1-09) |
|
Office Hours: |
T 10:00 am – 12:00 pm (by appointment only) |
B02: MW 12:30 pm – 1:50 pm (BUS 1-09) |
|
Email: |
[email protected] |
B03: MW 3:30 pm – 4:50 pm (BUS 1-05) |
1. COURSE DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES
This course is an introduction to managerial accounting. It is designed to make business students aware of the roles that accounting plays within organizations. The focus is primarily on the informed use of managerial accounting information, rather than on its production. The course emphasizes the links between accounting information and management activities such as strategic and operational decision making, financial planning and control, organizational design, and performance evaluation. The course examines how managerial accounting is used within a variety of organizations, including manufacturing, merchandising, and service businesses, as well as public-sector and not-for-profit organizations.
Specific skills developed in this course include the abilities to:
identify, categorize, and analyze the behaviour of costs; utilize cost information in making decisions (i.e., cost-benefit and profitability analyses); prepare and use budgets; and use accounting information to evaluate and motivate the performance of divisions, departments, and other units within organizations.
This course incorporates the Learning Goals of the BCom Program, in particular, Business Concepts and Theories, Entrepreneurial Thinking, Ethical Awareness, and Business Communication. At the conclusion of the course, students should be familiar with the basic terminology, concepts, and techniques of managerial accounting, be able to use them in managerial problem solving, and be able to critically evaluate managerial accounting data and reports.
2. ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
Absolute and complete academic honesty is expected of you in this course. It is important for you as a student to behave in an ethical manner. The University of Alberta is committed to the highest standards of academic integrity and honesty. Students are expected to be familiar with these standards regarding academic honesty and to uphold the policies of the University in this respect. Students are particularly urged to familiarize themselves with the provisions of the Code of Student Behaviour and avoid any behaviour that could potentially result in suspicions of cheating, plagiarism, misrepresentation of facts and/or participation in an offence. Academic dishonesty is a serious offence and can result in suspension or expulsion from the University.
3. COURSE MATERIALS AND ACTIVITIES
3.1. Textbook
Managerial Accounting (12th Canadian Edition) by Garrison, Libby & Webb (McGraw-Hill Ryerson). ISBN-13: 978-1-26-019327-5 (ISBN-10: 1-26-019327-6). This is available for purchase at the Bookstore or online as an e-book version.
3.2. Calculator
You are only permitted to use a non-programmable calculator in the exams and in-class tests. Please ensure you have a non-programmable calculator that you are comfortable with.
3.3. eClass
You will be able to obtain course materials from eClass. Other than in class, eClass will be where announcements and other information regarding the course will be made. Please plan to check this site regularly and/or make sure your settings in eClass will send you emails when there are updates.
3.4. In-class Activities
Our classes will be a combination of lectures and discussions of problems. Most of the concepts and techniques taught in this course are best illustrated and learned through problem solving. Therefore, we will analyze many problems in class. Solutions to problems done in class will be released on eClass.
3.5. Out-of-class Activities
Following the lectures on a particular topic, you should work on the recommended questions from the textbook. The recommended questions for each chapter are identified in the attached class schedule. You can check your answers against the solutions posted on eClass.
3.6. Class Attendance
Class attendance itself does not affect your grade, and actually I will not check your attendance.However, presence at lectures, participation in classroom discussions, and the completion of assessments are important components of this course, and students will serve their interests best by regular attendance. Those who choose not to attend must assume whatever risks are involved. When designing the assessments, I will assume that you have attended all the class sessions and studied all the course materials.
Students are responsible for all information provided in class (e.g., announcements, lectures etc.). If you are absent in a class, it is your responsibility to arrange for someone else in the class to provide you with the information you may have missed. This includes, but not limited to, the situation that you stay at home because you feel unwell.
Due to privacy and copyright considerations, the class sessions cannot be recorded or live-streamed.
3.7. Office Hours
Office hours serve as an important channel of interactions. You are welcome to ask questions during my office hours, but, when discussing with you, I always assume that you have attended all classes. You should not expect me to repeat or review what I have covered in the classes during the office hours. You should use the office hours in a wise and responsible manner.
My office hours will be in person or via Zoom. I will set Google Calendar appointment slots (15 minutes for each slot) for you to sign up. Please sign up for the slots at least one day before the office Accounting 322 Syllabus – Winter 2024 hours. If youmake an appointment late or simply drop by without making an appointment, I may not be able to talk to you. The default meeting format is in person. If you would like to meet with me via Zoom, please indicate this preference when making the appointment. I will send the Zoom session information only to those who have signed up and indicated preference for meeting via Zoom. If you want to meet but have no available slot to sign up, please email me to check my availability outside the office hours.
Special office hours will be offered for the midterm and final exams. The arrangement details will be announced on eClass.
3.8. Delivery Format
The course is delivered in person in classrooms, unless otherwise specified in the class schedule at the end of the syllabus. However, the instructor has the discretion to switch sessions to remote delivery via pre-recorded videos. Occasions that trigger this discretion include but are not limited to the instructor being sick. Due to privacy and copyright considerations, any in-person classes cannot be recorded. In addition, no pre-recorded videos will be posted for classes delivered in person.
4. EVALUATION
Your grade in this course will be based on the marks you obtain on five (5) online quizzes, two (2) in class tests, one (1) eighty-minute midterm exam, and one (1) two-hour comprehensive final exam. These marks will be weighted as follows to determine your percentage mark in the course:
|
Online Quizzes |
15% |
|
In-class Tests |
15% |
|
Midterm Exam |
30% |
|
Final Exam |
40% |
|
Total |
100 % |
Letter grades will be determined in accordance with the Evaluation Procedures and Grading System section of the University’s Academic Regulations. Grades in this course will be based on a combination of absolute achievement and relative performance. These grades represent the only marks available to students. No additional work or extra credit is available.
4.1. Online Quizzes
Six (6) scheduled quizzes will be administered in this course via eClass. The marks for your best five of these quizzes will count toward your final mark in the course. Please see below for the arrangement for online quizzes. More information will be posted in the Online Quizzes section on eClass telling you the scope of the quizzes. Online quizzes are available Friday noon until 11:59 pm on the following Tuesday (unless otherwise specified).
|
|
Open |
Close |
|
Quiz #1 |
12:01 p.m. Jan 19 (F) |
11:59 p.m. Jan 23 (T) |
|
Quiz #2 |
12:01 p.m. Feb 2 (F) |
11:59 p.m. Feb 6 (T) |
|
Quiz #3 |
12:01 p.m. Mar 1 (F) |
11:59 p.m. Mar 5 (T) |
|
Quiz #4 |
12:01 p.m. Mar 8 (F) |
11:59 p.m. Mar 12 (T) |
|
Quiz #5 |
12:01 p.m. Mar 22 (F) |
11:59 p.m. Mar 26 (T) |
|
Quiz #6 |
12:01 p.m. Apr 5 (F) |
11:59 p.m. Apr 11 (R)Accounting |
Online quizzes are to be completed individually, without the assistance of another individual. This means that at any time before you submit your quiz you are to be working on it by yourself and not talk, email or communicate with anyone else. The quiz should not be discussed with anyone until after the deadline has passed.
You are welcome to use any materials from the course to assist you in completing the quiz. For each quiz, you will have one attempt and 45 minutes maximum. The quiz should automatically submit at the 45-minute deadline, but you are welcome to submit earlier. Each quiz needs to be completed by its corresponding closing time specified above.
Quizzes may cover materials from the previous lecture(s), textbook readings, and chapter recommended questions assigned. There will be no opportunity to make up a quiz.
4.2. In-Class Tests
Three (3) scheduled in-class tests will be administered in this course. The marks for your best two (2) of these tests will count toward your final mark in the course. In-class tests will include calculation and/or short answer questions but no multiple choices questions. You will have about 15–20 minutes to complete each test.
In-class tests will be closed book and are to be completed individually, without the assistance of another individual. Each in-class test will cover materials from the current or previous lecture(s) and chapter recommended questions assigned. If you miss a test, you will receive a zero for that test. There will be no opportunity to make up an in-class test.
Please see below for the tentative dates of the in-class tests:
|
In-Class Test #1 |
Class time Jan 24 (W) |
|
In-Class Test #2 |
Class time Mar 6 (W) |
|
In-Class Test #3 |
Class time Mar 20 (W) |
4.3. Exams
All exams in this course will be closed book. You will have eighty (80) minutes to write the midterm exam and two (2) hours to write the final exam. The final exam will be comprehensive.
Midterm Exam – Wednesday, February 14, 2024, 6:00 – 7:20 p.m. (CCIS L2-200) Final Exam – Monday, April 15, 2024, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. (location TBA)
Note that the midterm exam will not be held during class time; rather, students in all eight sections of the course will write each exam at a common time, 6:00–7:20 p.m. on February 14 (Wednesday).
The Examinations section of the University’s Academic Regulations provides guidance for the conduct of exams. Students must be able to present their student ID cards or other acceptable photo identification. For in-person exams, cell phones, iPods, and other electronic devices must be turned off and put away prior to the exam. Also, you are only permitted to use a non-programmable calculator in the exams.
The answer booklets of the midterm exam will be returned in class and you will be allowed to keep them. Final exams will not be returned. No answer key will be posted for the midterm or final exam.
4.4. Remarking Policy for Quizzes, Tests and Midterm Exam
After marked online quizzes and in-class tests have been returned, the answer keys will be posted on eClass. For online quizzes, in-class tests and the midterm exam, students should review the marking carefully and bring to my attention any questions about their marks as soon as possible. No remarking requests will be accepted more than one week after the results have been made available.
All appeals must be in writing and the original copy of the exam or test (unless available on-line) must be attached. Items submitted for appeal may be subject to an entire review. This may result in your grade being lower.
4.5. Absence from Term Work or Term Examinations
Occasionally life events occur that require a student to miss term work, term examinations, or final examinations. However, excused absences are not granted automatically and will be considered only for acceptable reasons such as incapacitating illness, severe domestic affliction, or religious convictions.
Unacceptable reasons include, but are not limited to personal events such as vacations, weddings, or travel arrangements. When a student is absent without acceptable excuse, a final grade will be computed using a raw score of zero for the work missed. Any student who applies for or obtains an excused absence by making false statements will be liable under the Code of Student Behaviour.
There will be no opportunity to make up an online quiz or in-class test.
4.5.1.Absence from Midterm Examination
If you are absent from the midterm exam for a legitimate reason, please email me within two days (or as soon as possible). If the midterm is missed for an acceptable reason, the weight of the midterm will be reallocated to the final exam. There will be no deferred midterm exam in this course.
4.5.2.Absence from Final Examination
The Attendance section and the Examinations section of the University’s Academic Regulations provide guidance regarding procedures in the case of a missed final examination. If a deferred final exam is required for this course, it will tentatively be held on Friday, May 3 at 10:00 am.
4.6. Final Exam Reappraisals
For information regarding applying for a reappraisal of your final exam please see the Examinations section of the University’s Academic Regulations.
5. OTHERS
Audio or video recording, digital or otherwise, of lectures, labs, seminars or any other teaching environment by students is allowed only with the prior written consent of the instructor or as a part of an approved accommodation plan. Student or instructor content, digital or otherwise, created and/or used within the context of the course is to be used solely for personal study, and is not to be used or distributed for any other purpose without prior written consent from the content author(s). Policy about course outlines can be found in the Evaluation Procedures and Grading System section of the University’s Academic Regulations.Accounting 322 Syllabus – Winter 2024
6. USEFUL LINKS
The University’s Academic Regulations: https://calendar.ualberta.ca/content.php?catoid=6&navoid=806 Code of Student Behaviour: https://www.ualberta.ca/governance/resources/policies-standards-and-codes-of-conduct/code-of-student-behaviour eClass: https://eclass.srv.ualberta.ca/portal/ The Publisher’s link for ordering the e-book or registering for online resources: https://connect.mheducation.com/class/l-xiao-winter-2024-mw The University’s Bookstore URL: https://bookstore.ualberta.ca/booklist.aspxAccounting 322 Syllabus – Winter 2024
TENTATIVE CLASS SCHEDULE
|
Class# |
Dates |
T* |
Topics |
Readings |
Recommended Questions |
|
1 |
M Jan 8 |
|
Introduction to the course |
|
|
|
2 |
W Jan 10 |
|
Cost Terms, Concepts, & Classifications (pre-recorded videos)
|
Chapters 1 & 2 |
2-2, 2-4, 2-13, 2-16, 2-19, 2-22, 2-24, 2-25 |
|
3 |
M Jan 15 |
|
Cost Terms, Concepts, & Classifications |
||
|
4 |
W Jan 17 |
|
Cost Behaviour |
Chapter 3 |
3-4, 3-13, 3-14, 3-15 |
|
5 |
M Jan 22 |
|
Cost-Volume-Profit (CVP) Relationships |
Chapter 4 |
4-1, 4-4, 4-12, 4-17, 4-18, 4-20, 4-25, 4-27, 4-30 |
|
6 |
W Jan 24 |
T#1 |
|||
|
7 |
M Jan 29 |
|
|||
|
8 |
W Jan 31 |
|
|||
|
9 |
M Feb 5 |
|
Job-Order Costing |
Chapter 5 |
5-1, 5-5 (ignore req’d 2), 5-6, 5-7, 5-13, 5-25, 5-27, 5-28 (ignore req’d 3) |
|
10 |
W Feb 7 |
|
|||
|
|
M Feb 12 |
|
Classes cancelled |
|
|
|
|
T Feb 13 |
|
Special office hours |
|
|
|
|
W Feb 14 |
|
Midterm Exam – 6:00 p.m. (CCIS L2-200) |
|
|
|
|
Feb 19-23 |
|
Reading Week – No classes |
|
|
|
11 |
M Feb 26 |
|
Activity-Based Costing |
Chapter 7 |
7-1, 7-5, 7-6, 7-9, 7-13, 7-19, 7-20, 7A-5 |
|
12 |
W Feb 28 |
|
|||
|
13 |
M Mar 4 |
|
Variable Costing |
Chapter 8 |
8-5, 8-6, 8-8, 8-9, 8-11, 8-12, 8-15 |
|
14 |
W Mar 6 |
T#2 |
|||
|
15 |
M Mar 11 |
|
Budgeting |
Chapter 9 |
9-11, 9-12, 9-14, 9-16, 9-17, 9-19, 9-24 |
|
16 |
W Mar 13 |
|
|||
|
17 |
M Mar 18 |
|
|||
|
18 |
W Mar 20 |
T#3 |
|||
|
19 |
M Mar 25 |
|
Reporting for Control |
Chapters 11 & 11A |
11-1, 11-2, 11-8, 11-9, 11-12, 11-19, 11A-3,11A-10, 11A-11, 11A-12 |
|
20 |
W Mar 27 |
|
|||
|
|
M Apr 1 |
|
Easter Monday – No classes |
|
|
|
21 |
W Apr 3 |
|
Relevant Costs for Decision Making |
Chapter 12 |
12-10, 12-11, 12-12, 12-14, 12-15, 12-16, 12-21,12-22, 12-26, 12-27, 12-28, 12A-7 |
|
22 |
M Apr 8 |
|
|||
|
23 |
W Apr 10 |
|
Final Exam Q&A |
|
|
|
|
H Apr 11 |
|
Special office hours |
|
|
|
|
M Apr 15 |
|
Final Exam – 2:00 p.m. (location TBA) |
|
|
* In this column, T stands for in-class test.