Accounting (ACCT) 454
Decision Analysis (Revision 5)
Revision 5 is closed for registrations, replaced by current version
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Delivery Mode: Individualized study online or grouped study**
Credits: 3
Area of Study: Applied Studies
(Business and Administrative Studies)
Prerequisites: ACCT 355 and either MATH 215 or MGSC 301 and MGSC 312.
Faculty: Faculty of Business
ACCT 454 is not available for challenge.
Overview
ACCT454: Decision Analysis provides advanced coverage of managerial accounting concepts and the use of accounting information for managerial decision making. This course aims to develop a conceptual understanding of the role of management accounting information in supporting management decisions. Through a case-based approach, you will apply cost management theory to real-life scenarios. Along the way, you will develop your ability to assess a managerial situation and apply the appropriate managerial accounting tools or theory to develop your analysis and recommendations.
Outline
The course comprises 10 lessons.
Lesson 1 introduces the role of cost management within organizations. It looks at the history of cost management andchanges over the last century. It also looks forward to some new trends in cost management and the challenges faced by management accounting practitioners.
Lesson 2 covers the case method and provides a framework for completing a case analysis.
Lesson 3 reviews cost terminology and concepts.
Lesson 4 discusses activity-based costing and activity-based management, and their applications in today’s organizations.
Lesson 5 discusses the costs of quality and the management of time and capacity, while examining quality and productivity management options for organizations.
Lessons 6A and 6B examine approaches to cost allocation and cost estimation.
Lesson 7 discusses tools for managerial decision making including cost volume profit analysis, the theory of constraints, relevant costing, linear programming, and capital budgeting.
Lessons 8 and 9 look at control in decentralized organizations, including the topics of budgeting, variance analysis, performance evaluation, transfer pricing, and the balanced scorecard.
Lesson 10 discusses executive compensation and incentive systems.
Evaluation
To receive credit for ACCT 454, you must obtain a grade of “D” (50 percent) or better on the Final Examination and an overall course grade of at least a “D” (50 percent).
| Assign. 1 | Assign.2 | Assign. 3 | Online Discussion | Final Exam | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5% | 20% | 20% | 15% | 40% | 100% |
To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University's online Calendar.
Note: Students planning to transfer this course to a Professional Accounting designation (i.e., CMA, CGA, CA) are advised that they will be required to achieve a grade higher than the minimum passing grade. See the Professional Accounting Designation Web site for details.
Course Materials
Textbook
Hilton, R. W., Maher, M. W., & Selto, F. H. (2008). Cost management: Strategies for business decisions (4th ed.). Boston, MA: McGraw-Hill Irwin. ISBN 978-0-07-352680-5
Other Materials
Students will access all other course materials online.
Software Requirement
Microsoft Office (Excel).
Athabasca University reserves the right to amend course outlines occasionally and without notice. Courses offered by other delivery methods may vary from their individualized-study counterparts.
Opened in Revision 5, September 9, 2010.
View previous syllabus