Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Unit Convenor
Vicki Baard
Contact via vicki.baard@mq.edu.au
E4A 237
Tuesdays 2:00 to 4:00pm
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Credit points |
Credit points
4
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Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
ACCG613 or ACCG921 or admission to MAdvProfAcc or admission to MCom or MIntBus or MEc or MActPrac prior to 2011
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Corequisites |
Corequisites
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Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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Unit description |
Unit description
This unit is concerned with the design and operation of management control systems, in particular, accounting-related controls. There are two main aspects to understanding accounting-related controls operations: control techniques and the behavioural implications of those techniques. Research findings will be used to underpin management control theories.
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Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
Name | Weighting | Due |
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1. Case Study | 30% | 27 May 2014 (Week 11) |
2. Assignment | 10% | 20th May 2014 (Week 10) |
3. Class Participation | 20% | Weekly (Week 2 -Week 12) |
4. Final Examination | 40% | University Examination Period |
Due: 27 May 2014 (Week 11)
Weighting: 30%
This assessment allows students to undertake research in teams, apply management control system knowledge to a real-world organisational context, and synthesise knowledge through the development of a management control systems package for an organisation. The team must consist of students enrolled in ACCG828, where teams consist of three (minimum) to four (maximum) team members from your seminar.
50 (Fifty) dedicated hours spread from Week 3 to Week 11 including the mid-session recess from seminars.
Please refer to the detailed grading process on page 7 of the Assessment Guide (More Information on Grading using Formal Peer Assessment)on the units' website. The written Case Study will be marked in accordance with a grading rubric, available on iLearn, prepared by the Unit Convenor to be discussed with the students to provide a team mark. Using peer assessment, an individual mark representing a percentage of the team mark is calculated to provide students with an individual mark. Should there be any complaints concerning a team members' marks, this must be reported to the Unit Convenor in writing. Following such a report the whole team will meet with Unit Convenor to discuss the issue and the UC may re-allocate marks appropriately. In the event that any team member does not attend such a meeting then the necessary re-allocation of marks decision will be made on the basis of discussions with those who do attend.
Individual written and summative verbal feedback in seminars is provided two weeks after the assessment task is submitted.
Submission
This assignment is due by no later than 5pm on Tuesday the 27th of May 2014 to the Unit Convenor in building E4A Level 2 Room 237. Please see page 2 of the 'Case Study Information' document on the unit website for further detailed applicable submission instructions.
No extensions will be granted, except for instances in which an application for special consideration is made and approved.
Late Case Studies will be accepted up to 72* hours after the Case Study submssion deadline. There will be a deduction of 5%* of the total available marks made from the total awarded mark for each 24 hour period or part thereof that the submission is late (for example, 27 hours late in submission - 10% penalty). This penalty does not apply for instances in which an application for special consideration is made and approved. In the case of a late submission feedback on the assessment task may not occur within two weeks.
Due: 20th May 2014 (Week 10)
Weighting: 10%
This assessment requires students to individually reflect on the Case Study Assessment undertaken in teams. Students will be provided with guidelines concerning the content of this assessment.
Estimated Student Workload
10 (ten) dedicated hours spread from Week 3 to Week 11.
The reflective exercise is marked in accordance with a marking guide prepared by the Unit Convenor, which will be discussed with students and is available on iLearn.
Individual written feedback is provided two weeks after the assessment task is submitted via email to the students' official Macquarie University email address.
Students must individually email their reflective exercises to the Unit Convenor (vicki.baard@mq.edu.au) using their official student email addresses, by no later than 5pm on Tuesday the 20th of May 2014. Detailed applicable submission instructions can be found on iLearn.
Late assignments will not be accepted, except for instances in which an application for special consideration is made and approved.
Penalties
Students who have not submitted the reflective exercise prior to the deadline will be awarded a mark of zero for the assessment, except for cases in which an application for special consideration is made and approved.
Due: Weekly (Week 2 -Week 12)
Weighting: 20%
This assessment allows student to demonstrate that they are working continuously throughout the session to achieve the learning outcomes of the unit. This assessment is based on: 1) students completing their required readings prior to seminar attendance; 2) engaging in seminar discussions; 3) reflective activities to support course integration and the transfer of knowledge to practical situations; 4) peer evalution of self-study activities; 5)students working individually, in pairs or teams on various learning activities; 6) the learning diagnostic; 7) contributions to on-line discussion forums; and 8) generating discussion notes and other documentation to support their class participation marks.
Estimated Student Workload
3 hours during seminars and 30 (Thirty) dedicated hours. Workload for this assessment may overlap with the preparation of other assessment tasks (i.e. final examination) for this unit.
Grading
Individual class participation will be calculated from Week 2 up to and including Week 12, except in those weeks indicated on the Unit Schedule. Students will be awarded a weekly mark based on a number of criteria, explained in Week 1 and posted on iLearn. These weekly marks will be averaged to arrive at a final mark for this assessment overall.
Feedback
Verbal feedback from the Unit Convenor during seminars will be provided to students. Online written feedback to students if contributing to online discussion forums. If required, personal written feedback to students individually to their official Macquarie University student email address. Participation marks will be provided on iLearn at the end of Week 7 and Week 12.
Submission
Continuously during and outside (e.g. online discussions) seminar time, that is weekly from Week 2 ending in Week 12.
Extension
This assessment relies on students attending the 3-hour seminar, hence extension cannot be granted for this assessment. Students who, due to unavoidable disruption, are unable to attend a seminar are required to submit a Special Consideration Application, see 'Policies and Procedures section of this unit guide. Consequently the average mark for this assessment will be adjusted.
Penalties
Students who do not attend a seminar, and consequently do not enage in seminar participation will be awarded a mark of zero, except for cases in which a Special Consideration Application is submitted and approved.
Due: University Examination Period
Weighting: 40%
A written final examination provides assurance that: 1) the product belongs to the student, and 2) the student has attained the knowledge and skills tested in the exam. Feedback is not provided on final examinations.
Estimated Student Workload
The final examination is 2 (two) hours in duration with 10 minutes reading time.
45 (Forty-five) dedicated hours of continuous learning (including reading and seminar preparation) from Weeks 1 to 13 where additional hours may be available during the examination period from June 16 to July 4 2014; these hours may also be shared with the other assessments.
Grading
The final exam will be marked in accordance with a moderated marking guide prepared by the Unit Convenor.
Submission
First Half Examination. Period: from June 16 to July 4 2014.
You are expected to present yourself for examination at the time and place designated in the University Examination Timetable. The timetable will be available in Draft form approximately eight weeks before the commencement of the examinations and in Final form approximately four weeks before the commencement of the examinations. https://timetables.mq.edu.au/exam
Hence, submission of your examination occurs at the end of the scheduled examination day and time.
Extension
The only exception to not sitting an examination at the designated time is because of documented illness or unavoidable disruption. In these circumstances you may wish to consider applying for Special Consideration. Please note that for the purposes of special consideration, "satisfactory progress" in ACCG828 means that students must achieve 50% of the available coursework marks.
If a Supplementary Examination is granted as a result of the Special Consideration process, the examination will be scheduled after the conclusion of the official examination period. The Faculty of Business and Economics releases a schedule of Supplementary Examinations for the individual units. The scheduled time for supplementary exams are yet to be prescribed by the Faculty of Business and Economics; students will be notified by an announcment on iLearn. Please note that the supplementary examination will be of the similar format as the final examination.
Penalties
Students who do not present themselves for the final examination and who do not submit a special consideration application to support their absence from the final examination will receive a mark of zero for this assessment task.
Seminars
This course comprises a maximum of 12 seminars comprising of 3 hours face to face teaching per week held from weeks 1 to 13, including the two week study period; Seminar 11 (27 May 2013) is a self-study seminar and students are not required to attend a seminar in this week. As seminars constitute a crtical learning experience of this unit, there is an expectation that you attend all them. A highly participatory teaching strategy will be adopted, where students can engage with their fellow students and the Unit Convenor.
The timetable for seminars can be found on the University website at: http://www.timetables.mq.edu.au
Prizes
Department of Accounting and Corporate Governance Prize for Academic Excellence in ACCG828 $100.
Required and Recommended Texts and/or Materials
Required textbook: Merchant, K.A. & Van der Stede, W.A. (2012) Management Control Systems (Prentice-Hall, 3rd edition). Relevant chapters from the texbook are available on e-reserve through the library, hence purchasing the textbook from the Macquarie University Co-op Bookshop is optional.
Additional materials:
Additional readings and other materials are available on iLearn, including power point slides for each topic (if applicable).
Unit Web Page
1. Course material is available on the learning management system (iLearn).
2. The web page for this unit can be found at: http://ilearn.mq.edu.au
3. Consult the web page for this unit frequently. You will find administrative updates (announcements), lecture notes, seminar activities and the assessment guide posted there.
4. If you are unable to access the website because you are not aware of or have forgotten your username and password, please contact the IT helpdesk located on Level 1 of the Library on 9850 6500. The IT helpdesk will also be able to assist you with using iLearn. Please note that you may also refer to the help feature in iLearn.
5. Please remember to log out when you have finished using iLearn. Failure to do so could result in unauthorised access to your iLearn account.
Technology Used and Required
Students are required to use information technology in this unit.
Students will need to use:
Date |
Topic |
Textbook ChaptersReadings |
Assessments |
Week 1 4 March |
The Nature of Management Control Systems (MCS)
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Chapter 1 Management and Control Reading: Chenhall (2003),pp.127-136
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None |
Week 2 11 March |
A Typology of Management Controls |
Chapter 2 Results Control (Merchant & Van der Stede, 2012)
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Seminar Participation |
Week 3 18 March |
A Typology of Management Controls |
Chapter 3 Action, Personnel, Cultural Controls (Merchant & Van der Stede, 2012)
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Seminar Participation |
Week 4 25 March |
Designing and Evaluating MCS |
Chapter 4 Control System Tightness (Merchant & Van der Stede, 2012) |
Seminar Participation Learning Diagnostic |
Week 5 1 April
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Designing and Evaluating MCS |
Chapter 5 Control System Costs (Merchant & Van der Stede, 2012) |
Seminar Participation |
Week 6 8 April |
Designing and Evaluating MCS |
Chapter 6 Designing and Evaluating Management Control Systems (Merchant and Van der Stede, 2012)
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Seminar Participation |
14th to 25th April |
Mid-Session Recess from Seminars |
Self-Study Activity on Case Study Assignment |
See iLearn |
Week 7 29 April |
Strategy and MCS |
A Contingent Framework for MCS Design (Week 7 to Week 12) Reading: Langfield-Smith (1997) Reading: Chenhall (2003) pp. 150-151 |
Seminar Participation |
Week 8 6 May |
Life-Cycle and MCS |
Reading: Auzair & Langfield-Smith (2005) |
Seminar Participation |
Week 9 13 May |
Environment, Size, Structure and MCS |
Reading: Sharma (2002) Reading: Chenhall (2003) (Optional) |
Seminar Participation |
Week 10 20 May |
Performance Measurement Systems (PMS) | Reading: Lee & Yang (2011) |
Seminar Participation Individual Reflection |
Week 11 27 May |
Culture and MCS Self-Study Activity (No Seminar in Week 11) |
Reading:Chow, Shields & Wu (1999) Reading: Chenhall (2003) pp.152-154 |
Case Study
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Week 12 3 June |
Technology and MCS |
Reading: Davila (2000) Reading: Chenhall (2003) pp.139-143 |
Seminar Participation |
Week 13 10 June |
Issues in ACCG828 | Reading: Baard and Perera (2013) |
The readings are available on the unit website.
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html
Assessment Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy.html
Grading Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html
Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html
Grievance Management Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grievance_management/policy.html
Disruption to Studies Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html The Disruption to Studies Policy is effective from March 3 2014 and replaces the Special Consideration Policy.
In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/
Please note that for the purposes of special consideration, "Satisfactory Progress" in ACCG828 means that students must achieve 50% of the available coursework marks.
Students must please use the unit email address for all correspondence with the Unit Convenor: accg828@mq.edu.au
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://informatics.mq.edu.au/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.
Our postgraduates will be able to demonstrate a significantly enhanced depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content knowledge in their chosen fields.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Our postgraduates will be capable of utilising and reflecting on prior knowledge and experience, of applying higher level critical thinking skills, and of integrating and synthesising learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments. A characteristic of this form of thinking is the generation of new, professionally oriented knowledge through personal or group-based critique of practice and theory.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Our postgraduates will be capable of systematic enquiry; able to use research skills to create new knowledge that can be applied to real world issues, or contribute to a field of study or practice to enhance society. They will be capable of creative questioning, problem finding and problem solving.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Macquarie University uses the following grades in coursework units of study:
HD - High Distinction
D - Distinction
CR - Credit
P - Pass
F - Fail
Grade Descriptors and other information concerning grading are contained in the Macquarie University Grading Policy at: http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/grading/policy.html.
All final grades in the Department of Accounting and Corporate Governance are determine by a grading committee and are not the sole responsibility of the Unit Convenor.
Students will awarded one of these grades plus a Standardised Numerical Grade (SNG). The SNG is not necessarily a summation of the individual assessment components. The final grade and SNG that is awarded reflect the corresponding grade descriptor in the Grading Policy. Additionally, there is a requirement to pass the final examination to be awarded a final grade of a Pass (P) or a higher grade. These requirements constitute satisfactory completion of the unit.
Please also refer to the relevant pages in the Handbook of Postgraduate Studies.
If, at the conclusion of the unit, you have performed below expectations, and are considering lodging an appeal of grade and/or viewing your final exam script, please refer to the following website which provides information about these processes and the cut off dates in the first instance. Please read the instructions provided concerning what constitutes valid grounds for appeal before appealing your grade.
• This unit uses research by Macquarie University researchers
Baard, V. & Perera, S. (2013) Using controls to manage team performance in professional service organisations. (Extract from working paper).
• This unit uses research papers from external sources. See the Unit Schedule and iLearn (ereserve) where these research papers are available to students
• This unit provides students with an opportunity to conduct research at the level of a closed inquiry with some structure / guidance (Level 2).