Students

ACCG3030 – Strategic Management Accounting

2023 – Session 1, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde

General Information

Download as PDF
Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Kevin Baird
kevin.baird@mq.edu.au
Contact via 98508532
4 Eastern Road, room 308
Monday 10-11
Simon Tilley
simon.tilley@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
(ACCG200 or ACCG2000) and (ACCG301 or ACCG3001)
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit further develops the concepts and techniques covered in ACCG2000 and ACCG3001. This unit provides a systematic and critical analysis of the issues related to the integration of management accounting and control systems with strategy implementation. Strategy is initially discussed as a topic in its own right, followed by an examination of how various strategic choices affect management accounting techniques such as activity-based accounting, variance analysis, and performance evaluation. By the end of this unit students will be able to analyse complex situations and develop approaches that are logical, consistent and defensible from a strategic perspective. The unit uses case studies extensively to develop graduate capabilities centred upon higher order critical analysis skills and the ability of students to generate a range of effective alternative options and innovative solutions to case based scenarios.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: Critically evaluate different organisational strategies and develop approaches that are logical, consistent and defensible from a strategic perspective.
  • ULO2: Explain the influence of strategy on the design of management accounting systems.
  • ULO3: Recognise the important role of advanced costing systems, performance evaluation, and incentive systems within organisations.
  • ULO4: Present clear and justified viewpoint(s) through the use of effective oral and written communication skills and proper analysis and interpretation of case based scenarios.

General Assessment Information

Late Assessment Submission Penalty (written assessments)  

  Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a grade of ‘0’ will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical concern.   

 For any late submissions of time-sensitive tasks, such as scheduled tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, and/or scheduled practical assessments/labs, students need to submit an application for Special Consideration. 

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Report 30% No Week 10 (11:55pm 12/5/23)
Final Examination 40% No Weeks 14-16 (5th-23rd June, 2023)
Participatory tasks 15% No Weeks 2-7 & 9-12
Weekly assignments 15% No Weeks 2-7 & 9-11

Report

Assessment Type 1: Report
Indicative Time on Task 2: 37 hours
Due: Week 10 (11:55pm 12/5/23)
Weighting: 30%

 

Students are required to investigate, submit a report, and participate in a group presentation on a company other than Australia Post or Telstra. The groups of 4-5 must consist of students registered in the same tutorial. The assessment consists of two parts; a 2,500 word written report (15%) and a group presentation (15%).

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Critically evaluate different organisational strategies and develop approaches that are logical, consistent and defensible from a strategic perspective.
  • Explain the influence of strategy on the design of management accounting systems.
  • Present clear and justified viewpoint(s) through the use of effective oral and written communication skills and proper analysis and interpretation of case based scenarios.

Final Examination

Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Weeks 14-16 (5th-23rd June, 2023)
Weighting: 40%

 

A two hour final examination will be held during the university examination period. All material covered in the unit will be examinable.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Critically evaluate different organisational strategies and develop approaches that are logical, consistent and defensible from a strategic perspective.
  • Explain the influence of strategy on the design of management accounting systems.
  • Recognise the important role of advanced costing systems, performance evaluation, and incentive systems within organisations.
  • Present clear and justified viewpoint(s) through the use of effective oral and written communication skills and proper analysis and interpretation of case based scenarios.

Participatory tasks

Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Weeks 2-7 & 9-12
Weighting: 15%

 

This assessment task requires students to complete the weekly assignment questions and participate in weekly activities conducted during tutorials. Marks will be awarded based on student’s performance in relation to these weekly tasks.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Critically evaluate different organisational strategies and develop approaches that are logical, consistent and defensible from a strategic perspective.
  • Explain the influence of strategy on the design of management accounting systems.
  • Recognise the important role of advanced costing systems, performance evaluation, and incentive systems within organisations.
  • Present clear and justified viewpoint(s) through the use of effective oral and written communication skills and proper analysis and interpretation of case based scenarios.

Weekly assignments

Assessment Type 1: Case study/analysis
Indicative Time on Task 2: 36 hours
Due: Weeks 2-7 & 9-11
Weighting: 15%

 

Weekly case based assignments will be submitted online. 3 out of 10 (chosen randomly) will be marked against the rubric that is available on iLearn.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Critically evaluate different organisational strategies and develop approaches that are logical, consistent and defensible from a strategic perspective.
  • Explain the influence of strategy on the design of management accounting systems.
  • Recognise the important role of advanced costing systems, performance evaluation, and incentive systems within organisations.
  • Present clear and justified viewpoint(s) through the use of effective oral and written communication skills and proper analysis and interpretation of case based scenarios.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

Please refer to ilearn

Unit Schedule

ACCG3030 Strategic Management Accounting

 

 

Week commencing)

Topic

Readings

(see unit webpage)

Week 1

(20th February)

Introduction and course overview Introduction to Strategic Management Accounting

Unit Guide

Hopper, Northcott & Scapens (2007)

Week 2

(27th February)

 

Strategic Process and Strategic Analysis

Porter (2008)

Week 3

(6th March)

 

Strategy and Management Control

Su et al. (2017; 2015; 2013)

Week 4

(13th March)

 

Strategic change and strategic flexibility

Beyond budgeting

 

Hope and Fraser (2003);

Steele and Albright (2004)

Week 5

(20th March)

Incentive compensation systems

Activity based costing

Optional Revision*

Week 6

(27th March))

Assessing and managing performance over the value chain

Atkinson et al. (2007)

Week 7

(3rd April)

Financial measures of performance

Optional Revision**

 

 

SESSION BREAK (10th-21st April)

 

Week 8

(24th April)

 

NO CLASSES WILL BE HELD THIS WEEK DUE TO ANZAC DAY AND TO GIVE STUDENTS TIME TO WORK ON THE GROUP REPORT (DUE FRIDAY 12th MAY, 11:55pm)

 

Week 9

(1st May)

 

Non-financial measures of performance

 

Optional Revision***

Week 10

(8th May)

 

Strategic and behavioural aspects of capital expenditure evaluations

 

Week 11

(15th May)

Revision

 

Week 12

(22nd May)

Group research report presentations

 

Week 13

(29th May)

 

NO CLASSES

 

You can refer to Chapters 8*, 13** and 14*** of the following text or any other management accounting textbook

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

The Writing Centre

The Writing Centre provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via AskMQ, or contact Service Connect.

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/. 

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Unit information based on version 2023.01 of the Handbook