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ACC8104 Management Accounting for Sustainable Development

Subject Cat-nbr Class Term Mode Description Units Campus
ACC 8104 79442 2, 2008 EXT Management Accounting for Sustainable Development 1.00 Toowoomba
Academic group: FOBUS
Academic org: FOB008
Student contribution band: 3A
ASCED code: 080101

Contents


STAFFING

Examiner: Geoff Slaughter
Moderator: Peter Best


OTHER REQUISITES

Students are required to have access to a personal computer, e-mail capabilities and Internet access to USQConnect. Current details of computer requirements can be found at <http://www.usq.edu.au/business/aboutfob.htm>.


SYNOPSIS

Concerns about the survival of planet earth and the role played by organisations in creating a sustainable environment have triggered the need for information that is useful for formulating strategy and making decisions. While much work has been undertaken by the accounting profession to improve corporate reporting to stakeholders that includes environment impacts, little has been progressed on internal accounting systems that capture impacts in both financial and physical metrics. This course is designed to provide the necessary skills for managers that want to develop sustainable management accounting systems that will capture appropriate data to be able to report sustainability performance measures to management. Information reported can then be used for strategies and make decisions that will improve their long-term sustainable development.



OBJECTIVES

The course objectives define the student learning outcomes for a course. The assessment item/s that may be used to assess student achievement of an objective is/are shown in parentheses after each objective. On successful completion of this course, students should be able to:

1.
understand and articulate the changing role of management accounting in sustainable development and its role in underpinning reports to stakeholders about the business sustainability of organisations (Assignment 1, Assignment 2, Participation)
2.
demonstrate problem-solving skills through the use of management accounting skills necessary to advise and assist management in the sustainable strategy, planning, decision making and control of organisations (Assignment 1, Assignment 2, Participation)
3.
demonstrate written communication skills by planning and writing a report (Assignment 1, Assignment 2, Participation)
4.
demonstrate ethical research and inquiry by including an ethical dimension in problem-solving activities (Assignment 1, Assignment 2, Participation)
5.
demonstrate academic and professional literacy through the research of current issues and debates in sustainable management accounting through the examination of techniques, theories, and research (Assignment 1, Assignment 2, Participation).


TOPICS


Description Weighting (%)
1. Overview of environmental management accounting (EMA)
 25.00
2. EMA information systems
 25.00
3. EMA policies
 25.00
4. Different EMA perspectives
 25.00

TEXT and MATERIALS required to be PURCHASED or accessed

ALL textbooks and materials are available for purchase from USQ BOOKSHOP (unless otherwise stated). Orders may be placed via secure internet, free fax 1800642453, phone 07 46312742 (within Australia), or mail. Overseas students should fax +61 7 46311743, or phone +61 7 46312742. For costs, further details, and internet ordering, use the 'Textbook Search' facility at http://bookshop.usq.edu.au click 'Semester', then enter your 'Course Code' (no spaces).

There is no set text for this course. Students will be directed to readings.



REFERENCE MATERIALS

Reference materials are materials that, if accessed by students, may improve their knowledge and understanding of the material in the course and enrich their learning experience.

Students are expected to refer to relevant professional and academic journals to enhance their knowledge. For completion of the assignments, students are to refer to recommended references cited below. Some of the journals in various university libraries that would be of interest include: Journal of Cost Management; Journal of Management Accounting Research, (AAA) <http://www.usq.edu.au/library/eservices/bl-ebscohost.htm>; Management Accounting Research, (CIMA) <http://www.usq.edu.au/library/eservices/ezp_scidirect.htm>; Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal; The European Accounting Review; Ecological Economics; Environmental Modelling and Software; Journal of Accounting Education; Journal of Accounting, Auditing and Performance Evaluation; Accounting Forum; Business Strategy and the Environment; Journal of Cleaner Production.

Birkin, F & Woodward, D 1997, Management Accounting for Sustainable Development part 6, A zero-based approach to accounting for sustainable development, Management Accounting (British), December 1.

CPA Australia (Available: https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au).

Institute of Charted Accountants Australia (Available: http://www.icaa.org.au).

International Federation of Accountants Environmental Management Accounting (Available: http://www.ifac.org/Members/DownLoads/IFAC_Guidance_doc_on_EMA_FINAL.pdf).



STUDENT WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS

ACTIVITY HOURS
Assessments 30.00
Directed Study 52.00
Private Study 83.00


ASSESSMENT DETAILS

Description Marks out of Wtg(%) Due date
ASSIGNMENT 1 35.00 35.00 27 Aug 2008
ASSIGNMENT 2 45.00 45.00 29 Oct 2008
PARTICIPATION 20.00 20.00 31 Oct 2008

IMPORTANT ASSESSMENT INFORMATION

  1. Attendance requirements:
    If you are an international student in Australia, you are advised to attend all classes at your campus. For all other students, there are no attendance requirements for this course. However, it is the students' responsibility to study all material provided to them or required to be accessed by them to maximise their chance of meeting the objectives of the course and to be informed of course-related activities and administration.
  2. Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
    To satisfactorily complete an individual assessment item a student must achieve at least 50% of the marks. (Depending upon the requirements in Statement 4 below, students may not have to satisfactorily complete each assessment item to receive a passing grade in this course.)
  3. Penalties for late submission of required work:
    If students submit assignments after the due date without prior approval of the examiner, then a penalty of 5% of the total marks gained by the student for the assignment may apply for each working day late up to ten working days at which time a mark of zero may be recorded.
  4. Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
    To be assured of receiving a passing grade a student must achieve at least 50% of the total weighted marks available for the course.
  5. Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
    The final grades for students will be assigned on the basis of the aggregate of the weighted marks obtained for each of the summative assessment items in the course.
  6. Examination information:
    There is no examination in this course.
  7. Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
    Not applicable.
  8. University Regulations:
    Students should read USQ Regulations 5.1 Definitions, 5.6 Assessment, and 5.10 Student Academic Misconduct for further information and to avoid actions which might contravene university regulations. These regulations can be found at <http://www.usq.edu.au/corporateservices/calendar/part5.htm>. Students should also read the Faculty of Business Policies and Procedures which can be found at <http://www.usq.edu.au/business/aboutfob.htm>.

ASSESSMENT NOTES

1. Assignments: (i) The due date for an assignment is the date by which a student must despatch the assignment to the USQ. The onus is on the student to provide proof of the despatch date, if requested by the examiner. (ii) Students must retain a copy of each assignment submitted for assessment. This must be produced within 24 hours if required by the examiner. (iii) The examiner may grant an extension of the due date of an assignment in extenuating circumstances. Computer systems failure will not be valid grounds for applications for extension of assignment due dates. If students wish to claim extenuating circumstances then they shall provide validated documentary evidence explaining the circumstances prior to relevant due date. The examiner shall consider the statement and decide on the outcome. No extension will be granted if an extension is applied for after the due date of the assignment. A request for an extension included with the late assignment will not be granted. (iv) No extension will be granted after the solution and results have been made available to students. (v) Assignments are to be submitted in accordance with assignment instructions provided or as directed by the examiner.
2. Course weightings: Course weightings of topics should not be interpreted as applying to the number of marks allocated to any aspects of the assessment assessing those topics.
3. Deferred work: Students who, for medical, family/personal, or employment-related reasons, are unable to complete an assignment at the scheduled time may apply to defer an assessment in a course. Such a request must be accompanied by appropriate supporting documentation. A temporary grade of IDM (Incomplete Deferred Make-up) may be awarded.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

  1. Computer and software requirements will be outlined in the Introductory book.
  2. Students are required to have or have access to a personal computer system and any required software (see above) that are fully operational PRIOR to the commencement of the semester in which the course is offered. Systems failure will not be valid grounds for applications for extension of assignment due dates. Ensure backups are regularly maintained on external storage media, for example, CD, USB drive or floppy disk.
  3. Students will require access to email and Internet access to USQConnect for this course.

This version produced 28 Aug 2009.
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