22321 Cost Management Systems
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particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source
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Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 6 cp
Subject level:
Undergraduate
Result type: Grade and marksRequisite(s): 22207 Accounting for Business Decisions B OR 22208 Accounting, Business and Society
These requisites may not apply to students in certain courses.
There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
Description
This subject examines the role of management accounting and business strategy in general, and cost management and analysis in particular to support the achievement of organisational strategies and goals. Students learn a broad range of cost accounting concepts and techniques to support cost accounting analysis and decision making. Additionally, students learn how Information and Communications Technology can be used as a tool to solve practical costing problems, and to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of organisational communications, systems and processes. Students acquire a set of concepts, skills and techniques that are necessary for potential managers, with particular appreciation of the various issues and challenges faced by managers in contemporary organisations.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
| 1. | explain the role of management accounting and strategy in contemporary organisations to support the achievement of organisational strategies and goals |
|---|---|
| 2. | apply a range of appropriate quantitative techniques and use costing information for business planning, performance evaluation and control |
| 3. | critically evaluate data and cost information to solve practical costing problems and support tactical and strategic decision making |
| 4. | explain how Information and Communications Technology is used to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of organisational communication, systems and processes, and how it supports data analysis and decision making |
Contribution to the development of graduate attributes
This subject contributes to the Accounting Major by introducing fundamental management accounting concepts and techniques necessary to produce and apply accounting information in contemporary organisations. The subject relates more broadly to the Bachelor of Business through an appreciation of how accounting information is implicated in wider organisational decision-making processes. Specifically, this subject contributes to the development of Graduate Attribute by introducing students to the cost accounting principles and technical skills necessary for a professional accountant, and demonstrating how these concepts can be used to help solve practical business problems.
The subject also contributes to the Graduate Attribute through an appreciation of conventional and contemporary methods of cost accounting, which are necessary for preparing accounting reports such as budgets. The subject also exposes students to how cost information is being used to manage multiple stakeholder concerns through internal and external reporting.
This subject contributes to the development of the following graduate attributes:
- Social responsibility and cultural awareness
- Professional and technical competence
This subject also contributes specifically to develop the following Program Learning Objectives:
- Apply evidence, creativity and critical reasoning to solve business problems (1.1)
Teaching and learning strategies
Cost Management Systems is taught using a mix of face-to-face teaching, online resources and self-directed study.
Lectures: Lectures provide the structure of a topic area, discussion of theory and practical examples. Lecture recordings are available through the Canvas site.
Tutorials: Students are expected to attend the lecture and review notes, undertake relevant readings and attempt all homework tasks before attending the tutorial. Tutorials provide an opportunity to discuss concepts and ideas, receive feedback on attempted homework tasks, and be involved in group-based problem-solving exercises and case studies.
Discussion Board: Extensive use is made of the Canvas Discussion Board to answer student enquiries.
Self-directed study: Students will be required to undertake self-directed study in order to successfully engage in discussions, in-class exercises and computer-based tasks. Animated videos and textbook resources are made available online to help students with their study.
Content (topics)
- Cost behaviour and cost estimation
- Product costing systems
- Approaches to allocating overheads
- Budgeting and variance analysis
- Business processes and strategies
- Data analysis and reporting
- Database management systems
- Datasets, database design and systems documentation
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Online Quizzes (Individual)*
| Intent: | The grade for this assessment will be the average of the three best quiz marks out of 4 quizzes. The lowest 1 quiz mark will not count. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This addresses subject learning objective(s): 2, 3 and 4 |
| Weight: | 30% |
| Length: | Each quiz will be 30 minutes in length. |
| Criteria: | This assessment will be graded on the following criteria:
*Note: Late submission of the assessment task will not be marked and awarded a mark of zero. |
Assessment task 2: Assignment (Group)
| Objective(s): | This addresses subject learning objective(s): 1, 2, 3 and 4 |
|---|---|
| Weight: | 20% |
| Criteria: | This assessment will be graded on the following criteria:
A more detailed marking rubric is provided on Canvas |
Assessment task 3: Final Exam (Individual)
| Intent: | This assessment task is a compulsory component of the subject. A student must attain no less than 40% of the marks in this assessment to pass the subject irrespective of the subject’s total marks. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This addresses subject learning objective(s): 1, 2, 3 and 4 |
| Weight: | 50% |
| Length: | Duration: 2 hours |
| Criteria: | This assessment will be graded on the following criteria:
|
Minimum requirements
A student must achieve 50% or more of the subject’s total marks AND achieve 40% or more in the final exam to pass the subject.
A Fail (X) Grade is awarded to a student who attains 50% or more of the overall subject assessment marks but attains less than 40% of the final exam marks. To pass the subject, the student must then attain 50% or more of the marks in the supplementary task, in which case the student is awarded an overall mark of 50P.
Required texts
Course Textbooks:
Leslie G. Eldenburg, Albie Brooks, Judy Oliver, Gillian Vesty, Rodney Dormer, Vijaya Murthy, Nick Pawsey, Management Accounting, 4th Edition, John Wiley and Sons.
Print ISBN : 9780730369387 | Digital ISBN : 9780730369424
Richardson V.J., Teeter R.A. and Terrell K.L., Data Analytics for Accounting, 3rd Edition (International), McGraw-Hill,
Print ISBN: 9781264444908 | Digital ISBN: 9781264460571
Other resources
Required software:
During semester, students will need to use Microsoft Teams, Zoom and Microsoft Excel. Links to free software downloads of all programs are provided on Canvas.