Management accounting
PROF. STEFANO BARALDI; PROF. ANTONELLA CIFALINÒ
COURSE AIMS
The course aims at:
1. clarifying the functions of management control systems;
2. understanding how these systems can actually support managerial processes in
business organizations;
3. analyzing the basic accounting tools for planning and control (cost accounting,
budgeting, reporting);
4. pointing out the role of management accounting in business decision making.
COURSE CONTENT
Management control systems in business organizations. Focus on decision making:
cost behavior, relevant information and cost-volume relationships.
Cost accounting systems: cost objects, direct costing vs full costing, costs
allocation.
The master budget and its use in business organizations. Variance analysis and
reporting. Management control systems and responsibility accounting.
READING LIST
C.T. HORNGREN-G.L. SUNDEM-W.O. STRATTON-D. BURGSTAHLER-J. SCHATZBERG, Introduction to
management accounting, Pearson, 2013 (16th edition).
TEACHING METHOD
Teaching methods will stimulate learning by doing and will require a full participation
by students. Case histories and business cases will be frequently discussed.
ASSESSMENT METHOD
Students will be evaluated both through a written (30-40 minutes, exercises) and an oral
test on the whole program of the course. Only students passing the written test can take the
oral test.
Students attending the whole course and enrolled by Blackboard will have the
opportunity to be evaluated through two written tests (an intermediate test during the course
and a final test at the end of the course, open questions and exercises). Only students passing
the intermediate test can take the final test. Students who fail the intermediate or the final
test take their exam following the standard rules (written and oral test).
NOTES
Further information can be found on the lecturer's webpage or on the Faculty notice
board.