GRADUATE SCHOOL
GM0310
credits
Strategic Management Accounting, 7.5 higher education
Strategisk ekonomistyrning, 7,5 högskolepoäng
Second Cycle
Confirmation
This course syllabus was confirmed by School of Business, Economics and Law on
2008-06-10 and was last revised on 2015-08-13 to be valid from 2015-08-31, autumn
semester of 2015.
Field of education: Social Sciences 100%
Department: Graduate School
Position in the educational system
The course can be part of the following programmes: 1) Master of Science in
Management (S2MAN), 2) Master of Science in Marketing and Consumption
(S2MAC), 3) Master of Science in Accounting (S2ACC), 4) Master of Science in
Economics (S2ECO), 5) Programme in Environmental Social Science (SMILM), 6)
Programme in Business and Economics (S1HEG), 7) Master of Science in Logistics and
Transport Management (S2LOG), 8) Programme in Business and Economics (S1HEM),
9) Master of Science in Knowledge-based Entrepreneurship (S2KEN), 10) Program in
Environmental Social Science (S1SML), 11) Master of Science in Environmental
Management and Economics (S2EMA), 12) Programme in Logistics management
(S1LOM), 13) Master of Science in Tourism and Hospitality Management (S2TOM),
14) Master of Science in Finance (S2FIN), 15) Master of Science in International
Business and Trade (S2IBT) and 16) Master of Science in Innovation and Industrial
Management (S2IFM)
Main field of studies
Specialization
Accounting
A1N, Second cycle, has only first-cycle
course/s as entry requirements
2/ 4
Entry requirements
To be eligible for the course Strategic Management Accounting, the participant must
fulfil the entrance qualifications for the Master of Science programme in Accounting.
For programme specific entrance requirements, see programme syllabus.
Learning outcomes
After completion of the course, the student shall be able to:
1. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the emergence and the
contemporary use of different concepts of strategic positioning, strategic
management accounting and strategic performance management and measurement
systems.
2. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of strategic cost management linked to
strategic value creation and different strategic performance measurement methods
and techniques.
3. Relate strategic management accounting theories to wider societal phenomena and
evaluate outcomes.
4. Within the above three areas (learning outcome 1-3), establish and express opinions
in written documents and group discussions.
5. Within the above three areas (learning outcome 1-3), demonstrate communication
skills, i.e. the ability to effectively communicate both orally and in writing,
including team-working abilities.
Course content
The course focuses on the strategic perspective of management accounting. Strategic
decisions determine the overall direction of an enterprise. When strategies have been
formulated, there is a need in the organization to implement them in order for the
organization to be able to act and move the operations forward. Traditionally this has
been an area where management accounting and control have been critical to
understand and be able to work with. Management control techniques and methods are
usually used to translate strategy into actions. This course therefore deals above all with
three perspectives:
1. how can organizations’ management think and act strategically in contemporary
society and according to different stakeholder demands?
2. how can strategic performance be managed and measured (techniques and
methods)?
3. how is cost management linked to value creation models?
The course follows these three paths with three blocks:
Block 1: Strategic performance management and measurement
GM0310 Strategic Management Accounting, 7.5 higher education credits / Strategisk ekonomistyrning, 7,5
högskolepoäng
Second Cycle
3/ 4
The roles of management accounting methods and techniques are to support the
development and implementation of strategic decisions. Companies will place different
emphasis on particular management accounting methods and techniques, depending on
which strategic position the company takes. A natural consequence of a strategic
position is that performance needs to be measured in order to be able to follow up how
operations are doing. Depending on the performance shown in reports, different actions
might need to be taken, which forms the basis for performance management.
Block 2: Thinking and acting strategically, in contemporary businesses and society, and
according to different stakeholder demands
(Strategic) management accounting and control activities are being extensively affected
by risk management and corporate governance issues but also public policies and
demands from the broader society. Organizations need to adapt to societal and
economic changes with adequate risk controls but also with the suitable value creation
models. Sustainable value creation is a way to go for organizations to gain legitimacy. In
the course, the increasingly and inextricably interdependency between management
accounting and control, risk management, value creation and corporate governance are
explored.
Block 3: Strategic cost management linked to value creation models
In order to be able to analyze costs there is a need to be able to understand the language
and concepts applied to define how resources are used in terms of costs and how this
applies to performance in financial and other terms. This is especially important when it
comes to the ability to plan, control and make decisions within an organization. The
cost concept is then connected to different ideas about strategic managerial moves and
value creation decisions.
This course is therefore aiming at showing how different strategic management methods
and techniques can be used and the ways in which these methods and techniques can be
applied in developing and implementing strategy. In addition to the three above
mentioned rather traditional perspectives, actual live-cases are discussed as a way of
applying theory to practice. Moreover, broadening conceptual lectures with group
discussions will improve understanding that broadens the traditional strategic
management accounting perspective.
Form of teaching
The teaching consists of lectures and seminars including group work and oral
presentations. Information technology supported laboratories can, when possible,
strengthen the form of teaching.
GM0310 Strategic Management Accounting, 7.5 higher education credits / Strategisk ekonomistyrning, 7,5
högskolepoäng
Second Cycle
4/ 4
Language of instruction: English
Assessment
Learning outcomes 1, 2 and 3 are assessed through a written exam.
Learning outcome 4 and 5 are assessed through written group reports and oral
presentations.
If a student, who has failed the same examined component twice, wishes to change
examiner before the next examination, a written application shall be sent to the
department responsible for the course and shall be granted unless there are special
reasons to the contrary (Chapter 6, Section 22 of Higher Education Ordinance).
In cases where a course has been discontinued or has undergone major changes, the
student shall normally be guaranteed at least three examination occasions (including the
ordinary examination) during a period of at least one year from the last time the course
was given.
Examination possibilities will be offered at least five times during the course of each
two-year period. Students who have made five unsuccessful attempts to pass an
examination have lost the possibility of obtaining a Master of Science Degree from
Graduate School.
Grades
The grading scale comprises: Pass with Distinction (VG), Pass (G) and Fail (U).
For Pass on the course, Pass is required on all learning outcomes. For Pass with
Distinction on the course, Pass with Distinction is required on learning outcome 1 to 3,
and Pass on the remaining learning outcomes 4 and 5.
The grades on each case will be presented together with the points from the written
examination after the course is finished.
Course evaluation
The course will be evaluated upon completion. The results of and possible changes to
the course will be shared with students who participated in the evaluation and students
who are starting the course.
GM0310 Strategic Management Accounting, 7.5 higher education credits / Strategisk ekonomistyrning, 7,5
högskolepoäng
Second Cycle