General provisions

The course is offered within the Bachelor's Programme in Business and Economics and as a single subject course. The course syllabus was approved by the board of the Department of Business Studies on delegation from the Faculty of Social Sciences and takes effects as of 2009-08-31.

Entry requirements

Completed 15 credits from Basic Course A in Business Studies, and registered for another 15 credits at the same level.

Learning outcomes

The course is intended to give the students basic skills in management accounting and control, plus the prerequisites for a nuanced and critical approach to concepts and methods. A rational approach is contrasted with a critical one, which means that both the methods and the ways in which they are applied and work in practice will be studied.

Upon completing the course, the student will be able to:

- explain basic management accounting and control concepts and methods

- apply those concepts and methods in practical situations

- examine methods critically

- demonstrate a basic understanding of the problems and difficulties involved in management accounting and control

- communicate their own efforts and contribute to and evaluate the work of others

Content

Management accounting and control is intended to bring the individual and the organisation together. On the one hand, managers and employees have their own personal goals, motivations and behaviours. On the other hand, organisations have their structures, routines, particular cultures and formal goals that deviate to some extent from the managers' and employees' personal goals. Different management methods are used to bring individuals and organisations together with a view to providing a sound basis for decision-making, and to motivating employees to act in such a way that the organisation achieves its overarching goals. Looking out for the owners' interests is a key element in management accounting and control, although other stakeholders are often considered to be important as well. The goals of an organisation can be profitability, customer and employee satisfaction, or the survival of the organisation. It then follows that different management methods can be relevant in achieving the goals of an organisation.

The course imparts knowledge about various control methods, such as salaries, budgets, financial accountability, investment evaluation, performance metrics, product estimates, rules and corporate cultures. The control methods can contribute to productivity and efficiency, but this is by no means always the case. Effects that are inconsistent with the intentions of the decision-makers are a common occurrence. There are no absolute solutions in terms of how such controls should be designed to ensure that an organisation will be successful. A design that proves successful in one organisation may be less suitable in another. One of the important messages in the course is that controls are significantly more complicated than many imagine, including many managers within organisations. The course is intended to make the students aware of this complexity, and to develop their ability to analyse, evaluate and design the controls in various organisations.

Instruction

The instruction takes the form of lectures, seminars, group work and independent study. During the lectures, illustrative examples are used to facilitate the students' understanding of methods and concepts. At the seminars, the students are given opportunities to apply these methods and concepts to the controls present in different kinds of organisations. The group work includes studies of practical applications, and is documented in PM report work. The independent study projects include literature studies and exercise assignments.

Assessment

Course examination includes written and oral assignments as well as a written exam. The course consists of obligatory parts. Examination includes both individual and team work elements. Grading criteria are presented in the study guide provided at the start of the course. Grades will be given in accordance with the Swedish grading system and the ECTS grading system. The following grades will be used: VG (pass with distinction), G (pass) and U (fail). Assignments and exams handed in late will not be graded except in special circumstances. Additional information is also provided in the form of grades on a seven-point grading scale (ECTS). In addition, any outstanding assignments or supplemental work must be completed and handed in by the deadline specified in the study guide. Otherwise the test in question will receive a grade of U. The entire course (including all assignments) will then have to be redone the following semester, provided there is space in the course.

Uppsala University takes cheating and plagiarism seriously, and disciplinary action will be taken against any student suspected of being involved in any sort of cheating and/or plagiarism. The disciplinary actions take the form of warnings and limited suspensions.

NOTE: Only completed courses can count toward a degree.

Transitional provisions

The course substitutes/overlaps among others Controlling 2FE618, Corprate Control 2FE957, Management Control 2FE204, 2FE208.