Current Trends and a Minor in Accounting D, 30 Credits

Contents

The course gives the opportunity to further develop within the major subject in a module on the latest development and in a module on research methodology. The course also gives a Minor subject in Accounting.

The course is given an examined in English.

Module 1. Research Methodology in Business Research, 7,5 ECTS
Module 2. Advanced management accounting, 7,5 ECTS
Module 3. Advanced financial accounting, 7,5 ECTS
Module 4. Current Trends in Business Administration, 7,5 ECTS

Module 1. Research Methodology in Business Research, 7,5 ECTS
The overarching aim of this course is to develop advanced knowledge of perspectives, strategies and design in research. This will increase the student’s ability to carry out and assess business research and investigations. Important building blocks are the problem formulation, frames of reference, scientific approaches, including the ontological and epistemological points of departure, and methods for data collection and analysis.

Expected learning outcomes:
After completing this module, the student should be able to:

• identify and discuss how fundamental assumptions, scientific ideals, perspectives and frames of reference influence a process of scientific knowledge creation
• formulate and argue for relevant research questions, including the theoretical relevance and positioning
• discuss characteristics of research strategies and approaches, critically review and assess literature, and discuss and evaluate the suitability of various methods to solve different research questions
• apply acquired knowledge in the planning, design, implementation and reporting of scientific studies
• demonstrate an ability to assess and discuss social, environmental and ethical dimensions of business research issues

Focus of instruction:
Lectures, seminars, practical assignment(s), individually or in groups, and the reading material complement each other to help students to develop deep knowledge of what scientific research in business and management fields is all about.

Examination modes
The final grade is based on a written exam and reporting of assignment(s). Participation at all seminars and presentations is compulsory to pass the module. The final grade is awarded when the student has passed all assignments and compulsory course elements.

See also note 6 below.

Module 2.   Advanced management accounting, 7.5 ECTS
Management accountants are strategic financial management professionals who integrate accounting expertise with advanced management skills to drive business performance, with the postulate that the sustainability of a firm depends on its ability to recognize and benefit from its value drivers. With a solid theoretical framework, the course addresses modern issues in management control and performance measurement. The focus is on the enhancement of shareholder value through customer-driven value creation from a value-based management perspective. A second purpose of the course is to enhance students’ knowledge and analytical skills related to the way managers design, and utilize planning and management control systems to implement strategies. Techniques of the management control process are studied and behavioural considerations are discussed. The management accounting systems studied should provide information on the value drivers of organizations, to assist in aligning the self-interests of management with long-term shareholder wealth. The students will also become aware of the varied and changing roles of the management accountant.

Expected learning outcomes:
After completing this module, the student should:

• analyse the roles management accounting systems have in organizations and make the best use of the knowledge of contemporary management accounting techniques;
• be able to act as a catalyst, facilitator and management accounting change agent in organisations and be well prepared for the varied and changing roles of the controller function
• demonstrate an  ability to work with the theoretical and research based knowledge in the area of management accounting;
• demonstrate an ability to communicate, negotiate and report financial and non-financial information within a management team by means of;
• detailed and coherent reports (both written and spoken) in matters related to management accounting.

Focus of instruction
The developments of the management accounting subject, techniques and concepts are presented during lectures.  Requiring reading for the module includes cases, chapters, and articles contained in the assigned textbooks and supplementary materials. Students will become familiar with quantitative issues through numerical examples, exercises and cases. They are expected to take an active part in discussions on the development of the field, literature and article seminars and reporting about case studies. They will be given a number of assignments, leading to continuous assessment. Course work will be done individually and in small groups. Course work must reach an advanced level of knowledge and understanding of the subject.

Examination modes
Examination is based upon a written comprehensive individual exam and group assignments. A passing grade is required for each part of the module. See also note 6 below.

Module 3.   Advanced financial accounting, 7.5 ECTS
The main objective in presenting this module is to consolidate students’ understanding of the IFRS standards and students’ ability to utilize aspects of accounting theory to resolve major reporting issues. International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) have received increasingly favourable attention during the past years and are currently used by listed companies in around 120 jurisdictions around the world

Expected learning outcomes
After completing this module, the student should be able to:

• understand and apply the IFRS accounting rules in intermediate as well as more advanced situations. Examples of more advanced topics covered at the course module are: segment reporting, interim reporting, fair value measurement, valuation issues in business combinations, financial instruments, hedging, pensions and share-based payments.
• critique accounting choices from an ethical point of view
• identify places where there is accounting flexibility in the IFRS standards and evaluate the appropriateness of companies’ accounting policies and choices
• evaluate the credit risk of companies using financial statements.
• use accounting principles and theory in order to evaluate and criticize accounting standards
• analyze the contents of corporate responsibility reporting and other similar types of reports prepared by publicly listed companies.

Focus of instruction
This course module is presented through lectures, cases and seminars.

Examination modes
Examination is based upon a written comprehensive individual exam and group assignments. A passing grade is required for each part of the module. See also note 6 below.

Module 4. Current Trends in Business Administration 7,5 ECTS
The aim of this master course is to lead the students to explore, create greater far-sightedness and also readiness to meet emerging strategic trends in business environments.  The first part of the course focuses on general theories, practice, and methods related to future studies. Specific attention is paid to international “mega trends” which are predicted to have a long-term impact on society at large, e.g. climate change, globalization, and an aging population. The second part concentrates on the core areas of the five master programs at USBE, and will examine how “mega trends” may be transformed to strategies and management routines related to the business sector.  Emerging research questions and suggestions for future research in accounting, entrepreneurship, finance, management, or marketing will be discussed. In the last part of the course, but introduced at the beginning of the course, each student will apply acquired knowledge to develop a conceptual paper based on the identification of one future-oriented topic.    

Expected learning outcomes
After completing the course the student should be able to:

• evaluate emerging trends in society
• demonstrate familiarity with forecasting/scanning/scenario/monitoring methods
• formulate specific action plans of how to meet current trends in specific sub-disciplines in the business sector
• with a research approach evaluate the state of the art and identify and communicate future trends within the major field of the master program relevant for respective student

Focus of instruction
Teaching is conducted through lectures, seminars and course papers. The core topics will be covered by lectures and seminars, in which students will be expected to take an active part. Students are required to make oral presentations at seminars and to submit written course papers.

Examination modes
Examination is based upon the completion and defense of an individual conceptual

A passing grade is required for each part of the module.

Expected learning outcomes

See respective module.

Required Knowledge

University: Admitted to one of the following Master programs in Business Administration (Management, Finance, Marketing or Business Development and internationalization) at Umeå School of Business and Economics.

Form of instruction

See respective module.

Examination modes

See also above under respective module.

The following grading system will be used:
Pass with distinction (Väl godkänd, Vg, 75% or more),
Pass (Godkänd, G, 50% or more)
Fail (Underkänd, U, less than 50%).

To receive the grade Pass with distinction (Väl godkänd) on the course, the student must have achieved that grade in three of the four modules.

Students who fail to present a photo ID at the occasion of a written examination cannot have their results registered.

In case of failure on seminar participation or individual and group assignments, compensating assignments must be completed in accordance with instructions given, no later than two weeks after the completion of the module.

Students who do not pass at the time of the normal written examination will be offered an opportunity to sit a further examination within a month. Beyond that, additional examination opportunities normally arise every academic year, one week prior to the start of the autumn term.

When a student has failed an examination on two occasions, he or she has a right to have another grading teacher. A written request for an alternative examiner should be handed to the director of studies no later than two weeks before the next examination opportunity.

Rules and regulations concerning the production of academic texts and correct referencing will be applicable to all written assignments. (see instructions in the Thesis manual. Thesis writing in Business Administration.) Urkund records may be used for control.

Lectures are normally not obligatory. However attendance is expected because the lectures are designed to facilitate students towards achieving course specific learning objectives. In addition lectures often provide insightful explanations of, and can supplement and provide contrast to, the course literature and other relevant course materials.

Student who has passed an examination cannot retake the examination to get a higher grading.

Grades on the course are awarded when students have passed all examinations and compulsory course elements.

Academic credit transfer
Academic credit transfers are according to the University credit transfer regulations.

Other regulations

This is a course at D-level (Advanced level) in the Masters’ program in Business and Administration at Umeå School of Business and Economics.