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 credits
Module 2. Advanced Management Accounting, 7,5 credits
Module 3. Advanced Financial Accounting, 7,5 credits
Module 4. Current Trends in Business Administration, 7,5 credits

The course has a number of goals for the development of generic competencesskills. After completing the course, the student should be able to:

• analyze and frame problems in the accounting area  
• understand and evaluate accounting and auditing related issues from an ethical perspective
• work effectively in team environments
• plan conduct, and present investigations, both orally and in writing, for an academic audience as well as an audience of business practitioners.

 Module 1. Research Methodology in Business Research, 7,5 credits
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. The course is given an examined in English. Note as well examination modes for the course below.
 
Module 2.   Advanced Management Accounting, 7.5 credits
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
• critique and apply theoretical and research based knowledge in the area of management accounting;
• 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.
• Produce 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. The course is given an examined in English. Note as well examination modes for the course below.
 
Module 3.   Advanced Financial Accounting, 7.5 credits
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:

• apply the International Financial reporting Standards in intermediate as well as more advanced situations.
• 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
• 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
Learning is supported by lectures and cases
 
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. The course is given an examined in English. Note as well examination modes for the course below.
 
Module 4. Current Trends in Business Administration 7,5 credits
The aim of this master module 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 module 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
Learning is supported by 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 paper concerning future trends in the student's area of specialization. A passing grade is required for each part of the module. The course is given an examined in English. Note as well examination modes for the course below.
 
 

Expected learning outcomes

See each separate module.

Required Knowledge

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. 30 credits within the core course in Business Administration at the master program.

Form of instruction

See each separate module.

Examination modes

See each separate module and below.
 
The following grading system is used:
Pass with distinction (Väl godkänd, VG, 75% or more),
Pass (Godkänd, G, 50% or more)
and Fail (Underkänd U, less than 50%).
 
Grades on the course are awarded when the student has passed all examinations and compulsory course elements. The course is given and examined in English.
To receive the grade Pass with distinction (VG) in the 30 credits course consisting of four modules of the same size, the student must have achieved Pass with distinction (VG) in at least three out of four modules. In shorter courses for example 7,5 credit courses, 15 credit courses or 22,5 credits courses Pass with distinction (VG) is given when the student has achieved at least 75% of the total weighted points.
 
A student who does not pass at the time of the written examination will be offered an opportunity to sit a further examination within two months. Beyond that, additional examination opportunities normally arise every academic year, one week prior to the start of the autumn term.
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. Mandatory assignments (seminars, written assignments, cases, computer assignments etc.) that have not been handed in within stipulated time must be done the next time the course is offered. If the form of examination does not permit repetition other forms of re-examination may be used.
 
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.
 
A student who has passed an examination cannot redo the examination to get a higher grade.
 
If a student fails to present a photo ID at the occasion of a written exam in an exam room will not be allowed to take the exam.
 
Disciplinary action may be taken against students who uses unauthorized help aids or in some other way tries to mislead on a test or when another type of task is being evaluated. 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. In addtion, Umeå University rules and regulations for education and research applies:  http://www.umu.se/regelverk/utbildning-pa-grund--och-avancerad-niva.
Educational activities are designed to facilitate students towards achieving expected learning outcomes and can explain, supplement and provide contrast to the course literature and other relevant course materials.
 
 
 

Other regulations

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