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

Common expected learning outcome:

• communicate central concepts for the course in English, both orally and in writing

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 qualitative, quantitative, and mixed 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 aspects of the business research process

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 individual written home 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 module elements. The course is given and 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. During the module, students will also be introduced to methods of working in international teams.
 
Expected learning outcomes:
After completing this module, the student should:

• Explain the meaning and significance of management accounting and control and discuss factors that make management accounting and controlling systems differ.
•  Evaluate how company goals and factors in the environment such as stability, certainty, complexity and national culture influence the management accounting system.
• Discuss the relationship between decentralization and management accounting and analyze the challenges of transfer pricing
• Apply management accounting processes: strategic planning, costing, budgeting, designing performance measurement and incentive systems
•  Analyze the specific challenges to the design of management accounting systems in not-for-profit organizations, in the provision of services and in temporary project organizations.
• Integrate management accounting within sustainability strategy.

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 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 individual hall exam and group assignments. A passing grade is required for each part of the module. The course is given and examined in English. Note as well examination modes below for the course as a whole.
 
Module 3.   Advanced Financial Accounting, 7.5 credits
The module develops students' understanding of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IAS/IFRS) and the ability to handle also more complicated accounting issues. The module also covers ethical issues in accounting and sustainability reporting. Publicly traded companies have to apply the IAS/IFRS-standards in their consolidated reporting in Sweden, other EU member states as well as a large number of other countries. Privately held companies can also apply IAS/IFRS standards voluntarily in their consolidated reporting in Sweden as well as a large number of other countries.

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
• use accounting principles and theory in order to evaluate and criticize accounting standards
• understand and evaluate sustainability reporting research.

Focus of instruction
Learning is supported by lectures, exercises, cases and tutoring.

Module examination modes
Examination is based upon a written individual hall exam and group case-assignments. The cases are discussed in class and participation is obligatory. A passing grade is required for the individual exam as well as for the cases. The course is given and examined in English. Note as well examination modes below for the course as a whole.
 
Module 4. Current Trends in Business Administration 7,5 credits
The ambition of this module is to identify and uncover current trends.  These trends have a strong long-term impact on society at large and thus form future premises and give rise to challenges for businesses. The aim of the module is to explore how business and society interact to tackle such present and future challenges. The expectation is that students participating in this module are well equipped with knowledge and skills related to their own major, one of the five sub-disciplines accounting, entrepreneurship, finance, management, and marketing in Business Administration.
 
Expected learning outcomes
After completing this module the student should be able to:

• Identify and evaluate emerging trends in society
• Critically discuss decisions relating to current trends  and their implications for various types of businesses and business functions
• Evaluate information, knowledge and policy in relation to current trends  in terms of validity and reliability
• Relate current trends  to research in business administration within the field of the student's major
• be able to share multidisciplinary knowledge 

Focus of instruction
Learning is supported by lectures, guest lectures and guided exercises. Students are provided with relevant sources of information and scientific literature for supporting individual and  group works related to the themes of lectures and exercises.
 
Examination modes
The main mode of examination is an individual written essay. The essay requires convincing discussion of the importance and urgency of solving a specific problem related to any of the current trends  from the disciplinary perspective of the student's major. Further, the examination consists of individual and group reflection papers related to the various course activities.
Attendance at all work in progress and final presentation seminars, group work and guest lectures related presentation events are mandatory and thus a requirement to pass the course. A passing grade for each graded part of the course is required to pass. The course is given and examined in English. Note as well examination modes for the course below.

Expected learning outcomes

See each separate module.

Required Knowledge

90 credits with a minimum of 75 credits in Business Administration and 30 credits advanced level within the core course in Business Administration at one of the following master programs in Business Administration (Management, Finance, Marketing or Business Development and internationalization) at Umeå School of Business and Economics.

Proficiency in English equivalent to Swedish upper secondary course English B/6 or the equivalent.

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. If required by specific circumstances, the Director of Studies may decide on other forms of examination.

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.
 
Exceptions from examination form as stated in the syllabus can be made for a student who has a decision on pedagogical support for disabilities. Individual adaptations of the examination form should be considered based on the student's needs. The examination form shall be adapted within the framework of the expected learning outcomes stated in the course syllabus. At the request of the student, the course responsible teacher, in consultation with the examiner, must promptly decide on the adapted examination form. The decision must then be notified to the student.

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.

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.

This course can not be included in the degree together with 2f107, 2fe181