AcCourse Overview

1. ACCOUNTING
Course Booklet
Semester 1
2011/2012
FTMBAMBAIB
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Putting you at the heart of business FTMBA/MBAIB - Accounting

2. Contents Page Number
Course Description and Objectives .................................................... 3
Learning Outcomes ............................................................................ 3
Planned Student Learning Experiences ............................................. 4
Teaching Approach ............................................................................ 4
Assessment ........................................................................................ 4
Feedback............................................................................................ 4
Guidelines for Formatting and Handing in Assessed Work: ............... 5
Failure to Attempt or Complete Assessed Coursework or an
Examination........................................................................................ 5
Exam Arrangements for Disabled Students ....................................... 6
Plagiarism Statement ......................................................................... 6
Appeals .............................................................................................. 6
Consultation ....................................................................................... 6
Course Monitoring Surveys ................................................................ 7
Required Text(s)................................................................................. 7
Course Website .................................................................................. 7
Advised Preparatory Work.................................................................. 7
Course Lecturer.................................................................................. 7
Study Programme............................................................................... 8
Lecture Outlines and Readings .......................................................... 8
Exam Papers ...................................................................................... 8
Appendix 1: Further Reading.............................................................. 8
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3. Course Details
Course Code: BUST11205
Title: Accounting
College: Humanities and Social Science
School: The University of Edinburgh Business School
Course Organiser: Professor Falconer Mitchell
Contact Hours:
Semester: 1
Lectures:
Tutorials:
This is a 10-credit course. As per the Scottish Credit Qualifications Framework
(SCQF), this means that it should entail 100 hours of student effort. For example:
Contact hours 8 x 2 hour lectures 16
8 x 2 hour tutorials 16
Preparatory reading 8 x 5 hours in advance of 40
lecture
Tutorial work 8 x 2 hours in advance of 16
tutorial
Assignments 12 hours self study on top of 12
reading towards the
examination
Total 100 student effort hours
Course Description and Objectives
The course provides grounding in financial accounting sufficient for students to engage
with accounting statements and numbers both in general management after the MBA
and during the MBA in other courses which interface with Accounting (notably Strategy
and Managerial Control).
It also provides the platform for a semester two course on finance.
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge and Understanding:
On completion of the course students should
a) understand the derivation of the three financial statements which provide the basis
for corporate financial reporting
b) appreciate the strengths and the limitations of these statements
c) have acquired an ability to use financial statements to assess corporate performance
in a variety of ways
Cognitive Skills:
The course engages with and develops numerical skills (the ability to prepare accounts),
analytical skills (the ability to analyse accounts) and skills of synthesis and presentation
(to write a report on a business based on its accounting statements).
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4. Subject Specific Skills:
On completion of the course students should
a) demonstrate they can understand a straightforward profit statement, cash flow
statement and balance sheet
b) demonstrate they can interpret a set of financial statements using ratio analysis and
other analytical tools
c) demonstrate they can present the interpretation through a (succinct) written report
d) recognise several of the key issues relating to the preparation of financial statements
Planned Student Learning Experiences
The lecture programme proceeds through simple examples providing the opportunity in
class for both class discussion and individual practice with numbers. Further practice is
provided for the students outside of class with a weekly self-study exercise.
Teaching Approach
N/A
Assessment
Form of Assessment:
Assessment is by a two-hour written unseen examination; the main difficulties and
mistakes are written up in a feedback note for the students.
Assessment Criteria:
The grading of the examination is based on a threshold student demonstrating an
understanding of the key concepts and numerical processes in the area addressed by
the examination question, with a first-class student being able to demonstrate a critical
understanding of the business through the financial statements.
Dates of Assessment:
During exam diet from 17-21 October, 2011
Feedback
Assessment feedback will be provided on a feedback form in the appropriate format.
Assessment marks and feedback will be made available within one month of examination
date.
Feedback Format
Week 1-4 Two way communication sessions held in the second hour of
each session
Week 1-4 Students are able to have one on one contact with the course
lecturer, made possible through an open door policy
Generic exam feedback will be made available on WebCT within one
month of when the students sit the exam.
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5. Guidelines for Formatting and Handing in Assessed Work:
All completed assignments should be stapled and clearly labelled with the student’s
examination number. Names should NOT be written on the assignments themselves, so
that they can be marked anonymously. Students are asked to attach an assignment
submission sheet as front cover. The student’s name should be written on this sheet
along with the examination number. A template for this can be found at www.business-
school.ed.ac.uk/mybiz.
When the assignments are received the assignment submission sheet will be removed
before the assignments are sent to the relevant lecturer(s) for marking. Students must
also submit each assignment electronically by TURNITIN which can be located on
WebCT. For the group assignment, once the groups have been composed, a group
member will be assigned as responsible for this. Please see instructions via the student
portal. This is to enable checks to be carried out for plagiarism on a random basis, or if
suspicions are raised.
The University has a standardised penalty for late submission of coursework. The School
will apply a uniform penalty of a reduction of 5 marks for each 24 hours beyond the
coursework deadline (Saturday, Sunday and University Public Holiday not included)
unless late submission has been requested in advance of the submission date and
approved in writing by the course organiser. For example:
- an essay with a mark of 65% which is less than 24 hours late will be given a final mark
of 60%
- an essay with a mark of 65% which is between 24-48 hours late will be given a final
mark of 55%
- an essay with a mark of 65% which is 48-72 hours late will be given a final mark of 50%
and so on...
The penalty will not be applied if good reasons can be given, such as documented
illness.
COURSEWORK DEADLINES ARE ABSOLUTE AND MUST BE STRICTLY ADHERED
TO OTHERWISE THE STANDARDISED PENALTY WILL BE APPLIED WITHOUT
EXCEPTION.
Extensions to coursework deadlines will normally only be granted in cases of illness or
other extenuating circumstances. An extension can only be granted by the course
organiser; requests for an extension to the deadline must be agreed with the course
organiser prior to the coursework deadline. If this proves impossible, students must
attach a letter of explanation to the coursework, signed and dated. If you are given an
extension, you must ensure that the Postgraduate Office (Room GF.15, 29 Buccleuch
Place, Edinburgh, EH8 9JS) has written proof of this, e.g. in the form of an email from the
course organiser.
Failure to Attempt or Complete Assessed Coursework or an
Examination
Where a student fails to attempt or fails to complete assessed coursework or an
examination, the course organiser will seek to establish from the student whether the
failure is legitimate (i.e. supported by appropriate documentary evidence) or not. A failure
to attempt assessed coursework or an examination without good reason will result in a
zero mark being awarded for that element of assessment. In the case of a legitimate
failure to attempt or complete assessed coursework, the course organiser may decide to
offer an extended submission deadline (without marks deduction for late submission).
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6. Where a student is able to produce evidence of legitimate reasons for failure to attempt
or complete an examination, and where it has not been possible to offer an extended
submission deadline for a legitimate failure to attempt or complete assessed coursework,
the course organiser will refer the case to the Special Circumstances Committee.
Groupwork Issues
Where group work is involved, should there be any problems with the group dynamic,
these should be raised by two concurring members of the team with the course organiser
before the Reading Week.
Exam Arrangements for Disabled Students
If required, specific reasonable adjustments will be made to enable disabled students to
sit examinations, including any written, practice or oral examination, continuously
assessed coursework or dissertation which counts towards the final assessment. For
more information about the support disabled students can receive and the approval
process for making reasonable adjustments visit http://www.ed.ac.uk/schools-
departments/disability-office/students/support-we-offer. Arrangements for degree
examinations must be approved in advance by the Registry (650 2214), and the
Disability Office (650 6828) for dyslexic students, and reported to the examiners. The
Registry requires notification of specific examination arrangements for dyslexic students
well in advance of examination weeks and specific deadlines apply (see
http://www.ed.ac.uk/schools-departments/registry/other-info/dyslexia). For all other
disabled students the Registry must see and accept a medical certificate or similar
documentation relating to the student or be satisfied that an acceptable certificate will be
produced. Such students should discuss their requirements with their Programme
Director and/or the Disability Office at the earliest opportunity.
Plagiarism Statement
Plagiarism and cheating are offences against the University discipline. The full text of the
University’s regulation on plagiarism and cheating can be found on the University’s
website at
http://www.docs.sasg.ed.ac.uk/AcademicServices/Discipline/StudentGuidanceUGPGT.pdf
Appeals
The process for students appealing against the assessment of grades is described in the
Code of Practice for Taught Postgraduate Programmes.
Consultation
Students are encouraged to raise any concerns of a subject specific nature with the
relevant course organiser. All but the simplest issues take time to resolve, and so please
raise the issues as soon as you are aware of them.
In the event that your course organiser cannot assist you, please contact your
Programme Director.
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7. Course Monitoring Surveys
Because the PGT programmes are constantly being streamlined to remain progressive
and contemporary, it is essential that you provide feedback on the courses you
undertake so that the academic and administrative staff can be aware of your needs and
the needs of your peers; the only way we can do this is if you let us know our strengths
and what can be improved to make your learning experience with us as relevant and
fulfilling as possible.
At the conclusion of every semester you will be asked to complete anonymous online
course monitoring surveys. You will be notified when the surveys relevant to your
programme become live. The results of these surveys will then be collated and
distributed to the course lecturer(s) who will in turn provide feedback on the course.
All information provided by students and course lecturer(s) will be taken into
consideration by decision makers within the Business School – and may alter the way
that future courses are administered. We are providing you with an outlet to voice your
opinions and it is very important for the current state and the future of the Business
School and its students that you do so.
Required Text(s)
Students will find the following text a valuable complement to lectures: “Key Management
Ratios” (4th edition) by Ciaran Walsh, FT Prentice Hall, 2005.
Course Website
Lecture materials will be made available online via WebCT, which is accessible from the
“quick links” area on MyBiz http://www.business-school.ed.ac.uk/mybiz/home
On the course website you will be able to find a copy of this booklet, course handouts,
announcements and other facilities. It is important that you regularly check the WebCT
system in order to keep up to date with the course. You should be automatically
registered for all your courses; if you are not please consult Stuart Mallen, Programme
Secretary (email office+mba@business-school.ed.ac.uk) to ensure that your records are
in order. A user guide and full details of how to logon and use the system are available
on the website. N.B. It is vitally important that you check your WebCT mailbox regularly
OR set it up so that it forwards messages automatically to your regular e-mail account.
Advised Preparatory Work
N/A
Course Lecturer
Falconer Mitchell, B.Com., C.A. Professor of Management Accounting and currently
Chairman of the Research Board of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.
His research interests lie in cost management, accounting change, accounting history
and corporate reporting.
Tel: 0131 650 8340
Office: Room 2.36, Business School, 29 Buccleuch Place, Edinburgh, EH8 9JS
Email: f.mitchell@ed.ac.uk
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8. Study Programme
Lecture Topic Text Reference
1 Introduction. The nature and purpose of Chapters 1, 2
financial accounting. The framework of financial
statement preparation for a retail company.
2 The financial statements: the balance sheet, Chapters 3, 4, 8, 11
income statement and cash flow statement.
Income quality – cash backing for profits
3 Preparing the financial statements of a
manufacturing company
4 Ratio analysis 1 Chapters 5, 6, 7, 9,
10, 16
5 Ratio analysis 2
6 Issues determining the strengths and
weaknesses of financial accounting
7 Value determination and financial accounting Chapter 12
8 Improving the information content of the Chapters 17, 19
financial accounting package
Lecture Outlines and Readings
As above
Exam Papers
Where applicable all available exam papers can be found on the University of Edinburgh website at:
http://www.exampapers.lib.ed.ac.uk/
Appendix 1: Further Reading
N/A
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Putting you at the heart of business FTMBA/MBAIB - Accounting

9. Survey Feedback from 2010/2011
Number of respondents: 23
Expected number of respondents: 55
Accounting with Falconer Mitchell
1. Please state your level of agreement with the following:
1.a. The course met the stated objectives
Strongly agree: 60.9% 14
Agree: 34.8% 8
Neither agree nor
4.3% 1
disagree:
Disagree: 0.0% 0
Strongly disagree: 0.0% 0
1.b. The course was well organised
Strongly agree: 65.2% 15
Agree: 26.1% 6
Neither agree nor
8.7% 2
disagree:
Disagree: 0.0% 0
Strongly disagree: 0.0% 0
2. Were your expectations met by the course?
Yes: 100.0% 23
No: 0.0% 0
3. What overall rating would you give this course?
Excellent: 65.2% 15
Above average: 26.1% 6
Average: 8.7% 2
Below average: 0.0% 0
Poor: 0.0% 0
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Putting you at the heart of business FTMBA/MBAIB - Accounting