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2012/2013  KAN-ASC_AS51  Accounting and Control

English Title
Accounting and Control

Course information
Language English
Exam ECTS 7.5 ECTS
Type Mandatory
Level Full Degree Master
Duration One Semester
Course period Autumn
Time Table Please see course schedule at e-Campus
Study board
Study Board for MSc in Economics and Business Administration
Course coordinator
  • Ivar Friis - Department of Operations Management
Ivar Friis
Main Category of the Course
  • Economics, macro economics and managerial economics
Last updated on 09-07-2012
Learning objectives
The objective of the course is to provide the students with an opportunity to learn to apply qualifications (knowledge and skills) in agency and behavioral theory to control problems in firms.

At the exam the students must be able to:
Understand, describe structure and combine the various concepts, which are used in the course.
Show how these concepts can be used to identify problems concerning the control of firms
Show an ability to look critically on the various proposed solutions to a control problem
Examination
Accounting and Control :
Type of test Oral Exam
Marking scale 7-step scale
Second examiner External examiner
Exam period December/January
Aids Please, see the detailed regulations below
Duration 20 Minutes
Individual oral exam. The duration of the individual oral exam is 20 minutes (including assessment).There is 20 minutes preparation time. The exam will be held in December. The make-up/ re-exam takes place in January.
Course content

Accounting is used as an important tool to influence decision making in firms. Accounting carries information of costs and benefits to decentralized decision makers, and thereby provides them with information which ideally helps them make decisions that are aligned with the firm’s interest. The course contains the following core elements:
Introduction to the elements of accounting as a control device
Understand the difference between control and decision making and coordination and motivation.
Transfer pricing.
Responsibility centers (profit centers, cost centers).
Cost allocation.
Budgetting.
Teaching methods
Research and theory based dialog lectures are mixed with exercises and cases. The lectures provide the students with the necessary understanding of purpose and content of the different control techniques and the theoretical assumptions they are based on. Through the use of cases the students learn to apply theory and techniques for control purposes in practice.

Involvement of the students is an important part of the learning principle. This done through dialog, casework and presentations.

Development of individual and social skills (competencies)
Through debate and dialog the student will develop oral and presentation skills. Since case preparation and presentation is conducted in teams the students develop cooperative skills.
Expected literature

Zimmerman, J. (2008): ‘Accounting for Decision Making and Control’ McGraw-Hill
Selected articles
Last updated on 09-07-2012