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2017/2018  KAN-CASCO1003U  Accounting and Control

English Title
Accounting and Control

Course information
Language English
Course ECTS 7.5 ECTS
Type Mandatory
Level Full Degree Master
Duration One Semester
Start time of the course Autumn
Timetable Course schedule will be posted at calendar.cbs.dk
Study board
Study Board for MSc in Economics and Business Administration
Course coordinator
  • Ivar Friis - Department of Operations Management (OM)
Main academic disciplines
  • Economics
Last updated on 30-11-2017

Relevant links
Learning objectives
To achieve the grade 12, students should meet the following learning objectives with no or only minor mistakes or errors: 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:
Exam ECTS 7,5
Examination form Oral exam
Individual or group exam Individual exam
Duration 20 min. per student, including examiners' discussion of grade, and informing plus explaining the grade
Preparation time With the listed preparation time: 20 Minutes
Grading scale 7-step scale
Examiner(s) Internal examiner and second internal examiner
Exam period Winter
Aids Open book: all written and electronic aids
The student is allowed to bring to the preparation room: Simple writing and drawing utensils, laptop/tablet as a reference book (NB: there are no electric outlets available), any calculator, books including translation dictionaries, compendiums, notes. PLEASE NOTE: Students are not allowed to communicate with others during the preparation time.
Make-up exam/re-exam
Same examination form as the ordinary exam
Description of the exam procedure

The student draws an exam question and prepares approximately 20 minutes for the exam. The exam takes approximately 14 minutes. The student is asked to leave the exam room. Examinator and censor settles for a grade. The student is giving the grade with a short explanation.
Course content and structure

Accounting is seen 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. .

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

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.
Feedback during the teaching period
1. Feedback is given on exercises that are conducted during the course.
2. Feedback is given during class room discussions.
Student workload
preparation for and participation in lectures 166 hours
preparation for exam 40 hours
Expected literature

Zimmerman, J. (2016): ‘Accounting for Decision Making and Control’ McGraw-Hill
Selected articles
Last updated on 30-11-2017