BA 528 – Financial & Cost Analysis (3 Credits)

Course Syllabus – Fall 2006

 

Instructor Information:

Professor:                   Monica Banyi, Ph.D., CPA

Office:                         224D Bexell Hall

Telephone:                 737-6011

Class Times:              Section 1:  TH 12pm –  2:50

                                    Section 2:  TH   6pm –  8:50                            

Office Hours:             Mon 11:00 – 12:00; Weds 10:00 – 11:00; Thurs 9:00 – 10:00

                                    Or by appointment

E-mail:                        Monica.Banyi@bus.oregonstate.edu

 

Course Objective:

BA 528 is designed for students with limited prior knowledge of the accounting process or the interpretation of financial statements.  This course will prepare professionals to use financial and managerial accounting information to make effective business decisions, to identify opportunities in the business world, and to take advantage of those opportunities.  The course will provide a framework to help understand the nature, purpose and importance of decision-useful and decision-facilitating financial and managerial accounting information; appreciate the limitations of financial accounting information; understand how economic transactions map into financial statements; understand and apply quantitative tools and techniques to generate decision-useful managerial accounting information; and understand how cost information is used in internal operational and strategic decision making.

 

BA 528 is a core course in the MBA program.  Although the primary purpose of this course is to provide you with basic financial and managerial accounting knowledge that is applicable to many careers, it is secondarily intended to provide you with the tools necessary to complete portions of your IBP project.

 

Course Policies:

Regular attendance and active participation are imperative if this class is to be a meaningful experience for all students.  An excessive number of absences and/or lack of active participation will be considered when determining the final grade in this course.  Students are expected to treat their fellow students and instructor with respect.  Professionalism will pervade our classroom conduct.  It is not professional to impede a colleague’s desire to learn.  The following rules are a basis of the professional behavior within our classroom:

  • Students are expected to attend and be prepared for all regularly scheduled classes.  Timely and sustained presence is mandatory – please do not disrupt class by walking in late or walking in and out of the room.
  • Students are expected to participate in class discussion of assigned homework and case material.
  • Please turn off all cell phones, pagers, laptops, etc. before class begins.
  • Private discussions, comments, etc. are not appropriate in the classroom unless they are with your group during the assigned time. 
  • Students will abide by the University’s academic misconduct rules and procedures.

 

All efforts to promote a friendly, constructive learning environment (attend all classes, frequently participate in class), are greatly appreciated and will enhance your grade.  Alternatively, actions that can damage the learning environment of the class are strongly discouraged as they can hurt other students’ learning and grades.  Specifically, actions such as coming late to class, being disruptive in class (reading newspaper, talking with your neighbor), being disrespectful to fellow students or the professor or leaving before the class is over will adversely affect your grade.  Achieving the course objectives will require a great deal of effort on both of our parts! 

 

Course Requirements:

The class will consist of lectures, discussion of assigned readings and homework problems, and cases.  At least one week prior to class, the instructor will provide the students with a reading guide to supplement the information in the required chapters.  This material is available in electronic form on the course Blackboard page.  This reading guide is NOT intended as a lecture outline but as an aid to identify the significant concepts in each chapter.   You are required to prepare for the class problem and case assignments before each class session.  Your learning in this course hinges on adequate preparation.

 

Group Projects:

Large lecture classes are not always conducive to learning.  In an effort to overcome this, you will be assigned to smaller study groups.  You will sit together in class, complete group projects, and, hopefully, support each other in completing this course.  At least twice during the term, I will ask you to anonymously evaluate your fellow group members’ contributions to the group learning environment.

 

­­­­Three written group assignments will be due during the term.  Each ­­­assignment will be collected at the beginning of class on the due date.  Group projects handed in after the instructor has collected the assignments will be assessed a late penalty.  Electronic submissions are not accepted.  The group projects will require you to complete cases that relate to the material covered in the course.  The specific requirements and expectations of the project will be discussed in detail closer to the due date of the project.  See the attached assignment schedule for assignment dates.

 

Cases

Text book knowledge does not provide a complete set of solutions to real-world accounting issues.  In order to experience how managerial decisions impact and are impacted by accounting information, we will frequently uses accounting cases to illustrate concepts discussed in class.  Accountants frequently encounter situations where one specific solution is not easily determined and accounting decisions often involve judgment and intuition which result in variation and differences in treatment.  The group cases will involve a written solution to an accounting cases which focus on material recently discussed in classes. 

 

Additional cases will be discussed in class.  Written evidence of your case preparation is required and a copy must be submitted at the beginning of the class session.  This requirement comprises a portion of your participation points outlined below. 

 

Assigned Homework Problems

To understand how accounting information impacts managers, an understanding of the mechanics behind the construction of financial and managerial information is necessary.  Each week, a selected set of problems are assigned to familiarize the student with computations necessary to prepare accounting information.  Although the instructor may not always include a discussion of these problems in the weekly class meetings, they are a required element of this course and necessary for success.  Solutions will be provided for any problem not specifically discussed in class (sometimes in advance).

 

Prerequisite Test:

BA 528 is not a student’s first course in accounting.  As students come from diverse backgrounds and experiences, it is important to establish a baseline of prerequisite knowledge required of all class members.  Students will demonstrate a sufficient level of basic financial accounting knowledge by achieving a score of 75% or greater on a multiple choice test offered over the first three weeks of the term.  This requirement is necessary so you can evaluate your preparation for the course.  Students need only pass one prerequisite test.

 

Quizzes & Examinations

There will be 3 quizzes and two examinations given during the term on material covered in previous weeks.  A make-up examination may be available for unavoidable conflicts known in advance of the exam. 

 

Class Participation

Your class participation score is based on the following (in order of weight):  quality of written evidence of weekly case preparation (H, HP, P, U); quality (not quantity) of responses during class discussions, evidence of preparation in classes, and attendance in class.  Consistently failing to prepare work for class will adversely affect your grade.

 

Evaluation of Student Performance:  The following items may comprise your final grade:

            Class Participation                    10%

            Prerequisite Quiz                      10%

            Quizzes (3)                               15%

            Group Case Write-up (2)         15%

            Mid-term Exam (10/26)            25%

            Final Exam (12/07)                   25%

 

At the end of the course, after the final exam, letter grades will be assigned based on a percentage of points earned to total points available.    It is the responsibility of the student to withdraw from the course on or before the deadline.  Failure to complete minimum requirements will result in a failing grade. 

 

Required Text and Materials:

Anthony, Robert N., David F. Hawkins, and Kenneth A. Merchant, ACCOUNTING Text & Cases

            12th Edition

            McGraw Hill

 

            An introductory financial and managerial accounting book as a resource

 

Additional Course Information:

Academic Integrity:   Academic dishonesty is not tolerated in any form.  The instructor will enforce the University’s academic integrity rules to the fullest extent and this may result in a student receiving a failing grade for the course.  For detail of the University’s policy of academic integrity, please see http://oregonstate.edu/admin/stucon/achon.htm. 

 

Availability of Graded Assignments and Grading Errors:  Graded assignments are returned during class.  If you miss class when an assignment is returned, please see the instructor during office hours.  All graded exams remain the property of the instructor.  Students may examine graded tests at any time during the term during office hours or by appointment.  Students have two weeks after an exam or other graded assignment is returned to bring grading errors to the instructor’s attention. 

 

Statement Regarding Students with Disabilities:  Accommodations are collaborative efforts between students, faculty and Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD).  Students with accommodations approved through SSD are responsible for contacting the faculty member in charge of the course prior to or during the first week of term to discuss accommodations.  Students who believe they are eligible for accommodations who have not yet obtained approval through SSD should contact SSD immediately at 737-4098.

 

The instructor reserves the right to make changes to this syllabus and course schedule as necessary.  Students are responsible for all material covered in class and any announcements made during class or through e-mail. 


 

Course Schedule -- BA 528

Fall 2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assignments &

Date

Event

Topics

Readings

Week 1

 

Course Introduction

 

 

 

Accounting from an Economic Perspective

Chapter 1, 2, 3

 

 

Financial Statements

 

Sept. 29th

Prerequisite

Bexell Hall Rm 321 12 - 2pm

 

 

Test #1

(Test offered from 1:15 - 2:00 pm)

 

 

 

 

 

Week 2

 

Revenues & Inventories

Chapter 5, 6

 

 

 

Case 4-2

Oct. 6

Prerequisite

Bexell Hall Rm 321 12 - 2pm

P5-1, P5-2, P5-4

 

Test #2

(Test offered from 1:15 - 2:00 pm)

P6-1, P6-5 P6-7

 

 

 

 

Week 3

Quiz #1

Inventories & Long-Term Assets

Chapters 6, 7

 

 

 

Case 6-3

TBA

Prerequisite

TBA

P7-2

 

Test #3

 

 

 

 

 

 

Week 4

Group

Present Valuation and Liabilities

Chapter 8

 

Case #1

(READ Appendix)

P8-1, P8-2, P8-3

 

 

 

P8-5, P8-6, P8-7

Week 5

Exam #1

Owners Equity

Chapter 9

 

(Chapters 1-7)

 

P9-1, P9-2, 9-4

 

 

 

P9-6, P9-7

Week 6

 

Statement of Cash Flows & Other Financial Accounting

Chapters 10, 11

 

 

Items

 

 

 

 

 

Week 7

Quiz #2

Decision Making with Financial Accounting Information

Chapter 13, 14

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Week 8

Group

Introduction to Managerial Accounting and Mechanics

Chapter 15, 17, 19

 

Case #2

of Cost Computations

 

 

 

 

 

Week 9

 

Thanksgiving -- NO CLASS

 

 

 

 

 

Week 10

Quiz #3

Using Managerial Accounting for Decision Making

Chapters 20, 22, 23

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Final Exam

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Problems (P series) denoted in italics will have the solutions posted in the chapter materials prior to the class meeting.

These problems are intended to reinforce the mechanics behind the topics.  These problems will not be discussed in class meetings unless a student specifically requests it.  Questions on the exams will incorporate these problems.

 

BA 528 – Survey

Fall 2006

 

Name:

Section:

 

Name for nameplate:

Hometown:

 

Where did you fulfill your introductory financial and managerial courses?  How long ago?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Please briefly describe your education and work experiences over the past five years.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For MBA students:  What is your main reason for pursuing an MBA? at Oregon State?

For other graduate students:  How does this course fit into your educational program?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What is your main goal for this course?

 

 

 

 

 

 

What is your biggest fear about this course?