MBA 8115Course Syllabus

Managerial Control and Costing Systems (full title)

Mgt Ctrl & Cost Systems (short title)

J. MackRobinsonCollege of Business

GeorgiaStateUniversity

General Information

Instructor: Dr. Tony Lei Chen

Office: Room 508, RobinsonCollege of BusinessBuilding

Office Hours:By appointment

Email:

Phone:(404) 651-4486

Fax:(404) 651-1033

Catalog Course Description

This course examines a wide range of fundamental managerial techniques used by companies in their internal planning and control functions. In particular, it focuses on (a) techniques useful in analyzing and managing costs and profits; (b) control systems (e.g., performance evaluation) that cater to large and decentralized business enterprises. In addition to building a basic knowledge base of managerial control and costing systems, students are expected to develop analytical skills necessary for making cost-related decisions and evaluating alternative design of control systems.

Detailed Course Description

This course covers some fundamental methods used for (a) costing products, services, programs, projects, departments and other operational units and cost objects, and (b) tracking and reporting performance of internal operations. In addition, this course deals with how in practice the generated reports are used for evaluating performance and controlling operations.

Key topics include those related to the design and implementation of firms’ internal managerial control and costing systems, such as absorption costing, activity-based costing, costing for pricing decisions, budgeting, performance measurement systems, balanced scorecard, and transfer pricing. The course also exploresthe behavior patterns stimulated by such reporting and budgeting systems. The primary emphasis is on developing the understanding, insights and skills needed to effectively use accounting and managerial reports and other available information to appropriately analyze costs and profits, and evaluate managers' performances and control operations.

Students will develop a good understanding of and appreciation for how various control and costing systems function, their strengths and weaknesses, and principles of system design. This course will also give you a chance to take an in-depth look at some current themes in cost analysis and management and develop a knowledge base of applied cost analysis that goes beyond the set of basic and fundamental concepts and tools.

Computing Skills Prerequisites (CSPs)

1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8

Learning Objectives

  • identify and use appropriate cost perspective to make assorted management decisions;
  • understand breakeven analysis and the implications of cost structure
  • identify differences between absorption and variable costing.
  • understand and appreciate the valuable roles of managerial control systems in business organizations;
  • understand and apply basic techniques in budgeting, performance measurement, and transfer pricing;
  • identify and explain contentious issues in the design of managerial control systems;
  • develop a conceptual framework for analyzing strengths and weaknesses of various practices of managerial decision-making and control.

Course Materials

  • Textbook: Managerial Accounting, 11th Ed. Garrison, Noreen and Brewer.

McGraw-Hill/Irwin. Available at GSU bookstore.

  • Class notes, articles and other materials are provided on WebCT Vista. (

Course Communication

I will communicate with you outside of class via email using the WebCT (or GoSolar) mailing list. The same message will also be posted WebCT. It is your responsibility to check your school email account regularly and our class page on WebCT for updated class information. I very much look forward to your feedback on your progress, ways in which the course can be improved, or any other concerns, suggestions and comments you may have for the course.

Performance Evaluation and Grades

I evaluate your performance based on the following criteria

Grading ComponentPointsWeight

Quiz 1 25 8.3%

Quiz 2 25 8.3%

Group Project 4013.3%

Mid-term Exam10033.3%

Final Exam10033.3%

Class Participation 10 3.3%

Total300100%

The Robinson College of Business’ policies require the use of the plus/minus grading system. Grading is based on

Letter Grade / Course
Average / GPA
points
A / 92-100% / 4.00
A- / 90-91% / 3.70
B+ / 88-89% / 3.30
B / 82-87% / 3.00
B- / 80-81% / 2.70
C+ / 78-79% / 2.30
C / 72-77% / 2.00
C- / 70-71% / 1.70
D / 60-69% / 1.00
F / Below 60% / 0.00

General Class Policies

  • Students are expected to attend all classes except when precluded by extraordinary circumstances. Student attendance will be taken and counts towards class participation scores.
  • Unless specifically stated by the instructor, all tests and assignments are to be completed by the student alone.
  • No make-up tests (quizzes and exams) are permitted unless the student informs the instructor of his or her absence in advance and provides excusable reasons.
  • Work copied from the Internet without a proper reference will be considered plagiarism and is subject to disciplinary action as delineated in the Student Handbook.
  • Assignments submitted after the specified deadlines will not be accepted and will receive zero points.
  • A “W” grade will be assigned if a student withdraws before mid-semester while maintaining a passing grade. Withdrawals after the mid-semester date will results in a grade of “WF”.

Academic Honesty

All university and college regulations concerning academic honesty shall apply. In general, students are expected to recognize and uphold standards of intellectual and academic integrity. The university assumes as a minimum standard of conduct in academic matters that students be honest and that they submit for credit only the products of their own efforts.

It is particularly important that students read and understand the portions of the University Policy on Academic Honesty that relate to plagiarism, unauthorized collaboration, falsification, and multiple submissions. The University Policy on Academic Honesty is explained in detail in the student handbook, On Campus, available online at This Policy represents a core value of the University. All members of the University community are responsible for knowing and abiding by its tenets. Students are expected to carefully review the online policy prior to undertaking any research or other assignments.

University Policy on Disabilities

GSU provides accessibility and reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities. Students with disabilities are responsible for contacting the Office of Disability Services to assess their needs. Students must identify themselves and their needs to the professor no later than the first day of class.

MBA 8115 CLASS SCHEDULE

Note: In the “Assignment” column, “E” refers to Exercises, “P” refers to Problems, “C” refers to Cases, and “G” refers to Group and Internet Exercises, all from the textbook (end of chapters).

Week / Topics / Assignment
1 / Course overview;
Evolution of Managerial Accounting / E1-1, E1-2, E2-6, E2-7, P2-21
2 / Job order costing;
Process costing / E3-1, E3-3, E3-5, E3-11, C4-30, C3-33
3 / Cost behavior;
Cost estimation / E5-5, E5-8, P5-14, P5-18
4 / Cost-Volume-Profit Analysis;
Cost structure / E6-15, E6-16, P6-28, G6-38
5 / Absorption costing;
Variable costing / E7-5, P7-12
6 / Activity-based costing / E8-1, E8-8, E8-22
7 / MIDTERM EXAM
8 / Introduction to budgeting;
Budgetary planning and budgeting process / P9-17
9 / Budgetary control;
Flexible budgets & Variance analysis / P10-16, P10-31
10 / Controversy on budgeting;
Standard costs / P9-19, P9-21, P9-23
11 / Balanced Scorecard;
BSC implementations / P10-20, P10-28
12 / Decentralization & Responsibility accounting
Business division performance evaluation / P12-28
13 / Transfer pricing / P12-21, P12-29
14 / Service department costing / E 15-1, P15-3, P15-7
15 / Group Project presentation
16 / FINAL EXAM

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