Curricula

Objectives

The object of the course

The object of the course is that you understand what significance management accounting and its different methods can have for the organization’s strategic decision-making and what the organization’s strategic decision-making requires from management accounting. After completing the course, you recognize different strategic decision-making situations in the organization and the management accounting opportunities related to them.

Course competences

Learning to learn: The student is able to ac-quire, critically assess and produce information while taking into account the perspectives of different fields.
Operating in a workplace: The student is able to develop and manage multidisciplinary teams and work communities.
Proactive development: The student is able to analyze the current situation and anticipate the future of their field and changes in the operating environment.

The learning objectives of the course

You acquire and assess information on the organization's strategic decision-making and financial management. You analyze the current situation of the organization and anticipate the significance of strategic financial management. You develop the organization's capabilities to address strategic decision-making situations using financial management methods.

Content

Generic strategies, strategic management accounting, cost analyses, value concepts, customer profibility, customer value, competitor analysis, performance management, performance management techniques

Learning materials and recommended literature

Li, W. S. 2018. Strategic Management Accounting: A Practical Guidebook with Case Studies. 1st ed. Singapore: Springer.
Smith, S. 2017. Strategic Management Accounting: Delivering Value in a Changing Business Environment Through Integrated Reporting. Business Expert Press. First edition.
Sugahara, S., Daidj, N. & Ushio, S. 2017. Value Creation in Management Accounting and Strategic Management: An Integrated Approach. John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated.
Aaltola, P. 2019. Strategic thinking and accounting: potentials and pitfalls from a managerial perspective. Journal of Management Control, 30, 3, 323-351.
Rashid, M., Ali, M. & Hossain, D. 2021. Strategic management accounting practices: a literature review and opportunity for future research. Asian Journal of Accounting Research, 6, 1, 109-132.
Langfield-Smith, K. 2008. Strategic management accounting: how far have we come in 25 years? Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, 21, 2, 204-228.
Ma, Y. & Tayles, M. 2009. On the emergence of strategic management accounting: An institutional perspective. Accounting and business research, 39, 5, 473-495.

Teaching methods

Introductory webinars on the topics of the course, learning assignments.

Guidance:
Mandatory opening and closing webinars in Zoom

Exam dates and retake possibilities

There is no exam in the course.

Alternative completion methods

A corresponding course completed in another university may be accredited partially or completely. Competence acquired through informal learning may be recognized and accredited on the basis of competence test. More precise instructions can be found in Degree Regulations and in Study Guide.

Student workload

Webinars 8 h, independent study and learning assignments 127 h

Content scheduling

Opening webinar (1 h) week 6 (3.-7.2.2025)
Guidance webinar (1 h) week 10 (3.-7.3.2025)
Guidance webinar (1 h) week 12 (17.-21.2025)
Webinars (2 h, presentations of the group work) week 15 (7.-11.4.2025) and week 16 (14.-17.4.12025)
Closing (1 h, recap and feedback) week 18 (28.4.-2.5.2025)

Further information for students

The assessment in the course is based on the competence demonstrated in learning assignments which are done individually, in pairs or in groups (100 %, 5 ECTS credits). Learning assignments may be quizzes, summaries, essays and/or analyses that are related with the topics of the course.

Students' attendance and activity will be checked three weeks after the start of the implementation. The first learning assignment of the course is scheduled in such a way that the student must return it within the first three weeks. If the student does not make this return, his/her enrollment for the course will be rejected.

Evaluation scale

0-5

Evaluation criteria, satisfactory (1-2)

Sufficient 1
You name concepts of strategic financial management that you define. You describe strategic decision-making situations and appropriate financial management methods for them. You identify the current strategic situation of the organization and explain the significance of financial management. You define the organization's capabilities to face strategic decision-making situations using financial management methods.

Satisfactory 2
You utilize the concepts of strategic financial management, which you distinguish and classify. You compare strategic decision-making situations and financial management methods suitable for them. You summarize the organization's current strategic situation and comment on the significance of financial management. You outline the organization's capabilities to address strategic decision-making situations using financial management methods.

Evaluation criteria, good (3-4)

Good 3
You use the concepts of strategic financial management which you apply. You illustrate strategic decision-making situations and the corresponding financial management methods. You outline the current strategic situation of the organization and reflect on the significance of financial management. You illustrate the organization's capabilities to address strategic decision-making situations using financial management methods.

Very good 4
You analyze the concepts of strategic financial management, which you specify. You structure strategic decision-making situations and the financial management methods suitable for them. You analyze the organization's strategic current situation and the significance of financial management. You specify the organization's capabilities to address strategic decision-making situations using financial management methods.

Evaluation criteria, excellent (5)

Excellent 5
You evaluate the concepts of strategic financial management, which you reflect upon. You relate strategic decision-making situations to the financial management methods suitable for them. You assess the organization's current strategic situation and the significance of financial management. You interpret the organization's capabilities to address strategic decision-making situations using financial management methods.

Prerequisites

You know the basic concepts of financial accounting (income statement, balance sheet, cash flow statement), the basics of financial statement analysis and the basic concepts of management accounting (cost concepts, contribution margin, break-even point, margin of safety, the difference between income statement and cash flow statement), and the use of spreadsheet program (Excel).