Northeastern University

DAmore-McKim School of Business

MANAGERIAL ACCOUNTING ACCT 2301
Fall 2016
Section 07: M/Th 370 Dodge
Instructor:
Prof. Margie Platt
404F Hayden Hall
E-mail: m.platt @neu.edu
Telephone (617) 373-4647

Office Hours:
T 2:00 - 3:30; Th 3:00 4:00
and by appointment

Teaching Assistants: 439 Dodge Hall; You can contact our TA, Andrew Gordon, directly via
email: Gordon.and@husky.neu.edu
Required Course Materials:
1. Fundamental Managerial Accounting Concepts 7th edition by Edmonds, Edmonds, Tsay, and
Olds (McGraw-Hill Irwin, 2014), Chapters 1-8 and 10. The text can be purchased from the
NU Bookstore as a custom softcopy text or as an ebook version which is available from the
publisher through the Connect website.
2. In both cases, students need to purchase CONNECT, the online homework program for the
textbook. The URL to sign up for CONNECT is: http://connect.mheducation.com/class/mplatt-fall-2016-section-07-mth
3. Classpac at NU Bookstore. This classpac contains required business cases and class slides.
Course Objectives:
Managerial Accounting focuses on the development and use of information especially financial
information for managerial decisions within the firm. During the firms planning operations
control cycle, many choices and decisions must be made. For example, what price should we
charge for this product (or service)? Should we add a product to our product line? Should we
drop a product? Are we producing our products as efficiently as we expected? If not, how can
we correct that? To a great extent, we will be discussing product or service costs and how this
information influences managerial decisions. Modern production settings and their impact on
managerial accounting are examined. We will also touch on ethical dilemmas facing
management accountants.
Students will have the opportunity to learn how to:

Use concepts relevant to internal management of planning, operating and controlling

strategic decisions.

Apply analytical tools and technical skills related to a variety of management decisions
concerning pricing and costing products or services, efficient use of operating resources,
optimal product mix, product design, and performance evaluation.

Use accounting data to identify and analyze alternative options with respect to revenue
generation, cost control and profit optimization.
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Upon completion of this course, students should be able to analyze and interpret managerial
accounting information. Also, they should be able to determine how costs behave in a variety of
situations, and what costs are relevant for various decisions. Students should be able to use
managerial accounting tools with financial and other information to make effective business
decisions. Students will also develop their oral presentation skills.
Grading:
Graded Work
Homework
Class Participation
Midterm Exam 1
Midterm Exam 2
Case Write-ups
Final Exam
Total

Weight
10%
15%
15%
15%
15%
30%
100%

Final Grades:
Credit will be earned for the graded elements discussed above under Course Requirements,
and weighted as discussed there. In addition, other factors of an individuals performance such
as performance trends, consistency of preparation, and on-time completion of required
assignments will be reflected in the earned credit to determine the final grade.
Course Requirements:
Reading: Thorough reading and understanding of assigned textbook chapters is required before
the class for which the chapter is assigned.
Homework: To help you understand key concepts, keep you up to date, and provide feedback on
mastery of the material, homework problems are assigned from each chapter. These will be
submitted online using the CONNECT. You will be provided information on the first day of class
with respect to registering for CONNECT and instructions on how to access the online
homework assignments. Homework will count for 10% of your final grade. Late homework
will not be accepted.
Case Analyses: Three written case analyses will be collected and graded. Each case has assigned
questions that you must prepare, write up, and hand in at the beginning of class on the day the
case is discussed. The TurnItIn feature of Blackboard will be used for submitting your case
analyses. The text of your case analysis and your exhibits must be typed. To be accepted, your
typed pages must be stapled, with your name typed on the first cover page. While you may
work with classmates to prepare the case, the written work that you hand in must be solely
your own work. Joint or common text or exhibits, paraphrased text, photocopied exhibits, or
identical computer printouts are not acceptable. No late written case analyses will be accepted.
Make a copy of your written work so that you can have a copy for the case discussion during
class. Please note that the syllabus has more explicit guidance on case analysis requirements and
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submitting your work under Requirements for Written Case Analyses found later in the
syllabus. The written case analyses account for 15% of the final grade.
Class Participation: Students will be expected to participate in class discussions during lectures,
small group problem work and case discussions. During lectures, students will work in small
groups to solve problems and then present their solutions to the class. Case studies will highlight
key concepts covered in the course. The case studies and class discussions will focus on actual
business situations and issues.
Class participation involves participating in class discussions by answering questions on the
readings, presenting your groups solutions to problems worked on during class, and
participating in the open discussion of the required case analyses. Please note that the syllabus
has more explicit guidance on class participation under Class Participation Criteria below.
Open discussion is an essential skill for managers. Your ability to use
accounting concepts in a managerial context depends not only on your
understanding the concepts, but also on your ability to discuss and debate
them. The classroom environment will be interactive; it is only fair for me to tell
you that I frequently call on students whose hands are not raised. Be
prepared!
Your participation grade will be based on your contributions to the class
discussions. The quality of your contributions is more important than their
frequency. Quality will be judged by the insight, accuracy, and clarity of the
comment, by its fit into the flow and progress of the discussion and by your
contribution to the learning of other students. Questions you can ask
yourself to begin to evaluate the effectiveness of your class participation for
a case discussion are:
1. Do your comments show you have thoroughly read and analyzed the
case?
2. Are your points relevant to the discussion in terms of increasing
everyones understanding, and moving the discussion forward, or are
they merely a regurgitation of case facts?
3. Do your comments take into consideration the ideas offered by others
earlier in the class, or are the points isolated and disjointed? The best
class contributions reflect good listening, interpretative and integrative
skills as well as excellent preparation.
4. Are you willing to interact with other class members by asking
questions, answering questions, challenging conclusions, or engaging
in dialogue?
Some sessions have limited chances for discussion, while others are mostly
based on discussion of concepts, analysis, cases and the like. Therefore,
while you are not expected to make contributions in all sessions, I do expect
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you to actively participate when there is open discussion. Class participation

accounts for 15% of your final grade.
Midterm Exams: The midterm exams will be based on course content as indicated in the Course
Outline below. No makeup exams are given. Please note that due to excessive holidays this
term, both midterm exams will be given in the evening, as indicated in the Course and
Assignment Outline below. Each midterm exam will account for 15% of the final grade.
Final Exam: A cumulative final exam is scheduled during the final exam period. Students with
exam conflicts must file an Exam Conflict Form with the Registrars Office by the Registrars
deadline for final exam conflicts. A student missing the final exam with any excuse not deemed
valid will receive a zero (0) final exam grade and probably fail the course. The final exam
accounts for 30% of the final grade.
Course Policies:
Regular attendance and active participation in every class session are key to mastery of course
material. While attendance will be taken, please note that attendance is not the same as class
participation. Class participation criteria are on the next page. If you must miss a class, please let
me know in advance by voice- or e-mail.
Daily preparation outside of class is important. Read each chapter BEFORE working the exercises
and problems, and AGAIN AFTER the class discussion to reinforce the material in your mind. I
encourage you to form study groups with other class members. However, work you turn in, both
written and online, must be your own. If you need help working the assignment, get help from the
TA or me before the class session when it is due. If a class fails to meet for any reason, you are
nevertheless responsible for any material and the assignment. Late assignments will not be
accepted under ANY circumstances. If you are absent, you must find a way to submit your
assignment on time.
Students are expected to act professionally in the classroom. Students are expected to bring a
calculator to every class and to exams. Cell phones should be turned off. Laptops are permitted for
use during class time for taking notes only. Chat programs, web surfing, and other non-class
related activities on laptops are strictly prohibited. Failure to adhere to this policy will jeopardize a
students final grade.
Academic honesty. Northeastern University is committed to the principles of intellectual honesty
and integrity, as set out in the Undergraduate Student Handbook. All members of the Northeastern
community are expected to maintain complete honesty in all academic work, presenting only that
which is their own work in tests and assignments. If you have any questions regarding proper
attribution of the work of others, contact me prior to submitting your work.

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Class Participation Criteria:

A. I participate regularly, contributing to the discussion in nearly every class. My pattern of
contribution has been steady; the frequency of my participation has not fallen off.
I make major, substantive contributions. For example, I am likely to explain why a particular
overhead allocation method is appropriate, or explain in detail how I solved a problem. In
some instances, my contributions have added a unique insight to the discussion, or have
made a significant impact on the discussion.
I am always on time, and I have missed at most one class.
B. I have participated in the discussion several times. The frequency of my participation has
been steady, or the frequency has increased, as I became more familiar with the class and the
material.
Most of my contributions have been fairly brief responses to straightforward questions. For
example, I may have provided the components of a contribution margin income statement, or
I may have calculated a breakeven volume. It is clear that I am prepared and am able to give
an appropriate answer that is helpful to the class discussion. I raise my hand to volunteer to
answer questions a moderate amount.
I have missed at most one class. I have not been late to more than one class.
C. I speak infrequently, but I have volunteered at least twice. I dont raise my hand very often.
When I was called on, my answer may have been weak or insufficient.
Attendance and/or lateness are problems for me. I have missed or been late for more than two
classes.
D. I almost never speak, and it is likely that on those occasions I have spoken, Prof. Platt called
on me when my hand was not raised.
I am often not well prepared to answer the question.
I have missed or been late for three or more classes.
F. I rarely speak, and attendance and/or lateness are chronic problems.

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Requirements for Written Case Analyses:

1. Answer the questions in the assignment in order. Number your answers to the questions to
make it clear which question you are answering. No introduction or statement of the
problem is required.
2. Type your answers, double-spaced, in 12 point font. Number each page sequentially
(including Exhibits) except the cover page. TEXT (not including Exhibits) MUST NOT
EXCEED TWO (2) PAGES. Margins must be reasonable, no smaller than 1 inch on all
sides.
3. Clearly show all calculations done to arrive at your answers and analyses. Where possible,
use Tables and Exhibits to present calculations and quantitative analyses. Position these
after the two pages of text. You will be evaluated on the clarity of the presentation as well as
the quality of the analysis.
4. Support your assertions with evidence drawn from the case facts, and from your analysis.
5. Calculations are only the beginning of the analysis. You must interpret the calculations and
assess their implications and significance for the managerial analysis and decisions under
discussion.
6. Type an 8 x 11 cover page that includes your name, case name, and the date the case
write-up is due. Please do not put your name on any other pages of your paper.
7. STAPLE the pages in the upper left-hand corner-. (Paper clips have a nasty habit of coming
off, and pages are lost.) Submit only the stapled 8 x 11 pages.
8. Do NOT copy lengthy portions of the text or assigned articles into your papers for two
reasons. First, I am interested in your work, not someone else's. Second, when you analyze
a case, you must explain what is happening in a specific context. The text, on the other
hand, provides general explanations not necessarily relevant to the specific case context.
9. If, however, you wish to use brief references to the work of others (including the text and
readings assigned for this course, as well as any other sources you may choose), you MUST
ACKNOWLEDGE THE SOURCE using appropriate footnotes. Failure to do so is
plagiarism, which is grounds for failing the course as well as disciplinary action. This
applies to the ideas and concepts of others, as well as their specific words:
[T]aking over the ideas, methods, or written words of another, without acknowledgment and with
the intention that they be taken as the work of the deceiver, is plagiarism. [Committee on
Professional Ethics, AAUP, "Statement on Plagiarism," Academe, Sep.-Oct., 1989, page 47.]
10. You will submit an electronic copy AND a typed hard copy of your written
case analyses.
Submitting the case write-up electronically:
The electronic copy will be submitted to Turnitin Assignments through
Blackboard. To submit, log onto Blackboard, click on the course ACCT 2301,
then click on Assignments.
1. Click the view/complete link next to the assignment you want to
submit.
2. Click the submit icon for the paper.
3. Enter a paper title.
4. Click the browse button to locate the file you want to submit.
5. Then click submit.
Submitting the case write-up in hard-copy:
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The typed hard copy of written cases is due at the beginning of the class
session assigned; cases handed in after the class starts are considered late.
(Make two hard-copies of your analysis so that you will have one to
use during class after you hand in your other copy to me).

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Course and Assignment Outline:

Session

Date

Day

Topic

Assignment Due

9/8

Th

Introduction to Course/Chapter 1: Cost Definitions

Purchase book;
coursepac; and register
for CONNECT

9/12

9/15

Th

919

Chapter 2: Contribution Margin Income Statement; Hi-Lo

Method to Estimate Fixed and Variable Costs

9/22

Th

Chapter 3: Analysis of Cost, Volume, Pricing and Profitability

Skim Case #1

9/26

Chapter 3: Analysis of Cost, Volume, Pricing and Profitability

Chapter 2 Homework
1:00pm

9/29

Th

10/3

No Class Rosh Hashanah

10/6

Th

Case #1 Class Discussion: Integrating Cost Concepts Case:

Salem Telephone Bring 2 copies of your written Case
analysis #1 to class. Keep one copy for class discussion; pass
in the other copy to Prof. Platt.

10/10

Columbus Day No Class

10/13

Th

Chapter 5: Cost Management/ABC

Chapter 4 Homework
1:00pm

10/13

Th

Midterm Exam 1: Ch. 1 - 3

7:00 8:40 pm
Room: 320 Shillman

10

10/17

Chapter 5: Cost Management/ABC

Skim Case #2

11

10/20

Th

Chapter 6: Relevant Information for Special Decisions

Chapter 5 Homework
1:00pm

10/24

Case #2 Class Discussion: Integrating Cost Concepts Case:

Wilkerson Bring 2 copies of your written Case analysis #2 to
class. Keep one copy for class discussion; pass in the other
copy to Prof. Platt.

10/27

Th

No Class

12

Chapter 1: Product and Service Costing; Cost Flows through

Inventory
Chapter 2: Fixed and Variable Cost Behavior; Effect of Cost
Structure on Profit Stability

Chapter 4: Cost Accumulation

Chapter 1 Homework
1:00pm

Chapter 3 Homework
1:00pm

Case: Submit Written

Case Analysis #1 through
TurnItIn by 1:00 pm on
Wednesday, 10/5

Case: Submit Written

Case Analysis #2 through
TurnItIn by 11:30 am

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Session

Date

Day

Topic

13

10/31

Chapter 6: Relevant Information for Special Decisions

14

11/3

Th

Chapter 6: Relevant Information for Special Decisions

Assignment Due

Skim Case # 3
15

11/7

Chapter 10: Planning for Capital Investment

Chapter 6 Homework
1:00pm
Case: Submit Written
Case Analysis #3 through
TurnItIn by 1:00 pm on
Wednesday, 11/9

16

11/10

Th

Case # 3 Class Discussion: Endius, Inc.: Choosing an

Approach for Product Development Bring 2 copies of your
written Case analysis #3 to class. Keep one copy for class
discussion; pass in the other copy to Prof. Platt.

17

11/14

Chapter 10: Planning for Capital Investment

18

11/17

Th

Chapter 7: Planning for Profit and Cost Control

Chapter 10 Homework
1:00pm

11/17

Th

Midterm Exam 2: Ch. 4, 5, 6, 10

7:00 8:40
Room: 320 Shillman

11/21

Chapter 7: Planning for Profit and Cost Control

11/23

Th

No Class Thanksgiving Vacation

20

11/28

Chapter 8: Performance Evaluation: (except Tax

Considerations on pages 457)

21

12/1

Th

Chapter 8: Performance Evaluation

22

12/5

Chapter 8: Performance Evaluation

TRACE Survey Bring laptop to class

12/7

19

Chapter 7 Homework
1:00pm

Chapter 8 Homework
1:00pm

A final exam review session will be scheduled.

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