MBA4807 Accounting for Managers January 2024 S1

MBA4807 Accounting for Managers January 2024 S1

Module Overview

Masters in Business Administration

January 2024
(Jan 2024 intake, Semester 1)

Module Name: Accounting for

Managers
Module Code: MBA4807
NQF Level 8

Semester: 1

IMPORTANT INFORMATION
This module overview contains important information
about the Accounting for Managers Module.
 MBA4807 Accounting for Managers 2024 Semester 1

INTRODUCTION

https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/focused-multiethnic-professional-team-business-
people-1494203654
Welcome to the module, Accounting for Managers. We hope you will find your study an
interesting and rewarding experience. You are welcome to contact your lecturers about any
part of the contents of the module, which you do not understand.
This overview aims to give you a bird’s eye view of the subject matter you are about to study.
This material should be read in conjunction with any other material received on this subject
from the SBL. The idea of this overview is to provide you with a step-by-step guide to all the
material you need to cover in order to do well in this module.

PURPOSE OF AND OUTCOMES FOR THE MODULE

Purpose
The purpose of the learning in this module is to enable students to interpret and evaluate the
different financial reports; to read and analyse financial statements; understand the capital
budgeting process; to evaluate a company’s management of working capital; to evaluate
costing and product pricing decisions; and to evaluate the budgeting process of an
organisation.
This module has been designed so that it reflects the cutting edge of current financial and cost
management accounting thinking yet is accessible to those who do not have a basic
understanding of finance. By the end of this module, you should feel comfortable working with
financial experts in your business, no matter what area you are in.
Qualifying students will be able to identify opportunities for innovation and will be able to make
recommendations on the implementation of financial and management accounting. These
students will also be able to appreciate the role of financial and management accounting within
an organisation.

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 MBA4807 Accounting for Managers 2024 Semester 1

Learning outcomes

https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/concentrated-young-african-businessman-
working-scrum-2118840623
To be successful in this module, you should achieve the following specific learning outcomes:
• be able to comprehensively identify, understand and apply the basic principles of the
accounting process; identify the users of the financial statements and understand how
accounting information may improve the quality of their decisions.
• be able to differentiate between the types of financial reports prepared for internal and
external users.
• be able to analyse and interpret financial statements to assess the financial
performance of the company.
• be able to differentiate between the different relevant costs and their respective
benefits.
• be able to calculate and interpret the cost-volume-profit analysis.
• be able to apply full costing and other costing methods as well as compare and criticise
the different methods and also show an understanding of the management of costs in
a competitive environment.
• be able to demonstrate the ability to compile different kinds of budgets as well as
analyse information to make capital investment decisions.
LECTURERS AND CONTACT DETAILS
Lecturer
The lecturer’s details are as follow:

Ms Lize Terre Blanche CA(SA)

Telephone MS Teams
E-mail terrel@unisa.ac.za

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 MBA4807 Accounting for Managers 2024 Semester 1

Lecturers can assist with enquiries of an academic nature only, such as enquiries about the
contents of assignments.

You must provide your student number and the course code of this module (MBA4807)
whenever you direct an enquiry to us.

Administrative support staff

Please direct any administrative enquiries to the following email address:

Administrative support
Name Ms Sibusisiwe Shange
Telephone number 011 652 0322
E-mail address shangsmp@unisa.ac.za

You must provide your student number and the course code of this module (MBA4807)
whenever you direct an enquiry to us.

MODULE RELATED RESOURCES

Prescribed Book
Your prescribed e-book for this module is:
Cloete, M and Marimuthu, F. 2021. Basic Accounting for Non-Accountants. 4th Ed. van Schaik
Publishers. ISBN: 978-0-627-03890-7. eISBN: 978-0-627-0-3891-4.
It is important that you obtain the book as soon as possible. To purchase this title:

• Go to your nearest academic bookstore

• Buy e-books or print online at https://store.it.si/za/home, https://store.snapplify.com,
www.vanschaik.com or www.takealot.com.

Articles and additional resources

Relevant articles and additional resources have been uploaded on myUnisa Moodle. The
focus of these articles are on the impact of COVID 19 on financial reporting as well as the
status of financial reporting in emerging economies and more specifically an African context.
A glossary containing relevant accounting terminology in English, Afrikaans, Zulu and Sepedi
have also been uploaded for ease of reference. (Acknowledgement - College of Accounting
Sciences UNISA)
Moodle

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 MBA4807 Accounting for Managers 2024 Semester 1

Moodle is the online campus of the Graduate School of Business Leadership (SBL) where you
have access to your online study material and can interact with your lecturers and fellow
students, especially those in your study group. The process for registering and getting access
to Moodle is explained in a separate document.

Henry Stewart Talk Website

Unisa subscribes to the Henry Stewart Talk Website. The website is an accumulation of
business videos on various topics. Although you are free to watch any of the videos, please
focus on the financial videos. You can access the website at https://hstalks.com/business/
the username is ‘unisa’, and the password is ‘member’.

Videos
Additional videos and the relevant links will be made available on the Moodle platform under
the heading “resources”.

Unisa library:
Unisa has one of the best university libraries in the world, and it provides a wonderful resource
for finding articles and books. You will receive basic training in how to use the digital library at
the orientation week, and from then on you will have access to a digital treasure trove of
academic material.

TOPICS
The module has been structured in such a way as to allow for students with limited accounting
knowledge to, firstly, gain basic knowledge of financial and managerial accounting concepts
and principles, to then build up to financial and cost analysis and, ultimately, to achieve the
learning outcomes.

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 MBA4807 Accounting for Managers 2024 Semester 1

https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/multiethnic-business-beautiful-american-african-
asian-2278628881
We assumed a study programme of about 12 weeks, at about 10 hours per week, for this
module.
The following table is a guide to completing the module:
Table 1: Topics
OUTCOMES ASSESSMENT CRITERIA TEACHING CONTENT Date & Durati ASSESSMENT:
On completion of this METHODS, ONLINE Time on METHODS
study unit you should be RESOURCES AND
able to: ACTIVITIES
Contact: Content pages 1st 1 week Online Quiz
This will be covered Study unit 1 week Self
during the contact assessment
session. Prescribed e-book:
Study activity: Chapters 1 and 2 Self-test
Chapter 1: activities
Introduction to Uploaded Audio visual
accounting (+- 14 presentations/ lectures: Formative – 1st
- describe and distinguish pages) - Financial assignment
between the Chapter 2: Financial accounting
Financial characteristics and legal accounting concepts introduction and Summative –
accounting implications of the and terminology (+- framework online timed
and the different types of 6 pages) - Financial exam
business business organisations E-teaching/lesson: accounting
- explain the concept of Lecturer audio- principles
environment
“agency theory” in the visual presentation - Financial
.
wealth maximisation of (myUnisa Moodle): accounting process
the business entity - Financial Glossary
- identify, understand accounting
and apply basic introduction and
accounting principles framework (40
minutes)
- Financial
accounting
principles (40
minutes)
- Financial
accounting process
(40 minutes)

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OUTCOMES ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
On completion of this
study unit you should be
able to:
Financial - identify the main users
reporting: of financial statements
and understand how
Differentiate accounting information
between the may improve the quality
different of their decisions
types of - identify the financial
financial statements
reports - understand the
prepared for principles and
internal and assumptions that apply
external to financial reporting
users. - differentiate between
the different types of
financial statements
and the information
contained in each one
of them
- explain the purpose of
each of the financial
statements
- interrogate the income
statement, balance
sheet, statement of
retained earnings and
cash flow statement
- explain the role of the
International Financial
Reporting Standards
(IFRS) in the preparation
and interpretation of
financial reports
Financial - interpret a company’s
statement financial statements
analysis: - assess a company’s
financial performance
Analyse and through applying
interpret financial statement
financial analysis techniques
statements - make business decisions
to assess the by using a company’s
financial financial statements
performance and backing up your
of the decisions with the
organisation numbers
. 3492/financial-
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MBA4807 Accounting for Managers 2024 Semester 1
TEACHING CONTENT Date & Durati ASSESSMENT:
METHODS, ONLINE Time on METHODS
RESOURCES AND
ACTIVITIES
Contact: Content pages 2nd 1 week Online Quiz
This will be covered Study unit 2 week Self
during the contact assessment
session. Glossary
Self-test
Study activity: Prescribed e-book: activities
Chapters 3, 4 & 5
Chapter 3: The Formative – 1st
accounting equation Uploaded Audio visual assignment
(+- 20 pages) presentations/ lectures:
Lecturer audio visual Summative –
Chapter 4: Basic presentation (myUnisa online timed
financial statements Moodle): Financial exam
reporting (40 minutes)
(+- 45 pages)
Chapter 5: Basic Online resources
HSTalks videos:
financial statements
Accounting entries
with year-end (accounting equation –
adjustments (+- 15 process)
pages) https://0-hstalks-
com.oasis.unisa.ac.za/t/
E-teaching/lesson: 3449/recording-
Lecturer audio accounting-
visual presentation entries/?business
(cd/myUnisa Introduction to financial
Moodle): Financial reporting
reporting (40 https://0-hstalks-
minutes) com.oasis.unisa.ac.za/t/
3446/introduction-to-
financial-
reporting/?business
Cash vs accrual
accounting
https://0-hstalks-
com.oasis.unisa.ac.za/t/
3450/cash-vs-accrual-
accounting/?business
Statement of cash flows:
https://0-hstalks-
com.oasis.unisa.ac.za/t/
3476/statement-of-
cash-flows/?business
Contact: Content pages 3rd- 5th 3 Online Quiz
This will be covered Study unit 3 week weeks Self
during the contact assessment
session. Prescribed e-book:
Chapter 6 Self-test
Study activity: activities
Online resources
Chapter 6: Company HSTalks videos: Formative – 1st
financial statements assignment
and their analysis Financial statement
and interpretation analysis Summative –
https://0-hstalks- online timed
(+-30 pages) com.oasis.unisa.ac.za/t/ exam
E-teaching/lesson:
statement-
Lecturer audio- analysis/?business
visual presentation
(myUnisa Moodle): Warning signs in
Financial statement financial statements
analysis (40 https://0-hstalks-
minutes) com.oasis.unisa.ac.za/t/
4024/warning-signs-in-
© UNISA Graduate School of Business Leadership
 MBA4807 Accounting for Managers 2024 Semester 1

OUTCOMES ASSESSMENT CRITERIA TEACHING CONTENT Date & Durati ASSESSMENT:

On completion of this METHODS, ONLINE Time on METHODS
study unit you should be RESOURCES AND
able to: ACTIVITIES
financial-
statements/?business

Distinguish - explain how financial MS Teams meeting: Content pages 6tth – 7th 2 Online Quiz
between accounting differs from This will be covered Study unit 4 week weeks Self
financial and managerial accounting during the contact Assessment
managerial session
- explain the needs of Prescribed e-book:
accounting Self-test
internal users of Chapters 9, 10, 11, 12 &
Study activity: activities
accounting information 15
Chapter 9: Cost
- describe the role of classification and Formative –
terminology (+- 15 Online resources: 2nd
managerial accounting
pages) HS Talks videos: assignment
in directing attention
and solving problems Chapter 10: Introduction to
related to business Materials (+- 15 managerial accounting Summative –
activities pages) https://0-hstalks- online timed
Chapter 11: Labour com.oasis.unisa.ac.za/t/ exam
- differentiate between (+- 15 pages) 3661/introduction-to-
the different relevant Chapter 12: managerial-
costs and their Overheads and job accounting/?business
respective benefits costing (+- 10 pages) Cost categories
Chapter 15: Short- https://0-hstalks-
term decision com.oasis.unisa.ac.za/t/
making (+- 18 3665/cost-
pages) categories/?business

Evaluate - explain the behaviour of MS Teams meeting: Content pages 8th-9th 2 Self-test
costing and costs This will be covered Study unit 5 week weeks activities
pricing - determine the product during the contact
decisions price session Formative –
Forum
through cost - evaluate the influence Study activity: 2nd
–Volume of price elasticity of Chapter 16 - Cost- assignment
profit demand on product Volume-Profit (CVP) Prescribed e-book:
analysis. pricing analysis (+-14 Chapter 16 Summative –
- explain how changes in pages) online timed
activity affect Forum: exam
contribution margin and South African Case
net operating income Study on EDS to be South African
- calculate the break- discussed by Case Study on
even in sales units and students on e- e-platform.
sales value (rands) platform (forum)
- determine the level of
sales to earn a desired
target profit and the
margin of safety
- calculate the margin of
safety and its
significance is explained
Evaluate the - apply full costing and MS teams meeting: Content pages 10th 1 week Self-test
company’s other costing methods This will be covered Study unit 6 week activities
managemen as well as compare and during the contact
criticise the different session Prescribed e-book: Formative –
t of working
methods Chapter 14 2nd
capital and - show an understanding Study activity: assignment
costing in a of the management of Chapter 14:
competitive costs in a competitive Standard costing Summative –
environment environment and variance online timed
. analysis (+- 15 exam
pages)

Apply Capital - explain, evaluate and MS Teams meeting: Content pages 11th 1 week Self-test
Budgeting apply the concept of This will be covered Study unit 7 week activities
fundamental time value of money during the contact
- explain, evaluate and session Prescribed e-book:
s and
apply capital budgeting Chapters 17 & 18

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 MBA4807 Accounting for Managers 2024 Semester 1

OUTCOMES ASSESSMENT CRITERIA TEACHING CONTENT Date & Durati ASSESSMENT:

On completion of this METHODS, ONLINE Time on METHODS
study unit you should be RESOURCES AND
able to: ACTIVITIES
processes to techniques in making Study activity: Formative –
make capital capital investment Chapter 17: Time 2nd
investment decisions value of money (+- assignment
20 pages)
decisions.
Chapter 18: Capital Summative –
budgeting (+- 10 online timed
pages) exam
Prepare - demonstrate the ability MS Teams meeting: Content pages 12th 1 week Self-test
different to provide inputs into This will be covered Study unit 7 week activities
types of and evaluate different during the contact
budgets to kinds of budgets session Prescribed e-book: Formative –
support - define and explain the Chapters 13 2nd
business importance of Study activity: assignment
strategies. budgeting in an Chapter 13 :
enterprise Budgetary control Summative –
- identify and explain the (+- 20 pages) online timed
steps in the budgeting exam
process
- provide inputs to the
preparation of
operational budgets of
sales, direct materials,
production, direct
labour, manufacturing
overhead, selling and
administrative budgets;
cash budget; budgeted
income statement, and
budgeted balance sheet

ONLINE CONTACT SESSIONS

MBA contact sessions will be conducted online using MS Teams. Online attendance is
compulsory for each module and students will be advised well in advance about the scheduled
dates and virtual platforms to be used. Online contact sessions give students an opportunity
to interact with academics and other students.

MODULE-SPECIFIC STUDY PLAN

Use your Study @ Unisa brochure for general time management and planning skills. This
brochure is available at https://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/myunisa/default/Study-@-Unisa
We strongly recommend that you set a study programme for yourself for this semester and
that you allocate sufficient time to work through the prescribed material – to study and read
the relevant sections of the prescribed books, to incorporate additional material if necessary,
to do the assignments, and to prepare for the examination. You are required to read the
relevant prescribed material before the contact sessions because knowledge of the topics will
be required for discussions. The prescribed articles should be considered as part of the theory
that you must study and apply for the assessments. Use the prescribed e-book as a basis for
preparing for the assessments.
The following applies for 12-credit modules:

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 MBA4807 Accounting for Managers 2024 Semester 1

You will need to spend at least 120 hours working on this module. This includes
approximately 50 hours of reading and studying the learning material, 40 hours of
doing activities and assignments, and 30 hours of preparation for the examination. This
includes attending the contact sessions.

ASSESSMENT
Assessment at postgraduate level

There are different types of performance standards that one can use when assessing
performance. This module is based on the mastery of specified learning outcomes, which,
along with assessment criteria, are included in this module overview. Standards for accrediting
qualifications are set by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA), which oversees
the National Qualifications Framework (NQF).

Assessment plays an important role in the learning process. In addition to being assessed on
the learning outcomes of the module, you will also be assessed on the critical cross-field
outcomes (CCFOs) associated with the module in general. These CCFOs are generic
outcomes that inform all teaching and learning and they have been integrated with the
formative and summative assessment in this module. The following table indicates some of
the CCFOs and practical examples useful in assessing them:

Table 2: Examples of Critical Cross-Field Outcomes (CCFOs)

CCFO Example

Organising and managing oneself and one’s
activities responsibly and effectively
Collecting, analysing, organising and
critically evaluating information
Communicating effectively using language
skills in written presentation
Submitting your completed assignment on or
before the due date is an indication that you
have mastered this outcome.
Searching for other sources, incorporating
different views and forming a substantiated
opinion are indications that you have mastered
this outcome.
Adhering to the technical requirements for an
essay assignment is an indication that you have
mastered this outcome.

For more information on the CCFOs, please visit the South African Qualifications Authority
(SAQA) website at: http://www.saqa.org.za

Integrated assessment
Assessment of students’ competence will be based on integrated assessment constituting
formative assessment in the form of a variety of activities and assignments and on a
summative examination.

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 MBA4807 Accounting for Managers 2024 Semester 1

Formative and summative assessment; and internal and external moderation will be
conducted within the guidelines of the Unisa assessment Policy. The student’s summative
assessment mark will comprise a year mark (60%) that will be gained from the specified
number of compulsory assignments and a written examination, which comprises 40% of the
total summative assessment mark. The pass mark shall be a minimum of 50% acquired from
both continuous and summative assessment in a proportionate ratio; 75% shall constitute a
pass with distinction.
Assessment in this module will take place in the following ways:
Assignment 1 Financial accounting
• 1 x group assignment (must be submitted before the due date)
Assignment 2 Management accounting
• 1 x individual assignment (must be submitted before the due date)
Note, however, that repeaters of this module are expected to submit individual assignments
only.

Submission deadlines for assessments

A submission deadline is the time and last date on which the assessment tasks and
assessment components should be finalised, undertaken and completed. If your assessment
is not completed or not registered on the myUnisa system by the submission deadline, you
will no longer have access. As such, your assessment will not be graded unless the required
permission is obtained from the programme administrator.

VERY IMPORTANT – EXTENSIONS

No late assessment submissions will be accepted after 10:00 AM on the date of the
submission deadline.
The onus and responsibility to ensure timeous submissions rests with the student. Late
submissions will not be graded and a mark of zero will be allocated. A student who is unable
to submit by the submission deadline may apply for an extension from the programme
administrator before the actual submission deadline. Only reasons such as illness or death of
a family member will be considered. Acceptable evidence of specific circumstances, such as
medical certificates must be submitted with the request. Extensions will not be granted for not
meeting the submission deadline due to work commitments, technical challenges, electrical
load shedding or any self-imposed travelling limitations. Your request must indicate clearly,
your name, your student number, the registered program, the module, the lecturer, the
assignment number, reasons and evidence for the request must be forwarded in writing to the
programme administrator.

VERY IMPORTANT - TURNITIN

Submission of assessments to Turnitin
In order to minimise plagiarism and improve the quality of your work, you may or may not be
required to submit your assessment on Turnitin via Turnitin.com. This should be done before

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 MBA4807 Accounting for Managers 2024 Semester 1

you submit your final assessment on the myUnisa Moodle system for grading. Please note
that the lecturer does not have access to your Turnitin submission, so you must
download the report and then submit it together (as an annexure) with your assignment
as a single document file.
Turnitin Originality Check allows educators to check students' work for improper citation or
potential plagiarism by comparing it against continuously updated databases. Every Originality
Report provides instructors with the opportunity to teach their students proper citation methods
as well as to safeguard their students' academic integrity.
If you are required to submit a written document as part of an assessment, you will be required
to login and submit your assessment on Turnitin and check the similarity of your text. As a
guide, the document submitted is required to be below 25% in similarity for the whole
document and below 2% for a single source you referenced. This still does not mean that
an assignment submission with an index below 25% does not have plagiarised work.
You should ensure that all phrases, sentences, etc., from other sources, are
paraphrased in your own words and correctly referenced.
NOTE: Should your FINAL Turnitin and myUnisa Moodle submitted document (for all
assignments) not comply, you may receive a 0% for the submission/s.
You have to conform to the Unisa Policy for Copyright Infringement and Plagiarism (available
on the Student Policies & Rules home page) at:
https://www.unisa.ac.za/static/corporate_web/Content/Apply%20for%20admission/Document
s/Policy_copyright_infringement_plagiarism_16November2005.pdf
You are kindly expected to submit your essays on Turnitin after which you submit the revised
version on myUnisa Moodle. Unisa has a zero-tolerance for plagiarism.
You have already been enrolled for the module on Turnitin. Please see the guideline document
on myUnisa Moodle for guidance

Submission of assessments

All assessments are to be submitted online using the myUnisa Moodle platform. Submissions
should not be emailed to programme administrators and academics. Submissions via
email will not be accepted. For detailed information on how to use the myUnisa Moodle
platform and instructions about assignment submission, please refer to myUnisa Moodle
Guide, which you received with your study package.

REFERENCING

It is customary in academic discourse to acknowledge the work that you have drawn from.
Although quotations have their role and a few well-chosen quotations may enhance your
analysis, they should never replace your own explanation. We are primarily interested in
seeing if you can present the ideas in your own words. If you cite a quotation, use quotation
marks, make sure that it appears exactly as in the original and provide a reference in the way
indicated below.

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 MBA4807 Accounting for Managers 2024 Semester 1

Whenever you mention someone else's ideas or directly quote his or her words, you should
provide a reference. There are various ways of doing this, but we recommend that you
acquaint yourself with the Harvard method as it is the most widely used in academic circles.
According to this reference system, you do not use footnotes to provide the full bibliographical
particulars of the referred source, as is customary in other systems. Instead, the bare
essentials to identify the source, such as the name of the author, the year of publication and
the page reference (where appropriate) are given in the text itself, making use of brackets.
Consider the following example:

Keynes (1936:129) is of the opinion that unemployment is caused by insufficient

demand.
Unemployment is caused by insufficient demand (Keynes 1936:129).
Snowdon and Vane (2005:70–75) distinguish between three important interpretations of
Keynes.

The reader is thus referred to the bibliography (which should appear at the end of the last
chapter) for the full particulars of Keynes (1936) or Snowdon and Vane (2005) should he or
she wish to consult the source.

Note that it is not necessary to give all the authors' names in the text when there are more
than two authors. The abbreviation et al. indicates that there are also other authors. The
important point here is that the Harvard method requires you to add a detailed bibliography
at the end of the text. In this bibliography all the authors' names will be listed. The precise
rules of how to present a bibliography follow below.

Basic rules for presenting a bibliography

The bibliography must be arranged alphabetically according to author's surname. The date
of publication appears immediately after the author's name. If the bibliographical entry is a
book, the name of the book must be underlined or italicised. The place of publication and the
publisher's name must be specified. If the entry is a journal article, the title of the article
included, and the name of the journal must be provided. The name of the journal must be
underlined or italicised. The volume of the journal and the page references must also be
provided.

The following are examples of bibliographical entries. We have used italics instead of
underlining the names of books and journals - you may use either system.

Bibliography

Keynes, JM. l936. The general theory of employment, interest and money. London: Macmillan.
Snowdon, B & Vane, H. 2005. Modern macroeconomics. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.
Solow, RM. 1975. The intelligent citizen's guide to inflation. The Public Interest 38:30–66.

Although numerous variations are current in academic literature, we recommend that you
present your bibliography in exactly the way as given by the above examples.

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OTHER ASSESSMENT METHODS

More information about the form and scope of other assessment methods as well as the dates
will be supplied well in advance by the lecturer if required.

ONLINE-TIMED EXAMINATIONS
The examinations will take the form of an online-timed examination. The examination question
paper will be posted on myUnisa Moodle. You will then be given the opportunity to download
the question paper and answer all the questions and then upload or post your exam
submission within the allotted time for the examination.

Specific details of the examination will be made available well in advance. The examinations
will be an open-book examination and will cover all the themes of this module and will require
of you to apply conceptual knowledge gained from academic papers and the prescribed book
to one or more case studies and specific questions related to the case(s). All reading material
set out in this module overview, together with all material covered during online contact
sessions, should be studied in preparation for the examination. Examination eligibility will be
according to the rules and procedures applicable to the MBA. The examinations in total
contributes 40% toward the final mark. A sub-minimum of 40% is required in the exam to pass
this module.
Essential tips for online examinations can be accessed from the myUnisa platform using the
following link:
https://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/myunisa/default/Assignments-&-
Examination/Examinations/Essential-tips-for-online-examinations

Please note that Unisa has a zero-tolerance stance towards plagiarism and cheating which
carries a severe penalty and possible disciplinary action.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The Studies @ Unisa brochure contains an A-Z guide of the most relevant study information.
As previously indicated, refer to https://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/myunisa/default/Study-@-
Unisa.

SOURCES CONSULTED

The main sources of information are provided in this module overview. However, students are
again reminded that the level of this module (postgraduate level, NQF 8) does require you to
do independent research, i.e. find, evaluate and apply own scholarly information sources via
the sources available from the Unisa library.

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 MBA4807 Accounting for Managers 2024 Semester 1

• Cloete, M and Marimuthu, F. 2021. Basic Accounting for Non-Accountants. 4thEd. van
Schaik Publishers. ISBN: 978-0-627-03890-7. eISBN 978-0-627-0-3891-4.

CONCLUSION
We would like to take this opportunity to wish you success in your studies during this module
and we trust that you will find it stimulating and challenging. Should you experience any
problems with your studies, you are welcome to contact us.

Best wishes!

Ms Lize Terre Blanche CA(SA)

Senior Lecturer
GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS LEADERSHIP (SBL)
UNISA

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ANNEXURE A: ASSIGNMENTS

ASSIGNMENT 01
GROUP ASSIGNMENT: FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING
Submission deadline: 10:00am on 27 March 2024

Required:

Download the group/consolidated financial statements for the MTN and Vodacom Groups for
the periods ending 2020 - 2023. (They have different year ends – but for the purposes of
this assignment just work with the same years in your comparisons eg 2022 vs 2022.) Study
these documents, including the Statement of Cash Flows and the segmental breakdown of
the results; then, using financial statement analysis, prepare a report outlining the financial
condition of the companies. Critically analyse the results using ratio analysis, horizontal
analysis (trend analysis) as well as vertical analysis where applicable, in terms of:

Mark allocation:

Profitability (30)

Liquidity (30)

MTN vs Vodacom from an investor’s point of view (include reference to observations in

previous sections, segmental analysis and statement of cash flow). Would you recommend
MTN or Vodacom as an investment opportunity? Explain your answer. (20)

Presentation (20)
presentation & layout (less is more)
effort
use of additional resources
quality of own conclusions and recommendations
use of graphs, tables, executive summaries, etc.
Total 100

Marking guideline/matrix/rubric

The following template will be used in the overall assessment of your assignments:

Group assignment 1:

Excellent – all required formulae and trends were correctly calculated, interpreted and
analysed; vertical analysis plus additional cross- sectional interpretations were added along
with some future considerations.

Good – all required formulae and trends were calculated, interpreted and analysed. Some
cross-sectional references were made.

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 MBA4807 Accounting for Managers 2024 Semester 1

Needs improvement – several required calculations, trends and interpretations were either
incorrect or missing. No cross sectional references were made.

ASSIGNMENT 02
INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT: MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING
Submission deadline: 10:00am on 13 May 2024

Question1 25 MARKS

Ndlovu Industries developed the following income statement using a contribution margin
approach:

NDLOVU INDUSTRIES

PROJECTED INCOME STATEMENT FOR THE CURRENT YEAR ENDING

DECEMBER 31

Sales R750 000

Less variable costs:

Variable manufacturing costs R280 000

Variable selling costs 120 000

Total variable costs 400 000

Contribution margin R350 000

Less fixed costs:

Fixed manufacturing costs R130 000

Fixed selling and administrative costs 80 000

Total fixed costs 210 000

Operating income (profit) R140 000

The projected income statement was based on sales of 100 000 units. Ndlovu has the
capacity to produce 120 000 units during the year.

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 MBA4807 Accounting for Managers 2024 Semester 1

Required:

a.
Determine the break-even point in units.

The sales manager believes the company could increase sales by 8 000 units if
b. advertising expenditures were increased by R22 000. Determine the effect on
income if the company increases advertising expenditures.

What is the maximum amount the company could pay for advertising if the
c.
advertising would increase sales by 8 000 units?

Question 2 30 MARKS
Waikona Ltd manufactures and sells a single product. The selling price is R18. The following
information relates to its yearly production and cost data. (Assume that there is no change to
the stock level of the company.)

Unit Total
Year Volume Cost R
1 300 000 4 000 000
2 150 000 2 800 000
3 420 000 6 600 000
4 280 000 3 900 000
5 230 000 3 200 000
6 120 000 2 100 000

Required:
1. Based on the above cost and volume data, use the high–low method to identify the
variable cost per unit and annual fixed costs for the company.
5 marks
2. On the basis of your answers in part (1) above, calculate the breakeven point of the
company in both units and sales revenue.
5 marks
3. The company expects to manufacture and sell 150 000 units this year. Calculate the
margin of safety in percentage terms and the operating leverage at the expected sales
level.
10 marks
4. The manager of the company has an annual fixed salary of R80 000 and a yearly
variable bonus which is equal to 2% of the operating profit. The maximum bonus is 50%

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 MBA4807 Accounting for Managers 2024 Semester 1

of the annual salary. What would be the minimum desired level of sales revenue from
the manager’s point of view if he wishes to maximise his income?
10 marks

Question 3 20 MARKS
Answer the following questions:
a) Construct an example of a sunk cost for business decision making. (10)
b) Briefly discuss why you think financial reports for investors and managerial reports for
managers may or may not differ in their treatment of sunk costs.(10)

Question 4 25 MARKS
Buhle Company (Pty) Ltd has put together the following data in order to complete their
operating budget for the second quarter of 2019:

April May June July

Sales (units) 73 200 68 900 65 400 67 300

Additional information:

Company policy requires 60% of the following month’s sales (in units) be in ending inventory.
This policy was met in March.
It takes 2.5 hours of direct labour to produce one unit.
The average wage cost is R14.
Variable overhead rate is R6 per direct labour hour and fixed overhead is R15 000 per month.
Required:
a) Prepare a production budget for April, May and June and the quarter in total.
(10)
b) Prepare a direct labour budget for April, May and June and the quarter in total.
(10)
c) Prepare an overhead budget for April, May and June and the quarter in total.
(5)

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