PLANNING AND CONTROL

PLANNING AND CONTROL

Cristiano Busco, Adriana Rossi

Instructional goals

The purpose of the course is to discuss the logics and the methodologies related to planning and management control, as well as performance measurement and reporting. In particular, after having explored planning, measurement and control within the company's management system, the course focuses on themes such as cost analysis, budgeting, performance measurement and reporting. The analysis on the logics and the methodologies recalled above is complemented by the discussion of case studies e corporate presentations.

Intended learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding: The student - by participating in the lectures and practical activities of the course - will acquire full knowledge of the main operating logics and practices of Planning and Control. The acquisition of such knowledge will be ascertained through a final written test. Applying knowledge and understanding: The student - acquiring the correct tools and method - will be able to interpret, also with respect to concrete cases, the main tools of Planning and Control. The presence of online content in the digital platform of the course and the carrying out of practical exercises will make it possible to verify in real time the skills acquired by the students. Making judgements: The student, through the use of the methodologies acquired during the course, will be able to collect data and materials to understand the judgments on the main company performance. The student will also acquire the basics to independently evaluate such data by formulating his own critical judgment on the main company performance. Communication skills: At the end of the course the student will be able to master, with adequate terminological precision, the economic-business vocabulary of Planning and Control. The student will develop a solid knowledge of the fundamental aspects of the subject that will allow him to continue to deepen the topics addressed.

Course Contents

To analyze and interpret managerial accounting reports that provides both objective measures of past operations and subjective estimates about future decisions; to analyze and interpret cost behavior and understand various cost systems; to describe the elements of the budgeting process and its objectives.

Reference Books

Horngren C.T., Sundem G.L., Burgstahler D., Schatzberg J., Agliati M., Ditillo A., Programmazione e Controllo, Pearson, 2020 (17-esima edizione) Capitoli da escludere: 5, 8, 9 e 10. Kaplan R.S., Norton D.P. (2008), Mastering the Management System, Harvard Business Review, January. Busco, Granà, Izzo, Sustainable Development Goals and Integrated Reporting, Rutledge-Giappichelli 2018.

Teaching Methods

The course will be a combination of face to face and online lectures, problem-solving, case studies, and interactive in-class and online discussions.

Assessment Method

The student will be evaluated on the basis of the individual scores achieved on: • Project work: the group work will allow the student to get up to 3 extra points to be added to the mark of the final written exam (the extra points will be valid until September 2022 exam session); • Final exam: written exam. The written test consists of a mix of open-ended questions, multiple choice questions and exercises, with which the student have to demonstrate knowledge of the theoretical notions, knowing how to apply them in practical cases demonstrating that he has achieved the method of study and the learning ability necessary to continue the study of the subject autonomously. The failure to achieve at least the score of 18/30 will result in failure to pass the exam.

Thesis assignment criteria

Interest in doing research on management accounting. Good methodology and originality of the topic discussed. The decision concerning the supervision of the thesis will be taken on the basis of a short research project (2-3 pages in word) that must include: - abstract for the project; - main references; - index/structure of the thesis.

Week 1 Contenuto sessioni on line e on campus

Course Introduction. Management Accounting within the context of the Management System. Management Accounting e the differences with Financial Accounting. Ch 1

Week 2 Contenuto sessioni on line e on campus

Different Cost Classification for different purposes. Fixed Costs, Variable Costs, Contribution Margin, Cost-Volume-Profit analysis. Ch 2 and Ch 3

Week 3 Contenuto sessioni on line e on campus

Fixed Costs, Variable Costs, Contribution Margin, Cost-Volume-Profit analysis. Direct and Indirect costs. Exercises on Fixed Costs, Variable Costs, Contribution Margin, Cost-Volume-Profit analysis. Exercises on direct and indirect costs. Ch 2 and Ch 3

Week 4 Contenuto sessioni on line e on campus

Break-Even-Analysis. Tutorials and Case studies. Ch 2 and Ch 3

Week 5 Contenuto sessioni on line e on campus

Direct and Indirect costs. Activity-Based Costing and Activity-Based Management. Exercises on direct and indirect costs, and on Activity-based costing. Ch 4, 12, 13 and Ch 14

Week 6 Contenuto sessioni on line e on campus

Direct and Indirect costs. Activity-Based Costing and Activity-Based Management. Exercises on direct and indirect costs, and on Activity-based costing. Ch 4, 12, 13 and Ch 14 Product mix and make or buy decisions Ch 5

Week 7 Contenuto sessioni on line e on campus

Exercises on ABC; Mock exam (for self-assessment)

Week 8 Contenuto sessioni on line e on campus

Planning and budgeting. Exercises on budgeting. Performance measurement systems. Ch 7

Week 9 Contenuto sessioni on line e on campus

Planning and budgeting. Exercises on budgeting. Performance measurement systems. Ch 7

Week 10 Contenuto sessioni on line e on campus

Performance measurement systems. Balanced Scorecard and Strategy Maps. Case Study on Balanced Scorecard and Strategy Maps.

Week 11 Contenuto sessioni on line e on campus

Corporate Reporting: Integrated Thinking & Reporting. Case study on Integrated Reporting and Balanced Scorecard.

Week 12 Contenuto sessioni on line e on campus

An introduction to Capital budgeting. Problems and revisions for exam preparation Ch 11