Accredited by AACSB-InternationalThe Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business

DEPARTMENT OF ACCOUNTING
ACCOUNTING FOR DECISION MAKING
SUMMER SEMESTER - 2015
ACC 604 (3 hrs. cr.)
PROFESSOR:
OFFICE NUMBER:
OFFICE PHONE:
E-MAIL:
MAIL ADDRESS:

Dr. Ray Rodriguez, CPA

ROOM 149, Business Building
270-809-4193
FAX NUMBER: 270-809-3922
rrodriguez@murraystate.edu
130 Business Bldg. - Murray KY 42071-3314

OFFICE HOURS:

by scheduled appointment

CLASSROOM:

online

CELL/TEXT: 618-203-3123 (if urgent)

I.

TITLE: Accounting for Decision Making

II.

COURSE DESCRIPTION AND PREREQUISITE(S): An in-depth study of management accounting techniques and
methods needed for effective management of business enterprises. The trade-offs management makes in acquiring and
using accounting information for decision-making and control are discussed. Specific topics include cost behavior and
estimation, short-term decision making, budgeting, performance evaluation, cost allocation, and product costing.
Prerequisite(s): ACC 200 and ACC 201 or ACC 490 with a minimum grade of C

III.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
The student will be able to:
1.
Define basic management accounting concepts and terminology.
2.
Recognize and identify strengths and weaknesses of management accounting methods.
3.
Apply management accounting concepts and procedures to solve business problems.
4.
Prepare a written analysis of an ethical dilemma in business.
ASSURANCE OF LEARNING GOALS:
Master of Business Administration (MBA) Program Learning Goals: Graduates of the AACSB-accredited Master of Business
Administration (MBA) Program will:
Goal 1: Core Business Knowledge
Possess the current working body of knowledge in the business disciplines of Management, Marketing, Managerial
Accounting, Managerial Economics, Corporate Finance, and Quantitative Management Science.
Goal 2: Strategic Problem Solving and Decision Making
Be able to incorporate a strategic perspective into their decision making and problem solving processes after
identifying, analyzing, and applying relevant data and information.
Goal 3: Effective Communication
Be able to effectively communicate ideas in written professional reports.
Goal 4: Leadership and Change Management
Be able to appropriately incorporate various leadership and change management theories, including Transformational
Leadership, into their organizational leadership and management activities.

Goal 5: Global Awareness and Diversity Issues

Be able to incorporate external/international forces that impact on business, as well as understand the various
dimensions and advantages of Diversity in the work place.
Goal 6: Technology Awareness and Usage
Be aware of latest information technology, and demonstrate its usage in and outside the classroom
Goal 7: Ethics
Be able to incorporate the various ethical perspectives into their decision making and problem solving processes after
identifying, analyzing, and applying relevant data and information.
STRATEGIC PLAN - Students are encouraged to review the colleges mission, vision, and strategic plan. Access is at
http://www.murraystate.edu/Academics/CollegesDepartments/CollegeOfBusiness/strategicplan0914.aspx. These documents,
along with our assurance of learning goals, are an integral part of the planning efforts which guide the colleges decision-making
processes.
IV.

CONTENT OUTLINE:
The tentative content outline for the course is as follows:
CH.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13

TOPIC
Managerial Accounting: An Overview
Managerial Accounting and Cost Concepts
Job-Order Costing
Process Costing
Cost-Volume-Profit Relationships
Variable Costing and Segment Reporting: Tools for Management
Activity-Based Costing: A Tool to Aid Decision Making
Profit Planning
Flexible Budgets and Performance Analysis
Standard Costs and Variances
Performance Measurement in Decentralized Organizations
Differential Analysis: The Key to Decision Making
Capital Budgeting Decisions

V.

INSTRUCTIONAL ACTIVITIES: This course covers the fundamentals of managerial accounting and the use of this
information in decision-making. Self-study and completion of homework exercises and problems are critical learning
activities. Students will work individually to study the material presented in the text and complete homework
assignments. Multiple resources are available in Connect and Canvas to aid students in understanding the relevant
issues presented in the test and homework assignments. The homework assignments are to be completed in Connect.

VI.

FIELD, CLINICAL AND/OR LABORATORY EXPERIENCES: No specific field, clinical or laboratory experience
is mandated.

VII.

TEXT(S) AND RESOURCES:

A.

REQUIRED TEXT: Managerial Accounting, 15th Edition by Ray Garrison, Eric Noreen, Peter Brewer
(9780078025631) and Connect access (9780077522841 or at http://connect.mheducation.com/class/rrodriguez-acc-604-summer-2015). You can buy the text and the Connect access separately or together with the
following ISBNs:
o 9781259279478 (Hard cover bundle) or
o 9781259316654 (Loose leaf bundle) or
o 9780077522926 (electronic text through Connect Plus website)
The principal resources for this course are the textbook and Connect. Additional resources available in Connect include a
study guide, PowerPoint slides, e-text, and videos. In addition to the required materials, students must use a personal

computer to prepare and complete assignments and has Microsoft Office (2003, 2007 or 2010) installed. Internet access
(DSL or high-speed is strongly recommended) and a working knowledge of Connect is also required. Student help is
available for Connect at: http://connect.customer.mheducation.com/student-start/.
B.

EXAMS:

1.

All exams will be CPA-TYPE multiple choice, written problems, and possibly some "other objective question format"
problems. The final is partially comprehensive. You should always bring a "functional" calculator with you when you
take an exam.

2.

All examinations in the MSU Department of Accounting are "closed" exams. In short, all test materials (test documents,
scrap papers, etc.) are to be turned in upon completion of each exam. Notes, textbooks, and other reference materials
cannot be used unless specifically authorized by the professor for the exam in question (such as in ACC 302-see #3
below). When students review a graded exam, note taking is not permitted, the exam materials must be returned to the
professor, and they become the property of the MSU Department of Accounting.

3.

Exams will be open book.

4.

Exams normally are given outside of class on Mondays/Wednesdays or Tuesdays/Thursdays and must be taken on the
scheduled exam dates unless there are extenuating circumstances.

5.

All regular exams will be returned to students for the purpose of grading review. At the end of the review, the exams
will be collected and maintained by the instructor. Any further review may be conducted in the instructor's office at the
request of the student.

6.

Financial calculators are the only electronic devices that may be used during an exam or quiz. In short, graphing
calculators, cell phones, and electronic dictionaries and translation devices may not be used. Printed translation
dictionaries may be used after review by the instructor on the day of the exam or quiz, if they contain no markings
of any kind.

D.

MISSED EXAMS:
Exams must be taken at the scheduled times. No make-up exams will be given except for extraordinary circumstances.
If (1) the reason for missing the exam was beyond the control of the student, (2) the student obtains prior approval
from Dr. Rodriguez, and (3) the student presents valid documentation for the absence, the equivalent score on the final
exam will be substituted for the one missed exam. No more than one excused absence may be granted per student per
semester. Only unusual circumstances will provide a basis for an excused absence. An unexcused absence will result
in a grade of zero.

E.

HOMEWORK, QUIZZES & OTHER:

1.

Assigned homework problems must be completed on the Connect website by the due date. All problem solutions will
be available on Connect after the due date or after 3 attempts have been completed. The lowest 2 attempts will be
dropped.

2.

Quizzes will generally consist of CPA exam caliber multiple choice questions or "other objective question format"
problems and will be given through Connect. The lowest 2 attempts will be dropped.

3.

Applying Excel assignments are completed in Excel and numbers from select cells are entered into Connect. The
lowest 2 attempts will be dropped.

F.

REQUIRED READING: Tentatively, Chapters 1-13 and other readings as assigned by the instructor.

VIII.

EVALUATION AND GRADING PROCEDURES: Final grades are based on the weights shown below:
FACTORS
Exam I, II, & III
Final Exam
Homework
Quizzes
Applying Excel Assignments
Ethics Assignment
Total

WEIGHT
45%
20%
10%
10%
10%
5%
100%

RANGES
90%-100% ........
80%- 89% ........
70%- 79% ........
60%- 69% ........
Below 60% ......

GRADE EARNED
A
B
C
D
E

Fairness in determining grades is a principal concern of the instructor, the college, and the university. Information
regarding
the
collegiate
grade
appeals
and
grievances
can
be
accessed
at
http://www.murraystate.edu/Libraries/COB_Documents/Appeals_and_Grivance_Procedure.sflb.ashx. The universitys
policy is accessed at http://www.murraystate.edu/Academics/RegistrarsOffice/AcademicAppeal.aspx
IX.

X.

ATTENDANCE POLICY: STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO ADHERE TO THE MSU ATTENDANCE POLICY
OUTLINED IN THE CURRENT MSU BULLETINS. ATTENDANCE IS CONSIDERED NECESSARY, IS
CONSISTENT WITH THE STUDENT HANDBOOK STATEMENT, AND MAY INFLUENCE BORDERLINE
GRADES. ROLL WILL BE TAKEN. SEE "MISSED EXAMS" AND "HOMEWORK AND QUIZZES."
ACADEMIC HONESTY POLICY:
Murray State University takes seriously its moral and educational obligation to maintain high standards of academic
honesty and ethical behavior. Instructors are expected to evaluate students academic achievements accurately, as
well as ascertain that work submitted by students is authentic and the result of their own efforts, and consistent with
established academic standards. Students are obligated to respect and abide by the basic standards of personal and
professional integrity.
Violations of Academic Honesty include:
Cheating - Intentionally using or attempting to use unauthorized information such as books, notes,
study aids, or other electronic, online, or digital devices in any academic exercise; as well as
unauthorized communication of information by any means to or from others during any academic
exercise.
Fabrication and Falsification - Intentional alteration or invention of any information or citation in an
academic exercise. Falsification involves changing information whereas fabrication involves
inventing or counterfeiting information.
Multiple Submission - The submission of substantial portions of the same academic work, including
oral reports, for credit more than once without authorization from the instructor.
Plagiarism - Intentionally or knowingly representing the words, ideas, creative work, or data of
someone else as ones own in any academic exercise, without due and proper acknowledgement.
Instructor Material A particularly egregious dishonest act is the acquisition of instructor materials by
students. Any student determined to have acquired or attempted to acquire instructor materials will be
considered to have committed a dishonest act and will be subject to the most severe penalties. This
includes failure in the course and expulsion from the university.
Instructors should outline their expectations that may go beyond the scope of this policy at the beginning of each
course and identify such expectations and restrictions in the course syllabus. When an instructor receives evidence,
either directly or indirectly, of academic dishonesty, he or she should investigate the instance. The faculty member
should then take appropriate disciplinary action.
Disciplinary action may include, but is not limited to the following:
1) Requiring the student(s) to repeat the exercise or do additional related exercise(s).

2) Lowering the grade or failing the student(s) on the particular exercise(s) involved.
3) Lowering the grade or failing the student(s) in the course.
If the disciplinary action results in the awarding of a grade of E in the course, the student(s) may not drop the
course.
Faculty reserve the right to invalidate any exercise or other evaluative measures if substantial evidence exists that the
integrity of the exercise has been compromised. Faculty also reserve the right to document in the course syllabi further
academic honesty policy elements related to the individual disciplines.
A student may appeal the decision of the faculty member with the department chair in writing within five working
days. Note: If, at any point in this process, the student alleges that actions have taken place that may be in violation of
the Murray State University Non-Discrimination Statement, this process must be suspended and the matter be directed
to the Office of Equal Opportunity. Any appeal will be forwarded to the appropriate university committee as
determined by the Provost.
Note: The specific guidelines for this course are as follows: If it is determined that a student has cheated on an exam, the
student will receive an E for the course. In those cases where a student has been determined to have committed an act of
dishonesty, the penalty, or penalties, assessed by the instructor or university will be administered irrespective of the
university calendar.
Ethical conduct on the part of faculty and staff is also a university priority. The colleges policy on ethical behavior can
be found at http://www.murraystate.edu/Libraries/COB_Documents/Code_of_Ethics.sflb.ashx
XI.

NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY STATEMENT: Murray State endorses the intent of all federal and state laws
created to prohibit discrimination. Murray State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national
origin, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age, veteran status, or disability in employment, admissions, or the provision
of services and provides, upon request, reasonable accommodation including auxiliary aids and services necessary to
afford individuals with disabilities equal access to participate in all programs and activities. For more information,
contact the Executive Director of Institutional Diversity, Equity and Access, 103 Wells Hall, (270) 809-3155 (voice),
(270) 809-3361 (TDD)

XII.

OTHER DEPARTMENTAL INFORMATION

AUDITING THE CLASS: Students auditing the class or changing from credit to audit will be expected to perform all
the work required of students taking the course for credit except that audit students will not take any examinations.
They must attend class regularly, do all required reading assignments, tax returns and homework, and participate in
class discussion. Failure to meet the requirements will result in the student receiving a failing grade for the course.

ACADEMIC CALENDAR Summer II Semester 2015

Jul
Jul
Jul
Jul
Aug
Aug
Aug

1
2
2
3
1
4
4

First day of classes

Last day to add a full-semester class
Last day to drop a full-semester class without a grade
Holiday Fourth of July
Last day to drop with a W or to change from credit to audit
Last day of classes
FINAL EXAM

TENTATIVE COURSE SCHEDULE:

WEEK 1: July 1 to July 7
Lecture 1: Chapter 1: Managerial Accounting: An Overview
Lecture 2: Chapter 2: Managerial Accounting and Cost Concepts
Homework, Applying Excel Assignments, and Quizzes in Connect
WEEK 2: July 8 to July 14
Lecture 3: Chapter 3: Job-Order Costing
Lecture 4: Chapter 4: Process Costing
Lecture 5: Chapter 5: Cost-Volume-Profit Relationships
Homework, Applying Excel Assignments, and Quizzes in Connect
EXAM 1: Chapters 1-5
WEEK 3: July 15 to July 21
Lecture 6: Chapter 6: Variable Costing and Segment Reporting: Tools for Management
Lecture 7: Chapter 7: Activity-Based Costing: A Tool to Aid Decision Making
Lecture 8: Chapter 8: Profit Planning
Homework, Applying Excel Assignments, and Quizzes in Connect
EXAM 2: Chapters 6-8
WEEK 4: July 22 to July 28
Lecture 9: Chapter 9: Flexible Budgets and Performance Analysis
Lecture 10: Chapter 10: Standard Costs and Variances
Lecture 11: Chapter 11: Performance Measurement in Decentralized Organizations
Homework, Applying Excel Assignments, and Quizzes in Connect
EXAM 3: Chapters 9-11
WEEK 5: July 29 to August 4
Lecture 12: Chapter 12: Differential Analysis: The Key to Decision Making
Lecture 13: Chapter 13: Capital Budgeting Decisions
Homework, Applying Excel Assignments, and Quizzes in Connect
FINAL EXAM: Chapters 1-13