THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN

Plans and Policies for

Accounting 312: Fundamentals of Managerial Accounting
Summer 2004

Class Hours:

10 - 11:15 (Unique #: 70920)

Location:

CBA 4.328

Professor:
E-mail:
Webpage:
Phone:

Doug deVidal
Doug.deVidal@mccombs.utexas.edu
http://courses.utexas.edu (Blackboard)
471-7893

Office:
GSB 5.126B
Office Hours: 9:15 - 9:45 daily
and by appointment

TA:
E-mail:

Casey Schwab
Casey.Schwas@phd.mccombs.utexas.edu

Office: CBA 4.352

Office Hours: MTWTh 8:15 - 9:00

Required Materials
MANAGERIAL ACCOUNTING, by Ronald W. Hilton (5th edition, 2002).
Supplements
Course notes and homework solutions are available on Blackboard
Publisher Supplements
A study guide that accompanies MANAGERIAL ACCOUNTING
Text website: M/C and T/F quizzes
Student Success CD: interactive tutorial, PPT slides, videos, etc.
NetTutor: Live tutoring center, Q&A center, and Archive center
Course Objectives
The term "managerial accountant" has been used for many years, but today it often describes a very
different kind of professional. Managerial accountants can be thought of as analysts that generally
add value in two ways: (1) they serve as specialists at turning data into information, and (2) they
create and advocate systems that help managers and workers make better decisions.
Better information and better decisions should lead to greater profitability. Unfortunately, the
accounting numbers generated for financial reporting purposes are not particularly helpful when
managers need to make decisions. Consequently, managerial accountants (analysts) must work with a
different perspective and a different set of skills.
The objective of this course is to begin to develop those perspectives and skills.
Course Routine
This course will be conducted in a manner that encourages class participation by the students,
consistent with the objectives of the course and the time available. Students are expected to study
the chapter readings and other assigned materials PRIOR TO each class meeting. I will normally
devote a part of each class period to the discussion and illustration of selected items from the
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assigned materials. The objective of these discussions is to clarify and elaborate on certain items
because of their special relevance or difficulty. Students are encouraged to ask questions and to
request that particular points be explained in more detail if they remain confused or uncertain about
items discussed or if concepts remain unclear. Additionally, class time will be devoted to discussions
of business articles, short cases, exercises or problems.
Academic Standards
A high academic level will be maintained with respect to (a) the quality of the course and (b) grading.
Course grades will be determined on an objective basis using the following factors and relative
weights:
Lowest midterm
Highest midterm
Final exam (comprehensive)
Quizzes
Team presentation
Team practice problem
Class participation
Business article

12%
20%
30%
15%
10%
5%
5%
3%
100%

Course grades will be such that the class average will be between 2.6 - 3.0. Students will be told how
they ranked on each examination (i.e., what the A, B, etc. cutoffs were). Incompletes will be given
only in the RAREST of circumstances and according to university policy. There will be no
opportunity to earn extra credit.
Examinations
There will be two midterm examinations and a comprehensive final examination. The first midterm
will be on Monday, June 14; the second midterm on Monday, June 28; and the final exam will be
on Thursday, July 8, from 2 - 5 PM.
No make-up midterm exams will be given. If you miss a midterm exam due to an illness or other
emergency reason, you should notify me before the exam and provide me with written documentation
(e.g., a note from the attending physician) after you return. I have final authority to determine if your
absence is justified. Students with an excused absence from a midterm exam will have a weighted
average of the other two exams substitute for the missed exam.
Quizzes
Quizzes may be announce or unannounced, and will cover anything discussed or assigned since the
last quiz. Quizzes will consist of multiple-choice and/or short-answer questions. You will be allowed
to drop your lowest score. There are no make-up quizzes. If you miss a quiz, it will count as your
dropped quiz. If you miss a class, it is your responsibility to obtain information covered in class,
including announcements concerning quizzes.

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Team Presentation
Students will be randomly assigned to 4 member teams, and each team will select a presentation topic
from a list provided. Teams will collect information on the topic and make 12 - 15 minute class
presentations of the findings. Team assignments and further information about this aspect of the
course will be available on Monday, June 7. Additionally, in order to ensure all team members
participate on an equitable basis in the teamwork portion of the class, each team member will provide
a confidential evaluation of him/herself and other team members at the end of the course. These
evaluations will be considered a privileged document (although not anonymous) between each
evaluator and myself. While no one student will determine the participation level of another student,
the evaluations will provide me with insight into the quantity and quality of effort expended by each
student in the team portion of the class. I will consider this information and make any necessary
adjustments to the team assignment grade for specific individuals on the team (i.e., a group member
who provides little help on the presentations/problems will get a deduction from the team grade). The
maximum downward adjustment is the earned scores on the team portions of the course.
Team Practice Problem
For many of the chapters, we will work practice problems in class. The format for these problems
will be that I will first work a practice problem with the class, and then the teams will work a similar
practice problem. I will then select a team to present their solution to the class and to answer
questions directed to them by the rest of the class.
Class Participation
Class participation will be determined in the following manner: I will start with a score of three that
represents average participation for each student . If a student participates more than average, they
will receive scores of either 4 or five. Alternatively, if a student participates less than average, they
will receive scores of 2 or 1.
Business Article
Students will need to turn in a one-page summary of a business article sometime during the semester.
I will chose many of these articles to be discussed in class. Students will be responsible for
summarizing their article to the class and answering questions directed to them. Information about
when the summaries need to be turned in and what the format will be will be available on Monday,
June 7.
Homework
Homework is assigned for most chapters. This phase of your study is intended to be a learning
experience rather than a grading device. You should develop your best solution for each of the
problems assigned. Working with fellow students is strongly encouraged. The homework
assignments do not have to be turned in, and solutions are available on Blackboard.
Wall Street Journal
Reading the WSJ is not required for the course, but I strongly recommend that you develop the habit
of reading it on a daily basis. The WSJ is the voice of business, and reading it for the next few years
will help you attain the background on U.S. and international business that you will need upon
graduation. Items pertinent to the course will often be discussed in class. Two other sources of
business information you may wish to become familiar with are the Financial Times and Business
Week.
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E-mail
I will use the e-mail addresses that are supplied to me on the official UT class rosters. If you normally
use a different e-mail address, please make sure the UT email address you have given the registrar is
set up for forwarding. Any outside-of-class announcements that I make (e.g., corrections or
clarifications of items discussed in class, syllabus changes, quiz announcements, etc.) will likely be
sent to you via e-mail. Questions that you may have at times other than office hours can be e-mailed
directly to me or the TA. I check my e-mail on a regular basis during weekdays, but only irregularly
(or not at all) over the weekend.
Class Protocol
If for some reason you are running late, do not feel you should skip class. Please come in
quietly and take a seat at the side or in the rear of the classroom.
If you must leave class early, please tell me before class starts. I will appreciate it greatly.
Dropping the Course
Students must go through the official procedures to drop the course. A student who stops attending
the class and fails to officially drop will receive a grade of F. Consult the Academic Calendar on the
Registrars website (http://www.utexas.edu/student/registrar/cals.html) for specific deadlines.

Required Disclosures
Electronic Class Rosters
A recent opinion from the US Department of Education states that the University must inform students in
advance if their name will be appearing on an electronic class roster:
Since Fall 2001, web-based, password-protected class sites have been available for all accredited
courses taught at The University. Syllabi, handouts, assignments and other resources are types of
information that may be available within these sites. Site activities could include exchanging email, engaging in class discussions and chats, and exchanging files. In addition, class e-mail
rosters will be a component of the sites. Students who do not want their names included in these
electronic class rosters must restrict their directory information in the Office of the Registrar, Main
Building, Room 1. For information on restricting directory information see:
http://www.utexas.edu/student/registrar/catalogs/gi00-01/app/appc09.html

Students with Disabilities

The University of Texas at Austin provides upon request appropriate academic accommodations
for qualified students with disabilities. For more information, contact the Office of the Dean of
Students at 471-6259, 471-4641 TTY.

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Policy on Scholastic Dishonesty

The McCombs School of Business and the department of accounting have no tolerance for acts of
scholastic dishonesty. The responsibilities of both students and faculty with regard to scholastic
dishonesty are described in detail in the Policy Statement on Scholastic Dishonesty for the CBA.
By teaching this course, I have agreed to observe all of the faculty responsibilities described in that
document. By enrolling in this class, you have agreed to observe all of the student responsibilities
described in that document. If the application of that Policy Statement to this class and its
assignments is unclear in any way, it is your responsibility to ask me for clarification. Policy on
Scholastic Dishonesty: Students who violate University rules on scholastic dishonesty are subject
to disciplinary penalties, including the possibility of failure in the course and/or dismissal from the
University. Since dishonesty harms the individual, all students, and the integrity of the University,
policies on scholastic dishonesty will be strictly enforced.
Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to: copying tests or assignments, representing
(copying) the work of another person as one's own or allowing another person to represent your
work as their own, collaborating without authority with another student during an exam or in
preparing academic work, using or having on your desk unauthorized materials or aids to
complete a quiz or exam (e.g., cheat sheets, solutions, graphing or programmable calculators,
pagers, cellular telephones, Palms, etc), continuing work on an exam after a stop time has been
announced, etc.
Students are expected to adhere to a strict ethical standard in this course.
You should refer to the Student Judicial Services website at: http://deanofstudents.utexas.edu/sjs/
or the General Information catalog to access the official University policies and procedures on
scholastic dishonesty as well as further elaboration on what constitutes scholastic dishonesty.

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Acc 312 - Summer 2004

Course Schedule
Homework Assignments
(E = Exercise; P = Problem)

Ch 1

The Changing Role of Managerial Accounting

in a Dynamic Business Environment

Ch 2

Basic Cost Management Terms and Concepts

E2-24, 29, 33; P2-42, 53, 57

Ch 3

Product Costing and Cost Accumulation in a

Batch Production Environment

E3-24, 29, 32, 35, 38; P3-51, 57

Ch 4

Process Costing (through page 146)

E4-16, 20, 22; P4-28, 31

Ch 5

Activity-Based Costing and Cost Management

Systems

E5-24, 26, 29, 30, 31, 34; P5-45, 47

Ch 7

Activity Analysis, Cost Behavior, and Cost

Estimation

E7-24, 29, 30; P7-44

Ch 8

Cost-Volume-Profit Analysis

E8-23, 24, 29, 31; P8-40, 48

Ch 9

Profit Planning, Activity-Based Budgeting,

and e-Budgeting

E9-26, 27, 29, 30; P9-41, 44, 46

Ch 10

Standard Costing and Performance Measures for E10-31, 32, 34, 36; P10-49, 52
Today's Manufacturing Environment

Ch 11

Flexible Budgeting (through page 486)

E11-28; P11-45

Ch 14

Decision Making: Relevant Costs and Benefits

E14-31, 33, 35, 36, 37, 38, 41; P14-49

Ch 15

Target Costing and Cost Analysis for

Pricing Decisions

E15-31, 35, 36; P15-41

Ch 16

Capital Expenditure Decisions

E16-23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29; P16-39

Ch 17

Further Aspects of Capital Expenditure

Decisions

TBA

The final exam will be uniform and comprehensive (covering the entire course), and will be on
Thursday,July8,at2PM.
NOTE: The above schedule is subject to change and any changes will be announced either in class or by
e-mail. It is your responsibility to keep up with these announcements.

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