Advanced Management Accounting

Numbers tell a story. They represent the culmination of the work done in an organization. Numbers thus tell us about the needs of an organization, and also they tell us about its performance. And we measure performance at all levels, both explicitly and implicitly. Performance measures are used as expressions of both successes and failures. For long, it has been taken for granted that performance measurements are used e.g. for managerial decision making, to monitor operations and to control employees. One underlying reason for the acceptance of performance measurements is that its users are involved in the production of the numbers. In other words, the users want to know what the measurements have to say about the organization. Also, the users are interested in what kind of performance measurements can be used to improve day-to-day operations. The course highlights how management accounting practices are much more than a compilation of different techniques and are formed by their contexts that have social consequences and represent different values.

Knowledge
After the course, students will have
- advanced knowledge of the role and position of management accounting in contemporary organisations and
- critical understanding of cutting edge management accounting in practice and research.

Skills
After the course, students will have skills to
- critically assess and discuss management accounting concepts and
- practice the use of management accounting concepts.

Competance
After the course, students will be able to
- critically examine benefits and drawbacks of contemporary management accounting concepts,
- communicate and debate their knowledge both orally and writtenly and
- constructively assess and communicate constructive criticism to others.

The timetable will be set out in detail at the course beginning. Teaching will be carried out in blocks and spread over 5-6 meetings during two days. The teaching will be a mixture of lectures, seminars, cases, student presentations and guest lectures.