+ Bristol Business School

Academic Year: 10/11 Assessment Period: August Assessment Type: Referral Coursework Module Leader: Module Number: Module Name: Word Limit: Sandra Laurent (UWE) Cheryll Lim (TU) UMAC3J-20-3 Advanced Management Accounting 2500

Coursework Submission Date and Time: Assignments are to be submitted by 2pm Monday 8th August 2011 at the assignment boxes near the Divisional Office. A front cover sheet MUST be attached to the front of your coursework (these can be printed from the Courses>Coursework tab in MyUWE). You are strongly advised to print these in advance, as near the 2pm deadlines printers in pc labs and the handin area can be extremely busy. If you wish to post your assignment, you MUST send it by Recorded Delivery and obtain proof of the date and time of posting. Your work must be in the post by the deadline. Handing in coursework late The Academic Regulation relating to late work was introduced in September 2010. Please see Information Sheet UG 011 Late Work for more information.

Deadline:

Monday 8th August 2011

14:00

ADVANCED MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING 2010/11: Referred Coursework

Assignment Weighting The assignment has a weighting of 30% Assignment Objectives The assignment assesses your ability to: Access a wide range of information concerning key management accounting developments Research the context of contemporary management accounting theory and its recent historical development Critically evaluate the literature concerning the developments in a particular area of management accounting Synthesise different views on a particular theory of management accounting Assess the practical impact of developments in management accounting theory Present written information in report format in a structured, succinct and clear fashion

Eli Goldratt in his two books The Goal and The Haystack Syndrome outlines the need for a paradigm shift in cost world thinking. This paradigm shift forms the basis of his Theory of Constraints. He compares his Theory of Constraints with two very similar techniques of Total Quality Management and Just-in-Time manufacturing. He agrees that these are good techniques but they do not go far enough to produce a paradigm shift. It is this paradigm shift that enables Godratt to turn his Theory of Constraints into the technique of Throughput Accounting. The lectures in the first semester outline the main criticisms of cost world thinking by Goldratt. They are supported with articles by Dugdale and Jones and Thomas Corbett where they explain in more detail the Theory of Constraints and Throughput Accounting.

Required: 1. Identify further subsequent important academic publications that identify the development of the techniques of Just-in-Time, Total Quality Management and Throughput Accounting from the 1990s to the present day. Critically evaluate how they explain, expand, or critique the theory developed by Goldratt. Higher marks will be awarded to students who research relevant up-to date articles and are able to critically evaluate and synthesise these articles, rather than merely describing each article in turn. This is the main body of the

assignment and should show that you have researched a number of academic articles that trace the developments up to the present day. 2. Assess the impact of the new ideas on both companies and consultants. This can de done by finding specific case studies or academic surveys that have been undertaken on a number of companies. 3. Conclude by summarising the literature and considering the extent to which the subsequent developments have overcome the original criticisms of Goldratt.

The report should not exceed 2,500 words (excluding appendices). It must be wordprocessed. The report must include an accurate word count. DUE DATE The completed assignment should be inserted into the appropriate assignment post box by 2pm on Monday 8th August 2011. A completed Assignment Front Sheet should be attached securely to the front of the assignment before submission.

Harvard system of referencing is required.

The marks awarded for the assignment will be based on the assessment criteria described below which is listed in order of importance.

Assignment for Advanced Management Accounting 2010/11, Feedback to students Student Number: Would students please note that achievement of the learning outcomes for this assessment is demonstrated against the assessment criteria shown below in order of significance. Your assignment is marked as a whole and your grade is more than a summation of your performance as rated below. Please keep this sheet in a safe place.

Assessment Criteria 1. Evidence of substantial research into subsequent publications with important publications identified

2.

Literature is critically evaluated and synthesised

3.

Conclusion synthesises critical evaluation of the literature and practical developments

4.

Evidence of research into the impact on non-academic users with use of relevant case studies

5.

Conclusion provides a balanced reflection on how far the developments have overcome the original criticisms.

6.

Evidence of an understanding of the criticisms put forward by Goldratt.

*Rating scale: How far have you met the assessment criteria A. Fully; (70%+); B. Substantially (60-69%); C. Adequately (50-59%); D. To a limited extent (40-49%); E. Inadequately (35-39%): F. Not at all (34% or less)

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