Cost and Management Accounting
Ethics and budgeting
Budgeting is generally regar ed as an essential technique for planning and controlling an
organisation’s activities. However, budgeting systems can also create incentivesfor unethical
behaviour. Using examples to illustrate your discussion,
explain: Howthe use of budgets in planning and controlling an organisation’s activities may create
incentives for unethical behaviour; and,
-What strategies organisations can adopt to minimise the risk oftheir budgeting system
leading to unethical gehaviours.
Topic 2: Accounting for ov erhead Modern manufacturing processes are typically characterised by large-scale automation,
with machines replacing people. Consequently, manufacturing overhead has often become
a much
more significant component of total manufacturing costs and this presents a particular challenge for cost and management accountants. Competitive pressures make it essential
that firms have accurate and up-to-date cost data, but overhead is an indirect cost and allocating itto individual
products and productlines will always inv olv e subjectivity and estimation.
Discussthe difficulties associated with allocating overhead costs in the contemporary manufacturing environment and identify strategiesthat firms can adopt to help make their overhead allocationsmore accurate and reliable.
5. Presentation The assignment isto comply with the University’s General Guide forthe Presentation of Academic
Work. Students are required to use the APA style of referencing. See comments below regarding
word length. Each group isto submit a single copy of their assignment.
6. Assessment criteria In assessing submitted assignments consideration will be given to:
Overall neatness, completeness and quality of presentation. Graduate students are expected to achieve a satisfactory standard with respectto this criterion
as a matter of courseand forthis reason, no creditwill be granted for achieving it. However, assignmentsthat fail to achieve the minimum standard in connection with this criterion will be penalised. The expected
standard concerning this criterion is as specified by the University’s General Guide forthe
Presentation ofAcademic Work.-Timeliness of submission. Graduate students are expected to be
able to meet reasonable deadlines forthe submission of assessable work as a matter of course. Forthis reason, no credit
will be given for submitting the assignment by the due date. However, assignmentsthat are submitted late will be penalised atthe rate ofthree marks
out of 30 per daythatthe assignment is late.
Demonstrated application of appropriate cost and management accounting
knowledge,skills,values and attitudes. This criterion pertainsto the overall quality ofthe content of responses to the assignment
requirements. Specific factorsto be taken into account include: accuracy, comprehensiveness, demonstrated understanding ofthe topics, and the location and
effective use of relevant research materials.
