SYLLABUS

Course Description:

This course will provide students with an understanding of the uses and limitations of accounting information in economic decision-making in a variety of business and other organizational contexts. Current issues will be integrated as accounting concepts are discussed. The course will also build skills in problem solving and the use of Excel.

Course Objectives:

1. Use the income statement, the balance sheet, the statement of cash flows, and financial ratios to evaluate the performance of companies. Understand how recent accounting scandals misrepresented financial performance.

2. Determine the relative profitability and breakeven points of segments of a business as well as costs that are relevant to decisions.

3. Identify the purposes of financial plans in organizations. Prepare an integrated set of projected financial statements utilizing Excel.

4. Understand the basic elements of manufacturing costs and evaluating performance. Understand activity-based costing, process management, and the concepts of quality and continuous improvement as contrasted with traditional manufacturing approaches.

5. Understand the basics of capital budgeting and the strategic nature of capital budgeting.

Homework:

There will be 5 Excel homework assignments. These are indicated by (E) next to the assignment number on the syllabus. Each assignment must be emailed as an attachment to the instructor prior to the start of class on the date assigned. No late assignments will be accepted.

Other homework assignments will be used as a basis for class discussion and/or will be used to reinforce concepts. (These will not be collected or graded.)

Project:

During the semester, students will participate in a three-part case assignment Lost Peak Winery, Inc. Each part is worth 50 points. The case will be provided by the instructor and will require the use of Excel for the solution.

Students are encouraged to discuss any assignments with their classmates. However, the actual preparation of homework assignments and the project must be done by each student on an individual basis. Copying of another student's assignments is considered to be unethical behavior.

Attendance and participation:

Students are expected to attend class and commit to being an active learner at each class session. This requires that you come to class well prepared to discuss assigned readings and individual homework assignments. Students who are unable to make a class should contact the instructor prior to the class meeting.

Make-up examinations will be given only in the case of emergency and at the sole discretion of the instructor.

Grading:

Mid Term Exam	100	pts.	470 - 500	A	385 - 404	C+
Final Exam	100		455 - 469	A-	355 - 384	C
Mini-exams (2 take-home)	100		440 - 454	B+	325 - 254	D
Project (3 parts @ 50 pts.)	150		425 - 439	B
Homework (5 Excel)	50		405 - 424	B-
TOTAL	500	pts.

Class Schedule: (subject to change)

August 31 6:00 – 7:50	Chapter 1 Introduction to Business and Accounting "The Corporate Scandal Sheet" Forbes article on-line
September 14	Chapter 3 Developing a Business Plan: Cost-Volume-Profit Analysis; 3-12, 19, 24
September 21	Chapter 4 Developing a Business Plan: Budgeting "Better Budgets" J of A article on-line; 4-19-24, 32, 36
September 28	Chapter 5 The Accounting System: Concepts and Applications Mini-exam 1 due 5-37(E), 40

October 5	Chapter 6 The Income Statement: Its Content and Use Chapter 7 The Balance Sheet: Its Content and Use 6-20, 32, 35; 7-35, 36, 37 Lost Peak Winery, Inc. (A) due [omit Statement of Cash Flows in part (b)]
October 12	Chapter 8 The Cash Flow Statement: Its Content and Use (use indirect method found in Appendix) 8-27, 31, 39 "The Ins and Outs of Cash Flow" Business Week article on-line
October 21 6:00 – 10:00	Mid-term exam
October 26 7:10 - 9:00	Chapter 9 Managing and Reporting Working Capital; 9-21, 32 "Managing the Cash Gap" J of A article on-line
November 2	Chapter 10 Introduction to Corporations: Structures, Reports, and Analyses; 10-42(E), 43(E), 44 "Fuzzy Math and Stock Options" Washington Post article Lost Peak Winery, Inc. (B) due
November 9	Chapter 13 Revenues and Cash Collections; 13-47, 48 Chapter 14 Expenses and Cash Payments; 14-50, 51
November 16	Chapter 15 Short-term Planning Decisions; 15-16, 18, 21, 22 Lost Peak Winery, Inc. (C) due
November 23	Chapter 16 Product Costing Systems in Manufacturing Operations; 16-25, 29, 32, 34 & 35 Mini-exam 2 due
November 30	Chapter 18 Modern Developments in Managing Operations 18-15, 22, 24(E), 26 "The Balanced Scorecard" www.quickmba.com article
December 7	Chapter 20 Capital Expenditure Decisions 20-23, 26(E), 27, 30, 31, 34 "Will Real Options Take Root?" CFO article
December 14 6:00 – 10:00	Final Exam

Wisdom is the principle thing, therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting, get understanding.
–Proverbs 4:7

Final Exam