HI5017 Individual Assignment Instructions
| Purpose of the assessment |
Students are required to develop their understanding of the types of management accounting information that assists managers in organisational planning and control purposes. You need to critically evaluate the literature (using journal articles) and online newspapers and business magazines to determine the practical use of management accounting information by contemporary organisations, and their relevance to decision-making by managers and achievement of business goals. Additionally, each student is to provide a critical reflection of their personal learning process, as it relates to fulfilling the learning outcomes of this unit. (ULO 1, 2, 3 and 4). |
| Weight | 40% of the total assessments |
| Total Marks | 40 |
| Word limit | 2500 – to not more than 3,000 words for Part A and B 1000 words for Part C. Please use “word count” and include the word count in the assignment cover page |
| Due Date | Week 10 Thursday 25 May, 2023 at 11.59 p.m. |
| Academic Integrity Information |
Holmes Institute is committed to ensuring and upholding academic integrity. All assessment must comply with academic integrity guidelines. Important academic integrity breaches include plagiarism, collusion, copying, impersonation, contract cheating, data fabrication and falsification. Please learn about academic integrity and consult your teachers with any questions. Violating academic integrity is serious and punishable by penalties that range from deduction of marks, failure of the assessment task or unit involved, suspension of course enrolment, or cancellation of course enrolment. |
| Format Instructions |
• The assignment must be in MS Word format with no spacing, 11-pt Calibri font and at least 2cm margins on all four sides with appropriate section headings and page numbers. • You must name your file with the Unit Code and Student ID (e.g. “HI5017- GWA1995”). • Check that you submit the correct document as special consideration is not granted if you make a mistake. • Student ID needs to be indicated on the cover page. |
| Penalties | • All work must be submitted on Blackboard by the due date and time, along with a completed Assessment Cover Page. Late penalties apply. • Reference sources must be cited in the text of the assignment, and listed appropriately at the end in a reference list using Holmes Institute Adapted Harvard Referencing. Penalties are associated with incorrect citation and referencing. Adapted Harvard Referencing Rules Holmes has implemented a revised Harvard approach to referencing. The following rules apply: 1. Reference sources in assignments are limited to sources that provide full-text access to the source’s content for lecturers and markers. 2. The reference list must be located on a separate page at the end of the essay and titled: “References”. 3. The reference list must include the details of all the in-text citations, arranged A-Z alphabetically by author surname with each reference numbered (1 to 10, etc.) and each reference MUST include a hyperlink to the full text of the cited reference source. For example:
4. All assignments must include in-text citations to the listed references. |
| Non-Adherence to Referencing Rules Where students do not follow the above rules: 1. For students who submit assignments that do not comply with the rules, a 10% penalty will be applied. 2. As per the Student Handbook, late penalties will apply each day after the student/s has been notified of the due date. 3. Students who comply with rules and the citations are “fake” will be reported for academic misconduct. |
Part A (10 marks)
‘Management accountants’ must be ‘value creators’ to remain relevant.’
Required:
Using the academic literature, discuss the above statement in the context of strategic planning
and sustainable business operations. Include specific examples to support your answer. (10
marks)
Additional Information for Part A:
You must source at least 2 peer-reviewed journal articles from the academic literature. For peerreviewed journal articles, you can search online using Google Scholar (not Google), or use the following
Accounting and Management Accounting Journals via the ProQuest Database by clicking on the links
below:
Accounting, Auditing and Accountability Journal
Journal of Management Accounting Research
Journal of Applied Management Accounting Research
Log-in details in ProQuest are – Username: Holmes2004; Password: Holmes.
These journals can also be accessed via the ProQuest Database link available via the Student Login page
in the Holmes website.
Part B (16 marks)
21st century organisations are affected by developments and news from their external business
environment, which influences management accountants’ role and work.
Required:
Choose one online article published recently in a newspaper or a business magazine (not an academic
journal article) that has reported an environmental issue that would impact organisations today – in
general or in a specific industry (e.g. Tourism, Manufacturing, Transport etc.) in any country. Articles
(online) to be published from June 2022 – current in any country, and use it to answer the questions
below:
Questions to answer:
a) Briefly summarise the environmental issue reported in your chosen article. (3 marks)
b) Was it difficult to select the article? Yes or No, and explain. (3 marks)
c) Demonstrate with examples why you consider your chosen article is relevant to managerial
accountants in 21st century organisations? i.e. How will the reported information influence managerial
accountants’ work? (8 marks)
d) Based on your findings in Part A and Part B of this assignment, discuss two (2) specific skills you
think are relevant for a managerial accountant in 21st century organisations. (2 marks)
“2500 – 3000 words maximum”
Additional Information for Part B:
You should access published articles online, from newspapers, business magazines, or relevant
business and accounting websites. Suggested online websites are listed below (refer to Business
section), but are not limited to:
• The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/au
• Time Magazine https://time.com/section/business/
• BBC News https://www.bbc.com/news/business
• CNN http://cnn.com/
• Herald Sun http://www.heraldsun.com.au/
• The Sydney Morning Herald https://www.smh.com.au/
• Institute of Certified Management Accountant (ICMA) Australia and New Zealand website
https://cmaaustralia.edu.au/
Search and read several articles before you select the article you will use. The chosen article must
be referenced using the Holmes Adapted Harvard Referencing style, with the hyperlink of the article
added in the reference list.
Part C (10 marks)
Assignment Structure:
The assignment should include the following components:
a. Assignment cover page clearly stating your name and student number
b. Abstract (one paragraph)
c. Table of contents
d. A brief introduction or overview of what the assignment is about
e. Body of the assignment with appropriate section headings
f. Conclusion
f. List of References (follow the Holmes Adapted Harvard Referencing guidelines on pg. 2-3)
In this section, you will be discussing about your learning experience in this unit, the relevance of the
unit material and assessments in the unit to your understanding of management accounting in
general, and your understanding of how management accounting concepts and techniques assist
managers in making decisions to real world business problems.
Required:
Specifically, you are to provide reflections or comments on each of the following:
a) Comment on what knowledge you have gained about managerial accounting and how will it be
useful to you in the future? (4 marks)
b) Comment on what you learned from the individual assignment. What was interesting, what was
challenging and what did you learn from it? (3 marks)
c) Comment on what you learned about the various management accounting concepts and
techniques that will assist managers in making decisions to real world business problems. What
concepts and techniques you found interesting and what did you learn from it? (3 marks)
“Maximum 1000 words.”
NOTE: In Part C only, you are not expected to provide any in-text citations and references, as you are
to use your own words when reflecting about the knowledge and learning experience you gained in
HI5017.
| Marking Criteria | Weighting |
| Part A | |
| ‘Management accountants’ must be ‘value creators’ to remain relevant.’ Using the academic literature, discuss the above statement in the context of strategic planning and sustainable business operations. Include specific examples to support your answer. |
10% |
| Part B | |
| a) Briefly summarise the environmental issue reported in your chosen article. | 3% |
| b) Was it difficult to select the article? Yes or No, and explain. | 3% |
| c) Demonstrate with examples why you consider your chosen article is relevant to managerial accountants in 21st century organisations? i.e. How will the reported information influence managerial accountants’ work? |
8% |
| d) Based on your findings in Part A and Part B of this assignment, discuss two (2) specific skills you think are relevant for a managerial accountant in 21st century organisations. |
2% |
| Part C | |
| a) Comment on what knowledge you have gained about managerial accounting and how will it be useful to you in the future? |
4% |
| b) Comment on what you learned from the individual assignment. What was interesting, what was challenging and what did you learn from it? |
3% |
| c) Comment on what you learned about the various management accounting concepts and techniques that will assist managers in making decisions to real world business problems. What concepts and techniques you found interesting and what did you learn from it? |
3% |
| Overall Presentation of Assignment | 4% |
| TOTAL Weight | 40% |
Marking Rubric
| Excellent | Very Good | Good | Satisfactory | Unsatisfactory | |
| Part A | |||||
| ‘Management accountants’ must be ‘value creators’ to remain relevant.’ Using the academic literature, discuss the above statement in the context of strategic planning and sustainable business operations. Include specific examples to support your answer. (10 marks) |
(8.1 – 10 marks) Present an excellent discussion from the academic literature on the statement in the context of strategic planning and sustainable business operations; with excellent examples to support your answer. |
(6.1 –8 marks) Present a very good discussion from the academic literature on the statement in the context of strategic planning and sustainable business operations; with very good examples to support your answer. |
(4.1 – 6 marks) Present a good discussion from the academic literature on the statement in the context of strategic planning and sustainable business operations; with good examples to support your answer. |
(2.1 – 4 marks) Present a reasonable discussion from the academic literature on the statement in the context of strategic planning and sustainable business operations; with reasonable examples to support your answer. |
(0 – 2 marks) Unable to discuss from the academic literature on the statement in the context of strategic planning and sustainable business operations; with inadequate examples to support your answer, or is confusing. |
| Part B | |||||
| a) Briefly summarise the environmental issue reported in your chosen article. (3 marks) |
(2.1 – 3 marks) Excellent and concise summary of the environmental issue reported in your chosen article. |
(1.9 –2 marks) Very good summary of the environmental issue reported in your chosen article. |
(1.6 – 1.8marks) Good summary of the environmental issue reported in your chosen article. |
(1.1 –1.5marks) Reasonable summary of the environmental issue reported in your chosen article. |
(0 – 1 marks) Unable to summarise the environmental issue reported in your chosen article, or is confusing. |
| b) Was it difficult to select the article? Yes or No, and explain. (3 marks) |
(2.1 – 3 marks) Clear, concise, compelling explanation of how difficult, Yes or No it was to select the article. |
(1.9 –2 marks) A very good explanation of how difficult, Yes or No it was to select the article. |
(1.6 – 1.8marks) A good explanation of how difficult, Yes or No it was to select the article. |
(1.1 – 1.5marks) An adequate explanation of how difficult, Yes or No it was to select the article. |
(0 – 1 marks) Unable to explain how difficult Yes or No it was to select the article, or is confusing. |
| c) Demonstrate with examples why you consider your chosen article is relevant to managerial accountants in 21st century organisations? i.e. How will the reported information influence managerial accountants’ work? (8 marks) |
(6.5 – 8 marks) Clear, concise, and excellent demonstration with excellent examples of why you consider your chosen article is relevant to managerial accountants in 21st century organisations. i.e. Excellent, clear demonstration of how will the reported information influence managerial accountants’ work. |
(4.9 – 6.4marks) A very good demonstration with very good examples of why you consider your chosen article is relevant to managerial accountants in 21st century organisations. i.e. Very good demonstration of how will the reported information influence managerial accountants’ work. |
(4.1 – 4.8marks) A good demonstration with good examples of why you consider your chosen article is relevant to managerial accountants in 21st century organisations. i.e. Good demonstration of how will the reported information influence managerial accountants’ work. |
(1.7 – 4 marks) An adequate demonstration with adequate examples of why you consider your chosen article is relevant to managerial accountants in 21st century organisations. i.e. An adequate demonstration of how will the reported information influence managerial accountants’ work. |
(0 – 1.6 marks) Unable to demonstrate and inadequate examples of why you consider your chosen article is relevant to managerial accountants in 21st century organisations. i.e. An inadequate demonstration of how will the reported information influence managerial accountants’ work, or is confusing. |
| d) Based on your findings in Part A and Part B of this assignment, discuss two (2) specific skills you think are |
(1.7 – 2 marks) Clear, concise, compelling discussion of two (2) specific skills |
(1.3 – 1.6marks) A very good discussion of two (2) specific skills you think are relevant for |
(0.9 – 1.2marks) A good discussion of two (2) specific skills you think are relevant for |
(0.5 – 0.8marks) An adequate discussion of two (2) specific skills you think are relevant for |
(0 – 0.4 marks) Unable to present a discussion of two (2) specific skills you think |
| relevant for a managerial accountant in 21st century organisations. (2 marks) |
you think are relevant for a managerial accountant in 21st century organisations. |
a managerial accountant in 21st century organisations. |
a managerial accountant in 21st century organisations. |
a managerial accountant in 21st century organisations. |
are relevant for a managerial accountant in 21st century organisations, or is confusing. |
| Part C | |||||
| a) Comment on what knowledge you have gained about managerial accounting and how will it be useful to you in the future? (4 marks) |
(3.6 – 4marks) Excellent comments on what knowledge you have gained about managerial accounting and how will it be useful to you in the future. |
(2.9 – 3.5marks) Very good comments on what knowledge you have gained about managerial accounting and how will it be useful to you in the future. |
(2.1 – 2.8marks) Good comments on what knowledge you have gained about managerial accounting and how will it be useful to you in the future. |
(1.6 – 2 marks) Reasonable comments on what knowledge you have gained about managerial accounting and how will it be useful to you in the future. |
(0 – 1.5 mark) Unable to present proper comments on what knowledge you have gained about managerial accounting and how will it be useful to you in the future, or is confusing. |
| b) Comment on what you learned from the individual assignment. What was interesting and what did you learn from it? (3 marks) |
(2.1 – 3 marks) Excellent comments on what you learned from the individual assignment. What was interesting and what did you learn from it. |
(1.9 – 2 marks) Very good comments on what you learned from the individual assignment. What was interesting and what did you learn from it. |
(1.6 – 1.8 marks) Good comments on what you learned from the individual assignment. What was interesting and what did you learn from it. |
(1.1 – 1.5marks) Reasonable comments on what you learned from the individual assignment. What was interesting and what did you learn from it. |
(0 – 1 marks) Unable to present proper comments on what you learned from the individual assignment. What was interesting and what did you learn from it, or is confusing. |
| c) Comment on what you learned about the various management accounting concepts and techniques that will assist managers in making decisions to real world business problems. What concepts and techniques you found interesting and what did you learn from it (3 marks) |
(2.1 – 3marks) Excellent comments on what you learned about the various management accounting concepts and techniques that will assist managers in making decisions to real world business problems. What concepts and techniques you found interesting and what did you learn from it. |
(1.9 – 2 marks) Very good comments on what you learned about the various management accounting concepts and techniques that will assist managers in making decisions to real world business problems. What concepts and techniques you found interesting and what did you learn from it |
(1.6 – 1.8marks) Good comments on what you learned about the various management accounting concepts and techniques that will assist managers in making decisions to real world business problems. What concepts and techniques you found interesting and what did you learn from it |
(1.1 – 1.5marks) Reasonable comments on what you learned about the various management accounting concepts and techniques that will assist managers in making decisions to real world business problems. What concepts and techniques you found interesting and what did you learn from it |
(0 – 1 marks) Unable to present proper comments on what you learned about the various management accounting concepts and techniques that will assist managers in making decisions to real world business problems. What concepts and techniques you found interesting and what did you learn from it, or is confusing. |
| Overall Presentation (4 marks) |
(3.6 – 4 marks) Include all elements and is very well presented. Writing flows clearly and sections are linked very effectively. Referencing is exemplary. |
(2.9 – 3.5marks) Include all elements and is well presented. Writing flows clearly and sections are linked effectively. Referencing is of a high standard. English is used |
(2.1 – 2.8marks) Include all elements and is generally presented appropriately. Writing mostly flows well and sections are linked. Referencing is in accordance with |
(1.6 – 2 marks) Include most elements and is adequately presented. Writing sometimes does not flow clearly leaving the paper to seem disjointed in areas. |
(0 – 1.5 marks) Lack key elements and is poorly presented. Writing does not flow clearly leaving the paper to seem disjointed. Referencing is not in |
End of Assessment
| English is used very effectively and error-free. |
effectively with very few errors present. |
guidelines. English is used effectively with few errors present. |
Referencing is somewhat in accordance with guidelines. Basic English is used with some errors present. |
accordance with relevant guidelines. Basic English is used with errors present. |
| Total Marks (40) | /40 |