Accounting for Business Decision Making: Strategy Assessment and Control

About this course: Accounting information is the lifeblood of the organization, as it facilitates and influences operational and strategic decisions intended to achieve organizational goals. Organizations benefit from three decision-oriented roles of accounting: measurement, control, and communication. This course provides an introduction to accounting’s role in helping managers develop and implement, and improve the organization’s strategy. In particular, you will learn how non-financial and financial information is created, organized, and communicated to help managers make strategic decisions, as well as measure strategic success. This course also provides an introduction to accounting as a control function inside the organization, which helps influence the alignment of managers’ and employees’ decisions with organizational goals. You will learn about different types of controls, including process controls, budgets, and performance measurement and evaluation tools and techniques. Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to: • Create and communicate accounting information that facilitates strategic decisions. • Use accounting information to develop, implement, and improve organizational strategy. • Implement controls that align managers’ and employees’ decisions with organizational goals. • Measure and evaluate manager and employee performance to control and motivate operational and strategic decision-making. If you enjoy this business course and are interested in an MBA, consider applying to the iMBA, a flexible, fully-accredited online MBA at an incredibly competitive price offered by the University of Illinois. For more information, please see the Resource page in this course and onlinemba.illinois.edu.

Created by:  University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

• Taught by:  Gary Hecht, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Accountancy

  Department of Accountancy, College of Business

Basic Info Course 4 of 5 in the Fundamentals of Accounting Specialization Level Beginner Language English How To Pass Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. User Ratings 4.4 stars Average User Rating 4.4See what learners said Coursework

Each course is like an interactive textbook, featuring pre-recorded videos, quizzes and projects.

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University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a world leader in research, teaching and public engagement, distinguished by the breadth of its programs, broad academic excellence, and internationally renowned faculty and alumni. Illinois serves the world by creating knowledge, preparing students for lives of impact, and finding solutions to critical societal needs.

Syllabus


WEEK 1


Course Orientation
You will become familiar with the course, your classmates, and our learning environment. The orientation will also help you obtain the technical skills required for the course.


4 readings, 1 practice quiz expand

1. Reading: Syllabus
2. Reading: About the Discussion Forums
3. Practice Quiz: Orientation Quiz
4. Reading: Updating Your Profile
5. Discussion Prompt: Getting to Know Your Classmates
6. Reading: Social Media

Module 1: Managing Capacity
In this module, you will explore different measures of an organization's capacity and understand their implications for many different decisions, including product pricing.


8 videos, 2 readings, 2 practice quizzes expand

1. Reading: Module 1 Overview
2. Reading: Module 1 Readings
3. Video: 1-1.1. Defining and Measuring Capacity
4. Video: 1-1.2. Implications of Capacity Measurement
5. Video: 1-1.3. Application and Extension
6. Video: 1-1.4. What We’ve Learned
7. Practice Quiz: Lesson 1-1 Practice Quiz
8. Video: 1-2.1. Identifying Constraints
9. Video: 1-2.2. Managing Constraints
10. Video: 1-2.3. Application and Extension
11. Video: 1-2.4. What We’ve Learned
12. Practice Quiz: Lesson 1-2 Practice Quiz

Graded: Module 1 Conceptual Quiz
Graded: Module 1 Quantitative Analysis Quiz

WEEK 2


Module 2: Managing Pricing
In this module, you will learn about accounting's role in pricing decisions.


8 videos, 2 readings, 2 practice quizzes expand

1. Reading: Module 2 Overview
2. Reading: Module 2 Readings
3. Video: 2-1.1. Pricing Fundamentals
4. Video: 2-1.2. Pricing Mechanisms
5. Video: 2-1.3. Application and Extension
6. Video: 2-1.4. What We’ve Learned
7. Practice Quiz: Lesson 2-1 Practice Quiz
8. Video: 2-2.1. Decentralization and Reporting
9. Video: 2-2.2. Transfer Pricing Approaches
10. Video: 2-2.3. Application and Extension
11. Video: 2-2.4. What We’ve Learned
12. Practice Quiz: Lesson 2-2 Practice Quiz

Graded: Module 2 Conceptual Quiz
Graded: Module 2 Quantitative Analysis Quiz

WEEK 3


Module 3: Planning and Monitoring Operations
In this module, you will explore budgeting in organizations.


8 videos, 2 readings, 2 practice quizzes expand

1. Reading: Module 3 Overview
2. Reading: Module 3 Readings
3. Video: 3-1.1. Budgeting in Organizations
4. Video: 3-1.2. Types of Budgets
5. Video: 3-1.3. Application and Extension
6. Video: 3-1.4. What We’ve Learned
7. Practice Quiz: Lesson 3-1 Practice Quiz
8. Video: 3-2.1. Standards and Variance Analysis
9. Video: 3-2.2. Variance Analysis Concepts and Framework
10. Video: 3-2.3. Application and Extension
11. Video: 3-2.4. What We’ve Learned
12. Practice Quiz: Lesson 3-2 Practice Quiz

Graded: Module 3 Conceptual Quiz
Graded: Module 3 Quantitative Analysis Quiz
Graded: Module 3 Peer Review Assignment

WEEK 4


Module 4: Managing Organizational Strategy
In this module, you will explore many aspects of this important system.


8 videos, 2 readings, 2 practice quizzes expand

1. Reading: Module 4 Overview
2. Reading: Module 4 Readings
3. Video: 4-1.1. Defining Strategy
4. Video: 4-1.2. Measure Attributes and Qualities
5. Video: 4-1.3. Financial Measures
6. Video: 4-1.4. What We’ve Learned
7. Practice Quiz: Lesson 4-1 Practice Quiz
8. Video: 4-2.1. Non-financial Measures
9. Video: 4-2.2. Purpose of Strategic Performance Measurement Systems
10. Video: 4-2.3. The Balanced Scorecard
11. Video: 4-2.4. What We’ve Learned
12. Practice Quiz: Lesson 4-2 Practice Quiz
13. Discussion Prompt: Final Reflections

Graded: Module 4 Conceptual Quiz
Graded: Module 4 Peer Review Assignment