Accounting Research Project 1 Semester 2 2015 Bentley Campus INT.pdf

Unit study package code: ACCT5003

Mode of study: Internal

Tuition pattern summary: Note: For any specific variations to this tuition pattern and for precise information refer to the Learning Activities section.

Individual Study: 1 x 1 Hours Weekly Seminar: 1 x 2 Hours Weekly

This unit does not have a fieldwork component.

Credit Value: 25.0

Pre-requisite units: 314712 (v.0) Business Research Methods 500 or any previous version OR MKTG5004 (v.0) Business Research Methods or any previous version

Co-requisite units: Nil

Anti-requisite units: Nil

Result type: Grade/Mark

Approved incidental fees: Information about approved incidental fees can be obtained from our website. Visit fees.curtin.edu.au/incidental_fees.cfm for details.

Unit coordinator: Title: Associate ProfessorName: Alistair BrownPhone: +618 9266 1069Email: [email protected]: 407Room: 405B

Teaching Staff: Name: Professor Glennda ScullyPhone: 92667902Email: [email protected]: 407Room: 411B

Name: Professor James (Chong M.) LauPhone: +618 9266 2294Email: [email protected]: 407Room: 438

Administrative contact: Name: A/Prof Alistair BrownPhone: +618 9266 1069Email: [email protected]: 407Room: 405B

Learning Management System: Blackboard (lms.curtin.edu.au)

Unit Outline

ACCT5003 Accounting Research Project 1 Semester 2, 2015

Curtin Business School (CBS)School of Accounting

ACCT5003 Accounting Research Project 1 Bentley Campus 20 Jul 2015 School of Accounting, Curtin Business School (CBS)

Page: 1 of 17CRICOS Provider Code 00301J

The only authoritative version of this Unit Outline is to be found online in OASIS

http://fees.curtin.edu.au/incidental_fees.cfm

http://lms.curtin.edu.au/

Acknowledgement of Country We respectfully acknowledge the Indigenous Elders, custodians, their descendants and kin of this land past and present.

Syllabus This unit will be an individual accounting research project looking at industry and company performance which will result in a financial analysis of a company.

Introduction A warm welcome to all ACCT 5003 Accounting Research Project 1 students. Professor James Lau, Professor Glennda Scully and I really hope you enjoy this unit and get a lot out of it, developing skills in critical analysis of an entity's managerial, governance and financial performance

If you have any queries please let me know. My office is at 407: 405B.

Best of luck with the semester.

Alistair

Unit Learning Outcomes All graduates of Curtin University achieve a set of nine graduate attributes during their course of study. These tell an employer that, through your studies, you have acquired discipline knowledge and a range of other skills and attributes which employers say would be useful in a professional setting. Each unit in your course addresses the graduate attributes through a clearly identified set of learning outcomes. They form a vital part in the process referred to as assurance of learning. The learning outcomes tell you what you are expected to know, understand or be able to do in order to be successful in this unit. Each assessment for this unit is carefully designed to test your achievement of one or more of the unit learning outcomes. On successfully completing all of the assessments you will have achieved all of these learning outcomes.

Your course has been designed so that on graduating we can say you will have achieved all of Curtin's Graduate Attributes through the assurance of learning process in each unit.

Curtin's Graduate Attributes

Learning Activities It would be great if you could all attend the seminars each week in order to participate in activities and receive timely feedback on putting together a nice Accounting Research Project Report.

On successful completion of this unit students can: Graduate Attributes addressed1 Critically analyse the characteristics of different industry sectors and explain a firm’s competitive strategy

2 Scrutinise financial reports for performance trends and report to management.

3 Develop a research proposal relevant to the discipline.

Apply discipline knowledge Thinking skills (use analytical skills to solve problems)

Information skills (confidence to investigate new ideas)

Communication skills Technology skillsLearning how to learn (apply principles learnt to new situations) (confidence to tackle unfamiliar problems)

International perspective (value the perspectives of others)

Cultural understanding (value the perspectives of others)

Professional Skills (work independently and as a team) (plan own work)

Find out more about Curtin's Graduate attributes at the Office of Teaching & Learning website: ctl.curtin.edu.au

Curtin Business School (CBS) School of Accounting




http://ctl.curtin.edu.au/

Learning Resources Essential texts

The required textbook(s) for this unit are:

l (FOR PART TWO)

Psaros, J., Australian Corporate Governance: A review and analysis of key issues, 2009. Pearson Education Australia. ISBN No. 9781442500259 (pbk) Chapters 1 & 3. (ISBN/ISSN: 9781442500259)

l (FOR PART TWO)

ASX Corporate Governance Council, 2003, Principles of Good Corporate Governance and Best Practice Recommendations (ASX Corporate Governance Council, Sydney, NSW, Australia). (ISBN/ISSN: 0975065904)

l (FOR PART TWO)

ASX Corporate Governance Council, 2010, Corporate Governance Principles and Recommendations (ASX Corporate Governance Council, Sydney, NSW, Australia). (ISBN/ISSN: 1875262423)

l (FOR PART THREE)

Alexander, D. & Nobes, C. 2013. Chapter 17: Financial Appraisal, Financial Accounting: An International Introduction, 5th Ed. Pearson Education, Harlow, pp. 349-379.

l (FOR PART THREE)

Eller, E. R. , Lippincott, B. and Reck, J. (2006). An Analysis of U.S. and Latin American Financial Accounting Ratios, Advances in International Accounting, Vol. 19, pp. 145-173. (ISBN/ISSN: 0308-597X)

l (FOR PART TWO)

Sultana, N. 2015. Audit committee characteristics and accounting conservatism, International Journal of Auditing 10.1111/ijau.12034. (ISBN/ISSN: 1099-1123)

l (FOR PART THREE)

Choi, B.B and Psaro, L.J. 2013. An analysis of Australian carbon emission disclosures, Pacific Accounting Review, 25(1): 58-79.

l (FOR PART THREE)

Atrill, P. and McLaney, E. 2013. Chapter 8: Analysing and Interpreting Financial Statements (1), Financial Accounting for Decision Makers, 7th Ed. Pearson Education, Harlow.

l (FOR PART ONE)

Otley, D. T. (1980) The Contingency Theory of Managment Accounting: Achievement and Diagnosis, Accounting, Organizations and Society, Vol. 15, No 4, pp. 413-428.

l (FOR PART ONE)

Moores, K. & Yuen, S. (2001), Managment accounting systems and organizational configuration: A life-cycyle perspective, Vol. 26, p. 351-389.

Online resources

l (FOR PART TWO)

ASX Corporate Governance Council, 2003, Principles of Good Corporate Governance and Best Practice Recommendations (ASX Corporate Governance Council, Sydney, NSW, Australia). (http://www.asx.com.au/documents/about/asxcgc_marked_amended_principles_021106.pdf)

(ISBN/ISSN: 0975065904)

l (FOR PART TWO)

ASX Corporate Governance Council, 2010, Corporate Governance Principles and Recommendations (ASX Corporate Governance Council, Sydney, NSW, Australia). (http://www.asx.com.au/documents/asx-compliance/cg_principles_recommendations_with_2010_amendments.pdf)

(ISBN/ISSN: 1875262423)





http://www.asx.com.au/documents/about/asxcgc_marked_amended_principles_021106.pdf

http://www.asx.com.au/documents/asx-compliance/cg_principles_recommendations_with_2010_amendments.pdf

Assessment Assessment schedule

Detailed information on assessment tasks

1. Assessment Parts One, Two and Three focus on a listed Australian company of your choice* and a particular stakeholder group in mind, and are to be used as a framework in answering the following overarching research question: Informing a particular group of society (for example, shareholders, bankers, managers, environmental accountants...), prepare an Accounting Research Project Report that provides an analysis of a listed Australian company of your choice, taking into account its competitive strategic responses (Part One), corporate governance (Part Two) and financial and carbon disclosure peformance (Part Three).

* Please do not select any of the following companies: ANZ, BHP, Billabong, Blackmores Limited, Capilano Honey Limited, Coca-Cola Amitil, Commonwealth Bank, Dexus Property Group, Domino’s Pizza, Fortescue Metal, Harvey Norman, iinet, Medibank Private Limited, Metcash, Myer, National Australia Bank, Newcrest Mining limited, Oil Search, Qantas, Rio Tinto, Telstra, Treasury Wine, Virgin Australia, Wesfarmers, Westpac, Woolworths and Woodside Petroleum.

PART TWO:

ACCT 5003 Accounting Research Project 1

Assessment Task: Part Two (Assignment/Case Study)

Semester 2, 2015

Value: This Part Two assessment task accounts for 20% of the final mark.

Due Date for Part Two (Assignment - Case Study): Mon Oct 19th, 2015 at 9.00am.

Due Dates for other parts: Part One (Investigation): Mon Sept 14th, 2015 at 9:00am; and Final Accounting Research Project Report (including Part Three) Mon Nov 9th, 2015 at 9am.

Task: This Part Two assessment focuses on a listed Australian company of your choice, and will be linked to Parts One and Three. Part One focuses on the current competitive strategy responses of your chosen company within a particular industry. (Note that Part Two examines how effectively your chosen company tackles issues of corporate governance, and Part Three asks you to take a holistic/big picture view of your chosen company by scrutinizing its financial reports for performance trends.)

Part Two Task: In light of your chosen stakeholder group , Part Two examines how effectively your chosen company tackles issues of corporate governance.

PART TWO INSTRUCTIONS:

With a particular stakeholder group in mind, select a listed Australian company of your choice. Refer to your chosen company’s annual reports and also information from other sources for e.g., websites. Identify three current corporate governance practices/mechanisms in place of the company including the board of directors and board sub-committees structure, risk management, directors and Chief Executive Officer’s

Task Value % Date Due Unit Learning Outcome(s) Assessed

1Case Study 20 percent Week: Week 12

Day: Mon Oct 19th, 2015 Time: 9 am

1

2Investigation 40 percent Week: Week 7

Day: Monday Sept 14th 2015 Time: 9 am

1,2

3Research Report 40 percent Week: Week 15

Day: Monday Nov 9th, 2015 Time: 3 pm

1,2,3





remuneration.. Critically analyse the current corporate governance practices by the company in light of the best corporate governance practices recommended by Australian Securities Exchange Corporate Governance Council which is known as ‘Good Corporate Governance Principles and Recommendations 2010” (ASX CGC 2010). Explain fully how the company’s corporate governance structure could be improved (where necessary) by following the ASX CGC 2010 guidelines. You are expected to identify three major issues of corporate governance facing your chosen company, apply discipline knowledge, provide evidence-based knowledge, suggest recommendations for improvement and support all assertions with references.

As an example, your report may grouped under the following headings (although you may include additional headings also):

l Current corporate governance practices/mechanisms in place;

l Critically analyse the current corporate governance practices

l Explain fully how the company’s corporate governance structure could be improved

Research Project Report Format:

The cover page must show the following:

l unit name,

l semester and year,

l relevant teaching staff’s name (i.e., Prof Glennda Scully),

l your student ID and full name.

The assignment must use:

l 12-point Times New Roman font

l single-spaced 1-inch wide margins, and

l printed single-sided A4-sized paper

l paragraphs (not dot points)

The maximum number of words for your answer for Part Two (word count is inclusive of tables and figures but excludes references and appendices) is 400 words.

Do not exceed the word limit or use inappropriate formatting such as using smaller font size, 1.5 line spacing, or narrower page margin, etc. Note that it is the quality, not the length of the report that determines the grade of the assignment.

File Format and File Name:

MS Word with a file name “Student ID_ACC5003_S2_2015_Part Two for Prof Scully”.

For example, for a student with a student id 1234567, the file name should be 1234567_ACC5003_S2_2015_ARP1 for Prof Scully.doc (or .docx).





Referencing:

All your references must be properly cited in your content and included in the reference list at the end of report.

Plagiarism is a serious academic offence. Students should become familiar with Curtin policy on plagiarism to avoid committing the offence. Student Guidelines for Avoiding Plagiarism and Student Checklist to Prevent Plagiarism can be downloaded from

http://academicintegrity.curtin.edu.au/global/studentbook.cfm.

Submission:

The soft copy of your work must be submitted via Turnitin on Blackboard. (You can refer to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcbGIAcNXjs for how to submit your Turnitin assignment.)

Please note that the Blackboard site may be taken offline occasionally for maintenance purposes. During these maintenance periods, you will not have access to the materials on Blackboard and will not have access to Turnitin. Curtin Technology Services (CITS) will notify the university community of the scheduled maintenance work generally around two weeks in advance. Please make sure to check your Curtin email regularly and to pay attention to the maintenance schedule since this can affect the submission of your assessment tasks.

Late submissions will not be accepted.

ACCT5003 Accounting Research Project 1 - Semester 2, 2015 – Part Two (Rubric)

Levels of Achievement

Criteria Below Expectations (Fail) 0-49

Meets Expectations (Pass) 50-59

Meets Expectations (Credit) 60-69

Exceeds Expectations (Distinction) 70-79

Exceeds Expectations (High Distinction) 80-100

Identification of issues (DK)

Weight 20.00%

0 to 49 %

• Inadequately identifies and analyses issues and problems. • Where applicable, does not identify relevant models.

50 to 59 %

• Identifies and analyses the most significant issues and problems. • Where applicable, identifies relevant models.

60 to 69 %

• Identifies and analyses issues and problems with adequate reference to the interrelationships among the issues. • Where applicable, identifies relevant models.

70 to 79 %

• Identifies and analyses complex interrelationships among the issues and/or problems. • Where applicable, discusses application of relevant models.

80 to 100 %

• Identifies and analyses deep and complex interrelationships among the issues and/or problems. • Where applicable, identifies expanded application of relevant models.

Application of discipline knowledge (DK)

Weight 20.00%

0 to 49 %

• Discipline knowledge is poorly applied

50 to 59 %

• Discipline knowledge is poorly applied

60 to 69 %

• Applies appropriate practices, principles

70 to 79 %

• Applies appropriate practices, principles

80 to 100 %

• Applies appropriate practices, principles and/or theories to





http://academicintegrity.curtin.edu.au/global/studentbook.cfm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcbGIAcNXjs

resulting in the issues and problems being incompletely resolved, and where applicable, calculations are incomplete and/or complete but containing serious mistakes.

resulting in the issues and problems being incompletely resolved, and where applicable calculations are almost complete and/or complete with several minor mistakes.

and/or theories to problems and issues that do not have complex interrelationships, and where applicable calculations are complete but with some minor mistakes.

and/or theories to scenarios with complex interrelationships between the issues and problems, and where applicable calculations are complete with few minor mistakes.

scenarios with complex interrelationships between the issues and problems, and where applicable calculations are complete, without mistakes.

Evidence-based Analysis (CT)

Weight 30.00%

0 to 49 %

l The analysis is superficial and based on irrelevant information, concepts and methods.

l The information analysed is gathered from very limited source(s) or only those provided.

50 to 59 %

l Discipline knowledge A coherent analysis is based on partial use of relevant information, concepts and methods.

l The information analysed is gathered from some relevant source(s) beyond those provided.

60 to 69 %

l A coherent analysis is based on relevant information, concepts and methods.

l The information analysed is gathered from several source(s) beyond those provided.

70 to 79 %

l A coherent analysis is based on thorough use of the most relevant information, concepts and methods

l The information analysed is gathered from many diverse, relevant source(s) beyond those provided

80 to 100 %

l A comprehensive analysis is based on a deep understanding of relevant information, concepts and methods.

l Information analysed is from many diverse, high quality source(s) beyond those provided.

Conclusions and/or recommendations (DK)

Weight 20.00%

0 to 49 %

• The conclusions and/or recommendations are vague. • Conclusions are not logically supported by the evidence and/or process of analysis.

• Assumptions are inadequately described.

50 to 59 %

• The conclusions and/or recommendations are clear and relevant. • Few conclusions are generally supported by the evidence and/or the process of analysis.

• Important assumptions are stated.

60 to 69 %

• The conclusions and/or recommendations are sound, clear and relevant.

• Some conclusions are generally supported by the evidence and/or the process of analysis.

• Assumptions are stated and described adequately.

70 to 79 %

• The conclusions and/or recommendations are relevant, significant and organised.

• Most conclusions are logically supported by the evidence and/or the process of analysis.

• Assumptions are stated and comprehensively described.

80 to 100 %

• The conclusions and/or recommendations are robust, comprehensive, relevant, significant and organised.

• All conclusions are logically supported by the evidence and/or the process of analysis.

• Assumptions are stated, comprehensively described and justification for their use is provided.

Supporting Material (OC)

Weight 10.00%

0 to 49 %

• Supporting materials make insufficient

50 to 59 %

• Supporting materials make sufficient reference

60 to 69 %

• Supporting materials make appropriate

70 to 79 %

• A range of supporting materials is used to

80 to 100 %

• Significant supporting materials make clear,





2. Assessment Parts One, Two and Three focus on a listed Australian company of your choice and a particular stakeholder group in mind, and are to be used as a framework in answering the following overarching research question: Informing a particular group of society (for example, shareholders, bankers, managers, environmental accountants...), prepare an Accounting Research Project Report that provides an analysis of a listed Australian company of your choice, taking into account its competitive strategic responses (Part One), corporate governance (Part Two) and financial and carbon disclosure peformance (Part Three).

ACCT 5003 Accounting Research Project 1 Assessment Task: Part One

Part One Value: This assessment task accounts for 40% of the final mark.

Due Dates: Part One (Investigation): Mon Sept 14th, 2015 at 9:00am.

Other Due Dates: Part Two (Assignment): Mon Oct 19th, 2015 at 9.00am; and Final Accounting Research Project Report (including Part Three) Mon Nov 9th, 2015 at 9am.

Task: This assessment focuses on a listed Australian company of your choice, and is linked to Parts Two and Three Part One focuses on the current competitive strategy responses of your chosen company within a particular industry. (Note that Part Two examines how effectively your chosen company tackles issues of corporate governance. Part Three asks you to take a holistic/big picture view of your chosen company by scrutinizing its financial reports for performance trends.)

PART ONE:

ACCT 5003 Accounting Research Project 1

Assessment Task: Part One Investigation

Semester 2/2015

Task: Part One focuses on the current competitive strategy responses of your chosen company within a particular industry. The specific question of the assessment is: Informing a particular stakeholder group of society (for example, shareholders, bankers, managers, environmental accountants…), prepare an Accounting Research Project Report that provides an analysis of a listed Australian company of your choice, taking into account its competitive strategic responses.

PART ONE INSTRUCTIONS:

A financial analysis of an organization should be undertaken in the context of the organization’s environmental, economic and social and political settings. In this regard, Otley (1980, p.413) states that “the contingency approach…is based on the premise that there is no universally appropriate accounting system which apply equally to all organizations in all circumstances. Rather, it is suggested that particular features of an appropriate accounting system will depend upon the specific circumstances in which an organization finds itself.” Chenhall (2003, p.127) similarly observes that accounting research has paid increasing attention to the need for the designs of accounting systems to suit the nature of the environment, technology, size, structure, strategy and national culture. “

REQUIRED FOR PART ONE:

Select a listed Australian company of your choice. Refer to your chosen company’s Annual Reports and information from other sources. Analyse critically the different industry sectors in which the company operates in. Explain fully the company’s competitive strategic responses to the characteristics of its industry/industries and its contextual variables and how such competitive strategic responses may influence its annual financial reporting.

reference to information and/or analysis that minimally supports the presentation or establishes the presenter's credibility/ authority on the topic.

to information and/or analysis; and generally support the presentation or establish the presenter's credibility/authority on the topic.

reference to information and/or analysis that generally supports the presentation or establishes the presenter's credibility/authority on the topic.

enhance information and/or analysis; and strongly support the presentation and establish the presenter's credibility/authority on the topic.

appropriate reference to information and/or analysis that significantly supports the presentation or establishes the presenter's credibility/authority on the topic.





Your report may include but not limited to the following issues:

Identify the industry/industries and the contextual variables in which the organization operates in.

Analyse critically the characteristics of the industry/industries.

Analyse critically the contextual variables which affect the industry/industries and the company.

Analyse critically how and why the organizations has responded strategically to the characteristics of the industry/industries and the contextual variables you identified above.

Discuss fully how and why company’s strategic responses may influence its annual financial reporting.

Research Project Report Format:


l unit name, l semester and year, l James’s name, l your student ID and full name.

The assignment must be:

l in 12-point Times New Roman font l single-spaced with 1-inch margins, l printed single-sided in A4-sized paper, and l use paragraphs.

The maximum number of words for your answer for Part One (word count is inclusive of tables and figures but excludes references and appendices) is 600 words.

Do not exceed the word limit or use inappropriate formatting such as using smaller font size, 1.5 line spacing, or narrower page margin, etc. Note that it is the quality, not the length of the report that determines the grade of the assignment.


MS Word with a file name “Student ID_ACC5003_S2_2015_ProfJames”.

For example, for a student with a student id 1234567, the file name should be 1234567_ACC5003_S2_2015_accountingresearchproject for Prof James.doc (or .docx).

Referencing:




Submission:

The soft copy of your work must also be submitted via Turnitin on Blackboard. (You can refer to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcbGIAcNXjs for how to submit your Turnitin assignment.)



Semester 2/2015







Assessment Task : Accounting Research Project Case Study of Company Performance Part One - Marking Rubrics

1. Discipline Knowledge and Skills Standard (DK) (25 marks)

Graduates will be able to demonstrate and apply discipline knowledge and skills

Standards

Criteria

Below Expectations (Fail)

0-49

Meets Expectations (Pass)

50-59

Meets Expectations (Credit)

60-69

Exceeds Expectations

(Distinction)

70-79

Exceeds Expectations (High Distinction)

80-100

Identification of issues

(DK) (5 marks)

l Inadequately identifies and analyses issues and problems.

l Where applicable, does not identify relevant models.

l Identifies and analyses the most significant issues and problems.

l Where applicable, identifies relevant models.

l Identifies and analyses issues and problems with adequate reference to the interrelationships among the issues.

l Where applicable, identifies relevant models.

l Identifies and analyses complex interrelationships among the issues and/or problems.

l Where applicable, discusses application of relevant models.

l Identifies and analyses deep and complex interrelationships among the issues and/or problems.

l Where applicable, identifies expanded application of relevant models.

Relevant Information (DK) (10 marks)

l Collects few relevant references and/or little relevant data.

l Where applicable, generates simple additional information or data.

l Collects relevant references and/or data from reliable sources.

l Where applicable, generates data using prescribed protocols.

l Collects adequate relevant references and/or data, as well as some other information from reliable sources.

l Where applicable, generates convincing data using prescribed protocols.

l Collects a comprehensive set of relevant references and/or data as well as other information from reliable sources.

l Where applicable, generates complex data using appropriate protocols.

l Collects a comprehensive set of relevant references and/or data as well as other reliable information from several different sources.

l Where applicable, generates relevant, in depth data using appropriate protocols.

Application of discipline knowledge (DK) (10 marks)

l Discipline knowledge is poorly applied resulting in the issues and problems being incompletely resolved, and where applicable, calculations are incomplete and/or complete but containing serious mistakes.

l Discipline knowledge is poorly applied resulting in the issues and problems being incompletely resolved, and where applicable calculations are almost complete and/or complete with several minor mistakes.

l Applies appropriate practices, principles and/or theories to problems and issues that do not have complex interrelationships, and where applicable calculations are complete but with some minor mistakes.

l Applies appropriate practices, principles and/or theories to scenarios with complex interrelationships between the issues and problems, and where applicable calculations are complete with few minor mistakes.

l Applies appropriate practices, principles and/or theories to scenarios with complex interrelationships between the issues and problems, and where applicable calculations are complete, without mistakes.

2.Critical Thinking Standard (CT) (15 marks)

Graduates will be able to think critically, draw conclusions and defend these conclusions





3. Assessment Parts One, Two and Three focus on a listed Australian company of your choice and a particular stakeholder group in mind, and are to be used as a framework in answering the following overarching research question: Informing a particular group of society (for example, shareholders, bankers, managers, environmental accountants...), prepare an Accounting Research Project Report that provides an analysis of a listed Australian company of your choice, taking into account its competitive strategic responses (Part One), corporate governance (Part Two) and financial and carbon disclosure peformance (Part Three).

PART THREE & FINAL ACCOUNTING RESEARCH PROJECT REPORT

Standards

Criteria


0-49

Meets Expectations (Pass)

50-59

Meets Expectations (Credit)

60-69


(Distinction)

70-79

Exceeds Expectations (High Distinction)

80-100

Evidence-based Analysis (CT)

(5 marks)


l The information analysed is gathered from very limited source(s) or only those provided.

l A coherent analysis is based on partial use of relevant information, concepts and methods.

l The information analysed is gathered from some relevant source(s) beyond those provided.


l The information analysed is gathered from several source(s) beyond those provided.

l A coherent analysis is based on thorough use of the most relevant information, concepts and methods

l The information analysed is gathered from many diverse, relevant source(s) beyond those provided


l Information analysed is from many diverse, high quality source(s) beyond those provided.

Perspective (CT)

(5 marks)

l The perspective is vague and only takes into account a few of the complexities of the issue.

l Demonstrates a limited acknowledgement of others’ perspectives.

l The perspective is clear and takes into account some of the complexities of an issue.

l Other people's perspectives are acknowledged.

l The perspective is clear and takes into account most of the complexities of an issue.

l Other people’s perspectives are analysed and acknowledged.

l The perspective is comprehensive taking into account most of the complexities of an issue.

l Others' perspectives are deeply analysed and synthesised.

l The perspective is comprehensive taking into account the bulk of the complexities of the issue.

l Other people’s perspectives are deeply analysed and comprehensively synthesised, with the limits of the positions described and acknowledged.

Conclusions (CT)

(5 marks)

l The conclusions/solutions are vague.

l Conclusions are not logically supported by the evidence and/or process of analysis.

l Assumptions are inadequately described.

l The conclusions/solutions are clear and relevant.

l Few conclusions are generally supported by the evidence and/or the process of analysis.

l Important assumptions are stated.

l The conclusions/solutions are sound, clear and relevant.

l Some conclusions are generally supported by the evidence and/or the process of analysis.

l Assumptions are stated and described adequately.

l The conclusions/solutions are relevant, significant and organised.

l Most conclusions are logically supported by the evidence and/or the process of analysis.

l Assumptions are stated and comprehensively described.

l The conclusions/solutions are robust, comprehensive, relevant, significant and organised.

l All conclusions are logically supported by the evidence and/or the process of analysis.

l Assumptions are stated, comprehensively described and justification for their use is provided.





Read the following articles to inform your response to Part Three and the Final Accounting Research Project.

Alexander, D. & Nobes, C. 2013. Chapter 17: Financial Appraisal, Financial Accounting: An International Introduction, 5th Ed. Pearson Education, Harlow, pp. 349-379.

Atrill, P. and McLaney, E. 2013. Chapter 8: Analysing and Interpreting Financial Statements (1), Financial Accounting for Decision Makers, 7th Ed. Pearson Education, Harlow.

Choi, B.B and Psaro, L.J. 2013. An analysis of Australian carbon emission disclosures, Pacific Accounting Review, 25(1): 58-79.

Eller, E. R. , Lippincott, B. and Reck, J. (2006). An Analysis of U.S. and Latin American Financial Accounting Ratios, Advances in International Accounting, Vol. 19, pp. 145-173.

In addition, refer to your chosen company’s Annual Report and information from other sources.

Scrutinize your chosen company’s Annual Report for performance trends of the company. In particular, investigate the carbon emission disclosure performance record and financial performance record of your chosen company (30 marks)

In investigating the performance record of your chosen company, compile all three parts of your accounting research project into a FINAL ACCOUNTING RESEARCH PROJECT REPORT. A table of contents is NOT required for this report. However, a short introduction is required outlining the importance of conducting a financial analysis that embraces a critical understanding of a company’s competitive strategy responses, effective governance structures and performance trends (2 marks). It also requires a transitional paragraph between Part One and Part Two (1 mark), and a transitional paragraph between Part Two and Part Three (1 mark). A concluding paragraph is also required that evaluates the performance of the chosen company (6 marks).

Final Accounting Research Project Report Format:


l unit name, l semester and year, l Alistair’s name, l your student ID and full name.

The assignment must use:

l 12-point Times New Roman font l double-space format, 1-inch margins, and l single-sided A4-sized paper l paragraphs.

The maximum length of the Accounting Research Project is 2000 words, excluding the cover page, references, and appendix.

Do not exceed the word limit or use inappropriate formatting such as using smaller font size, 1.5 line spacing, or narrower page margin. Note that it is the quality, not the length of the report that determines the grade of the assignment.


MS Word with a file name “Student ID_ACC5003_S2_2015_Alistair”.

For example, for a student with a student id 1234567, the file name should be 1234567_ACC5003_S2_2015_accountingresearchproject for Alistair.doc (or .docx).

Referencing:









Submission:

The hard copy of each part and report must be submitted to your lecturer’s mailbox by the due date and time.

The soft copy of your work must also be submitted via Turnitin on Blackboard. (You can refer to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcbGIAcNXjs for how to submit your Turnitin assignment.)



ACCT5003 Accounting Research Project 1

Semester 2/2015

Assessment Task: Part Three & Final Accounting Research Project Report - Marking Rubrics

Discipline Knowledge and Skills Standard (DK), Critical Thinking Standard (CT)


0-49

Meets Expectations (Pass) 50-59

Meets Expectations (Credit) 60-69


(Distinction) 70-79

Exceeds Expectations (High Distinction) 80-100

Financial and Carbon

Disclosure Analysis of

Performance of a current company

situation (CT)

[15 Marks]


l An analysis is based on partial use of relevant information, concepts and methods.


l A coherent analysis is based on thorough use of the most relevant information, concepts and methods.


Application of discipline

knowledge – Financial and

Carbon Disclosure

Analysis (DK)

[15 Marks]

l Discipline knowledge is poorly applied resulting in the problems being incompletely or incorrectly resolved.

l Discipline knowledge is adequately applied resulting in some helpful analysis.

l Applies appropriate practices, principles and/or theories, resulting in adequate analyses, budgeting modifications and suggestions.

l Applies appropriate practices, principles and/or theories to scenarios, resulting in good analyses, budgeting modifications and suggestions.

l Applies appropriate practices, principles and/or theories to scenarios, resulting in very good analyses, budgeting modifications and suggestions.

Application of discipline

knowledge – performance

evaluation (DK)

[10 Marks]

l Discipline knowledge is poorly applied resulting in the issues and problems being incompletely or incorrectly resolved.

l Discipline knowledge is adequately applied resulting in the issues and problems partially resolved.

l Applies appropriate practices, principles and/or theories, resulting in adequate design of incentive system.

l Applies appropriate practices, principles and/or theories to scenarios, resulting in good design of incentive system.

l Applies appropriate practices, principles and/or theories to scenarios, resulting in very good design of incentive system.






Pass requirements

To pass this unit all assessment parts must be completed and the aggregate mark for the Final Accounting Research Project Report must be 50% or higher.

Fair assessment through moderation

Moderation describes a quality assurance process to ensure that assessments are appropriate to the learning outcomes, and that student work is evaluated consistently by assessors. Minimum standards for the moderation of assessment are described in the Assessment and Student Progression Manual, available from policies.curtin.edu.au/policies/teachingandlearning.cfm

Late assessment policy

This ensures that the requirements for submission of assignments and other work to be assessed are fair, transparent, equitable, and that penalties are consistently applied.

1. All assessments students are required to submit will have a due date and time specified on this Unit Outline. 2. Students will be penalised by a deduction of ten percent per calendar day for a late assessment submission (eg a mark equivalent to 10% of the total allocated for

the assessment will be deducted from the marked value for every day that the assessment is late). This means that an assessment worth 20 marks will have two marks deducted per calendar day late. Hence if it was handed in three calendar days late and given a mark of 16/20, the student would receive 10/20. An assessment more than seven calendar days overdue will not be marked and will receive a mark of 0.

Assessment extension

A student unable to complete an assessment task by/on the original published date/time (eg examinations, tests) or due date/time (eg assignments) must apply for an assessment extension using the Assessment Extension form (available from the Forms page at students.curtin.edu.au/administration/) as prescribed by the Academic Registrar. It is the responsibility of the student to demonstrate and provide evidence for exceptional circumstances beyond the student's control that prevent them from completing/submitting the assessment task.

The student will be expected to lodge the form and supporting documentation with the unit coordinator before the assessment date/time or due date/time. An application may be accepted up to five working days after the date or due date of the assessment task where the student is able to provide an acceptable explanation as to why he or she was not able to submit the application prior to the assessment date. An application for an assessment extension will not be accepted after the date of the Board of Examiners' meeting.

Deferred assessments

If your results show that you have been granted a deferred assessment you should immediately check your OASIS email for details.

Deferred examinations/tests will be held from 08/02/2016 to 19/02/2016 . Notification to students will be made after the Board of Examiners’ meeting via the Official Communications Channel (OCC) in OASIS.

Supplementary assessments

Supplementary assessments are not available in this unit.

Referencing style

The referencing style for this unit is Vancouver.

More information can be found on this style from the Library web site: library.curtin.edu.au.

Academic Integrity (including plagiarism and cheating)

Any conduct by a student that is dishonest or unfair in connection with any academic work is considered to be academic misconduct. Plagiarism and cheating are serious offences that will be investigated and may result in penalties such as reduced or zero grades, annulled units or even termination from the course.

Plagiarism occurs when work or property of another person is presented as one's own, without appropriate acknowledgement or referencing. Submitting work which has been produced by someone else (e.g. allowing or contracting another person to do the work for which you claim authorship) is also plagiarism. Submitted work is subjected to a plagiarism detection process, which may include the use of text matching systems or interviews with students to determine authorship.

Cheating includes (but is not limited to) asking or paying someone to complete an assessment task for you or any use of unauthorised materials or assistance during an examination or test.

For more information, including student guidelines for avoiding plagiarism, refer to the Academic Integrity tab in Blackboard or academicintegrity.curtin.edu.au.

Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Expectations

Curtin students are expected to have reliable internet access in order to connect to OASIS email and learning systems such as Blackboard and Library Services.

You may also require a computer or mobile device for preparing and submitting your work.

For general ICT assistance, in the first instance please contact OASIS Student Support: oasisapps.curtin.edu.au/help/general/support.cfm

For specific assistance with any of the items listed below, please contact The Learning Centre: life.curtin.edu.au/learning-support/learning_centre.htm

l Using Blackboard, the I Drive and Back-Up files l Introduction to PowerPoint, Word and Excel





http://policies.curtin.edu.au/policies/teachingandlearning.cfm

http://students.curtin.edu.au/administration/

http://library.curtin.edu.au/

http://academicintegrity.curtin.edu.au/

https://oasisapps.curtin.edu.au/help/general/support.cfm

http://life.curtin.edu.au/learning-support/learning_centre.htm

Additional information No addiional information provided.

Enrolment

It is your responsibility to ensure that your enrolment is correct - you can check your enrolment through the eStudent option on OASIS, where you can also print an Enrolment Advice.

Student Rights and Responsibilities It is the responsibility of every student to be aware of all relevant legislation, policies and procedures relating to their rights and responsibilities as a student. These include:

l the Student Charter l the University's Guiding Ethical Principles l the University's policy and statements on plagiarism and academic integrity l copyright principles and responsibilities l the University's policies on appropriate use of software and computer facilities

Information on all these things is available through the University's "Student Rights and Responsibilities" website at: students.curtin.edu.au/rights.

Student Equity There are a number of factors that might disadvantage some students from participating in their studies or assessments to the best of their ability, under standard conditions. These factors may include a disability or medical condition (e.g. mental illness, chronic illness, physical or sensory disability, learning disability), significant family responsibilities, pregnancy, religious practices, living in a remote location or another reason. If you believe you may be unfairly disadvantaged on these or other grounds please contact Student Equity at [email protected] or go to http://eesj.curtin.edu.au/student_equity/index.cfm for more information

You can also contact Counselling and Disability services: http://www.disability.curtin.edu.au or the Multi-faith services: http://life.curtin.edu.au/health-and-wellbeing/about_multifaith_services.htm for further information.

It is important to note that the staff of the university may not be able to meet your needs if they are not informed of your individual circumstances so please get in touch with the appropriate service if you require assistance. For general wellbeing concerns or advice please contact Curtin's Student Wellbeing Advisory Service at: http://life.curtin.edu.au/health-and-wellbeing/student_wellbeing_service.htm

Recent unit changes Students are encouraged to provide unit feedback through eVALUate, Curtin's online student feedback system. For more information about eVALUate, please refer to evaluate.curtin.edu.au/info/.

Recent changes to this unit include:

ACCT 5003 Accounting Research Project 1 is a relatively new unit. Once again, we really hope you enjoy it.

To view previous student feedback about this unit, search for the Unit Summary Report at https://evaluate.curtin.edu.au/student/unit_search.cfm. See https://evaluate.curtin.edu.au/info/dates.cfm to find out when you can eVALUate this unit.





http://students.curtin.edu.au/rights/

mailto:[email protected]

http://eesj.curtin.edu.au/student_equity/index.cfm

http://www.disability.curtin.edu.au/

http://life.curtin.edu.au/health-and-wellbeing/about_multifaith_services.htm

http://life.curtin.edu.au/health-and-wellbeing/about_multifaith_services.htm

http://life.curtin.edu.au/health-and-wellbeing/student_wellbeing_service.htm

http://evaluate.curtin.edu.au/info/index.cfm

https://evaluate.curtin.edu.au/student/unit_search.cfm

https://evaluate.curtin.edu.au/info/dates.cfm

Program calendar

Program Calendar

Week Begin Date

Seminar Pre-readings Activities Assessment Due

1 3 Aug Introduction Performance Trends (1) AB

Analysing and interpreting financial statements

Overview of the components of the Accounting Research Project

Atrill & McLaney (2013)

It would be helpful if students brought along a laptop or tablet.

1. Theorising the integration of industry sector characteristics, competitive strategy responses; corporate governance, and performance trends.

2. Selection of company and stakeholder for assessment of Accounting Research Project;

3. Case study analysis and interpretation of financial statements;

4. The thrust of Atrill, P. and McLaney, E. 2013. Chapter 8: Analysing and Interpreting Financial Statements (1), Financial Accounting for Decision Makers, 7th Ed. Pearson Education, Harlow;

5. Practical: structuring the Part Three Assessment;

6. Practical: using the medium of paragraphs to present the arguments of assessment;

7. Practical: writing the first draft of your introductory paragraph for Part Three Assessment;

8. Practical: constructing an Abstract; 9. Practical: a refresher on in-text and and

end-of-text referencing;

2 10 Aug

Introduction

Industry Sector Characteristics and Competitive Strategy Responses (1) JL

3 17 Aug


4 24 Aug


5 31 Aug

Tuition-Free Week

6 7 Sept Industry Sector Characteristics and Competitive Strategy Responses (4) JL

7 14 Sept

Introduction Effective Corporate Governance Structures (1) GS

Psaros Ch 1 and 3 Introduction to Corporate Governance Concepts

Part One. Report: industry sector characteristics and chosen company’s competitive strategy responses JL (40%)

(word limit 600 words)

8 21 Effective Corporate ASX CGC Guidelines 2010; UK International Perspectives on Corporate





JL= Professor James Lau; GS=Professor Glennda Scully; AB=Associate Professor Alistair Brown.

Sept Governance Structures (2) GS

Corporate Governance Code; Sarbanes-Oxley Act (2002); and

International CG Research

Governance

9 28 Sept

Tuition-Free Week

10 5 Oct Effective Corporate Governance Structures (3) GS

Board Composition and Diversity

Executive Compensation: Incentives and Externalities

Corporations and Their Corporate Governance Structure

11 12 Oct Effective Corporate Governance Structures (4) GS

Corporate Philanthropy. Does it do good?

Corporate Social Responsibility

12 19 Oct Performance Trends (2) AB

Financial Appraisal

Alexander & Nobes (2013)

It would be helpful if students brought along a laptop (or tablet), a copy of their chosen company's annual report.

1. Case Study financial appraisal; 2. Analysis and interpretation of chosen

company financial statements; 3. A glimpse of Alexander, D. & Nobes, C.

2013. Chapter 17: Financial Appraisal, Financial Accounting: An International Introduction, 5th Ed. Pearson Education, Harlow, pp. 349-379;

4. Practical: Students to provide a first draft of the Abstract, introduction, copies of submitted responses to Part One and Part Two, first section of Part Three and reference list.

Part Two. Effective Corporate Governance Structures of Chosen Company GS (20%)

(word limit 400 words)

13 26 Oct Performance Trends (3) AB

Analysis of Greenhouse Gas Reporting

Hybridisation of Reporting Models

Choi & Psaro (2013)

It would be helpful if students brought along a laptop (or tablet), a copy of their chosen company's annual report and stand-alone susaintability report.

1. Case Study Analysis of Greenhouse Gas reporting; Financial appraisal of chosen company;

2. Hybridisation of Reporting Models - Integrating the findings of MA, A&CG and FA;

3. Analysing Eller, E. R. , Lippincott, B. and Reck, J. (2006). An Analysis of U.S. and Latin American Financial Accounting Ratios, Advances in International Accounting, Vol. 19, pp. 145-173;

4. Reviewing Choi, B.B and Psaro, L.J. 2013. An analysis of Australian carbon emission disclosures, Pacific Accounting Review, 25(1): 58-79.

5. Practical: Students to provide a second draft of the Abstract, introduction, copies of submitted responses to Part One and Part Two, first section of Part Three and reference list

14 2 Nov Performance Trends (4) AB

Reporting to management

It would be helpful if students brought along a laptop, (or tablet) a copy of their chosen company's annual report and stand-alone susaintability report together with all resouces used in the development of Part Three.

1. Checklist of The Final Accounting Research Project 1 requirements;

2. Practical: Students to provide a preliminary draft of the Final Accounting Research Project for feedback.

The Final Accounting Research Project (word limit = 1600 words) including Part Three. Investigation: Performance Trends (40%) (word limit 600 words)– AB





Accounting Research Project 1 Semester 2 2015 Bentley Campus INT.pdf

Documents

Transcript of Accounting Research Project 1 Semester 2 2015 Bentley Campus INT.pdf