Course Outline 2019

ACCTG101: ACCOUNTING INFORMATION (15 POINTS)

Semester 1 (1193)

Course prescription
Business decisions require accounting information. This course examines general-
purpose financial statements and the analysis and interpretation of accounting
information. It assesses investment opportunities using the time value of money
concept. It covers the role of accounting information and systems to support decision-
making, control and monitoring in organisations.

Course advice
Restriction: 600.121, 600.171, ACCTG 191 (You cannot enrol in this course if you have
taken or intend to take 600.121, 600.171, ACCTG 191).

Goals of the course

This course is designed to provide support for all Commerce majors. It is a core subject
for the BCom degree and is a prerequisite for ACCTG 102 Accounting Concepts. It is the
foundation course for a major in accounting or finance. Whether you are a manager,
entrepreneur, or an investor, you will use accounting information when making decisions.
This course provides an introduction to accounting and finance as well as basic analytical
models that use accounting and finance data.
The course aims to show you how and why accounting information matters as
accounting information is an integral part of the decision-making process, both inside
and outside the firm.

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Learning outcomes (LO)
By the end of the course, it is expected that students will be able to:

# Learning outcome Graduate profile capability*

LO1 Explain the importance of 1. Disciplinary knowledge and practice

accounting information to the firm 6. Social and environmental
and its providers of capital and responsibilities
understand its communicative
value.

LO2 Explain the time value of money 1. Disciplinary knowledge and practice
concept and solve various present
value scenarios. 3. Solution seeking

LO3 Classify the basic characteristics of 1. Disciplinary knowledge and practice

items included in a set of financial
statements. Identify the impact of
business transactions on the
balance sheet equation and
prepare simplified financial
statements.

LO4 Explain and apply cost behaviour 1. Disciplinary knowledge and practice
patterns to quantitative modelling
3. Solution seeking
techniques such as cost-volume-
profit analyses and budgeting
models.
* See the graduate profile this course belongs to at the end of this course outline.

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Content outline
Relevant learning Assessment
Week Topic
resources/activities due this period

1 Module 1:Introduction Lecture and workshop

activities. Text book
chapters 1 & 3.

2 Module 2:Time Value of Money Lecture and workshop Quiz 1

activities. Kidwell 3rd
edition Chapter 5
3 Module 3:Business transactions Lecture and workshop Quiz 2
& balance sheet activities. Text book
chapters 4 & 5.

4 Module 4:Business transactions Lecture and workshop Quiz 3

& income statement activities. Text book
Assignment 1
chapters 4 & 6

5 Module 5: Business transactions Lecture and workshop Quiz 4

and the statement of cash flows. activities. Text book
chapters 4, 6 & 7

6 Test revision Test revision Quiz 5

Test

7 Module 6: Financial Statement Lecture and workshop

Analysis activities. Text book
chapter 8

8 Module 7: Cost-Volume- Profit Lecture and workshop Quiz 6

activities. Text book
chapter 10

9 Module 8: Budgeting Lecture and workshop Quiz 7

activities. Text book
chapter 9

10 Module 9: Planning & Control Lecture and workshop Quiz 8

activities. Text book
Assignment 2
chapter 9 & 10

11 Module 10: Business Lecture and workshop Quiz 9

Sustainability and Performance activities. Text book
Measurement chapter 2 & 14

12 Exam Revision Past exam papers Quiz 10

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Learning and teaching
ACCTG 101 is delivered through three lecture streams. During three one hour lectures
each week (Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday), lecturers discuss and apply theory. A
fourth hour workshop (Thursday) is optional; however, it is highly recommended that all
students attend this as emphasis is placed in class on demonstrating how to solve
accounting problems and provides opportunities for group work which many students
find to be valuable learning tools. In week 1 one only, the workshop will be on Monday
and the lectures on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

To achieve success in this course it is necessary to keep up to date with the material and
assessments. If there is any element of the course that is confusing or unclear it is very
important to ask the lecturer or any of the support staff who are more than willing to
explain unfamiliar terms or concepts. Each module builds on concepts from the previous
module which is why it is important to stay up to date. Complete all the online quizzes
and other assessments to the best of your ability or set up a study group etc. and you
will be able to achieve a satisfactory grade.

Lecture Recordings
One stream of lectures and workshops will be recorded. You will be able to access these
recordings through Canvas.

Please note that:

(i) the posting of lecture recordings is NOT immediate, as it can take up to 24
hours or more for the lecture recording files to be compiled by the University
and for us to receive these; and
(ii) unexpected technical problems that are NOT within our control can occur from
time to time and these might prevent a lecture from being recorded - indeed
this has happened before, which is why you should try to always attend
lectures as the lecture recordings are not a substitute for lectures but rather
an additional learning resource.

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Teaching staff
Course director: Professor Norman Wong

Course co-ordinator: Caroline Bridges

Course administrator: Terry Li

Teaching staff: Sione Taufa

Terry Li

Willow Li
Caroline Bridges

Patricia Scott
Yen Shi

Communication
Please send ALL emails to this address:
acctg101-help@auckland.ac.nz
ACCTG 101 has a generic help email address to which you should send all of your queries:
acctg101-help@auckland.ac.nz. This will be checked regularly and dealt with promptly.

Your email communications should be of a professional standard. Your email should have
an appropriate subject heading (e.g. assignment query) indicating the type of query being
discussed and should have an appropriate greeting at the start of the message (e.g. Hi
Caroline or Dear Caroline are acceptable). You should conclude your message with your
Name and Username. If we receive an email which is unclear or confusing we may request
that you re-submit your email. Emails can be addressed to an individual member of staff
and will be forwarded to them.

We, the teaching staff, will communicate with you via email which is our main
communication tool. Please ensure that you check your University of Auckland email
regularly.

All announcements will also be made on Canvas.

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Learning resources
Reading: The prescribed text for this course is an e-textbook – Birt, Chalmers, Maloney,
Brooks & Oliver (2017) Accounting Business Reporting for Decision Making (6th Ed.)
WileyPLUS Learning Space. Material and questions from the text are discussed during
lectures. Additional questions from the textbook are used for self-study. Information on
how to buy the e-book or access the book in the library is available on Canvas.

Course Book: The Course Book includes supplemental problems used in lectures, additional
notes, and the latest financial statements for two well-known NZ companies.

Canvas: Canvas is used to make announcements and to distribute student guides at the
end of each week to the course book problems. It is also used to quiz students each week
online on the assigned readings and problems. The quizzes may later be used for revision.

‘Walk-in’ Help Centre: Assistance by tutors is provided at the ‘walk-in’ help centre for
students who have queries about the lecture material and assignments. The most useful
approach is to have attempted the questions to course book problems or the assignment
before arriving at the centre. The tutors are then able to provide assistance as to how to
understand the question better or how to proceed in answering the problem. Please see
the announcement on Canvas regarding the venue and times.

Computer Supported Learning (Canvas)

Computer Supported Learning (Canvas) is a facility that can be used on your own computer
or the computer lab to access information such as:
• Basic course information.
• Activities and Marks: This section includes Quizzes for grading and revision. Your
course marks will contribute to your final grade, so please check that they are
correct
• Announcements: including times and venues for Help Centre, test formats etc.
• Modules: Basic lecture slides that the lecturer will go through in class.
• Course book problem solutions: Solutions to course book problems will be
available to download after the material has been covered in class.

Library
The text book is available from the short loan section of the library 657 B618 2017 or it is
available as an e book. You are also encouraged to read more widely by making use of the
university libraries and the Web. There is a subject page available for your use (Library >
Guides > Business and Economics > Accounting and Finance):

https://www.library.auckland.ac.nz/guides/business/accounting-and-finance
Librarians are available at the Enquiry desk on Level 0 of the General Library to help you
all day every day so please ask there.

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Assessment information
Group and/or
Assessment task Weight % Submission
individual
Ten online quizzes
10% Individual Various
(Canvas)
Online through Canvas on
Assignment 1 5% Individual
28 March at 4pm
Various locations on
Mid-semester test 25% Individual
12 April 2018 at 6.30pm
Online through Canvas on
Assignment 2 10% Individual
23 May at 4pm
Final Exam 50% Individual TBA

Pass requirements
To pass this course you must score an overall grade of at least 50% and you must pass
the exam to pass the course.

Description of assessment tasks

Learning
Assessment task outcome to
be assessed
ONLINE QUIZZES:
The quizzes account for 10% of the final grade. If you sit a quiz more
than once, the highest mark gained is used for assessment purposes.
For each quiz attempt, there is a time limit of 25 minutes to complete
the 10 multiple-choice questions. You may refer to your textbook or
lecture notes while sitting the quizzes. Each quiz may be sat up to
three times subject to the availability of a computer at home or in the LO 1 - 4
computer labs. As each question is randomly generated from a topic
question bank, the quizzes will be different each time you attempt
one. Practice quizzes are also available. See the Course Book for more
information.
It is not guaranteed that Canvas will be available 24 hours a day, 7
days a week (despite the best efforts of the Canvas team) so it is
important that you attempt each quiz early in the time allowed
INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENTS:
The assignments provide an opportunity to practise your analytical
and communication skills. The assessment provides feedback on your
progress and some indication of the standard you are attaining.
Assignment #1 will be based on Modules 1, 2, and 3 and weighs 5%
of the final mark.
Assignment # 2 will be based on Module 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 and weighs
10% of the final mark.
LO 1 - 4
Please submit your assignment online via Canvas. You will be
given instructions as to how to do this when you receive the
assignment.

WORKING TOGETHER ON ASSIGNMENTS

It is acknowledged that students often work together on assignments.
To gain benefit from this practice, you are advised to separate from the
team when writing up the work. Any copying will be dealt with (refer

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 Learning
Assessment task outcome to
be assessed
to ‘Warning’, inside front cover of Course Book). The assignment work
constitutes 15% of the final grade.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

Any questions that are emailed to acctg101-help@auckland.ac.nz
will be answered individually however if there are many questions that
are similar then we will answer them in the workshops.
MARKED ASSIGNMENTS
Marked assignments will be returned via email with a marking
schedule/feedback sheet, comments from markers and the suggested
solution. The marking schedule will provide some useful individual
feedback. Markers are not required to correct your answers so the
onus is on you to work through the solution once it has been returned.
LATE ASSIGNMENTS
As the assignments are submitted online, Canvas will NOT accept late
submissions and late assignments may be accepted for grading
but a penalty grade will be applied. If an assignment is missed for
aegrotat or compassionate reasons, please present the evidence to
the course administrator so the circumstances can be taken into
consideration – the percentage for the assignment may be reassigned
to the final examination. If you have any queries regarding the marking
and recording of assignment work, please convey your concerns to the
course administrator.

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 SEMESTER TEST The test will be an examination of the material
covered in the weeks prior to the test and weighs 25% of the final
mark.
Module Coverage Date Weighting Time

1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Friday, 12 April 25% 6.30 pm to

7.45 pm.

The test will include both quantitative and conceptual questions.

Although the questions may be similar to the assignments and past
test papers, do not expect to see identical exercises. You will be
informed of the venues on Canvas. All students are required to
attempt the test. Please bring your ID cards to the test, as ID checks
will be conducted.

Test Clashes: If you have another test at the same time, please
inform the course administrators at acctg101-
help@auckland.ac.nz as well as the course co-ordinator of the clash
course. Use Test Clash in the subject line as soon as possible.
LO 1 - 3

Consideration Policies
For a missed Semester Test or missed attendance for other reasons,
students must submit to the course administrators an Application for
Aegrotat or Compassionate Consideration for Written Test form within
one week of the test available from
https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-
information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-
compassionate-consideration/compassionate-consideration-for-
written-tests.html.
A medical certificate on a letterhead or a statement from a relevant
official disinterested agent must be attached, stating the medical,
compassionate or other reason(s) for missing coursework. Contact
the ACCTG101 team using the email address for any concerns regarding
attendance at the test.

Final Examination
The final examination is two hours and the FULL semester’s work is
examinable (Modules 1 – 10). Further guidance on content and
format will be given towards the end of the semester. YOU MUST
PASS THE EXAM TO PASS THE COURSE.
LO 1 - 4
Any information regarding the sitting of the Final Examination is
determined by the Examinations Department. See
http://www.auckland.ac.nz/uoa/cs-examination-information for more
information.

Inclusive learning
Students are urged to discuss privately any impairment-related requirements face-to-
face and/or in written form with the courses convenor/lecturer and/or tutor.

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Academic integrity
The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and
views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student
submits for grading must be the student’s own work, reflecting his or her learning.
Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and
referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the worldwide web. A student’s
assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised
detection to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.

Student feedback
Constructive feedback about the course is welcome, and where appropriate, will be used
to improve the course. You may also be asked (i) to complete evaluation surveys
(course/teaching/tutoring) at the end of the course and (ii) formative mid-course
evaluation/fast feedback surveys, which are used to make improvements to the design
and delivery of the course.

In the event of an unexpected disruption

We undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all
your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions, the University
has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your
assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in
emergencies, In the event of a disruption, the University and your course coordinators
will make every effort to provide you with up to date information via Canvas and the
University website.

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Graduate profile for Bachelor of Commerce
The following six themes represent the capabilities that the Business School seeks to
foster in all of its graduates. The development of these capabilities does not come all at
once, but rather is expected to build from year to year. Each course is not expected to
contribute to all capabilities, but each course will have its own goals and learning
outcomes that relate to the overall development of this profile.

Graduate Profile

Disciplinary knowledge and practice

Graduates will be able to demonstrate and apply a breadth of knowledge across
disciplines, as well as specialist knowledge within one or more of them, while
recognising the relevancy of this knowledge within a global context.

Critical thinking
Graduates will be able to analyse and critique theory and practice to develop well-
reasoned arguments.

Solution seeking
Graduates will be able to identify and frame problems using analytical skills to
create and evaluate innovative solutions.

Communication and engagement

Graduates will be able to collaborate and communicate effectively in diverse
contexts using multiple formats.

Independence and integrity

Graduates will be able to respond professionally and ethically, demonstrating a
capacity for independent thought and learning.

Social and environmental responsibility

Graduates will recognise the significance of the principles underpinning the Treaty
of Waitangi and consider their obligations in relation to sustainability, whilst
displaying constructive approaches to diversity.

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