Text: Hilton, Managerial Accounting (4th Edition).

Supplementary Material: Class notes and problem solutions are available on the course web page, http://www.bus.utexas.edu/~tse/acc312h. Cases will be available in February at Central Duplication, CBA 3.136.

Office: CBA 4M.234, Phone 471-5493. E-mail: senyo@mail.utexas.edu

Office Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3:30-4:30, in CBA 4M.234. Other hours by appointment.

Teaching Assistant: The teaching assistant is Peggy Weber, E-mail: pegweb@mail.utexas.edu. Peggy will hold office hours from 2 to 4 p.m. on Mondays in CBA 1.310G, Tel. 471-1671.

Course Objectives: To develop a detailed understanding of selected fundamental topics in cost and managerial accounting. The goal of the class is to use information developed in the firm to solve real-world managerial problems. By the end of the semester you should know how to use accounting information to make decisions within the firm.

Assignments: You should prepare homework assignments for the class period shown on the assignment schedule. Your understanding of the material discussed in class will be greatly enhanced if you make a conscientious effort to complete the assignments before class. Use the class discussion to highlight the points you need to examine further. Homework problems collected will be graded primarily on the basis of effort, and a carefully thought out attempt will be awarded full credit even if it is incorrect.

Primary Case: Group Case Write-up and Presentation: You and your group will be responsible for detailed analysis of one of the cases in the course. You should generally plan on about a five-page typed solution, along with any exhibits you deem appropriate. Late projects cannot be accepted.

Secondary Cases: Group Case Write-ups: Your group will also be assigned two cases to analyze and write up, but not present. Plan on about five typed, double-spaced pages of text plus exhibits for the secondary cases.

All turned-in cases should be typed double-spaced with 12-point font and one-inch margins.

Grading: Grades are based on the following:

Test I	100 points
Test II	100 points
Test III	120 points
Test III	120 points
Cases: Primary Case Secondary Cases	60 points 60 points
Homework	20 points
Participation	40 points
Total	500 points

The examinations will be based on material in the textbook, homework problems, lectures and classroom discussion. You must take the exams at the scheduled times, and will receive a score of zero on any exam you miss.  Exceptions will only be made (by prior arrangement, if feasible) in documented emergencies.

In recent semesters, grades in this class have been about evenly split between As and Bs. Grades below B CAN be earned, but I would expect that to be a rare occurrence. Test III is cumulative, and you must obtain a passing grade on that exam to pass the course.

Other

1. Class attendance is important. Avoid scheduling conflicts to the extent possible.

2. Class will begin and end promptly. Please be in the classroom before class begins. Arriving late disrupts the class, and is disrespectful to your colleagues. The same goes for leaving before class is over. Please avoid doing either.

3. I encourage participation, and your questions in class are always welcome.

This course is concerned with using accounting information to analyze and solve managerial problems. We will use regular classes to understand the data typically provided by information systems and to develop the tools you might use for addressing problems.

The cases are an essential part of the course, because they provide relatively unstructured scenarios in which to apply material from elsewhere in the course. Note that the cases will generally cover recently discussed material. However, cases will not necessarily be solely or even primarily on the most recently discussed topic.

Your first task in analyzing any case is to summarize the company's current economic environment, its goals (where appropriate), and the managerial problems that arise in the case.

I cannot overemphasize that our goal is first and foremost to identify and solve business problems. The textbook, lectures, readings and notes introduce information types and solution methods, but the cases provide you with the best opportunity to use the tools we discuss for decision making.

Your solution to the case must explain what you believe the company's problems and challenges are, and then explain how your suggested course of action addresses those problems. Your target audience is fellow managers who are familiar with basic business concepts, but not with the details of a particular problem or solution techniques. Obviously, a set of computations or schedules would not by themselves be sufficient to define the problem and explain a solution.

Group case assignments: A write-up for the primary cases would typically include a five-page summary of the problem and a solution, along with any exhibits you find helpful for explaining your solution.

Most grades assigned in this class are As or Bs. I will assign final grades based on numerical total scores from all of the following components:

Exam I 100 points

Exam II 100 points

Exam III 120 points

The exams will be on material from lectures, assigned readings, class notes and problems. Exams II and III can contain questions from all earlier topics, but will emphasize the latest material.

Cases:

Primary Case 60 points

Secondary cases 60 points

The primary case grade is based on group performance on both the write-up and the presentation.

Homework 20 points

You will get full credit for making a good faith attempt at the homework. I presume that a good faith effort will always yield a recognizable approximation to a correct solution. You can miss up to four homework problems and still get full credit.

Participation 40 points

I will assign four participation grades, roughly corresponding to:

Active participation -- 50 points. Volunteers answers; asks pertinent questions; responds to questions.

Moderate participation -- 40 points. Occasionally volunteers a question; responds to questions.

Low participation -- 25 points. Very occasional participation, but otherwise involved in the class.

Non-participation -- 0 points.