This course deals with how accounting information can be used for decision making and control within organization. Management accounting systems provide information to help managers in their decision making and control of activities. We discuss both the kinds of decisions faced by management and the accounting techniques available to make better informed decisions.
The learning objectives are as follows:
1. Students will learn which management accounting systems and techniques are available to provide relevant information for decision making and decision control. They will also learn how to apply them.
2. They will be able to know under which circumstances which tools are suitable, and what the consequences from the different tools are.
This helps students to increase their cognitive knowledge, their understanding of the accounting techniques, their critical thinking, and evaluating alternatives to apply the right systems for the specific situation.

In managing their organizations, managers face important decisions on a daily basis. For example, they need to set the right prices for their products, plan the resources for the upcoming period, make investment decisions, and evaluate strategies. Thus, making and controlling these decisions is a fundamental feature of every manager’s job. In this course, students learn how (accounting) information can be used to advance managerial decision making and control. This course focusses on advanced cost accounting and cost management techniques. Some topics discussed are cutting-edge cost allocation methods (e.g., activity-based costing, time-driven activity based costing), transfer pricing and performance measurement, traditional and advanced budgeting techniques, as well as strategic performance measurement systems (e.g., Balanced Scorecard). In these topic areas, we also discuss how statistical analyses can be used to improve the decision making and control within organization.
A profound understanding of these topics is essential for a broad audience. First, future managers can use and request the necessary information to make better informed decisions. Second, future accountants and controllers know how to design the systems that will help their organizations to excel. Third, future employees understand the rationale behind the accounting systems used in their organizations and can act upon them.

Textbook; state-of-the-art research studies; popular contemplations regarding strategic cost accounting and especially cost management

* As this is an intermediate management accounting course, this course requires a basic knowledge of accounting procedures. Students should have at least completed a first year bachelor course in accounting, or ideally a second year bachelor course, such as Accounting for Managerial Decision Making (EBC2164) or Managerial Finance and Accounting (EBC2165). Students that do not have any background in accounting should have a full bachelor degree in business or economics.
* An advanced level of English.