Suffolk University

04.23

Here is my final blog posting for the year! We'll be meeting in the lobby conference room of 73 Tremont at 7:15 pm on Thursday. Just walk in the front entrance of the building, pass the security guard on your left (showing him your student ID if he asks for it!), and proceed to the left of the elevator bank. If the door is closed when you arrive, please just “sit tight” for a few minutes ... that will mean that I'm still wrapping up the formal Advisory Board meeting inside.

Please remember to bring approximately 65 copies of your 1 page handout ... just in case. You must dress appropriately for a formal business event, and you cannot refer to any notes whatsoever during your presentation.

All term projects and extra credit assignments are due via email in PDF format by Wednesday 4/25 at 7:15 pm. Please forgive me if this sounds strident, but you must follow up with me immediately if you do not receive a “receipt confirmation” email message from me by 8:00 pm on Wednesday!

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04.15

It looks like I just snared a little positive publicity! But I don't think my photo looks anything like me ...

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04.14

Our final class session is here!  Please remember that your presentation handouts are due this Wednesday; the details are posted in my 04.11 blog entry (below).

Our only reading assignment for this week is a blog entry by Paul Conley entitled Writing With Words, Talking With Pictures. We’ll discuss that article and then proceed with a “final review” in class.

Conley blog

04.11

I posted this week's reading assignment on 04.07 (below), but because so many students are asking me the same questions, I thought I'd share my answers with all of you!

> The one page presentation handouts are due via email in PDF format one week from today on Wednesday 4/18 at 7:15 pm. The term projects and all extra credit assignments are due via email in PDF format two weeks from today on Wednesday 4/25 at 7:15 pm.

> You are not permitted to use any notes during your final presentation. Because the midterm presentation was simply a “test run,” I decided to simply deduct a significant score from the grade of each person who used notes. However, because the final presentation is far more important, the use of notes will result in a failing grade.

> Finally, quite a few students have asked me about my policy when I suspect students are “peeking at neighbor's papers” on quizzes. My policy is quite simple ... when I observe such behavior, I simply deduct a significant score from the 30 point portion of that person's final course grade. In fact, I once gave an “F” to someone who was expecting a “B” because his frequent “peeking” led me to grade him “0 out of 30” on that component.

I know that sounds harsh ... but if you're not peeking, you have nothing to worry about!

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04.07

This week we shall wrap up the 15^th and final section of our business plan!

Please read a balanced scorecard sample and a critical article. We'll also review the projections spreadsheet and the Jump the Shark web site that were originally assigned for March 24^th, but the quiz will only encompass the new sample and article.

Our penultimate public speaking tip of the week is ... repetition!

Scorecard sample; critical article

03.31

I'm sure that you're all extremely agitated that we didn't stay late to review the financial statement projections spreadsheet and the Jump the Shark site last week ... so please allow me to comfort you! I moved them to last week's session because I thought that our Fidelity representative would be attending; once I learned that she wasn't, I decided to move them back to their normal place in our curriculum.

This week, we're expecting a senior partner from KPMG to join us in discussing ratio analysis. Please read the brief section entitled Polishing the ROE Apple on the web page The Asset-Lite Movement.

You will also need to download and read our guest's handout, but I haven't received a copy of it yet ... so please check this blog later in the week to download and read it!

Finally, as always, we'll review our public speaking tip of the week ... narration!

Polishing the Apple; KPMG handout (to be posted later this week)

Horngren (optional): the sections on residual income and economic value added, beginning on page 795 and extending through page 797, as well as Exhibit 13-1, presented on page 460.

03.24

Before I post the upcoming reading assignments, please allow me to thank you for remaining those extra 15 minutes last week. I'll make sure to let you go 15 minutes early at some point in the future!

And now let's discuss the readings! We'll wrap up our discussion of transfer pricing with a discussion of John Kerry's position on "job-killing tax loopholes." Then we'll review a handout about cash flow and a spreadsheet that produces financial statement projections.

Finally, we'll visit a web site called Jump the Shark. You are only responsible for reading the brief Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section; the FAQ link appears right under the home page title.

Oh yes, we'll review our public speaking tip of the week as well ... deception!

Kerry article, cash flow handout, spreadsheet projections, Jump the Shark FAQ

Horngren (optional): the sections on outsourcing, beginning on page 384 and ending on page 391.

03.13

Hello class! I hope you're enjoying your time off. I posted our next reading assignment in my 3/10 blog entry (see below); here is some additional information that may be helpful to you.

For those of you who wish to complete my 1 credit research course this semester, you'll need to obtain two forms from the Registrar, one to approve the independent study course and the other to add the course to your schedule. The course's name is Introduction to Accounting Research, its number is ACCT 510, and its instructor is M Kraten (that's me!). We'll have a “kick-off” meeting on Thursday 3/22 at 3pm in my office; if I don't sign off on your forms at that time, we'll need to wait until the summer or fall semesters to work together.

For those of you who wish to complete the first of two extra credit assignments, the one worth three points towards your final course grade, please download the participative budgeting case and complete it with a classmate. This case requires you to engage in a simulated negotiation with your classmate; it is due via email no later than Wednesday, April 18^th at 7:15 pm.

For those of you who wish to complete the second of two extra credit assignments, the one worth four points towards your final course grade, please download the energy trading case and complete it on your own ... though you may discuss it with one or more classmates before you complete it if you wish. This case requires you to state your opinions about fair value accounting, a topic that you addressed during ACCT 321; it is also due via email no later than Wednesday, April 18^th at 7:15 pm.

Please let me know if you have any follow-up questions about these cases. I will be delighted to answer them!

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03.10

Although I hope you're enjoying Spring Break and not thinking about managerial accounting right now, I thought I'd post your reading assignment for our next class on Thursday, March 22nd. We are going to welcome a tax partner from Tofias PC, who will join us in discussing transfer pricing.

Please review the transfer pricing section of the Inland Revenue Service of Her Majesty’s Government of the United Kingdom. You are only responsible for reading the first three web pages of material linked to that site, i.e. the web pages entitled INTM431010 (What is the transfer pricing problem?), INTM431020 (How do companies set their transfer pricing policy?), and INTM431030 (How does the arm's length principle solve the transfer pricing problem?).

In addition, please skim a brief article about the television show NYPD Blue. We'll discuss two similar shows (The X Files and Buffy the Vampire Slayer) in class on Thursday.

Finally, we will resume our series of public speaking tips of the week with ... domination!

Inland Revenue web site, television article

Horngren (optional): the sections on transfer pricing, beginning with Transfer Pricing on page 764 and ending with Negotiated Transfer Pricing on pages 772 & 773. Please pay particular attention to the final section on Negotiated Transfer Pricing.

03.04

I'm looking forward to your presentations on Thursday! We'll meet in room 265 of the Law School, located at 120 Tremont Street.

Please remember to bring at least 42 copies of your 1 page handout. The dress code is casual, though our judges might be impressed if you dress nicely! Please plan to come a few minutes early to settle in, sign the attendance sheet, and find your name tag.

It will probably be necessary to remain until our “standard” departure time of 9:55 pm. After the presentations, the judges will be providing you with feedback, and then we'll all engage in general conversation.

Good luck! :)

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02.27

Oops! I forgot to post the results of last week's student survey when I posted this week's assignment on 02.24. Sorry about that!

Incidentally, if you are interested in completing the 1 credit independent study course in accounting research this semester, you will need to submit the registration paperwork before Spring Break. We'll begin our activities the week after Spring Break.

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02.24

Because we're a bit “backed up” with our cost material, we'll spend much of our time wrapping up last week's discussion. And then it's on to the pricing section of the business plan!

Please read an article from the periodical Time entitled A Beautiful Mind: American Pi. Then review a pair of handouts regarding profitability analysis and game theory.

P.S. Please remember that I need your 1 page presentation handouts by Wednesday, February 28^th. The requirements for that page were described in the “midterm presentations” handout that is posted in my 02.22 blog entry (below).

Time article, Profitability handout, Game theory handout

Horngren (optional): the first section of Chapter 3 entitled Cost-Volume-Profit Analysis, beginning on page 60 and extending through the first half of page 74, as well as the section entitled Variable Costing and Absorption Costing, beginning on page 295 and extending through page 298

02.22

REMINDER! Yesterday was the deadline to select a team and an organization for the term project. See my 02.10 blog entry (below).

The reading assignments for today were posted in my 02.17 blog entry (below). Before we begin reviewing those materials, though, I would like to spend a few minutes discussing the midterm presentations and a 1 credit independent study course in accounting research.

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02.17

I have made a command decision! Instead of expecting you to cover the first nine sections of your business plan in your midterm presentations (i.e. three involving the business model, three involving volume, and three involving costs), I am now only expecting you to cover the first six sections. The cost material is extremely important, and I don't think it would be fair to expect you to present those sections so soon after learning it.

If all goes well, though, we will complete our discussion of the cost sections this week ... or will come very close! Please read the US Department of Defense's web page about activity based costing, and then look at the Figure 1 Process Flow Diagram that appears as the first page of Appendix B of a USDA brochure about young chicken slaughter.

We will (at least) begin our review of variance analysis, and will conclude by distributing a set of midterm student surveys.

As always, we will also discuss our public speaking tip of the week ... integration!

P.S. Please remember the February 21^st deadline that I posted in my 02.10 blog entry (below).

ABC web page; process flow diagram

Horngren (optional): the sections entitled Activity Based Costing Systems and Implementing Activity Based Costing at Plastim, beginning at the end of page 144 and extending to page 152, as well as the sections entitled Variance Analysis and Activity Based Costing and Benchmarking and Variance Analysis, beginning on page 239 and extending through Exhibit 7-6 on page 243

02.10

Our upcoming session will be an important one! After we review the quality management material from last week, we will complete our discussion of sales volume and proceed on to the heart of the business plan ... the cost section.

Please read an instructor resource about job order costing to prepare for our next class. You might not understand the material well when you first read it, but don't worry ... it should make more sense to you after we discuss it together.

Then we will discuss our midterm presentations, which are scheduled for Thursday evening, March 8th. I will need an email message from each team, with a list of team members and the name of the organization selected for the plan, no later than Wednesday, February 21^st at 4:30 pm.

Finally, we'll discuss our public speaking tip of the week ... interaction!

Instructor resource for job order costing

Horngren (optional): the Normal Job-Costing System in Manufacturing section on pages 109 through 118

02.03

This week we shall discuss marketing and quality management issues! First we will discuss Microsoft's MSN Eddie Bauer advertising campaign. Then we will review the five paragraph press release about Pharma's Early-Phase Marketing Budgets. Also, we will cover the quality management techniques that are presented on the web page entitled Assured Quality: The Benefits of Mistake Proofing.

Incidentally, we will be using a calculus handout in class; however, this handout will not be on the quiz this week.

And then we'll conclude the class with our public speaking tip of the week ... gesticulation!

Eddie Bauer, Pharma, Mistake Proofing

Calculus (not on quiz)

Horngren (optional): the half-page dedicated to the four costs of quality, beginning under the title The Financial Perspective: Costs of Quality on page 661 and extending to the first four lines of page 662

01.27

This week we shall begin our analysis of volume estimation with a discussion of process flow. To prepare for the class, please take the Online Mini-Tour at the Vermont Teddy Bear Company. After you click through the factory entrance, use the link entitled Online Mini-Tour to proceed through the Designing, Fur Cutting, Sewing, Dressing, Shipping, and Order Placement areas.

Then turn up the volume on your computer and walk through the Ben & Jerry's ice cream production process. They're located in Vermont as well, so remember to dress warmly for your visit!

Finally, please don't let me forget to begin the session by discussing last week's public speaking tip. I'll complete the session by discussing this week's tip, which is ... conversation!

Vermont Teddy Bear, Ben & Jerry's

Horngren (optional): the actual costing material on pages 100 through 106

01.22

One of your classmates asked me a good question about the readings for this week (which I discussed in my 01.20 posting below), so I thought I'd pass along my answer to you!

The textbook material column (to the right of this blog posting column) contains the readings that appear on your quizzes. If I assign a reading that will not be quizzed, I will list it in that column but will note that it won't be “quizzable.” Also, please keep in mind that the Horngren text readings will always be optional and thus will never be quizzed.

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01.20

It was a pleasure to meet you last week! Please remember that our first quiz is scheduled for 7:15 pm on Thursday, so don't be late! It will only cover the balanced scorecard material that we reviewed in class last week ... and, as always, on the reading assignment for this week.

Please keep in mind, though, that I only expect you to skim the required reading assignnment. You will never be quizzed on any optional readings.

Then we'll proceed to our discussions of regression analysis and flexible budgets. Finally, we'll wrap up by discussing our buzz marketing application and our public speaking tip of the week ... locomotion!

Regression Analysis handout, Flexible Budgets handout

Horngren (optional): the regression material on pages 342 to 346 and 356 to 358, as well as the flexible budgets section on pages 224 to 225

01.17

Hello, class! I look forward to getting started tomorrow. We'll begin the session by reviewing our calendar (below), our syllabus, and our term project requirements. Then we'll discuss The Art of the Pitch and watch a sample Elevator Pitch. Finally, we'll proceed to the lesson plan by reading about the four perspectives of the balanced scorecard, by discussing GE's three elements of quality, and by briefly reviewing a buzz marketing application.

Please keep in mind that all of your assignments must be submitted in PDF format; if you need software to convert files to PDF, you might wish to try a free online service that has been recommended to me by former students. Please note, however, that I cannot guarantee it will always work ... and that I have no relationship at all with the company that runs the service!

Balanced Scorecard web pages, GE's Three Elements web page

Horngren (optional): Strategy Implementation and the Balanced Scorecard, pages 457 - 464

Thu 01.25

II. Statistical Analysis (Linear Regression) & III. Flexible Budget

Thu 02.01

IV. Process Flow

Thu 02.08

V. Sales Generation (Calculus) & VI. Total Quality Management

Thu 02.15

VII. Job Order Costing

Thu 02.22

VIII. Activity Based Costing & IX. Cost Variance Analysis

Thu 03.01

X. Target Pricing & XI. Competitive Pricing (Nash Equilibrium)

Thu 03.08

Midterm Presentations (I to IX only)

Thu 03.15

Spring Break (no class)

Thu 03.22

XII. Special Order Pricing (Transfer Pricing) (Tofias Guest Visit)

Thu 03.29

XIII. Cash Flow Analysis (Fidelity Guest Visit)

Thu 04.05

XIV. Ratio Analysis (Economic Value Added) (KPMG Guest Visit)

Thu 04.12

XV. Performance Measurement

Thu 04.19

Review

Thu 04.26

Final Presentations