ACC304 – Accounting Capstone

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ACC304 Accounting Capstone
Semester 1, 2020
Academic Staff
Associate Professor Wayne Smithson
Course Coordinator
Associate Professor Wayne Smithson
CRICOS Provider Code: 03535M
ACC304 – Accounting Capstone Semester 1, 2020
Polytechnic Institute Australia Page 2 of 18
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Contact Details……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 3
PIA Policies and Procedures …………………………………………………………………………………….. 3
Unit Description…………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 3
Prior Knowledge and/or Skills or Pre-Requisite Unit(s) ………………………………………………….. 3
Enrolment in the Unit …………………………………………………………………………………………….. 3
When does the Unit commence? ……………………………………………………………………………… 3
Student Feedback………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 3
Intended Learning Outcomes for the Unit…………………………………………………………………… 4
Learning Expectations and Teaching Strategies/Approach……………………………………………… 5
Learning Resources………………………………………………………………………………………………… 6
Prescribed Text/Software ……………………………………………………………………………………….. 6
Recommended Texts/Software…………………………………………………………………………………. 6
Websites ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 6
Library Services ……………………………………………………………………………………………………. 7
Online Learning Management System (MyPIA) ……………………………………………………………… 7
MyPIA Expectations ………………………………………………………………………………………………. 7
Details of Teaching Arrangements…………………………………………………………………………….. 8
Seminar Enrolment and Attendance…………………………………………………………………………… 8
Lateness Policy…………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 8
Unit Requirements…………………………………………………………………………………………………. 8
Assessment ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 9
Assessment Schedule …………………………………………………………………………………………….. 9
Assessment Item 1 – First Executive performance review presentation ………………………………..11
Assessment Item 2 – Mid-term examination…………………………………………………………………12
Assessment Item 3 – Group assignment………………………………………………………………………11
Final Assessment: BSG performance…………………………………………………………………………..12
Submission of Assessment Items………………………………………………………………………………12
Lodging Assessment Items ………………………………………………………………………………………12
Late Assessments and Extensions………………………………………………………………………………13
Weekly Assessment Activities and Mid-term Examination ………………………………………………..13
Academic Referencing and Style Guide ……………………………………………………………………….14
Grades and Results ………………………………………………………………………………………………..14
Grades Awarded…………………………………………………………………………………………………..14
Review of an Assessment Decision …………………………………………………………………………….13
Further Support and Assistance………………………………………………………………………………..13
Academic Misconduct and Plagiarism………………………………………………………………………..15
Study Schedule ……………………………………………………………………………………………………..17
ACC304 – Accounting Capstone Semester 1, 2020
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Contact Details

PIA Policies and Procedures
Standards of academic conduct are defined by, and subject to, Polytechnic Institute Australia’s (PIA’s)
documented policies and procedures. Please make sure you read this Unit Outline in conjunction with
all academic and administrative policies, as some of these may affect the outcome of your studies.
All academic and administrative policies and procedures are available via the Polytechnic Institute
Australia website at: http://w ww.pia.edu.au/student-info/policies-procedures
Unit Description
This capstone unit is designed to bring together knowledge gained through the entire program and permit
students to demonstrate mastery of the various unit competencies. One of the essential elements in the
real world is the ability to solve unstructured, multi-disciplinary accounting problems.
This unit integrates elements of the accountancy discipline and issues faced by a professional
advisor/consultant by presenting students with simulated real-world problems. These problems require
students to work together in teams, research issues, gather information, form conclusions and make
decisions effecting business performance.
The unit prepares students to adopt an applied project management approach to address these
problems. Students should therefore be better prepared for the various situations they will face in their
accounting career.
Prior Knowledge and/or Skills or Pre-Requisite Unit(s)
MGT100 Introduction to Management
ACC303 Advanced Management Accounting
Enrolment in the Unit
Unless there are exceptional circumstances, students should not enrol in this unit after the end of week
two of term, as the Polytechnic Institute Australia (PIA) cannot guarantee that:
• any extra assistance will be provided by the teaching team in respect of work covered in the
period prior to enrolment; and
• Penalties will not be applied for late submission of any piece or pieces of assessment that
were due during this period.
When does the Unit commence?
The unit’s teaching schedule commences in the week beginning Monday 9th March 2019.
Student Feedback
ACC304 – Accounting Capstone Semester 1, 2020
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At the conclusion of this unit, you will be asked to provide responses to a number of matters relating to
the learning and teaching within the unit. You are asked to respond honestly to these questions, as all
information received is used to enhance the delivery of future offerings.
Changes to this unit based on previous student feedback
Following feedback from students, we have changed the learning methodology for this unit away from
traditional lectures and tutorials, to a blended model of learning, based on active student engagement
and participation.
You must ensure that you purchase the text book online or hard copy from the publisher directly or
from co-op bookshop and bring it with you to your seminar each week. This is compulsory. You will
obtain a code from the textbook publisher along with the instruction from them of how to obtain the
textbook.
Students are expected to participate in the Business Strategy Game (BSG) on a weekly basis, failure
to do so will result in a reduction of individual marks for the final presentation.
There is no final examination for this unit, instead there is an executive style boardroom meeting
assessed by outside assessors, from the business community. Failure to attend to this meeting will result
in fail grade for the student concerned.
Also a final assessment is provided by each team company ranking as provided independently by the
BSG.
A new initiative is considered during Semester 1 2019 to use an on-line interactive Business Strategy
Game to provide students with a simulated business environment where students can make decisions
relating to the operations of a global virtual organisation in a competitive environment. As such,
students to work in groups to operate an international footwear company using an online business
simulation game. Each team will undertake decision making for a simulated international active
footwear company.
The simulation game, titled ‘Business Simulation’ is delivered online (www.bsg-online.com). The teams
will compete both against other teams in the class as well as external international students throughout
the world. Students will be required to produce, analyse and interpret supporting financial statements
(viz., Cash Flow, Profit and Loss, and Balance Sheets) for the purpose of reporting back to the board and
investors. Students are required present their analysis and financials in a formal presentation one to
executive management outlining previous results, past strategy and future direction of the organisation.
Students are expected to undertake the pre-class reading “Business Strategy Game Player’s Guide”
which will be available on Moodle one week before the first class. This reading must be undertaken
prior to the first class in Week 1. Classwork will be conducted on the basis that you have a working
knowledge of the fundamentals of the Business Strategy Game.
Marks have been redistributed across the different assessments in order to encourage attendance. An
additional short report presentation Assessment has now replaced the participation component. This
assessment will take place the week after the mid-term exam.
ACC304 – Accounting Capstone Semester 1, 2020
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Intended Learning Outcomes for the Unit