Monash University Handbook 2011 Undergraduate - Unit

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.

Synopsis

This unit is aimed at providing the students with an overall knowledge of business organisations and their structure. The unit will cover all the steps from business strategy to operational planning and financial systems. The internal processes of a business organisation will be described with an emphasis on how they work together to achieve the financial and physical goals of the business.

Accounting information systems and the systems for the processing and recording of business transactions, inventory, sales, purchasing and financial reporting will be described in detail. Tutorial exercises using commercial software will take students through the operational steps of sales, purchasing and deliveries and then produce the main financial statements for the organisation.

A range of new management concepts and tools such as process oriented organisations, control matrices, and systems theory will be described. The unit will also look at how e-commerce and e-business is used in a modern organisation, and give a brief description of contracts and contract law.

Objectives

On completion of this unit, students will be able to:

• understand the business activities of a typical organisation;
• perform basic accounting calculations for a business: balance sheet, profit and loss, cash flow, pricing, stock valuation, costing models;
• understand how to describe and document operations, information and financial flows using different types of representations;
• describe and analyse accounting information systems in an organisation;
• understand how web based systems are used by a modern business;
• have a basic understanding of the legal aspects of a contract;
• analyse the operations and business systems of an existing business;
• plan the functions and systems of a new business;
• use and understand the financial statements of a business;
• take an active part in the planning activities of a business.

Assessment

Examination (2 hours): 60%; In-semester assessment: 40%

Chief examiner(s)

Dr Rodney Martin

Contact hours

2 hrs lectures/wk, 2 hrs tutorials/wk