University of the South Pacific

Faculty of Business and Economics

School of Accounting and Finance
AF201 - Managerial Accounting

Individual Assignment
Weighting: The total mark for this assignment is 60 and is worth 6% of your total
assessment.

Due date: Sunday 1st March at 11:55pm. ALL ASSIGNMENTS HANDED IN AFTER THIS
TIME WILL BE REGARDED AS LATE ASSIGNMENTS.

Introduction This assignment will assess your critical thinking, creativity and written
communication. As a future management accountant it is essential to
think critically, creatively and communicate effectively to avoid losing
any valuable opportunities to create value for shareholders and
customers.

Furthermore, this assignment addresses learning outcomes (1) and (2)

of the course as depicted on the course outline.

Instructions:

1. Your assignment MUST be word processed. Hand written assignment

will NOT be accepted.
2. This is an individual assignment.
3. The assignment must be submitted online in the appropriate drop
box.
4. Chapter Reference: Chapter 1 of the textbook
5. Ensure that your name and ID Number are stated clearly on the
cover page
6. A penalty of 10% will be deducted each day or part thereof that
the assignment is late.
7. Plagiarized assignment will be awarded a Zero (0) mark.
8. The assignment will be marked according to the attached rubric –
see Appendix 1. DO NOT attach the rubric to your assignment when
uploading it for marking.
9. The report should be NOT more than 10 pages. With reference to the
report format, numbers 1 to 4 will be written on 4 pages; one page
for each section. Numbers 5-8 to be written on the remaining 6
pages. Please note that you do not necessarily have to write on all
the remaining 6 pages. Pay attention to the quality not the quantity!

1|Page
Assignment Question

Choose any organization in your own country and analyze its business environment in
terms of challenges and opportunities for growth to create value.

In analyzing its’ challenges and opportunities for growth, discuss how the firm has
responded in relation to its structures, systems and practices, and how in your opinion
management accounting can assist the organization of your choice.

Your response to this question must be in the form of a report. Please refer to appendix 2
for the report format.

2|Page
 APPENDIX 1: AF201 RESEARCH REPORT MARKING RUBRIC – SEMESTER 1, 2020
Facet of Research Element of Marking Highly Satisfactory Pass Satisfactory Pass Below
Complete, accurate, Complete but not fully Standard/Unsatisfactory
comprehensive and accurate, comprehensive Incomplete or inaccurate
insightful/innovative or insightful

A+ A B+ B C+ C D E
85-100% 78-84% 71-77% 64-70% 57-63% 50-56% 40-49% <40%
A. Embark and Clarify Introduction – identifies Introduction clearly establishes the Introduction establishes the Brief Introduction with limited
organisation, outlines context and background and presents context and background and context and background, no
(5 marks) background context and a clear summary of the issues. presents a vague summary of summary of issues.
provides summary of key issues.
issues identified. Line of argument taken clearly and Line of argument taken but No line of argument.
effectively. some parts are vague.
B. Find and generate References and citations – Cites appropriate concepts from An attempt made to apply Found information is not
demonstrates that research relevant references, fully integrated research to the assignment. documented correctly.
(10 marks) has been conducted into the text with a sound mix of direct The balance of direct and Errors exist with signal phrases,
appropriately stating and and indirect quotations. indirect quotations is uneven. citations, and references.
citing relevant articles. Quotations support arguments. Quotations occasionally Found information is not introduced
Citations are totally accurate. replace student input. or analysed adequately.
Bibliography complete and accurate Citations show several errors. Bibliography is not satisfactory and
following APA style. Bibliography is satisfactory does not follow APA style.
(following APA style) but
some documentation errors
exist.
C. Evaluate and reflect Quality of analysis. The report Collects comprehensive set of valid data Collects sufficient valid data Fails to collect valid data;
clearly captures the details of which is appropriate and very relevant; which is relevant but presentation and interpretation of
(15 marks) the chosen firm and relates it presentation and analysis of data are presentation and interpretation results are inaccurate and not
well to management professional, thorough, engaging, and of results need work. The presented clearly. The report does
accounting. sophisticated. The report clearly depicts report depicts the not clearly reflect the chosen
- 10 % the organisation’s operation with organisation’s operation but organization’s operation.
excellent presentation. needs improvement in its
presentation.
Conclusion Conclusions and recommendations are One is relevant and adequate, Both are unclear and not connected
- 5% excellent (pertinent, realistic, evidence- but the other is not pertinent, to the report’s data.
realistic, or detailed. Just

3|Page
 based, and detailed) based on evaluated repeats the main points already
data. highlighted with no clear
direction.

D. Organise and Manage Organise data according to Data is organized well according to all Data is organized but not all Data is poorly organized and does
to meet stated project the prescribed structure the relevant report structure provided. the parts of the structure are not follow the prescribed structure
objectives used. provided.
(5 marks) - 5%

E. Analyse and Organisation of the Report – Clear & appropriate subheadings with Appropriate subheadings with Poorly organised report with poor
synthesise the project to appropriate subheadings & well-structured paragraphs that have separate paragraphs that paragraph development – main
present the final report paragraphs one main idea and strong supporting have one main idea and some ideas are left undeveloped or
material. Has good links between supporting material but not there is more than one main idea
(20 marks) - 8% paragraphs that result in a report that consistent. Some links needed in a paragraph. Links between
flows well. between paragraphs. paragraphs are absent or not
clearly stated.
Development of the analysis Presents a strong, focused argument, Presents an argument with The argument is not clear with
well supported by impressive analysis some analysis but also some more summary and “telling the
- 12% and evidence. The points being made description/summary. The story” than analysis. The point of
are clear and convincing for the reader points being made can be the essay becomes lost in places.
throughout. followed with some effort.

F. Students Sentences, grammar and style Sentences contain no errors and are Sentences contain some errors Poor sentences that have been
communicate the final - 2% diverse and sophisticated. Style is but don’t impede meaning. poorly organised and weakens
report and ethically concise and professional. The report has Style is generally concise and analysis. Numerous errors that
apply academic writing clearly been edited and proof read professional, but some impede meaning, with no
conventions numerous times. additional editing is warranted. professional style.

(5 marks) Numerous grammatical errors exist

and impede meaning.
Online Submission & Turn-it- Report is submitted on time with Report is submitted on time Report is submitted late without
in percentage appropriate filename. There is 0-10% with appropriate filename. appropriate filename. There is
- 3% similarity percentage detected. There is 11-20% similarity more than 20% similarity
percentage detected. percentage detected.

4|Page
Marker Comments: TOTAL MARKS ALLOCATED OUT OF 60:

5|Page
APPENDIX 2: Report Format
Your report must contain the following parts: These parts are taken from
“Communication Skills Handbook for Accounting” by Wendy Fleet, Jane Summers, and
Brett Smith, first edition.

1. Cover sheet/page
This should include your name and ID number. To authenticate your work, you
must include your electronic signature next to your name

2. Title Page
The title of the report must be clearly stated. The title of the report must be
related to your chosen firm.

3. Executive Summary
This should include the following briefly:
 the most important and significant findings in summary form
 For the purpose of this assignment, the executive summary should not
exceed one page.

4. Table of contents
This section should include the main section numbers to the left hand margin and
their corresponding page reference to the right margin.

5. Introduction
There are three parts to this section:
 “the authorization and purpose of the report – the reader must be told
who commissioned the work and why the report was produced.
 any limitations encountered in the production of the report that affected
the results or the ability of the writer to complete the report.
 the scope of the report – exactly what the report covers, how information
is presented in the report, where the information for the report came from
and how it was gathered (e.g. questionnaires or other research)” (p.61).

6. The body
“This is the main part of the report and it must include the discussions and
analysis.” Furthermore, there must be “a logical sequence” in the presentation of
the findings. “Headings and subheadings should be used to identity each section
and introduce new ideas or directions.” (p.61)

7. Conclusions
This section must “summarise the main points or findings of the assignment.”
(p.62)

8. List of references
All references used in the research must be listed here alphabetically.

6|Page