ACCT 346 (MANAGERIAL ACCOUNTING) DEVRY ALL DISCUSSIONSACCT 346 WEEK 1 DISCUSSIONS 1 ETHICS AND ETHICAL BEHAVIORThe Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX) has emphasized the importance of ethical behavior and codes of conduct. Discuss the costs and benefits of the ethical environment. If a poor ethical environment results in costs to an organization, what are they? Conversely, what are the benefits of a good ethical environment?ACCT 346 Week 1 Discussions 2 Managerial and Financial Accounting What is the goal of Managerial Accounting and how does Managerial Accounting differ from Financial Accounting?ACCT 346 1 Week 2 Discussions 1 Job-Order Costing The job cost sheet is used to accumulate the three product costs: direct material, direct labor, and factory overhead. Discuss the source documents for determining these amounts (that is, where do we get these numbers, and how we arrive at the overhead?). Why is overhead the most difficult to assign?ACCT 346 Week 2 Discussions 2 Process Costing Describe how the process costing system accumulates and assigns costs by comparing and contrasting to the job-order costing system.ACCT 346 Week 3 Discussions 1 Cost-Volume-Profit Analysis Since the break-even point represents the point at which the company makes zero profit, why would a company have any interest in it?  How could managers use the break-even point when introducing a new product? ACCT 346 Week 3 Discussions 2 Variable Costing and Full Costing Discuss the difference between variable costing and full costing. Why would income computed under full costing exceed income computed under variable costing if production exceeds sales?ACCT 346 Week 4 Discussions 1 Activity-Based Costing 

How does activity-based costing differ from the traditional costing approach? When would it give more accurate costs than traditional costing systems?  What are cost allocations? What are 4 main reasons companies allocate costs to products? Choose ONE and explain how this process would benefit management.ACCT 346 Week 4 Discussions 2 Incremental Cost Analysis What is meant by relevant costs?  What is meant by differential costs? How do constraints relate to manufacturing companies? How would you tie all these ideas together with costs that need to be included in the decision making process?ACCT 346 Week 5 Discussions 1 Pricing Techniques Compare target costing and cost-plus pricing. When is each the most appropriate method to use? Provide an example

 of each. Why is cost-plus pricing inherently circular for a manufacturing firm?  What are the alternatives when considering a "special order"? What does "incremental revenue" mean?   How do you decide between the alternatives? Give examples of a special order and give examples of a special order coming into your company. What factors do you look at and what factors should you not look at?ACCT 346 Week 5 Discussions 2 Capital Budgeting Techniques  Suppose a company has five different capital budgeting projects from which to choose but has constrained funds and cannot implement all of the projects. Explain why comparing the projects' NPVs is better than comparing their IRRs. How is the IRR determined if there are uneven cash flows? Why does the failure to consider soft benefits discourage investment?

ACCT 346 Week 6 Discussions 1 Budgeting How are budgets used in the management roles of Planning and Control? Why are budgets important? Do you use Budgets in your job?What is the difference between Static Budgets and Flexible Budgets? How are static budgets and flexible budgets related? How does a company effectively use budgets in the planning and control process? As it is preparing the budget, what is the difference between the top-down and the bottom-up

approach to development? Which do you think is more commonly used and why?ACCT 346 Week 6 Discussions 2 Standard Costs and Variance Analysis Why do we try to get a standard cost for items going into the products we manufacture? What role do standard costs play in controlling the operations of a business? How are standard costs developed for direct materials, direct labor, and manufacturing overhead? Are there ever costs that we can’t develop standards for related to manufacturing the goods? What do we see when we analyze the variances?ACCT 346 Week 7 Discussions 1 Responsibility Centers Compare and contrast the three types of responsibility centers. What is the best way to evaluate a manager's performance in each type of center? What is the problem with using only financial measures of performance?ACCT 346 Week 7 Discussions 2 Financial Statement Analysis Why do managers analyze financial statements? What are they looking for? List three types of decisions that managers can make by analyzing financial statements.A) What are the differences between the "current ratio" and the "acid-test ratio"? What do these ratios tell management?B) Suppose net income is much higher than cash flows from operations. Why is this potentially indicative of earnings manipulation?