Syllabus Budget Analysis Modern Budgeting for Profit, Planning, Jae Shim Professor Michael A. S. Guth

SYLLABUS

SULLIVAN UNIVERSITY

ON-LINE STUDIES

MGT 340 BUDGET ANALYSIS

March 31 -- June 13, 2003

Spring 2003 Quarter

Instructor: Dr. Michael A. S. Guth

Contact Information:

Mailing address: 116 Oklahoma Ave.

Oak Ridge, TN

37830-8604

E-mail address: mike @ michaelguth.com

Work phone: 865-483-8309

Fax number: 425-969-2580

Required Text: Modern Budgeting for Profit, Planning, and Control by Jae Shim et al. The textbook can be purchased for $49 on CD rom or $59 on paper at this Internet site:

http://www.americancpe.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=BUD-SULLIVAN&Category_Code=MAS

Course Description: A budget is the formal expression of plans, goals, and objectives of management that covers all aspects of operations for a designated time period. The budget is a tool providing targets and direction. Budgets provide control over the immediate environment, help to master the financial aspects of the job and department, and solve problems before they occur. Budgets focus on the importance of evaluating alternative actions before decisions are actually implemented. This course explains what budgets are, how they work, how to prepare and present them, and how to analyze budget figures and results. The practical development and use of budgets at various managerial levels within a business are discussed. The course exceeds the requirements of an undergraduate course in finance and accounting, and is intended in addition to give students professional competence to engage in budgeting, financial planning, profit planning, and control.

Course Objectives: (Upon successful completion of this course, the student should have)

$ basic competencies needed in the development, implementation and management of their portion of corporate budgets.

$ an understanding of basic theories and management techniques needed for everyday budgeting situations.

$ a varied and all-inclusive introductory familiarity with such budgeting systems as zero-based budgeting, PPS budgeting and line item budgeting

Distance Learning Requirements (You must have access to):

$ A personal computer capable of running Netscape Navigator 3.0 or above or Internet Explorer 5.0 or above.

$ Access to the internet with a 56 kb modem or better

$ A personal e-mail account that you can access on a regular basis

$ E-mail software capable of sending and receiving attached file

Note: It is highly recommended that you use your own computer to enroll in this class. Students who take an on-line course without their own computers are at a disadvantage.

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT: Any student whose disabilities fall within the ADA must inform their instructor(s) at the beginning of the term of any special needs or equipment necessary to accomplish the requirements of the course.

ON-LINE LIBRARY: Sullivan University on-line library services are available to all currently registered students and be accessed through the Sullivan University web site (www.sullivan.edu).

ACADEMIC HONESTY: In accordance with the Standards of Conduct in the Sullivan University catalog, a student or organization may be disciplined, up to and including suspension and expulsion, if deemed in violation of the Standards of Conduct for the commission of or the attempt to commit this offense: dishonesty, such as cheating, plagiarism, or knowingly furnishing false information to the university, faculty, or other officers or employees of the university.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

Weekly written assignments demonstrating mastery of two chapters of assigned reading (submitted via e-mail in a special format defined herein), one open-book final exam with 101 multiple choice questions and 21 True-False questions (submitted via e-mail), and Discussion Board Participation (On-line).

Evaluation and Grading:

Weekly answers to chapter objective questions (50%), final exam (30%), discussion board participation (including answers to case study questions) (20%).

Grading Policy:

A = 90% to 100% cumulative average

B = 80 to 89% cumulative average

C = 70 to 79% cumulative average

D = 60 to 69% cumulative average

F = 0 to 59% cumulative average

Incompletes:

A grade of Incomplete will be given in extenuating circumstances only. Poor planning of course load and class work by a student does not constitute extenuating circumstances. Failure to show up for any or either part of course will result in a grade of AF.@ A grade of Incomplete will be given only if the student and the instructor mutually agree, in writing, prior to the last day this class meets. (Details will include what work is to be made up, how it is to be made up, and when the work is due).

Instructional Mode:

The weekly reading and writing assignments are listed in this syllabus under course outline. The questions should be typed in boldface, followed by your answers as one or two paragraphs in normal font. You will want to type out your answers in a word processing package such as Word Perfect of Word. HOWEVER, these exercises should be submitted in the body (text) of an e-mail message to Prof. Guth at BudgetA@michaelguth.com. NO ATTACHED FILES WILL BE ACCEPTED OR READ! The subject line of your e-mail message should contain a message ABudget Analysis Week 1, Chap. 1 & 2,@ or ABudget Analysis Week 2, Chap. 3 & 4,@ etc. Students who provide too skimpy answers to the questions will have to resubmit their work.

For Chapter 1, your answers will look like:

1. Define what a budget is.

Your answer will be written here as one or two paragraphs.

2. List and define the types of budgets.

Your answer will be written here as an enumerated list with one or two sentences describing each type of budget.

_____________________

Individual questions should be sent to Prof. Guth at mike @ michaelguth.com, but your assignments should be sent to the address shown above.

Attendance:

Everyone should be signed on no later than the Friday of the first week of class. You are required to check the discussion board at least twice per week. Students should submit a minimum of three substantive comments (on average) per week throughout the course.

Course Outline:

WEEK 1

Read Chap. 1: The What And Why Of Budgeting

Read Chap. 2: Strategic Planning And Budgeting