ACCT5920 Managing Intangible Resources - 2023

Subject Code
ACCT5920
Study Level
Postgraduate
Commencing Term
Term 1
Total Units of Credit (UOC)
6
Delivery Mode
On Campus
School
Accounting Auditing & Tax
The course outline is not available for current term. To view outlines from other year and/or terms visit the archives

1. Course Details

Summary of Course

This course seeks to understand the intangible resources of a business from a management accounting, financial accounting and audit perspective. The gap between the market value of firms and the capitalisation of assets in the balance sheet highlights the value that investors are prepared to attribute to the "intangible resources" of many organisations (such as financial service, consulting, software development and e-commerce companies). The value generating potential of such organisations is often attributed to intangible resources, and competencies in managing such resources. Yet the traditional accounting system is often both unable and unwilling to represent in explicit financial terms the value of intangible resources.


Based on the premise that long term value creation is best achieved by leveraging from intangible resources, this course aims to identify what these intangible resources are and to examine their role in achieving a competitive advantage. The course incorporates performance measurement frameworks that seek to represent intangible resources often not captured within traditional accounting systems (for example, the Balanced Scorecard and other methodologies that seek to meaningfully measure and evaluate intangibles). The types of intangible resources captured within such frameworks and how they are measured is examined.The course also examines how intangible resources are treated from a financial accounting perspective given International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), and offers a critical understanding of measurement and auditing challenges.

Teaching Times and Locations

Please note that teaching times and locations are subject to change. Students are strongly advised to refer to the Class Timetable website for the most up-to-date teaching times and locations.

View course timetable

Course Policies & Support

Course Aims and Relationship to Other Courses

Traditional financial statements (such as the balance sheet and profit and loss statement) fail to identify competitively significant intangible organisational resources, such as intellectual capital, organisational reputation and brand-names, knowledge-sharing, and a capacity for innovation and creativity etc. Consequently, conventional accounting procedures do not make ‘visible’ significant drivers of contemporary organisational performance. However, senior executives and managers of contemporary organisations are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of these so-called ‘invisible’ or ‘intangible’ resources.
These resources reside in the competencies of individual organisational participants, networks of intra- and inter-organisational relationships, and the structural legacies of these competencies and relationships. Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon Corporation etc. are examples of large companies that must successfully leverage from these resources to create value for many stakeholders. A key aim of this course is to make these intangible resources ‘visible’, consider the challenges of measurement and then to determine pragmatic approaches for their effective management and measurement.
Students will engage with these issues in real industry examples throughout the course especially in the group assignment and individual essay

2. Staff Contact Details

Position Title Name Email Location Phone Consultation Times
Lecturer-in-chargeDrNatalie BuckmasterRoom 3109, Quadrangle Building – Ref E15n.buckmaster@unsw.edu.auTo be advised
Students will be advised of arrangements for consultation during class in Week 1. The lecturer will be available for phone and/or online consultations at a set time each week usually in the hour before and after the Seminar. Students are encouraged to attend during this time. Most matters can be addressed via email. It should be noted that only emails sent from the official UNSW student email accounts will be replied to.Please note that common written etiquette must be observed when conducting any written communication with staff members. Communications that use, for example, short hand and “SMS” language are not permitted.

The policies regarding staff contact in the School of Accounting, Auditing and Taxation are as follows:
  • All questions regarding course administration should be directed to the Lecturer-in-charge.
  • The full-time staff will be available for consultation starting from Weeks 2 to 10 and STUVAC period.
  • Consultation hours will be advised on the course Moodle page in a consolidated timetable.
  • Students are encouraged to consult with staff during online consultation sessions. Consultation will not be provided via email or phone.
  • Consultation times during STUVAC period will likely vary to the regular consultation during Term and be posted on the course webpage later in the Term.
While emails to staff should be a rare occurrence as noted above, in instances where it is warranted, please make sure that:
  • You use your UNSW email address when corresponding with the teaching staff on this course. Emails from other addresses (such as Hotmail, Gmail, Yahoo, 126, QQ, etc.) are not accepted and will not be replied to.
  • You must use an appropriate communication level with staff. Emails and discussion forum posts that use short-hand and “Texting” language are not acceptable, and communication must be in English. If your email cannot be understood then staff will not reply.
  • You must identify yourself by your full name, student ID and tutorial day and time.
  • Please be aware that Staff will not necessarily reply to students to inform them if their emails are non-compliant.
  • Full-time teaching staff only answer emails during regular working hours of Monday to Friday 9am-5pm. Tutoring staff often have other jobs and require 48 hours within regular business office hours to reply to emails.
Complaints about the assessment and other aspects of this course should be directed in the first instance to the Lecturer-in-Charge (or Course Convenor) and if still unsatisfied with the response received then you are directed to contact the School of Accounting, Auditing & Taxation Grievance Officer, details available here: https://www.unsw.edu.au/business/our-schools/accounting-auditing-taxation/contact-us

3. Learning and Teaching Activities

Use of your Webcam and Digital Devices: If you enrol in an online class, or the online stream of a hybrid class, teaching and associated activities will be conducted using Teams, Zoom, or similar a technology. Using a webcam is optional, but highly encouraged, as this will facilitate interaction with your peers and instructors. If you are worried about your personal space being observed during a class, we encourage you to blur your background or make use of a virtual background. Please contact the Lecturer-in-Charge if you have any questions or concerns.

Some courses may involve undertaking online exams for which your own computer or digital devices will be required. Monitoring of online examinations will be conducted directly by University staff and is bound by the University's privacy and security requirements. Any data collected will be handled accordance with UNSW policies and standards for data governance. For more information on how the University manages personal information please refer to the UNSW Student Privacy Statement and the UNSW Privacy Policy.

Approach to Learning and Teaching in the Course

At university, the focus is on your self-directed search for knowledge. Seminars, course readings, exams and other resources are all provided to help you learn. You are therefore required to attend all seminars, and read all required readings in order to fully grasp and appreciate the concepts introduced in this course.It is up to you to choose how much work you do in each part of the course: preparing for seminars, completing assignments, and, seeking assistance or extra work to extend and clarify your understanding.You should choose an approach that best suits your learning style and goals in this course. Seminar questions and self-study questions are provided to guide your learning process.

Learning Activities and Teaching Strategies

The course is covered over 10 weekly Seminars. You should attend each Seminar throughout the term and if you miss a Seminar you should present a medical certificate. Each seminar is approximately three hours’ duration, and is designed to be a highly interactive learning environment which places students at the centre of the learning experience. Students are provided with case problems and questions, and accompanying videos. They are also required to critically discuss and address issues and challenges, for measuring and managing intangibles within contemporary organisations. Within a team based setting, they make short presentations (non-assessable) each week where they learn to be able to think quickly on their feet, solve real world business problems, and successfully present ideas to their peers and  your Seminar leader.

Seminars introduce and explain concepts that are critical to this course, and provide opportunities to discuss these with reference to pragmatic examples. Seminars are designed to be interactive experiences. During the seminar, you are expected to raise questions and contribute to the discussion of real world examples, and contribute generally to creating a vibrant learning environment.During this period there may be facilitator-led instruction, discussion of pre-set questions, case analyses, presentations by course participants, team-based tasks, and periods of interactive conversation (the latter requiring the ad hoc contribution of all course participants).

5. Course Resources

Readings - will be posted on Moodle.

This Course uses Moodle and the login URL for Moodle. Under the course code ACCT5920.

You are required to have a zPass to access the website. In addition, you must also be enrolled in the course to access the website. Please note that students are responsible for updating themselves on any information that appears on Moodle. This course also uses the OpenLearning Platform (OLP).During the session, you must: Maintain your official student email address and ensure that it does not have an “Over Quota” problem;

Check your assessment marks and inform your seminar leader of any discrepancies or problems; Update and download Powerpoint Seminar slides and other additional materials. Information provided on Moodle includes: Announcements; Assessment results; and Course-related administrative matters (such as detailed assessment. information provided), class readings, case studies etc.

6. Course Evaluation & Development

Feedback is regularly sought from students and continual improvements are made based on this feedback. At the end of this course, you will be asked to complete the myExperience survey, which provides a key source of student evaluative feedback. Your input into this quality enhancement process is extremely valuable in assisting us to meet the needs of our students and provide an effective and enriching learning experience. The results of all surveys are carefully considered and do lead to action towards enhancing educational quality.

In this course, we will seek your feedback through UNSW's myExperience survey feedback and invitations by the lecturer in charge to discharge feedback informally. Previous student feedback indicated that pragmatic illustrations and real world cases which could bring the key themes of the course to life would be helpful. Students also requested more videos. As a result of this feedback, videos and ptical case studies are incorporated to elaborate on key course concepts. Prior feedback has also suggested that students like to be able to apply the course content in meaningful ways via the delivery of highly effective and innovative business presentations which have become an important component of this course via storytelling skills etc. The individual report was previously due in Week 8 though student feedback suggests this placed stress on students and thus the due date has been extended to Week 12.

7. Course Schedule

Note: for more information on the UNSW academic calendar and key dates including study period, exam, supplementary exam and result release, please visit: https://student.unsw.edu.au/new-calendar-dates
Week Activity Topic Assessment/Other
Week 1: 13 FebruarySeminar

Introduction to Managing Intangible Resources:Multi-Disciplinary Perspectives of Intangibles Within Accounting

Participation in class activities

Week 2: 20 FebruarySeminar

Intangibles, their Importance, the Drivers of Change and Characterising Intangible Resources

Participation in class activities

Week 3: 27 FebruarySeminar

Intangibles: Measurement Frameworks - The Balanced Scorecard

Participation in class activities

Week 4: 6 MarchSeminar

Intangibles: Measurement Frameworks Continued

Participation in class activities

Week 5: 13 MarchSeminar

Reputational Capital (Measuring & Managing Customer Relationships)

Participation in class activities

Week 6: 20 MarchSeminar

Managing Knowledge Within Contemporary Organisations: Part 1

Presentation 1 Due

Participation in class activities

Week 7: 27 MarchSeminar

Managing Knowledge Within Contemporary Organisations: Part 2

 

Participation in class activities

Week 8: 3 April

Intangibles: Evaluation and Measurement (Financial Accounting and Audit).

 

PLEASE NOTE THAT APRIL 10 IS A PUBLIC HOLIDAY (EASTER MONDAY IN NSW) & THUS NO SEMINARS

Participation in class activities

Week 10: 17 AprilSeminar

Human Capital (Measuring & Managing Employee Relationships and Engagement)

 

1. Part 1 Team Presentation Presentation 2 due in Seminars

2. Part 2 Team Report due Wednesday 12 April. Peer review is used for the written report.

Week 11: 24 AprilSeminar

Conclusion to Managing Intangible Resources

 

 

Individual Report Due End of Term - Date TBA

This assignment requires extensive research and your work should commence several weeks before the due date to ensure successful completion on time.

8. Policies and Support

Information about UNSW Business School program learning outcomes, academic integrity, student responsibilities and student support services. For information regarding special consideration, supplementary exams and viewing final exam scripts, please go to the key policies and support page.

Program Learning Outcomes

The Business School places knowledge and capabilities at the core of its curriculum via seven Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs). These PLOs are systematically embedded and developed across the duration of all coursework programs in the Business School.

PLOs embody the knowledge, skills and capabilities that are taught, practised and assessed within each Business School program. They articulate what you should know and be able to do upon successful completion of your degree.

Upon graduation, you should have a high level of specialised business knowledge and capacity for responsible business thinking, underpinned by ethical professional practice. You should be able to harness, manage and communicate business information effectively and work collaboratively with others. You should be an experienced problem-solver and critical thinker, with a global perspective, cultural competence and the potential for innovative leadership.

All UNSW programs and courses are designed to assess the attainment of program and/or course level learning outcomes, as required by the UNSW Assessment Design Procedure. It is important that you become familiar with the Business School PLOs, as they constitute the framework which informs and shapes the components and assessments of the courses within your program of study.

PLO 1: Business knowledge

Students will make informed and effective selection and application of knowledge in a discipline or profession, in the contexts of local and global business.

PLO 2: Problem solving

Students will define and address business problems, and propose effective evidence-based solutions, through the application of rigorous analysis and critical thinking.

PLO 3: Business communication

Students will harness, manage and communicate business information effectively using multiple forms of communication across different channels.

PLO 4: Teamwork

Students will interact and collaborate effectively with others to achieve a common business purpose or fulfil a common business project, and reflect critically on the process and the outcomes.

PLO 5: Responsible business practice

Students will develop and be committed to responsible business thinking and approaches, which are underpinned by ethical professional practice and sustainability considerations.

PLO 6: Global and cultural competence

Students will be aware of business systems in the wider world and actively committed to recognise and respect the cultural norms, beliefs and values of others, and will apply this knowledge to interact, communicate and work effectively in diverse environments.

PLO 7: Leadership development

Students will develop the capacity to take initiative, encourage forward thinking and bring about innovation, while effectively influencing others to achieve desired results.


These PLOs relate to undergraduate and postgraduate coursework programs.  For PG Research PLOs, including Master of Pre-Doctoral Business Studies, please refer to the UNSW HDR Learning Outcomes

Business School course outlines provide detailed information for students on how the course learning outcomes, learning activities, and assessment/s contribute to the development of Program Learning Outcomes.

UNSW Graduate Capabilities

The Business School PLOs also incorporate UNSW graduate capabilities, a set of generic abilities and skills that all students are expected to achieve by graduation. These capabilities articulate the University’s institutional values, as well as future employer expectations.

UNSW Graduate CapabilitiesBusiness School PLOs
Scholars capable of independent and collaborative enquiry, rigorous in their analysis, critique and reflection, and able to innovate by applying their knowledge and skills to the solution of novel as well as routine problems.
  • PLO 1: Business knowledge
  • PLO 2: Problem solving
  • PLO 3: Business communication
  • PLO 4: Teamwork
  • PLO 7: Leadership development

Entrepreneurial leaders capable of initiating and embracing innovation and change, as well as engaging and enabling others to contribute to change
  • PLO 1: Business knowledge
  • PLO 2: Problem solving
  • PLO 3: Business communication
  • PLO 4: Teamwork
  • PLO 6: Global and cultural competence
  • PLO 7: Leadership development

Professionals capable of ethical, self-directed practice and independent lifelong learning
  • PLO 1: Business knowledge
  • PLO 2: Problem solving
  • PLO 3: Business communication
  • PLO 5: Responsible business practice

Global citizens who are culturally adept and capable of respecting diversity and acting in a socially just and responsible way.
  • PLO 1: Business knowledge
  • PLO 2: Problem solving
  • PLO 3: Business communication
  • PLO 4: Teamwork
  • PLO 5: Responsible business practice
  • PLO 6: Global and cultural competence

While our programs are designed to provide coverage of all PLOs and graduate capabilities, they also provide you with a great deal of choice and flexibility.  The Business School strongly advises you to choose a range of courses that assist your development against the seven PLOs and four graduate capabilities, and to keep a record of your achievements as part of your portfolio. You can use a portfolio as evidence in employment applications as well as a reference for work or further study. For support with selecting your courses contact the UNSW Business School Student Services team.





Academic Integrity and Plagiarism

Academic Integrity is honest and responsible scholarship. This form of ethical scholarship is highly valued at UNSW. Terms like Academic Integrity, misconduct, referencing, conventions, plagiarism, academic practices, citations and evidence based learning are all considered basic concepts that successful university students understand. Learning how to communicate original ideas, refer sources, work independently, and report results accurately and honestly are skills that you will be able to carry beyond your studies.

The definition of academic misconduct is broad. It covers practices such as cheating, copying and using another person’s work without appropriate acknowledgement. Incidents of academic misconduct may have serious consequences for students.

Plagiarism

UNSW regards plagiarism as a form of academic misconduct. UNSW has very strict rules regarding plagiarism. Plagiarism at UNSW is using the words or ideas of others and passing them off as your own. All Schools in the Business School have a Student Ethics Officer who will investigate incidents of plagiarism and may result in a student’s name being placed on the Plagiarism and Student Misconduct Registers.

Below are examples of plagiarism including self-plagiarism:

Copying: Using the same or very similar words to the original text or idea without acknowledging the source or using quotation marks. This includes copying materials, ideas or concepts from a book, article, report or other written document, presentation, composition, artwork, design, drawing, circuitry, computer program or software, website, internet, other electronic resource, or another person's assignment, without appropriate acknowledgement of authorship.

Inappropriate Paraphrasing: Changing a few words and phrases while mostly retaining the original structure and/or progression of ideas of the original, and information without acknowledgement. This also applies in presentations where someone paraphrases another’s ideas or words without credit and to piecing together quotes and paraphrases into a new whole, without appropriate referencing.

Collusion: Presenting work as independent work when it has been produced in whole or part in collusion with other people. Collusion includes:

  • Students providing their work to another student before the due date, or for the purpose of them plagiarising at any time
  • Paying another person to perform an academic task and passing it off as your own
  • Stealing or acquiring another person’s academic work and copying it
  • Offering to complete another person’s work or seeking payment for completing academic work

Collusion should not be confused with academic collaboration (i.e., shared contribution towards a group task).

Inappropriate Citation: Citing sources which have not been read, without acknowledging the 'secondary' source from which knowledge of them has been obtained.

Self-Plagiarism: ‘Self-plagiarism’ occurs where an author republishes their own previously written work and presents it as new findings without referencing the earlier work, either in its entirety or partially. Self-plagiarism is also referred to as 'recycling', 'duplication', or 'multiple submissions of research findings' without disclosure. In the student context, self-plagiarism includes re-using parts of, or all of, a body of work that has already been submitted for assessment without proper citation.

To see if you understand plagiarism, do this short quiz: https://student.unsw.edu.au/plagiarism-quiz

Cheating

The University also regards cheating as a form of academic misconduct. Cheating is knowingly submitting the work of others as their own and includes contract cheating (work produced by an external agent or third party that is submitted under the pretences of being a student’s original piece of work). Cheating is not acceptable at UNSW.

If you need to revise or clarify any terms associated with academic integrity you should explore the 'Working with Academic Integrity' self-paced lessons available at: https://student.unsw.edu.au/aim.

For UNSW policies, penalties, and information to help you avoid plagiarism see: https://student.unsw.edu.au/plagiarism as well as the guidelines in the online ELISE tutorials for all new UNSW students: http://subjectguides.library.unsw.edu.au/elise. For information on student conduct see: https://student.unsw.edu.au/conduct.

For information on how to acknowledge your sources and reference correctly, see: https://student.unsw.edu.au/referencing. If you are unsure what referencing style to use in this course, you should ask the lecturer in charge.



Student Responsibilities and Conduct

​Students are expected to be familiar with and adhere to university policies in relation to class attendance and general conduct and behaviour, including maintaining a safe, respectful environment; and to understand their obligations in relation to workload, assessment and keeping informed.

Information and policies on these topics can be found on the 'Managing your Program' website.

Workload

It is expected that you will spend at least ten to twelve hours per week studying for a course except for Summer Term courses which have a minimum weekly workload of twenty to twenty four hours. This time should be made up of reading, research, working on exercises and problems, online activities and attending classes. In periods where you need to complete assignments or prepare for examinations, the workload may be greater. Over-commitment has been a cause of failure for many students. You should take the required workload into account when planning how to balance study with employment and other activities.

We strongly encourage you to connect with your Moodle course websites in the first week of semester. Local and international research indicates that students who engage early and often with their course website are more likely to pass their course.

View more information on expected workload

Attendance and Engagement

Your regular attendance and active engagement in all scheduled classes and online learning activities is expected in this course. Failure to attend / engage in assessment tasks that are integrated into learning activities (e.g. class discussion, presentations) will be reflected in the marks for these assessable activities. The Business School may refuse final assessment to those students who attend less than 80% of scheduled classes where attendance and participation is required as part of the learning process (e.g. tutorials, flipped classroom sessions, seminars, labs, etc.). If you are not able to regularly attend classes, you should consult the relevant Course Authority.

View more information on attendance

General Conduct and Behaviour

You are expected to conduct yourself with consideration and respect for the needs of your fellow students and teaching staff. Conduct which unduly disrupts or interferes with a class, such as ringing or talking on mobile phones, is not acceptable and students may be asked to leave the class.

View more information on student conduct

Health and Safety

UNSW Policy requires each person to work safely and responsibly, in order to avoid personal injury and to protect the safety of others.

View more information on Health and Safety

Keeping Informed

You should take note of all announcements made in lectures, tutorials or on the course web site. From time to time, the University will send important announcements to your university e-mail address without providing you with a paper copy. You will be deemed to have received this information. It is also your responsibility to keep the University informed of all changes to your contact details.




Student Support and Resources

The University and the Business School provide a wide range of support services and resources for students, including:

Business School Learning Support Tools
Business School provides support a wide range of free resources and services to help students in-class and out-of-class, as well as online. These include:

  • Academic Communication Essentials – A range of academic communication workshops, modules and resources to assist you in developing your academic communication skills.
  • Learning consultations – Meet learning consultants who have expertise in business studies, literacy, numeracy and statistics, writing, referencing, and researching at university level.
  • PASS classes – Study sessions facilitated by students who have previously and successfully completed the course.
  • Educational Resource Access Scheme – To support the inclusion and success of students from equity groups enrolled at UNSW Sydney in first year undergraduate Business programs.

The Nucleus - Business School Student Services team
The Nucleus Student Services team provides advice and direction on all aspects of enrolment and graduation. Level 2, Main Library, Kensington 02 8936 7005 / https://nucleus.unsw.edu.au/en/contact-us

Business School Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
The Business School Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee strives to ensure that every student is empowered to have equal access to education. The Business School provides a vibrant, safe, and equitable environment for education, research, and engagement that embraces diversity and treats all people with dignity and respect. BUSEDI@unsw.edu.au

UNSW Academic Skills
Resources and support – including workshops, individual consultations and a range of online resources – to help you develop and refine your academic skills. See their website for details.
academicskills@unsw.edu.au

Student Support Advisors
Student Support Advisors work with all students to promote the development of skills needed to succeed at university, whilst also providing personal support throughout the process.
John Goodsell Building, Ground Floor.
advisors@unsw.edu.au
02 9385 4734

International Student Support
The International Student Experience Unit (ISEU) is the first point of contact for international students. ISEU staff are always here to help with personalised advice and information about all aspects of university life and life in Australia.
Advisors can support you with your student visa, health and wellbeing, making friends, accommodation and academic performance.
International.student@unsw.edu.au
02 9385 4734

Equitable Learning Services
Equitable Learning Services (formerly Disability Support Services) is a free and confidential service that provides practical support to ensure that your health condition doesn't adversely affect your studies. Register with the service to receive educational adjustments.
Ground Floor, John Goodsell Building.
els@unsw.edu.au
02 9385 4734

UNSW Counselling and Psychological Services
Provides support and services if you need help with your personal life, getting your academic life back on track or just want to know how to stay safe, including free, confidential counselling.
Level 2, East Wing, Quadrangle Building.
counselling@unsw.edu.au
02 9385 5418

Library services and facilities for students
The UNSW Library offers a range of collections, services and facilities both on-campus and online.
Main Library, F21.
02 9065 9444

Moodle eLearning Support
Moodle is the University’s learning management system. You should ensure that you log into Moodle regularly.
externalteltsupport@unsw.edu.au
02 9385 3331

UNSW IT
UNSW IT provides support and services for students such as password access, email services, wireless services and technical support.
UNSW Library Annexe (Ground floor).
02 9385 1333



Support for Studying Online

The Business School and UNSW provide a wide range of tools, support and advice to help students achieve their online learning goals. 

The UNSW Guide to Online Study page provides guidance for students on how to make the most of online study.

We recognise that completing quizzes and exams online can be challenging for a number of reasons, including the possibility of technical glitches or lack of reliable internet. We recommend you review the Online Exam Preparation Checklist of things to prepare when sitting an online exam.

ACCT5920