Unit: Emerging Issues in Performance Management

Readings

REQUIRED

Recently published (within the past 5 years) academic journal articles on new and emerging issues in performance management (see the Shared Activity for this unit).

OPTIONAL

Chong J., D. Fountaine, M. Her, & M. Phillips, (2009) ‘EVA: The Bubble Years, Meltdown and Beyond', Journal of Asset Management, 10 (3) pp.181-191

Indjejikian, R., & M. Matejka, (2012) ‘Accounting Decentralization and Performance Evaluation of Business Unit Managers', Accounting Review, 87 (1) pp.261-290

Keasey, K., P. Moon, & D. Duxbury, (2000) ‘Performance Measurement and the Use of League Tables: Some Experimental Evidence of Dysfunctional Consequences', Accounting & Business Research, 30 (4) pp.275-286

Media

There is no media for Unit 6.

Check Your Knowledge

There is no Check Your Knowledge Quiz for Unit 6.

Shared Activity

REQUIRED

Shared Activity: Emerging Performance Management Topics

The field of performance measurement and management is an evolving one, and many theories have been proposed to effectively monitor performance and quality. As the business environment becomes increasingly competitive and global in nature, and as new social and environmental factors come into play, research that addresses critical issues in financial and performance management will become more important as organisations strive to meet objectives and remain competitive. Areas of research such as sustainability, ethics and performance of government and non-profit organisations are but a few examples.

As a student of a graduate programme, you will routinely review published research that aims to contribute new and emerging ideas to your field of study. As a professional, you will be expected to evaluate the value and applicability of new and emerging ideas to your organisation. This activity gives you an opportunity to identify emerging issues and discuss their implications for your current and future leadership roles.

To prepare for this Shared Activity:

Review current research published in recent (within the past 5 years) academic journal articles focusing on emergent performance management topics. These might include topics related to sustainability, ethics or any efforts to spark innovation in the field.

To complete this Shared Activity:

Create a post that presents your view of one or two key emerging performance management topics in current academic or professional debates. Provide references. Present the topics discussed in the articles and explain their importance to the field of study.

View the posts of your group members and look for common themes in the issues presented by the group. In your responses to colleagues, identify what you believe to be the top four or five areas of emerging issues and/or those that have potential for further research and application for business. Compare your perspectives on the most significant issues with those of your colleagues, and discuss their implications for managers and leaders. Consider the implications both for roles you current hold as well as those to which you aspire.

Participate in this Shared Activity only during the period of this unit to ensure that you and your colleagues can keep track of one another's postings and maintain a focused, collaborative discussion. Review the Syllabus and Shared Activities Forum Rubric for information on how your contributions to the Shared Activities Forum will be graded in this module. In each unit, you will receive feedback from your Faculty Member on your participation in the Shared Activities Forum, focusing on your contributions to the learning community. In Unit 6, your Faculty Member will provide final feedback and a final grade on your Shared Activity contribution throughout the module.

To complete your Shared Activity, click on Shared Activities Forum on the Module Menu, and select your Group Discussion area, and select the Group Discussion Board. Then, select "Unit 6 Shared Activity " to begin.

Individual Assignment

REQUIRED

Individual Assignment: Final Project

A recurring theme of this module has been the value of data to analysis and decision-making. You have utilised various types of data while conducting several analyses in the Individual Assignments Submission submitted in Units 2-5.

In this final unit, you will synthesise what you have learned about financial and performance management throughout the module. Recall the words from Anthony's Orchard CEO Bob Frost in Unit 2:

We are excited about our future, and have aggressive plans for it. Among these plans is expansion into a new product line. We hope to be producing and distributing Anthony's Orchard apple juice within the next 3 to 5 years.

As your Final Project for this module, you will create a consultancy report that will provide guidance and insight to company management regarding this decision. Relying on the work done in previous Individual Assignments Submission, you will make a recommendation to the company regarding the plan to expand the product line and make a significant investment in an apple press required for that expansion.

To prepare for this Individual Assignment:

Reflect on the work you submitted in the Individual Assignments Submission of Units 2-5. Review the feedback you received from your Faculty Member.

Review the Final Project guidelines by clicking on Final Project on the Module Menu.

To complete this Individual Assignment:

Develop the ‘Executive Summary' and Section 5, ‘Summary, Recommendations and Conclusion', which includes your formal recommendation to the company. Refine Sections 1-4 (based on the Individual Assignments Submission in Units 2-5).

Compile the final consultancy report, and submit to your Faculty Member based on the Final Project Guidelines.

Submit in one Word document the Executive Summary, Sections 1-5, and Appendices and Resources to the Final Project Part 1 submission link in the Final Project area of the Module Menu.

Is the consultant report for Anton's Orchard