13. Using Industry
Training Programs to Complement Managerial Accounting Coverage
Presenter: Ali M. Sedaghat, Loyola College, Maryland
Description: The purpose of
this presentation is to differentiate between traditional teaching materials
and methodologies with industry training programs, especially in regard to
managerial accounting (MA) topics. We have reviewed some comprehensive training
materials used by public companies for internal training and compared them with
a typical M.B.A. curriculum. Some of the differences are obvious. The
traditional curriculum content is usually general and sequential, starting with
the foundation and approaching application of the concepts. The industry
programs, on the other hand, are focused on the application of the techniques
for specific goals such as increased productivity or improving quality. Case
study is a bridge between the two, yet still different from both. It is argued
that the traditional curriculum will develop a deeper understanding of the
concepts whereas the industry programs assume knowledge of the necessary
conceptual backgrounds and present an application. In our view, these two
programs can and should complement each other. The use of industry training
programs can provide an opportunity for a realistic, multidisciplinary, and
integrated learning environment applicable to most cost managerial accounting
courses. We have developed a comprehensive analysis highlighting the
differences between industry training programs, regular textbook, and case
study and will bring an example to share with the audience.
