Using Project-Based Learning （PBL） in Management Accounting Course： Lesson and Reflection From Entrepreneurship Education

One of the main issues in entrepreneurship education is integrating core course to entrepreneurship course. Many educators fail to integrate core course and entrepreneurial education. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether the integration of management accounting course in entrepreneurship course will accomplish the objective of entrepreneurship education. This study is derived from the experience of entrepreneurial project course at Management Department of Ciputra University, Surabaya. This study uses an explorative approach to investigate the implementation of project-based learning （PBL） in management accounting course. The result shows variation of output. There are about 91% business can be implemented by business groups and about 33% target achieved. Several management accounting techniques are used in this study, such as balanced score card （BSC）, activity-based costing （ABC）, activity-based management （ABM）, cost-volume-profit （CVP） analysis, and tactical decision making. This study found that by using management accounting techniques, student can run the business well especially when they have to make decision. This study strengthens the role of management accounting in business practices, and furthermore, this study proves that management accounting is beneficial for entrepreneurs who are still in the start-up business stage.     

Evaluation of Several Phases in the Development of Management Accounting

This paper discusses three issues, raised by Relevance Lost （Johnson ＆ Kaplan, 1987）, about historical evaluation of the development of management accounting. The first issue is when management accounting system was formed; the second is how to evaluate its development in subsequent decades; the third is how to evaluate the development of practice and research of management accounting in almost twenty years after Relevance Lost was published. The role of Relevance Lost in practice and theoretical research of management accounting is widely recognized, and the disagreement with it in this paper is in the specific area of the development history of management accounting. The authors of this paper believe that the development, through having its ups and downs over time, is generally speaking a continuous process, not separated by disconnected phases, leaping from one to another. Along with the progress in practice and research, researchers and practitioners are deepening their understanding about the theoretical foundation and practical development of management accounting. The history of development of management accounting is consistent with the process people gradually understand it.     

Vietnamese State Budget Accounting With the Relationships Between the State Budget Law and International Public Sector Accounting Standards （IPSAS）＊ Pham Quang Huy University of Economics, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

For a long time, Vietnam has modifications in all aspects in the society. For many years, Vietnam has improved features in administrative works as well as in different areas, such as public administration, finance, and accounting In the accounting content, budget accounting is an important thing which is worth noting. However, along with the achievements, Vietnam is also facing a number of limitations to be overcome for ensuring transparency in the state budget. Since then, the main purpose of the article is to provide a general picture of budget accounting in Vietnam and what has not been done through finding the relationships with budget regulations and international public sector accounting. The results showed that Vietnam will transform and issue the new law on budget and build up a new model for controlling information published by data accounting system in the future.     

Modem Cost Management in the Transport Company Through the Activity-Based Costing （ABC） Method

Road transport is a flexible mode of transport and its importance in era of globalization increases. Management of road transport companies is, in this turbulent environment, exposed to many technical, legislative, and economic problems. Especially, the growing economic pressure leads to an urgent requirement of the manager and control system improvement. Activity-based costing （ABC） method is a very powerful tool to improve products, services, processes, and market strategies. ABC allows company management to understand what causes costs and how to manage them. Company under this scheme may get a glimpse of how efficiently a company converts the source value. The main objective of our research was to assess the possibility of application of the ABC method in a transport undertaking. ABC method as a fundamentally different view on the cost in the transport business helps to find the reasons of cost and thereby influences their levels to make better use of resources.. New managerial accounting methods aim to show management what information is needed, how and where this information can be obtained, and how they can be useful for the management of the company＇s proper planning, decision-making, and control. Information provided by management accounting is often a key factor in the analysis of alternative ways of solving problems. This article focuses on the transport enterprise management and helps to decide on the use of this method in business practice.     

Cultural analysis of the management accounting application in China

Management accounting is an applied subject. As YU Xu-ying said, it not only embodies the concept of technology, also reflects the fixed concept of social culture. Viewing from the cultural point, this paper analyses the applying status quo of management accounting in China. Its main viewpoints are as follows： management accounting is originated from the West, and its appearance is built on the basis of the West thought of management, so, to a certain degree, it is influenced by the West culture. In fact, its application in China is in a new cultural circumstance so that it is certainly influenced by the Chinese culture, especially the Chinese traditional culture; thus one of the important reasons for the undesirable application of management accounting in China is the difference between the East culture and the West culture. Therefore, the special cultural factor of China should be considered in order to promote what is beneficial and to abolish what is harmful if management accounting is widely applied in China.     

Role of supply chain management in target costing

Standard costing is used as a control for product costing. But with life cycle becoming shorter, costing should be done at the design and development stage of a product. This is achieved through target costing.The implementation of target costing and target pricing is done with the ultimate purpose of cost reduction, cost understanding, continuous improvement, competitiveness, early purchasing and supplier involvement, and improved design and accountability by manufacturers. The study explores the participation of the purchasing and supply chain management＇s role in target costing and target pricing process. Supply management plays an active role in monitoring the ongoing cost and performance of suppliers during the early stages of product development. Implementation of target costing and target pricing in various organizations are also explored. Leading Japanese manufacturers have used target costing and target pricing systems to their advantage and the paper also examines the adaptation of the Western companies to these proactive cost management techniques to improve their product development processes.     

Forensic Accounting in the ＂Big Four＂： A Survey from Their Websites

This paper investigates the forensic and investigative accounting services provided by the ＂Big Four＂ accounting firms. The purpose of this study is to show the full image of forensic and investigative accounting services offered by the top accounting firms in the post-Enron era. Section 3 and 4 present the findings of this study. The countries and regions where the services of forensic accounting are offered by these firms and the detailed services provided by them in Australia, Canada, USA, and UK are illustrated in these sections. Section 5 provides the conclusions and summary of findings of this study.     

Applications of Business Process Management （BPM） in Chinese Firms： A Managerial Accounting Perspective

Based on a questionnaire survey, the aim of this paper is to explore the relationship of business process management （BPM） with managerial accounting system （MAS） and their economic performance consequences in Chinese firms. Statistical data show that more firms accept business process improvement （BPI） other than business process reengineering （BPR） and optimize their activity chains other than supply chains. Through the construction of three elements, i.e., goal-setting, monitoring, and incentive schemes, of MAS, the study finds that when implementing BPM, firms usually use accounting indexes to set goals of the effect of business processes and combine the goals with monitoring and incentive schemes. Statistical data also show that incentive schemes get the lowest usage degree compared with goal-setting and monitoring. In addition, there are differences in their managerial accounting usages for BPM among firms considering ownership, industry, and scale. The main finding of this paper is that BPM empirically brings favorable changes to firms＇ economic performance via managerial accounting in general, and via goal-setting, monitoring, and incentive schemes in particular.     

International Public Sector Accounting Standards （IPSAS） Implementation in the European Union （EU） Member States

The aim of this paper is to analyze the implementation level of International Public Sector Accounting Standards （IPSAS） in the member states of the European Union （EU）. After an introduction of the legislative framework in the EU and a review of the literature about the implementation of IPSAS in the EU member states, this paper classifies, on the basis of a survey, the states according to their formal implementation levels of IPSAS. It also analyzes the types of accounting （cash basis accounting, modified cash basis accotmting, accrual accounting, and modified accrual basis accounting） used by the states studied. The survey shows that there are important disparities among the member states, both for the application of IPSAS and for the type of accounting that is used. Furthermore, it appears that even if IPSAS is not legally adopted in most European member states, there is a tendency to use modern accounting systems based on accrual accounting close to IPSAS.     

The Perception of Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises （SMEs） on the Importance of a Proper Accounting System： Malaysian Evidence

This paper examines the relationship between small- and medium-sized enterprises＇ （SMEs） entrepreneurs＇ perceptions towards a proper accounting system with the level of accounting staff recruited, preparation of final accounts, meetings with accounting staff, and entrepreneurs＇ ranking of accounting according to their priority. The methodology used to gather the data is survey questionnaire. It has been distributed to SMEs based on simple random sampling method. Three hundred businesses were selected from the total of 3,390 businesses listed in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia area obtained from Small and Medium Industries Development Corporation （SMIDEC） website and a few random selected from Ampang and Cheras areas. Regression analysis has been used to analyze the data. The results of the study reveal that there was a significant relation between SMEs entrepreneurs＇ perceptions on the importance of a good accounting system and the level of professional accounting staff recruited. Furthermore, findings of this study also found that there was an insignificant relationship between SMEs entrepreneurs＇ perceptions on the importance of a good accounting system and preparation of final accounts of the company and frequency of meetings with accounting staff.     

Several Theoretical Problems Concerning PhD Candidate＇s Education in the Area of Modern Management Accounting

This paper consists of five parts： Part one： ＂Modem Management Accounting Has Been Confronting with Serious Crises＂ points out that accompanied by the management systems shifting from material basis to human （knowledge） basis, and the IT developing rapidly, the management accountants＇ services that continue to remain at original level would become no useful very soon. Part two： ＂PhD Candidates＇ Education Would Be Essential to Develop Their Disciplines＇ Scholarship＂ explores the main peculiarities of PhD candidates＇ education, and why the development of PhD Candidates＇ Creative thinking should be permeated through the doctoral programs from the beginning to the end, so as to make them possible to develop their disciplines＇ scholarship. Part three： ＂The Quality Requirements of PhD Candidates in the Area of Modern Management Accounting＂ explains in detail why the development of management accounting should shift from the quantitative perspective to humanistic perspective so that management accountants can play an important role in the process of decision-making on the basis of employing their comprehension thinking that is a kind of humanistic thinking. This paper views this direction of development is essential to promote management accountants＇ self-impendence and self-vitality and to eliminate their crises cited above as well in the new historical era. Part Four： ＂The Key Points of the Doctoral Program in Modem Management Accounting＂ explores how to implement a doctoral program successfully in order to develop PhD Candidates＇ Creative Thinking, carrying forward academic democracy emphasized. Part Five： ＂Conclusion＂ points out how the topics discussed in this paper are linked up each other, and why and how the new developing tendency of management accounting is essential to make this discipline more suitable to the development of knowledge economy.     

Development of China＇s Accounting Standards： Its Establishment and Development Trend

1. The Needs for Accounting Standards Development In 1980s, it was the searching stage for accounting standards. It was recognized that accounting standards cannot be isolated from business environment. China＇s accounting standards are basically constituted by the elements of recognition, measurement and presentation of accounting information as required by Ministry of Finance. Before 1978, accounting system reform was only carried out between complexity and briefness, so reporting formats and accounting framework were retained. Thereafter, the 3^rd plenary session of the 14th Communist Party of China National Congress concluded the economic reform in socialist market economy. Central government put forward a state policy on openness and mainland economic enlivenment. One of the major priorities was to attract foreign capitals and allowed the formation of China-foreign joint ventures. At that moment, China＇s accounting system was based on a single ownership methodology, which was a state-monopolized revenue and expenditure. As foreign transactions were not properly recorded in the financial statements, the information integrity was doubtful in reflecting the true figures of inputs and outputs. In addition, foreign investors could not even understand the reporting systems. It led to confusion that Ministry of Finance＇s approval on the shareholding transaction was unfair. As usual in western accounting standards, foreign shareholding should be regarded as equity and exhibited in balance sheet, which should be audited by independent professional accountants. As a result, the Chinese accounting system was alleged as opaque and required to reform in accordance with international accounting conventions. Otherwise, the foreign shareholding was unable to be translated into the investors＇ home countries.     

Accounting Education Changes in USA and Its Implications to PRC

The internationalization of accounting education in PRC as one of the most important parts of Chinese accounting internationalization has been Americanized to some extent since 1980s. As the representative of the world＇s most advanced education system, the USA accounting education is worth learning, but had been suffering from a crisis in the past 20 years. To better understand this crisis and draw some lessons from it, we have to review the 100-year history of the US＇ accounting education, identify key initiatives taken to struggle out, and conclude that this accounting education crisis in USA is due to its congenital professional examination orientation and about 40 years of deviation of accounting education from accounting practice. This paper is ended with some policy recommendations on the future development of accounting education in PRC including establishing university board of trustees and re-engineering accounting programs.     

Empirical Research on Accounting Profits and Net Cash Flow of Chinese Public Companies ——Analysis Based on Profitability

In traditional analysis, enterprises＇ performance evaluation largely depends on profits indices, which results in the public companies＇ strong pursuit of accounting profits and neglect of net cash flow. It is of great significance to study this phenomenon in public companies for it can help to evaluate their profitability correctly. By making an empirical research on the status quo of the medical public companies＇ accounting profits, net cash flow, receivable and prepaid items, it is found that the phenomenon that the current accounting profits and net cash flow are inconsistent universally exists in the public companies; the current growth rates of accounts receivable, notes receivable, other accounts receivable and accounts prepaid in the companies which the phenomenon exists in are higher than those in other companies and the industrial average, especially for the latter two items; this phenomenon in economically developed areas is more obvious than in other areas. How to avoid the contradiction of accounting profits and net cash flow in the public companies？ Firstly, the credit risk awareness and management should be strengthened. Secondly, cash budget management should be enhanced. Finally, the index system of evaluation of the public companies＇ operating performance should be improved.     

The Theoretical Perspectives and Managerial Implications of the Balanced Scorecard （BSC） in the Italian Public Utilities

The present work aims to conduct a critical analysis of control systems and tools of performance assessment in local public services companies, with a particular reference to the public transport sector. The interest in this issue arises for various reasons, from the growing economic significance of the sector at a national level, measurable in terms of production value and the number of operators involved, to the spread of outsourcing policies, liberalization and privatization, and the use of the standard cost to establish the level of funding. In the field of public utilities, until a few years ago, the concept of control was intended only in a ＂bureaucratic＂ sense as the capacity to fulfill the formal obligations linked to the strong regulatory context, ignoring aspects that have become fundamental today, such as economy, efficiency, and effectiveness of management. The approach used is deductive and the study ends with the presentation of the possible implications of the use of standard cost and the presentation of an application hypothesis of a balanced scorecard （BSC） for local public transport （LPT）.     

Survey of the Creditor＇s Ability to Collect and Use the Enterprise Information

This paper is concerned with the analysis of the creditor＇s ability to collect, analyze and judge business information, which is a realistic problem for the bank to control the risk of loan effectively. We not only know the bank＇s application of financial and non-financial information during the process of credit extension but also investigate the use of non-financial information by questionnaire. It is discovered that the bank even believes the information that directly acquired by itself while collecting, analyzing and judging the reliability of business information. Through some sensitive information such as the changing of accounts receivable and cash flow and the connection trade, it can predict the potential risk further. In addition, the results show that it is the perfection of internal control system of intermediary （such as accounting firm） and the business enterprise itself that make the bank get the true information of business enterprise.     

Costing and Pricing in Healthcare Private Firms

This article analyzes the development of an activity-based costing （ABC） system in a private Italian healthcare firm. Findings shed light on the role of the cost accounting system in price assessment： It outlines new opportunities for the identification of the service mix offered as well as for price optimization. Because private companies provide services both within the public system--where the National Health System （NHS） provides fixed reimbursement fees--and within the private system--where prices are defined by each company. Accurate cost information is extremely important to support managers in the analysis of the service mix profitability offered in each system. For the business segment in which companies do not have flexibility in setting prices, cost information enables managers to identify services which may present profitability problems. For the business segment where price flexibility exists, cost information supports the identification of pricing errors so that charges can be better defined.     

How to Prepare the Accounting Entry on the Basis of Capital Movement

It is well known that economic transactions must be prepared the accounting entries before they are registered in account books. Therefore, it＇s the most important procedure in the whole accounting work to prepare the accounting entries correctly. This paper puts forward how to prepare the accounting entry on the basis of capital movement because the traditional method is so complex, abstract and incomprehensible to be mastered by beginners. The research shows that the new method proposed in the paper is very direct, pictorial, and concrete. It is very easy to be mastered by a beginner of accounting.     

Application of International Public Sector Accounting Standards in Vietnam in Current Conditions

The objective of improving the state accounting system is to build a state accounting system based on a single and complete database which is applied uniformly across all public authorities and agencies from central to local. Such an accounting system must ensure a reliable and smooth flow of information among all the entities that take part in the preparation, allocation, execution, and finalization of the state budget. In order to improve the quality of financial information, to harmonize, and to develop accounting profession globally, the trend of international economic integration requires the standardization of accounting legislative framework among countries and first of all, the harmonization and unification of the preparation, presentation, and disclosure of financial information. Financial statements of each business in the private sector and financial statements of the government in the public sector in different countries should be transparent and presented in accordance with the accounting standards and principles and in line with international practices so that the financial information will be able to be compared and evaluated. Therefore, financial statements of each entity in the public sector and the consolidated financial statements of public sector entities issued by the government in different countries must be prepared and presented in a unified form to suit the international public sector accounting standards. Accordingly, with the application of the interview method in research, the main objective of this article is to focus on searching for the bases and consideration for the application of international public sector accounting standards in Vietnam in current conditions. This article consists of eight sections： （1） what are international public sector accounting standards？ （2） accounting entities of the public sector; （3） the limitations of current public sector accounting in Vietnam; （4） financial information to meet the requirements of state management and to comply with international practices; （5） the advantages of applying international public sector accounting standards in Vietnam; （6） the difficulties and challenges of applying international public sector accounting standards in Vietnam; （7） learning experiences from other countries; and （8） conclusion.