ACCN 7290 Accounting Analytics Spring 2022
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ACCN 7290
Accounting Analytics
Spring 2022
Course Description:
We investigate the use of accounting and related data to provide empirical evidence on business problems. Our focus is on the role of the business person rather than the technology person in data analytics. That said, ‘technology’ is still an important part ofthe course.
This course is taught with a hands-on approach and an emphasis on solving problems. So contributing to the class is critical. The objective is to take advantage of accounting data to solve one or more business problems. We will work on all aspects of the data analytics process,
including issue identification, data preparation, data analysis, and the communication ofresults. Course Prerequisites: ACCN 6030 or ACCN 6050 or ENRG 7210 or ACCN 2010.
This course is designed to teach students how to integrate their knowledge of accounting, business and data analytics to provide evidence that helps their organizations make decisions and take actions. Students will improve their ability to conduct and present their data analysis as well as become a more savvy user of someone else’s data analysis. As a result, students will be able to provide more insight and become more confident when discussing data analysis with their colleagues, managers, customers and other stakeholders.
Student Learning Objectives:
As the result ofthis course, students will improve their ability to:
1. Motivate the analysis.
2. Understand what data is needed given the questions you want answered.
3. Manage and manipulate data.
4. Make appropriate inferences from the data.
5. Communicate the analysis clearly and persuasively using written, verbal and visual communication strategies.
Students will also develop skills in computer-related technologies to support the achievement of these five learning objectives.
Course Material & Recommended Textbook:
A computer with internet access, a working camera and microphone is essential. I strongly recommend a PC or becoming familiar with the in-person Freeman computer labs or the Freeman Lab Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) atwww.horizon.tulane.edu.
There is no required textbook for this course. However, the following two books make for excellent references and will be covered in course notes:
“Storytelling with Data: A Data Visualization Guide for Business Professionals” by Cole
Nussbaumer Knaflic
“Succeeding with AI: How to make AI work for your business” by Veljko Krunic
Team Assignments and Projects:
Much ofthe assigned work in this class is or can be conducted in groups. Everyone in a group is expected to fully contribute to completing the required tasks. For some group tasks, I may assign students to groups, while for other tasks, student may form groups on their own. Please let me know ifgroup members are shirking their obligations—they will receive lower grades or be asked to complete the assignment on their own.
Performance Evaluation:
Your performance in the course will be assessed as the weighted average ofyour performance on the following:
Participation & Professional Behavior Formal assignments Informal in-class assignments Technology Final group project Final exam |
10% 30% 10% 10% 20% 20% |
Total 100%
Participation and Professional Behavior
To foster a professional learning environment and to develop habits that lead to success in business work environments, I encourage participation during synchronous class time and expect all participants in class to engage in professional behavior, whether attending class in-person or via Zoom. Consequently, a portion of your grade will be based on your participation and professionalism in both posting/responding to online assessments and during class time.
Professional behavior includes:
• Attending each class session, including arriving promptly and leaving at the designated time.
• Paying attention and maintaining a positive attitude in class.
• Participating in class discussions and projects, including break-out sessions and Canvas message board topics.
• Taking responsibility for individual actions.
• Acknowledging the importance of clarity of expression in written and oral communication and understanding that the course grade will reflect your ability to communicate.
• Being respectful of everyone else in the class by refraining from activities that could distract the rest of the class whether in person (e.g., turn off your cell phone, no text- messaging during class, etc.) or via Zoom (e.g., appropriate video background, muting yourself when not speaking, paying attention to the Zoom video and not texting/emailing, etc.). No laptops, tablets, or smartphones unless I expressly permit their use.
Active participation involves careful listening, critical thinking, and asking relevant questions. I ask that students remain engaged in the topic at hand throughout class and encourage students to be part of the conversation. The use of cellphones and laptops/tablets (without prior permission) will constitute unprofessional behavior and will reduce your participation points.
Participating in discussions, particularly those at the class level compared with the group level, is an important part of this grade. Each student at the end of the term will submit a ‘class contribution petition.’ This document should outline, in detail, how the student contributed to the class. More details of this petition will be provided in class.
Formal assignments
These will be spread throughout the term. They will often be the end product of in-class activities. Assignments will likely be started in class and class time may be devoted to completing the assignment. Students will then finish the assignment outside of class. Late assignments will not be accepted. Make-up assignments will be provided at the discretion of the instructor. Students who want to petition for a make-up assignment will need to contact the instructor, have an acceptable reason as well as provide any appropriate documentation. Some assignments will be completed individually while others will be completed as a group.
Informal in-class assignments
These typically comprise a set of questions that students answer during class time and are submitted at the end of class. These assignments are mostly completed in groups.
Technology
I expect students to gain a basic understanding of how to use certain technologies that will help them achieve our course goals as well as help them perform better once they start their careers. Some examples of these technologies include Python and Tableau. We will attempt to keep all technology requirements at modest levels. Part of the technology grade will be an in-class test of
material specifically related to the assigned technologies. It may include some small assignments or in-class quizzes. Each student at the end of the term will submit a ‘technology petition.’ This document should outline, in detail, how the student improved their technology skills that we emphasized in the course. More details of this petition will be provided in class.
Final group project
The final group project will allow students to have hands-on experience with Compustat data (detailed financial data of publicly-traded companies) and CRSP data (historical stock returns of publicly-traded companies). Using an event-study research design, teams will identify a shock the impacts multiple companies and document the impact this shock has on companies fundamental accounting performance and stock returns, relative to a control group of companies unaffected by the identified shock. It will include multiple deliverables, such as interim updates as well as a final written report.
Final exam
This will be an individual comprehensive task broken into sub questions. It must be completed with no assistance from any other person. Students, however, may use materials from class and are free to access resources on the internet. The final exam is scheduled on the second last day of class (Thursday, April 28).
Grade Symbols
This course and all graduate program courses in the Freeman School use a letter grade system with the following quality point equivalents:
A = 4.00
A- = 3.67
B+ = 3.33
B = 3.00
B- = 2.67
C+ = 2.33
C = 2.00
C- = 1.67
D+ = 1.33
D = 1.00
D- = 0.67
F = 0.00
The quality point total for each course is computed by multiplying the numerical value of the grade received by the course credit hours.
Grading Guidelines
As approved by the Freeman School faculty, this course follows the recommended grading policy for a class GPA by program. 6000-level courses are expected to have a mean class GPA in the range of 3.00 to 3.33 and 7000-level courses are expected to have a mean class GPA in the range of 3.33 to 3.67.
Faculty members teaching more than one section of the same course will pool the students in the different sections and compute one class GPA.
Late Submission ofProjects and Absence from Exams Unless you obtain prior permission from me due to a valid university-approved excuse, projects and assignments submitted after the due date will not be graded and will be awarded zero points.
Absence from any exam or group presentation will result in a score of zero unless you have a university-approved excuse for your absence. If a final exam is missed for an acceptable reason, a conflict final exam will be available.
Grading Issues
You must inform me of questions regarding the grading of your exams or assignments by the subsequent class period after the graded exam is made available. Questions or objections filed after this time will not be entertained. You are required to submit your concerns in writing. In the event that an exam or assignment is re-graded, re-grading may cause your grades to increase, decrease, or remain unchanged.
Email Policy: Please send all class related emails to my school email address ([email protected]). I check my email regularly and aim to respond to emails promptly. I may not reply immediately to emails received during the weekend until the following Monday. More strictly, I will not respond to emails the evening before or morning ofthe final exam.
Treat all email correspondence in this class like formal correspondence that will occur in your work settings. Therefore, make sure that you (1) properly address the receiver, (2) are brief and to the point, (3) do not use slang and abbreviations in your email, (4) review your email and check spelling as well as grammar, and (5) close with the appropriate ending.
Recording of Class Sessions: All class sessions will be recorded in Zoom, these recordings will be posted to and accessible in Canvas. Students are prohibited from posting these recordings or sharing them elsewhere, either wholly or in part.
Canvas Use and Requirements: You will need to access canvas regularly to help you prepare for class and required course work. Any cases or problems will be posted on canvas. All assignments will be submitted via Canvas. Do not email your assignment to the professor. You may need to access materials at other Tulane sites or public websites.
Code of Academic Conduct: The Code of Academic Conduct applies to all undergraduate students, full-time and part-time, in Tulane University. Tulane University expects and requires behavior compatible with its high standards of scholarship. By accepting admission to the university, a student accepts its regulations (i.e., Unified Code of Graduate Student Academic Conduct and Code of Student Conduct) and acknowledges the right of the university to take disciplinary action, including suspension or expulsion, for conduct judged unsatisfactory or disruptive. Any member of the university community may file charges against a student for violations of these codes. A charge shall be prepared in writing and directed to Senior Associate Dean Xianjun Geng at[email protected].
Unless I indicate differently on instructions, all assignments and exams are to be completed individually and without any study aid, including textbooks, class notes, or online sites. If you have any question about whether a resource is acceptable, you must ask the instructor rather than
assume.
Cheating on exams will not be tolerated. Any student who cheats on an exam or who assists other students in cheating will receive a score of zero on the exam and will be referred to the
appropriate school disciplinary authority.
Norms and Expectations: This class will be conducted in full accordance with published Norms and Expectations for Students in Freeman Classes. Please reviewFreeman’s Educational Norms and Expectationswhich can be found on the Freeman School website.
Class Attendance Statement: Faculty and students must comply with University policies on COVID- 19 testing and isolation, which are located here https://tulane.edu/covid-19/health- strategies. Faculty and students must wear face coverings in all common areas, including classrooms, and follow social distancing rules. Failure to comply is a violation of the Code of Student Conduct, and students will be subject to University discipline, which can include suspension or permanent dismissal.
If a student cannot attend a class for any reason, the student is responsible for communicating with their instructors to make up any work they may miss. Faculty will provide online options to view missed class time, outlined in this document, and unless a student is seriously ill, they are expected to use this option. The University Health Center will provide documentation verifying a student is ill, as well as verification that a student may return to class.
With the approval of the Freeman School Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs, students may have been approved for Remote/Online instruction for Spring 2022. Such students will attend all class sessions remotely and are not permitted to attend in person. Course policies and grading will accommodate all students including those approved for Remote/Online learning.
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Statement: Equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are important Tulane values that drive excellence in our learning environments and help us build a supportive culture and climate for every member of our community Diversity refers to many different identities and experiences that include the following and more: race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, military status, veteran status (or any other classification protected by applicable law). To live our values of EDI with one another, we acknowledge that each of us have areas of strength and growth in our EDI learning and competency that we each continuously work on to sustain EDI on our campus.
Religious Accommodation Policy: Per Tulane’s religious accommodation policy, I will make every reasonable effort to ensure that students can observe religious holidays without jeopardizing their ability to fulfill their academic obligations. Excused absences do not relieve the student from the responsibility for any course work required during the period of absence. Students should notify me within the first two weeks ofthe semester about their intent to observe any holidays that fall on a class day or on the day ofthe final exam.
Goldman Center for Student Accessibility and ADA/Accessibility Statement: Under the Americans with Disability Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, if you have a disability, you may have the right to an accommodation; however, the right is contingent upon your taking certain steps. You should review the steps that you need to take, as well as Tulane’s policy concerning accommodations athttps://accessibility.tulane.edu/.Any student with a disability or in need of course or examination accommodation, should request an accommodation through the University’s Goldman Center for Student Accessibility, located in the basement of the Howard Tilton Memorial Library. Visit https://accessibility.tulane.edu or call 504.862.8433 for more information.
At the beginning of the semester, please provide me with a copy of your approved accommodation form. I am committed to working with the Goldman Center to ensure that I provide you with all approved accommodations. If you do not deliver the approved accommodation form to me, I will not know that the Goldman Center approved your accommodation and I will have no basis to provide those accommodations.
Discrimination and Harassment: Tulane University recognizes the inherent dignity of all individuals and promotes respect for all people. As One Wave, Tulane is committed to providing an environment free of all forms of discrimination and sexual harassment, including sexual assault, domestic and dating violence, and stalking. If you (or someone you know) has experienced or experiences gender-based violence, know that you are not alone. Learn more at https://campushealth.tulane.edu/well/one-wave.
2022-01-27