Skip to main content
About HEC About HEC
Summer School Summer School
Faculty & Research Faculty & Research
Master’s programs Master’s programs
Bachelor Programs Bachelor Programs
MBA Programs MBA Programs
PhD Program PhD Program
Executive Education Executive Education
HEC Online HEC Online
About HEC
Overview Overview
Who
We Are
Who
We Are
Égalité des chances Égalité des chances
HEC Talents HEC Talents
International International
Sustainability Sustainability
Diversity
& Inclusion
Diversity
& Inclusion
The HEC
Foundation
The HEC
Foundation
Campus life Campus life
Activity Reports Activity Reports
Summer School
Youth Programs Youth Programs
Summer programs Summer programs
Online Programs Online Programs
Faculty & Research
Overview Overview
Faculty Directory Faculty Directory
Departments Departments
Centers Centers
Chairs Chairs
Grants Grants
Knowledge@HEC Knowledge@HEC
Master’s programs
Master in
Management
Master in
Management
Master's
Programs
Master's
Programs
Double Degree
Programs
Double Degree
Programs
Bachelor
Programs
Bachelor
Programs
Summer
Programs
Summer
Programs
Exchange
students
Exchange
students
Student
Life
Student
Life
Our
Difference
Our
Difference
Bachelor Programs
Overview Overview
Course content Course content
Admissions Admissions
Fees and Financing Fees and Financing
MBA Programs
MBA MBA
Executive MBA Executive MBA
TRIUM EMBA TRIUM EMBA
PhD Program
Overview Overview
HEC Difference HEC Difference
Program details Program details
Research areas Research areas
HEC Community HEC Community
Placement Placement
Job Market Job Market
Admissions Admissions
Financing Financing
FAQ FAQ
Executive Education
Home Home
About us About us
Management topics Management topics
Open Programs Open Programs
Custom Programs Custom Programs
Events/News Events/News
Contacts Contacts
HEC Online
Overview Overview
Executive programs Executive programs
MOOCs MOOCs
Summer Programs Summer Programs
Youth programs Youth programs
Instant

Using mini cases to facilitate the learning in Management Accounting

Accounting
Published on:

In this mini article, Véronique Malleret, HEC Emeritus Professor of Accounting and Management Control, talks about business case study “5 short cases in Management Accounting - Full Cost Methods”, top case in Accounting & Control (CCMP 2017), for which she received the prize for the best mini cases in 2017. Professor Malleret was also the winner of the HEC Foundation best article Prize in 1995 and of the David Solomon Prize for her article in Management Accounting Research in 2004. Interview below.

Profitability graph - ©DOC RABE Media-AdobeStock

Why mini-cases?

Finding the right material to teach management accounting is a challenge. If we use simple exercises, students understand the mechanics of the tools and methods but they may think that management accounting problems are simple and disconnected from the context and the strategy of the company.  If we chose real company cases, learners get lost in the quantity and complexity of the data provided and don’t grasp the essence of the pedagogical message. This is why mini-cases are a good option to teach management accounting efficiently. 

Why mini-cases on full costing?

Although everybody can see that it is relevant for a manager to know how to calculate costs and margins, you might ask why I wrote mini-cases on such a boring topic. Only by reading the title of the chapter “Full cost methods”, most students fall asleep! The fact is that I really needed these cases: Because many of these methods (except ABC) were developed in “continental Europe” (Germany, Netherlands and France), we do not have a lot of teaching material on full costing methods available in English textbooks.

My main man objective: the learning!

The five mini-cases are situated in different types of companies, which is important in terms of learning objectives: Later, students should be able to design, adapt or question management accounting systems in any kind of businesses, and not only in industry. The cases are concise enough for the learners to see the mechanics behind the calculations, for instance the impact of changing a cost driver on a product cost. On the other hand, there is enough complexity to force the students make decisions before “jumping into” calculations. Altogether, we want to be sure that the students not only apply receipts but assimilate key concepts and reflect on company’s managerial needs.

Livre: Coûts et Management, Véronique Malleret

 

Learn more in the latest book for all audiences: « Coûts et Management », by Véronique Malleret and Carla Mendoza, Edition Dunod, Paris, 2018 (French).

Related content on Accounting

Subscribe button for Knowledhe@HEC newsletter

Newsletter knowledge

A monthly brief in your email box and 3 issues of the book per year.

follow us

Insights @HECParis School of #Management

Follow Us

Support Research

Our articles are produced thanks to our reader's support