Accountant in Business (AB)/FAB September 2018 to August 2019
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Accountant in Business structured and how the main capabilities or sections
of the syllabus are linked. The rationale also
(AB)/FAB September explains in further detail what the examination
intends to assess and how.
2018 to August 2019
Detailed syllabus
The structure of the syllabus and This shows the breakdown of the main capabilities
Study guide (sections) of the syllabus into subject areas. This is
the blueprint for the detailed study guide.
This syllabus and study guide are designed to help
with teaching and learning and is intended to Approach to examining the syllabus
provide detailed information on what could be
assessed in any examination session. This section briefly explains the structure of the
examination and how it is assessed.
Overall aim of the syllabus
Study Guide
This explains briefly the overall objective of the
syllabus and indicates in the broadest sense the This is the main document that students and
capabilities to be developed within the examination. education and content providers should use as the
basis of their studies, instruction and materials.
Relational diagram linking Accountant in Business Examinations will be based on the detail of the
(AB)/FAB with other ACCA exams study guide which comprehensively identifies what
could be assessed within any examination.
This diagram shows direct and indirect links The study guide is a precise reflection and
between this examination and other examinations breakdown of the syllabus. It is divided into sections
which preceding or following it. Some examinations based on the main capabilities identified in the
are directly underpinned by others. It indicates syllabus. These sections are divided into subject
where you are expected to have underpinning areas which relate to the sub-capabilities included
knowledge and where it would be useful to review in the detailed syllabus. Subject areas are broken
previous learning before undertaking study. down into sub-headings which describe the detailed
outcomes that could be assessed in examinations.
Main capabilities These outcomes indicate what exams may require
students to demonstrate, and the broad intellectual
The aim of the syllabus is broken down into several level at which these may need to be demonstrated
main capabilities which divide the syllabus and (*see intellectual levels below).
study guide into discrete sections.
Intellectual levels
Relational diagram of main capabilities
The syllabus is designed to progressively broaden
This diagram illustrates the flows and links between and deepen the knowledge, skills and professional
the main capabilities (sections) of the syllabus and values demonstrated by the student on their way
should be used as an aid to planning teaching and through the qualification.
learning in a structured way.
The specific capabilities within the detailed
Relational diagram of main capabilities syllabuses and study guides are assessed at
one of three intellectual or cognitive levels:
This diagram illustrates the flows and links between
the main capabilities (sections) of the syllabus and Level 1: Knowledge and comprehension
should be used as an aid to planning teaching and Level 2: Application and analysis
learning in a structured way. Level 3: Synthesis and evaluation
Syllabus rationale Very broadly, these intellectual levels relate to the
three cognitive levels at which the Applied
This is a narrative explaining how the syllabus is Knowledge, the Applied Skills and the Strategic
1
© ACCA 2018-2019 All rights reserved.Professional exams are assessed. study across the breadth of each syllabus.
These are assessed by a two-hour computer based
Each subject area in the detailed study guide examination
included in this document is given a 1, 2, or 3
superscript, denoting intellectual level, marked at The Corporate and Business Law exam is a two-
the end of each relevant line. This gives an hour computer-based objective test examination for
indication of the intellectual depth at which an area English and Global, and available as a paper based
could be assessed within the examination. However, version for all variants.
while level 1 broadly equates with Applied
Knowledge , level 2 equates to Applied Skills and The other Applied Skills examinations
level 3 to Strategic Professional, some lower level (PM, TX-UK, FR, AA, and FM) contain
skills can continue to be assessed as the student a mix of objective and longer type questions with a
progresses through each level. This reflects that at duration of three hours for 100 marks; these
each stage of study there will be a requirement to questions directly contribute towards the candidate
broaden, as well as deepen capabilities. It is also result. These exams are available in computer-based
possible that occasionally some higher level and paper-based formats. Prior to the start of each
capabilities may be assessed at lower levels. exam there will be time allocated for students to be
informed of the exam instructions.
Learning hours and education recognition
Computer-based exams
The ACCA qualification does not prescribe or
recommend any particular number of learning hours For the Applied Skills (PM, TX-UK, FR, AA and FM)
for examinations because study and learning computer-based exams candidates will be delivered
patterns and styles vary greatly between people and an extra 10 marks of objective test content (either
organisations. This also recognises the wide five single OT questions or five OT questions based
diversity of personal, professional and educational around a single scenario), for which candidates are
circumstances in which ACCA students find given an extra 20 minutes. These questions are
themselves. included to ensure fairness, reliability and security
of exams. These questions do not directly contribute
As a member of the International Federation of towards the candidate’s score. Candidates will not
Accountants, ACCA seeks to enhance the education be able to differentiate between the questions that
recognition of its qualification on both national and contribute to the result and those that do not. All
international education frameworks, and with questions have been subject to ACCA’s regulatory
educational authorities and partners globally. In approved quality assurance process.
doing so, ACCA aims to ensure that its qualifications
are recognized and valued by governments, The total exam time is therefore 3 hours and 20
regulatory authorities and employers across all minutes. Prior to the start of the exam candidates
sectors. To this end, ACCA qualifications are are given an extra 10 minutes to read the exam
currently recognized on the education frameworks in instructions.
several countries. Please refer to your national
education framework regulator for further Paper-based exams
information about recognition.
For paper-based exams 15 minutes are added to
Each syllabus contains between 20 and 35 main the three hours to reflect the manual effort required
subject area headings depending on the nature of as compared to computer-based exams. All paper-
the subject and how these areas have been broken based and computer-based questions have been
down. subject to the same quality assurance process.
There will be time awarded by the invigilator to read
Guide to ACCA examination structure the exam instructions.
The structure of examinations varies within and Strategic Business Leader is ACCA’s case study
between levels. examination at the Strategic Professional level and
is examined as a closed book exam of four hours,
The Applied Knowledge examinations contain 100% including reading, planning and reflection time
compulsory questions to encourage candidates to which can be used flexibly within the examination.
2
© ACCA 2018-2019 All rights reserved.There is no pre-seen information and all exam Guide to ACCA examination assessment
related material, including case information and
exhibits are available within the examination. ACCA reserves the right to examine anything
Strategic Business Leader is an exam based on one contained within any study guide within any
main business scenario which involves candidates examination session. This includes knowledge,
completing several tasks within which additional techniques, principles, theories, and concepts as
material may be introduced. All questions are specified.
compulsory and each examination will contain a
total of 80 technical marks and 20 Professional For the financial accounting, audit and assurance
Skills marks. The detail of the structure of this exam law and tax exams, except where indicated
is described in the Strategic Business Leader otherwise, ACCA will publish examinable documents
syllabus and study guide document. once a year to indicate exactly what regulations and
legislation could potentially be assessed within
The other Strategic Professional exams are all of identified examination sessions.
three hours and 15 minutes duration. All contain
two Sections and all questions are compulsory. For examinations regulation issued or legislation
These exams all contain four professional marks. passed on or before 31 August annually, will be
The detail of the structure of each of these exams is examinable from 1 September of the following year
described in the individual syllabus and study guide to 31 August of the year after that. Please refer to
documents. the examinable documents for the exam (where
relevant) for further information.
ACCA encourages students to take time to read
questions carefully and to plan answers but once Regulation issued or legislation passed in
the exam time has started, there are no additional accordance with the above dates may be
restrictions as to when candidates may start writing examinable even if the effective date is in the future.
in their answer books. The term issued or passed relates to when
regulation or legislation has been formally approved.
Time should be taken to ensure that all the The term effective relates to when regulation or
information and exam requirements are properly legislation must be applied to entity transactions
read and understood. and business practices.
The pass mark for all ACCA Qualification The study guide offers more detailed guidance on
examinations is 50%. the depth and level at which the examinable
documents will be examined. The study guide
should therefore be read in conjunction with the
examinable documents list.
3
© ACCA 2018-2019 All rights reserved.Qualification structure
The qualification structure requires candidates who wish to be awarded the Diploma in Accounting and Business
to pass the Accountant in Business (AB)/FAB, Management Accounting (MA) /FMA and the Financial Accounting
(FA)/FFA examinations and successfully complete the Foundations in Professionalism (FiP) module.
Financial Diploma in
Accountant in Management
+ + + FiP = Accounting
Business Accounting Accounting
(FA)/FFA and Business
(AB)/FAB (MA)/FMA
* Foundations in Professionalism
Syllabus structure
The Foundations Level suite of qualifications is designed so that a student can progress through three discrete
levels; Introductory Certificate level, Intermediate Certificate level and the Diploma level.
Students are recommended to enter Foundations Level at the level which is most appropriate to their needs and
to take examinations in order, but this is not a mandatory requirement
Strategic Business Leader ACCA
(SBL)
FL Accountant in
Business (AB)
4
© ACCA 2018-2019 All rights reserved.Accountant in Business The final section of the syllabus examines how
(AB)/FAB Syllabus and behaviour at all levels within business should be
underpinned by accepted professional ethics and
Study Guide professional values.
AIM MAIN CAPABILITIES
To introduce knowledge and understanding of the On successful completion of this paper, candidates
business and its environment and the influence this should be able to:
has on how organisations are structured and on the
role of the accounting and other key business A Understand the purpose and types of
functions in contributing to the efficient, effective businesses and how they interact with key
and ethical management and development of an stakeholders and the external environment.
organisation and its people and systems.
B Understand business organisation structure,
RATIONALE functions and the role of corporate governance
The syllabus Accountant in Business (AB)/FAB C Recognise the function of accountancy and
introduces students who may not have a business audit in communicating, reporting and assuring
background, to the business, which as an entity is financial information and in effective financial
made up of people and systems which interact with control and compliance
the environment and with each other. The syllabus
begins with examining the purpose and types of D Recognise the principles of authority and
business which exist, the key stakeholders and the leadership and how teams and individuals are
rights and responsibilities that businesses have in recruited, managed, motivated and developed.
connection with them, exploring the external
influences that affect the business in its E Understand the importance of personal
environment, including economic, legal, social and effectiveness as the basis for effective team
technological factors. The syllabus then examines and organisational behaviour.
the structure and functions of business, focusing on
corporate governance and the specific accounting F Recognise that all aspects of business and
related roles in this process, particularly in financial finance should be conducted in a manner
reporting, assurance, control and compliance. The which complies with and is in the spirit of
syllabus then introduces key leadership, accepted professional ethics and professional
management and people issues such as effective values
individual and team behaviour, motivation and
personal effectiveness.
RELATIONAL DIAGRAM OF MAIN CAPABILITIES
The business organisation, its stakeholders and the external environment (A)
Business organisation structure, Leading and
functions and governance (B) managing
individuals
and teams
(D)
Accounting and reporting
systems, controls and compliance (C)
Personal effectiveness
and communication (E)
5
© ACCA 2018-2019 All rights reserved.
Professional ethics in accounting and business (F)Detailed syllabus 5. Financial systems, procedures and related IT
applications
A The business organisation, its stakeholders and
the external environment 6. Internal controls, authorisation, security of data
and compliance within business
1. The purpose and types of business organisation
7. Fraud and fraudulent behaviour and their
2. Stakeholders in business organisations prevention in business, including money
laundering.
3. Political and legal factors affecting business
D Leading and managing individuals and teams
4. Macroeconomic factors
1. Leadership, management and supervision
5. Micro economic factors
2. Recruitment and selection of employees
6. Social and demographic factors
3. Individual and group behaviour in business
7. Technological factors organisations
8. Environmental factors 4. Team formation, development and
management
9. Competitive factors
5. Motivating individuals and groups
B Business organisational structure, functions 6. Learning and training at work
and governance
7. Review and appraisal of individual
1. The formal and informal business organisation performance.
2. Business organisational structure and design E Personal effectiveness and communication
3. Organisational culture in business 1. Personal effectiveness techniques
4. Committees in business organisations 2. Consequences of ineffectiveness at work
5. Governance and social responsibility in 3. Competence frameworks and personal
business development
C Accounting and reporting systems, controls and 4. Sources of conflicts and techniques for conflict
compliance resolution and referral
1. The relationship between accounting and other 5. Communicating in business.
business functions
F Professional ethics in accounting and business
2. Accounting and finance functions within
business organisations 1. Fundamental principles of ethical behaviour
3. Principles of law and regulation governing 2. The role of regulatory and professional bodies
accounting and auditing in promoting ethical and professional standards
in the accountancy profession
4. The sources and purpose of internal and
external financial information, provided by 3. Corporate codes of ethics
business
4. Ethical conflicts and dilemmas
6
© ACCA 2018-2019 All rights reserved.Approach to examining the syllabus
The syllabus is assessed by a two hour computer-
based examination. Questions will assess all parts
of the syllabus and will test knowledge and some
comprehension or application of this knowledge.
The examination will consist of two sections.
Section A will contain 30 two mark objective
questions and 16 one mark objective questions.
Section B will contain 6 four mark multi-task
questions each of which will examine one of the six
main sections of the syllabus. .
7
© ACCA 2018-2019 All rights reserved.Study Guide 3. Political and legal factors affecting business
a) Explain how the political system and
A THE BUSINESS ORGANISATION, ITS government policy affect the organisation.[K]
STAKEHOLDERS AND THE EXTERNAL
ENVIRONMENT b) Describe the sources of legal authority,
including supra-national bodies, national and
1. The purpose and types of business organisation regional governments.[K]
a) Define ‘business organisations’ and explain why c) Explain how the law protects the employee and
they are formed.[K] the implications of employment legislation for
the manager and the organisation.[K]
b) Describe common features of business
organisations.[K] d) Identify the principles of data protection and
security.[K]
c) Outline how business organisations differ.[K]
e) Explain how the law promotes and protects
d) List the industrial and commercial sectors in health and safety in the workplace.[K]
which business organisations operate.[K]
f) Recognise the responsibility of the individual
e) Identify the different types of business and organisation for compliance with laws on
organisation and their main characteristics:[K] data protection, security and health and
i) Commercial safety.[K]
ii) Not-for-profit
iii) Public sector g) Outline principles of consumer protection such
iv) Non-governmental organisations as sale of goods and simple contract.[K]
v) Cooperatives
4. Macro-economic factors
2. Stakeholders in business organisations
a) Define macro-economic policy and explain its
a) Define stakeholders and explain the agency objectives.[K]
relationship in business and how it may vary in
different types of business organisation.[K] b) Explain the main determinants of the level of
business activity in the economy and how
b) Define internal, connected and external variations in the level of business activity affect
stakeholders and explain their impact on the individuals, households and businesses.[K]
organisation.[K]
c) Explain the impact of economic issues on the
c) Identify the main stakeholder groups and the individual, the household and the business: [K]
objectives of each group.[K] i) Inflation
ii) Unemployment
d) Explain how the different stakeholder groups iii) Stagnation
interact and how their objectives may conflict iv) International payments disequilibrium.
with one another.[K]
d) Describe the main types of economic policy
e) Compare the power and influence of various that may be implemented by government and
stakeholder groups and how their needs should supra-national bodies to maximise economic
be accounted for, such as under the Mendelow welfare.[K]
framework.[K]
e) Recognise the impact of fiscal and monetary
policy measures on the individual, the
household and businesses.[K]
8
© ACCA 2018-2019 All rights reserved.5. Micro economic factors 9. Competitive factors
a) Define the concept of demand and supply for a) Identify a business’s strengths, weaknesses
goods and services.[K] opportunities and threats (SWOT) in a market
and the main sources of competitive
b) Explain elasticity of demand and the impact of advantage.[K]
substitute and complementary goods.[K]
b) Identify the main elements within Porter’s
c) Explain the economic behaviour of costs in the value chain and explain the meaning of a value
short and long term.[K] network'..[K]
d) Define perfect, competition, oligopoly, c) Explain the factors or forces that influence the
monopolistic competition and monopoly.[K] level of competitiveness in an industry or sector
using Porter’s five forces model.[K]
6. Social and demographic factors
d) Describe the activities of an organisation that
a) Explain the medium and long-term effects of affect its competitiveness:[K]
social and demographic trends on business i) Purchasing
outcomes and the economy.[K] ii) Production
iii) Marketing
b) Describe the impact of changes in social iv) Service
structure, values, attitudes and tastes on the
organisation.[K] B BUSINESS ORGANISATION STRUCTURE,
FUNCTIONS AND GOVERNANCE
c) Identify and explain the measures that
governments may take in response to the 1. The formal and informal business organisation
medium and long-term impact of demographic
change.[K] a) Explain the informal organisation and its
relationship with the formal organisation.[K]
7. Technological factors
b) Describe the impact of the informal
a) Explain the potential effects of technological organisation on the business.[K]
change on the organisation structure and
strategy:[K] 2. Business organisation structure and design
i) Downsizing
ii) Delayering a) Describe Mintzberg’s components of the
iii) Outsourcing organisation and explain the different ways in
which formal organisations may be structured
b) Describe the impact of information technology [K]
:
and information systems development on (i) Entrepreneurial
business processes.[K] (ii) Functional
(iii) Matrix
8. Environmental factors (iv) Divisional: (geographical, by product, or by
customer type)
a) List ways in which the businesses can affect or (v) Boundaryless: (virtual, hollow or modular)
be affected by its physical environment.[K]
b) Explain basic organisational structure
b) Describe ways in which businesses can operate concepts:[K]
more efficiently and effectively to limit damage i) Separation of ownership and management
to the environment.[K] ii) Separation of direction and management
iii) Span of control and scalar chain
c) Identify the benefits of economic sustainability iv) Tall and flat organisations
to stakeholders.[K] (v) Outsourcing and offshoring,
9
© ACCA 2018-2019 All rights reserved.(vi) Shared services approach d) Explain the roles of the Chair and Secretary of
a committee.[K]
c) Explain the characteristics of the strategic,
tactical and operational levels in the 5. Governance and social responsibility in
organisation in the context of the Anthony business
hierarchy.[K]
a) Explain the agency concept in relation to
d) Explain centralisation and decentralisation and corporate governance.[K]
list their advantages and disadvantages.[K]
b) Define corporate governance and social
e) Describe the roles and functions of the main responsibility and explain their importance in
departments in a business organisation: [K] contemporary organisations.[K]
i) Research and development
ii) Purchasing c) Explain the responsibility of organisations to
iii) Production maintain appropriate standards of corporate
iv) Direct service provision governance and corporate social
v) Marketing responsibility.[K]
vi) Administration
vii) Finance. d) Briefly explain the main recommendations of
best practice in effective corporate
f) Explain the role of marketing in an governance:[K]
organisation: [K] i) Executive and non-executive directors
i) Definition of marketing ii) Remuneration committees
ii) Marketing mix iii) Audit committees
iii) Relationship of the marketing plan to the iv) Public oversight
strategic plan
e) Explain how organisations take account of their
3. Organisational culture in business social responsibility objectives through analysis
of the needs of internal, connected and external
a) Define organisational culture.[K] stakeholders.[K]
b) Describe the factors that shape the culture of f) Identify the social and environmental
the organisation.[K] responsibilities of business organisations to
internal, connected and external
c) Explain the contribution made by writers on stakeholders.[K]
culture:[K]
i) Schein – determinants of organisational C ACCOUNTING AND REPORTING SYSTEMS,
culture CONTROLS AND COMPLIANCE
ii) Handy – four cultural stereotypes
iii) Hofstede – international perspectives on 1. The relationship between accounting and other
culture business functions
4. Committees in business organisations a) Explain the relationship between accounting
and other key functions within the business
a) Explain the purposes of committees.[K] such as procurement, production and
marketing.[K]
b) Describe the types of committee used by
business organisations[K] b) Explain financial considerations in production
and production planning.[K]
c) List the advantages and disadvantages of
committees.[K] c) Identify the financial issues associated with
marketing.[S]
10
© ACCA 2018-2019 All rights reserved.d) Identify the financial costs and benefits of b) Explain the broad consequences of failing to
effective service provision.[S] comply with the legal requirements for
maintaining and filing accounting records.[K]
2. Accounting and finance functions within
business c) Explain how the international accountancy
profession regulates itself through the
a) Explain the contribution of the accounting establishment of reporting standards and their
function to the formulation, implementation, monitoring.[K]
and control of the organisation’s policies,
procedures, and performance.[K] 4. The sources and purpose of internal and
external financial information, provided by
b) Identify and describe the main financial business
accounting functions in business:[K]
i) recording financial information a) Explain the various business purposes for
ii) codifying and processing financial which the following financial information is
information required:[K]
iii) preparing financial statements (i) The statement of profit or loss
(ii) The statement of financial position
c) Identify and describe the main management (iii) The statement of cash flows
accounting and performance management (iv) Sustainability and integrated reports
functions in business:[K]
i) Recording and analysing costs and b) Describe the main purposes of the following
revenues types of management accounting reports.[K]:
ii) Providing management accounting i) Cost schedules
information for decision-making (ii) Budgets
iii) Planning and preparing budgets and (iii) Variance reports
exercising budgetary control.
5. Financial systems, procedures and related IT
d) Identify and describe the main finance and applications
treasury functions:[K]
i) Calculating and mitigating business tax a) Identify an organisation’s system requirements
liabilities in relation to the objectives and policies of the
ii) Evaluating and obtaining finance organisation.[S]
iii) Managing working capital
iv) Treasury and risk management. b) Describe the main financial systems used
within an organisation:[S]
e) Identify and describe the main audit and i) Purchases and sales invoicing
assurance roles in business ii) Payroll
i) Internal audit iii) Credit control
ii) External audit.[K] iv) Cash and working capital management.
f) Explain the main functions of the internal c) Explain why it is important to adhere to
auditor and the external auditor and how they policies and procedures for handling clients’
differ.[K] money.[K]
3. Principles of law and regulation governing d) Identify weaknesses, potential for error and
accounting and audit inefficiencies in accounting systems.[S]
a) Explain basic legal requirements in relation to e) Recommend improvements to accounting
retaining and submitting proper records and systems to prevent error and fraud and to
preparing and auditing financial reports.[K] improve overall efficiency.[S]
11
© ACCA 2018-2019 All rights reserved.f) Explain why appropriate controls are necessary d) Explain the role and duties of individual
in relation to business and IT systems and managers in the fraud detection and prevention
procedures.[S] process.[K]
g) Identify business uses of computers and IT e) Define the term money laundering.[K]
software applications:[S]
i) Spreadsheet applications f) Give examples of recognised offences under
ii) Database systems typical money laundering regulations.[K]
iii) Accounting packages
g) Identify methods for detecting and preventing
h) Describe and compare the relative benefits and money laundering.[K]
limitations of manual and automated financial h) Explain how suspicions of money laundering
systems that may be used in an organisation.[K] should be reported to the appropriate
authorities.[K]
6. Internal controls, authorisation, security and
compliance within business D LEADING AND MANAGING INDIVIDUALS
AND TEAMS
a) Explain internal control and internal check.[K]
1. Leadership, management and supervision
b) Explain the importance of internal financial
controls in an organisation.[K] a) Define leadership, management and
supervision and explain the distinction between
c) Describe the responsibilities of management for these terms.[K]
internal financial control.[K]
b) Explain the nature of management:[K]
d) Describe the features of effective internal i) Scientific/classical theories of management
financial control procedures in an organisation, Fayol, Taylor
including authorisation.[K] ii) The human relations school – Mayo
iii) The functions of a manager – Mintzberg,
e) Identify and describe the types of information Drucker
technology and information systems used by
the business organisation for internal control.[S] c) Explain the areas of managerial authority and
responsibility.[K]
f) Identify and describe features for protecting the
security of IT systems and software within d) Explain the situational, functional and
business.[S] contingency approaches to leadership with
reference to the theories of Adair, Fiedler,
g) Describe general and application systems Bennis, Kotter and Heifetz.[K]
controls in business.[K]
e) Describe leadership styles and contexts: using
7. Fraud and fraudulent behaviour and their the models of Ashridge, and Blake and
prevention in business. Mouton.[K]
a) Explain the circumstances under which fraud is 2. Recruitment and selection of employees
likely to arise.[K]
a) Explain the importance of effective recruitment
b) Identify different types of fraud in the and selection to the organisation.[K]
organisation.[K]
b) Describe the recruitment and selection process
c) Explain the implications of fraud for the and explain the stages in this process.[K]
organisation.[K]
c) Describe the roles of those involved in the
recruitment and selection processes.[K]
12
© ACCA 2018-2019 All rights reserved.d) Describe the methods through which b) Explain content and process theories of
organisations seek to meet their recruitment motivation: Maslow, Herzberg, McGregor, and
needs.[K] Vroom.[K]
e) Explain the advantages and disadvantages of c) Explain and identify types of intrinsic and
different recruitment and selection methods.[K] extrinsic reward.[K]
f) Explain the purposes and benefits of diversity d) Explain how reward systems can be designed
and equal opportunities policies within the and implemented to motivate teams and
human resources plan.[K] individuals.[K]
g) Explain the practical steps that an organisation 6. Learning and training at work
may take to ensure the effectiveness of its
diversity and equal opportunities policy.[K] a) Explain the importance of learning and
development in the workplace.[K]
3. Individual and group behaviour in business
organisations b) Describe the learning process: Honey and
Mumford, Kolb.[K]
a) Describe the main characteristics of individual
and group behaviour.[K] c) Describe the role of the human resources
department and individual managers in the
b) Outline the contributions of individuals and learning process.[K]
teams to organisational success.[K]
d) Describe the training and development process:
c) Identify individual and team approaches to identifying needs, setting objectives,
work.[K] programme design, delivery and validation.[K]
4. Team formation, development and e) Explain the terms ‘training’, ‘development’ and
management ‘education’ and the characteristics of each.[K]
a) Explain the differences between a group and a f) List the benefits of effective training and
team.[K] development in the workplace.[K]
b) Explain the purposes of a team.[K] 7. Review and appraisal of individual performance
c) Explain the role of the manager in building the a) Explain the importance of performance
team and developing individuals within the assessment.[K]
team.[K]
i) Belbin’s team roles theory b) Explain how organisations assess the
ii) Tuckman’s theory of team development performance of human resources.[K]
d) List the characteristics of effective and c) Define performance appraisal and describe its
ineffective teams.[K] purposes.[K]
e) Describe tools and techniques that can be used d) Describe the performance appraisal process.[K]
to build the team and improve team
effectiveness.[K] e) Explain the benefits of effective appraisal.[K]
5. Motivating individuals and groups f) Identify the barriers to effective appraisal and
how these may be overcome.[K]
a) Define motivation and explain its importance to
the organisation, teams and individuals.[K]
13
© ACCA 2018-2019 All rights reserved.E. PERSONAL EFFECTIVENESS AND c) Identify ways in which conflict can be
COMMUNICATION IN BUSINESS managed.[S]
1. Personal effectiveness techniques 5. Communicating in business
a) Explain the importance of effective time a) Describe methods of communication used in
management.[K] the organisation and how they are used.[K]
b) Describe the barriers to effective time b) Explain how the type of information differs and
management and how they may be the purposes for which it is applied at different
overcome.[K] levels of the organisation: strategic, tactical
and operational.[K]
c) Describe the role of information technology in
improving personal effectiveness.[S] c) List the attributes of good quality information.[K]
2. Consequences of ineffectiveness at work d) Explain a simple communication model:
sender, message, receiver, feedback, noise.[K]
a) Identify the main ways in which people and
teams can be ineffective at work.[S] e) Explain formal and informal communication
and their significance in the workplace.[K]
b) Explain how individual or team ineffectiveness
can affect organisational performance.[K] f) Identify the consequences of ineffective
communication.[K]
3. Competence frameworks and personal
development g) Describe the attributes of effective
communication.[K]
a) Describe the features of a ‘competence
framework’.[S] h) Describe the barriers to effective
communication and identify practical steps that
b) Explain how a competence framework may be taken to overcome them.[K]
underpins professional development needs.[S]
i) Identify the main patterns of communication.[K]
c) Explain how personal and continuous
professional development can increase F PROFESSIONAL ETHICS IN ACCOUNTING
personal effectiveness at work.[S] AND BUSINESS
d) Explain the purpose and benefits of coaching, 1. Fundamental principles of ethical behaviour
mentoring and counselling in promoting
employee effectiveness [K] a) Define business ethics and explain the
importance of ethics to the organisation and to
e) Describe how a personal development plan the individual.[K]
should be formulated, implemented, monitored
and reviewed by the individual.[S] b) Describe and demonstrate the following
principles from the IFAC (IESBA) code of
4. Sources of conflict and techniques for conflict ethics, using examples.[K]
resolution and referral (i) Integrity
(ii) Objectivity
a) Identify situations where conflict at work can (iii)Professional competence
arise.[S] (iv) Confidentiality
(v) Professional behaviour
b) Describe how conflict can affect personal and
organisational performance.[S] c) Describe organisational values which promote
ethical behaviour using examples.[K]
14
© ACCA 2018-2019 All rights reserved.(i) Openness d) List the main safeguards against ethical threats
(ii) Trust and dilemmas.[K]
(iii)Honesty
(iv) Respect
(v) Empowerment
(vi) Accountability
d) Explain the concept of acting in the public
interest.[K].
2. The role of regulatory and professional bodies
in promoting ethical and professional standards
in the accountancy profession
a) Recognise the purpose of international and
organisational codes of ethics and codes of
conduct, IFAC (IESBA), ACCA etc.[K]
b) Describe how professional bodies and
regulators promote ethical awareness and
prevent or punish illegal or unethical
behaviour.[K]
c) Identify the factors that distinguish a profession
from other types of occupation.[1
d) Explain the role of the accountant in promoting
ethical behaviour.[K]
e) Recognise when and to whom illegal, or
unethical conduct by anyone within or
connected to the organisation should be
reported [K]
3. Corporate codes of ethics
a) Define corporate codes of ethics.[K]
b) Describe the typical contents of a corporate
code of ethics.[K]
c) Explain the benefits of a corporate code of
ethics to the organisation and its employees.[K]
4. Ethical conflicts and dilemmas
a) Describe situations where ethical conflicts can
arise.[K]
b) Identify the main threats to ethical behaviour.[K]
c) Outline situations at work where ethical
dilemmas may be faced.[K]
15
© ACCA 2018-2019 All rights reserved.SUMMARY OF CHANGES TO ACCOUNTANT IN BUSINESS (AB)/FAB
ACCA annually reviews its qualification so that they fully meet the needs of stakeholders including employers,
students, regulatory and advisory bodies and learning providers.
There are no syllabus changes effective from September 2018 and the next update will be September 2019.
16
© ACCA 2018-2019 All rights reserved.You can also read
