Explain why the 2003 Accounts Modernisation Directive should be amended?

SP 1, 2018
ACC30008: Accounting Theory
Assessment 2: Assignment
Word limit: 2000 (+/- 10%)
Weighting: 30%
Due date: 9am AEDT Monday 1 May 2018
Assessment overview
The assignment is based on the Harvard Business School case study provided to you
[i.e., Eccles, R.G., Serafeim, G., Andrews, P, (2013). Mandatory Environmental, Social,
and Governance Disclosure in the European Union, 9-111-120, Harvard Business
School: Boston]
Pages 12-14 of the case study explains five hypothetical scenarios that were
discussed in the 5th workshop organised by the European Commission (EC). The
objective of exploring these five scenarios was to determine how the 2003 Accounts
Modernisation Directive should be amended. The 2003 Accounts Modernisation
Directive which went into effect in 2005 read as:
To the extent necessary for an understanding of the company’s development,
performance or position, the analysis [in the annual review] shall include both
financial and, where appropriate, non-financial key performance indicators
relevant to the particular business, including information relating to environmental
and employee matters.
Assessment details
a) Explain why the 2003 Accounts Modernisation Directive should be amended?
Your answer should be informed by scholarly academic research on corporate
social responsibility, sustainability and integrated reporting. You are required to
draw on at least two theories explaining voluntary corporate reporting when
forming your answer. (Word limit: 800 words)
b) Out of the 5 scenarios discussed in the 5th Workshop, which one do you think is
the most suitable option? When arriving at your conclusion, discuss the pros and
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cons of each of the 5 scenarios. Your discussion should go beyond the pros and
cons highlighted in the case and draw on relevant theories you have learned in
this unit of study. You should demonstrate that you have conducted sufficient
research using both academic and non-academic sources to build insightful
arguments. (Word limit: 1200 words)
Additional guidance
In this research assignment you will be providing your personal view based on
research evidence, theory and original thought.
In your assignment, you are expected to draw on:
• relevant accounting theories
• scholarly articles from academic journals
• reports issued by professional accounting bodies, accounting firms (particularly,
the Big 4), regulatory bodies, the IIRC and other transnational organisations
• media reports on sustainability and integrated reporting
Sustainability and Integrated reporting are covered in Chapter 9 of the textbook. The
theoretical knowledge necessary to complete this research assignment is not
confined to one or few topics but spread across many topics in this unit. The
theoretical knowledge provided in Chapter 8 of your textbook is particularly relevant
to this assignment. However, theories explained in Chapters 7 and 10 can be drawn
upon to inform your arguments where appropriate as well.
The class on “research skills and assignment workshop” is designed specifically
around this assessment. You would benefit more from this class if you had already
started your assignment and made sufficient progress in relation to each of the four
questions prior to attending this class. This is because you will have a better
understanding of the assignment and thus be able to clarify your doubts in this class.
The assignment should take the form of a report and include an executive summary.
The entire assignment should not exceed 2000 words (+/- 10 %). There is no need to
provide a table of contents and an executive summary. The word count includes
footnotes, endnotes and appendices. A reference list should be provided but is not
incldued in the word count.
Do not reproduce the assignment questions in your submission.
To avoid plagiarism, you are required to provide a reference whenever you include
information from other sources in your work. Further details regarding plagiarism are
available in Section C of the unit outline and will be discussed in class.
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Referencing convention required for this unit is the Swinburne Harvard System.
Helpful information on referencing using the Swinburne Harvard System can be
found at: http://www.swinburne.edu.au/lib/studyhelp/harvard_style.html
Prior to submission of your assignment make sure your work is properly edited and
proofread. Please use spelling and grammar checkers. You would like to obtain
assistance from the Language and Academic Skills (LAS) Centre to improve your
assignment and your writing skills. If you intend to obtain assistance from LAS then
you should contact them as soon as possible. This can be done even before you have
started working on your assignment. The following weblink will provide more
information about LAS and how to contact them:
http://www.swinburne.edu.au/student/study-help/las.html
You may also benefit from using Writer’s Diet (http://writersdiet.com/?page_id=4) – a
free online tool that help you improve the quality of your written work.
Submission details
This assessment need to be submitted through the Blackboard assessment
submission system (via Turnitin). A hardcopy of the assignment should also be
submitted to KAPLAN through a specially assigned drop box or personally handing
in.
Online submission: An electronic version of the assignment should be submitted via
Turnitin no later than AEDT 9.00am on 1st May, 2018. Do not attach an assignment
submission coversheet or reproduce the assignment questions in your submission.
Hard copy submission: A printed version of the assignment should be placed in the
especially assigned assignment drop box or handed in at the KAPLAN reception. A
duly filled Assessment Cover Sheet must be submitted with the printed version. The
standard Assessment Cover Sheet is available from the “Current Students” website.
Assessment criteria
Your work will be assessed using the following marking rubric.