AC411 Half Unit
Accounting, Strategy and Control
This information is for the 2025/26 session.
Availability
This course is compulsory on the MSc in Accounting, Organisations and Institutions. This course is available on the CEMS Exchange, Global MSc in Management, Global MSc in Management (CEMS MIM), Global MSc in Management (MBA Exchange), MBA Exchange, MRes in Accounting (AOI) (Accounting, Organisations and Institutions Track) and MSc in Accounting and Finance. This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit. This course uses controlled access as part of the course selection process.
This course uses controlled access as part of the course selection process. In previous years, we have been able to accommodate all students that apply but that may not continue to be the case.
Students enrolled on the MSc Accounting, Organisations and Institutions programme are guaranteed a place. Other students will be admitted on a first-come-first-served basis, with priority given to other Accounting students who apply during the Autumn Term, followed by students in programmes listed under the course availability.
Other students who meet the pre-requisite criteria will be considered if space remains.
To maximise your chances of securing a place, we strongly recommend selecting this course during initial course selection in the Autumn Term.
For queries contact: Dot Richards, PG Programme Manager. Department of Accounting d.richards@lse.ac.uk
Course content
This course provides an advanced overview of current theoretical and practical developments in organisational control, which is an essential function of management to ensure that the organisation's objectives and strategies are implemented effectively. Good management control increases the probability of organisational success.
Specifically, the course discusses what it means to have an organisation be in control, what alternatives managers have for ensuring good control, and how managers should choose from the various control system alternatives. Then the course turns to each of the elements of financial control systems, which provide the dominant form of control in most decentralised organisations. These elements include financial target setting, performance measurement and evaluation and the assignment of various forms of organisation.
Topics covered include:
- Strategy and the design of management control systems in different contexts
- Management control alternatives, including results controls, and organisational architecture
- Decision rights and results accountability in decentralised organisations
- Incentive compensation systems, including short-term and long-term incentive plans
- Performance measurement and evaluation
- Management control for sustainability
Teaching
This course has a reading week in Week 6 of Winter Term.
Teaching is delivered in two weekly 90-minute sessions over 10 weeks in the Winter Term.
The first 90-minute session each week introduces students to key theoretical concepts and techniques used in their application in practice, as well as introducing the required and further readings. The second session then offers a further discussion and expansion of the issues through a case study analysis to explore the various management control issues in a broad range of settings. The case method of instruction requires thorough advance preparation by the students. It is essential that students prepare the case studies in advance of the case sessions.
Formative assessment
Students are expected to prepare for each session in advance, as detailed above.
Indicative reading
A detailed reading list is laid out for each session on the syllabus.
The reference textbook used is Merchant & Van der Stede, Management Control Systems: Performance Measurement, Evaluation and Incentives, 5th edition (Prentice Hall, 2023).
Assessment
Exam (75%), duration: 120 Minutes in the Spring exam period
Project (25%)
Key facts
Department: Accounting
Course Study Period: Winter Term
Unit value: Half unit
FHEQ Level: Level 7
CEFR Level: Null
Total students 2024/25: 72
Average class size 2024/25: 36
Controlled access 2024/25: NoCourse selection videos
Some departments have produced short videos to introduce their courses. Please refer to the course selection videos index page for further information.
Personal development skills
- Leadership
- Self-management
- Team working
- Problem solving
- Communication
- Application of numeracy skills
- Commercial awareness
- Specialist skills