DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES FOR STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING

The course aims to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to use digital technologies in the field of Strategic Management Accounting (SMA). SMA is the process of identifying, collecting, selecting and analyzing data to help the management team make strategic decisions and evaluate the effectiveness of the organization. SMA requires an integrated view of information from different sources, both internal and external, and the ability to interpret it critically and prospectively.
Digital technologies offer new opportunities and challenges for SMA, as they enable data to be collected, processed and communicated more quickly, accurately and securely. Among the most relevant digital technologies for SMA, the course will focus on:
Artificial intelligence to automate and improve data analysis, forecasting and decision support activities. Particular attention will be paid to generative artificial intelligence tools.
Blockchain, which is a distributed and immutable data recording technology, and which guarantees transparency, traceability and validation of information, reducing the risks of fraud, manipulation and inefficiency but also opening up new opportunities in terms of business models.
The course will be divided into theoretical lessons, practical exercises and case studies, in order to develop students' skills in applying digital technologies to SMA and to stimulate their critical reflection on the advantages and limitations of these technologies.

1. KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
Students will acquire specific skills related to the topics of strategic management control and how digital technologies impact traditional strategic management accounting approaches. At the end of the course, students will know and understand:
- the meaning and functioning of Strategic Management Accounting (SMA) tools and techniques;
- the functioning of artificial intelligence and blockchain technologies;
- the impact that these tools have on strategic management accounting;
- the main challenges and opportunities of digital transformation in terms of SMA.

2. APPLY KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
Students will be able to contextualize their knowledge and apply it to concrete situations through the analysis and processing of data for the development of strategic support systems. In particular, students will be able to:
- apply knowledge to define and build strategic evaluation systems such as business models;
- apply AI tools to improve strategic evaluation processes;
- develop blockchain and AI driven business models.

Knowledge of strategic analysis.
Basic knowledge of financial accounting
Basic knowledge of management accounting

1 - Accounting for what counts
Generic strategies and the role of accounting systems:
Accounting for market positioning
Accounting for business modeling
Accounting for production models

2 - Accounting, data meaning and sense making
Measurement process and data meaning
Measurement process and sense making
Strategic processes and sense making

3 - Digital Technologies and strategic management accounting
Artificial intelligence
Blockchain
Other relevant technologies

4. Workshops and case studies

Vassili Joannides deLatou, Strategic Management Accounting Volume I, Palgrave, 2018 [ONLY SOME SECTIONS]
Papers and other teaching material provided at the beginning of the course

A written exam with multiple choice questions that will be worth 60% of the overall grade, plus an assignment relating to the development of a case study that will be worth 40% of the overall grade.

written

As for the grading of the mark (the method by which the marks will be assigned), regardless of whether
the course is attended or not:
A. scores in the range 18-22 will be awarded in the presence of:
- sufficient knowledge and applied comprehension skills with reference to the program;
- limited ability to collect and/or interpret data, formulating independent judgments;
- sufficient communication skills, especially in relation to the use of specific language pertaining to the economic functioning of companies;
B. scores in the range 23-26 will be awarded if the following are present:
- fair knowledge and applied comprehension skills with reference to the program;
- fair ability to collect and/or interpret data, formulating independent judgments;
- fair communication skills, especially in relation to the use of specific language regarding the economic functioning of companies;
C. scores in the range 27-30 will be awarded if the following is present:
- good or excellent knowledge and applied understanding with reference to the program;
- good or excellent ability to collect and/or interpret data, formulating independent judgments;
- fully appropriate communication skills, especially in relation to the use of specific language pertaining to the economic functioning of companies.
D. Honors will be awarded in the presence of excellent knowledge and applied understanding with reference to the program, judgment and communication skills.

The teaching method includes lectures, presentation of case studies and lessons offered by experts in the field.
The course will include hands-on activities using specific software aimed at facilitating learning. Specific software will also be used for the development of strategic analysis with the use of new technologies.