This text is written to meet the needs of non-accountants who want a basic understanding of financial statements, and who want to learn how to use accounting information in the financial decision-making process. The reader is introduced to basic concepts supporting financial statements and managerial accounting information. Students learn what financial statements do and do not communicate. A complete annual report is included in the appendix.
Attractive, 4-color design, including updated icons, that makes the text more inviting to students tackling this material for the first time and enhances the effectiveness of graphs, figures, and other pedagogical elements.
Cash Flow column now part of horizontal presentation of financial statements. This enables students to view the simultaneous effects of a business event on all three financial statements.
Horizontal Method presented before journal entries to further emphasize the user perspective.
Managerial coverage enhanced with the expansion of some topics such as Activity-Based Costing and Relevant Cost Decision Making. New additions to coverage include Cost Accounting in Service Organizations, Analysis of Investment Centers, and The Balanced Scorecard.
Online HomeWork Manager program. This optional supplement uses an intelligent algorithm to generate an infinite number of problems for students to work based on problem structures existing in the text. Enables students to practice particular types of problems repeatedly until they master key concepts.
References to text website embedded in end-of-chapter section. These notes direct students to the online learning center that accompanies the text in order to take advantage of specific web-based materials as part of their study routine. These items include Self-Study Quizzes and Demonstration Problems.
FREE Student Study Resource (packaged with every new text) includes excellent learning aids for students such as Solutions to Odd-Numbered Problems, Study Outlines, and PowerPoint Notes.These include Learning Objectives, Chapter Outlines, Flashcards reviewing Key Terms, PowerPoint Slides, Multiple Choice Chapter Quizzes, Excel Problems, and in-depth Demonstration Problems for the student. Instructors have access to nearly all support materials such as instructor manual files, solutions (including those to the Excel problems), and PowerPoint presentations. A link to the Intel Corporation (the 2001 annual report featured in the text appendix) is also provided.
Appendix with Intel Corporation's complete 2001 annual report provides the basis for problem material that gives students hands-on experience using this important resource.
"Business in Practice' and 'Business on the Internet' capsules, updated for this edition, continue to highlight various business procedures and their impact on financial statements.
Study Suggestions are incorporated in each chapter as a guide for students to help them navigate new accounting concepts.
Mini-cases at the end of each chapter provide the basis for a conceptual discussion of important topics from each chapter while presenting an opportunity for students to enhance writing skills. Many of these cases bring an enhanced ethical component to the text.
Excel spreadsheet problems allow students to work with and analyze financial data in a format commonly found in practice. The ready-made templates offer the convenience of e-mailing completed work to the Instructor.
As students progress through each chapter, 'What Does It Mean?' questions periodically prompt them to test their comprehension following the presentation of key topics. What Does It Mean? Answers are provided in the end-of-chapter materials.
Capstone epilogue, 'The Future of Accounting,' helps bring 'the big picture' of accounting into focus. This section emphasizes the profession (AICPA vision project), business in general (e-commerce and other activities), technology (the Internet, Data Warehouses, etc.), and a user's/manager's role in information access (database queries and end-user computing).
Learning Objectives included with the end-of-chapter materials, helping students identify and focus on understanding the main points of the chapter.
Writing Problems, identified by an updated icon, require students to use and develop their written communication skills.
