A Classroom Project Developing Integrated Competencies: The Case of Jenlou, Inc.

Abstract

Recent recommendations to revise accounting curriculum suggest a competency-based framework that focuses on the long-run careers of students. This paper builds on components of the framework and presents an integrated learning experience developing foundational, accounting, and broad management competencies in a realistic industry setting including several management domains. Employing active learning with a fictional case involving a medium-size firm, the curricular innovation integrates three challenging intermediate accounting topics where students need to research issues, identify journal entries for the different financing options, and determine the financial reporting consequences of each option. The students must also consider a challenging ethical dilemma. Analyzing the impact on various stakeholders is a key component. This project is designed for an intermediate or advanced financial accounting class, but sections two and three can be used in finance or MBA courses with a financial analysis focus. A post-survey suggests students feel they benefited from analyzing the different options and assessing the impact on the financials, analyzing the ethical dilemma, having both group and individual components and the real-life feel of the project.