Cost Accounting and a Friendly Competition

It's crucial for accounting majors to learn about the importance of budgeting, planning, strategy, and accounting data - so why not make it fun?

Each semester he teaches Cost Accounting, Prof. Travis Brodbeck offers a factory simulation component where student groups compete with each other on the basis of quality, quantity, and cost management.

In the past, his classes have made no-sew blankets for animal shelters and cheer packages for the Ronald McDonald House. This year's project was a partnership with the Weare C. Memorial Lake Association (known as Little's Lake) to create wildflower seed packets featuring pollinator information and planting instructions.

The class session is divided into multiple factory "shifts." In between production cycles, the teams have a choice to change their job roles or purchase more materials or trade with other teams.

"We then take all the data on raw materials, direct labor, and finished goods and use that for an Excel project to show a tangible example that relates back to the problems we do in class," said Brodbeck. "We compare our actual results to the budgets based on standards and evaluated the variances to understand how the factory can improve."

Karleigh Matthews '27 appreciated knowing that the class's work will support the community.

"Coming from the area, it was nice to see something that a few college students did help a nonprofit organization that will enrich the environment," said Matthews. "The direct bridge between our curriculum and the real world was what made it enjoyable."

She said the project became a spirited competition among the students over who could work the fastest while keeping product quality high and expenses low.

"We were folding and gluing as fast as we could while begging for the clock not to run out. Our laughter ignited the room but everyone remained focus on the goal. Professor Brodbeck encouraged us to work together, to perform the best we could, and to use our knowledge of direct labor and budgets to be conscious of how we applied our raw materials to produce an exceptional finished product."

Brodbeck's students always rave about this class period for its change of pace and the chance to work together. But, more importantly, it's like a mental health day for them.

"We do it near the end of the semester and ACCT 350, so a day where it's not a grueling class and students have a chance to work with their hands and socialize, it's a good pick-me-up," he said.