The students develop comprehensive skills in cost management and budgeting by being able to apply, analyze and evaluate concepts and methods independently. They are able to design integrated planning processes and make well-founded business decisions through detailed cost analyses.

1. Explain how cost comparison, process costing, (multi-stage) contribution margin accounting, break-even analysis, program decision in the case of multiple bottlenecks and plan/target/actual comparison are used to support decision-making in a company.
2. Explain how the individual process steps of integrated planning accounting (performance budget including operational transfer to planned P&L, indirect financial plan and planned balance sheet) are related.
   
   

1. Apply instruments such as cost comparison, process costing, (multi-stage) contribution margin accounting, break-even analysis and program decision in the case of multiple bottlenecks to specific business scenarios.
2. Conduct plan/target/actual comparison to control company processes.
3. Use integrated planning instruments such as the performance budget including the operational transfer to the planned P&L, the indirect financial plan and the planned balance sheet to ensure a sound basis for decisions for the coming business period.
4. Use budget control instruments to identify deviations.
   
   

1. Analyze the cost structures of a company using process costing, examining the individual process costs in detail and understanding their impact on the total costs.
2. Determine an optimal production program.
3. Analyze a cost comparison between different alternatives to identify the most economical solution for specific operational decisions
4. Identify the deviations between plan, target and actual and analyze their causes.
5. Recognize the relationships and differences between the instruments of integrated planning accounting (performance budget including transfer to the planned P&L, indirect financial plan, planned balance sheet).
6. Analyze the effects of changes to an instrument of integrated planning accounting (e.g. in the performance budget) on other instruments (e.g. financial plan and/or planned balance sheet).

1. Understanding and application of the basics of cost management:
   The students develop a sound understanding of the essential concepts and instruments of operational cost management. They are able to explain a cost comparison, process costing, multi-level contribution margin accounting, and break-even analysis in a multi-product company and apply them in various business contexts. They can also explain the meaning and application of a plan-target-actual comparison. The plan-target-actual comparison is used specifically to identify deviations and derive recommendations for action.
   
   
2. Analysis and interpretation of business key figures:
   The students learn to analyze and interpret business key figures that are generated by cost comparison, contribution margin accounting, process costing, break-even analysis, and plan-target-actual comparison. You use these key figures specifically to support decision-making processes in the company.
   
   
3. Development and implementation of an integrated planning process:
   The students acquire the ability to plan and implement the budgeting process comprehensively. They can create a performance budget including the operational transfer to the planned P&L and develop an indirect financial plan and a planned balance sheet in order to ensure sound planning and control of the company processes.
   
   
4. Application of budget control instruments:
   The students are able to use budget control instruments to identify deviations. This enables them to develop correction suggestions for decision-making in various operational scenarios.

Learning Outcomes

1. List basic concepts and definitions of cost management, including cost comparison, process costing, (multi-level) contribution margin accounting, break-even analysis and plan-target-actual comparison.
2. List the individual steps of the integrated planning process.