Identification and evaluation of optimization potentials in the cost accounting system of Steiermärkische Krankenanstaltengesellschaft m. b. H. (KAGes)

A cost accounting ordinance was issued at the statutory level for hospitals financed by provincial funds, such as the Styrian KAGes. The legal requirements allow a certain amount of leeway. In cooperation with the Finance and Controlling organizational unit of KAGes, bachelor students of the class of 2020 were able to identify potential with regard to company-wide standardization in cost center accounting and internal cost allocation.

Preparation of a planning calculation and evaluation of the start-up WAIBROsports

WAIBROsports is a Graz-based start-up that is working on the development of a belt for visually impaired runners. Master's students from the class of 2021 have created an integrated budget consisting of a profit and loss account, balance sheet and cash flow statement in Excel. In addition, a company valuation derived from the planning calculation was handed over to the cooperation company.

Conception of a risk management system for the JUFA Hotels Group

Following an analysis of the organizational and operational structure, Master's students from the 2021 intake designed a risk management process for the operational area of the JUFA Hotels Group. Together with the cooperation partner, methods for identifying, assessing, managing and reporting risks were developed. An Excel tool for implementing and documenting the process was handed over to the management of the JUFA Hotels Group.

All merchandise management processes are to be handled in Kundenmeister and all merchandise management reports are to be generated from Kundenmeister. The project includes the preparatory design of the merchandise management processes. The normative basis for the conception is the 4-step methodology of ÖNORM A 9009:2013 "Processes in management systems - Instructions"

The designed target processes and an action plan for implementation are handed over to the project client.

Cost units must be defined to increase the informative value of monthly reporting. It must be determined from which project characteristics onwards separate cost objects are created or when "collective cost objects" are used. Cost types must be classified according to their allocability to the cost units (overhead costs, direct costs). Allocations of overhead costs to the cost units must be designed.

The "Order to Cash" (from order receipt to payment, including dunning) and "Purchase to Pay" (from order to payment) processes must be optimized in order to increase effectiveness (increase accuracy, reduce susceptibility to errors) and increase efficiency. The "synchronization of master data" process is also subject to optimization. Largely automated interfaces between the software tools should be provided.

Using the 4-step methodology of ÖNORM A 9009:2013 "Processes in management systems - Guidance", the actual processes are surveyed, potential for improvement is identified and target processes are designed.

Depreciation planning for Universalmuseum Joanneum GmbH is to be optimized, as there have been deviations between the planned and actual values in the past.

Once the data has been analyzed, the Excel planning is adapted on the basis of the findings and planning is also created with BMD. The revised budgeting workflows are documented in a manual.

In 2014, the EU member states adopted a directive to expand reporting by large, capital market-oriented companies, credit institutions, financial services institutions and insurance companies. This NFI (non-financial information) directive has been mandatory for capital market-oriented companies in Austria since 2017 as part of the Sustainability and Diversity Improvement Act (NaDiVeG). Specifically, this means that capital market-oriented companies must publish a non-financial statement or a separate non-financial report in addition to the management report.

The Federal Association of Austrian Accountants (BÖB) is an independent, non-profit organization for the promotion, support and advice in matters of (balance sheet) accounting, payroll accounting, controlling and other accounting. With regard to the job description of the balance sheet accountant, the vision of a business management business partner is pursued. Numerous further training courses are offered to provide members with the best possible support.

Of course, digitalization has long since found its way into the accounting sector and requires a wide range of adjustments - in terms of employees, processes and equipment. In order to provide its members with the best possible support, the project aims to identify the advantages and disadvantages of digitalization in accounting. These advantages and disadvantages will ultimately be quantified in monetary terms.

The company Gastro Dienst Haring was founded in 1986 by Mr. Johann Haring. The focus is on supplying restaurants with food and non-food items. The sole proprietorship grew and became a limited company in 2011. The one-person business became a company with over 40 employees. Due to Haring's constant growth, costs became impossible to overlook and price calculation became more difficult, also due to the fact that the figures only came from the accounting department. CAMPUS 02 University of Applied Sciences was tasked with presenting Gastro Haring's cost accounting using a Microsoft Excel tool.

The 2020 European Men's Handball Championship (European Handball Championship) took place in Norway, Austria and Sweden from 9 to 26 January 2020. The Austrian Handball Federation (ÖHB) and its subsidiary ÖHB Marketing & Veranstaltungs GmbH acted as the local organizer. CAMPUS 02 University of Applied Sciences was tasked with investigating the regional economic effects of the European Handball Championships on the respective federal states of Vienna and Graz.

Austria is ready for Industry 4.0. The importance of Industry 4.0 solutions will grow considerably in the coming years and the digitalization of value chains will shape the business environment. New, intelligent, networked and efficient production technologies are conquering factory halls and digital fabricators - 3D printers and related technologies (additive manufacturing, rapid prototyping, fabber, etc.) - have the potential to radically increase the flexibility of the production process.

Due to their diversity, heterogeneity and flexibility, SMEs are often described as the main pillars of a country's economy. They are characterized above all by their innovations and are particularly widespread in Austria. In order to survive on the market in the long term, it is therefore increasingly necessary for companies with smaller organizational structures to deal with the issue of risk-oriented procurement management. By means of effective, holistic and strategy-based procurement management, medium-sized companies will continue to be successful in the future.

Conception of a methodology for measuring the success of building blocks

At Magna Powertrain, the introduction of the so-called "Cross Functional Building Blocks" began in 2020. The building block organization was successfully implemented in 2021. Numerous initiatives have already been launched and savings and recycling potential has been exploited. However, until the start of the project, the cooperation partner had suspected potential for improvement in the methodology for measuring the contributions to success.

Students on the 2020 Master's degree program developed a practical concept for the methodology of measuring the economic contributions to the success of building blocks. The concept is based on the Savage-Niehans principle, Bayes' rule, a benefit portfolio tailored to Magna Powertrain and the half-life concept. The concept was implemented in MS Excel.