云南省考生注意：2020年ACCA考试，科目要这么选！

正确答案：
(b) Johnson, Scholes and Whittington define a strategic alliance as ‘where two or more organisations share resources and
activities to pursue a strategy’. There are a number of types of alliance ranging from a formal joint venture through to networks
where there is collaboration but no formal agreement. The type of strategic alliance will be affected by how quickly market
conditions are changing – swift rates of change may require flexible less formal types of alliance and determine whether
specific dedicated resources are required or whether the partners can use existing resources. Johnson, Scholes and
Whittington argue that for an alliance to be successful there needs to be a clear strategic purpose and senior management
support; compatibility between the partners at all levels – this may be complicated if it is a cross-border alliance; time spent
defining and meeting performance expectations including clear goals, governance and organisational arrangements; and
finally trust both in terms of respective competences and trustworthiness.

6D–ENGAA
Paper 3.5
6D–ENGAA
Paper 3.5
The advantages that may be gained by a successful strategic alliance include creating a joint operation that has a ‘critical
mass’ that may lead to lower costs or an improved offer to the customer. It may also allow each partner to specialise in areas
where they have a particular advantage or competence. Interestingly, alliances are often entered into where a company is
seeking to enter new geographical markets, as is the case with both divisions. The partner brings local knowledge and
expertise in distribution, marketing and customer support. A good strategic alliance will also enable the partners to learn from
one another and develop competences that may be used in other markets. Often firms looking to develop an e-business will
use an alliance with a partner with experience in website development. Once its e-business is up and running a firm may
eventually decide to bring the website design skills in-house and acquire the partner.
Disadvantages of alliances range from over-dependence on the partner, not developing own core competences and a tendency
for them not to have a defined end date. Clearly there is a real danger of the partner eventually becoming a competitor.
In assessing the suitability for each division in using a strategic alliance to enter European markets one clearly has to analyse
the very different positions of the divisions in terms of what they can offer a potential partner. The earlier analysis suggests
that the Shirtmaster division may have the greater difficulty in attracting a partner. One may seriously question the feasibility
of using the Shirtmaster brand in Europe and the competences the division has in terms of manufacturing and selling to large
numbers of small independent UK clothing retailers would seem inappropriate to potential European partners. Ironically, if
the management consultant recommends that the Shirtmaster division sources some or all of its shirts from low cost
manufacturers in Europe this may provide a reason for setting up an alliance with such a manufacturer.
The prospects of developing a strategic alliance in the Corporate Clothing division are much more favourable. The division
has developed a value added service for its corporate customers, indeed its relationship with its customers can be seen as a
relatively informal network or alliance and there seems every chance this could be replicated with large corporate customers
in Europe. Equally, there may be European workwear companies looking to grow and develop who would welcome sharingthe Corporate Clothing division’s expertise.

正确答案：
(a) The management of an organisation need to exercise control at different levels within an organisation. These levels are often
categorised as being strategic, tactical and operational. The information required by management at these levels varies in
nature and content.
Strategic information
Strategic information is required by the management of an organisation in order to enable management to take a longer term
view of the business and assess how the business may perform. during that period. The length of this longer term view will
vary from one organisation to another, being very much dependent upon the nature of the business and the ability of those
responsible for strategic direction to be able to scan the planning horizon. Strategic information tends to be holistic and
summary in nature and would be used by management when, for example, undertaking SWOT analysis. In Moffat Ltd
strategic information might relate to the development of new services such as the provision of a home-based vehicle recovery
service or the provision of twenty-four hour servicing. Other examples would relate to the threats posed by Moffat Ltd’s
competitors or assessing the potential acquisition of a tyre manufacturer in order to enhance customer value via improved
efficiency and lower costs.
Tactical information
Tactical information is required in order to facilitate management planning and control for shorter time periods than strategic
information. Such information relates to the tactics that management adopt in order to achieve a specific course of action. In
Moffat Ltd this might involve the consideration of whether to open an additional outlet in another part of the country or
whether to employ additional supervisors at each outlet in order to improve the quality of service provision to its customers.
Operational information
Operational information relates to a very short time scale and is often used to determine immediate actions by those
responsible for day-to-day management. In Moffat Ltd, the manager at each location within Moffat Ltd would require
information relating to the level of customer sales, the number of vehicles serviced and the number of complaints received
during a week. Operational information might be used within Moffat Ltd in order to determine whether staff are required to
work overtime due to an unanticipated increase in demand, or whether operatives require further training due to excessive
time being spent on servicing certain types of vehicle.

正确答案：
(ii) Wholly-owned foreign subsidiary
■ The cash transfer is a non-adjusting post balance sheet event. It indicates that Batik was trading after the balance
sheet date. However, that does not preclude Batik having commenced trading before the year end.
■ The finance director’s oral representation is wholly insufficient evidence with regard to the existence (or otherwise)
of Batik at 30 September 2005. If it existed at the balance sheet date its financial statements should have been
consolidated (unless immaterial).
■ The lack of evidence that might reasonably be expected to be available (e.g. legal papers, registration payments,
etc) suggests a limitation on the scope of the audit.
■ If such evidence has been sought but not obtained then the limitation is imposed by the entity (rather than by
circumstances).
■ Whilst the transaction itself may not be material, the information concerning the existence of Batik may be material
to users and should therefore be disclosed (as a non-adjusting event). The absence of such disclosure, if the
auditor considered necessary, would result in a qualified ‘except for’, opinion.
Tutorial note: Any matter that is considered sufficiently material to be worthy of disclosure as a non-adjusting
event must result in such a qualified opinion if the disclosure is not made.
■ If Batik existed at the balance sheet date and had material assets and liabilities then its non-consolidation would
have a pervasive effect. This would warrant an adverse opinion.
■ Also, the nature of the limitation (being imposed by the entity) could have a pervasive effect if the auditor is
suspicious that other audit evidence has been withheld. In this case the auditor should disclaim an opinion.

正确答案：C