ABSTRACT
This case involves initial and subsequent inventory measurement in an international setting. It provides students with: (1) a comprehensive review of inventory measurement issues under three accounting standard-setting regimes, and (2) a comparison of business cultures with respect to their financial accounting standards related to inventory, and (3) how they communicate information (e.g., dates and numbers). The modular nature of the case allows the instructor to assign one or two parts of the case and to apply one, two, or three sets of accounting standards. The first module involves accounting for raw materials inventories for an international chemical company according to U.S. and German GAAP. An optional extension addresses the IFRS inventory measurement requirements. In the second module, the inventory measurement issues are extended to semi-finished (work-in-process) inventories. The case is appropriate for intermediate, advanced, and graduate-level financial accounting classes.
