The 6th edition continues to contain contemporary topical coverage. There is an even presentation of contemporary topics (Environmental Costing, Activity-based Costing, Activity-based Management, Target Costing, Kaizen Costing, the Value Chain, etc.) and traditional topics (job-order costing, cost estimation, cost-volume-profit analysis, budgeting, etc.).

Each chapter is written around a realistic business that introduces the reader to the topics of that chapter. These focus companies convey the importance of managerial accounting and stimulates students’ interest.

The balanced presentation of Service, Retail, Nonprofit, and Manufacturing examples remain. Of the focus companies used, 11 are set in the manufacturing sector, 7 involve service industry firms, 3 are retail companies, and 3 involve nonprofit or governmental settings. Four of these companies are dot.com enterprises.

Each chapter is written as a self-contained unit to allow instructors maximum flexibility in topic sequencing.

Strong end-of-chapter materials include Review Questions, Exercises, Problems, and Cases and the updated section entitled Current Issues in Managerial Accounting. The material has been dramatically changed and/or updated with almost all new variables in the problems.

Up-to-date coverage of E-Commerce in the fast-paced internet industry and what role accountants and accounting information play in "dot-com" businesses. There are examples of e-commerce throughout and four of the chapter-long focus companies are e-commerce businesses, which illustrate concepts such as mass-customization production, minimal inventory, direct-selling and order-taking via the internet. This is both relevant and exciting for students to examine businesses that revolve around the new economy with a process that is familiar and interesting to them.

"Management Accountants: In Their Own Words" feature incorporates actual quotes from practicing managerial accountants. This serves as a friendly, informal teaching device designed to show students how the field is changing and highlight the accountant’s role in companies’ cross-functional management teams. This feature helps to emphasize the relevance of the text and how the material the students are learning will be used on the job. Students will appreciate the material if they know it relates to their future employment.

Student Success with Topic Tackler CD-ROM. This new, text-specific CD, free with every new copy of the text, helps students achieve success in the classroom. It includes PowerPoint slides in two versions and video clips. Also included are supplemental chapters on Process Costing: The First-in, First-out Method, The Statement of Cash Flows, and Financial Statement Analysis.

The Topic Tackler portion of the CD is a tutorial that offers a virtual helping hand in understanding the most challenging topics in the course. Through a step-by-step sequence of video, PowerPoint slides, interactive practice exercises and self tests Topic Tackler offers help on two key topics for each chapter.

14 of the 18 chapters now include "Focus on Ethics" sections that pose ethical dilemmas or discuss ethical issues and then ask the student for his or her opinion about the issue. Some of these are based on issues reported in the press; others are based on well-established anecdotal evidence.

New coverage of Environmental Cost Management--a hot, new topic in the field.

New and updated "Management Accounting Practice" pedagogical boxes.

Expanded coverage of the Balanced Scorecard.