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My gratitude goes to the Midlands State University academic staff that has imparted their vast
knowledge and has so much assisted me during my industrial attachment. It is through their valued
support that I would be able to get my attachment and enjoy it. Many heartfelt thanks for their
support.
Many thanks go to the management and the rest of the staff at Wattle Company for their unwavering
support and for giving me a chance to be part of the Wattle family. Worth mentioning is the
invaluable support and guidance that I constantly got throughout my industrial attachment from the
operations and manufacturing team. I also want to extent my gratitude to the accounting team.
Special thanks go to Mr Masvore (finance manager), Mr I Tahwa (Operations Accountant), Mr
Mukomberanwa G (Accounting officer), Mr Mafulela T (Accounting officer), Mr Dube T (creditor’s
clerk), Mr Ndekwere C, Mr Madzongwe E, and all the accounts team members for their professional
guidance, supervision and for all the support and ideas that we shared during the course of my
industrial attachment. I owe the successful compilation of this report to all these people who were
constantly beside me, cheering me on and supporting me all the way during my fruitful year at
Wattle Zimbabwe.
I would also like to extent my heartfelt gratitude to my family members for their invaluable support
(moral and otherwise) throughout my attachment. I truly thank the Lord Almighty for the opportunity
of a memorable fruitful year at Wattle Zimbabwe. God bless you all.
Foreword
2
From the above mentioned objectives it is therefore necessary for one to compile a report that may
act as a benchmark to see if the objectives of industrial attachment are being achieved.
This report summarizes the author’s real-life experiences in a working environment with real
operational structures that he went through at Wattle Company Private Ltd. The duration of the
attachment was twelve months, which were spent in the finance and control department, a service
department to the firm. It is in line with Bachelor of Commerce Business Management Honors
Degree that a report be compiled that summarizes the relation of practical experience gained to
academic education. Therefore, this report is feedback to the Midlands State University.
The author was attached in the accounts department, which is made up of:
1. Management Accounting
2. Financial Accounting
3. Cost Accounting
Data was gathered through carrying out specific tasks, sharing ideas, observation and experimental
work. The main goal behind this report is to give the conceptual view of the department and how it
fits in the overall performance of the firm. It is also an analysis, evaluation and assessment of
whether the department is complying with the recommended accounting practices. On the other hand
it is there to summarize the extensive work experience that he was exposed to during his stay at
Wattle Company and allows the reader to get the real feeling of how things happen in the accounts
department at Wattle Company.
The intention of this report is give a brief background of the industrial attachment programme as
well as to give a report of the host company, its history, core business, present operations and future
business prospects. After the brief background, it will then move on to main findings,
recommendations and conclusions.
Table of contents
4
Chapter two
Work Related Learning assignments 24
2.1 Accounts Department 24
2.2 Stores Department 30
2.3 Relevance of theory to practice 32
2.4 Recommendations for further learning needs 37
Conclusion 38
Chapter three
Personal and Professional Development 39
3.1 New skills acquired 39
3.2 Personal Development 42
3.3 Strengths and Weaknesses 43
3.4 An assessment of Work Related Learning 45
Conclusion 46
Chapter four
5
Chapter five
Conclusions 52
5.1 Recommendations to Midlands States University 52
5.2 Recommendations to Wattle Company 53
Conclusion 56
Re-entry 57
Chapter one
Introduction to the company of placement
7
The Wattle Company was founded in 1945 as The Rhodesian Wattle Company by the Forestal Lands,
Timber and Railways Company of England (“The Forestal Company”) with the purpose of
developing a wattle extract industry in Southern Rhodesia. Baron Emile Beaumont d'Erlanger
was the founder and financier of the Forestal Land, Timber, and Railways Company that developed
the Wattle extract industries in South Africa, Kenya, and Zimbabwe.
Land was purchased in the eastern districts and the development of plantations commenced. Two
wattle extract factories were commissioned in the mid-fifties at Nyanga and Chimanimani.
Subsequent changes in the demand for wattle extract in the world leather industry arising from the
development of non-leather shoe materials, as well as the development of synthetic tanning agents,
compelled the Company to rationalise its wattle holdings and seek diversification into other
activities. This diversity is the reason for continuing growth and vigour of the Company.
Today, The Wattle Company Limited is a vertically integrated forest products and
Agricultural company with a superior and diverse range of export products from its 43000
hectares of land situated in the eastern highlands of Zimbabwe. In addition to wattle
extract, the Company is a leading producer of pine-sawn timber, eucalyptus pole
products, Arabica coffee and charcoal. The Company services both local and export
markets.
The company services both local and export markets. The Wattle Company owns five estates/tree
plantations namely Chipinge, Chimanimani, Nyanga, Vumba and Dunsinane (in Penhalonga).
The Financial Director heads the finance department and is responsible for all financial matters of
the company. He deals mainly with the accounts department. The Financial Director reports to the
Managing Director. Below the financial directors are three accountants, accountant wattle, and
accountant head office and accountant pine division. These accountants deal with the accounts of
their respective divisions. They all report to the General Manager Finance. Below these accountants
are accounts clerks who are responsible for the accounts of the department they fall under. All
accounts clerks report to their respective accountant. They work together to produce financial
statements periodically.
Operations Director is responsible for all operations up to the point when goods are sold. Each
division has a manager who is responsible for all operations. Production managers, foresters, rangers
and factory hand works together under these divisional mangers for the production of timber in
different estates. Factory hand works do the general work like cutting poles and some of them report
to foresters. Each person works towards the production of timber for the department he works for.
The Human Resources Executive deals with labour related activities. He is responsible for recruiting
and retrenching employees and salary related issues. They also keep confidential information like
salary increments, promotions and records of employees of the company. He is based at the head
office since he deals with labour related issues for the whole company. Salaries administration and
wages clerk are under the Human Resources Executive and they deal with payment of salaries and
wages respectively. Safety, Health and Environment manager deals with safety at work and health
issues.
Supplies Manager deals with the purchasing of the whole company and he is based at the head office.
The supplies manager purchases all materials and goods required by the company after different
managers of the departments requesting them authorize them. He will first have quotations from
different suppliers and compare prices and quality and see if the goods to be purchased are of use to
the requesting department.
Organogram
M A N A G IN G D IR E C T O R
F IN D IR E C T O R O P S D IR E C T O R H R E X E C U T IV E SUP.MGR SALES M G R
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1.3.1 Products
I. Charcoal
Charcoal is produced as a by-product from wattle timber in brick and metal kilns. The wattle tree is
an exotic hardwood species and is therefore particularly well suited to the manufacture of charcoal of
a high calorific value. The company has 18 kilns at Chimanimani, 6 kilns in Chipinge and 2 more
kilns located in Vumba that produce eucalyptus charcoal. Charcoal is sold to industrial consumers for
industrial purposes e.g. smelting of silica for the manufacture of silicon .It is also sold under the
brand Vesta Barbeque Charcoal. This charcoal is meant for domestic use like in the heating
barbeques.
The product is marketed locally through poultry farmers and companies like Quest. Internationally
the chief customer of charcoal is Silicon Smelters in Petersburg, South Africa.
The quality of charcoal is based upon density, weight of unit of packaging, and the timber used for its
production. There was once the introduction of pine charcoal due to some fires, which erupted .The
pine charcoal, was however not marketed extensively due to the reason that it is soft.
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Dry logs are brought in from the fields and are fed and stacked into charcoal kilns (clay or steel). The
logs are fired up in the kilns and combustion takes place, in an oxygen-starved environment. The
process is monitored and controlled so that the charcoal does not burn to ashes. Charcoal undergoes a
cooling process (air vents are closed to prevent further combustion). The final product is packed into
standard 30kg bags ready for selling. The whole production process from stacking logs into the kilns
to the packaging takes an average of a week.
The Wattle Company is the 3rd largest producer of pine-sawn timber in Zimbabwe. It produces
approximately 20% of Zimbabwe's total annual timber output. Pine plantations are located at Nyanga
and Dunsinane Estates approximately 65kms and 35kms north of Mutare respectively. Logs from
these plantations are supplied to the Nyanga estates Our Pine Sawn timber is marketed locally and
regionally under the brand name Nyanga Pine. Local markets include companies like P.G, T.S
Timber, J.W Johnson and Halsteds Brothers. The quality of the pine timber is based upon the
dimensional accuracy, moisture content, appearance and structural load bearing capacity.
The sawn timber is split roughly 76% industrial grade, 20% structural grade and the 4% appearance
grade. The mill produces timber in thickness of 19.25mm; 3850mm and 76mm.The widths range
from 76; 114; 152 and 228mm while lengths produced range from 900mm and 6.6metres .In addition
to supplying timber the company is able to finger-joint to customers' specifications.
Customers are divided into two main categories. These are structural sawn timber customers such as
builder' merchants and roof trusses manufacturers and the industrial sawn timber customers such as
furniture and door manufacturers and pallet market.
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Eucalyptus plantations are located at Vumba Estates 30km South East of Mutare. It is a division
comprising of 1900 hectares of Eucalyptus Grandis and Eucalyptus Cloenzia. The eucalyptus
division has restructured in the past, with the exit from treated poles and the consequential 5-8 year
conversion of the estates into a saw log regime. Raw logs, pulpwood, and saw logs are being sold
from the estates. Poles from the estates are treated with creosote preservative at the Wattle Company
Creosote Impregnation Plant in Mutare.
In order to ensure maximum utilization of resources the Vumba estate has 2 charcoal kilns that burn
waste cut-offs from Eucalyptus Cloeziana to make charcoal. The bulk of Wattle Company's products
are exported in order for the company to gain revenue. Most of the company's customers are foreign
based. This is due to the reason that it has a contract to supply its products to these customers through
the company's agencies.
As the resource base matures, it is the company’s intention to establish a state-of-the-art hardwood
sawmill and kilns on the estate to enable us to produce eucalyptus-sawn board as the demand for
exotic hardwoods worldwide increases.
13
The Wattle Company is the only producer of wattle extract in Zimbabwe and also the country's
principal producer of charcoal in Zimbabwe and one of the eight extracts producer's worldwide .It
supplies over 4500tonnes to the world market.
A total of 10690 hectares of wattle plantations are located predominantly in Chimanimani and
Chipinge districts approximately 160 and 120 km south of Mutare respectively.
Black wattle (Acacia mearnsii) is grown on a 9-10 year rotation. The wattle extract is produced at
Silver-stream Extract Factory that is located at Chimanimani Estates. After it has been produced it is
marketed under the "Rhomosa " brand name through the company's agents, Forestal Mimosa (U.K)
Limited. Exports are shipped in containers from stocks held at the port of Beira.
A sustainable 6000tonnes of Wattle Mimosa extract is produced annually at our Silver streams
Factory in both solid and powder (Ordinary Powder and Green Special Powder) form. The principal
properties of wattle extract are high tanning content, its solubility in water and consistent high
quality. These features make it a highly suitable and preferred vegetable leather-tanning agent.
Wattle extract is used for tanning leather, purifying boilers and as an adhesive additive in paints and
glue. The wattle extract is marketed in India and Pakistan (far East region) and the Middle East.
Demand is a derived demand based upon factors affecting demand for leather, mainly fashion trend.
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When mature, the wattle trees are felled and stripped of their bark, which is taken to the extract plant
at Silverstream. The bark is finely chopped and pushed through a series of autoclaves. Tannin is
extracted using heat and pressure. The thin tannin liquor is thickened until it is of a consistency that
solidifies on cooling.
1.3.2 Services
I. Human Capital Centre
It is responsible for recruiting all the company’s employees both at the estates and the Head
Office. This department deals with all the labour-related issues that arise in the company including
retrenchment and salary/wages negotiation issues. This is a confidential department since any leak
in confidential information can result in a legal action being taken against the company if charges
are pressed.
This department inspects or assesses to see if there are any potholes as far as business procedures
are concerned. This department is also responsible for in-house investigations in cases of illegal
practices occurring within the company like theft of company assets and fraudulent practices of
any other sort.
III. Accounting
The department’s functions include management and financial accounting, credit controlling and
debtors payments. Each division has its accountants, accounting officers and accounts clerks who
are dedicated to their respective divisions.
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All these like different parts of a body come together to form a functional body. One department
can hardly do without the other just as none of the department is more important than the other.
Each has its own way of adding value to the company within its specific functions. Heads of
Departments meet occasionally to keep in touch with the company’s goals and remind each other
of the roles to be played by their departments as a contribution to the success of the company.
III. Teamwork
The company believes that its goals will only be achieved through teamwork. “WE” and not
“I” will forever guide its actions.
IV. Quality
The company’s success and dominance in the industry has resulted from the quality of its
products and services through efficiency. It is committed to excellence of quality and
services.
V. Continuous Improvement
It believes in the principle of doing better and improving what it is already doing, and with
this it embraces quality management, technology advancement and facility improvement. It
encourages ingenuity and promotes preservation of the environment.
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All in all, Wattle Company has managed to outdo the harsh economic environment and other limiting
factors by continually living and practicing its set values. The values are not just documented
statements can be noted as one moves around the company.
Social responsibility refers to the idea that businesses should not function amorally but instead
should contribute to the welfare of their communities, hence the need to fund innovative ideas and
improve lives around the business’ society. The Wattle Company is an active player in the
communities in which it operates. Its community activities include sports and recreation, education,
health and safety and community relations.
The company offers sporting facilities for a number of disciplines such as football, netball, tennis
and squash in all estates. The Wattle Company is the proud sponsor of the Premier League side,
Monomutapa Football Club that has emerged the pride of Mutare and the whole of the province of
Manicaland
II. Education
The Wattle Company runs seven primary schools on all its estates to cater for the learning of
children belonging to its workers. The total enrolment is over 1,500 children and 40 teachers are
employed. The Government of Zimbabwe pays the salaries to the teachers as well as per-capita
grants towards the costs of running the schools. The Wattle Company provides and maintains the
schools’ infrastructure and contributes additional development funds when required.
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The Wattle Company voluntarily ceded 3,200ha of land to the Government of Zimbabwe for the
purposes of resettling landless people. It has also sponsored the education of a number of less
privileged children over the years and has retained them for employment in their relevant
departments after completion of their studies.
The Wattle Company has significantly played its part in terms of welfare of its workers and the
community. However more can be done for the society as the economy gets worse and worse each
day. Families that have lost their heads to HIV/AIDS within the communities could be assisted
regularly with food aid and school fees for the children that are in school. Old people’s homes and
centres for the disabled would also be more than glad to receive donations from companies as big
as The Wattle Company.
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Weaknesses
Gaps in plantation age class resulted in high fluctuation in timber supply. The management should
monitor production target annually to minimise the effect of gaps.
The Wattle Company has one export market destination that is South Africa; this means any surge
in economic activities will affect company profits.
The company’s failure to recognise staff training and development might result in lack of
competence in the future
Wattle plantations were over harvested last years and this may affect supply of wattle in the future.
The management is monitoring and updating harvesting plans
Opportunities
Initiative by government to promote corporate farming provides diversification opportunities
All non-millable baboon and fire-damaged timber can be converted to charcoal.
There is an expansion of plantation resources within Zimbabwe and neighbouring countries like
Mozambique. The company is pursuing arrangements with Chipinge local authority at ST Kelvin
Threats
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Expectations
As a student I was expecting that the supervisor would be sitting at my side teaching what to do.
Apart from that I expected to be taken as just a student who would contribute insignificantly to the
organisation.
Further more I thought, though I was just a student my contributions would be needed in some
situations.
I expected to apply the rich theoretical approach I had acquired for two years at college with the
knowledge from different modules.
The working environment was not hostile at all. Particularly colleagues in the accounts department
were willing to help any time the student had a question on some procedures. The supervisor was so
helpful to the extent of making sure his welfare at home was superb.
Besides that, the team helped the student to realize that he was an important figure who was able to
contribute something significant to the organisation. The supervisor would leave him to accomplish
certain tasks without the aid of anyone. Eventually when he had finished these tasks and send them
to the executives he realized he was at Wattle Company for a significant purpose.
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Conclusion
The background, mission and values have at the point been explored in great detail. Wattle Company
takes it upon itself to do its best in business and in its social responsibility endeavours in its day-to-
day operations. Chapter two has detailed information of the student’s work related learning
assignments and the personal and professional development of the student being found in Chapter 3.
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I. Creditors section
The creditors section processes creditors invoices into the system. The main processes involved
include:
• Costing of goods received note from the stocks section with invoices received from suppliers.
Quoted prices on orders are compared with invoices
• Invoice processing: on receipt of invoices, they are matched with the purchase order and
checks whether the quantities and quoted prices on the purchase orders agree with the
invoices then batch for input. The invoices are then processed.
• Creditors reconciliation
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• Preparing and printing month-end reports that are purchase ledger, credit note daybook, cash
discount daybook, ageing analysis report and check if agreeing
• Creditors divisionalisation
• Creditors input
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• Inputting debtors invoices and cash receipts. Invoices received monthly will be processed
together with cash receipts and this will reduce our debtors in the system
• Ageing analysis. Debtors will be ranged according to the number of days they have been
debtors. Those who have been debtors for a long time will be declared bad debts and will be
included in the final accounts
• Debtors control to subsystem reconciliation. Value of debtors in the subsystem and nominal
must be the same
• Sales volume reconciliation per invoices processed. Total volume of output sold will be
reconciled against receipts received from sales
• Process debtors transfer journals
• Foreign debtors revaluation. Due to inflation, amount owed to us by our foreign debtors will
be revalued so that they reflect a true and fair value of money owed to us
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This is a department that processes most documents from the stores department. Following duties
were performed:
• Processing goods received notes from the stores department in the stock control routine. This
updates the stock file by increasing items in stock, open purchase order file by reducing the
number of open orders and the nominal ledger by debiting stock suspense account and
crediting stock accrual account with the quoted value of goods received
• Printing and checking stocks input audit trails to verify accuracy of goods received input
• Raising cost adjustment and quantity adjustment to correct any errors. Cost adjustment will
be correcting the average cost to the figure it was before processing. Quantity adjustment will
be adjusting price if wrong price was processed. If there is no mistake, the purchase order,
goods received note, delivery note are then send to the creditors clerk pending receipt of
invoices
• Issuing of stock. We processed stock issue vouchers where all issues of stock are recorded.
These stock issue vouchers are coded, checked and then batched before processing.
Processing the stock issue vouchers updates the stock file by reducing items in stock and the
nominal ledger file by debiting expense allocation and crediting stock control account by the
value of stock issued
• Raising a stores return voucher if wrong goods are issued to return goods in stock. Goods are
transferred among different depots using a request to transfer document where the issuing
depot, receiving depot, quantity transferred and description of the goods are detailed. It is
processed at the stock section
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I was involved in the introduction of the new accounting system (ERP) to the accounts department.
The drawbacks of the SMB:
• Because of high inflation figures the SMB could not coup up with changes in the economy
and hence it would drop figures and distort the accounts
• The SMB could not process at real time, there was need to wait to process input until the end
of the period, and hence the accounts will be behind by one month in terms of the accounts, it
did not allow to process when things happen, and it could not produce the trial balance it has
to be done manual and hence increase in overheads because many people needed to be
employed.
• The SMB was not dynamic to changes in the system thus the changes in inflation and
revaluations. Revaluation had to be done manually and it took 2or more weeks to revalue the
whole system.
The introduced system ERP-Enterprise Resource Planning is a system that integrates or at least
attempts to integrate all data and processes of an organization into a unified system. This meant that
the accounting system, the marketing orders system and all invoicing processes were to be
swallowed up in one system called ERP.
Advantages of ERP
• The ERP accommodates more than 50 people at one time log on, and this will be of benefit if
all the estates will be online and input as things happen
• The accounts can be run any time and the position of the firm can be seen at the click of a
button.
• The system is dynamic and can easily adapt to changes in the economy, thus it can also report
in multi currencies.
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Rotation of duties carried on and moved to the stores department where buying and issuing of stocks
is done. Below are the movement of documents and different tasks performed.
Buying at Wattle Company is centralized. User departments raise RS (requisition to purchase non-
stock items). These RS details the quantity, unit and description of items to be purchased. An
authorized person indicates the account to which the expense should be charged and sign them.
Requisition to purchase stock items (RP) are raised by the stores administrator when stock levels
reach the reorder levels. These RP details the quantity, unit and description of the items to be
purchased. An authorized person signs them and indicates the stores allocation to which the cost
should be charged. RP and RS documents are then send to the buyer by the stores department.
On receipt of an RP and RS, the buyer raises four purchase orders. The top copy goes to the supplier,
the second copy to the record supervisor, third copy goes to the department that requested for the
purchase and the last copy is a fast copy. The record supervisor and his staff batches the purchase
orders and put them in purchase order routine. They are then dispatched to the accounts department
where they are processed. The computer updates the open purchase order file by increasing the
number of open orders and the stock file by increasing the number of items in order. Orders are then
send to the receiving department were they are filed pending receipt of goods.
Suppliers on receipt of order will send goods to the buying company. When goods are received, a
goods received note is raised in the receiving bay. The purchase order and delivery note are signed in
this bay to acknowledge receipt. The GRN, purchase order, delivery note and the goods are passed
on to the dispatches bay. The dispatches bay then send goods to the requesting department
accompanied by an advice of movement, while the goods received note, order, quotation are passed
to the accounts department for processing.
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Raw data must be applied in the work environment and put into practice. During the attachment
period, some of the concepts, knowledge, skills and attitudes acquired from MSU were applied to the
working environment. The following are the concepts applied:
I. General disclosure
The group comprises of The Wattle Company Limited and its subsidiary Nyanga Pine (Pvt) Limited,
both of which are incorporated in Zimbabwe. The main business of the group consists of commercial
forestry. The principal accounting policies of the group for example accounting convention,
revaluation of fixed assets etc have been consistently followed in all material respects.
V. Basis of consolidation
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IX. Stocks
32
X. Accounting concepts
When preparing final accounts, prudence concept was applied, which states that profits should
not be overstated and losses should not be understated. The matching concept was also applied
when preparing the final account that is matching expenses against revenue that brought it about.
Expenses incurred during the month are recorded in the actual month they were incurred so that
the final accounts reflect a true and fair view of the company. It was also of great importance to
apply the going concern concept. When preparing the final accounts, the company will continue
to operate in future. The materiality concept was used to identify transactions that were worth
recording that is those of great importance and those that are to be written off.
XIII. Auditing
Internal controls imparted in audit lectures were in full force, and strictly monitored within the
organisation. The author also had a chance to work with external auditors as they went through their
audit process for year-end.
33
Some of the concepts learnt from information system that were able to applied included keeping
password a secret and logging off each time the office has no occupant so that information is
secured. Information system was applied when filing to keep documents safe and in chronological
order. At the end of each period, all the documents were filed for each period in each respective
department worked in.
Communicating with different workmates was easy although at first it proved to be difficult. Later on
the importance of good communication skills at work were applied and everything started working
out.
ii. VAT
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The student has never been exposed to meetings where decisions are being made. As a Business
Management student he is supposed to know a great deal of decision making at managerial level. In
addition some of the communication skills needed for example the ability to write minutes, notices
and the speech can be gained there.
Wattle Company is a large company with a number of depots. The was based at the head office and
he should have had a tour to all the company’s depots so that he could have an idea on how decision
are being made at operational level. It was going to be an advantage if the student had a deep
understanding of how the company’s deports operates.
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I. Technical skills
Working at Wattle Company helped the student in acquiring new skills. Prior to attachment little
knowledge about Microsoft Excel was acquired. The student was also introduced to an accounting
package known as SMB (Small to Medium business Accounting Software). At first it was difficult to
use the accounting package. As more exposure was gained, inputting information, producing
different reports, for example purchases ledger report for different creditors became faster and
accurate. Periodic stock counts were carried out. Stock take would mean comparing physical counts
and what will be on the bin cards. After every stock take a report of the proceedings and any
problems that might have risen would have to be reported. Stock variances were also highlighted in
the report.
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There were a few meetings I attended and these were only in the department level. Though they were
formal meetings the manager tried to infomalise them so that students could be accommodated since
they were unfamiliar with such meetings. The prominent skill I grasped was that the agenda should
be followed. Whenever one gets the platform to say something he or she should to stick to the
agenda. Failure to do so would lead to stray discussions, which would not accomplish objectives of
the meeting. Apart from that I learnt that for one to contribute meaningful suggestions he should
listen when others are passing their own opinions and it is a skill to abide by the chairperson orders
not just uttering when its not called for.
During the first I lacked this skill when talking to my supervisor or even to those who would want to
be served. However, later on I became adapted to the working environment. I could even complete
tasks from one department to another under the clear notion that I was doing the right thing. As I
began to settle my confidence got built up and in meetings like those of reporting on marketing
intelligence I became able to say out my findings, explain them in detail and defend them against
criticism.
I had a driving force in me that pushed me to execute my tasks. I would not wait for the supervisor to
coerce me carrying out my duties. In some trivial cases, which needed a quick decision to be made, I
had to pass decisions to avoid curbing the process by consulting my assistant supervisor.
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Mastering time usage for extreme productivity and overcoming procrastination of tasks were part of
the learnt tips. Setting of realistic goals, creations of action plans in case of crisis and achievement of
results were not left out either. In times of crisis, there is need to confront and solve hard problems
faced in working situation which is now done with confidence. It was also learnt that to succeed in
any field, personal motivation and cultivating a burning desire to keep moving towards your goals
was vital.
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Strengths
I. Adaptation
The environment in which the student was working was so complex with ever changing systems that
the student had to be flexible and be able to adapt to some changes. He quickly familiarises himself
with the systems to such an extend that some of the workers had to consult from him
The most pressure was experienced at the end of a financial period when all documents had to be
inputted in the system. During such a period the student had to stay at work till late to come back the
following day very early. All these he did willingly without experiencing any stress.
The student has proved to have good communication skills through his ability to handle any conflict
with the creditors, ability to trace missing documents and communication with the management.
Interaction with different people either over the phone or face to face called for the use of tactics
learnt at college. In most cases the situations called for politeness and cheerfulness in explaining and
asking for certain things.
IV. Punctuality
Work started at 8.00am and most of the time the student would get at work at 6:30am.this enabled
him to counter the pressure he would face if he had to start work at exact times. In that bid I became
so punctual almost every day. And 4.30pm was the dismissal time but the student would go an extra
mile up to 5.00pm.
V. Accuracy
Input of documents in the system need a great deal of accuracy any failure might cause information
distortion. However the student had proved to be very accurate and his supervisors chose him as one
of the team members who helped in input.
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The student had to cope with the computer functions such as excel. Excel is widely used in the
accounting department and the student’s little knowledge about excel affected the work progress.
Most of the objectives of the WRL were met significantly as the student has now mastered most of
the listed areas in the outline. Some of the topics took longer to be mastered than others. This was
because other tasks were day-to-day happenings like the use of spreadsheets and some were one-off
like data capturing in the system. The other flaw of the outline was that most of the topics were
drafted like they were to be covered in theory. In the end the student had to search the net before
presenting the monthly report and claim that a certain topic was well covered.
The supervisors were also pushed by the student’s drive to learn. Where the student showed no
interest, there was no need for the supervisor to force it on the student as they had lots of other work
to do. The same can be said for any other company with students on attachment.
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At college, theory staff was learnt. It proved to be difficult to put theory into practice since very few
things learnt at college applied to the practical part. Theory is skeletal without any experience from
the working environment. The student had to use that little information to tackle all the situations.
Accounting information system packages used like the SMB and later on ERP that are custom made
to meet Wattle Accounting System needs were a real challenge in the first days. The student was not
familiar to it and did not know how to use it and was very slow in using at first. As time passed by,
he managed to get used to the system and now using it faster with few or no errors at all. This he
managed through observation whilst others did the data capturing and asking questions for clear
understanding, taking down the procedures for future reference also eased the task
Some of the workmates were very difficult to work with. Some were reluctant to offer assistance in
detail and were rude. Difficulties were experienced in performing some jobs up to perfection at first.
Some people at Wattle Company used to think that attachee students were a threat if they know or
perform better than they do. They had a mindset that they can loose their jobs if that attachee
happens to be employed back after graduation since the student would have shown potential during
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Some new things were introduced very often. It took time to adapt to this rotation system. New
people were met to every department the attachee worked in. It took time to get used to the people
and the duties performed in each respective department. The student had to grasp the concepts
quickly and familiarize himself with the organization.
V. Teamwork problem.
Teamwork was difficult to cope up with at first. Working with many people with different characters,
attitudes, backgrounds and cultures was not an easy task to do. Some people were found to be very
rude and difficult to work with especially at the end of an accounting period. It was characterized by
long working hours almost everyday and working under pressure to meet deadlines. The student had
to be flexible and easily adapt to the team works.
Since the student was to transfer from one section to the other, he faced a great challenge of being
supervised by different supervisors some of whom were not that cooperative. The teaching
techniques had to differ from one supervisor to the other because of that the student was to be
flexible.
The company had shortage of computers and had to share one computer with other students, which
delayed the basic activities. The company had to increase the numbers of computers to meet one
machine-one user needs.
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For students to be better prepared for attachment, certain issues must be taken into consideration.
The student suggested that attachment students must have a case study of a company they work on
from production up to when final accounts are produced. They must get to the final stage of
producing final accounts. This will enable them to see how theory applies in the work environment.
They will be familiar with what takes place in industries.
The student also proposed that students must visit companies after a certain chapter that has
something to do with what takes place in companies. This will make them understand better how it is
done in real life that is putting theory into practice. Students must also visit the company they will be
working for during their attachment period for a week or two so that they get used to the
environment and the people they will be working with.
It is also proposed that the company can revise the supervisor - student ratio so that students can
have enough time with their supervisors. Considering the fact that one supervisor had to take care of
four students, students had to learn through other students.
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Chapter 5
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This chapter concludes this report. It makes recommendations on what the university can do to
improve its learning procedures and conditions in order to issue competitive BCom Degree in
Business Management. The same will be done for the student’s company of placement as there are
also areas in which Wattle Company can do better in terms of giving student a chance to learn the
realities of the finance world. The accounts department at Wattle Company also has its weaknesses
that have been observed. Recommendations and ideas will also be given in this chapter to address
those.
Availability of resources and lack of exposure at the institution made it very difficult for students to
acquire some practical skills. The computer equipment available is to few when it comes to catering
for the number of students there is. The supervisors expected some areas to have been covered before
the student joined the company. For instance excel which is only done in theory on introduction to
information technology. This made the learning process slower than intended by supervisors. MSU
should see to it that it buys more equipment and makes resources available for students to learn and
appreciate stuff.
II. Occasional visits by the college officials to the student’s place of work.
This is beneficial in checking progress with the student and supervisors. MSU lecturers showed up at
Wattle Company only once for a short while which was far from what was required. The college
needs to clarify its requirements and expected results of attachment to the supervisors constantly so
that the learning procedure is fruitful. Otherwise it can be said that “baby dumping” is done of
students during the attachment period.
I. Information security
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Input controls: because of the phrase “garbage in garbage out” controls are needed for the proper
entry of data into an information system. Examples include passwords and other security codes,
formatted data entry screens and audible error signals. Registering them in a logbook when data
entry personnel receive them can also control input of source documents.
Processing controls: once data is entered correctly into a computer, it must be processed properly.
Processing controls are developed to identify errors in arithmetic calculations and logical operations.
They are also used to ensure that data are not lost or do not go unprocessed. Processing controls
include hardware and software controls.
Output controls: these are developed to ensure that information products are correct and complete
and are transmitted to unauthorized users in a timely manner. For example, output documents and
reports are frequently logged, identified with route slips, and usually verified by input or output
control personnel.
In most cases the accounts department faces some inconveniences due to missing documents. The
fact that the is a goods received note which was not captured means our closing stock at the end of
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The company is recommended to have an undisturbed channel on which the documents are supposed
to flow. If the case is that all goods received notes should move from stores to accounts then that
must be the case. No one should go directly to the stores and collect those documents. Any one who
might need those documents should know the formal channel of getting them. Only those individuals
who are responsible should keep the documents the majority should borrow and return
To avoid loosing the important information when documents are lost the goods received notes should
be processed at the stores department just in time when the goods are received. That means
computerization is needed.
The company have been doing its best to automate the offices to such extend that almost every
department have got a computer. However some of the computers are of the old models and their
performances are very poor. For instance the student was using one of such computers when he was
at stocks section. At one moment he lost the whole typed document that was urgently needed. This
forced him to extend his working hours. Though the student was patient enough to work with such a
computer but in normal cases the use of poorly performing machine may reduce a worker’s
commitment to his job.
The company is recommended to replace those old model computers with modern ones. Those
computers can be sold on an auction or they can be taken to departments like stores as an experiment
to see how efficient it might be to computerize such departments. Or if the company doesn’t have
enough funds to purchase some more machines it can send such computers to specialist for a
thorough service.
1. The Accounts Department should make quick follow-ups on invoices that are not returned on
time from the departments to which they would have been sent.
2. The creditors’ days should be clearly expressed to subordinates who mainly deal with the
suppliers so as to ensure harmony between the company and the suppliers.
3. Delegation of some managerial tasks that are manageable to students so as to give them
exposure and a conceptual view of the whole accounting department.
Conclusion
The WRL period at Wattle was an immeasurably valuable experience, which nurtured the student
into a more capable professional. Skills have been gained technically, professionally and socially.
These will be used for post-graduation days as he moves into the industry full time. Exposure to
different aspects of finance has helped in choosing an area of specific interest. It has added an ability
to visualise the importance of group work and delegation. Attachment at Wattle was an eye-opener
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Re-entry
My Work Related Learning period at The Wattle Company Limited really transformed me into a
responsible student who is capable of working competently in the industry. It really gave me hands
on experience of the real working environment. I was able to familiarize myself with new ideas and
aspects in the industry.
Now that I m going back for my final year after this Work Related Learning period I will be able to
balance between the theory I will learn at school with the practical experience that I gained in the
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I have also been transformed personally by the challenges that I faced during my WRL period as well
as the responsibilities that I were given during my WRL. I am able to critically analyze situations and
make rational decisions in critical circumstances Faced with a problem I am now in a good position
to analyse it and make decisions. Thus I no longer depend on someone for decisions especially where
ad-hoc decisions are to be made. As a business management student it is very important to have such
a skill since one will be dealing with subordinates
I am now capable of being a leader and this I acquired through being accountable in some tasks,
which the supervisor delegated to me. As I accepted the responsibility, it meant that I would devise
means and ways to accomplish assigned tasks effectively thereby enhancing my leadership qualities.
Regular reporting to the supervisor, attending general meetings, and communicating with other
workers boosted my communication skills. Apart from that I had to communicate well with the
suppliers during the period when I was working on creditors section. That’s when I gained the
confidence to talk over the phone and to be patient enough and not to lose my temper especially
when the suppliers are angry about late payment.
As a management student I noticed the way my supervisor addressed his subordinates and other
workers. I certainly grasped his methods and I am now able to handle human resources in common
matters, which concern employees from an individual perspective. Still on human resources the
supervisor had his own way of motivating employees, which I think were effective therefore if in any
case I am called to exercise them I am sure I will execute them.
I am now able to carry out duties without constant supervision taking my responsibilities with
caution and perfect ness hence I have become self-initiative. I now know a good employee does not
work to knock off but I give myself a target on day such that even if knock off time I stay behind to
carry out what as been left.
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With the vast technical skills that I obtained during my WRL period I will be able to contribute to the
educational system during the final year in number of ways. I will be able to participate in lectures
giving examples and applying the knowledge that I gained. I will also exchange skills with my peers.
Ogarnisation Details
Fax Numbers:
Telephone 054-260388
numbers: (+263 20) 63821
Telephone Numbers:
Name of work 023 893 690/0912
place supervisor: 632 555
Mr Tahwa I
Fax numbers:
Position: 054-260388
Operations Accountant 57
Conditions of placement: The student worked five days per week and just like any other
employee he sometimes works during the weekends and holidays. He started attachment on 2
November 2008 on which his contract ended on 31 August 2009.
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Mr Tahwa I Supervisor
Mr Mafuka Chairperson
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