Accounting for certain type of assets can vary depending on the industry. As the above case indicates, assets for the construction industry may deviate from GAAP. GAAP conventionally treats assets as current or long-lived with the typical distinction being one year that is, current assets are those with lives of less than one year whereas long-lived (plant) assets are one year and longer. The home construction industry as stated above for Toll Brothers has nonconventional treatments for assets. The agricultural industries also have nonconventional practices that are written in professional standards. Technology or software development companies may use nonconventional accounting practices as well.

Agricultural assets may be subject to different requirements. An orchard, vineyard, or forest is an asset that may take years to prepare for usage. An example is produce or harvest from a biological asset (for example, milk, tea leaves and lumber) is inventory. Typically, inventory is a current asset for which the item is recorded at cost. However, for agriculture, the harvested produce is transferred to inventory at fair value less costs to sell; it is thereafter accounted for in accordance with International Accounting Standards (IAS) 42, Inventories. However, while the produce is still growing or still attached to the biological asset, its value forms part of the value of the biological asset. The unique requirement for agricultural assets makes exception from standard conventional accounting practices.

If you work in a sector (healthcare, technology, construction, or agriculture sectors), you probably formulate forecasts for the different types of assets with nonconventional accounting practices. When accounting standards allow nonconventional usage of accounting practices, typically the footnotes in the Comprehensive Financial Report will so note such deviations.

Tableau has data modeling packages for forecasting purposes that illustrate data analytics relating to the reporting of metrics for the various sectors or industries (construction, agriculture, health care, etc.). Tableau can powerfully illustrate different data models.

Question

Research about Ford Motor Company

For the Unit 2 Discussion, research and analyze a publicly traded company noting their adherence to conventional accounting practices. From their Comprehensive Financial Reports and footnotes, describe to which type of accounting practices they adhere. If they use nonconventional accounting practices like the construction or agricultural industries above, describe the nature of any exceptions. If their accounting policies are standard (conventional) so note that characteristic. If you find companies or industries that further deviate from conventional accounting practices (GAAP), address such deviations. Justify those differences with sound explanations and acceptability within the accounting world. If your company or industry uses GAAP or IFRS or standard accounting practices, state this and clearly explain there are no exceptions.