AFM 482Performance Measurement and Organization Control
- Units
- 0.50
- Faculty
- Arts
When it runs
- F24
- W25
- S25
- F25
- W26
- S26
- F26
- W27
- S27
Ran in 3 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: not on the schedule. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.
This course will trace the evolution of the role of performance measurement systems in supporting areas of organization control. Topics will include the role of both financial and non-financial performance measures in: the DuPont method of control, the Harvard model of control, internal control, contemporary approaches to governance, and strategic management systems. After completing this course students will be able to evaluate the nature and suitability of a proposed performance measurement system given its design and purpose.
Prerequisites
- Complete all of the following
- Must have completed the following:
- AFM433 - Business Strategy (0.50)
- Complete 1 of the following
- Complete 1 of the following
- Enrolled in H-Accounting & Financial Management, H-Computing & Financial Management, H-Mathematics/Chartered Professional Accountancy, H-Science & Financial Management, or H-Sustainability & Financial Management
- Enrolled in H-Biotechnology/Chartered Professional Accountancy
- Must have completed the following:
Antirequisites
None listed.
Leads to
No course lists it as a requisite.
Fall 2026 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 001 | 3452 | 60 / 60 | MW 10:00–11:20 |
| LEC 002 | 3453 | 60 / 60 | MW 11:30–12:50 |
| LEC 003 | 3454 | 60 / 60 | MW 13:00–14:20 |
| LEC 004 | 3455 | 48 / 60 | MW 14:30–15:50 |
| LEC 005 | 3456 | 49 / 60 | MW 16:00–17:20 |
| TUT 101 | 8953 | 277 / 300 | Oct 2 13:00–13:50 Oct 30 13:00–13:50 Nov 20 13:00–13:50 |
| TST 201 | 3457 | 277 / 300 | Oct 23 16:30–18:00 |
Reviewed on UW Flow
39% liked it80% easy4% useful
From 23 ratings and 6 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
Let me just start off saying this is not supposed to be a difficult course. It takes some cost knowledge from 481 and you use it to evaluate performance (like 433 stuff). It somehow became the hardest course in 4B because both ducharme and carty were totally incompetent in teaching and the course is delivered in such a disorganized way that no one really learned anything. The midterm and final was so hard that averages for midterm was around 50% and final was around 30%. But they refused to curve and lied about class average, claiming it's 72% for the midterm. The textbook is really bad. It contains so much 481 stuff that the profs themselves don't know whether to focus on the cost part or…
Dec 2017 · didn’t like it · 2 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
This is actually one of the worst courses I've ever taken at UW. I'm not really sure why it's part of the AFM curriculum.
Sep 2012 · didn’t like it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Midterm was copy paste the slide questions + a case with the criteria things (either for management or incentives). ez 90% (make sure not to ignore SMEs and budget stuff). go to class to get your free participation, u only need to talk once. You'll appreciate this course while you get humiliated by 491 and 462. Jen is kinda funny too.
Dec 2025 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this
The course is easy, all you have to do is follow the slide and prepare your cheat sheet based on the ppt. The course itself was boring and no fun. When I take the course we got no participation, but professor will award students who attended class with additional marks, and talk about exam stuff on class only. I personally felt unfair, because the course was already boring and no participation marks are given, so I see no reason to go to the class, and the professor will award additional marks. Why don't just set participation?
Dec 2023 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this
Legitimately the easiest course in all of undergrad and possibly all of waterloo. It's literally just here to make sure you can survive 462 and 491.
Oct 2023 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
24 posts and comments in 18 threads mention AFM 482, December 2015 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.
Spring 2024
afm 4B average 3 points, 5 comments
u/Historical-Title-503: “Hi, does anyone know the average for the challenging courses like afm 491 and afm462? even afm482 for 4B term? i am genuinely concerned about my last term to get it into the Macc program lol. or any tips for these three coureses?”
u/TeemoG0d69: “… AFM 482 was a mid to high 70s average. The course was not too difficult and covered cases on management controls (e.g. governance, strategy, risk management, budgeting, etc). It is theory heavy but the concepts are not difficult to understand. …”
Spring 2022
AFM 4B 10 points, 3 comments
u/Hero_villain: “… I'm going into my final AFM term and will be taking AFM 462 and AFM 482 in person, however I have been very unsuccessful in finding a place near campus to rent. Due to this, I just want to know about the viability of commuting 2 hours each way for these courses. …”
u/Zealousideal_Fly_940: “… I think AFM 482 is mainly assignments, a midterm and final. I don't think there is class participation for AFM 482. Like others have said, take care of your mental health since the commute can be hectic. Also, enjoy this term because it's your final one as an undergrad. …”
FARM vs MATH/CPA 2 points, 7 comments
“Hey everyone, &x200B; I have been fortunate enough to be accepted into both FARM and Math/CPA and have been very grateful for it:) Nevertheless, I am VERY struggling to choose between these two and …”
u/AFMISFULLOFNOOBS: “… 2 AFM 433 Business Strategy AFM 451 Audit Strategy AFM 462 Special Topics in Taxation AFM 482 Performance Measurement and Org. Control AFM 491 Advanced Financial Accounting ECON 100 Principles of Econ. …”
Spring 2021
How is AFM 4B? 10 points, 3 comments
u/obscurekoala: “… the other courses had manageable workloads (especially AFM 482). hope this helped! …”
Fall 2020
Retake AFM 291 2 points, 11 comments
“Hi, I'm a fourth year Math/CPA student. Unfortunately, my grade for AFM 291 was 58% after second try. As I'm entering my 4B term, I want to know what options I have in order to get a grade above 60% …”
u/pwcunt: “I don't think 291 is a basket course for the MAcc application, is it possible for you to apply UW Macc? …”
u/RMfollower: “… I still need to take AFM 341, 351, 401, 462, 479, 482, 491, and I will take 401, 462, 479, 482 and 491 this term. So I think my cumulative GPA might be at least 75% after this term. Why the MAccFin is not that good? …”
Spring 2020
Comprehensive Guide to AFM based on my experiences 70 points, 26 comments
u/suh-dude_: “… We had to get notes from friends that had the other prof AFM 482 - Performance Management. This course was very easy. Exams were extremely fair. Just a lot of new content, which is not hard at all. Just make sure you read the content and know the terms. …”
Winter 2020
Waterloo AFM vs Math/CPA? 9 points, 16 comments
“I have seen a few posts about these two programs, and it seems that there are mixed opinions, but the general consensus seems to be that AFM students tend to be more cliquey and the social …”
u/ProButtSnorkler: “Some of the info below is from advisors and some of it is from people I know in both programs: - apply to math/cpa because if you end up not liking the math side you can transfer to AFM apparently no …”
u/student073: “… For example, it seems like for Math/CPA you'd need AFM 341, 351, 362, 363, 401, 462, 479, 481, 482, etc, while AFM needs AFM 111, 112, 121, 241, 244, 280, 373, etc. Why is it that they have different required AFM courses and what are the main differences? …”
AFM 4B Term Courses -- Summary 22 points, 2 comments
u/angelxlotus: “… &x200B; AFM 482: this course was pretty dry. I recommend this course with Adam Presslee. He's entertaining (perfect for a dry course) and will give hints as to which in class questions will be on the midterm/exam, so make notes of those and study those. …”
u/RoastThisPls: “… AFM 482: just read the post class slides and do good on the cases. Don't bother with the textbook. Make sure u do the peer evaluation. AFM 401: go to class take notes and understand the concepts. …”
Fall 2018
I'm an AFM Alumni who genuinely enjoyed the program, AMA 85 points, 76 comments
“Hello, I'm new to reddit and I created an account just to ask you guys this. I've always wondered why the reddit atmosphere towards AFM kids here seems a bit hostile and overly-negative. …”
u/daga2222: “Why did you choose accounting? Is it because you value stability, value being part of a "traditional" profession, succumbed to parental/family pressure, or just lack confidence in your self? …”
u/MAccGrad201x: “… There are courses that I did not enjoy such as AFM291, 391, 481, 482, 491...all the traditional accounting courses. Yet I quite enjoyed the finance courses like 373, 479 and strategy courses like 433. …”
Spring 2018
What courses are you taking next term? 4 points, 47 comments
“Mine will be a boring one. ACTSC371, MATH237, STAT231, CO342 and AFM101”
u/20person: “AFM 462 AFM 401 AFM 479 AFM 482 STAT 373”
My last presentation of my entire university career is in 1 hour AMA. 27 points, 44 comments
“Though expect a 2-hour delay on responses, because I need to practice. EDIT: 2 hours are up!”
u/Newnewguy2019: “In your opinion, what was the difficulty of 4B AFM courses from hardest to easiest?”
u/Makuta_Teridax: “… Hardest: AFM 462 (large corporate tax problems every week, killer tax case project) Next easiest: AFM 482 (exam material much harder than what we learned in class) Next easiest: AFM 401 (lot of reading, but reasonable and simple questions) Easiest: AFM 479 (easiest and most …”
AFM or BBA/CS 4 points, 9 comments
“Hi! I have been accepted into both AFM and UW CS/WLU BBA for fall 2018 but I am conflicted between what program to choose. I understand that both programs are quite different. …”
u/ThatCoxKid: “Hi! I'm not in either program (I'm in FARM) but looking in my first and second year I used to think that CS/BBA would have been a great program to pursue. …”
u/Spiner202: “… Edit: looks like they got rid of INTST 101, AFM 341 (surprising given the way things are moving; even if this course wasn't overly useful), all 3 tax courses, AFM 351, 479, 481, 482, and 401. …”
Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026
- Undergraduate Calendar, 2026–27The official entry
- Requirements for Fall 2026Waterloo’s requisite checker
- Schedule of Classes, Fall 2026Instructors, rooms, live seats
- Quest Class SearchWhere you enrol
- Course outlinesSyllabi from past terms (UW login)
- UW FlowStudent ratings and reviews
- WClassesPast sections back to 2004, and who taught them