Cost Chapter One
Cost Chapter One
1. INTRODUCTION
What Is Management Accounting?
In defining management accounting a logical start is to examine the words
“Management” and “Accounting” separately. Unfortunately, neither of
these words has a single, universally agreed meaning. Management may
be seen to encompass the entire range of activities involved in running an
organization. On the other hand Accounting may be seen to encompass
any of the activities that attempt to gauge the performance of the
organization or to plan for an organization’s performances. Additionally it
may be seen to encompass the traditional accounting roles of stewardship
control, and audit. A layman might think of accounting as being concerned
only with those activities with financial measurements undertaken by those
with the title “accountant” and of management as being concerned with
those activities undertaken by those with the title “managers” neither is the
case in the real world.
Definition 1.2
Definition 1.1
Accounting is the process of identifying, measuring, and communicating
financial information about an entity to permit informed judgments and decisions
by users of the information. It is a system of gathering financial information
about a business and reporting this information to users.
Benefits Costs
Benefit
> Costs Obtain the system
Management Management
Decision Accounting
System
Planning Budgets
Control Accounting
System
Performance Performance
Evaluation Reports
Planning and Control process
The Nature of Planning and Control
The management process is a series of activities in a cycle of planning and
control. Decision-making, which is the purposeful choice from among a set
of alternative courses of action designed to achieve some objective-is the
core of management process.
Decisions with in an organization are often divided in to two types:
1. Planning Decisions
2. Control Decisions
In practice, planning and control are so intertwined that it seems artificial to
separate them.
Planning- is setting goals, predicting results and deciding to attain goals.
Activity 1:4
Dear learners before proceeding with the next section, distinguish between the
problem solving, score keeping, and attention-directing role of management
accountant.
Learning Objective Six
Activity 1:5
Dear student, how wonderful is being successful? Every body desire success in
her/his life…the same is true for organizations. All organizations strive for success;
though success may be defined by different organization differently based on their
goals and objectives. Pretty student, now let me ask you a couple of question, please
take time and try to respond to these questions before proceeding with the next
section.
Question1. What is considered as success for your self in your life?
Question2. What is considered as success for your organization or any
organization you know?
Question3. What are the key factors that you or the manager of the
organization should consider in order to attain the desired success?
Dear student, you know, what you consider as your success, and ways of
achieving it too. In the following paragraphs, you will be presented with key
themes in management decision-making. Look at the following Exhibit.
Customer Focus
Exhibit 1:2 themes that managers should consider for attaining success
Management Accounting
Activity 1.6
Pretty student, what are the components of value chain in your organization or
any organization you know? List activities for each component.
President
Treasurer
Controller
To assist other managers in decision-making vital to an organization’s
success, most organizations employ a variety of accounting personnel with
various types of authority and responsibility.
Dear, student in the following few paragraphs we will discuss this authorities
and responsibilities, good reading….
Activity 1:7
Pretty student, please think of this roles in your organization, or any organization
you know?
Learning Objective 8
1.8. Identify the Current Trend in Management Accounting
Accounting system in general must able to change to recognize the realities
of today’s complex, technical, and global business environment. These
days instead of merely pointing out problems, the accountants become part
of the solution. In essence, management accountants today are internal
consultants rather than merely prepares of reports.
The three major factors which are causing changes in management
accounting today:
1. Shift from a manufacturing-based to a service based economy.
2. Increased global competition
3. Advances in technology
1.9.3. Integrity
Practitioners of management Accounting have responsibility to:
Avoid actual or apparent conflicts of interest and advise all
appropriate parties of any potential conflict.
Refrain from engaging in any activity that would prejudice their
ability to carryout their duties ethically.
Refuse any gift, favor, or hospitality that would influence or would
appear to influence their actions.
Refrain from either actively or passively subverting the attainment
of the organization’s legitimate and ethical objectives.
Recognize and communicate professitional limitations or other
constraints that would preclude responsible judgment or successful
performance of an activity.
Communicate unfavorable as well as favorable information and
professional judgment or opinions.
Refrain from engaging in or supporting any activity that would
discredit the profession.
1.9.4. Objectivity
Practitioners of management Accounting have responsibility to:
Communicate information fairly and objectively.
1. False
2. False
3. False
4. True
5. True
II. Choice
1. B
2. B
3. C
4. B
5. C