Cost Accounting Systems: Concepts, Classifications and Behaviors

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CASE: Cost Accounting Systems: Concepts, Classifications and Behaviors Readings’ summary: I can define a system as a set of elements forming a whole, and interacting in the same environment in order to produce desired outcomes. A system can be tangible like a house or intangible like a theory. Also it can be natural like a plant or contrived such as an organization. A system has five basic characteristics: objectives, environment, resources, components and management. Broadly, a system has to be a set of elements; it must enable the elements to interact within the environment, and it must use specific means to produce expected outputs. Application to the case: The concept of system applies to Cost accounting. Cost accounting is an example of intangible system; it comprises a set of two basic elements: cost and cost driver. A cost is a sacrifice an organization incurs in term of time, efforts, information or money in order to produce an output. A cost driver is the activity that causes the incurrence of a cost. Within this system, the bond between these two elements results in an outcome called cost behavior. Cost behavior is the assessment of an input cost in per- unit and in nature at each stage of the output. In respect to the cost behavior, a cost can be variable or fixed. Suppose that total cost for activity X is respectively $10 and $ 1,000 when 1 unit and 100 units are sold. As the cost per unit of $10 is constant, the cost relevant to activity X is variable. Cost behavior is useful information in the cost accounting system. This information helps managers in decision making process. For example, they can use the information to predict the extent to which a cost will affect the activity of the organization, and to set alternatives accordingly. Application to another example: Activity –based costing system is another example of intangible

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