<p>During the last decade, Activity-Based Costing (ABC) has been recognized as a means to obtain more accurate and relevant information of product cost. Consultants have tried using the ABC concept as leverage for new projects, representatives from companies have attended seminars, and articles have been written on the theoretical foundations, the empirical justification, and on the implementation process. However, little progress seems to have been made despite of these activities. The question, whether ABC is the solution to the “Relevance Lost” or not, still remains to be answered. The research is based on a case study of an Ericsson company that has introduced Activity-Based Costing model for product costing. The purpose is to provide a critical evaluation and analysis of the existing model and to discuss how to “regain the relevance” of product costing through ABC. The study is conducted by interviewing relevant persons who are responsible for costing model and production process at Ericsson Mobile Communications AB in Linköping (ECS). Relevant documents during the implementation of ABC model have also been examined. Despite of a logical ABC model within ECS, the accuracy of cost information has not been improved. Many factors have been forgotten. Keeping costing model update, relating managers’ responsibility to activities performed and taking the cost of unused capacity into account are several examples. The study shows that ABCis not and will not be, however, the solution to the aging traditional product costing unless one uses it properly.</p>

During the last decade, Activity-Based Costing (ABC) has been recognized as a means to obtain more accurate and relevant information of product cost. Consultants have tried using the ABC concept as leverage for new projects, representatives from companies have attended seminars, and articles have been written on the theoretical foundations, the empirical justification, and on the implementation process. However, little progress seems to have been made despite of these activities. The question, whether ABC is the solution to the “Relevance Lost” or not, still remains to be answered. The research is based on a case study of an Ericsson company that has introduced Activity-Based Costing model for product costing. The purpose is to provide a critical evaluation and analysis of the existing model and to discuss how to “regain the relevance” of product costing through ABC. The study is conducted by interviewing relevant persons who are responsible for costing model and production process at Ericsson Mobile Communications AB in Linköping (ECS). Relevant documents during the implementation of ABC model have also been examined. Despite of a logical ABC model within ECS, the accuracy of cost information has not been improved. Many factors have been forgotten. Keeping costing model update, relating managers’ responsibility to activities performed and taking the cost of unused capacity into account are several examples. The study shows that ABCis not and will not be, however, the solution to the aging traditional product costing unless one uses it properly.

Bakgrund:                   För att stärka sin position på marknaden önskar Staples Sweden AB utöka sitt artikelsortiment till att omfatta 1 000 000 artiklar. För att möjliggöra sortimentsexpansionen behövs beslutsunderlag rörande hantering och kostnadsstruktur identifieras. Syfte:                          Syftet med studien är att utveckla en modell vid val och utformning av distributionssätt för att föreslå en distributionsslösning. Syftet är också att genom en kostnadsanalys identifiera orderkostnadsstrukturen för den föreslagna distributionslösningen. Metod:                        Vid genomförandet av studien tillämpades en fallstudiedesign. Det empiriska materialet samlades in genom intervjuer utförda på Staples Sweden AB. Slutsats:                      Vid tillämpningen av modellen som utvecklades i studien framkom att distributionslösningen ska utgöras av direktleveranser, konsoliderade direkleveranser, ”cross-docking”, ”cross-docking” med buffert och traditionell lagerhållning. Orderkostnaden skiljde sig mellan distributionssätten där ”cross-docking” var billigast och direktleveransvarianterna var dyrast. / Background:               To strengthen its position on the market, Staples Sweden AB seeks to expand its product range to include one million articles. The problem is that no one in the company knows how such a variety of items should be managed and how the structure of order costs would change. Based on these problems, the task for the study arose. Purpose:                      The thesis aims to develop a model for the selection and design of distribution methods for proposing a solution that can manage one million articles. It also aims to identify the structure of order cost for the proposed solution through a cost analysis. Methodology:             The study was conducted by applying a case study design. The empirical data were collected through interviews conducted at the Staples Sweden AB. Conclusion:                 In the application of the developed model showed that the distribution solution should consist of direct shipping, consolidated direct shipping, cross-docking, cross-docking with buffer and traditional warehousing. Order cost differed between distribution where "cross-docking" showed to be the cheapest and direct shipping variants were the most expensive.

Traditionally, environmental impacts of man made products have been determined by performing a life cycle assessment (LCA) on the product. As the name implies, LCA is usually covers the entire life of the product in a so-called "cradle-to-grave" assessment. In determining environmental impacts over the whole product life, LCA's are reasonably adequate. However, in providing detailed impacts on a particular phase of life, LCA's are lacking. Detailed assessments are important because very few stakeholders have influence over a product during all phases of life. Stakeholders need detailed impact assessments in their particular phase of life. More detailed assessments give stakeholders more information that can be used for better environmental management (EM) and more environmentally benign operations. In many LCA's, the manufacturing phase of life has been over-generalized and over-simplified because of its relatively small environmental impact, as compared to other phases of life. Nevertheless, certain stakeholders, such as manufacturing companies, need detailed impact information for the manufacturing phase of life so that they can create a more sustainable manufacturing process. Most traditional LCA's use a case-based approach, which was deemed to be inadequate. For these LCA's, the information provided for each case is often quite detailed and specific. However, this makes the assessment less flexible, limiting the quality of the assessment to the degree that the current scenario matches the existing cases. In order to make a more user-specific assessment, a model-based approach was used. To give the model flexibility, a parametric model was created based on mathematical equations that represent various parts of the manufacturing process. To give the model structure, an activity-based costing (ABC) approach was used. Using the ABC structure, the manufacturing process was broken down into activities, each of which was characterized by mathematical models. Large models would be difficult to construct and simulate by hand, so a model was built with the aid of a computer. The modeling language SysML (Systems Modeling Language) was used to create an object-oriented model of the manufacturing process, using the ABC structure. SysML defines overall properties and behaviors of the various elements in the model, while the plug-in tool ParaMagic was used to execute the model via a Mathematica Solver. The model computes carbon dioxide emissions, energy consumption, and waste mass generation for a particular manufacturing scenario. The goal of the model was to quantify environmental impact factors in order to aid manufacturing stakeholders in EM. The overall goal of the research was to determine whether an activity-based, object-oriented model was a valid approach, and whether the computer-aided tools adequately implemented this approach. Findings show that SysML is capable of modeling large and complex systems. However, due to some limitations of Paramagic, only some of SysML's capabilities were utilized. Nevertheless, Paramagic is capable of extracting information out of a manufacturing model built in SysML, and solving parametric relations in Mathematica in a timely manner. Timely solutions of complex models are critical for stakeholders keeping a competitive edge.

Examensarbete i Ekonomistyrning, 30hp, Ekonomihögskolan vid Linnéuniversitetet Titel: Kalkylutveckling i tillverkningsindustrin – en fallstudie hos HordaGruppen AB Under 1980-talet uppmärksammades kalkylmodellens roll som ekonomiskt styrverktyg. Denna uppmärksamhet ledde till omfattande studier av hur kalkylmodeller kunde utvecklas för att lättare klara av förändringar i företags inre och yttre förutsättningar. Kalkylmodellers utformning påverkas av ett stort antal faktorer som t.ex. strategi, kontext och användning. Därmed blev det intressant att detaljstudera ett enskilt fallföretag för att identifiera hur detta företag arbetar med sin kalkylmodell. Syftet med uppsatsen är att utveckla HordaGruppens kalkylmodell och anpassa denna efter förändringar i företagets verksamhet. Genom kartläggning och utvärdering av kalkylmodellen, företagets kalkylbehov samt kostnadsfördelning utifrån ett processorienterat perspektiv analyseras och utvecklas företagets kalkylmodell. Målsättningen är att nyttan för HordaGruppen av att använda kalkylmodellen som styrverktyg ska öka. Uppsatsen är en kvalitativ studie med fokus på detaljstudier av företagets flöden och processer. Huvudsakligen har ostrukturerade intervjuer och observationer legat till grund för materialet men även insamlad dokumentation som t.ex. information från affärssystemet, kalkylmodellen och organisationsscheman har använts. Den konceptuella referensramen som sammanställs ligger till grund för en analysmodell som beskriver hur empirin ska analyseras. Denna bygger på ett antal olika områden som sedan sammanfogas för att belysa de mer framträdande problemområdena i HordaGruppens kalkylmodell. Den genomförda studien visar ett antal problemområden med potential att förbättra den ekonomiska styrningen ur förändringssynpunkt. Uppsatsen identifierar ett stort behov av att hålla kalkylmodellens grunddata uppdaterad. Samtidigt föreslås förändrad kostnadsfördelning inom flera områden, bl.a. för direkta kvalitetskostnader och omkostnader för produktionsanläggningar. Slutligen föreslås utökad användning av kalkylmodellen som ett sätt att förbättra kalkylens roll som styrverktyg i en föränderlig verksamhet. / Thesis in Management Accounting 30hp, School of Business and Economics, Linnaeus University Title: Cost model development within the manufacturing industry – a case study of HordaGruppen AB In the 1980s, a discussion regarding the role of cost modeling as a management accounting tool erupted. This attention led to extensive studies of how costing models were developed to better cope with changes in the company's internal and external conditions. Cost model design is influenced by numerous factors such as strategy, context and purpose. With this in mind, it became interesting to study a case company in detail to identify the usage of the cost model within the company.  The main purpose of this thesis is to develop the cost model currently used by HordaGruppen and adjust it to cope with changes in the company environment. Based on HordaGruppens processes and their cost model needs, suggestions for development of the company’s cost accounting tools are made. The goal of this development is that the usefulness of the cost model in HordaGruppens management accounting should increase.  The main method of research is a qualitative study focusing on detailed studies of the company's workflows and processes. Information has been gathered mainly through interviews and observations. Other sources of information such as the ERP system, organizational charts and the cost model itself have also been used.  The completed study shows potential areas of improvement for management accounting purposes. The main areas of improvement are linked to keeping the underlying data up to date and changes in cost estimation. Finally, to improve management accounting in a changing environment, additional purposes for the cost estimation model is suggested.

Research Questions: Research Question I: How does the material management process of medicine differ between a ward with, and without, an Automated Ward Solution (AWS)? Research Question II: How do time and costs differ in the material management process of medicine between a ward with, and without, an AWS? Research Question III: How has the instalment of a central storage affected the number of orders placed for wards? Purpose: The purpose is to map and compare the material management process of medicine between a ward with, and without, an AWS. Further the mapped processes will be timed, allocated costs by applying TDABC and then compared. The purpose is as well to describe how the instalment of a central storage has affected the frequency of orders placed for wards. Methodology: This project is a qualitative case study as the authors wished to understand the phenomena of having installed AWSs for medicine in a real context. The primary data was collected through interviews, observations and studying of documents; the secondary data was collected through scientific articles and literatures. The collected data answered the research questions with the help of process mapping and TDABC. Conclusion: In the created process maps it is found that the extensiveness of the different processes when compared are similar for both wards; however the allocated costs calculated through TDABC sometimes differ due to the involvement of the Pharmaceutical Unit as it carries a higher capacity cost per minute. Ward 5 can be assumed to have a higher security and accuracy due to the instalment of an AWS and by having laid more responsibility on the Pharmaceutical Unit. The AWS has however led to a larger waste for Ward 5 as it cannot return regular medicine anymore. This project could not directly connect the instalment of a central storage with reduced order lines; however it can be assumed that it has contributed to the decreased order lines placed.

[Truncated abstract] The dominant approaches to knowledge management practice and the design of knowledge management systems are driven by a resource-based view of knowledge. In this thesis, it is argued that the resource-based view of knowledge is limited and lacks social sensitivity. In this thesis, Knowledge Management is viewed as a social activity and the development and examination of an alternate approach to conceptualising the social processes of knowledge management in organisations, is the primary objective. In pursuing this objective, the question of whether an activity-based view of knowledge processes can assist the design of knowledge management practice and systems is examined. To address this research question, a conceptual framework is developed which redefines the conventional, universal approach to knowledge context . . . From an organisational perspective, the ABCs framework suggests that the institutionalisation and contextualisation of knowledge provides management with another dimension for considering knowledge management and knowledge management systems implementation. The findings from the case study suggest that knowledge workers are influenced by environmental factors. As a result, organisations can use this research to develop knowledge management practices that take environmental factors into consideration. As a starting point for organisations, the findings from the case studies are used to develop a set of guidelines for the design of knowledge management practice and systems. Further research is suggested in terms of extending to considerations of other aspects of Luhmann’s theories and exploring other complexity sciences as the basis of knowledge management.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / O modelo atualmente utilizado no Brasil para a produção de etanol combustível está centrado em grandes unidades de produção, não contemplando a produção integrada de alimentos. É importante o estudo e desenvolvimento de modelos onde a produção de etanol combustível esteja associada à produção de alimentos. Um ponto importante para validar estes modelos é conhecer com detalhes os custos e receitas associados com a produção de etanol combustível e alimento, com a finalidade de minimizar custos operacionais, para que estes modelos possam ser viáveis economicamente e em sua operacionalização. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho consistiu na apuração dos custos envolvidos na produção do etanol a partir do sorgo sacarino (sorghum bicolor l. moenca) e da cana-de-açúcar em uma pequena unidade de produção utilizando a Metodologia de Custeio Baseada em Atividades (ABC). O trabalho foi realizado em uma pequena unidade de produção de etanol, com capacidade de 1000 litros/dia, localizada no município de São Vicente, região central do Rio Grande do Sul. A abordagem proposta foi constituída de três grandes fases: Pré-Análise, Análise e Pós-Análise. A análise foi composta dos seguintes passos: definição dos objetivos e abrangência do estudo; mapeamento do processo produtivo; etapas do processo onde os custos serão avaliados; balanço de Massa; definição dos direcionadores de custos; determinação do custo total por atividade; determinação do custo de produção do produto e avaliação ambiental. A aplicação da sistemática proposta da metodologia de Custeio Baseada em Atividades aperfeiçoou o processo de alocação de custos e refletiu a real proporção destes custos consumidos pelas atividades produtivas. O custo total para produção de 1 litro de etanol hidratado a partir do sorgo sacarino ficou em R$ 0,92, sendo R$ 0,50 contribuição do processamento e R$ 0,42 contribuição da matéria-prima, que corresponde a 54,0% e 46,0%, respectivamente. Quando da utilização de cana-de-açúcar como matéria prima o custo total ficou em R$ 0,83, sendo R$ 0,44 contribuição do processamento e R$ 0,40 contribuição da matériaprima, que corresponde a 52,4% e 47,6%, respectivamente. A ordem de contribuição das atividades no custo final de processamento ficou na seguinte ordem: ensilagem (32,64%), destilação (19,31%), geração de vapor (13,87%), moagem (12,00%), corte (6,64%), transporte (5,37%), descarga (4,8%) e descarte da vinhaça (1,98%). Constata-se que o investimento necessário para remediar os impactos ambientais, em uma pequena unidade de produção, monta R$ 96.500,00, o que representa 16,4 % do investimento total.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The business game, called JogABC, elaborated in this study shows to the players how the ABC functions. This method of costing, for having high implantation costs, is rare, being restricted only for the companies which the costs of this implantation are smaller than the benefits that they provides. For the mathematical modeling of the game the Microsoft Excel 97 was used. The JogABC simulate the interaction between a first company who will have as many branch offices as were the participant teams, being these operations in the branch of clothes, producing shirts, dresses and pants. The Game uses a production refereed for the first company, that decides the bulk of production and the prices that will be paid for this products, this form, the branch offices will use this earns to buy the improvements that will be applied in its respective productive processes in order to improvement the activities, will be the winner the team that in the end of the game to possess the minor production cost. The JogABC shows to the players as a company who uses the ABC can know accurately where its productive process can be improved, besides evidencing the main difference of this costing for those distribute indirect costs attributed to the products using a less arbitrary form. Adding it the knowledge on the ABC costing that the JogABC propitiates, also can be cited the improvement of the abilities as group behavior who involve the interpersonal relationship that a work in team demands and that it is strong present in the method of business game. The game can be used in disciplines of graduation, after-graduation and professional. / O jogo de empresas, denominado JogABC, elaborado para a consecução deste estudo mostra aos jogadores como funciona o custeio ABC. Este método de custeio, por ter elevados custos de implantação, não é comumente encontrado, ficando restrito somente a empresas para as quais os custos dessa implantação sejam inferiores aos benefícios que esta proporcione. Para a modelagem matemática do jogo foi utilizado o Microsoft Excel 97. O JogABC Simula a interação entre uma empresa matriz que terá tantas filiais quantas forem as equipes participantes, sendo estas atuantes no ramo do vestuário, produzindo camisas, vestidos e calças. O Jogo utiliza a produção puxada pela matriz que arbitra o volume de produção e os preços que serão pagos pelas unidades produzidas e por ela compradas gerando, desta forma, a receita que as filiais utilizarão para comprar as melhorias que serão aplicadas em seus respectivos processos produtivos através da melhoria nas atividades, sagrando-se ganhadora a equipe que ao final do jogo possuir o menor custo de produção. O JogABC mostra aos jogadores como uma empresa que utiliza o custeio ABC pode saber exatamente onde seu processo produtivo pode ser aprimorado, além de evidenciar a principal diferença deste custeio para outros que é a de ter seus custos indiretos atribuídos aos produtos de uma forma menos arbitrária. Somando-se aos conhecimentos sobre o custeio ABC que o JogABC propicia, também pode ser citado o aprimoramento das habilidades humanas que envolvem o relacionamento inter-pessoal que um trabalho em equipe exige e que está fortemente presente no método de jogos de empresas. O jogo pode ser usado em disciplinas de graduação, pós-graduação e profissional.

Esse estudo tem por finalidade contribuir para a discussão e o aprimoramento da gestão econômica e do desenvolvimento de ferramentas de apoio à decisão estratégica para empresas de serviços de saúde suplementar. Com base nos fundamentos teóricos sobre serviços, serviços de saúde suplementar, gerenciamento estratégico de custos e sistemas ABC/ABM, o estudo propõe um modelo de sistema de gestão de custos indiretos em planos de saúde sob a óptica do ABC/ABM, que visa proporcionar aos gestores uma visão ampla sobre o desempenho econômico dos planos e dos clientes. Assim, este estudo pretende colaborar com o desenvolvimento desse setor, que tem sofrido nos últimos anos o impacto da evolução da tecnologia e da medicina, provocando a constante elevação dos custos da assistência à saúde. Com a finalidade de justificar o estudo, o modelo é testado com a sua implementação em uma operadora de planos de saúde, possibilitando a discussão sobre as conclusões obtidas em relação ao problema abordado. / The purpose of this study is to contribute towards the indirect cost management discussion and betterment of supplementary health care services companies as well as to strategic decision supporting tools development. On the basis of the theoretical beddings on services, supplementary health care services, strategic management of costs and ABC/ABM systems, this study proposes an indirect costs management model for health insurance based on the ABC/ABM optics that provide managers a wide vision on the economic performance of medical insurance plans and customers.Thus, this study intends to contribute towards this sector development that has been suffering in the last years the impact of the technology medicine evolution provoking constant rise on health care costs. In order to justify this study, the model is tested by its implementation in a medical insurance operator making possible the discussion about conclusions obtained from the approached problem.