This dissertation investigates two broad management accounting questions in the context of electric utility industry: How do regulators for electricity industry use the information generated from accounting systems to make pricing decisions? What are the economic consequences of these decisions? In Chapter 2, I review regulatory reforms and discuss existing issues of using DEA models for efficiency benchmarking in four aspects. Suggestions are given for improving the use of DEA models based on the review and discussion. In Chapter 3, I empirically investigate the effect of incentive regulation with DEA benchmarking on operational efficiency using a panel of electricity distribution firms in Brazil. In Chapter 4, I examine the effect of restructuring and retail competition on cost reduction using a sample of US investor-owned electric utilities. The effects of privatization, industrial restructuring, incentive regulation and benchmarking are effectively disentangled from one another using the research setting in Brazil and US electricity industry. In Chapter 5, I combine the idea of activity based costing and data envelopment analysis to further develop a detailed benchmarking model for incentive regulation. / Business Administration/Accounting

The Water Trading Entity (WTE) is a subdivision of the Department of Water and Sanitation responsible for water infrastructure and resource management. Despite ABC implementation at the WTE, the water resource management charge remains high, raising concern. This study aimed to establish what influence ABC implementation has on this charge. Through semi-structured interviews, the study found that the steps and factors generally associated with successful ABC implementation are partially followed, but undefined duplicated activities exist, due to insufficient training and limited technology. The study found that ABC implementation has minimal influence on the increase of the charge. When deciding on the charge, factors such as capping play a role, therefore limiting ABC use. Further research on ABC implementation in government departments can be conducted to ascertain how they can adhere to policies without compromising the use of ABC and identify the skills and training needs for an effective ABC implementation / Management Accounting / M.A. (Accounting Sciences)

Measuring the success of Activity Based Costing (ABC) is part of a more general challenge of measuring the success of any major change in managerial methods. The past thirteen years have seen accelerated rates of change in the South African Post Office (SAPO). However little is known about `'Measuring the successful implementation of ABC in (SAPO)''. The objectives of this study is to research the perceptions of staff regarding the successful implementation of ABC, the benefits of ABC implementation and the conditions that affect the potential benefits from the successful implementation of ABC. This will allow organisations and provide them with relevant information that will enable them to make better decisions with regard to measuring the successful implementation of ABC. To achieve these objectives a questionnaire was prepared and handed out to the finance staff of the SAPO. They were asked to respond to the questionnaire on their experience and their perceptions on the implementation of ABC. 121 questionnaire were returned generating a 38% response rate. The findings in this study highlighted that top management fails in giving active support to the implementation of ABC and the technical factors were perceived as standing in the way of the successful implementation of ABC. These were training, the high cost of implementing ABC, the lack of software packages, the lack of data requirements and co-operation between departments. From the finding the recommendation was made were general strategies were suggested for the SAPO for measuring the successful implementation of ABC. / Business Management / M.Tech. (Business Administration)

Measuring the success of Activity Based Costing (ABC) is part of a more general challenge of measuring the success of any major change in managerial methods. The past thirteen years have seen accelerated rates of change in the South African Post Office (SAPO). However little is known about `'Measuring the successful implementation of ABC in (SAPO)''. The objectives of this study is to research the perceptions of staff regarding the successful implementation of ABC, the benefits of ABC implementation and the conditions that affect the potential benefits from the successful implementation of ABC. This will allow organisations and provide them with relevant information that will enable them to make better decisions with regard to measuring the successful implementation of ABC. To achieve these objectives a questionnaire was prepared and handed out to the finance staff of the SAPO. They were asked to respond to the questionnaire on their experience and their perceptions on the implementation of ABC. 121 questionnaire were returned generating a 38% response rate. The findings in this study highlighted that top management fails in giving active support to the implementation of ABC and the technical factors were perceived as standing in the way of the successful implementation of ABC. These were training, the high cost of implementing ABC, the lack of software packages, the lack of data requirements and co-operation between departments. From the finding the recommendation was made were general strategies were suggested for the SAPO for measuring the successful implementation of ABC. / Business Management / M.Tech. (Business Administration)

The thesis, Survey of the methods of costing of hospitalization, deals with the characteristics of the classification system DRG used for costing of hospitalization. The first half of the theoretical part of this work describes the Czech health care in general and specific ways of financing it. We focus on the costs related to the emergency care in hospitals which are classified by the DRG system. The second half of the theoretical part studies the actual principles of costing of hospitalization. The method chosen for this is called Activity Based Costing (ABC). It defines the procedures of costing which are being used in hospitals. At the end, we provide a description of the current and suggested procedures of costing of hospitalization and how they are utilized to set up parameters of the reimbursing mechanism. The practical part of this thesis maps the situation of hospitalization financing in Klatovska nemocnice, a. s. We suggest a new way of financing based on the methodology DRG Restart. Base on the data obtained in Klatovska nemocnice, a. s. we summarize and compare the results of the new method to the current one.

Course: Degree project in Logistics, the Business Administration and Economics Programme, 4FE19E, VT16 Authors: Marcus Lundgren and Tobias Nilsson Supervisor: Peter Berling Examiner: Helena Forslund Title: Product Costing in Small Craft Companies – A Case Study at Gemla Fabrikers AB Background: Today a competitive price is no guarantee to keep a company profitable. Cost control has become more central and especially cost control considering work put in to the product and tradeoffs connected to the product in question has become central to secure the company’s competitiveness. A useful tool to secure the competitiveness is product costing when making profit analysis, setting price levels as well as other decision making. The challenge is to find a product costing method which fits right and distribute the direct and indirect costs in a fair manner. Purpose: The purpose of this study is by constructing a flowchart over the production process adapt a model for product costing that supports pricing and decision making of the product assortment at Gemla Fabrikers AB, and theoretically raise the discussion of the adapted models suitability in a context of small time manufacturers that is characterized by an artisan production. Method: The study is conducted as a case study at Gemla Fabrikers AB and uses a research strategy containing both qualitative and quantitative approaches. Collected data is mainly obtained via unstructured interviews, direct observations and time studies. A process mapping was made as a start to serve as a foundation for other parts of the study. A product costing method was later adapted to fit the parameters and way of working in a company with high levels of craftsmanship. Conclusions: After mapping the process of the company it was clear that the production was characterized by a time-consuming manufacturing process with a large number of activities. This resulted in an adapted product costing method, which origins from the activity based costing model, in order to distribute the costs in a more correct way based v on the actual time consumption. The adapted model is designed with a distinct activity based distribution on product level where every activity cost is established at a given volume of production, resulting in guidance and basis for cost control and when setting prices. Based on the company in the case study the conclusion was made that this way of working with product costing can be used in other companies with similar production and high level of craftsmanship, merging support activities together and focus on the value adding activities. The cost allocation is made using cause and effect based on the actual time put into the activities where a smaller number of time related cost drivers are used. The model is therefore to consider suitable for increased cost control as well as serving as a foundation for product pricing and decision making. / Kurs: Examensarbete i logistik för Civilekonomprogrammet, 4FE19E, VT16 Författare: Marcus Lundgren och Tobias Nilsson Handledare: Peter Berling Examinator: Helena Forslund Titel: Produktkalkylering i mindre hantverksföretag – En fallstudie på Gemla Fabrikers AB Bakgrund: Ett konkurrenskraftigt pris är i dagsläget inte tillräckligt då även en noggrann kostnadskontroll som tar hänsyn till arbetskraftsinsatsen och produktrelaterade avvägningar krävs för att säkerställa konkurrensförmågan. Ett användbart verktyg för detta är upprättandet av produktkalkyler som grund för lönsamhetsanalyser, prissättningsstrategi och beslutsunderlag. Svårigheten ligger dock i att finna rätt kalkyleringsmetod gällande detaljeringsnivån som fördelar en verksamhets direkta och indirekta kostnader på ett rättvisande sätt. Syfte: Syftet med studien är att genom en kartläggning av tillverkningsprocessen anpassa en produktkalkyl för prissättning och beslutsfattande av produktsortimentet på Gemla Fabrikers AB, samt teoretiskt lyfta diskussionen om anpassad modells lämplighet i en kontext för mindre tillverkande företag som karaktäriseras av en hantverksmässig produktion. Metod: Studien utförs enligt en fallstudie på Gemla Fabrikers AB med en flerfaldig forskningsstrategi av kvalitativ art med kvantitativa inslag. Datainsamlingen bygger främst på ostrukturerade intervjuer, direkta observationer och tidsstudier. En processkartläggning genomfördes till en början för att utgöra ett underlag för resterande delar. Vidare anpassades en produktkalkyl utifrån företaget och tillverkningens karaktär vilket slutligen utgjorde ett underlag för modellens lämplighet i en hantverksmässig tillverkningskontext. Slutsatser: Efter genomförd kartläggning av tillverkningsprocessen på fallföretaget framgick det att tillverkningen karaktäriseras av en tidskrävande process med ett stort antal ingående aktiviteter. Detta resulterade i att anpassad produktkalkyl utformades enligt en ABC-modell då slutsatsen blev att fördelningen av kostnaderna skulle göras iii mer rättvisande om dessa fördelades till respektive aktivitet baserat på det faktiska tidsutnyttjandet. Anpassad modell utformades genom en tydlig aktivitetsfördelning utifrån produktnivå där varje aktivitets kostnad fastställs vid en given produktionsvolym vilket möjliggör underlag för en ökad kostnadskontroll, prissättningsstrategi och beslutsunderlag. Baserat på studerat fallföretag drogs slutsatsen att anpassad modell görs lämplig för andra företag i en liknande hantverksmässig kontext utifrån att i högre grad göra sammanslagningar av aktiviteter med ett större fokus på de värdeadderande aktiviteterna. Kostnadsfördelningen sker via ett orsak-verkan samband utifrån det faktiska tidsutnyttjandet där ett mindre antal tidsrelaterade kostnadsdrivare används. Modellen blir då lämplig för ökad kostnadskontroll samt underlag för prissättning och beslutsfattande.

O objetivo desta pesquisa consiste em identificar as principais diferenças, similaridades e complementaridades entre os métodos Custeio Baseado em Atividades (ABC) e Unidade de Esforço de Produção (UEP). Existem indícios de que ambos os métodos apresentam características em comum, dado já existirem trabalhos que propõem a criação de um modelo de integração dos dois. No entanto, percebeu-se uma lacuna nos referidos trabalhos em termos de comparação teórica dos conceitos e fundamentos associados a cada um destes métodos, o que motivou o presente trabalho. Assim, por meio de uma pesquisa bibliográfica, descritiva e comparativa, fez-se inicialmente uma análise detalhada de cada um dos métodos, envolvendo aspectos relacionados a suas origens, histórico de desenvolvimento, etapas de implementação e operacionalização, propósitos de uso e pontos fortes e fragilidades. Com base nessas informações, procedeu-se então à comparação dos respectivos métodos, por meio da qual se extraíram elementos para se responder à questão de pesquisa proposta. Dentre as diversas similaridades encontradas entre os métodos podem-se destacar: representação do efetivo consumo de recursos; atividades e postos operativos podem ser entendidos como sinônimos; possível subjetividade na escolha de critérios; necessidade de um conjunto vasto de informações para a execução; elevados custos de implementação; fornecem informações de lucratividade e rentabilidade; e analise da organização como um todo - produtos e serviços, operações e processos. Por outro lado, eles apresentam um conjunto de diferenças advindas principalmente dos diferentes propósitos que lhes deram origem- enquanto que o UEP assume uma postura físico-operacional, voltada para a medição da produção, o ABC assume características voltadas para a gestão dos custos monetários. Consequentemente, o método UEP assume vantagens em atividades de fábrica, relacionadas ao processo de manufatura, enquanto que o método ABC é mais voltado para atividades administrativas e de apoio, o que pode ser encarado como uma complementaridade. Assim sendo, o UEP propicia informações importantes para a gestão do processo produtivo, tais como identificação de gargalos produtivos, gestão da capacidade produtiva e reestruturação de processos de produção, enquanto que o ABC fornece informações para gestão de custos administrativos. Outra importante constatação é que o UEP, diferentemente do ABC, mensura os custos de produção e dos objetos de custeio por meio do estabelecimento de relações constantes entre esforços de produção e, por isso, apresenta estabilidade perante conjunturas econômicas desfavoráveis, tais como altas taxas inflacionárias. / The objective of this research is to identify the main differences, similarities and complementarities between the methods Activity Based Costing (ABC) and Production Effort Unit (UEP). There are signs that both methods have characteristics in common, since there are already studies aimed to create a model of integration of the two methods. However, it was noticed a gap in these works in terms of theoretical comparison of concepts and fundamentals associated to each of these methods, which motivated this work. Thus, through a bibliographical, descriptive and comparative research, there was initially a detailed analysis of each method, involving aspects related to their origins, development history, implementation and operation stages, use of purpose and strengths and weaknesses. Based on this information it proceeded then to the comparison of the respective methods by which was extracted elements to answer the proposed question of this research. Many similarities were found between these methods and can be highlighted as: representation of the effective consumption of resources; activities and operating stations can be understood as synonyms; possible subjectivity in the selection criteria; need for a wide range of information for implementation; high implementation costs; provide profitability and yield information; and analyze the organization as a whole - products and services, operations and processes. On the other hand, they have differences arising mainly from the purposes that gave them birth- while UEP takes on a physical and operational approach, focused on the measurement of production, ABC assumes characteristics aimed to management of monetary costs. Consequently, the UEP method takes advantages of factory activities related to the manufacture process, while the ABC method is stronger on administrative and support activities, which can be seen as a complementary. Therefore, the UEP provides important information for the management of the production process, such as identifying production bottlenecks, management capacity and restructuring of production processes, while ABC provides information for administrative cost management. Another important finding is that the UEP, unlike ABC, measures the cost of production and products through the establishment of constant relations between production efforts and therefore provides stability against unfavorable economic situations, such as high rates of inflation.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-12-04T11:45:18Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Angela_Sofia_Ferrari_Nunes.pdf: 845469 bytes, checksum: 738a6498786e96ea784eda259c1eb755 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2003-06-26 / The main aim of this work is to demonstrate in a practical-theoretical way the verification of the indirect cost of the products of na Insurance Partnership through the Costing Method ABC - Activity Based Costing and identify the advantages in comparison with the Costing Method used before. The theoretical reference about the insurance operations were based on the current laws issued by regulating institutions that are responsible for the Brazilian Insurance market rules; on the technical books; on the post graduation monographies, mentioned in the bibliography reference. The theoretical grounding on the ABC - Activity Based Costing and a brief theory on ABM - Activity Based Management - can be found in the chapter III of this work. The reasons why the company opted for another cost method and its consequent advantages on decisions taking can be foun in the conclusions. / The main aim of this work is to demonstrate in a practical-theoretical way the verification of the indirect cost of the products of na Insurance Partnership through the Costing Method ABC - Activity Based Costing and identify the advantages in comparison with the Costing Method used before. The theoretical reference about the insurance operations were based on the current laws issued by regulating institutions that are responsible for the Brazilian Insurance market rules; on the technical books; on the post graduation monographies, mentioned in the bibliography reference. The theoretical grounding on the ABC - Activity Based Costing and a brief theory on ABM - Activity Based Management - can be found in the chapter III of this work. The reasons why the company opted for another cost method and its consequent advantages on decisions taking can be foun in the conclusions. / O objetivo principal deste trabalho ?? demonstrar de uma maneira te??rico-pr??tica, a apura????o dos custos indiretos dos produtos de uma sociedade seguradora atrav??s do M??todo de Custeio ABC (Activity Based Costing) e identificar se houve vantagens em compara????o com o m??todo de custeio utilizado anteriormente. O referencial te??rico sobre as opera????es de seguro foram embasadas nas legisla????es vigentes, expedidas pelos ??rg??os competentes respons??veis pela atua????o do mercado segurador no Brasil, tamb??m nos livros t??cnicos, disserta????es de mestrado e teses de doutorado, citados nas refer??ncias bibliogr??ficas. O fundamento te??rico sobre o M??todo de Custeio ABC (Activity Based Costing), utilizado neste trabalho, bem como, uma breve teoria sobre o ABM, consta no cap??tulo III. Nas considera????es finais, constam as raz??es que levaram a empresa a optar por outro m??todo de custeio e as vantagens obtidas pela seguradora para a tomada de decis??es.

O desenvolvimento do Sistema ABC (Activity-Based Costing/Sistema de Custeio Baseado em Atividades) e sua aplicação em organizações industriais apresentou-se como uma importante ferramenta no processo de gerenciamento das organizações. A viabilidade deste sistema em organizações industriais e a carência de um sistema que apoiasse o processo de gerenciamento em organizações hospitalares despertaram, na área acadêmica, o desenvolvimento de trabalhos científicos que objetivam discutir a viabilidade da aplicação deste sistema também nas organizações hospitalares. A pesquisa bibliográfica deste trabalho demonstrou a existência de muitos trabalhos acadêmicos abordando a aplicação deste sistema em organizações hospitalares, sendo, no entanto, que todos estes abordam a aplicação em setores isolados. Visando ampliar a discussão a respeito deste tema, procurando discutir como seria a aplicação do mesmo sistema em uma organização hospitalar como um todo, este trabalho teve como objetivo geral delinear um modelo a partir da identificação e integração de dados, baseado na concepção do sistema ABC, que seja aplicável às organizações hospitalares. Para atingir este objetivo, foi aplicado um estudo empírico no Hospital Universitário Clemente de Faria em todos os seus setores e clínicas. Os resultados revelaram que o Sistema ABC pode ser aplicado em qualquer tipo de organização hospitalar, seja esta pública, privada ou filantrópica, devendo-se apenas realizar algumas adaptações conforme as características de cada organização. / The viability of the ABC System (Activity-Based Costing) in industrial organizations has led to the academic area to investigate the viability of the application of this system also in hospital organizations. However the studies developed in Hospitals approach the application of this system in isolated sections. Enlarging the discussion concerning to this topic, this work had the purpose of delineating a model starting from the identification and integration of data basing on the conception of ABC system that would be applicable to hospital organizations in a generalized way. In order to reach to this objective, an empirical study was developed in all sections of the Hospital Universitário Clemente de Faria. With the study it was possible to delineate a model applicable to the studied institution. It is understood that this model is applicable to any kind of organization - public, private or philanthropic -, provided that some adaptations are done according to the characteristics of each organization.

Goal of this diploma thesis is to analyze calculations and their managing in Friall s. r. o. At first the costs are examined from the global angle -- their structure and evidence is described. The rest of thesis is connected with calculations. It analyzes present calculation system and draws up remaining two calculations method that are recommended in the latest theoretical sources. At the end of the thesis some modifications that follow from the done computation are suggested.