The purpose of this study is to provide a new method of setting standards for control system and is confined to the estimation of a cost function for the operations performed by several decentralized units in an organization. Especially a uniform cost...
The purpose of this study is to provide a new method of setting standards for control system and is confined to the estimation of a cost function for the operations performed by several decentralized units in an organization. Especially a uniform cost control system is applicable to the operationally homogeneous units. In management literature, 'control' is defined as a process that glides activities toward an established gool or plan. The concept 'control' can be further explained as follows ;
a. The first phase is to set standards that represent the desired performance or to adopt an operation plan.
b. The second phase is to compare actual results with standards or the plan.
c. The third phase is to analyze the operating variance planning and corrective action.
The standards may be classified into (i) the attainable ideal standards representing the performance levels that are considered highly or most efficient under normal conditions, (ii) the attainable normal standards representing the average performance levels under normal operating conditions over a period of time, and (iii) the theoretical ideal standards represennting the best performance possible levels theoretically. From this point of view, we may regard the empirically estimated maximum output for a given combination of inputs in a production system as the attainable ideal standard. For the estimation of the attainable ideal standards, the concept of frontier cost function is to be reviewed first of all.
The modeling of production activities has long occupied a central role in econometric research, especially in searching for statistical estimators of the theoretical frame and in providing a stimulus for the development of new methods. Traditionally, accounting has been the major source of management information and managerial accounting, in particular, has provided data for the planning, control, and internal performance evaluation. The goal of this study is to contribute to cost accounting system in providing
more useful information in the planning and control process of management. The study is attempted to expand the models for analysis of cost behavior based on a multiple regression model and a linear programming model. It is formulated to estimate the frontier cost function which reflects the best operation possible in the system, which the multiple regression model yields the "average" cost function during a time period throughout the units. The frontier cost function can be used to yield the "target" cost which is accomplishable under the given conditions in the system.
The ANOCOVA model includes the cost efficiency parameter, Ai, to reflect the difference in the cost efficiency among the units. The ANOCOVA model improves the estimation of the average cost function by estimating the specification bias which stems from excluding the cost efficiency parameter the multipe regression model. Accarding to Johnston the ANOCOVA also utilizes "The best source of information for the short-run analysis" of cost behavior with the pooling data.
The cost function from the ANOCOV A model yields the "average" cost of operation in each unit under the normal operating conditions.
Once an operation results in an actual cost, we can analyze the performance of each unit by comparing ;
(1) The target cost. (by L. P. model)
(2) The average cost for the unit. (by ANOCOVA model).
(3) The actual cost.
This is another version of the traditional cost accounting variance analysis but the above method is unique in the sense that the target cost and the expected average cost for the unit are realistic estimates based on the analysis of the actual capabilities of the system under the given conditions.
In the empirical study, the data obtained from the 21 branches of the A bank in seoul is used to estimate the parameter of cost function by linear programming model for a firm as the attainable ideal standard. And using classical linear regression analysis, the attainable normal standard is estimated and compared with the frontier. In order to continue this study, we should find performance variables and influencing factors of firm performance efficiency and time performance efficiency.
If we are able to find the performance variables, from the analysis. we can achieve the good theory to find the efficiency variables.