Cost Accounting Information In Management Decision Making

This project research work attempts to explain the Cost Accounting Information as an aid to decision making in an organization using Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Benin-Asaba Road, Benin City as a case study. Cost Accounting Information is designed for managers, since managers are taking decisions based on the existing cost accounting information. The important principle is that the Cost Accounting Information must be relevant for decision making. However, Generating Cost Accounting Information in an organization is not an easy task. The process of cost accounting itself is so complex. This is why cost accounting system is applicable only to a large-sized business. This is why the researcher made use of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) as a case study. Chapter one of this project research work focuses on Background of the Study, Statement of the Problems, Objective of the Study, Significance of the Study, Limitation of the Study, Scope of the Study and Definition of Terms. Chapter two is on Literature review on Cost Accounting Information and such questions as what is Accounting, who is an Accountant? What is Cost Accounting? Scope of cost accountancy, Nature of cost accounting, Relationship between Financial accounting and Cost accounting, Purposes or Objects of cost accounts, Functions of cost accountant, Advantages of cost accounting, Cost Accounting Information, the benefits of cost accounting information, managerial cost accounting etc. Chapter three deals generally on Research Methodology, Chapter four purely deals on data analysis and interpretation with the findings. While Chapter five focuses on Summary of Finding, Conclusion and Recommendation.

Introduction

1.0 Background of the Study

Cost Accounting Information helps Management in making suitable decisions such as to make or buy, replace manual labour by machines, shut down or continue operations based on cost reports. (Vishnani, Shah 2008).

In the modern business world, the nature and functioning of business Organizations have become very complicated. They have to serve the needs of variety of parties who are interested in the functioning of the business. These parties constitute the Owners, Creditors, Employees, Government agencies, Tax authorities, Prospective Investors, and last but not the least the Management of the business. The business has to serve the needs of this different category of people by way of supplying various information from time to time. In order to satisfy the needs of these group of people a sound Organization of accounting system is very essential.

In the ancient days the information required by those who were interested in the business Organization was met by practicing a system of accounting known as financial accounting system. Financial accounting is mainly concerned with preparation of two important statements, viz., income statement (or profit & loss account) and positional statement (or Balance Sheet). This information served the needs of all those who are not directly associated with Management of business. Thus financial accounts are concerned with external reporting as it provides information to external authorities. But Management of every business Organization is interested to know much more than the usual information supplied to outsiders.

In order to carry out its functions of planning, decision-making and control, it requires additional cost data. The financial accounts to some extent fail to provide required cost data to Management and hence a new system of accounting which could provide internal report to Management was conceived.

Accounting plays a significant role within the concept of generating and communicating wealth of the companies.

Cost Accounting Information is designed for managers. Since managers takes decisions for their own Organization, there is no need for the information to be comparable to similar information from other Organizations. Instead, the important criterion is that the information must be relevant for decisions that managers operating in a particular environment of business including strategy make.

1.1 Profile of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is the oil corporation through which the Federal Government of Nigeria regulates and participates in the country"s petroleum industry.

NNPC was established on April 1, 1977 as a merger of the Nigerian National Oil Corporation and the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel. NNPC by law manages the joint venture between the Nigerian Federal Government and a number of foreign multinational corporations, which include Royal Dutch Shell, Agip, ExxonMobil, Chevron, and Texaco. Through collaboration with these companies, the Nigerian government conducts petroleum exploration and production.

The NNPC Towers in Abuja is the Headquarters of NNPC. Consisting of four identical towers, the complex is located on Herbert Macaulay Way, Central Business District Abuja. NNPC also has zonal offices in Lagos, Kaduna, Port Harcourt and Warri. It has an international office located in London, United Kingdom. (The Economist Newspaper Limited, 2007-09-29).

1.2 NNPC Organizational Structure

The Group Managing Director of the NNPC is Dr. Mohammed Sanusi Barkindo.

The NNPC Group is a very big and complex Organization which comprises of the NNPC Board, the Group Managing Director"s office. The NNPC Group is divided into eight major arms called directorates which are headed by a Group Executive Director (GED) whom are a step below the Group Managing Director (GMD). The Directorates are also Sub-Divided into Several Divisions and Subsidiaries which are headed by Group General Managers (GGM) and Managing Directors (MD), respectively. The NNPC has two partly owned subsidiaries and 16 associated companies.

1.3 Statement of the Problem

The major problem that prompts the researcher to embark on this project is that, most Organizations in Nigeria under estimate the potentials and the relevance of Cost Accounting Information as regards to decision making in their Organizations. Some Organizations think Cost Accounting process is too complex, as its system involves number of steps in ascertaining cost such as collection and classification of expenses, allocation and apportionment of expenses. These Organizations considered it to be complicated system of accounts. The researcher therefore decided to research on the topic so that:

To establish that there is a relationship between Cost Accounting Information and decision making.

The Cost Accounting Information require to make decision should be adequate and accurate.

The Business owner that require maximum return on their investment will be satisfied because of the gain in understanding Cost Accounting Information in decision making

1.4 Objectives of the Study

The objective of this study is:

To examine the relevance of Cost Accounting Information on Management decisions making. The researcher decided to establish this using NNPC as a case study for proper understanding.

To assess the relevance and functions of Cost Accounting Information.

To explain how Cost Accounting Information has helped in most Organizations in decision making process.

Also, to examine how Cost Accounting Information is relevant to the Management, the creditor, the employees, the investors and the government.

1.5 Research Question

The researcher postulates some questions to test whether there is a significant relationship between the variables in the research topic, they are:

Is there any significant relationship between Cost Accounting Information and decision making process in Organizations?

Does the decision of the manager as well as the Management depend on the available Cost Accounting Information?

Are the available Cost Accounting Information in NNPC so reliable in such a way that Management have confidence in it why making decisions?

Will Management find it difficult to make proper decisions without confidence in Cost Accounting Information in an Organization?

Is it true that some managers in Organizations still do not fully know the relevance of Cost Accounting in decision making process?

Will creating awareness on the relevance of Cost Accounting Information to decision making enhance decision making in any Organization?

1.6 Research Hypothesis

Based on the foregoing, the following research hypotheses formulated will be empirically tested and result gotten will serve as a spring board for recommendations. There is however no relationship existing between the Null hypothesis and the Alternative hypothesis. These are as follows:

Ho: There is no significant relationship between Cost Accounting Information and decision making process in Organizations
Hi: There are significant relationships between Cost Accounting Information and decision making process in Organizations

Ho: The decision of the managers as well as the Management does not depend on the available Cost Accounting Information.
Hi: The decision of the managers as well as the Management in an Organization depends on the available Cost Accounting Information.

1.7 Significance of the Study

The researcher now discovered that it will be reasonable to encourage Management in Organizations to introduce a proper and vital Cost Accounting Information generating system because Cost Accounting Information helps Management in making suitable decisions such as to make or buy, replace manual labour by machines, shut down or continue operations based on cost reports. Without confidence in Cost Accounting Information as a whole, the Management will encounter difficulties in decision making process. Therefore, this research work will be useful to Management in Organizations as regards improving on standard of Cost Accounting Information in the Organization in which they operate.

Also, this research work will be useful to accounting students as well as other Management students as it will give students the basic insight of Cost Accounting procedures as well as Cost Accounting Information as an aid for decision making in an Organization.

1.8 Scope of the Study

This research project basically covers such area as Cost Accounting, Cost Accounting Information, the functions of Cost Accounting, the relevance of Cost Accounting Information etc, its relevance to the Management in Organizations in the area of business, cost, pricing and investment decision making. The area covered in the research work is limited to Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Benin-Asaba Road Deport, Benin City.

1.9 Limitation of the Study

During the conduct of this research work, some factors posed as constraints to the determined efforts of the research to carryout the research study to such a depth and in such a manner that it ought to have been carried out judging from its relevance to Management, such factors include:

a. Management Restriction:

Management more often than now allow access to information that are considered very confidential in nature like detail information of the Organizational corporate profile. As a result of the restrictions the researcher was able to work with only the information that was accessible.

b. Time Constraint:

Time is also another factor that acts as hindrances in carrying out this research study. This is as a result of the fact that other things were still being attended to in the course of carrying out this research work.

c. Financial Constraint:

Money also acts as a problem in the conduct of the research work. Traveling expenses were incurred in getting the materials for the research work. Also incurred, were expenses for the typing and distribution, building and a lot of other expenses.

1.10 Definition of Terms

Cost Accounting

A type of accounting process that aims to capture a company"s costs of production by assessing the input costs of each step of production as well as fixed costs such as depreciation of capital equipment.

Accounting Information System

An accounting information system (AIS) is a system of collection, storage and processing of financial and accounting data that is used by decision makers.

Ethnics

Rules, principles or order governing a profession.

Leader

Person in authority (Head of an Organization).

Management

The art of running and controlling a business or similar Organization. According to Fubara (1986) views Management as an activity carried on in an environment that comprise of resources in capital and human, having alternative uses.

Dishonesty

Lack of trust and intending to deceive people.

Measure

Steps, methods to control situation.

5.0 Summary, Conclusion and Recommendation

this is the last chapter of this research work which comprises of the summary of what has been said from chapter one to chapter four, statement of the problems, conclusion of the whole project research work, recommendation and suggestion for further study.

5.1 Statement of the Problem

Some of the statement of the problems is as follows:

The system of Cost Accounting involves additional expenditure to be incurred in installing and maintaining it. However, before installing it, care must be taken to ensure that the benefits derived are more than the investment made on this system of accounting.

As the Cost Accounting system involves number of steps in ascertaining cost such as collection and classification of expenses, allocation and apportionment of expenses, it is considered to be complicated system of accounts. Moreover the system makes use of several documents and forms in preparing the reports. This will tend to delay in the preparation of accounts.

All business enterprises cannot make use of a single method and technique of costing. It all depends upon the nature of business and type of product manufactured by it. If a wrong technique and method is used, it misleads the results of business.

5.2 Summary of Finding

Accounting plays a significant role within the concept of generating and communicating wealth of the companies. Financial statements still remain the most important source of externally feasible information on companies. Regardless of their extensive use and enduring advance, there is some concern that accounting theory and practice have not kept pace with rapid economic changes and high technology changes.

This situation affects the relevance of accounting information.

According to the findings there is a relationship between Cost Accounting Information and decision making.
Public sector Organizations are constantly challenged to improve their performance in a resources constrained environment. One way to achieving this goals is a detailed understanding of the activities perform in support of the Organization"s outputs, programs and mission, and the resources consumed by these activates. To gain this detailed insight and to be able to trace unit cost per output back to the original source costs, a robust Cost Accounting system is required.

The history of Cost Accounting can be traced back to the fourteenth century.

In the first stage of its development, Cost Accounting was concerned only with the three prime cost elements, viz., direct material cost, direct labour cost and direct expenses. For recording the transactions relating to materials the important documents used were (a) stores ledger, (b) a material requisition note, and (c) materials received note. To account for labour cost, employee time card and labour cost card were devised. Material cost, labour cost and manufacturing cost constituted prime cost.

5.3 Conclusion

While Cost Accounting is often used within a company to aid in decision making, financial accounting is what the outside investor community typically sees. Financial accounting is a different representation of costs and financial performance that includes a company"s assets and liabilities. Cost Accounting can be most beneficial as a tool for Management in budgeting and in setting up cost control programs, which can improve net margins for the company in the future.

The important principle is that the Cost Accounting Information must be relevant for decision making. However, Generating Cost Accounting Information in an Organization is not an easy task. The process of Cost Accounting itself is so complex. This is why Cost Accounting system is applicable only to a large-sized business. This is why the researcher made use of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) as a case study.

In recent times the functions of a cost accountant are not only confined to ascertain and control cost but extend far beyond these functions. This is on account of the additional responsibilities arising from the various branches of accounting, works Organization, office Management and administration, methods of statistical analysis, systems analysis, modern principles of Management, use of computers, etc.

As regards the role of cost accountant in an industry, it has been beautifully summarized by Wilmot (2000), in his article on "the cost accountant"s place in Management". According to him, the role of cost accountant is "that of a historian, news agent, and prophet". As a historian, he must be meticulously accurate, i.e., while supplying cost information to Management he has to furnish in greater detail with carefulness and exactness. As news agent, he must be up-do-date, selective and provide full cost information to the needed person.

5.4 Recommendation

This study has endeavored to establish the value and relevance of Cost Accounting Information in a large Organization such as NNPC. Therefore, Management reacts according to the aggregate of Cost Accounting Information that is available in the Organization. Based on this fact and findings, I therefore recommend that Managements in Organizations have to be diligent in formulating Cost Accounting Information to ensure accuracy in the information and to ensure the information aid decision making in the Organization. This is basically because; without confidence in Cost Accounting Information, managers will find it difficult to make decision. Therefore, Cost Accounting Information providers should enhance the quality of reporting in order to increase the value and relevance of Cost Accounting Information.

I also recommend that the government and her agents should create awareness on what Cost Accounting Information is and it relevance in her Organization like Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
Finally, As regards the role of cost accountant in a Federal Government Organization such as NNPC, He should be thoroughly accurate, i.e., while supplying Cost Accounting information to Management it has to furnish it greater detail with carefulness and exactness. As news agent, he must be up-do-date, selective and provide full cost information to the needed person. He must combine knowledge and experience with foresight and courage to ensure accountability.

5.5 Suggestion for Further Study

The research work is to investigate Cost Accounting Information and decision making in an Organization.

My suggestion is that that Managements in Organizations have to be diligent in formulating Cost Accounting Information to ensure accuracy in the information and to ensure the information aid decision making in the Organization.

For further studies there is need to look or research into the ways of improving proper Cost Accounting Information in relation to decision making in Organizations. Further research should be carried out on this particular study so as to obtain more facts and findings.

Further research should also be carried out on the nature and scope of Cost Accounting Information and how Cost Accounting Information affects decision making in an Organization.

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