CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION:
Accountancy has been defined by GLAUTER and UNDERDOWN, in their book titled “Accounting theory and practice as “a reporting activity that forms part of any management information system. In this regard, accountings is often explained as sciences of activities that are connected and form successive steps starting with observing, the collecting, recording, analyzing and finally communicating accounting information to its users.
The study of modern cost accounting yields insight regarding both accountants’ role and manager’s role in an organization because managers want to know how accountants measure performance and often depending upon accounting data for guiding their decisions.
Cost accounting has a major purpose of accumulating the cost of an organizations products and services. This aspect is regarded as product costing purpose.
1.1 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM:
A view shared by previous researcher on this topic that there has been a shortfall in the utilization of cost accounting information in some organization and their pricing policy decision making. It is right of this that this work attempt to suggest a good system which comprises a set of procedure, records and facilities that have to do with the systematic and routine compilation and dissemination of cost information and price determination.
AMONG THE PROBLEMS TO BE ANALYSED ARE:
(i) To highlight on management inadequate concern over proper pricing guide through cost information.
(ii) Necessary conditions for a costing system.
(iii) Evaluating the present state of the application of the cost information in the determination of price.
(iv) Appropriate basis of preparation of the cost.
1.2 PURPOSE OF STUDY:
The purpose of this study will help to determine how cost accounting information is applied in an organization and how it is used in Price determination, what the researcher has learnt as theories is been put into practice in real life situations, relating to the cost accounting information and price determination. It help the researcher to see the practical application of the principles stated formally by the cost accounting and determining the cause of the short fall in its application and when applied, the advantages therein. It also helps to determine an appropriate condition and environment for prayer comparison and analysis of cost.
1.3 RESEARCH QUESTIONS:
In this study, “Cost accounting information and price determination” (A case study of Nigerian Breweries Plc) the following research questions come to mind: They are:
(i) Is Cost accounting information used as a management tool for price determination in Nigerian Breweries Plc?
(ii) Has the application of the Cost accounting information helped Nigerian Breweries to be efficient and effective in its operations?
(iii) What other technique apart from Cost accounting information does Nigerian Breweries employ in decision making?
(iv) Are these other techniques superior to Cost accounting information ?
(v) What problems do Nigerian Breweries encounter in decision making?
1.4 STATEMENT OF HYPOTHESIS
HYPOTHESIS I:
Ho: Cost-accounting information is not extensively used or applied in Nigerian Breweries Plc.
Hi: Cost-accounting information is extensively used or applied in Nigerian Breweries Plc.
HYPOTHESIS II:
Ho: The application of cost accounting information has helped in price determination.
Hi: The application of cost accounting information has not helped in price determination.
1.5SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY:
This work is intended to be of benefit to processing business in general. It is hoped that by improving the profitability of hoped this study has benefited the economy as a whole.
Following the completion of work and the result made available to them, the processor will be in a position to re-examine their cost accounting information and price determination techniques and update them so as to enjoy these benefits available to firms with good cost accounting and price determination techniques and also avoid plugging their business into financial and operating difficulties.
Readers will appreciate other people’s view on cost accounting information and price determination and see the workability of this costing models and price determination system in real life situations.
1.2 SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY:
The scope of this study is restricted to the cost accounting information and its utilization in determining the price of products. should have intended to cover all the manufacturing industries located in different States of the Federation but the researcher intends to limit this topic to only to Nigerian Breweries Plc 9th Mile Depot, Enugu State due to time constraints, distance and financial handicap. The study of Nigerian Breweries 9th Mile Depot Enugu shall also serve other manufacturing companies in States of the Federation since the same techniques are applied in other companies. Therefore, the researcher will rely heavily on the Nigerian Breweries 9th Mile Depot since they have adequate information data relevant to the study.
1.3 DEFINITION OF TERMS:
(i) HISTORICAL ACCOUNTS:
These are financial statements prepared from past activities of the enterprise. Since these are actual figures of cost and revenue obtained in the past, management can determine the price of its product through it.
(ii) COST ACCOUNTING:
This is an element of financial management that generates information about the cost of an organization and its components. As such, cost accounting is a subset of accounting in general.
(iii) INDIRECT COSTS:
There are elements of cost that are associated with or caused by two or more cost objective jointly, but are not directly traceable to each of them individually.
(iv) COST CONTROL:
This is the regulation by executive action the costs of operating an undertaking particularly where such action is guided by cost accounting.
(v) COST CENTRE:
Cost center therefore can be defined as a location, person or item of equipment (or group of these) for which cost may be ascertained and used for purpose of cost control.