A STUDY ON COST AND MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING PRACTICES BY SELECTED FIRMS AT HUBBALLI-DHARWAD

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1 International Journal of Management (IJM) Volume 8, Issue 3, May June 217, pp , Article ID: IJM_8_3_21 Available online at Journal Impact Factor (216): (Calculated by GISI) ISSN Print: and ISSN Online: IAEME Publication A STUDY ON COST AND MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING PRACTICES BY SELECTED FIRMS AT HUBBALLI-DHARWAD Purushottam N Vaidya Assistant Professor, KLES s J G College of Commerce, Hubballi Karnataka, India Sharanappa Alur Student, M. Com IV Semester, KLES s J G College of Commerce, Hubballi Karnataka, India ABSTRACT In today s time of rapid technological transformation, tough global and domestic competition, total cost management is central to sustained corporate profitability and competitiveness. The management mantra today is conquering costs, before these conquer firms. Cost means total cost to the customer. The cost leadership strategy does not mean compromise on either quality or technology or product differentiation. Low costs are no advantage if customers are not willing to buy the products of low cost firms. Cost management has to be driven with customer as the focus. The survival triplet today for any company is how to manage its product/service cost, quality, and performance. Customers are continuously demanding high quality and better performance products/services and at the same time they want the prices to fall. The challenge is being able to manufacture or provide service within the stipulated cost framework. Thus, cost management has to be an ongoing continuous improvement program. In this study an attempt is made to explore cost and management practices by selected 3 firms at Hubballi-Dharwad. The data collection methodology of the study is questionnaire survey. The content of the questionnaire survey is based on review of literature. Analysis, interpretation. Summary and conclusion of the survey are presented in the subsequent section of the paper Key Words: Technological Transformation, Competitiveness, Cost Management & Cost Leadership Strategy Cite this Article: Purushottam N Vaidya and Sharanappa Alur, A Study on Cost and Management Accounting Practices by Selected Firms at Hubballi-Dharwad. International Journal of Management, 8 (3), 217, pp editor@iaeme.com

2 A Study on Cost and Management Accounting Practices by Selected Firms at Hubballi- Dharwad 1. INTRODUCTION Today, market leaders are even pursuing cost-reduction as a strategic imperative. They want to stay ahead of the market by continuously widening the gap between their cost and that of their competitors and re-deploying resources for profitable growth. Thus, the cost challenge is one of the most critical tasks facing Indian industry during the next decade in the post-wto environment. The framework will be of activity-based cost and performance management in a value chain perspective. The importance of cost and management accounting practices has increased more than ever. The reasons for this are the domestic and global competition getting severer by globalization, decreasing profit margins, increasing input prices due the tightening energy sources, economic crises etc. Therefore, companies operating in developing countries have also begun to implement cost and management accounting p r a c t i c e s w h i c h were first adopted by companies f u n c t i o n i n g i n developed countries. Parallel to these developments, research studies which have been conducted initially in developed countries are followed by the studies conducted in developing countries. 2. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY To Explore insights of Cost Management Techniques. To conduct the survey on cost and management accounting practices followed by selected firms in Hubballi Dharwad. To evaluate the cost accounting techniques that are being used in Selected Manufacturing Firms in Hubballi Dharwad. 3. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY: Research in common refers to a search for knowledge. Research methodology is a way to systematically solve the research problem. It may be understood as science of studying how research is done scientifically. A good research methodology has Characteristics like problem identification, problem definition, research objectives, developing the research plan, sourcing data, collection of data, analyzing data and information, presenting the findings SAMPLE DESIGN: The sample design which is used in the study is convenience sampling. Respondents from Hubballi Dharwad District were selected on the basis of convenience SAMPLING TECHNIQUE: The study was carried out by conducting a survey with the help of printed questionnaire. Questionnaire which is considered as heart of survey. A well Structured questionnaire was designed in tune with obtaining necessary information from respondents SAMPLE SIZE: Sample size taken for the study is 3 respondents AREA OF ANALYSIS: The study was conducted in Hubballi Dharwad District. 4. METHODS OF DATA ANALYSIS: In order to analyze survey of Cost management practices by Selected Manufacturing Firms in Hubballi Dharwad District, statistical tools like Average, Graphs and Diagrams were used editor@iaeme.com

3 Purushottam N Vaidya and Sharanappa Alur 4.1. DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION: Table 4.1 Nature of Firms under Study Nature of Firm No. of Firms Engineering Works 11 Plastics and Fibers 3 Electrical 1 Food and Grains 1 Medical 1 Printing 2 Leather Shoes 1 Steel and Iron 1 Tailor Building 2 Valves and Pumps 4 Wooden Products 3 Total 3 Among 3 Selected firms in Hubballi Dharwad 11 firms belong to Engineering Works, 3 firms belong to Plastics and fibers, followed by Electrical, Food and Grains, Medical, Printing Leather Shoes, Steel and Iron, Tailors Buildings, valves and Pumps and Wooden products. Table 4.2 Number of Employees Number of Employees Less than to 14 1 to 1 More than 1 Total 3 CHART 4.1 NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES IN SELECTED FIRMS No. of Firms 1 1 Less than 1 1 to 1 to 1 Morethan 1 Number of Employees From the above table and graph it is observed that among thirty selected firms in Dharwad District 47% of firms have employees in between 1 to, 2 % of firms have less than 1; while 17% of Firms under the study have employees in between 1 to 1 and more than editor@iaeme.com

4 A Study on Cost and Management Accounting Practices by Selected Firms at Hubballi- Dharwad Table 4.3 Age of Selected Firms for the study Age of Firm Less than to to 1 8 More than 1 11 Total 3 CHART NO 4.2 Distribution Of Age Selected Firms No. of Companies 1 1 Less than to 1 1 to 1 Morethan 1 Age of Firm From the above table and graph it is observed that among thirty selected firms in Dharwad District 37% of firms are existing in the market for more than fifteen years, 27% of Firms are aged in between 1 to 1 years; 2 % of firms are aged in between to 1 years and 17 % of firms are aged less than five years Table 4.4 Size of Selected Firms under study Size (Annual Sales) Less than 2 6 2,,-,, 7 More than,, 17 Total 3 CHART 4.3 Size (Annual Sales) No. of Comapnies Less than 2 2,,-,, Morethan,, Annual Sales From the above table and graphs it is observed that 7 % of firms under the study are having average annual sales of Rs. More than,,; 23 % of firms are having annual average sales in between Rs. 2,, and Rs.,,, while 2 % of the firms have average annual sales less than Rs. 2,, editor@iaeme.com

5 Purushottam N Vaidya and Sharanappa Alur Table 4. Product Costing Method Product Costing Methods Job Costing 1 Process Costing 8 ABC 6 Output Costing 1 Not Specified _ CHART 4.4 PRODUCT COSTING METHODS 2 No. of Firms 1 1 Job Costing Process Costing ABC Output Costing Product Costing Methods The respondents were asked to specify the methods they implement in product costing. According to the answers, the most widely used costing method is job costing (1 firms), followed by Out Put Costing (1 firms), Process Costing (8 firms) and Activity Based Costing (6 firms). Table 4.6 Facing Difficulties in Product / Servicing Costing Facing Difficulties in Product / Servicing Costing Strongly Disagree 3 Disagree 4 Neutral 1 Agree 11 Strongly Agree 2 Chart 4. Difficulties in Product Costing No. of Frims Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree Respondents were also asked to point out the difficulties they encounter in product costing. Out of 3 firms 11 firms agreed that they face difficulties in product costing while editor@iaeme.com

6 A Study on Cost and Management Accounting Practices by Selected Firms at Hubballi- Dharwad firms strongly agreed for the same. Reasons being complexities in their productions and lack of necessary software. Interesting 1 firms were neutral in their opinion regarding difficulties faced in product costing. While 4 firms disagreed and 3 firms were strongly disagreed for the same. Table 4.7 Overhead Allocation Bases Overhead Allocation Bases Prime Cost 8 Units Produced 9 Direct Labour Cost 1 Machine Hour Direct Labour Hour 2 The most widely used over head allocation bases are Direct Labour Cost ( 1 firms), units produced (9 firms, and prime cost (8 firms). While Machine hour ( firms) and Direct Labour hour (2 firms) were least used overhead allocation rates. Table 4.8 Application of Costing Information Application Frequencies Pricing Decision 12 Customer Profitability 4 Performance Measure Activity Analysis 7 Make or Buy Decision 1 Adding/Deleting Product editor@iaeme.com

7 Purushottam N Vaidya and Sharanappa Alur The Above table and graph shows that pricing decisions (12 firms) are the most important area where costing information is used, followed by activity analysis (7 firms) and performance measure (4 firms). Customer Profitability, Adding/Deleting Product and Make/ Buy decisions were least applied by costing information. Table 4.9 Ratio of Overhead to Total Cost Ratio of Overhead Cost to Total Cost Less than 2% 6 2% to 4% 2 More than 4% 4 Total 3 No. of Firms Chart 4.8 distribution of Ratio of Overhead Cost to Total Cost Less than 2% 2% to 4% More than 4% Ratio of Overhead Cost to Total Cost From the above table and graphs it is observed that 2 firms out of 3 firms had ratio of Overhead to total cost in between 2% to 4%. Six firms had ratio of overhead to total cost less than 2% while only four firms under study had this ratio more than 4 %. Table 4.1 Reasons for Increased interest in Cost Accounting Decreasing Profitability Increasing Cost Increasing Competition Strongly Disagree 1 Disagree 4 Neutral Agree Strongly Agree 3 2 No of Firms 1 1 Chart 4.9 Reasons for the Increased Interest in Cost Accounting Decreasing Profitability Increasing Cost Increasing Competition Reasons Storngly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Storngly Agree editor@iaeme.com

8 A Study on Cost and Management Accounting Practices by Selected Firms at Hubballi- Dharwad The above table and chart shows that decreasing profitability and Increasing Cost are primary reasons for increased importance in cost accounting. However, increasing Competition is also one of main reason for increased interest towards cost accounting. Table 4.11 Perceived importance of management accounting practices Budgeting Planning and control Performance measurement and evaluation Quality cost reporting Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree Chart 4.1 Perceived importance of management accounting practices No. of Firms Budgeting Planning and control Performance measurement and evaluation Quality cost reporting Storngly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Storngly Agree From the above table and chart it is observed that Budgeting, Planning and Control and Performance Measurement were perceived more importance for management accounting practices for most firms under study.. KEY FINDINGS AND SUGGESTIONS: The survey revealed the general cost and management accounting practices of manufacturing firms operating in Hubballi - Dharwad. The findings are expected to contribute to the existing literature about the subject, especially in developing markets. The major findings of the study areas follows: The most widely used costing method is job costing, Most of firms under study face difficulties in product costing, The most widely used over head allocation bases are Direct Labour Cost, Units Produced and Prime cost, Pricingdecisionsisthemostimportantareawherecostinginformationisused, The ratio of over head to total cost is in between 2% to 4% for most of firms under study. Decreasing Profitability, Increasing Cost and increasing competition were the primary reasons for increased interest in cost accounting editor@iaeme.com

9 Purushottam N Vaidya and Sharanappa Alur Traditional management accounting practices like Budgeting, Planning and Control and Performance Measurement were perceived more importance by most firms under study. Suggestions: The firms are suggested to overcome the difficulties faced in product costing by installing necessary systems and software. The firms are suggested to use the cost accounting information in all important business decisions. The firms are suggested to adopt modern techniques of Cost accounting to minimize their overhead cost to total cost. The firms are suggested to consider modern management accounting practices. 6. CONCLUSION The objective of the study was to find out the cost accounting techniques that are being used in the field by manufacturing and service firms in Hubballi Dharwad. Firms should use the costing techniques that are most suitable for their environment. For instance, the level of technological advancement, size of the firm, stage of the product and culture. There should be naturalistic research for the development of cost and management techniques. Firms should only adopt those techniques that have practical basis and those techniques that their competitors have successfully adopted. REFERENCES [1] Abdel-Kader M.and Luther R.(28), The impact of firm characteristics on management accounting practices: AUK-based empirical analysis, The British Accounting Review, Vol. 4, No. 1, pp [1] Clarke P.J.(1997), Management accounting practices In large Irish manufacturing firms, Irish Business and Administrative Research, Vol. 18, pp [2] Joshi P.L.(21), The international diffusion of new management accounting practices the case of India, Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Vol. 1 No. 1, pp [3] Horngren, C. T., Datar, S. M. and Foster G. (2), Cost Accounting: A Managerial Emphasis, 1th ed., Pearson Prentice Hall, New Jersey. [4] Szychta,A.(22), The scope of application of management accounting methods in Polish enterprises, Management Accounting Research, Vol. 13, No. 4, pp [] Wu,J, Boateng, A. and Drury, C.(27), An analysis of the adoption, perceived benefits, and expected future emphasis of western management accounting practices In Chinese SOEs and JVs, The International Journal of Accounting, Vol. 42, No. 2, pp [6] Vasanth Vinayagamoorthi, Selvam Murugasen, Lingaraja Kasilingam, Karpagam Venkatraman and Gayathrimahalingam, Environmental Management Accounting a Decision Making Tools International Journal af Management Volume 3, Issue 3, (212), Pp [7] Hasan Yousef El- Mousawi and Abdulrazzak Charbaji. Attitude of Lebanese Managers towards ISO 141- Environmental Management System and ISO Material Flow Cost Accounting. International Journal of Management, 7(2), 216, pp editor@iaeme.com