個案資料

Strategic Cost Analysis is a six-chapter book published by the Business Expert Press and written by Roger Hussey, Dean of Guangzhou International Business School and Professor Emeritus at the University of the West of England, and Audra Ong, Associate Professor at the Odette School of Business at University of Windsor. This book provides tools for managers to understand and interpret financial information as part of their organization's strategic planning and decision-making. The authors say that, regardless of industry or field, all managers must be able to use financial information effectively in their jobs. Through the context of four key questions, the authors explain how to calculate, control, and monitor costs, as well as to integrate cost analysis into organizational decision-making. The book includes examples and practical tips for managers at all levels. In Chapter 4, Monitoring and Control (23 pages), the authors explain the third element of their framework, using financial reports to monitor the success of strategy implementation. The authors review the critical variances in the standard costing approach, including direct costs, overhead, and sales, as well as how these factors interrelate. They discuss the challenges of budgetary control, which is often managed by "exemption," or looking for large variances in performance. They offer guidelines for alternative ways to analyze variances, including dollars and percentages, recurring trends, and contradictions and abnormalities. The authors also examine fixed versus flexible budgets and assess the overall strengths and weaknesses of budgeting itself.

• Balanced scorecard
• Activity-based costing
• Variance analysis
• Cost analysis
• Cost control
• Finance and investing