Strategic Cost Management and Accurate cost Information in Selected Manufacturing Firms in Lagos and Ogun States, Nigeria.

Abstract

The use of distorted cost information in manufacturing firms in Nigeria is affecting their survival because they are unable to manage their costs effectively. New costing strategies are required to be used for achieving undistorted cost information. Hence, the objectives of this study were to: assess the effect of Activity- Based Management (ABM) on accuracy of cost information; evaluate the influence of life cycle costing (LCC) on accuracy of cost information; and examine the impact of Target Costing (TC) on accuracy of cost information. Survey research design was employed. The population of the study consisted of three hundred and eighty - five respondents in seventy - seven listed manufacturing firms in Lagos and Ogun States. The sample of the study consisted of three hundred and twenty- five respondents in sixty - five randomly selected manufacturing firms. Primary data used were collected through questionnaire administration. Data analysis was done using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS -SEM). The study found that: ABM has positive effect on accuracy of cost information (β = 0.493, p < 0.01); LCC has no influence on accuracy of cost information (β = 0.043, p > 0.10); and TC has positive impact on accuracy of cost information (β = 0.272, p < 0.01). The study concluded that strategic cost management practices are relevant for accessing accurate cost information. The study recommended that manufacturing firms should implement strategic cost management practices to achieve accuracy of cost information.

Key words: Strategic cost management, Accuracy of cost information, Activity based management, Life cycle costing, Target costing.