Abstract
The paper analyzes Chris Murphy's article "What's Next" that focuses on current IT outsourcing practice and Lee and Margaret Covell's article "A Strategic Approach to Overhead Management" that discusses operations cost-cutting. The paper then looks at Joseph Bozada's article "Generating Shareholder Value: Much More Than Cost Cutting" that suggests that worker layoffs might be counter-productive and finally, the paper examines the editorial in the Measuring Business Excellence magazine that explains how improved cost-efficiency can also be achieved through an innovative use of accounting and financial processes. The paper notes that all four authors agree that companies need to look beyond such traditional cost-cutting methods as layoffs, outsourcing and downsizing.

Outline:
Introduction
Analysis: New Perspectives on Outsourcing and Operations Cost Cutting
Analysis: Novel Approaches to Cost Cutting
Conclusion

From the Paper
"In today's challenging business environment, companies are considering cost-cutting strategies more often than just a couple of years ago. There are three well-established methods of cost cutting: downsizing, outsourcing and cutting the costs of operations (Crampton & Hodge, 2007, p.341). Managers usually turn to one or a combination of these strategies during difficult economic times and/or situations of company underperformance. However, according to many analysts, such behavior might be counterproductive and even dangerous (Bozada, 2004, p.17). While hasty layoffs and downsized operations might improve the immediate financial situation, in the longer term they might create a strategic disadvantage and even cut into future revenue gains. According to Bozada, this happens because "This approach primarily focuses on cost cutting and will, by definition, only produce limited results" (p.17). What is needed therefore is a strategic and innovative approach to the concept of cost cutting."

Tags:layoffs, downsizing, accounting, outsourcing, operations

Abstract
In this article, the writer discusses that with advertising costs accounting for a large portion of a marketer's budget, justifying these costs and measuring their impact is becoming increasingly important. The writer maintains that it is crucial not only to identify a particular ad that is not working but also to determine methods for improving and optimizing existing advertisements. The writer further points out that since it is often difficult to tie a sale to a particular advertisement, measuring the success of a campaign relies on other research methods to uncover the communication effects, including brand recognition and consumers' intention to purchase a product. Additionally, the writer notes that in order to effectively measure an advertisement's effectiveness, a marketer should employ three types of research: developmental, concurrent, post-testing.

From the Paper
"Especially in a cluttered ad environment, it is crucial for an advertisement to be eye-catching and attractive to grab a consumer's attention. Concept testing is an effective method for uncovering advertisements with the most potential to stand out among competitors' communications."
"Unlike message strategy research and concept testing, which analyze various concepts of an advertisement to expose the preferred version, pre-testing assesses the strength of the finished message and predicts how well it will perform. Popular methodologies of pre-testing include portfolio tests, jury tests and theater tests. Portfolio tests are used to test variations in advertisement copy by packaging them together and asking target consumers for insight to their preferences."

Tags:advertisement, brand, market, research, marketing

Abstract
The paper explains cost-volume-profit (CVP) analysis as a method by which a firm can break down its production and profit figures to determine the optimal levels of production/sales for its products, with the goal of realizing the business' potential profit. The paper highlights the benefits of CVP analysis as well as its potential problems. The writer of this paper relates how CVP analysis would help his friend to effectively manage his resources.

From the Paper
"There are several differences between financial reporting and managerial accounting. At the most basic, the two types of reporting are used to meet the needs of two different groups of stakeholders. Financial reporting is typically geared towards external users. In the case of my friend's business, this is the government's taxation arm. In a public company, shareholders, potential investors and regulators would also be included on the list of stakeholders for which financial reports are created. Financial reporting, therefore, is based around a consistent set of standards (the generally accepted accounting principles) and is conducted solely using the accrual accounting method. This consistency helps external parties measure the firm's outputs."

Tags:production, profit, sales, income, margins

Abstract
The paper describes the film "Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price" as an effective, eye-opening account of the Wal-Mart legacy of exploitation, lies, deceit and snuffing out competition, all in the name of low prices for consumers. The paper discusses how the film illustrates how Wal-Mart takes over retail in communities, exploits its workers both in the United States and abroad and gleefully watches small retailers fail when they move into town. The paper posits that it is a mesmerizing look into the world of big business in America that will make any viewer stop and think about what, where and how they purchase the commodities they use every day.

From the Paper
"There are so many main points to this film it is hard to narrow them down, but ultimately, the theme is that Wal-Mart is a deceptive, unethical, and disreputable corporation. They use illegal and highly questionable business practices for the sole reason of making a huge profit, and ensuring the happiness of their shareholders. They exploit their workers both in the United States and around the world, they cost taxpayers billions of dollars in welfare and health benefits, and they gleefully run small business owners out of their long held, family-owned enterprises. And yet, they are one of the most successful retailers in history, and the largest retailer in the world."

Tags:exploitation, competition, taxpayers, deceit, lies, ethics

Abstract
This paper explains that the Department of Defense (DoD), with more than $1 trillion in assets and a budget that accounts for about half of the federal government's discretionary funding, has a need for accurate accounting processes. The author points out that ABC captures quantified cost and time data and translates it into information for making decisions by measuring process and activity performance, by determining the cost of business process outputs, and by identifying opportunities to improve process efficiency and effectiveness. The paper concludes that the ultimate decision will be based on a blended action that minimizes cost and time, while creating a better outcome.

Table of Contents
Big Need for Accurate Accounting
ABC in the Military
Process Decision Example
Success Stories
NASA
Fleet and Industrial Supply Center (FISC)
Military Resistance to ABC?
Who Might Benefit in the DoD?

From the Paper
"In the 1990s, the RAND Corporation, including its defense-oriented federally funded research and development organizations, offered a better way for the DoD to pay for its purchases, one it thought would improve the interactions; after all, if a unit overspent in one year, then the next year it would be looking for lower prices. That meant that the organization it purchased from would experience a loss, or potentially could, which in turn could affect the service or product quality or delivery. However, the WCF arrangement bore the stamp of approval of the DoD Comptroller's office, which suggested that the WCF approach has saved "billions of dollars by providing managers with greater visibility into the costs of DoD support operations.""

Tags:rand, budget, time, cost, website, purchases

Abstract
This paper discusses how the Accounting Standards Board (ASB) should adopt an inflation accounting methodology for the United Kingdom that conforms to the general global trend to the use of inflation accounting as a more accurate means of preparing financial statements. It looks at how the use of historical cost leads to distortions in valuation of assets over time with the distortion magnifying in periods of high inflation or assets that are held over long periods of time. It also examines how the adoption of a specific inflation accounting methodology would function to standardize accounting practices in the preparation of financial statements and allow more effective comparability of the financial statements of firms in the United Kingdom with those of other nations.

From the Paper
"Inflation accounting is theoretically grounded on the need to maintain capital on an entity or proprietary basis and the need to properly value assets (Robson, The discourse, 197). From this perspective inflation accounting is involved with the need to accurately represent value. The primary difficulty with developing and implementing an inflation accounting method, however, lies with the concept of value, with varying interpretations of value in the perspective of shareholders, the perspective of corporate governance, and to some degree, from the perspective of fundamental economic theory. In addition, the uses of information regarding value can vary, with the information used as part of the decision-making process for each asset."

Tags:capital, assets, financial, statements

From the Paper
"Introduction

Organizations with decentralized operations typically divide those operations into cost and profit centers. This delineation, which is a management and strategic decision, has long-term ramifications for the success of the organization, and helps define (and is defined by) the culture which exists in the company at the time the decision is made. Companies which have operated with cost centers in the past may determine that changing some or all of those cost centers to profit centers may be more beneficial to the organization in the long-run. This research examines the considerations which must be taken into account when making this determination, and evaluates the effect that such a change might have on the organization as a whole.

Cost Centers
A cost center is a.."

Abstract
This paper explains that an extremely aggressive medical care system has created a cost prohibitive demand for heroic measures rather than a system that takes the whole of the community into account and allows the consumer preventative care and reasonable end-of-life care. The author stresses that the middle class is most significantly feeling the strangling effects of this out-of-control medical system and ethic. The paper concludes that the bottom line of this multivariate situation is that there seems to be very little real accountability. The paper includes many quotations.

From the Paper
"For example, in a logical capitalistic situation, the price to utilize a particular piece of equipment should go down as demand goes up to offset the initial cost of producing and or acquiring the product. Yet, the costs seem to continue to rise regardless of how many other people have been charged $2,000 to use the equipment costing about 50 cents per minute to run the equipment for a test period of no longer than 30 minutes in most cases, or how long the equipment has been used. Though this is a far simplified analogy, sustainability should still be at the forefront of thought on the issue of equipment and supplies."

Tags:capitalistic, accountability, out-of-control, insurance, equipment

Abstract
The paper explains that activity-based costing (ABC) allows accountants to obtain a more precise view of the costs associated with specific products or services. This paper uses a case analysis to explore how ABC can help to achieve greater cost effectiveness in the healthcare industry. The paper concludes that although ABC can play an important role in reducing healthcare costs, little can be done to reduce direct costs associated with a procedure without a sacrifice of patient safety.

Outline:
Introduction
Objective of the paper
Analysis, Findings & Discussion
Suggestions, Recommendations & Conclusions

From the Paper
"Activity-Based Costing (ABC) allocates the costs of production to specific products or services. It is more precise than older methods of accounting that involved adding a broad percentage of expenditures to direct and indirect costs. The definitions of direct and indirect costs varied and were often a judgement call on the part of the accountant. ABC allowed accountants to obtain a more precise view of the costs associated with specific products or services."

Tags:accounting, direct, indirect, costs, efficiency, expenditures

Abstract
The paper discusses time-driven activity based costing, a brand-new model that is far more cost effective than traditional ABC systems. The paper also discusses how it is also less acurate and is very dependent on managerial estimates.

From the Paper
"Activity-based costing is one of the greatest innovations of managerial accounting. The Activity Based Costing is a managerial costing approach for the local manager to measure the historical cost of resources consumed and output produced at the activity level in order to meet the specific needs of individual managers. ABC traces historical costs resources consumed to activities and then through those activities to products or services provided. It has one serious drawback, however, in that it is..."

Tags:management, accounting, cost, systems