Management-accounting

I've read several books about ABC/M, and I just can say that Gary Cokins is an excellent writter, Gary explains the concepts very clearly and then lays out a detailed and well thought out strategy for implementation. The graphics are excellent, When you already read this book, you can review it as a presentation just looking the figures and graphics inside.

I am implementing ABC/ABM in a medium sized multinational company, and this is required reading for my teams. I've read most of the comprehensive ABC/ABM books, and this is by far the best. Gary explains the concepts very clearly and then lays out a detailed and well thought out strategy for implementation. The book is also loaded with illustrations that are literally a blueprint for making ABC/ABM work. If you're doing ABC/ABM this is a must.

This is a clearly written and an exceptionally well illustrated explanation of Activity-Based Costing. If you are only going to read one book on ABC, this would be a good one to have.

For any public sector organization considering or currently implementing activity based costing, Gary Cokins' excellent book is a must-read. Although government agencies are increasingly required to improve performance with fewer resources and recognize the need to implement a cost accounting system, there has been little published guidance on ABC applicable to the public sector. Comprehensive, well-wrwitten, and easily understandable, this book exceptionally fills that gap for novice and experienced cost accountant alike.

Cokins begins with a thorough introduction to the fundamentals of activity based cost management and its applicability to a government setting in such areas as outsourcing/privatization studies, fees for service, process improvement, performance measurement and budgeting. All basic concepts are covered, such as views of cost assignment, cost drivers, level of data collection required and allocation of support costs. Everything is explained in easy to understand language and copiously illustrated with visuals and actual government examples. Practical advice on successful implementation and pitfalls to avoid is offered throughout.

After laying a solid foundation, chapters 5-8 address more advanced topics including utilizing ABC/M to assess quality and value, balanced scorecard performance measures, activity based budgeting and supply chain management. Using ABC for these purposes, although probably not attainable in its initial implementation, are important to bear in mind as longer term goals.

I found chapteres 9 - 11 essential for agencies beginning ABC implementation. In Chapter 9, Cokins discusses the value of rapid prototyping with a few key employees in order to produce a repeatable, reliable and relevant production system, and guides you through the process step by step. Chapter 10 presents case studies of successful ABC implementation in the public sector, and Chapter 11 discusses what you will need to obtain employee buy-in.

Overall, I found this book to be an extremely valuable resource and recommend it highly.

Gary Cokins does an excellent job explaining Activity Based Costing and Activity Based Management from beginning to end. By reading the first chapter alone, one can tell he is an expert in his field. He begins explaining the subject matter with the basics and continues through using an easy to follow logic. For public sector organizations that are considering ABC/M, or already using it, this book is a master guide for its methodology. It has very helpful charts which the author uses in his explanation of the material, making it easy for the reader to follow.

I have spent over 30 years in government, and the one aspect always apparent is that the government is always trying to improve performance with fewer resources, and therefore recognizes the need for activity based costing. This book is, by far, the leading reference to refer to for guidance on how to implement ABC/M. The reader does not have to be a cost accountant to comprehend the methodology or technique used to implement ABC/M. The author cites actual cases in the public sector where federal or local agencies have implemented this technique and the successes made. He begins with the issue or problem and cites the solution, the model structure used, the results, and the lessons learned. These actual case examples help show how ABC/M can resolve problems in the real world.

Overall, I found this book to be an excellent resource in its field, as it is easily understood, yet comprehensive. I strongly recommend it to any government manager that wants to help their organization excel.

Activity based cost management is increasingly taking hold in government and is helping many organizations make dramatic improvements in their understanding of costs. Gary Cokins, a widely respected cost management craftsman and teacher, has made an outstanding contribution to the advancement cost management in his book "Activity-Based Cost Management in Government." He does a great job covering a wide range cost topics in a clear and coherent manner; and he consistently reinforces - through relevant concepts, examples and quotations - the pragmatic value of cost information to support fact based decision making.

I thought most consultants keep this kind of information to themselves. This book is worth its weight in gold.

The Activity Based Costing Methodology showed in this book, by itself, doesn't provide full answers to the challenges Financial Institutions have been facing.

Of course, some simple and commom questions are addressed, adapted from manufacturing knowledge, but complex ones aren't.

For example, the question "how can I compute IT costs to products, services, customers, distribution chanells?" can be answered in a correct way.

As a "growing high tech consumer", financial services industry needs valuable answers to these questions.

Since 1994, we've performing projects related to implementation of Advanced Cost and Budget Systems using ABC Costing. Recently, we've perfomed projects in 2 global Banks (top 10, assets), where we can focus in answer in a correct way these complex questions.

However, I think the book is usefull for starting discussion about the theme in the financial institutions environment.

Thank you.

Christiano Mendonca, Brasil

Activity-Based Costing and management information in financial institutions is an area I have been interested in for many years. It is difficult in one book to provide answers to every eventuality, but I have enjoyed the opportunity to provide some insights from my (and my colleagues) that may suggest ideas to others facing similar problems. I have included a basic methodology and guidance that we have found useful, but as with all MIS projects these tools do need to be tailored for each individual organisation. I hope you find it useful and I look forward to reading your reviews in the future.

Without question, if you want to know where all the money's going (especially in companies of 100+) employees, ABC is the tool to use. Mr. Brimson's book is one of several books I have read on the topic and it is also, in my opinion, the best. By investing one or two evenings reading this one book, you will have an opportunity to understand not only what it is (and what it is not) in plain English, but you may also be capable and confident enough to participate in the process as well