Target costing is strategic decision.
Target costing is based on three premises: 1.) Product design and development has to be oriented to customer affordability or market-driven pricing, 2.) Product cost is to be treated as an objective or a constraint variable determined by the market conditions during the definition of a product's requirements, and 3.) Proactively working to achieve target cost during product and process development.
Target costing builds upon a design-to-cost (DTC) approach with the focus on market-driven target prices as a basis for establishing target costs. The target costing concept is similar to the cost as an independent variable (CAIV) approach used by the U.S. Department of Defense and to the price-to-win philosophy used by a number of companies pursuing contracts involving development under contract.
The company can have a policy of target costing. For any new product to be introduced, marketing comes out with an estimate of the price and sales quantity schedule. From this information, and information available on capital outlays required (an approximate estimate), a decision is taken to target a price point. From this price point, the required profit margin is deducted to get a target cost for the product and the product development team is given this target cost as the development goal. Therefore, development has a technical goal, the new product has to perform the specified function, it must be durable, maintainable, it must have quality, and also it has to be within the target cost.
To ensure that the developed product is within the target cost, the development team needs cost estimation assistance on a continuous basis. Value engineering is normally taken up after some years of selling the new product. Target costing requires concurrent value engineering. Value engineering requires cost information.
Cost accountants and cost estimators have a significant role to play in an organization which is pursuing target costing as a strategy.
For More Detailed Reading
Target Costing
http://www.npd-solutions.com/target.html
What is Target Costing? A Presentation in pdf format
http://www.sfb374.uni-stuttgart.de/rv_98_99/lorino5.pdf
Best Practices in Target Costing
http://www.imanet.org/pdf/1236.pdf
Index of articles on Cost Accounting, Costing and Cost Management on this blogWhat is Target Costing? A Presentation in pdf format
http://www.sfb374.uni-stuttgart.de/rv_98_99/lorino5.pdf
Best Practices in Target Costing
http://www.imanet.org/pdf/1236.pdf
Index of articles on Cost Accounting, Costing and Cost Management
(To be prepared)
Original Knol - http://knol.google.com/k/narayana-rao/target-costing-and-target-cost/ 2utb2lsm2k7a/ 380
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DeleteTag: PM201A55. Let me share all of you about #5 Tips for Project Management Success,, I hope you enjoy it
1. Plan your day using time management techniques
As a project manager, time management skills are essential because you are dealing with a wide range of tasks that demand a quick turnaround time. Planning your day will go a long way in keeping you organized and increasing your productivity. Assist your task planning by using project management software which helps you track the work of you and your team.
If you are not very tech savvy, a simple to-do list can also be a great organizational tool. Prioritize your most important tasks by putting them at the top of the list and less important ones at the bottom. Having a visual plan of your daily tasks helps to keep you on track and aware of time.
Related post: Free ebook 104 secrets to become a great project manager
2. Include stakeholders in important project conversations
While you will have plenty of responsibilities regarding the project, don’t neglect your clients.
Good communication is essential is keeping both parties informed of project progression, curtailing scope creep, and apprised of changing requirements. Some clients may have different expectations when it comes to communication, so make sure to establish the frequency and type of communication (like emails, phone calls, and face-to-face conversations) at the beginning of your project.
Establishing communication expectations early helps alleviate stakeholder uncertainty about communication frequency and delivery.
3. Regularly communicate with your team
Daily team communication helps keep misunderstandings and unclear requirements under control. Keeping your team informed in every step of the project is essential to project management success.
For example, a study published by Procedia Technology found that good communication skills were the cornerstone of project management. The study examined over 300 “construction project managers, architects, construction managers, engineers and quantity surveyors” and their successes and failures on various construction projects.
4. Anticipate project setbacks
Even the best-laid plans often go awry.
Remember that even with a high amount of planning and attention to detail, your project may still encounter some challenges. Pay attention to complaints from stakeholders or colleagues, and other warning signs, like a missed deadline or cost overrun, that there may be a problem.
Preventing a crisis will keep your project running smoothly, save you a lot of time, and keep you, your team, and your stakeholders confident in progressing with the project.
Unfortunately not every complication can be avoided. Crisis management skills are essential for dealing with the unexpected. Project managers need to be flexible and pragmatic. Improvise and make sharp decisions when needed.
Related post: 92 free project management templates
5. Stay focused on the details
A common problem project managers encounter is having the project aims not aligned with the organization’s objectives. A great project manager will strategize a plan for the project to lead back to the overall success of the business.
Know your project’s scope by heart and avoid wandering outside of the project’s requirements. It’s too easy to get lost in minor details and forget what your focus is, so a well-planned project scope is essential for success.
And final, you should use KPI to measure effectiveness of the project, here are full list: 76 project management KPIs
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