Cost-Volume-Profit Analysis As A Management Tool For Decision Making
This research investigation is focused on the use of Cost-Volume-Profit analysis as a Management tool for decision making using Nigerian Breweries Plc as a case study.
Cost-Volume-Profit (CVP) analysis narrowly called break-even analysis, is the application of marginal costing and seeks to study the relationship between costs, volume and profits at differing activity levels and can be a useful guide for short-term planning and decision making.
There are series of relationship between costs, volume of production and profit. An understanding of these relationship are useful to management. Cost-volume-profit relationship as a decision making device that considers the inherent relationship between cost, volume of production and the profit that is made.
This research study is divided into five chapters. Chapter one is introduction which includes background of the study, statement of the problem, objectives of the study, significance of the study, research questions, hypothesis, scope and limitation of the study and definition of terms.
Chapter two deals with review of related literatures on cost-volume-profit analysis as a management tool for decision making.
Chapter three deals with research design and methodology.
Chapter four involves presentation, analysis and interpretation of data.
Finally chapter five is summary of findings, conclusion and recommendations.
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY:
Orjih (2001), defined cost-volume-profit analysis as “specific way of presenting and studying the inter-relationship between costs, volumes and profits”. According to him, it provides information to management in a most lucid and precise manner. It establishes a relationship between revenues and costs with respect to volumes. It indicates the level of sales at which costs and revenue are in equilibrium. This equilibrium point is commonly known as Break even point. The break-even point is the point of sales volume at which total revenues is equal to total costs. It is a point of zero profit.
According to Brown et al (1997), “some industries today are encountering problems raised by expansion through increased sales and the introduction of new products. Many on the other hand are facing problem of contraction due to the introduction of substitute materials, products or reduced demand for their products. Whichever is the case, it is vitally important that management should be in a clear position to plan for these changing levels of activity”.
Apart from the problem of contraction and expansion, during the period of economic depression, a business may be faced with the alternative of closing down or selling its products at a price below the total cost. Also profit planning and control is made more difficult by the changes in the general pattern of demand for the type of products offered and the action of competitors.
In order to solve the problem created by the above situations, profit planning, cost control and decision making require an understanding of the characteristics of costs and their behaviour at different operating levels. One of the most important tools developed by accountants to assist management in meeting these challenges is cost-volume-profit analysis.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM:
This study entitled “cost-volume-profit analysis as a management tool for decision making” goes to suggest how the application of cost-volume-profit analysis has helped managers in making decisions of the firm to ensure its growth and survival.
The challenges facing management are enormous particularly during this period of economic depression and they are as follows:
1. Management is faced with the problem of how to make use of the available scarce resources in order to achieve the objective of profit maximization.
2. Advanced state of competition and rivalry where only the fittest enterprises survive.
3. Shortage of funds to buy the needed raw materials.
4. Low capacity utilization.
1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY:
The research will be focused on cost-volume-profit analysis as a management tool for decision making (A case study of Nigerian Breweries Plc).
The purpose of the study will be:
(i) To evaluate the extent to which the use of cost-volume-profit analysis has helped in achieving the profit maximization of Nigerian Breweries.
(ii) To identify problems encountered in the practical application of CVP analysis and suggest possible solutions.
(iii) To examine some other techniques that help in decision.
(iv) To highlight the superiority of using cost-volume-profit over other forms of techniques.
1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY:
This study, “cost-volume-profit analysis as a management tool for decision making” (A case study of Nigerian Breweries Plc) will educate the entire public on how cost-volume-profit analysis is an effective tool applied by managers in decision making in their firms.
This study will be of immense benefit to the following groups of persons:
(a) Business organizations especially Nigerian Breweries Plc.
(b) Cost Accountants and Financial analysts.
(c) Students of accountancy profession and other allied profession.
(d) Institute of management and technology (IMT) community.
(e) Researchers on related study.
(f) The general public.
1.5 RESEARCH QUESTIONS:
In this study, “cost-volume-profit analysis as a management tool for decision making” (A case study of Nigerian Breweries Plc) the following research questions come to mind: They are:
(i) Is Cost-Volume-Profit analysis used as a management tool for decision making in Nigerian Breweries Plc?
(ii) Has the application of the cost-volume-profit analysis helped Nigerian Breweries to be efficient and effective in its operations?
(iii) What other technique apart from cost-volume-profit analysis does Nigerian Breweries employ in decision making?
(iv) Are these other techniques superior to cost-volume-profit analysis?
(v) What problems do Nigerian Breweries encounter in decision making?
1.6 RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS:
The hypothesis to attest to the questionnaire’s belief that cost-volume-profit analysis is a management tool for decision making can be tested as follows:
Ho: Cost-volume-profit analysis is extensively applied in Nigerian Breweries Plc.
H1: Cost-volume-profit analysis is not extensively applied in Nigerian Breweries Plc.
Ho: The application of cost-volume-profit analysis has helped the decision making and growth of the firm.
H1: The application of cost-volume-profit analysis has not helped the decision making and growth of the firm.
1.7 SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY:
This topic, “cost-volume-profit analysis as a management tool for decision making” (A case study of Nigerian Breweries Plc) should have intended to cover all the Nigerian Breweries located in different States of the Federation but the researcher intends to limit this topic to only 9th Mile Depot, Enugu State due to time constraints, distance and financial handicap. The study of Nigerian Breweries 9th Mile Depot Enugu shall also serve other States of the Federation since the same techniques are applied in other depots. Therefore, the researcher will rely heavily on the Nigerian Breweries 9th Mile Depot since they have adequate information data relevant to the study.
1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS:
COST: Nweze (2000) defined cost as “a measurement in monetary terms, of the amount of resources used for specific purpose.
PROFIT PLANNING: According to Orjih (2000), “profit planning refers to the operating decisions in the areas of pricing costs, volume of output and the firm’s selection of product line”.
ECONOMIXC DEPRESSION: This is a period when there is little economic activity and many people are poor without jobs.
COST CONTROL: Strahlem (1977) defined cost control as “the regulation, limitation or confinement of cost”.
DECISION MAKING: Barfied et al (1994) defined decision making as “the process of choosing among the alternative solutions available to a course of action or a problem situation.
Title page
Dedication
Acknowledgement
Abstract
Table of contents
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 Introduction
1.1 Background of study
1.2 Statement of the problem
1.3 Objectives of the study
1.4 Significance of the study
1.5 Research Questions
1.6 Research Hypothesis
1.7 Scope and Limitation of the study
1.8 Definition of terms
CHAPTER TWO
2.0 Literature Review
2.1 An Overview of Cost-Volume-Profit Analysis
2.2 Cost-Volume-Profit Limitations
2.3 Break-Even Analysis A Traditional View of the Cost-Volume-Profit Relation
2.4 Graphical Approach to break-even Analysis
2.5 Formular method of finding break point
2.6 The multi- product cost-volume-profit analysis
2.7 Decision making function
2.8 Other tools for decision making and control
CHAPTER THREE:
3.0 Research design and methodology
3.1 Sources of data
3.2 Primary sources of data
3.2.1 Personal/Oral interview
3.2.2 Questionnaire method
3.3 Secondary sources of data
3.4 Population and sample size determination
3.5 Method of data collection
3.6 Method of validating the instrument
3.7 Method of data analysis
CHAPTER FOUR:
4.0 Data Presentation, Analysis and Interpretation
4.1 Preliminary information
4.2 Data analysis
4.3 Testing and interpretation of hypothesis
CHAPTER FIVE
5.0 Summary of Findings, Conclusions and Recommendations
5.1 Summary of findings
5.2 Conclusions
5.3 Recommendations
Bibliography
Questionnaire
The Title Page should be the first section of your project “Cost-Volume-Profit Analysis As A Management Tool For Decision Making”, providing essential details like the project title, your name, your supervisor’s name, the institution, and the submission date. After that, the Abstract offers a brief summary of your project, touching on its purpose, methods, results, and conclusions in 150-300 words. The Acknowledgments section is where you can thank those who supported your research, such as your supervisor, peers, or organizations that provided resources.
Next, the Table of Contents organizes the Cost-Volume-Profit Analysis As A Management Tool For Decision Making by listing its chapters and sections, along with page numbers for easy reference. The List of Figures and List of Tables help guide readers to specific visual elements like graphs, charts, or tables included in the document. There should also be an Abbreviations and Glossary section to explain any specialized terms or acronyms, making the content clearer to readers unfamiliar with the technical language.
The main body of the Cost-Volume-Profit Analysis As A Management Tool For Decision Making should start with the Introduction, which provides background information, outlines the research problem, states your objectives, and gives a brief overview of your research methods. Following that, the Literature Review offers an in-depth look at previous research relevant to your project, identifying gaps your study aims to address. The Methodology section then explains the research design, tools, and data collection methods you used to conduct the project and analyze the data.
In the Results and Discussion section, you present your findings and discuss them in relation to the Cost-Volume-Profit Analysis As A Management Tool For Decision Making research questions or objectives, often using tables or charts to help explain the data. The Conclusion summarizes the key results, discusses their implications, and suggests possible directions for future research. You may also include recommendations based on your findings, offering practical advice for improvements or applications. Finally, the Cost-Volume-Profit Analysis As A Management Tool For Decision Making project should include a References or Bibliography section to list all the sources you cited, as well as Appendices for any additional material. A Statement of Originality is often included to confirm the authenticity of your work