Professional Documents
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Strategic Business Ana Ysis
Strategic Business Ana Ysis
Nizhel V. Pimentel
nvpimentel@letran-
calamba.edu.ph
STRATEGIC BUSINESS
ANALYSIS
BS Accountancy
Table of Contents
Introduc on to Strategic Analysis: Strategy Framework......................................................................................................... 5
Assessing the environment ................................................................................................................................................. 5
Strategy framework as a concept........................................................................................................................................ 5
Strategy framework as a tool .............................................................................................................................................. 6
Importance of strategic framework .................................................................................................................................... 8
Tips to consider when crea ng a strategic framework ....................................................................................................... 8
6 items to consider for your strategic framework............................................................................................................... 9
Strategy Framework: Iden fying strategic issues ................................................................................................................. 10
How Should You Identify Strategic Issues? ....................................................................................................................... 10
How Should You Reduce and Prioritize the List of Strategic Issues? ................................................................................ 10
Methodologies for Resolving Strategic Issues: ................................................................................................................. 11
How does the Strategic Issues process drive later Strategic Planning steps? .................................................................. 11
Formula ng strategies ...................................................................................................................................................... 11
6 steps to execute strategy formula on ........................................................................................................................... 12
Tips for using strategy formula on ................................................................................................................................... 13
Enterprise Analysis: Business Architecture .......................................................................................................................... 13
What is Enterprise Analysis? ............................................................................................................................................. 13
The Role of Enterprise Analysis in the Requirements Process ...................................................................................... 14
Steps Involved in Enterprise Analysis ............................................................................................................................ 14
Core Competencies for Enterprise Analysis .................................................................................................................. 14
Enterprise architecture defini on ..................................................................................................................................... 15
Goals of enterprise architecture ................................................................................................................................... 15
Benefits of enterprise architecture ............................................................................................................................... 15
Enterprise architecture methodologies ........................................................................................................................ 16
Enterprise architect role................................................................................................................................................ 16
Enterprise architecture tools and so ware .................................................................................................................. 16
Enterprise Analysis: Feasibility studies ................................................................................................................................. 17
What Is a Feasibility Study? .............................................................................................................................................. 17
Understanding a Feasibility Study ..................................................................................................................................... 17
Benefits of a Feasibility Study ........................................................................................................................................... 17
How to Conduct a Feasibility Study .................................................................................................................................. 17
What Is the Main Objec ve of a Feasibility Study? .......................................................................................................... 18
What Are the Steps in a Feasibility Study?........................................................................................................................ 18
Who Conducts a Feasibility Study? ................................................................................................................................... 19
What Are the 4 Types of Feasibility? ................................................................................................................................. 19
Enterprise Analysis: Project scope ........................................................................................................................................ 19
What Is An Enterprise Project? ......................................................................................................................................... 19
What Is Enterprise Project Management? ........................................................................................................................ 19
ERP Implementa on ......................................................................................................................................................... 20
How To Plan An Enterprise Project ................................................................................................................................... 22
Why Are Enterprise Project Plans Important? .................................................................................................................. 22
Strategy frameworks are methods that businesses use to outline plans to achieve future goals. It aims to demonstrate how a business
or department plans to use projects and other ini a ves to uphold the overall vision of stakeholders.
A framework serves as the founda on for internal and external messaging, organizing all priori es and ini a ves into strategic drivers
or pillars that ladder up to a high-level goal or purpose.
A strong framework is aspira onal, designed to inspire stakeholders and demonstrate how the organiza on is working towards their
vision, purpose, or goals.
Developing a strategic framework is the first step in crea ng a compelling narra ve to elevate your brand. It ensures consistent
messaging, which is essen al in building brand trust. From an internal standpoint, a framework defines your strategic focus and gives
your team a clear vision of what they are working to achieve.
Types of ini a ves and business objec ves where strategic framework can be applied:
- Building brand awareness
- Expanding into a different market or niche area
- Incorpora ng more suitable prac ces into business ac vi es
- Developing a strong customer base
- Reducing long-term debts or completely ge ng rid of them within 5 years.
STRATEGY
Strategy can be defined as “a general direc on set for the company and its various components to achieve a desired state in the future.
Almost every person implements strategies in the workplace and in their personal lives. Strategies are plans formulated and
implemented with the sole purpose of a aining set goals and objec ves. O and, we have always referred to strategy as a plan to be
executed, a map to chart, and a path to traverse.
2. Strategy is mindset.
Richard Pascale, in his book MANAGING THE EDGE consider strategy as a frame of mind and an a tude. Pascale states that
organiza ons should develop within their system an outlook that is deliberate and monitored. He says further “nothing fails like
success”.
3. Strategy is learning.
One of the most widely discussed concept of strategy today is based on the learning organiza on model. This call to learn is rooted on
the reality of changing environment. Change demands learning, and learning means con nuous change. Learning, from the
organiza onal perspec ve, is a process of maintaining and improving performance experien ally. Based on facts and date, learning is
not accidental ac vity although it may happen consciously or otherwise.
Learning refers to any old and new knowledge and competencies, gained or enhance from persons, ins tu ons, books, experiences,
training, and others. It comes in the form of data, facts, informa on, skills, values, a tudes, or philosophies. Learning is not limited to
personal learning. The center of maximum learning Is in organiza ons. According to Senge (1990), learning in organiza ons is easily
iden fied and dis nguished in ac vi es. Innova on and differen a on, con nuous improvement, con nuous adapta on, and
benchmarking are forms of learning domains.
Innova on is learning new concepts and new ways of doing things. It means crea ng new knowledge, new products, and new modes
of thinking. A shade of innova on is differen a on. It is improving, enhancing, and enriching what is existent. Con nuous improvement
By defini on, intellectual capital is the synerge c confluence and interrela onships of the organiza on’s valued resources. It is
intangible. Although not visible and concrete, intellectual capital can be felt. It creates and impact. It can be assessed. It is cri cal to
a aining organiza onal success. It some mes makes the difference, but o en mes it is the difference.
B. Value Disciplines
The Value Disciplines framework works on the assump on that an organiza on is most likely to excel at what it is already good at. You
choose one main value discipline for your organiza on and ensure that you have sufficient components in your strategy driving towards
this discipline. By dividing your strategic goals into one of the disciplines you can make an honest assessment about whether your
strategy aligns with your stated compe ve advantage or focus.
Product Leadership
An organiza on that focuses on product leadership will always strive for product development and innova on. It aims at becoming the
market leader of a specific product or service. It strives to create a con nuous stream of innova on that is in demand with both loyal
and new buyers. It invests a lot in R&D and has a flexible structure to s mulate the performance and crea vity of its employees. New
and innova ve products are o en “be er, smaller, faster, trendier and cheaper” than previous itera ons.
We couldn't round up the best strategy frameworks without men oning the Balanced Scorecard framework. Arguably the most popular
strategy execu on model on the planet. The balanced scorecard is built on the premise that your businesses strategy should be equally
divided into the 4 quadrants below:
Customer
This quadrant is about understanding and improving your customers' sa sfac on, their
requirements from your organiza on and its product or service.
Financial
The financial quadrant includes all your goals related to improving your bo om line or
other key financial KPIs (such as liquidity or margin).
Internal Business Process
This quadrant is around measuring and improving your cri cal-to-customer process
requirements and measures internally.
Knowledge, Educa on, and Growth
This quadrant (also some mes known as the people quadrant) focuses on how you
educate your employees, how you gain and capture knowledge, and how you use it to maintain a compe ve edge against your
compe tors.
The key to success with the Balanced Scorecard framework, and the thing which many organiza ons overlook, is that se ng goals
within these quadrants is not enough on its own. For organiza ons to find success using this framework, clear numerical KPIs should
be created for each quadrant of the scorecard. Then, regularly track and review them. Balancing goals between the quadrants is
important, but balancing outcomes is what the balanced scorecard is really all about.
Strategy is both a concept and a tool, but it is also people. People are strategies in themselves. They are individuals who possess
effec ve management, leadership, crea vity, and monopolis c intellectual capital. They are execu ves, managers, supervisors,
subordinates, and anyone who leads, directs, and supports the organiza on toward the realiza on of objec ves. They are strategy
personified.
As strategy, management administers organiza ons and people. A manager sets objec ves, organizes and mo vates people,
communicates with his subordinates, measure output and performance, and develop people. In addi on, the func ons of
management are managing the business, managing managers and workers holis cally, managing work itself, and portraying social
responsibility. In this light effec ve people management is considered a strategy.
Helps ensure that all team members work toward the same goals
A strategic framework provides an organized format that clearly outlines end goals, methods for achievement and the purpose of end
goals within a business or department. At any point, team members can reference your strategic framework to redirect their focus and
remember the purpose of their work ac vi es. This ul mately ensures that each team member completes their job du es in
accordance with the same goal.
Encourages stakeholders to make dona ons:
For companies with investors or board members, having a strategic framework can influence their par cipa on and willingness to fund
certain programs or ini a ves. A good strategic framework can also help to a ract new investors over me.
Minimizes unnecessary spending:
When you have a good strategic framework in place, you have a be er understanding of what you need to do in order to achieve your
end goals. This includes understanding where to spend your budget. This prevents spending your funds on ini a ves, technologies and
other items that ul mately don't directly support your end goals.
Gives employees a focal point for mo va on:
It's easy to forget the purpose of daily job du es and business prac ces when they become rou ne. Having a strategic framework for
employees to reference can help them regain their mo va on for their work, as they understand their part in achieving company goals.
Increases chances of comple ng tasks within set deadlines:
Some professionals include deadline dates in their strategic frameworks to guide business ini a ves and ensure they stay on schedule.
By staying on schedule, businesses can save money, maintain stakeholder rela onships and ensure growth and success within their
industry.
Interview stakeholders.
Stakeholders can provide insights into their vision for the company which allows you to verify their compliance with certain ini a ves
and strategic planning ideas. They can also help you iden fy a primary business objec ve to include in your strategic framework.
Review company business plan.
Your company's most recent business plan can give you ideas about areas the company has improved and areas that need more focus.
You can also reference the business plan for informa on about your company's mission statement and market data.
Do market research.
By comple ng market research, you can iden fy industry trends, customer needs, up-and-coming compe tor businesses, and
addi onal markets to expand your business. If you lead a department, you can research more about specific technologies or business
tac cs that could enhance department opera ons. Ul mately, market research helps you iden fy one or more business objec ves to
include in your strategic framework.
Review current business ini a ves and programs.
If you aren't sure where to focus your strategic framework, review current company or department programs and evaluate their worth
to employees and the company as a whole. If ini a ves and programs don't add addi onal value, you may implement new programs
as a part of your strategic framework.
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Focus on long-term objec ves.
Business professionals typically use strategic frameworks to plan out long-term objec ves and how to achieve them. The average
strategic framework meline is five years and serves as a guide for business opera ons during that me.
1. Vision statement
A vision statement is a short statement that includes one to two sentences. It defines what a company hopes to represent or provide
in the future. In a strategic framework, the vision statement serves as the basis for objec ves and ac on plan details. Here are some
vision statement examples:
Coffee chain: Our vision is that every customer who walks through our doors feels like they just came home.
Manufacturing plant: To be leaders in sustainable manufacturing and inspire others to do the same.
Finance firm: To provide tax services, financial planning and advisement services on an interna onal scale.
Content marke ng company: To provide outstanding content marke ng services to clients in the form of keyword research,
copywri ng, copyedi ng, graphic design and SEO.
2. Mission statement
Mission statements are two to four-sentenced statements that describe a company's purpose, and how they help customers through
their products, services and other offerings. Here are some examples of mission statements:
Coffee chain: Our mission is to help everyday people stay energized on the go and feel like a part of a community. We do this
by offering custom-made coffee blends, delicious baked goods, online order pickup sta ons and coffeehouse membership
opportuni es.
Finance firm: Our mission is to ease customer stress, help customers achieve debt-free lifestyles and guide them in making
smart investment decisions. We do this by offering a range of financial services, including investment help, financial planning,
debt and mortgage assistance, accoun ng solu ons and tax services.
3. Time frame for comple on
The me frame for comple on sec on of your strategic framework highlights one or more dates by which you expect to achieve your
objec ves. Here are a couple of examples of how you can display me frame in your strategic framework document:
Each of the objec ves listed below are expected to be completed by the 31st of December, 2026.
To ensure we meet our objec ves within a reasonable meframe, both objec ves should be completed by the 1st of January,
2024.
4. Business objec ves
You can include one or more objec ves in this sec on, depending on how much you want to accomplish through your strategic
framework. Business objec ves represent end goals or results that support the mission statement and strive to achieve the company
vision. You can use these objec ves as star ng points for more in-depth ideas on how to achieve them. Here are some examples of
business objec ves within a strategic framework:
To increase our customer-base by 40% over the next four years
To develop an internal promo on program that reduces turnover and increases job sa sfac on
To redevelop our brand and product offerings to influence conversion rates from compe tors
5. Strategies to achieve objec ves
A er highligh ng your business objec ve(s) you need to determine how you plan to achieve them. This is also called 'approach.' In this
sec on you connect each business objec ve to a poten al method for achievements. These typically include one-two sentence
statements:
To increase our customer-base by 40% over the next four years.
By crea ng a customer membership program.
By monitoring customer feedback and applying changes based on recurring feedback.
By running at least four marke ng campaigns each year.
To develop an internal promo on program that reduces turnover and increases job sa sfac on.
By working with department heads and HR to create training programs and other professional development op ons.
By asking for feedback from employees about the types of opportuni es they want.
By crea ng a referral program for managers to recommend employees for promo ons.
To redevelop our brand and product offerings to influence conversion rates from compe tors.
By working with the marke ng team and outside professionals to iden fy new brand ideas.
By comple ng market research and weighing feedback from ini al changes.
By revamping brand uniformly across social media pla orms, company websites and retail loca ons.
By asking for feedback from employees about the types of opportuni es they want.
1. Create an anonymous survey or feedback mechanism
2. Include several ques ons that ask employees to discuss their career goals and whether they feel they can grow at the company
3. Compose email with survey link a ached for employees to access
4. Set an end date for the survey so employees know the cut off me
5. Review feedback and recurring trends to add, maintain or change proposed training op ons
By crea ng a referral program for managers to recommend employees for promo ons.
1. Create a referral document template that each person in a management posi on can use
2. Collaborate with the HR and IT departments to create a digital referral submission system
3. Compose a memo to all supervisors and managers highligh ng the new referral program and how to use it
How Should You Reduce and Prioritize the List of Strategic Issues?
Typically, the team will generate a longer list of potential Strategic Issues than they will have time to discuss and resolve. Therefore,
the list must be reduced and prioritized.
A simple “forced choice” procedure will rank your list quickly and efficiently. You will spend an average of about 30 minutes on each
Strategic Issue. We find that the truly critical Strategic Issues usually fall in the top ten.
At this point you are now ready to launch into the discussion and resolution of Strategic Issues.
Normally, it is advantageous for you to address “What should be our future Strategic Focus?” as your first issue, since Strategic Focus
is the broad answer to the Strategic Questions “what are we going to sell and to whom?”. It is, therefore, fundamental to the resolution
of many other issues.
The companion issue is “What Strategic Competencies will we require in the future?”. Since it deals with the major Strategic Question,
“How will we beat or avoid our competition?”, it will typically be the second Strategic Issue you handle. You want to assure consistency
between your Strategic Competencies and Strategic Focus and recognize the high-level role played by Strategic Competencies in
shaping your overall competitive advantage.
How does the Strategic Issues process drive later Strategic Planning steps?
Strategic Issues are links directly to the strategy formulation step called “STRATEGIES” in the Simplified Strategic Planning process.
Your strategies derive much of their content directly from Strategic Issues. This content is restated and augmented with additional
decisions and captured in a highly structured format that clearly enunciates your firm’s vision as to future course and direction.
Strategic Issues may also be linked to the process step that defines the future role of your organization (Mission Statement) and the
process step that defines the general and continuing intended results necessary and sufficient to the satisfaction of your organization’s
concept of success (Goals). The linkage may flow in two directions. Strategic Issues may arise because of your recognition that you are
not fulfilling the commitments you had made previously in your Mission Statement and Goals. Conversely, the content of your Mission
Statement and Goals may result indirectly from the resolution of Strategic Issues and its impact on your Strategies.
In turn, a comparison between your present course and direction, role and performance and your Strategies, Mission Statement and
Goals will probably reveal some misalignments. These lead to the identification of those strategic initiatives required in the next year
or so that will not happen in the normal course of business. In Simplified Strategic Planning these initiatives are called Strategic
Objectives. Your team generates them by;
(a) reviewing your Mission Statement and Goals to identify areas in need of significant effort,
(b) searching the flip charts defining your Strategies for suggestions of major initiatives, and
(c) seeking key supporting details on the flip charts documenting the resolution of Strategic Issues.
You then translate each Strategic Objective into a detailed, scheduled, step-by-step Action Plan. Action Plans are the tools to focus
your resources and drive RESULTS, and that is what you agreed you want.
And where did it all begin? It began with high quality information, but it largely took shape through a robust process that identified
and resolved Strategic Issues and then linked them to where the action was.
Formula ng strategies
Strategy formulation is the process of establishing goals and determining the proper plan of action to achieve those goals. An
organization uses strategy formulation to plan for success and make improvements to workplace strategies as needed. Strategy
formulation is essential for achieving and measuring the attainability of goals. After creating strategies, an organization typically
educates its employees so they know the organization's purpose, workplace objectives and goals.
A SWOT analysis helps you objectively assess your current operations while also making future plans. You can use this tool to identify
risks, implement management procedures and policies, reduce error and develop realistic predictions for sales. An effective SWOT
analysis can help you implement proactive strategies to help you remain resilient.
A final, polished description of business need, capability gaps, proposed solution and scope, and business case are normally included
in the business requirements that are presented to stakeholders. As with any set of requirements, stakeholder involvement,
agreement, and communication are keys to their implementation success.
Core Competencies for Enterprise Analysis
A business analyst must possess certain core competencies in order to effectively lead enterprise analysis projects. These include (but
are not necessarily limited to) the abilities to:
Other EA methodologies include the European Space Agency Architectural Framework (ESAAF), the Ministry of Defence Architecture
Framework (MODAF), and the SAP Enterprise Architecture Framework, among many others. These frameworks are specifically targeted to
individual industries or products, targeting more of a niche market than the more generalized EA methodologies listed above.
Preliminary Analysis
Although each project can have unique goals and needs, there are some best practices for conducting any feasibility study:
Conduct a preliminary analysis, which involves getting feedback about the new concept from the appropriate stakeholders
Analyze and ask questions about the data obtained in the early phase of the study to make sure that it's solid
Conduct a market survey or market research to identify the market demand and opportunity for pursuing the project or
business
Write an organizational, operational, or business plan, including identifying the amount of labor needed, at what cost, and
for how long
Prepare a projected income statement, which includes revenue, operating costs, and profit
Prepare an opening day balance sheet
Identify obstacles and any potential vulnerabilities, as well as how to deal with them
Make an initial "go" or "no-go" decision about moving ahead with the plan
Suggested Components
Once the initial due diligence has been completed, the real work begins. Components that are typically found in a feasibility study
include the following:
Executive summary: Formulate a narrative describing details of the project, product, service, plan, or business.
Technological considerations: Ask what will it take. Do you have it? If not, can you get it? What will it cost?
Existing marketplace: Examine the local and broader markets for the product, service, plan, or business.
Marketing strategy: Describe it in detail.
Required staffing: What are the human capital needs for this project? Draw up an organizational chart.
Schedule and timeline: Include significant interim markers for the project's completion date.
Project financials.
Findings and recommendations: Break down into subsets of technology, marketing, organization, and financials.
Examples of a Feasibility Study
The preliminary analysis outlined a governance framework for future decision-making. The study involved researching the most
effective governance framework by interviewing experts and stakeholders, reviewing governance structures, and learning from
existing high-speed rail projects in North America. As a result, governing and coordinating entities were developed to oversee and
follow the project if it was approved by the state legislature.
A strategic engagement plan involved an equitable approach with the public, elected officials, federal agencies, business leaders,
advocacy groups, and indigenous communities. The engagement plan was designed to be flexible, considering the size and scope of
the project and how many cities and towns would be involved. A team of the executive committee members was formed and met
to discuss strategies, lessons learned from previous projects and met with experts to create an outreach framework.
The financial component of the feasibility study outlined the strategy for securing the project's funding, which explored obtaining
funds from federal, state, and private investments. The project's cost was estimated to be between $24 billion to $42 billion. The
revenue generated from the high-speed rail system was estimated to be between $160 million and $250 million.
The report bifurcated the money sources between funding and financing. Funding referred to grants, appropriations from the local
or state government, and revenue. Financing referred to bonds issued by the government, loans from financial institutions, and
equity investments, which are essentially loans against future revenue that needs to be paid back with interest.
The sources for the capital needed were to vary as the project moved forward. In the early stages, most of the funding would come
from the government, and as the project developed, funding would come from private contributions and financing measures. Private
contributors included Microsoft Inc., which donated more than $570,000 to the project.
The benefits outlined in the feasibility report show that the region would experience enhanced interconnectivity, allowing for better
management of the population and increasing regional economic growth by $355 billion. The new transportation system would
provide people with access to better jobs and more affordable housing. The high-speed rail system would also relieve congested
areas from automobile traffic.
The timeline for the study began in 2016 when an agreement was reached with British Columbia to work together on a new
technology corridor that included high-speed rail transportation. The feasibility report was submitted to the Washington State land
Legislature in December 2020.
According to studies by the Project Management Institute (PMI), failing to integrate project management into an organization's
practices may increase project failure rate by a factor of two to three overall.
This is a staggering statistic that highlights the complexity of managing large projects. As the importance of these types of projects
continues to grow, it has become increasingly crucial to have a comprehensive enterprise project plan in place that accounts for all
the required resources, timelines, goals and risks.
In this blog post, I will explore what an enterprise project is, the importance of enterprise project plans, and how to plan an
enterprise project effectively. I will also provide examples of enterprise project plans, highlighting best practices that can be
adopted in this field.
Additionally, I will discuss enterprise project management software and how it can assist in the planning and execution of these
types of projects.
ERP Implementa on
When it comes to enterprise projects, an ERP implementation project is the crème de la crème. Why? Think about it—an ERP
system manages all the key business processes of an organization, including sales, inventory, purchasing, and financials.
This means that the project is complex, touches all areas of the business, and requires an immense amount of planning,
coordination, and execution. But, when done right, an ERP implementation can revolutionize the way a company operates and
streamline processes in a way that drives growth and success.
To plan this type of project, start by identifying the scope of the project and define specific goals for this particular ERP
implementation. Then focus on including timelines, budgets, resources, stakeholders, and any other considerations necessary for
success while planning the project.
Besides that, take additional steps like assessing the organization’s readiness, securing sufficient resources and support, and
creating a communication plan ahead of the project execution start.
To sum up, an ERP implementation project will test your team's abilities and truly have an impact on your organization. Therefore,
it is a prime example of an enterprise project.
Here’s a visual of what your project plan for implemen ng a new business strategy might look like.
It is clear that when it comes to enterprise projects, there are no shortcuts and the stakes are high. Even the most seemingly simple
of projects requires input from associates in multiple departments and an understanding of the complexities and nuances of project
management.
To truly succeed, every element must be perfected before launch. It takes a village, as they say. By taking time to plan accordingly
and engaging the right stakeholders, any project can be completed successfully with a minimum of drama—no matter how big or
small!
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How To Plan An Enterprise Project
Project management at an enterprise level requires a different approach than project management for smaller organizations.
Enterprise-level projects involve multiple stakeholders, various teams with different skill sets, and a range of technologies.
Therefore, it is essential to have a clear and concise plan that outlines every aspect of the project. Here, I will outline the critical
components to consider when planning an enterprise-level project.
2. Select a Methodology
Enterprise projects can require different methodologies and processes than smaller projects. Once you have defined the scope of
the project, determine which methodology is best suited for your project.
Popular project management methodologies include agile, waterfall, and hybrid. Agile is best suited for projects with changing
requirements, while the traditional project management (waterfall) approach is best for sequential, linear projects.
3. Set Milestones
Milestones are significant goals within the project timeline that act as touchpoints for measuring progress.
Establishing milestones will help your team to stay on track and ensure that the project is moving along as planned. It is best to set
milestones at the end of each project phase or after the completion of a key activity to ensure that you track the team's progress
closely.
4. Allocate Resources
Allocating resources is a critical aspect of project planning. Identify the resources needed to complete the project and ensure that
they are available when needed.
Resources can include personnel, software, hardware, and other tools. Make sure that you have sufficient resources to meet your
timelines and milestones.
6. Identify Risks
Identifying potential risks and their potential impact is vital in enterprise-level project planning. Risks can include resource
constraints, scheduling conflicts, budget issues, technology failures, and more. Identify potential risks and create a risk
management plan to mitigate them.
7. Define Metrics
Finally, define metrics to measure project success. Metrics should be linked directly to the project goals and milestones set at the
beginning of the project. Metrics can include milestones achieved, defects found, stakeholder satisfaction, and more.
2. Resource Allocation
One of the major benefits of an enterprise project plan is that it assists in resource allocation. A good project plan provides a
detailed inventory of the resources needed for the project, from personnel to equipment, and materials.
This information allows project managers to allocate resources optimally to minimize redundancies and maximize efficiency. With
the right resource allocation, enterprises can save time and resources, helping to keep the project within the budget.
3. Cost Management
Creating an enterprise project plan provides project managers with a bird's eye view of the entire project. This visibility enables
project managers to anticipate expenses and allocate the budget accordingly.
With a project plan, organizations can provide accurate cost estimates to stakeholders, identify areas of potential cost savings, and
manage project expenses more effectively.
5. Risk Management
Risk management is a crucial aspect of project management, and an enterprise project plan is an excellent tool in this regard.
A project plan helps identify potential risks that could derail the project so appropriate measures can be taken to mitigate these
risks. Anticipating these potential risks, project managers can execute contingency plans, ensuring smooth project execution and
completion.
In conclusion, an enterprise project plan is a vital tool that helps in successful project delivery. The plan provides a roadmap for the
project, clarifying tasks, timelines, and deliverables. Resource allocation, cost management, change management, and risk
management are some significant benefits that make an enterprise project plan an invaluable tool for project managers.
In fact, you might be familiar with the feeling of being lost amidst a sea of Microsoft Excel spreadsheets, emails, and documents,
all adding to the complexity of your workday. But luckily, enterprise project management software comes to the rescue. Let’s look
at how it can help you to become more efficient:
1. One-Stop Shop for Project Management
Enterprise project management solutions can unite all the different tasks and subtasks of a project in a single platform, making it
easier for you to track progress, compile status updates, and handle dependencies and approvals. This forms the foundation for a
project management plan that can be shared and accessed by all team members, in real-time.
2. Integration with Other Work Tools
Most enterprise project management software is designed to integrate with various work management tools such as calendars,
email, and other in-house project management software. This can help you automate workflows and eliminate redundant data
entry.
3. Efficient Resource Management and Allocation
Enterprise project management software is built to help project managers easily identify which resources are available and best
suited for a particular task or project. By having a clear overview of the available resources, you can better allocate them to the
right project, preventing burnout, and making the most of your resources.
4. Improved Communication and Collaboration
EPM software promotes better communication and team collaboration among team members, especially for those who work
remotely or are spread across different regions. Team members can access necessary files, documents, and updates at any time,
ensuring transparency, and everyone stays on the same page (more about project planning for remote teams here).
All standard enterprise project management tools integrate with a range of apps, so you have all the right tools for task
management and time-tracking at your fingertips.
5. Advanced Analytics and Reporting
Enterprise project management software can generate customizable and interactive dashboards, advanced analytics, and reporting
that help project managers monitor project progress, budget, and other significant metrics.
This valuable feedback allows you to adjust your project management plan, identify areas for improvement, and conduct informed
decision-making in real-time, ensuring successful project delivery.
Enterprise project management software has revolutionized project management in an enterprise setting. The features offered by
these software solutions streamline project management, reduce complexity, and promote clear communication and collaboration
among team members.
Because ERP consolidates and automates critical business processes like accounting, inventory management, HR, CRM, financial
planning and more, implementing it is both an exciting and serious undertaking that takes time and resources to accomplish
effectively.
Most organizations considering an ERP implementation must therefore build an ERP business case that goes beyond outlining pain
points and into the overarching benefits of an ERP. The business case details and formally presents the costs and benefits of such an
implementation, along with the opportunities and risks—and we’ll outline that process for you here.
If your company is not yet enjoying the benefits of a modern ERP, the first step is to build a business case that illustrates the benefits,
costs, opportunities and risks of launching an implementation project. By breaking down data silos, ERP connects the dots on business
processes including accounting, operations, manufacturing, sales and HR; enables better FP&A and reporting; and adds efficiencies
through automation technology.
A tailored ERP business case enables any organization to evaluate its specific benefits, costs and risks. The document may also serve
as the basis of an ERP implementation plan because it provides the project team with clear direction on priorities and responsibilities.
MIDTERM PERIOD
Performance measurement is an essential element of every total quality management system. Responsibility for implementing a
performance measurement program rests with your organization's managers and front-line supervisors, and the first step in the
process is educating and training company managers and supervisors. After they are trained, company leadership should take the
knowledge gained to enlist your employees in the process of continual improvement.
Measuring Up
When you implement a performance measurement system, you aim to find out how well your organization is doing in the
effort to provide a quality product for customers or stakeholders. It can determine if your organization is meeting short-
and long-term goals, if your customers are satisfied with the products and services provided and if established process
improvement measures are in place and functioning properly. Your company's process improvement team looks at key
performance indicators that come from the data you should be collecting on every transaction that takes place each day
your company is in operation.
Process Improvement Team
Your teams examine output from your organization's processes for compliance with expected standards, which can be
internally established expectations or requirements established by federal, state or local jurisdictions. Output may be a
product or service you are making for consumers or for other businesses or government agencies. If a deficiency is found,
the team determines what steps need correction. For example, an automotive wheel bearing part must meet exacting
tolerances and durability standards. If you are producing a substandard part, your team must find out at what point in the
process there is a shortfall and initiate corrective action.
Quality and Quantity
The ultimate measure of quality rests with customers. They will continue to purchase your product as long as it meets the
consumer's requirements for durability, usefulness and value. If your products are not meeting expectations, your
customers will purchase what they need from your competitors. The performance measurement process uses techniques
such as consumer surveys, product testing protocols, independent market surveys and KPI to determine if the products
and services you are selling meet customer demands. If a problem is detected, the team determines which steps in the
process are defective and initiates corrective action.
On-Time Delivery
Customers demand that products be available when they are ready to buy. If you cannot deliver when the customer is
ready to buy, your competitors will fill the need. Smaller companies may be able to manually track on-time delivery
statistics on a program such as Excel, but larger companies need to implement performance measurement software that
tracks all of the KPI associated with their business operations.
Safety Key Performance Indicators
Several KPI that prove or disprove whether a company is serious about safety. When conducting a safety performance
review, you can examine how often safety inspections are completed, how long it takes to investigate and correct a safety
issue, how often safety training is conducted, information on close calls, preventive maintenance actions and how often
the safety team meets formally. Your performance measurement team determines if any safety processes need
improvement and initiates corrective actions as needed.
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Concepts and techniques
Performance measurement is a process of quan fying and assessing the effec veness and efficiency of an organiza on or individual in
achieving their objec ves or goals. It aims to clearly understand how well an organiza on or individual is performing and iden fy areas
for improvement.
It aims to facilitate decision-making and resource alloca on by providing data-driven insights into what works and is not. Moreover, It
mo vates individuals and teams by giving feedback on their performance and incen vizing them to improve. In addi on, it
communicates performance to stakeholders such as customers, investors, and regulators.
Example #1
Let’s say a company produces and sells shoes. One of its goals is to increase sales by 10% in the next quarter. To measure performance,
the company could use the following performance measures:
Example #2
In December 2021, the global ride-hailing company, Uber, announced that it was launching a new feature called “Driver Destinations”
on its app in India. This feature is designed to help drivers optimize their time and earnings by allowing them to select a destination
for their next ride.
The feature is an example of IT used to improve the efficiency of Uber’s operations and the performance of its drivers. By allowing
drivers to select their destination, they can prioritize rides that take them in the direction they want to go, reducing their downtime
and increasing their earnings. The feature also benefits riders by giving them faster access to available drivers.
Responsibility Accoun ng
Responsibility Accoun ng is a system of accoun ng where specific individuals are made responsible for accoun ng in par cular areas
of cost control. In this accoun ng system, responsibility is assigned based on knowledge and skills. If the costs increase, the person
assigned is held accountable and answerable.
#1 – Cost Center
This center consists of individuals responsible only for cost control. A person responsible for a particular cost center is held accountable
only for controllable expenses. Therefore, it is essential to differentiate this center’s controllable and uncontrollable costs. The
performance of each center is evaluated by comparing the actual vs targeted price.
#2 – Revenue Center
The revenue center takes care of revenue, with the company’s sales teams being mainly responsible.
#3 – Profit Center
A profit center refers to a center whose performance is measured in cost and revenue. Generally, the company’s factory is treated
as a profit center where raw material consumption is a cost and finished product sold to other departments is revenue.
#4 – Investment Center
A manager responsible for this center is responsible for utilizing the company’s assets in the best manner to earn a good return on
capital employed.
The objective of decentralization is that power (and decision-making) is not concentrated in a few people or areas and is delegated to
areas with less hierarchy, granting them greater autonomy and freedom.
Decentralization helps decision-making to be more agile, especially when there is a problem that must be solved quickly. In addition,
it works as an incentive for lower-ranking employees, who feel more involved in the organization.
Decentralization, on the other hand, implies that higher-ranking employees should not be overworked information or responsibilities
but focus on certain areas or issues.
Types of decentraliza on
There are different types of decentralization. Some of them are the following:
Horizontal. Power is distributed among areas that have the same level.
Ver cal. Power is distributed to lower levels (delega on).
Territorial. Decision-making is granted to an en ty or area that decides on a delimited territory.
Func onal. Certain competencies of a certain sector of ac vity are recognized in a certain area.
Fiscal. It aspires to greater efficiency in financing and in the quality of public services. This type of decentraliza on
seeks to balance expenses, taxes and transfers between the different governments.
Within the business sphere, two types of decentralization can be identified:
Macroeconomic. The distribu on of power occurs to other countries and results in the consolida on of regional
administra ons that acquire economic and poli cal authority.
Microeconomics. Decision-making is distributed among different areas and hierarchical levels of the company or
organiza on.
Advantages of decentraliza on
Some of the advantages attributed to decentralization are:
Streamlines decision-making and encourages input from members steeped in the subject.
It lowers costs in rela on to coordina on thanks to the independence acquired by the different areas.
It allows decision makers to have a greater volume of informa on because they focus on few areas, which allows
them to handle issues in greater depth.
It allows the top of the organiza on to ignore certain issues and focus on the transcendental ones.
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Makes be er use of staff me and skills.
Provides training and educa on to the middle ranks.
It mo vates middle-ranking personnel, who feel part of the decision-making processes and can plan a career within
the organiza on with growth expecta ons.
Makes control processes more efficient.
Facilitates and clarifies the evalua on of the results.
Controllable Costs
Controllable costs are costs that can be influenced or regulated by the manager or head responsible for it.
For example: direct materials, direct labor, and certain factory overhead costs are controlled by the production manager. Another
example: the sales manager has control over the salary and commission of sales personnel.
Uncontrollable Costs
From the term itself, uncontrollable costs are those that are not under the control of a specified manager. These cannot be
influenced by decisions or actions of the manager. These costs are imposed by the top management or allocated to several
departments. For example, a company-wide advertising cost that is allocated by the central office to different departments is
not under the control of the department heads.
Other examples include depreciation, insurance, share in rent, share in organization-wide security costs, etc.
Direct Costs
Direct costs are those that can be easily traced to or associated directly with a specific cost object. A cost object is something for
which cost is measured such as a specific product, a specific department or a specific branch.
For instance, ABC Company produces plastic food containers. The cost of plastic used in production can be easily traced to the
food containers. However, the cost spent for electricity is not directly traceable to the food containers since such cost was not
used solely for the production of the product.
Examples of direct costs include direct materials, direct labor, and other costs incurred for a particular product such as advertising
and promotion costs for, say "Product A".
If the cost object is a department or a branch, all costs that can be associated directly to a particular department or branch
are direct costs. For example, salaries of sales personnel are directly traceable to the selling department of the organization.
Also, the salaries of the sales personnel of "Branch A" can be traced directly to that branch.
Indirect Costs
Indirect costs are difficult to trace directly to a specific cost object. These costs are commonly shared by multiple products,
different departments, or branches; hence, such costs cannot practically be traced to a cost object.
Examples of indirect costs include factory overhead costs, organization-wide advertising, taxes, and other common or joint costs.
Example
Classify the following costs as (D) direct costs or (I) indirect costs in relation to a specific product. Suppose the company
produces trousers and shoes.
1. Fabric in trouser produc on
2. Income tax
3. Factory supplies
4. Wood for soles
5. Training and development
6. Machine maintenance
7. Leather used in manufacturing shoes
8. Supervisor's salary
9. Deprecia on of factory equipment
10. Direct labor hours
Segment Margin:
The profitability of the segment after it has covered all its direct costs.
Variable costs are always direct costs.
Performance Measurement
The following formulas are most commonly used for performance measurement
Return on Investment
Operating Income
Average Operating Assets
Operating Assets
Cash, accounts receivable, inventory, plant and equipment and all other assets that are used in the operations of the business
Average Operating Assets = (beginning + ending) / 2
Plant and equipment is valued at book value
(Cost less Accumulated Depreciation)
Fair market value is not used due to reliability, consistency, and comparability
A segmented income statement is based on the contribu on margin income statement format. The contribu on margin income
statement and segmented income statement by division for Media Masters is presented in Exhibit 5-2. No ce that net opera ng
income $25,000 is the same on both statements. Although variable and fixed costs are allocated differently on the segmented income
statement, net opera ng income will always be the same.
There are two major differences between a segmented income statement and a contribu on margin income statement. First,
contribu on margin income statement reports one contribu on margin whereas the segmented income statement reports the
contribu on margin as well as the segment margin. Second, the contribu on margin income statement reports fixed expenses in total
whereas the segmented income statement divides fixed expenses between traceable fixed expenses or costs and common fixed
expenses or costs. Both of these differences are discussed in detail in the below sec ons.
Contribu on margin
Segmented income reporting traces sales revenue, variable costs, and fixed costs to the organizational segments responsible for
generating the sales revenue or costs. Since sales revenue and variable costs are typically driven by units sold these items can be
easily traced to a particular segment. For example, it is easy to determine if a sale was a social media game or a cell phone game.
As illustrated, both the contribution margin income statement and the segmented income statement report contribution margin.
Contribution margin is computed the same way on both statements. Contribution margin is calculated as sales revenue less variable
expenses. Sales revenue is considered a variable revenue. Both sales revenue and variable expenses are typically driven by units of
sales or units of production. Since unit sales and units of production are easily traceable to a division, sales revenue and variable
expenses are generally easy to allocate to a specific segment.
Segment margin
Refer to Exhibit 5-2. The contribution margin is $335,000 for both the contribution margin income statement and the segmented
income statement. Contribution margin is the sales revenue less variable expenses on both statements. On the segmented income
statement, traceable fixed costs are subtracted from the contribution margin to calculate the segment margin. Segment margin
represents the sales revenue of a particular segment less variable expenses and fixed expenses that are traceable to the segment. Or,
segment margin can be interpreted as the profitability of a particular segment before common fixed costs are incurred.
Common fixed costs are not allocated to a particular segment since they are common costs. Instead, common fixed costs are
subtracted from the total company segment margin to arrive at net operating income. For Media Masters in Exhibit 5-2, the total
divisional segment margin is $75,000. Common fixed costs are subtracted from the total divisional segment margin to arrive at net
operating income of $25,000.
The above table illustrates the functionality of segmented income statement reporting. Media Masters is reporting net operating
income of $25,000. While total company net operating income is valuable information, it does not show which segments within the
organization are performing well and which are not. As shown in Exhibit 5-3, the social media games division is profitable overall
however only one of the product lines within that division is profitable. Segmented income statements provide detailed information
for management to make informed decisions about particular segments within an organization.
Return on investment (ROI), residual income and economic value added (EVA)
Return on investment (ROI) is the key measure of the profit derived from any investment. It is a ratio that compares the gain or
loss from an investment relative to its cost. It is useful in evaluating the current or potential return on investment, whether you are
evaluating your stock portfolio's performance, considering a business investment, or deciding whether to undertake a new project.
In business analysis, ROI and other cash flow measures—such as internal rate of return (IRR) and net present value (NPV)—are key
metrics that are used to evaluate and rank the attractiveness of a number of different investment alternatives.
Although ROI is a ratio, it is typically expressed as a percentage rather than as a ratio.
Interpreting ROI
When interpreting ROI calculations, it's important to keep a few things in mind. First, ROI is typically expressed as a percentage
because it is intuitively easier to understand than a ratio. Second, the ROI calculation includes the net return in the numerator
because returns from an investment can be either positive or negative.
When ROI calculations yield a positive figure, it means that net returns are in the black (because total returns exceed total costs).
But when ROI calculations yield a negative figure, it means that the net return is in the red because total costs exceed total returns.
Finally, to calculate ROI with the highest degree of accuracy, total returns and total costs should be considered. For an apples-to-
apples comparison between competing investments, annualized ROI should be considered.
The ROI formula can be deceptively simple. It depends on an accurate accounting of costs. That's easy in the case of stock shares,
for example. But it is more complicated in other cases, such as calculating the ROI of a business project that is under consideration.
ROI Example
Assume an investor bought 1,000 shares of the hypothetical company Worldwide Wickets Co. at $10 per share. One year later, the
investor sold the shares for $12.50. The investor earned dividends of $500 over the one-year holding period. The investor spent a
total of $125 on trading commissions in order to buy and sell the shares.
The ROI for this investor can be calculated as follows:
If you further dissect the ROI into its component parts, it is revealed that 23.75% came from capital gains and 5% came from
dividends. This distinction is important because capital gains and dividends are taxed at different rates.
Annualized ROI
The annualized ROI calculation provides a solution for one of the key limitations of the basic ROI calculation. The basic ROI calculation
does not take into account the length of time that an investment is held, also referred to as the holding period. The formula for
calculating annualized ROI is as follows:
Assume a hypothetical investment that generated an ROI of 50% over five years. The simple annual average ROI of 10%–which was
obtained by dividing ROI by the holding period of five years–is only a rough approximation of annualized ROI. This is because it
ignores the effects of compounding, which can make a significant difference over time. The longer the time period, the bigger the
difference between the approximate annual average ROI, which is calculated by dividing the ROI by the holding period in this
scenario, and annualized ROI.
This calculation can also be used for holding periods of less than a year by converting the holding period to a fraction of a year.
Assume an investment that generated an ROI of 10% over six months.
In the equation above, the numeral 0.5 years is equivalent to six months.
Thus, even though the net dollar return was reduced by $450 on account of the margin interest, ROI is still substantially higher at
48.50% (compared with 28.75% if no leverage was employed).
As another example, consider if the share price fell to $8.00 instead of rising to $12.50. In this situation, the investor decides to take
the loss and sell the full position.
Here is the calculation for ROI in this scenario:
In this case, the ROI of -41.50% is much worse than an ROI of -16.25%, which would have occurred if no leverage had been employed.
Assume you are evaluating a business proposal that involves an initial investment of $100,000. (This figure is shown under the "Year
0" column in the Cash Outflow row in the following table.)
The investment will generate cash flows over the next five years; this is shown in the Cash Inflow row. The row called Net Cash Flow
sums up the cash outflow and cash inflow for each year.
Advantages of ROI
The biggest benefit of ROI is that it is a relatively uncomplicated metric. It is easy to calculate and intuitively easy to understand.
Due to its simplicity, ROI has become a standard, universal measure of profitability. As a measurement, it is not likely to be
misunderstood or misinterpreted because it has the same connotations in every context.
Disadvantages of ROI
There are some disadvantages to the ROI measurement. First, it does not take into account the holding period of an investment,
which can be an issue when comparing investment alternatives.
For example, assume investment X generates an ROI of 25%, while investment Y produces an ROI of 15%. One cannot assume that X
is the superior investment unless the time frame of each investment is also known. It's possible that the 25% ROI from investment X
was generated over a period of five years, while the 15% ROI from investment Y was generated in only one year.
Calculating annualized ROI can overcome this hurdle when comparing investment choices.
No Risk Adjustment
A second disadvantage of ROI is that it does not adjust for risk.
Investment returns have a direct correlation with risk: the higher the potential returns, the greater the possible risk. This can be
observed firsthand in the stock market, where small-cap stocks are likely to have higher returns than large-cap stocks but also are
likely to have significantly greater risks.
An investor who is targeting a portfolio return of 12%, for example, would have to assume a substantially higher degree of risk than
an investor whose goal is a return of 4%. If that investor hones in on the ROI number without also evaluating the associated risk, the
eventual outcome may be very different from the expected result.
Stock Valuation
Residual income is also a valuation method for estimating the intrinsic value of a company's common stock. It accounts for the cost
of capital, meaning the combination of debt and equity expended to finance the company's operations.
The residual income valuation model values a company as the sum of book value and the present value of expected future residual
income. Residual income in this case is the profit remaining after the deduction of opportunity costs for all sources of capital.
Residual income is calculated as net income less a charge for the cost of capital. This is known as the equity charge and is calculated
as the value of equity capital multiplied by the cost of equity or the required rate of return on equity.
Personal Finance
In personal finance, residual income is synonymous with monthly disposable income. It is the total income that remains after paying
all monthly debts.
Thus, residual income is often a key factor when a lender considers a loan application. An adequate amount of residual income
indicates that the borrower can cover the monthly loan payment.
Residual Income:
Residual income is the operating income an investment center earns over and above the minimum required rate of return on the
investment in assets
Special Considerations
The equation for EVA shows that there are three key components to a company's EVA—NOPAT, the amount of capital invested, and
the WACC. NOPAT can be calculated manually but is normally listed in a public company's financials.
Capital invested is the amount of money used to fund a company or a specific project. WACC is the average rate of return a company
expects to pay its investors; the weights are derived as a fraction of each financial source in a company's capital structure. WACC can
also be calculated but is normally provided.
The equation used for invested capital in EVA is usually total assets minus current liabilities—two figures easily found on a firm's
balance sheet. In this case, the modified formula for EVA is NOPAT - (total assets - current liabilities) * WACC.
As noted by Stern Value Management, in 1983 the management team developed EVA, "a new model for maximizing the value created
that can also be used to provide incentives at all levels of the firm." The goal of EVA is to quantify the cost of investing capital into a
certain project or firm and then assess whether it generates enough cash to be considered a good investment. A positive EVA shows
a project is generating returns in excess of the required minimum return.
FINAL PERIOD
Transfer Pricing
Ra onale and need for transfer price
Transfer pricing is the price determined for the transac ons between two or more related en es within a mul -company organiza on.
This price is also known as the cost of transfer which shows the value of such transfer between the related en es in terms of goods or
even transfer of employees or labor across different departments.
Article 9 describes the rules for determining the arms-length transaction prices for related party transactions between associated
enterprises in the OECD Model Tax Convention. Such an arm’s length price is fairly a market price for such a commodity or service.
This price is widely accepted by tax authorities and users of financial statements. It assists entities in determining their real income.
The transfer price agreement is vastly related to the market price of the product or service involved in such related party transactions.
This will eliminate the entities purchasing or selling such products or services in the market as they can buy or sell them between the
related parties at the market price itself; this is the reason it is more of an accounting concept that accounts for the transaction
between such related entities at a correct and fair price.
This is determined based on a few widely accepted methods such as comparable uncontrolled price, cost-plus pricing, resale price,
Transactional Net margin, and transactional profit split methods.
The above-listed methods are used based on the transaction, such as if there are comparable products or services in the market for
which there is a market price determined, then such price could be used to determine Transfer Pricing. Similarly, if the product is
resaleable and such resale price is determined along with profit on such sale, then the resale price method can be utilized. Related
entities use other methods.
Objec ves
Let us understand the transfer pricing agreement through getting to know their objectives from the explanation below.
True and fair repor ng of financial statements
Be er es ma on of profits generated by en es from associated transfers
Avoidance of double taxa on and avoiding tax evasion by en es
Promo ng compe veness among the associated enterprises.
Examples
Let us understand different transfer pricing methods with the help of a couple of examples.
Example #1
Two associated entities X and Y, where X is situated in a high tax country. On the other hand, y is located in a Low tax country which
is a tax haven destination; in this case, X would shift most of the revenue generated to Y through means of some associated transfers
to avoid taxation or reduce the incidence of tax for the company, with the use of these provisions, such type of tax avoidance
transactions could be eliminated. Similarly, due to this, there will not be the eradication of revenue from one country to another by
benefiting the country of source of generating such revenue.
Example #2
The assembly division of an automobile company, ABC Company, offers to purchase 50,000 tires from the tire division of the same
company for $100 per unit. The production costs per tire at a volume of 200,000 tires per year are as follows:
The tire division typically sells 200,000 tires every year to arm’s length customers at $140 per unit. In addition, the capacity of the tire
division is 300,000 batteries/year. The assembly division typically buys the tires from arm’s length suppliers at $125 per unit.
Now, the question is whether or not the tire division manager should accept the offer? If yes, how will the company benefit from
this internal transfer?
The tire division has a surplus capacity of (300,000-200,000) = 100,000 tires per year. So the relevant costs to the tire division will be
$82 / battery (total of $124 minus the fixed factory overhead of $42).
And the increased margin to the tire division would be 50,000*$(100 –82) = $0.9 million.
Due to the above benefits to the tire division, its manager must undoubtedly accept the offer.
The assembly division pays $125 to external suppliers for a tire that could be purchased internally at an incremental cost of just $82.
So, the overall cost saved by the company would be 50,000 * $(125–82) = $2.15 million per year.
This is how the company will benefit from the internal transfer.
Importance
Transfer pricing methods prove to be extremely useful for individuals and multinational companies alike. Let us understand how
through the discussion below.
The cri cal importance of Transfer Pricing provisions is that there will be an equal and fair distribu on of resources between
associated en es leading to non-discriminatory trade transac ons.
This provides opportuni es for associated enterprises to transact business between them as the transac ons are valued at
market price; this will enhance the scope of business and have a posi ve impact on the group company as a whole due to
internal profits generated by these associated en es,
Also, it is useful for the tax authori es to determine the actual value of such transac ons and es mate the profits derived
from such transac ons taking place between associate en es. Without transfer pricing provision, there would be a reduc on
or avoidance of tax by misleading authori es and transferring or repor ng profits based on the limita on presented in tax
provisions.
It is used not only by mul -company organiza ons but also by en es that sa sfy the condi ons of associated enterprises.
Purpose
Let us understand the purpose of a transfer pricing agreement through the discussion below.
Determina on of a fair and equitable price of a transac on that takes place between two related enterprises involving the
purchase and sale of goods and services;
Other purposes include accoun ng for a transac on as per its market price, avoiding any collusion among associated
enterprises, and providing a base for es ma ng income generated from such transac ons. Also, this concept is useful for true
and fair repor ng of transac ons between associated enterprises in the financial statements of such en es.
Benefits
Let us discuss the importance of inculcating transfer pricing methods through the points below.
Assists the en es to transact at market prices elimina ng inconsistency in pricing a transac on.
It helps the tax authori es to determine taxes and helps reduce tax evasion.
Fair presenta on of financial statements
Drawbacks
To understand the transfer pricing agreement completely it is important to understand its drawbacks as well. Let us do so through
the explanation below.
This would require addi onal administra ve costs and a me-consuming process.
There are few limita ons in determining arm’s-length prices as two products cannot be compared due to the homogenous
nature of such commodi es or services.
Transfer Pricing Schemes (minimum transfer price, market-based transfer price, cost-based transfer price and nego ated price)
Balanced Scorecard
Nature and perspec ves of balanced scorecard
Balanced Scorecard
A strategic planning framework that companies use to assign priority to their products, projects, and services; communicate about
their targets; and plan their routine activities
1. Financial perspective
Under the financial perspective, the goal of a company is to ensure that it earns a return on the investments made and manages key
risks involved in running the business. The goals can be achieved by satisfying the needs of all players involved with the business, such
as the shareholders, customers, and suppliers.
The shareholders are an integral part of the business since they are the providers of capital; they should be happy when the company
achieves financial success. They want to be sure that the company is continually generating revenues and that the organization meets
goals such as improving profitability and developing new revenue sources. Steps taken to achieve such goals may include introducing
new products and services, improving the company’s value proposition, and cutting down on the costs of doing business.
2. Customer perspective
The customer perspective monitors how the entity is providing value to its customers and determines the level of customer satisfaction
with the company’s products or services. Customer satisfaction is an indicator of the company’s success. How well a company treats
its customers can obviously affect its profitability.
The balanced scorecard considers the company’s reputation versus its competitors. How do customers see your company vis-à-vis
your competitors? It enables the organization to step out of its comfort zone to view itself from the customer’s point of view rather
than just from an internal perspective.
Some of the strategies that a company can focus on to improve its reputation among customers include improving product quality,
enhancing the customer shopping experience, and adjusting the prices of its main products and services.
To keep up with the present compe ve world, all companies, businesses, and organiza ons have to take up some steps that will
provide them success in terms of the finance and non-finance aspects of the company.
Financial performance measurement and non-financial performance measurement are steps that help a company to achieve its goals.
Financial performance management refers to the calcula on of financial performance made by the company in terms of profit, loss,
cash in and out-flow. Non-Financial performance management refers to the management of a company’s success factors other than
financial like customer sa sfac on, etc.
Financial performance measurement is a measure that is taken by any company or business to boost the monetary condi on of any
organiza on or company.
These measures can successfully narrate how a company is using all its resources to produce the maximum income. These financial
reports are accessible to the shareholders of that company.
Non-financial performance measurement indicates such steps that are taken in order to assess the non-financial aspects of an
organization.
These measures or efforts make sure the organiza on sees the face of prosperity in the future. Primarily NGOs and charitable trusts
a empt such measures as financial measures are of no use to them.
Main focus Financial performance measurement focuses on the Non-financial performance measurement focuses on
areas that will offer short-term success to a business. the areas that will offer a long-term fortune to the
business or organiza on.
The main Shareholders are regarded as the primary addressee An organiza on’s management team appears as the
addressee in such cases. main addressee of the non-financial performance
measurement.
Territory Financial performance measurements are external Non-financial performance measurements are an
factors. internal ma er.
Applied in Mostly, companies and businesses that aim to earn Non-profitable organiza ons and chari es use non-
profits and increase revenues use financial financial performance measurements.
performance measurement.