The accounting systems that Union Pacific had in place were likely to be typical stage II accounting systems. ... The COAT system was very advanced for its day, because it was an attempt to create a primitive Activity Based Cost System. ... This system, of course, had many downsides. ... The MCC system did have another important function. ... This system was run parallel to that of the ICC system and then eventually was able to replace it. ...

• Word Count: 3347
• Approx Pages: 13
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

(Johnson and Kaplan, 1987) Modern cost management systems have lost their relevance to management in that they do not provide accurate and timely data to the various levels of management to assess return on investment, profitability, and overall performance. Most management accounting systems described by Johnson and Kaplan provide only information necessary for tightly controlled external reporting requirements and other financial accounting needs, such as, annual reports, government reporting, etc., and did not provide necessary visibility to front line cost account managers. ... This book ...

• Word Count: 3169
• Approx Pages: 13
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

This book also explores the history of financial and managerial accounting systems, and tries to delineate the pressures that caused the divergence of the two practices. ... When cost systems became automated beginning in the 1960's, system designers basically automated the existing manual systems found in the factory. Left unquestioned was whether these systems were still sensible given the great expansion in information technology and migration to highly technical operations. ... Such systems are supportive of JIT/TQM and CIM environments, which minimize inventory and WIP costs, and h...

• Word Count: 5316
• Approx Pages: 21
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate