THE ROLE OF ACTIVITY-BASED COSTING AND TARGET COST IN ACHIEVING COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE IN SUDANESE INDUSTRIAL COMPANIES

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to identify the role of trends in cost systems such as activity-based costing systems) ABC (and target cost (TC) to improve competitive advantage for the Sudanese industrial sector. This can help accountants in accuracy when measuring and calculating production and goods. Also, they assist companies in determining the price considering the allowable costs. The practical value of this scientific research lies in three folds. First, the findings will contribute to shedding light on the experience of using some modern cost systems in Giad industrial group companies - in Sudan. Second, they inform officials about the evaluation of these systems and the extent of benefits from them in improving the competitive advantage. Third, the study fills in the gap lack of studies that deal with this topic in the Sudanese setting. The study’s findings indicate the existence of a role for ABC in overhead cost allocation, more accurate product cost, and cost control improvement. This leads to improving advantage competitive in Sudanese industrial companies. Also, it was discovered that the existence of a role for target cost in designing the required product characteristics, and selling price is an essential guide to cost management. This leads to improving advantage competitive in Sudanese industrial companies. The study recommends a need to increase the awareness of managers of different departments of the importance of the information provided by modern cost systems. Also, attention to applying a total quality cost system for continuous improvement and reducing total cost is needed in companies.

Keywords

• activity-based costing system
• target cost
• competitive advantage
• industry sector