Relevant Costs for Decision Making

1. Relevant Costs for Decision Making Topic Nine

2. Cost Concepts for Decision Making A relevant costis a cost that differs between alternatives. 1 2

3. Identifying Relevant Costs An avoidable cost can be eliminated (in whole or in part) by choosing one alternative over another. Avoidable costs are relevant costs. Unavoidable costs are irrelevant costs. Two broad categories of costs are never relevant in any decision and include: • Sunk costs. • Future costs that do not differ between the alternatives.

4. Step 1 Eliminate costs and benefits that do not differ between alternatives. Use the remaining costs and benefits that do differ between alternatives in making the decision. The costs that remain are the differential, or avoidable, costs. Step 2 Relevant Cost Analysis: A Two-Step Process

5. Different Costs for Different Purposes Costs that are relevant in one decision situation may not be relevant in another context.

6. Decision Making • Adding/Dropping Segments • The Make or Buy Decision • Special order • Utilization of a Constrained Resource • Sell or Process Further