Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Divisional Performance Measure Part1


ACCA P5 Advance Performance Management





Divisional Performance Measures and Performance Appraisal: The need for divisional performance measure has grown with increasing practice of intrapreneurship (managers’ controlled semi-autonomous unit e.g. divisions, subsidiaries, strategic business units) within organisation. This has added strategic roles, responsibilities and authorities to managers (an example of job enrichment). Associated to these managers face challenges to coordinate, tackle conflicts and enhance performance of own division with respect to other division or the organisation as a whole. Substantial amount of managers’ incentive is linked to performance of his/her division. So, here we go through some of divisional performance measures.

Return on Investment (ROI): ROI is replacement for ROCE at divisional level. It calculates relative percentage return, rather than an absolute return - i.e. a profit or loss. ROI facilitates comparison of different divisions or companies.
Mathematically, ROI = PBIT/Investment*100
Any investment that generates return above cost of capital is acceptable.
However, ROI can motivate managers to make dysfunctional decision which may not adhere to corporate benefit.
An example: Company A has linked substantial amount of managerial bonus to divisional ROI. Company’s cost of capital is 8%, so any project earning higher than 8% are acceptable to company. X is one of the divisions of Company A. Its historical ROI has never dropped from 20% and manager will quite sure to maintain the level under present condition. Meantime, X division manager is presented with a project that has return of 15%. In such case, however it seems beneficial project from company’s view, company x manager will reject the project because ROI of division will fall to lower value and managers bonus will also decrease.

Residual Income (RI): RI was developed to tackle the dysfunctional behaviour that can result from using ROI. Under RI a notional interest charge is levied on divisions to charge them for use of fixed and/or working capital. It should be noted that there are many different methods of levying this charge. The method used will depend largely on the level of control that divisions have over fixed assets and working capital. The interest charge is deducted from operating profit to calculate the profit or loss being made by the divisions – ie. an absolute return.
Mathematically, RI = PBIT – imputed interest (capital employed * cost of capital)
Decision rule: accept the project if the RI is positive.


CIMA Article: Here’s mud in RIs


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