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ACCA PM Budgeting Quiz for Nirvana Center

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
10 views8 pages

ACCA PM Budgeting Quiz for Nirvana Center

Uploaded by

bryanwayne675
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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NIRVANA TUITION CENTER

ACCA PM – Budgetary Systems Quiz

Time Allowed: 1 Hour 45 Minutes

Instructions:

Answer ALL questions

Show ALL workings clearly

Use blank spaces provided

Section A: Short Theory Questions (Each carries 2 marks – Total: 20 marks)

Answer in 2–3 sentences.

1 .What is an incremental budget, and what is a major weakness of this approach?

2. Describe the difference between a fixed budget and a flexed budget.

3. What is zero-based budgeting, and in what type of organization might it be most effective?

4. Give two advantages of Activity-Based Budgeting (ABB) over traditional budgeting methods.
5. What is meant by “beyond budgeting”? How does it differ from traditional budgeting in terms of
control and motivation?

6. Define rolling budgets and identify one advantage and one disadvantage.

7. What is the main purpose of feedforward control in performance management?

8. Explain how feedback control works in the budgetary process.

9. What is the key weakness of using fixed budgets in a volatile or dynamic business environment?

10. Name two circumstances where zero-based budgeting might not be appropriate.
Section B: Longer Theoretical Questions (Answer any TWO – 10 marks each)

Answer in paragraph form with examples where possible.

Q11. Compare and contrast incremental budgeting and zero-based budgeting. Under what
circumstances would each be most appropriately applied?

(10 marks)

Q12. “Beyond Budgeting is not about getting rid of budgets, but about changing the way performance is
managed.” Discuss this statement, highlighting at least four key principles of the Beyond Budgeting
model.

(10 marks)

Q13. Explain how rolling budgets and flexed budgets support dynamic decision-making. Provide
examples of how each could be used in practice.

(10 marks)
Section C: Calculation-Based Questions (Show all workings – Total: 30 marks)

Q14. Flexed Budget vs. Actual Performance (10 marks)

Nirvana Ltd budgeted to produce 5,000 units with the following cost structure:

Direct materials: $4 per unit

Direct labour: $3 per unit

Variable overheads: $2 per unit

Fixed overheads: $10,000

Actual production was 6,000 units. Actual costs incurred:

Direct materials: $25,000

Direct labour: $19,000

Variable overheads: $11,500

Fixed overheads: $10,000

Required:

a) Prepare a flexed budget for 6,000 units.

b) Calculate the total variance between flexed budget and actual.


c) Briefly comment on performance based on your variance analysis.

Q15. Activity-Based Budgeting (10 marks)

Nirvana Tuition is planning its new budget using ABB. The following activities and cost drivers are
identified:

Activity Cost Driver Cost per Driver Unit Expected Units


Student Enrolment Number of students $15 400

Lesson Preparation Number of lessons $25 300

Exam Marking Scripts marked $5 2,000

Required:

a) Calculate the total activity-based budget.

b) Suggest two benefits of using ABB in a tuition center.


Q16. Zero-Based Budgeting Evaluation (10 marks)

A department in Nirvana Tuition Center incurs annual costs of $100,000. Management has asked for a
zero-based budgeting review. The department presents the following decision packages:

Package Description Cost ($) Priority Rating

Essential core activities 50,000 1

Student counselling 20,000 2

Marketing for new programs 15,000 3

Extra-curricular development 15,000 4

Required:

a) If the department’s budget is restricted to $80,000, determine which packages should be accepted.

b) Explain how zero-based budgeting supports better resource allocation.

Common questions

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Zero-based budgeting supports better resource allocation by requiring every expense to be justified from scratch at the beginning of each budget cycle, rather than building on a previous period's figures. This encourages a more rigorous evaluation of expenditures and prioritizes funds based on current needs and strategic goals, which can lead to more efficient and effective use of resources .

An incremental budget is a budgeting process where the previous year's budget is used as a base, and any changes or increments are made by adjusting for expected increases or decreases in revenue or costs. A major weakness of this approach is that it may perpetuate inefficiencies, as it does not require justification for each budgeted item, allowing unnecessary expenditures to continue .

The main purpose of feedforward control in performance management is to anticipate and prevent problems before they occur by using forecasting and planning. This proactive approach allows management to make adjustments in processes or strategies ahead of time, improving decision-making and performance outcomes by mitigating risks and capitalizing on opportunities .

A flexed budget highlights variances more effectively than a fixed budget by adjusting expected costs and revenues to the actual level of production output. This means that variances can be directly attributed to performance differences rather than shifts in activity levels, offering a clearer insight into operational efficiency. In manufacturing, this is crucial for identifying areas where costs may be controlled or efficiencies improved, isolating issues related to production rather than inaccurate budgeting .

Key principles of the Beyond Budgeting model include relative performance evaluation rather than fixed targets, decentralization of control to empower teams, adaptive management processes, and a focus on strategic goals over rigid budgets. These principles encourage flexibility, participative budgeting, and a shift from hierarchical control to more distributed, accountable decision-making, contrasting with traditional, rigidly controlled performance management systems that often rely on fixed targets and centralized decision-making .

'Beyond budgeting' refers to a management approach that focuses on decentralization and adaptive performance management rather than traditional budgeting constraints. Unlike traditional budgeting, which often involves strict controls and fixed targets, beyond budgeting encourages flexibility and responsiveness to changing conditions. It aims to enhance motivation by empowering managers with greater autonomy and aligning targets with market realities and competitive pressures, rather than internal budgetary benchmarks .

Two advantages of Activity-Based Budgeting (ABB) over traditional methods are: 1) It provides more accurate cost allocation by directly associating costs with specific activities, which is particularly beneficial in a tuition center for understanding the true cost of services like student enrollment and lesson preparation. 2) ABB helps identify and eliminate non-value-adding activities, enabling more efficient resource use and cost control .

Zero-based budgeting may not be appropriate in scenarios where time and cost constraints are significant, as it requires a thorough analysis and justification of each budget item from scratch. Additionally, it may be less suitable for organizations with stable, predictable expenses, where the benefits of detailed reviews do not outweigh the administrative burden .

A fixed budget is static and remains unchanged regardless of changes in the volume of activity, which can lead to variances that obscure true performance. A flexed budget, on the other hand, adjusts to reflect the actual level of output, allowing for a more accurate comparison between budgeted and actual performance. This makes flexed budgets more effective for performance management, as they better reflect the relationship between costs and levels of activity .

Rolling budgets support dynamic decision-making by continuously updating the budget to reflect changes and forecasts over a set period, allowing for real-time adjustments and proactive management. Flexed budgets adjust for actual levels of activity, providing a clearer picture of performance against expected outputs. Together, they enable organizations to remain agile, adapt to market changes quickly, and make informed decisions based on current financial statuses and trends .

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