Fuzzy ABC: modeling the uncertainty in environmental cost allocation
PDF (Português (Brasil))
PDF
PDF (Español (España))

Keywords

Environmental costs. Fuzzy logic. Activity based costing. Cost allocation. Environmental accounting.

How to Cite

Borba, J. A., Murcia, F. D. R., & Maior, C. D. S. (2007). Fuzzy ABC: modeling the uncertainty in environmental cost allocation. Review of Business Management, 9(24), 60–74. https://doi.org/10.7819/rbgn.v9i24.76

Abstract

In many cases, preventing pollution and environmental destruction is cheaper than remedying these damages. In this sense, environmental cost allocation enables a better visualization and analysis of a product's profitability. However, the environmental allocation process involves estimated information and assumes linearity between activity consumption and product that is not real in many cases. In order to handle this not-linearity, this research presents a methodology based on fuzzy logic concepts in order to model both the subjectivity and uncertainty inherent in the environmental allocation process. A case from Hansen and Mowen (2001, p. 584) has been used as a reference for the construction of the fuzzy model. Following, new variables were incorporated, and a proposed solution was developed utilizing fuzzy logic concepts. A total of 126 inference rules were created with the help of the specific software FuzzyTECH®, which resulted in the new cost drivers that were used to allocate the environmental costs to the products. The results founded in the proposed model FuzzyABC (Fuzzy Activity Based Costing) show that fuzzy logic can be used as a helpful tool in environmental cost allocation due to the ambiguity and subjectivity inherent in these process.

Key-words: Environmental Costs. Fuzzy Logic. Activity based Costing. Cost Allocation. Environmental Accounting.

https://doi.org/10.7819/rbgn.v9i24.76
PDF (Português (Brasil))
PDF
PDF (Español (España))

If a paper is approved for publication, its copyright has to be transferred by the author(s) to the Review of Business Management – RBGN.

Accordingly, authors are REQUIRED to send RBGN a duly completed and signed Copyright Transfer Form. Please refer to the following template: [Copyright Transfer]

The conditions set out by the Copyright Transfer Form state that the Review of Business Management – RBGN owns, free of charge and permanently, the copyright of the papers it publishes. Although the authors are required to sign the Copyright Transfer Form, RBGN allows authors to hold and use their own copyright without restrictions.

The texts published by RBGN are the sole responsibility of their authors.

The review has adopted the CC-BY Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 allowing redistribution and reuse of papers on condition that the authorship is properly credited.