1. What is target costing?
As demonstrated in Fig. 1, target costing encompasses a whole range of activities and inputs that are internal and external to the organization. This paper takes the perspective followed in Fig. 1, that the target costing process is being used for a new product or service. The target costing process begins with developing an understanding of unmet needs in the marketplace, and then determining what customers would pay to have their needs met, the ‘‘target price.’’ Internal goals and pressures determine the profit margin desired. Calculating the allowable target cost is the next step, where:
Target cost allowed ¼ estimated selling price