A final critical step in designing accounting-based performance measures is the timing of performance feedback. Which depends largely on (1) how critical the information is for the success of the organization, (2) the specific level of management receiving the feedback, and (3) the sophistication of the organization’s information technology. For example, hotel managers responsible for room sales want information on the number of rooms sold (rented) on a daily or weekly basis, because a large percentage of hotel costs are fixed costs. Achieving high room sales and taking quick action to reverse any declining sales trends are critical to the financial success of each hotel. Supplying managers with daily information about room sales is much easier if Hospitality Inns has a computerized room-reservation and check-in system. Top management, however, might look at information about daily room sales only on a monthly basis. In some instances,
for example, because of concern about the low sales-to-total-assets ratio of the Chicago hotel, management may want the information weekly.