Exhibit 4-18 shows that an equally accurate simplified system can be derived from
the more complex ABC system. Instead of using 12 drivers, it is possible to use only
two drivers and achieve the same cost assignment of the more complex system. This
reduced system represents an after-the-fact simplification. The reduced system is derived
from an existing complex ABC data set. Of course, the same is true for the approximately
relevant reduced system that uses the Pareto principle to achieve the reduction.
The value of after-the-fact simplification is based on two key justifications. First, the reduced
system eliminates the perceived complexity of the system. For example, it is much
easier for nonfinancial users to read, interpret, and use a 2-driver system compared to
a 12-driver system. Second, the reduced ABC system needs to collect actual driver data
only for the drivers being used to assign the costs to products. For example, in the case
of Sencillo Electronics, only actual data for testing hours and number of purchase orders
need to be collected so that overhead costs can be assigned (applied) to the two
products. This is much less costly than collecting actual data for 12 drivers. Finally, it
should also be pointed out that the two drivers in Exhibit 4-18 are only one of many
2-driver combinations that can be used to reduce the ABC system without sacrificing
the assignment accuracy of the more complex system