The optimal cost system is different for different organizations and is dependent on various contextual
factors (Cooper, 1988a). Thus, this research seeks to empirically identify where cost systems are broadly
located along the sophistication continuum shown in Fig. 1 and identify the contextual factors that
influence their location along this continuum based on the following proxy measures:
• Number of first stage drivers.
• Number of different types of second stage cost drivers.
• ABC or traditional costing systems.
• Direct or absorption costing systems.