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Cost accounting for the construction firm
78 to help them to decide policy. The author has differentiated b e t w e e n the technological divisions o f transportation and the economic divisions. Obviously, these are interrelated and the case study development does show that interrelationship. This b o o k is strongly recommended for those persons involved in transport pricing. I wonder what the airlirie economists would make of this b o o k with the deregulation o f the airline industry in the U.S. R.W. GRUBBSTROM
Cost Accounting for the Construction Firm, by Bill G. Eppes and Daniel E. Whiteman. John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1984. This text is one in the Wiley series on Construction Management and Engineering. The title is somewhat misleading as this is not an accounting text as would be recognized by a professional accountant. However, it should be extremely useful to a small construction company. This text really fits into a how-todo-it category. For a constiaaction manager concerned with tax reporting and related activities, this.text w o n ' t be much help. The chapter headings are: 1. Estimate listing 2. Source document input 3. Invoice approval and invoice quantity input 4. Labor costs and in-place quantity inputs 5. Summary reports 6. Variance reporting procedures 7. Project status report 8. Maintenance of estimated quantities and costs 9. Maintenance of actual costs and quantities 10. Accumulation of extraordinary costs 1 1. Project close-out procedures 12. Cost Coding system
Glossary Appendix - Cost Accounting Forms Key Word Index Each chapter has a little diagram showing the flow of information as well as an explanation o f the forms pertaining to that area o f activity. Someone new to construction could set up their accounting system using this text. Very little mention is made of ways in which changes could be made to the forms, inputs or outputs. At various places, the statement is made that the computer does this or does that. However, no computer programs are given or referenced. In fact, there is only one reference to other sources; the cost coding system comes from the Construction Specification Institute. Such systems (see Chapter 12) are available from a variety o f sources - professional societies, industry associations, and commercially available computer programs as well as the source shown. A text with a 1984 date that deals with construction should really have a section on computers - particularly micros. Much software is available and micros - particularly with a 10-megabyte hard disk - can handle a reasonably large project. This b o o k indicates that "Data Processing" (see Fig. 1, page ix) does all o f this. Smaller organizations may not have such an organization and the Project Manager will have to use his staff for such activities. This b o o k is arranged chronologically so that one can follow a project from start to finish. It is a logical and clear arrangement. It could best be used in an undergraduate course in Construction Management, i.e., to introduce a newcomer to the field. There is not much flexibility shown in the process presented as would be necessary in many instances. This would be limiting in a real life situation. In this regard, the Preface is the best part o f the book.
R.W. GRUBBSTROM
Cost Accounting for the Construction Firm, by Bill G. Eppes and Daniel E. Whiteman. John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1984. This text is one in the Wiley series on Construction Management and Engineering. The title is somewhat misleading as this is not an accounting text as would be recognized by a professional accountant. However, it should be extremely useful to a small construction company. This text really fits into a how-todo-it category. For a constiaaction manager concerned with tax reporting and related activities, this.text w o n ' t be much help. The chapter headings are: 1. Estimate listing 2. Source document input 3. Invoice approval and invoice quantity input 4. Labor costs and in-place quantity inputs 5. Summary reports 6. Variance reporting procedures 7. Project status report 8. Maintenance of estimated quantities and costs 9. Maintenance of actual costs and quantities 10. Accumulation of extraordinary costs 1 1. Project close-out procedures 12. Cost Coding system
Glossary Appendix - Cost Accounting Forms Key Word Index Each chapter has a little diagram showing the flow of information as well as an explanation o f the forms pertaining to that area o f activity. Someone new to construction could set up their accounting system using this text. Very little mention is made of ways in which changes could be made to the forms, inputs or outputs. At various places, the statement is made that the computer does this or does that. However, no computer programs are given or referenced. In fact, there is only one reference to other sources; the cost coding system comes from the Construction Specification Institute. Such systems (see Chapter 12) are available from a variety o f sources - professional societies, industry associations, and commercially available computer programs as well as the source shown. A text with a 1984 date that deals with construction should really have a section on computers - particularly micros. Much software is available and micros - particularly with a 10-megabyte hard disk - can handle a reasonably large project. This b o o k indicates that "Data Processing" (see Fig. 1, page ix) does all o f this. Smaller organizations may not have such an organization and the Project Manager will have to use his staff for such activities. This b o o k is arranged chronologically so that one can follow a project from start to finish. It is a logical and clear arrangement. It could best be used in an undergraduate course in Construction Management, i.e., to introduce a newcomer to the field. There is not much flexibility shown in the process presented as would be necessary in many instances. This would be limiting in a real life situation. In this regard, the Preface is the best part o f the book.
R.W. GRUBBSTROM