What is the Difference between cost management cost control and cost reduction?

Answer 1

Cost Control simply means keeping cost within desired level or planned level and the essential mechanics of Cost control is budgeting and budgetary control. Cost reduction on the other hand is a deliberate attempt to lower the cost of business operation which in most cases could result in value trade-off. Cost Management however is that planned, organised, systematic cost restructuring programmes aim to ensure that cost is commensurate with the level of operation of an organization. It can also be defined as the planned effort to ensure that organization operates within cost effective and efficient zone without compromising quality or value. Therefore the key line dividing cost reduction and cost managemnet is the issue of value or quality. In the process of Cost Management Cost would be reduced but without compromising value but not all cost reduction process guarantees value retention. The success of any cost management effort is influenced by the cost management mindset and cost management technical skill capacity of the Manager. Today, given the importance of cost to the survival of organization, it has been advocated that there should be adequate capacity building in the skill to manage cost as well as a full institutionalization of the distinct practice of cost management as a discipline. This I subscribe to.