All Worthwhile Learning Occurs in Educational Institutions Essay

All Worthwhile Learning Occurs in Educational Institutions - Essay Example This knowledge base takes a person through a variety of life experiences to help him or her practice a profession, meet people and basically, make a life. This paper discusses the fact that the process of worthwhile learning is not limited merely to educational institutions. The paper has been constructed in terms of a discussion of the determinants as outcomes of worthwhile learning outside the educational institutions. From there, it goes into finer details as far as aspects of those determinants of cognitive development are concerned. These aspects have to do with general and other competencies. Before launching into a discussion of the same, I have separated informal and formal learning so as to better understand the basis on which the determinants of worthwhile learning have been taken. ... It could be argued that any learning that contributes to the overall shaping of a person's cognitive development for positive interactions within their various spheres of operation are the de terminants of what learning is 'worthwhile learning'. Also, it is decided from his or her social position which affects the criteria of people of what is worthwhile due to the different needs and potentialities that exist in each social class. This fact raises some social issues about the inequality between people to gain access to privileged education (e.g. the notion of 'elite' universities) that will not be analyzed in this essay. So, the definition of worthwhile learning is a subjective view as according to Johnson: "One person's useful knowledge was another's useless ignorance" (see Johnson, 1988, p.23). But how do experiences structure any kind of learning Usually, it has been believed that the education system begins at home, for example involving the learning of specific sets of values. To begin with, the role of experience and learning from the same in one's life is one that fulfills the need to belong (Byram and Morgan, 1994). This sense of belonging rises from one's immed iate environment where there is focus on the values that one is born into and more characteristics of culture, region, and terrain. It should, of course, be acknowledged that not all learning in the home will necessarily be helpful as sometimes children can learn behaviors from parents that are not acceptable in a wider society like to be racist or sexist. The experience offers people first-hand knowledge of a variety of symbols (example) like judgment calls, decision-making process, and others, that one comes to associate with a place.

Critical analysis of activity based costing and traditional costing Assignment

Critical analysis of activity based costing and traditional costing system - Assignment Example In the efforts to implement the Strategic Management Accounting approach in organizations,modern business enterprises find Activity-Based Costing as an improved costing system by which the problem of large number of indirect costs and their allocation problem can be overcome It has been observed that ABC method is the most sought after innovation in the field of management accounting in the last two decades. The method was originated in the Unites States of America during the 1980s as an improved system to enable better cost allocation by means of classification of more costs as direct (Cooper and Kaplan, 1988). The advocates of ABC method argue that the firms would be able to enhance their efficiency and cost control without having affected the customers' value, if ABC is successfully implemented and followed. However, its acceptance rate is still overwhelming across industries and countries despite the strong recommendation by Robin Cooper and Robert S Kaplan, the proponents of the method. The main problem associated with the low implementation rate may be attributed to the difficulties and complexities of the system. This paper discusses and analyses the ABS system as an improved cost control technique. The paper takes comparative and analytical approach; in which comparison is made between ABC and Traditional Costing System (TCS). The paper discusses the various aspects of ABC as a superior technique of cost control by assuming hypothetical examples. Every attempt is made to analyse the important characteristic of ABC with that of TCS in a critical manner. 2. Activity Based Costing- Meaning and Significance ABC as the name signifies is a system of costing based on activities involved in transformation process. ABC is the process of simplifying and clarifying decisions required to be made by the management using activity costs. It analyzes the cost and the benefits of various operational and business activities. According to Computer Aided Manufacturing International (CAM-I), "Activity-based costing is a methodology that measures the cost and performance of activities, resources, and cost objects. Resources are assigned to activities, then activities are assigned to cost objects based on their use. Activity-based costing recognizes the casual relationship of cost drivers to activities" (CAM-I). ABC, which was basically developed as an alternative to traditional costing system enhances the scope of performance management as a measure. This system was propounded by Robin Cooper and Robert S Kaplan as a superior tool to overcome the limitations of TCS. The main inefficiency with TCS is that it fails to accurately measure the actual cost of production and hence decisions are made out of inaccurate data. Therefore, the main logic behind the emergence of ABC system revolves around supplying accurate information regarding the cost of production, cost allocation; which are vital for cost and profit analysis. The main argument in favour of the ABC system is that it is against the traditional system of cost allocation on a percentage basis. ABC system, instead takes into account the cost effect relationship for cost allocation on a subjective basis. Whenever a cost is incurred and identified in relation to an activity, the cost is allocated to the extent the product has used the acti vity. Supports of ABC system strongly believe that supplying accurate information is the most important benefit of this system. In addition, ABC is justified from the benefits such as cost control, cost reduction, more accurate allocation of indirect costs, improved insight into cost causation and identification of activity costs and improvement of operational efficiency (Kaplan and Anderson 2004). It has also been justified for being able to supply accurate cost information which is necessary for fair pricing and thereby adds value to customers.