Assignment of Variance in Variance Calculation

In variances calculating, the calculations require to be detailed sufficient hence the responsibility for the variance can be assigned to a particular individual.  It is necessary since it would be almost not possible to control costs if the responsibility for a specific variance is spread among many managers as each of them will "pass the buck" or reject to accept personal responsibility for the variance.

As an example: the material cost variance can be analyzed into usage variance and price variance.The usage variance is the responsibility of the foreman or production manager utilizing those materials, whereas the price variance is the responsibility of the purchasing manger.

The above example demonstrates how variance analysis is employed to attach responsibility for cost variances to individuals. Those individuals cannot claim such they are not responsible for the variances arising. Conversely, to be able to attach that responsibility, the costs must be controllable via the concerned individuals. Because of tendency of budgetary control and standard costing variance analysis responsibilities to individuals, it is normally referred to as responsibility accounting.  However where departments are interdependent, then responsibility accounting may not be straight forward because of inefficiencies or efficiencies brought in from other departments.