Steps in Strategic Cost Analysis

1) Recognize the suitable value chain and allocate costs and assets to it.

2) Identify the cost drivers of each value activity and how they interrelate

3) Recognize competitor value chains, and establish the relative cost of competitors and sources of cost differences.

4) Build up a strategy to lower relative cost position via controlling cost drivers or reconfiguring the value chain and/or downstream value.

5) Make sure that cost reduction efforts do not erode differentiation, or made a conscious choice to do so.

6) Test the cost decrease strategy for sustainability.

7) The three major elements of strategic cost management comprise:

• Value chain analysis
• Strategic positioning
• Cost driver analysis