ACCA Performance Management (F5) Certification Practice Exam

What is a limitation of TPAR in terms of application?

1. It can only be used in manufacturing environments

2. It is often too simplistic for long-term analysis

3. It ignores variable costs entirely

4. It focuses exclusively on overheads

The correct answer is: It is often too simplistic for long-term analysis

The limitation that it is often too simplistic for long-term analysis highlights one of the main concerns with using Time-Driven Activity-Based Costing (TPAR). While TPAR can provide valuable insights into the cost structure and operational efficiency in the short term, it might not be able to capture the complexities and nuances of long-term financial planning and decision-making. Over time, businesses may face changes in market conditions, customer behavior, and resource allocation, all of which may require a more comprehensive analysis than what TPAR typically offers. The approach can focus narrowly on activity costs without considering the broader financial implications or strategic factors that come into play over an extended period. In long-term analysis, factors such as cash flow projections, investment returns, and changes in economic conditions are crucial, and TPAR may not provide the depth necessary to evaluate these effectively. The other options suggest various constraints that do not reflect the most significant limitation. While TPAR is indeed more prevalent in manufacturing environments, this is not a strict limitation—it can also be applied to service and other industries. Ignoring variable costs entirely is incorrect, as TPAR considers both fixed and variable costs in its analysis. Lastly, while TPAR does focus on overheads, it does not purely concentrate on them,