What is the first stage in developing an Activity Based Costing system?

In developing an Activity Based Costing (ABC) system, the first stage involves identifying resources. This initial step is crucial as it lays the foundation for understanding the costs associated with various activities within an organization. By identifying resources, businesses can ascertain what resources are utilized in their processes, which will later help in assigning costs accurately to those resources.

Recognizing the resources allows organizations to connect them with specific activities, which will be important for further steps in the ABC implementation. Only after resources are identified can businesses proceed to define the activities that utilize these resources. This sequential approach ensures that cost allocation reflects the actual resource consumption tied to various processes or products.

The other stages, such as analyzing costs, defining activities, and allocating costs, all rely on the clarity and identification of resources. If resources are not properly identified first, any subsequent analysis or definitions may lack the necessary accuracy, leading to potential misallocation of costs and ineffective decision-making.