Talk:Cost centre (business)

The link in reference item #1 ("Oxford University Press. Encyclopedia.com") directs to a page that no longer exists. If anyone knows where the link is supposed to go, please correct this.Sabbagh.sam (talk) 17:48, 1 February 2012 (UTC)

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Could someone with an account change the page name to "Cost Center" instead of "Cost Centre"?

Yes, they certainly could. But I'm not sure why... is the subject of "cost centers" particularly American somehow? (see MOS:ENGVAR for the suggested reasons something could be changed to a particular English variety) rakslice (talk) 22:39, 26 December 2011 (UTC)

I second that comment! mercator79 26 Feb 2010 2133GMT

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err theres some plagiarism going on somewhere here http://searchcrm.techtarget.com/definition/cost-center

04/10/12 11:07 GMT — Preceding unsigned comment added by 134.83.1.242 (talk) 10:07, 4 October 2012 (UTC)

Center or Centre
The title has spelling centre where all the sources use center. I was wondering which one is the correct or preferred spelling, or if there is none, where do the two spellings originate from? Edoderoo (talk) 10:07, 25 October 2016 (UTC)


 * See above! NoticeBored (talk) 21:13, 29 May 2022 (UTC)

Cost centre meaning and interpretation
I believe the term 'cost centre' originates in cost accounting, specifically meaning a unit within the organisation to which costs can be allocated for accounting purposes.

Today, however, in common usage other than accountancy, "cost centre" is often taken generically to refer to corporate overhead or support functions - essentially those parts of the organisation that are only indirectly involved in production. In that context, it is often implied that cost centres generate (excessive) costs which of course is a Bad Thing.

In reality, provided overhead/support functions are effective, production increases and/or production costs decrease. If they are efficient as well, the value of that more efficient production exceeds their costs, hence even "cost centres" can help generate or at least maintain profit.

So, how would the Wikipedia community feel about revising this article accordingly to help distinguish and clarify these two interpretations accordingly (assuming anyone agrees with me!)? For the second interpretation, I would be in favour of deprecating the term "cost centre" to be replaced by "overhead or support function" or something similar, hopefully reducing the commonplace confusion and muddled thinking that arises.

NoticeBored (talk) 02:46, 26 May 2022 (UTC) Revised & simplified NoticeBored (talk) 02:46, 26 May 2022 (UTC)