The traditional techniques of calculating quantity and price variances for analyzing deviations of realized profit contribution (actual) from the planned profit contribution only offer the benefit of identifying areas where problems may exist, rather than diagnosing the causes of these problems....

Designing and pricing new products is one of the most critical activities for a firm, and it is well-known that taking into account consumer preferences for design decisions is essential for products later to be successful in a competitive environment (e.g., Urban and Hauser 1993). Consequently,...