In responsibility accounting, which of the following is used to evaluate a specific manager’s performance?

In responsibility accounting, evaluating a specific manager's performance involves focusing on factors that the manager can control or influence directly. Direct expenses are costs that can be specifically traced to a department or manager and are relevant to assessing that individual's performance. By analyzing direct expenses, management can determine how well a manager is keeping costs in line with the budget and overall financial goals.

Departmental budgets also play a role in performance evaluation, as they set expectations for spending and revenue. However, they encompass a broader view that includes both controllable and non-controllable factors. In contrast, focusing on direct expenses provides a clearer picture of a manager's ability to manage resources effectively.

Overall company profits are not specific to an individual manager and thus do not provide a fair assessment of that manager's performance. Lastly, cost allocation involves distributing indirect costs across various departments or cost centers, which may not accurately reflect a manager's direct influence on the costs incurred. Thus, focusing on direct expenses provides the most relevant measure for evaluating a specific manager's effectiveness in responsibility accounting.