Safaricom Plc has developed a blockchain-based fintech solution under the M-PESA platform targeting the East African remittance market. The CFO has requested advanced cost modeling, efficiency analysis, and multi-perspective performance evaluation. You are part of the strategic management accounting team tasked with advising the board on cost feasibility and innovation-related KPIs.

a) The anticipated price per transaction is KES 100. If the target profit margin is 25%, calculate the target cost. Assuming the projected cost per transaction based on process mapping is KES 82, determine the cost gap and propose two cost-saving recommendations using Activity-Based Costing insights.

b) The platform has a development cost of KES 30M, annual marketing costs of KES 10M, and operating & upgrade costs of KES 6M per year for five years. The product is expected to serve 2.5 million users annually. Compute the total life cycle cost, cost per user, and assess the feasibility compared to a peer company's cost per user of KES 2.10.

c) Assume M-PESA's current cost per transaction is KES 76, and a competitor (Airtel Money) has optimized their Kaizen cost to KES 63. Determine the % cost improvement required by Safaricom to gain cost parity. Discuss strategic cost leadership.

d) Propose a Total Quality Management (TQM) implementation plan for M-PESA including control metrics and integration with JIT for customer query resolution time reduction from 48 hrs to 6 hrs. Quantify expected efficiency savings based on sample time data.