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CHAPTER 15ALLOCATION OF SUPPORT DEPARTMENT COSTS, COMMON
COSTS, AND REVENUES
15-1 The single-rate cost-allocation method makes no distinction between fixed costs and variable costs in the cost pool. It allocates costs in each cost pool to cost objects using the same rate per unit of the single allocation base. The dual-rate cost-allocation method classifies costs in each cost pool into two pools—a variable-cost pool and a fixed-cost pool—with each pool using a different cost-allocation base.
15.2 The dual-rate method provides information to division managers about cost behavior. Knowing how fixed costs and variable costs behave differently is useful in decision making.
15.3 Budgeted cost rates motivate the manager of the supplier department to improve efficiency because the supplier department bears the risk of any unfavorable cost variances.
15-4 Examples of bases used to allocate support department cost pools to operating departments include the number of employees, square feet of space, number of hours, and machine-hours.
15-5 The use of budgeted indirect cost allocation rates rather than actual indirect rates has several attractive features to the manager of a user department:
a. the user knows the costs in advance and can factor them into ongoing operating choices, and
b. inefficiencies at the department providing the service do not affect the costs allocated to the user department.
15.6 Disagree. Allocating costs on "the basis of estimated long-run use by user department managers" means department managers can lower their cost allocations by deliberately underestimating their long-run use (assuming all other managers do not similarly underestimate their usage).
15-7 The three methods differ in how they recognize reciprocal services among support departments:
a. The direct allocation method ignores any services rendered by one support department to another; it allocates each support department’s costs directly to the operating departments.
b. The step-down allocation method allows for partial recognition of services rendered by support departments to other support departments.
c. The reciprocal allocation method allocates costs by explicitly including the mutual services provided among all support departments.
15-8 The reciprocal method is theoretically the most defensible method because it explicitly recognizes the mutual services provided among all departments, irrespective of whether those departments are operating or support departments.
15-1
15-9 The stand-alone cost-allocation method uses information pertaining to each user of a cost object as a separate entity to determine the cost-allocation weights.
The incremental cost-allocation method ranks the individual users of a cost object in the order of users most responsible for the common costs and then uses this ranking to allocate costs among those users. The first-ranked user of the cost object is the primary user and is allocated costs up to the costs of the primary user as a stand-alone user. The second-ranked user is the first incremental user and is allocated the additional cost that arises from two users instead of only the primary user. The third-ranked user is the second incremental user and is allocated the additional cost that arises from three users instead of two users, and so on.
15-10 All contracts with U.S. government agencies must comply with cost accounting standards issued by the Cost Accounting Standards Board (CASB).
15-11 Areas of dispute between contracting parties can be reduced by making the “rules of the game” explicit and in writing at the time the contract is signed.
15-12 Companies increasingly are selling packages of products or services for a single price. Revenue allocation is required when managers in charge of developing or marketing individual products in a bundle are evaluated using product-specific revenues.
15-13 The stand-alone revenue-allocation method uses product-specific information on the products in the bundle as weights for allocating the bundled revenues to the individual products.
The incremental revenue allocation method ranks individual products in a bundle according to criteria determined by management—such as the product in the bundle with the most sales—and then uses this ranking to allocate bundled revenues to the individual products. The first-ranked product is the primary product in the bundle. The second-ranked product is the first incremental product, the third-ranked product is the second incremental product, and so on.
15-14 Managers typically will argue that their individual product is the prime reason why consumers buy a bundle of products. Evidence on this argument could come from the sales of the products when sold as individual products. Other pieces of evidence include surveys of users of each product and surveys of people who purchase the bundle of products.
15-15 A dispute over allocation of revenues of a bundled product could be resolved by (a) having an agreement that outlines the preferred method in the case of a dispute, or (b) having a third party (such as the company president or an independent arbitrator) make a decision.
15-2
15-16 (20 min.) Single-rate versus dual-rate allocation methods, support department.
Bases available (kilowatt hours):Rockford Peoria Hammond Kankakee Total
Practical capacityExpected monthly usage
10,0008,000
20,0009,000
12,0007,000
8,0006,000
50,00030,000
1a. Single-rate method based on practical capacity:Total costs in pool = $6,000 + $9,000 = $15,000Practical capacity = 50,000 kilowatt hoursAllocation rate = $15,000 ÷ 50,000 = $0.30 per hour of capacity
Rockford Peoria Hammond Kankakee TotalPractical capacity in hoursCosts allocated at $0.30 per hour
10,000$3,000
20,000$6,000
12,000$3,600
8,000$2,400
50,000$15,000
1b. Single-rate method based on expected monthly usage:Total costs in pool = $6,000 + $9,000 = $15,000Expected usage = 30,000 kilowatt hoursAllocation rate = $15,000 ÷ 30,000 = $0.50 per hour of expected usage
Rockford Peoria Hammond Kankakee TotalExpected monthly usage in hoursCosts allocated at $0.50 per hour
8,000$4,000
9,000$4,500
7,000$3,500
6,000$3,000
30,000$15,000
2. Variable-Cost Pool:Total costs in pool = $6,000Expected usage = 30,000 kilowatt hoursAllocation rate = $0.20 per hour of expected usage
Fixed-Cost Pool:Total costs in pool = $9,000Practical capacity = 50,000 kilowatt hoursAllocation rate = $0.18 per hour of capacity
Rockford Peoria Hammond Kankakee TotalVariable-cost pool$0.20 × 8,000; 9,000; 7,000, 6,000Fixed-cost pool$0.18 × 10,000; 20,000; 12,000, 8,000Total
$1,600
1,800 $3,400
$1,800
3,600 $5,400
$1,400
2,160 $3,560
$1,200
1,440 $2,640
$ 6,000
9,000$15,000
The dual-rate method permits a more refined allocation of the power department costs; it permits the use of different allocation bases for different cost pools. The fixed costs result from decisions most likely associated with the practical capacity level. The variable costs result from decisions most likely associated with monthly usage.
15-3
15-17 (10-15 min.) Single-rate cost allocation method, budgeted versus actual costs and quantities.
1. a. Budgeted indirect costs = $575,000 = $2,300 per round-tripBudgeted trips 250 trips
b. Actual indirect costs = $483,750 = $2,150 per round-tripActual trips 225 trips
2. When budgeted costs/budgeted quantities are used, the Orange Juice Division knows at the start of 2004 that it will be charged a rate of $2,300 per trip. This enables it to make operating decisions knowing the rate it will have to pay for transportation. In contrast, when actual costs/actual quantities are used, the Orange Juice Division must wait until year-end to know its transportation charges.
The use of actual costs/actual quantities makes the costs allocated to one user a function of the actual demand of other users. In 2004, the actual usage was 225 trips, which is 25 trips below the 250 trips budgeted. The Orange Juice Division used all the 150 trips it had budgeted. The Grapefruit Juice Division used only 75 of the 100 trips budgeted. When costs are allocated based on actual costs and actual quantities, the same fixed costs are spread over fewer trips resulting in a higher rate than if the Grapefruit Division had used 100 trips. The Orange Juice Division then bears a proportionately higher share of the fixed costs.
Using actual costs/actual rates also means then any efficiencies or inefficiencies of the trucking division gets passed along to the user divisions. In general, this will have the effect of making the trucking division less sensitive about its costs, although in 2004, the trucking division appears to have managed its costs well leading to a lower cost per roundtrip relative to the budgeted cost per round trip.
15-4
15-18 (20 min.) Dual-rate cost-allocation method, budgeted versus actual costs, and practical capacity vs. actual quantities (continuation of 15-17).
1. Charges with dual rate method.Variable indirect cost rate = $1,500 per trip
Fixed indirect cost rate = capacity practicalat trips250
costs budgeted $200,000
= $800 per trip at practical capacityOrange Juice Division
Variable indirect costs, $1,500 × 150 $225,000Fixed indirect costs, $800 × 150 120,000
$345,000Grapefruit Juice Division
Variable indirect costs, $1,500 × 75 $112,500Fixed indirect costs, $800 × 100 80,000
$192,500
2. The dual rate changes how the fixed indirect cost component is treated. By using budgeted trips made, the Orange Juice Division is unaffected by changes from its own budgeted usage or that of other divisions.
15-19 (30 min.) Support department cost allocation, direct and step-down methods.
1. a. Direct Method A/H IS Govt. Corp.Costs $600,000 $2,400,000Alloc. of A/H (40/75, 35/75) (600,000) $ 320,000 $ 280,000Alloc. of I.S. (30/90, 60/90) (2,400,000) 800,000 1,600,000
$ 0 $ 0 $1,120,000 $1,880,000b. Step-Down (A/H first)
Costs $600,000 $2,400,000Alloc. of A/H (0.25, 0.40, 0.35) (600,000) 150,000 $ 240,000 $ 210,000Alloc. of I.S. (30/90, 60/90) (2,550,000) 850,000 1,700,000
$ 0 $ 0 $1,090,000 $1,910,000
c. Step-Down (I.S. first) Costs $600,000 $2,400,000Alloc. of I.S. (0.10, 0.30, 0.60) 240,000 (2,400,000) $ 720,000 $1,440,000Alloc. of A/H (40/75, 35/75) (840,000) 448,000 392,000
$ 0 $ 0 $1,168,000$1,832,000
15-5
15-19 (Cont’d.)
2. Govt. Corp.
Direct method $1,120,000 $1,880,000Step-Down (A/HR first) 1,090,000 1,910,000Step-Down (I.S. first) 1,168,000 1,832,000
The direct method ignores any services to other support departments. The step-down method partially recognizes services to other support departments. The information systems support group (with total budget of $2,400,000) provides 10% of its services to the A/H group. The A/H support group (with total budget of $600,000) provides 25% of its services to the information systems support group.
3. Three criteria that could determine the sequence in the step-down method are:
a. Allocate support departments on a ranking of the percentage of their total services provided to other support departments.
1. Administrative/HR 25%2. Information Systems 10%
b. Allocate support departments on a ranking of the total dollar amount in the support departments.
1. Information Systems $2,400,0002. Administrative/HR $ 600,000
c. Allocate support departments on a ranking of the dollar amounts of service provided to other support departments
1. Information Systems (0.10 × $2,400,000) = $240,000
2. Administrative/HR (0.25 × $600,000) = $150,000
The a. approach typically better approximates the theoretically preferred reciprocal method. It results in a higher percentage of support-department costs provided to other support departments being incorporated into the step-down process than does b. or c.
15-6
15-20 (50 min.) Support department cost allocation, reciprocal method (continuation of 15-19).
1a. Support Departments Operating Departments
A/H IS Govt. Corp. Costs $600,000 $2,400,000Alloc. of A/H (0.25,0.40, 0.35) (861,538) 215,385 $ 344,615 $ 301,538Alloc. of I.S. (0.10, 0.30, 0.60) 261,538 (2,615,385) 784,616 1,569,231
$1,129,231 $1,870,769Reciprocal Method Computation
A = $600,000 + 0.10 ISIS = $2,400,000 + 0.25AIS = $2,400,000 + 0.25 ($600,000 + 0.10 IS)
= $2,400,000 + $150,000 + 0.025 IS0.975IS = $2,550,000
IS = $2,550,000 ÷ 0.975= $2,615,385
A = $600,000 + 0.10 ($2,615,385)= $600,000 + $261,538= $861,538
1b. Support Departments Operating Departments A/H IS Govt. Corp. Costs $600,000 $2,400,0001st Allocation of A/H (0.25, 0.40, 0.35) (600,000) 150,000 $ 240,000 $ 210,000
2,550,0001st Allocation of IS (0.10, 0.30, 0.60) 255,000 (2,550,000) 765,000 1,530,0002nd Allocation of A/H (0.25, 0.40, 0.35) (255,000) 63,750 102,000 89,2502nd Allocation of IS (0.10, 0.30, 0.60) 6,375 (63,750) 19,125 38,2503rd Allocation of A/H (0.25, 0.40, 0.35) (6,375) 1,594 2,550 2,2313rd Allocation of IS (0.10, 0.30, 0.60) 160 (1,594) 478 9564th Allocation of A/H (0.25, 0.40, 0.35) (160) 40 64 564th Allocation of IS (0.10, 0.30, 0.60) 4 (40) 12 245th Allocation of A/H (0.25, 0.40, 0.35) (4) 1 2 15th Allocation of IS (0.10, 0.30, 0.60) 0 (1) 0 1
15-7
Total allocation $ 0 $ 0 $1,129,231 $1,870,76915-20 (Cont’d.)
2. Govt. Consulting Corp. Consulting a. Direct $1,120,000 $1,880,000b. Step-Down (Ad/HR first) 1,090,000 1,910,000c. Step-Down (IS first) 1,168,000 1,832,080d. Reciprocal (linear equations) 1,129,231 1,870,769e. Reciprocal (repeated iterations) 1,129,231 1,870,769
The four methods differ in the level of support department cost allocation across support departments. The level of reciprocal service by support departments is material. Administrative/HR supplies 25% of its services to Information Systems. Information Systems supplies 10% of its services to Administrative/HR. The Information Department has a budget of $2,400,000 that is 400% higher than Administrative/HR.
The reciprocal method recognizes all the interactions and is thus the most accurate. It is especially clear from looking at the repeated iterations calculations.
15-8
15-20 (Cont’d.)
15-20 Excel ApplicationCost Allocation: Phoenix Consulting
Original DataDepartment Costs
Administrative/Human Resources (A/H) $600,000 Information Systems (I/S) $2,400,000
Government Clients (GOVT) $8,756,000 Corporate Clients (CORP) $12,452,000
Support Relationships Used by:Supplied by: A/H IS GOVT CORP
A/H - 25% 40% 35%IS 10% - 30% 60%
Cost Allocation - Reciprical Method A/H IS GOVT CORP Department costs before any
interdepartmental cost allocations $600,000 $2,400,000
1st allocation of A/H costs (600,000) 150,000 $ 240,000 $ 210,000
1st allocation of IS costs 255,000 (2,550,000) 765,000 1,530,000
2nd allocation of A/H costs (255,000) 63,750 102,000 89,250
2nd allocation of IS costs 6,375 (63,750) 19,125 38,250
3rd allocation of A/H costs (6,375) 1,594 2,550 2,231
3rd allocation of IS costs 160 (1,594) 478 956
4th allocation of A/H costs (160) 40 64 56
4th allocation of IS costs 4 (40) 12 24
5th allocation of A/H costs (4) 1 2 1
5th allocation of IS costs 0 (1) 0 1
Total costs of operating departments $- $- $1,129,231 $1,870,769
15-9
15-21 (40 min.) Direct and step-down allocation.
1.Support Depts Operating Depts
Admin. Info. Systems Corporate Consumer Total
Costs Incurred $72,700 $234,400 $ 998,270 $489,860 $1,795,230Alloc. of Admin. (42/70, 28/70) (72,700) 43,620 29,080Alloc. of Info. Syst. (1,920/3,520, 1,600/3,520) (234,400 ) 127,855 106,545
$ 0 $ 0 $1,169,745 $625,485 $1,795,230
2. Rank on percentage of services rendered to other support departments.
Step 1: Administrative provides 23.077% of its services to information systems:
212842
21
++ = 91
21 = 23.077%
This 23.077% of $72,700 administrative department costs is $16,777.
Step 2: Information systems provides 8.333% of its services to administrative:
320600,1920,1
320
++ = 840,3
320 = 8.333%
This 8.333% of $234,400 information systems department costs is $19,533.
15-10
15-21 (Cont'd.)Support Depts Operating Depts
Admin. Info. Systems Corporate Consumer Total
Costs Incurred $72,700 $234,400 $ 998,270 $489,860 $1,795,230Alloc. of Admin. (21/91, 42/91, 28/91) (72,700 ) 16,777 33,554 22,369
$ 0 251,177Alloc. of Info. Syst. (1,920/3,520, 1600/3,520) (251,177 ) 137,006 114,171
$ 0 $1,168,830 $626,400 $1,795,230
3. An alternative ranking is based on the dollar amount of services rendered to other support departments. Using numbers from requirement 2, this approach would use the following sequence:
Step 1: Allocate information systems first ($19,533 provided to administrative).
Step 2: Allocate administrative second ($16,777 provided to information systems).
15-22 (30 min.) Reciprocal cost allocation (continuation of 15-21).
1. The reciprocal allocation method explicitly includes the mutual services provided among all support departments. Interdepartmental relationships are fully incorporated into the support department cost allocations.
2. AD = $72,700 + .08333ISIS = $234,400 + .23077ADAD = $72,700 + [.08333($234,400 + .23077AD)]
= $72,700 + [$19,532.55 + 0.01923AD]0.98077AD = $92,232.55
AD = $92,232.55 ÷ 0.98077= $94,041
IS = $234,400 + (0.23077 × $94,041)= $256,102
Support Depts Operating DeptsAdminist. Info. Systems Corporate Consumer Total
Costs Incurred $72,700 $234,400 $ 998,270 $489,860 $1,795,230Alloc. of Admin. (21/91, 42/91, 28/91) (94,041) 21,702 43,404 28,935
Alloc. of Info. Syst.(320/3,840, 1,920/3,840, 1,600/3,840) 21,341 (256,102) 128,051 106,710
$ 0 $ 0 $1,169,725 $625,505 $1,795,230
15-11
15-22 (Cont’d.)
Solution Exhibit 15-22 presents the reciprocal method using repeated iterations.
SOLUTION EXHIBIT 15-22Reciprocal Method of Allocating Support Department Costs for September 2004 at e-books Using Repeated Iterations
Support Departments Operating DepartmentsInformation Corporate Consumer
Administrative Systems Sales Sales Total
Budgeted manufacturing overhead costsbefore any interdepartmental cost allocation $72,700 $234,400 $ 998,270 $489,860 $1,795,230
1st Allocation of Administrative (72,700) 16,777 33,554 22,369 (21/91, 42/91, 28/91)a 251,177
1st Allocation of Information Systems (320/3,840, 1920/3840, 1,600/3,840)b 20,931 (251,777) 125,589 104,657
2nd Allocation of Administrative (21/91, 42/91, 28/91)a (20,931) 4,830 9,661 6,440
2nd Allocation of Information Systems (320/3,840, 1,920/3,840, 1,600/3,840)b 402 (4,830) 2,415 2,013 3rd Allocation of Administrative (21/91, 42/91, 28/91)a (402) 93 185 124
3rd Allocation of Information Systems (320/3,840, 1,920/3,840, 1,600/3,840)b 8 (93) 46 39
4th Allocation of Administrative (21/91, 42/91, 28/91)a (8) 2 4 2
4th Allocation of Information Systems: (320/3,840, 1,920/3,840, 1,600/3,840)b 0 (2) 1 1
Total budgeted manufacturing overhead of operating departments $ 0 $ 0 $1,169,725 $625,505 $1,795,230
Total accounts allocated and reallocated (the numbers in parentheses in first two columns)Administrative $72,700 + $20,931 + $402 + $8 = $94,041Information Systems $251,177 + $4,830 + $93 + $2 = $256,102
aBase is (21 + 42 + 28) or 91 employeesbBase is (320 + 1,920 + 1,600) or 3,840 minutes
15-12
15-22 (Cont’d.)
3. The reciprocal method is more accurate than the direct and step-down methods when there is reciprocal relationships among support departments.
A summary of the alternatives is:
CorporateSales
ConsumerSales
Direct method
$1,169,745 $625,485
Step-down method (Admin. first) 1,168,830 626,400Reciprocal method 1,169,725 625,505
The reciprocal method is the preferred method, although for September 2004 the numbers do not appear materially different across the alternatives.
15-23 (20−30 min.) Allocation of common costs.
1. The available criteria to guide cost allocations include:
a. Cause and effect. It is not possible to trace individual causes (either basic news or premium movies or premium sports) to individual effects (viewing by Sam or Sarah or Tony). The $70 total package is a bundled product.
b. Benefits received. There are various ways of operationalizing the benefits received:
(i) Monthly service charge for their prime interest––basic news for Sam ($32), premium movies for Sarah ($25), and premium sports for Tony ($30). This measure captures the services available to be used by each person.
(ii) Actual usage by each person. This would involve having a record of viewing by each person and then allocating the $70 on a percent viewing time basis. This measure captures the services actually used by each person.
c. Ability to pay. This criterion requires the three people to agree upon their relative ability to pay. One measure here would be their respective salaries with the New Orleans Fire Brigade.
d. Fairness or equity. This criterion is relatively nebulous. A straightforward approach would be to split the $70 equally among the three parties.
15-13
15-23 (Cont'd.)
2. Three methods of allocating the $70 are:
Sam Sarah TonyStand-aloneIncrementalEqual
$25.7515.0023.33
$20.1125.0023.33
$24.1430.0023.33
a. Stand-alone cost allocation method.
Sam: × $70 = 36.78% × $70= $25.75
Sarah: × $70 = 28.735% × $70= $20.11
Tony: × $70 = 34.48% × $70= $24.14
b. Incremental cost allocation method:
Assume Tony (the owner) is the primary person, Sarah is the first incremental party, and Sam the second incremental party.
Party Cost AllocatedCost Remaining to beAllocated to Other Parties
TonySarahSamTotal
$3025
15 $70
$40 ($70 – $30)15 ($70 – $30 – $25)0
This method is sure to generate disputes over the ranking of the three parties. Notice that Sam pays only $15 despite his prime interest in the most expensive basic news package.
c. Equal sharing of the $70 amount. Sam, Sarah, and Tony each pay $23.33.
Note: One student suggested the owner of the apartment (Tony) should pay the $70 and include the cable television service in the rental charge.
15-14
15-24 (20 min.) Allocation of common costs.1. Allocation of the $1,800 airfare: Alternative approaches include:
a. The stand-alone cost allocation method. This method would allocate the air fare on the basis of each user’s percentage of the total of the individual stand-alone costs:
Baltimore employer × $1,800 = $1,008
Chicago employer × $1,800 = 792$1,800
Advocates of this method often emphasize an equity or fairness rationale.
b. The incremental cost allocation method. This requires the choice of a primary party and an incremental party.
If the Baltimore employer is the primary party, the allocation would be:
Baltimore employer $1,400Chicago employer 400
$1,800
One rationale is Ernst was planning to make the Baltimore trip, and the Chicago stop was added subsequently. Some students have suggested allocating as much as possible to the Baltimore employer since Ernst was not joining them.
If the Chicago employer is the primary party, the allocation would be:
Chicago employer $1,100Baltimore employer 700
$1,800
One rationale is that the Chicago employer is the successful recruiter and presumably receives more benefits from the recruiting expenditures.
2. Ernst should use the stand-alone allocation method because it treats both employers the same rather than one employer as the primary party and the other employer as the incremental party. Alternatively, Ernst could calculate the Shapley value that considers each employer in turn as the primary party: The Baltimore employer is allocated $1,400 as the primary party and $700 as the incremental party for an average of ($1,400 + $700) ÷ 2 = $1,050. The Chicago employer is allocated $1,100 as the primary party and $400 as the incremental party for an average of ($1,100 + 400) ÷ 2 = $750. The Shapley value approach would allocate $1,050 to the Baltimore employer and $750 to the Chicago employer.
3. A simple approach is to split the $60 equally between the two employers. The limousine costs at the Sacramento end are not a function of distance traveled on the plane.
15-15
15-24 (Cont'd.)
An alternative approach is to add the $60 to the $1,800 and repeat requirement 1:
a. Stand-alone cost allocation method:
Baltimore employer × $1,860 = $1,036
Chicago employer × $1,860 = $ 824
b. Incremental cost allocation method. With Baltimore employer as the primary party:
Baltimore employer $1,460Chicago employer 400
$1,860
With Chicago employer as the primary party:
Chicago employer $1,160Baltimore employer 700
$1,860
c. Using Shapley value, Baltimore employer: (1,460 + $700) ÷ 2 = $1,080 Chicago employer: ($400 + $1,160) ÷ 2 = $780
Note: Ask any students in the class how they handled this situation if they have faced it.
15-25 (20−25 min.) Revenue allocation, bundled products.
1. (a) The stand-alone revenues (using unit selling prices) of the three components of the $700 package are:
Lodging $320 × 2 = $ 640Recreation $150 × 2 = 300Food $ 80 × 2 = 160
$1,100
Lodging × $700 = 0.582 × $700 = $407
Recreation × $700 = 0.273 × $700 = $191
Food × $700 = 0.145 × $700 = $102
15-16
15-25 (Cont’d.)
b. Revenue Revenue Remaining to Be
ProductAllocated Allocated to Other Products
Recreation $300 $700 − $300 = $400Lodging 400 $400 − $400 = $ 0Food 0
$700
2. The pros of the stand-alone-revenue-allocation method include:a. Each item in the bundle receives a positive weight, which means the resulting allocations are more likely to be accepted by all parties than a method allocating zero revenues to one or more products.
b. Uses market-based evidence (unit selling prices) to decide the revenue allocations—unit prices are one indicator of benefits received .
c. Simple to implement.
The cons of the stand-alone revenue-allocation method include:a. Ignores the relative importance of the individual components in attracting consumers
to purchase the bundle.
b. Ignores the opportunity cost of the individual components in the bundle. The golf course operates at 100% capacity. Getaway participants must reserve a golf booking one week in advance, or else they are not guaranteed playing time. A getaway participant who does not use the golf option may not displace anyone. Thus, under the stand-alone method, the golf course may be paid twice--once from the non-getaway person who does play and second from an allocation of the $700 package amount for the getaway person who does not play (either did not want to play or wanted to play but made a booking too late).
c. The weight can be artificially inflated by individual product managers setting "high" list unit prices and then being willing to frequently discount these prices. The use of actual unit prices or actual revenues per product in the stand-alone formula will reduce this problem.
d. The weights may change frequently if unit prices are constantly changing. This is not so much a criticism as a reflection that the marketplace may be highly competitive.
The pros of the incremental method include:a. It has the potential to reflect that some products in the bundle are more highly valued than others. Not all products in the bundle have a similar "write-down" from unit list prices. Ensuring this "potential pro" becomes an "actual pro" requires that the choice of the primary product be guided by reliable evidence on consumer preferences. This is not an easy task.b. Once the sequence is chosen, it is straightforward to implement.
The cons of the incremental method include:a. Obtaining the rankings can be highly contentious and place managers in a "no-win" acrimonious debate. The revenue allocations can be highly sensitive to the chosen rankings.
b. Some products will have zero revenues assigned to them. Consider the Food division. It would incur the costs for the two dinners but receive no revenue.
15-17
15-26 (10–15 min.) Revenue allocation, bundled products, additional complexities (continuation of 15-25).
Alternatives include:a. Use information about how each individual package is used to make the revenue allocations. Thus, if one party uses only lodging and food, the $700 is allocated among those two groups. This would be the most accurate approach, as it captures actual usage and non-usage of the facilities.
b. Use the average nonusage information to compute an "adjusted unit selling price:"
Lodging: $640 × 1.00 $ 640Food: $160 × 0.95 152Recreation: $300 × 0.90 270
$1,062
These adjusted revenues can be used in either the stand-alone or incremental methods. For example, the stand-alone allocations are:
Lodging:062,1$
640$× $700 = $422
Food:062,1$
152$× $700 = $100
Recreation:062,1$
270$× $700 = $178
$700
Using the incremental method with Recreation first, then lodging, and then Food:
ProductRevenueAllocated
Revenue Remaining to BeAllocated to Other Products
Recreation $270 $700 − $270 = $430Lodging 430 $430 − $430 = $ 0Food 0
$700
15-18
15-27 (20 min.) Single-rate, dual-rate, and practical capacity allocation.
1. Actual number of gifts wrapped = 6,000Practical capacity fixed costs = $6,000Average fixed capacity cost per item = $6,000 ÷ 6,000 = $1.00Average budgeted variable cost per item = .60Total cost per item $1.60Allocation:
Gifts (2,200 × $1.60) $3,520Men’s Wear (750 × $1.60) 1,200Women’s Wear (1,600 × $1.60) 2,560Footwear (450 × $1.60) 720China (650 × $1.60) 1,040Linen (350 × $1.60) 560Total $9,600
2. Rate for fixed costs = Capacity Practical
costs Fixed
=8,000
$6,000 = $0.75 per item
Rate for variable costs = $0.60 per item
Allocation:
Department Variable Costs Fixed Costs Total Gifts 2,200 × $0.60 = $1,320 2,800 × $0.75 = $2,100 $3,420Men’s Wear 750 × $0.60 = 450 1,000 × $0.75 = 750 1,200Women’s Wear 1,600 × $0.60 = 960 2,100 × $0.75 = 1,575 2,535Footwear 450 × $0.60 = 270 700 × $0.75 = 525 795China 650 × $0.60 = 390 900 × $0.75 = 675 1,065Linen 350 × $0.60 = 210 500 × $0.75 = 375 585Total $3,600 $6,000 $9,600
3. The dual-rate method has two major advantages over the single-rate method:a. Fixed costs are allocated proportionately to the departments causing the incurrence of
those costs based on the capacity of each department.b. The costs allocated to a department are not affected by the usage by other departments.
Note: If capacity costs are the result of a long-term decision by top management, it may be desirable to allocate to each department the cost of capacity used based on actual usage. The users are then not allocated the costs of unused capacity.
15-19
15.28 (15 min.) Single-rate versus dual-rate cost-allocation methods
1. Budgeted fixed rate = 200,000
$1,000,000= $ 5.00 per kilowatt-hour
Budgeted variable rate = 160,000
$2,000,000= $12.50 per kilowatt-hour
Single fixed and variable rate = $17.50 per kilowatt-hour
Allocation to:Durham $17.50 × 85,000 = $1,487,500Charlotte $17.50 × 40,000 = $ 700,000Raleigh $17.50 × 35,000 = $ 612,500
2. Budgeted fixed rate = 160,000
$1,000,000 = $ 6.25 per kilowatt-hour
Budgeted variable rate = 160,000
$2,000,000 = $12.50 per kilowatt-hour
Single fixed and variable rate = $18.75 per kilowatt-hour
Allocation to:Durham $18.75 × 85,000 = $1,593,750Charlotte $18.75 × 40,000 = $ 750,000Raleigh $18.75 × 35,000 = $ 656,250
3. Fixed Cost Rate: 200,000
$1,000,000 = $5 per kilowatt-hour
Variable Cost Rate: 160,000
$2,000,000 = $12.50 per kilowatt-hour
Allocation to Durham:Fixed costs $5 × 100,000 $ 500,000Variable costs $12.50 × 85,000 1,062,500Total $1,562,500
Allocation to Charlotte:Fixed costs $5 × 60,000 $ 300,000Variable costs $12.50 × 40,000 500,000Total $ 800,000
Allocation to Raleigh:Fixed costs $5 × 40,000 $ 200,000Variable costs $12.50 × 35,000 437,500
15-20
Total $ 637,500
15-21
15-28 (Cont’d)
4. Fixed Cost Rate:160,000
$1,000,000= $6.25 per kilowatt-hour
Variable Cost Rate:160,000
$2,000,000= $12.50 per kilowatt-hour
Allocation to Durham:Fixed costs $6.25 × 80,000 $ 500,000Variable costs $12.50 × 85,000 1,062,500Total $1,562,500
Allocation to Charlotte:Fixed costs $6.25 × 50,000 $ 312,500Variable costs $12.50 × 40,000 500,000Total $ 812,500
Allocation to Raleigh:Fixed costs $6.25 × 30,000 $ 187,500Variable costs $12.50 × 35,000 437,500Total $ 625,000
15-29 (30 min.) Single-rate, dual-rate, and practical capacity allocations.
1. Practical Capacity (MH) 150,000Practical capacity fixed costs $450,000
Fixed capacity cost per MH = MH 150,000
$450,000 = $3.00
Budgeted variable cost per MH 2.00Total cost per MH 5.00Allocation:
Cutting Department (60,000 × $5.00) $300,000Welding Department (40,000 × $5.00) 200,000Total $500,000
2. Rate for fixed costs = capacity Practical
costs Fixed
=150,000
$450,000 = $3 per MH
Allocation:Cutting Department
Variable costs (60,000 × $2) $120,000Fixed costs (90,000 × $3) 270,000Total $390,000
15-22
15-29 (Cont’d.)
Welding DepartmentVariable costs (40,000 × $2) $ 80,000Fixed costs (60,000 × $3) 180,000Total $260,000
3. Allocation:Cutting Department
Variable costs (60,000 × $2) $120,000Fixed costs (60,000 × $3) 180,000Total $300,000
Welding DepartmentVariable costs (40,000 × $2) $ 80,000Fixed costs (40,000 × $3) 120,000Total $200,000
4. Note that under the dual-rate method in requirement 3 the allocations to each department are the same as the allocations achieved using the single-rate method in requirement 1. Total fixed capacity costs allocated to the two departments are $300,000 ($180,000 + $120,000). The major advantage of this approach is that the user departments are allocated fixed capacity costs only for the capacity used. The unused capacity costs $150,000 ($450,000 – $300,000) will not be allocated to the user departments. This highlights the costs of unused capacity. The top management may find this information useful in making strategic decisions to increase capacity usage.
In requirement 2, fixed costs of capacity are allocated to operating departments on the basis of practical capacity, so all fixed costs are allocated and there is no unused capacity identified with the power plant. This method is appropriate when power plant capacity was created based on capacity needs specified by individual departments. By allocating capacity costs using practical capacity desired by different departments, the departments bear the cost of creating the capacity.
15-30 (30 min.) Cost allocation, actual versus budgeted usage (CMA, revised).
1. Problems with the monthly allocation report include:
a. The single-rate method used does not distinguish between fixed vs. variable costs.b. Actual costs and actual quantities are used. This results in managers not knowing cost
rates until year-end.c. Monthly time periods are used to determine cost rates. The use of a monthly time period
can result in highly variable cost rates depending on seasonality, days in a month, demand surges and so on.
2. Budgeted variable cost (based on normal usage):
kwhper 075.0$000,000,100
000,500,7$ =
15-23
15-30 (Cont’d.)Monthly Allocation Report
November 2003
Allocations of Variable Costs (based on budgeted rate × actual usage)*
To Department A: 60,000,000 × $0.075 $4,500,000To Department B: 20,000,000 × $0.075 1,500,000
$6,000,000 *There will be $1,500,000 of unallocated variable costs for November 2003.
Allocation of fixed costs (Based on budgeted usage × budgeted amount)
To Department A: 60% × $30,000,000 $18,000,000To Department B: 40% × $30,000,000 12,000,000 Total $30,000,000
Or alternatively,
Budgeted fixed cost rate = kwh Budgeted
costs fixed Budgeted =
40,000,000 60,000,000
0$30,000,00
+
= $0.30 per kwh
Allocation of fixed costs (based on budgeted usage)To Department A: $0.30 × 60,000,000 kwh = $18,000,000To Department B: $0.30 ×40,000,000 kwh = 12,000,000Total $30,000,000
Department A allocation of costs
Variable costs $ 4,500,000 Fixed costs 18,000,000 Total $22,500,000
Department B allocation of costs
Variable costs $ 1,500,000 Fixed costs 12,000,000 Total $13,500,000
15-24
15-30 (Cont’d.)
3. Under Lamb’s allocation report, the production manager has both risk-exposure and uncertainty concerns:
Risk-exposure—Changes in the demand for energy by Department A affect the costs Lamb will report for Department B. Increases in demand by A will reduce B’s cost per kwh and vice versa. Department B’s production manager may seek to curtail production in periods when Departments A’s production declines. This could create an ever-diminishing cycle of production. Alternatively, Department B may subcontract outside to avoid a higher energy rate, even if it is not in Bulldog’s best interest to subcontract.
Uncertainty—When actual costs are used, managers cannot plan costs with certainty. Managers typically have less ability to bear uncertainty than do companies. The result is that managers may reject alternatives that are good risks from Bulldog’s perspective but not attractive risks for themselves.
15-25
15-31 (45 min.) Allocating costs of support departments; step-down and direct methods.
Building & Grounds
Personnel General Plant
Admin.
Cafeteria Operating
Loss
Storeroom Machining Assembly
1. Step-down Method: $10,000 $1,000 $26,090 $1,640 $2,670 $34,700 $48,900(1) Building & grounds at $0.10/sq.ft. ($10,000 ÷ 100,000) $10,000 200 700 400 700 3,000 5,000(2) Personnel at $6/employee ($1,200 ÷ 200) $1,200 210 60 30 300 600(3) General plant administration at $1/labor-hour ($27,000 ÷ 27,000) $27,000 1,000 1,000 8,000 17,000(4) Cafeteria at $20/empoloyee ($3,100 ÷ 155) $3,100 100 1,000 2,000(5) Storeroom at $1.50/requisition ($4,500 ÷ 3,000) $4,500 3,000 1,500(6) Costs allocated to operating depts. $50,000 $75,000(7) Divide (6) by dir. manuf. labor-hrs. ÷ 5,000 ÷ 15,000 (8) Overhead rate per direct manuf. labor-hour $ 10 $ 52. Direct method: $10,000 $1,000 $26,090 $1,640 $2,670 $34,700 $48,900(1) Building & grounds, 30,000/80,000; 50,000/80,000 (10,000) 3,750 6,250(2) Personnel, 50/150; 100/150 (1,000) 333 667(3) General plant administration, 8,000/25,000; 17,000/25,000 (26,090) 8,349 17,741(4) Cafeteria, 50/150; 100/150 (1,640) 547 1,093(5) Storeroom: 2,000/3,000; 1,000/3,000 (2,670) 1,780 890(6) Costs allocated to operating depts. $49,459 $75,541(7) Divide (6) by direct manufacturing labor-hours ÷ 5,000 ÷ 15,000 (8) Overhead rate per direct manufacturing labor-hour $ 9.892 $ 5.036
15-26
15-31 (Cont’d.)
3.Comparison of Methods:
Step-down method: Job 88: 18 × $10 $180 2 × $ 5 10 $190.00
Job 89: 3 × $10 $ 3017 × $ 5 85 115.00
Direct method: Job 88: 18 × $9.892 $178.06 2 × $5.036 10.07 $188.13
Job 89: 3 × $9.892 $ 29.6817 × $5.036 85.61 115.29
4. The manager of Machining Department would prefer the direct method. The direct method results in a lower amount of support departments’ costs being allocated to the Machining Department than the step-down method. This is clear from a comparison of the overhead rate, per direct manufacturing labor-hour, for the Machining Department under the two methods.
15-32 (40-60 min.) Support department cost allocations; single-department cost pools; direct, step-down, and reciprocal methods.
All the following computations are in dollars.1. Direct method: To X To Y
A 250/400 × $100,000 = $62,500 150/400 × $100,000 = $37,500B 100/500 × $ 40,000 = 8,000 400/500 × $40,000 = 32,000
Total $70,500 $69,500
Step-down method, allocating A first: A B X Y
Costs to be allocated $100,000 $40,000 — —Allocate A: (100; 250; 150 ÷ 500) (100,000) 20,000 $50,000 $30,000Allocate B: (100; 400 ÷ 500) — (60,000) 12,000 48,000Total $ 0 $ 0 $62,000 $78,000
Step-down method, allocating B first: A B X Y
Costs to be allocated $100,000 $ 40,000 — —Allocate B: (500; 100; 400 ÷ 1,000) 20,000 (40,000) $ 4,000 $16,000Allocate A: (250/400, 150/400) (120,000) — 75,000 45,000Total $ 0 $ 0 $79,000 $61,000
Note that these methods produce significantly different results, so the choice of method may frequently make a difference in the budgeted department overhead rates.
15-27
15-32 (Cont’d.)
Reciprocal method:
Stage 1: Let A = total costs of materials-handling departmentB = total costs of power-generating department
(1) A = $100,000 + 0.5B(2) B = $ 40,000 + 0.2A
Stage 2: Substituting in (1): A = $100,000 + 0.5($40,000 + 0.2A)A = $100,000 + $20,000 + 0.1A
0.9A = $120,000 A = $133,333
Substituting in (2): B = $40,000 + 0.2($133,333) B = $66,666
Stage 3:
A B X YOriginal amounts 100,000 40,000 — —Allocation of A (133,333) 26,666(20%) 66,667(50%) 40,000(30%)Allocation of B 33,333(50%) (66,666) 6,667(10%) 26,666(40%)Totals accounted for — — 73,334 66,666
15-28
15-32 (Cont’d.)
SOLUTION EXHIBIT 15-32Reciprocal Method of Allocating Support Department Costs for Manes Company Using Repeated Iterations.
Support Departments Operating Departments A B X Y
Budgeted manufacturing overhead costsbefore any interdepartmental cost allocations $100,000 $40,0001st Allocation of Dept. A: (2/10, 5/10, 3/10)a
(100,000)
00060
00020
,
, $50,000 $30,000
1st Allocation of Dept. B(5/10, 1/10, 4/10)b 30,000 (60,000) 6,000 24,0002nd Allocation of Dept. A(2/10, 5/10, 3/10)a (30,000) 6,000 15,000 9,0002nd Allocation of Dept B: (5/10, 1/10, 4/10)b 3,000 (6,000) 600 2,4003rd Allocation of Dept A: (2/10, 5/10, 3/10)a (3,000) 600 1,500 9003rd Allocation of Dept. B:(5/10, 1/10, 4/10)b 300 (600) 60 2404th Allocation of Dept. A (2/10, 5/10, 3/10)a (300) 60 150 904th Allocation of Dept. B (5/10, 1/10, 4/10)b 30 (60) 6 245th Allocation of Dept A(2/10, 5/10, 3/10) (30) 6 15 95th Allocation of Dept B(5/10, 1/10, 4/10) 3 (6) 1 26th Allocation of Dept A(2/10, 5/10, 3/10) (3) 0 2 1Total budgeted manufacturingoverhead of operating departments $ 0 $ 0 $73,334 $66,666
Total accounts allocated and reallocated (the numbers in parentheses in first two columns)Plant Maintenance: $100,000 + $30,000 + $3,000 + $300 + $30 + $3 = $133,333Information Systems: $60,000 + $6,000 + $600 + $60 + $6 = $66,666
aBase is (100 + 250 +150) or 500 labor-hours; 100 ÷ 500 = 2/10, 250 ÷ 500 = 5/10, 150 ÷ 500 = 3/10.bBase is (500 + 100 + 400) or 1,000 kwhours ; 500 ÷ 1,000 = 5/10, 100 ÷ 1,000 = 1/10, 400 ÷ 1,000 = 4/10.
Comparison of methods:
Method of Allocation X Y
Direct method $70,500 $69,500Step-down: A first 62,000 78,000Step-down: B first 79,000 61,000Reciprocal method 73,334 66,666
Note that in this case the direct method produces answers that are the closest to the "correct" answers (that is, those from the reciprocal method), step-down allocating B first is next, and step-down allocating A first is least accurate.
15-29
15-32 (Cont’d.)
2. At first glance, it appears that the cost of power is $40 per unit plus the material handling costs. If so, Manes would be better off by purchasing from the power company. However, the decision should be influenced by the effects of the interdependencies and the fixed costs. Note that the power needs would be less (students miss this) if they were purchased from the outside:
OutsidePower Units Needed
X 100Y 400A (500 units minus 20% of 500 units, because there is no need to service the nonexistent power department) 400Total units 900
Total costs, 900 × $40 = $36,000
In contrast, the total costs that would be saved by not producing the power inside would depend on the effects of the decision on various costs:
Avoidable Costs of 1000 Units of Power
Produced Inside
Variable indirect labor and indirect material costsSupervision in power departmentMaterials handling, 20% of $70,000*Probable minimum cost savings
Possible additional savings:a. Can any supervision in materials handling be saved
because of overseeing less volume?Minimum savings is probably zero; the maximum is probably 20% of $10,000 or $2,000.
b. Is any depreciation a truly variable, wear-and-tear type of cost?
Total savings by not producing 1000 units of power
$10,00010,000
14,000 $34,000
?
?_____
$34,000 + ?
* Materials handling costs are higher because the power department uses 20% of materials handling. Therefore, materials-handling costs will decrease by 20%.
In the short run (at least until a capital investment in equipment is necessary), the data suggest continuing to produce internally because the costs eliminated would probably be less than the comparable purchase costs.
15-30
15.33 (25 min.) Common costs.
1. Miller = $1.00) (600 $1.00) (900
$1.00 900
×+××
× ($1,200)
= $600 $900
$900
+ × $1,200 = $720
Jackson = $1.00) (900 $1.00) (600
$1.00 600
×+××
× ($1,200)
= $900 $600
$600
+ × $1,200 = $480
2. Costs RemainingParty Costs Allocated to be Allocated
Miller (primary) $900 $300 ($1,200 – $900)Jackson (incremental) $300 $ 0
If Jackson is the primary party, the allocation would be
PartyCosts Allocated Cost Remaining
To be AllocatedJackson (primary) $600 $600 ($1,200 – $600)Miller (incremental) $600 $ 0
3. Another approach is to use the Shapley value and consider each party as first the primary party and then the incremental party. Then the average of the two is computed to determine the allocation.
Miller:Allocation as the primary party $ 900Allocation as the incremental party 600Total $1,500Allocation ($1,500 ÷ 2) $ 750
Jackson:Allocation as the primary party $ 600Allocation as the incremental party 300Total $ 900Allocation ($900 ÷ 2) $ 450
15-31
15-33 (Cont’d.)
Using this approach, Miller is allocated $750 and Jackson is allocated $450 out of the total costs of $1,200. Miller and Jackson could also use the stand-alone cost allocation method to allocate the rent: Miller, $720; Jackson, $480. If they used the incremental cost-allocation method, Miller and Jackson would probably have disputes over who is the primary party because the primary party gets allocated all costs first.
15-34 (50-60 min.) Revenue allocation, bundled products.
1a. Stand-alone revenues in 2003:Fraîche ($100 × 20,000) $2,000,000Désarmer ($80 × 37,500) 3,000,000Innocence ($250 × 20,000) 5,000,000
The weights for Fraîche + Désarmer suite:
Fraîche: million $3 million $2
million $2
+ × $150 = $60
Désarmer: million $3 million $2
million $3
+ × $150 = $90
The weights for Fraîche + Innocence suite:
Fraîche: million $5 million $2
million $2
+ × $280 = $80
Innocence:million $5 million $2
million $5
+ × $280 = $200
b. Fraîche + Désarmer suite:Revenue Revenue Remaining
Product Allocated to be Allocated Désarmer $ 80 $70 ($150 – $80)Fraîche 70 0Total revenue allocated $150
Fraîche + Innocence suite:Revenue Revenue Remaining
Product Allocated to be Allocated Innocence $250 $30 ($280 – $250)Fraîche 30 0Total revenue allocated $280
15-32
15-34 (Cont’d.)
2. Each product will be considered as a primary product and first incremental product. An average revenue is the final revenue allocation to the product. This approach is illustrated below.
Fraîche + Désarmer suite:FraîcheAllocation as the primary product $100Allocation as the incremental product ($150 – $80) 70Total $170Allocation ($170 ÷ 2) $ 85DésarmerAllocation as the primary product $ 80Allocation as the incremental product ($150 – $100) 50Total $130Allocation ($130 ÷ 2) $ 65
According to this approach, Fraîche’s revenue allocation is $85 and Désarmer’s revenue allocation is $65 out of the total suite revenue of $150.
Fraîche + Innocence suite:
FraîcheAllocation as the primary product $100Allocation as the incremental product ($280 – $250) 30Total $130Allocation ($130 ÷ 2) $ 65InnocenceAllocation as the primary product $250Allocation as the incremental product ($280 – $100) 180Total $430Allocation ($430 ÷ 2) $215
Fraîche is allocated $65 revenue and Innocence is allocated $215 revenue out of the total suite revenue of $280.
An alternative approach is to take into account both the price and the units sold, that is, total revenues from each product when calculating the weights.
On a stand-alone basis, the price of Fraîche plus Désarmer is $100 + $80 = $180.On a stand-alone basis the revenues are
Fraîche $2,000,000Désarmer 3,000,000Total $5,000,000
15-33
15-34 (Cont’d.)
So Fraîche accounts for 40% ($2,000,000 ÷ $5,000,000) and Désarmer 60% ($3,000,000 ÷ 5,000,000) of total revenues from Fraîche and Désarmer.
Applying these percentages to the total stand-alone price of $180, we get revenue-weighted prices of $180 × 40% = $72 for Fraîche and $180 × 60% = $108 for Désarmer.
Using these revenue-weighted prices and considering each product as the primary product and then the incremental product:
Fraîche and Désarmer suite:FraîcheAllocation as the primary product $ 72Allocation as the incremental product ($150 – $108) 42Total $114Allocation ($114 ÷ 2) $ 57Désarmer Allocation as the primary product $108Allocation as the incremental product ($150 – $72) 78Total $186Allocation ($186 ÷ 2) 93
On a stand-alone basis, the price of Fraîche + Innocence is $100 + $250 = $350.On a stand-alone basis, the revenues are
Fraîche $2,000,000Innocence $5,000,000Total $7,000,000
So Fraîche accounts for 2/7 ($2,000,000 ÷ $7,000,000) and Innocence 5/7 ($5,000,000 ÷ $7,000,000) of total revenues from Fraîche and Innocence.
Applying these percentages to the total stand-alone price of $350, we get revenue-weighted prices of $350 × 2/7 = $100 for Fraîche and $350 × 5/7 = $250 for Innocence.
Using these revenue-weighted prices and considering each product as the primary product and then the incremental product:
Fraîche and Innocence suite:FraîcheAllocation as the primary product $100Allocation as the incremental product ($280 – $250) 30Total $130Allocation ($130 ÷ 2) $ 65InnocenceAllocation as the primary product $250Allocation as the incremental product ($280 – $100) $180Total $430Allocation ($430 ÷ 2) $215
15-34
15-34 (Cont’d.)
A summary of the price allocations for the bundled products under different methods follows
Stand-aloneRevenue
Allocation(1)
IncrementalWith
FraîchePrimary
(2)
IncrementalWith
Désarmer/InnocencePrimary
(3)
ShapleyValue
Based onPrice
(4)
Shapely Value
Based on Revenue-Weighted
Price(5)
Fraîche $ 60 $100 $ 70 $ 85 $ 57Désarmer 90 50 80 65 93Total $150 $150 $150 $150 $150Fraîche $ 80 $100 $ 30 $ 65 $ 65Innocence 200 180 250 215 215Total $280 $280 $280 $280 $280
Note that the Shapley value calculations based on price and revenue-weighted prices are the same for Fraîche and Innocence because the same number of units of each of these products is sold (20,000 units). In general, the Shapely value calculations based on revenue-weighted prices gives the most fair allocation of prices to each product in the bundle because it considers not only the prices of each product sold but also the units. Thus, if one of the products in the bundle sells very few units, it gets very few revenues allocated to it even if it sells for a high price. The table above also indicates that the stand-alone revenue allocation method closely approximates the Shapley value calculations based on revenue-weighted prices. Note that columns 2, 3, and 4 in the above table all allocate more revenues with Fraîche-Désarmer bundle to Fraîche because Fraîche sells for a higher price ($100 versus $80). But the allocations in these columns ignore the important fact that Fraîche sells far fewer units than Désarmer (20,000 versus 37,500).
15-35 (30–40 min.) Overhead disputes (Suggested by Howard Wright).
1. This problem, which is based on an actual case, shows how overhead cost allocation can affect contract pricing. The Navy would claim a refund of $689,658.
The overhead cost would be allocated differently:
Previous overhead allocation rate = = $0.20 per DL$
Revised overhead allocation rate = = $0.2068965 per DL$
15-35
15-35 (Cont’d.)
Navy Costs Commercial CostsOriginal cost assignment:
Direct materialsDirect laborSE group
Allocated overhead (20% × DL$)Total
Revised cost assignment:Direct materialsDirect laborSE group
Allocated overhead (20.68965% × DL$)Total
$ –– 45,000,0005,000,000
10,000,000 a
$60,000,000
$ –– 45,000,0005,000,000
9,310,342 c
$59,310,342
$ –– 100,000,000 ––
20,000,000 b
$120,000,000
$ –– 100,000,000 ––
20,689,650 d
$120,689,650
a. 20% × ($45,000,000 direct labor + $5,000,000 SE group classified as direct labor) = $10,000,000
b. 20% × $100,000,000 = $20,000,000
c. 20.68965% × $45,000,000 = $9,310,342
d. 20.68965% × $100,000,000 = $20,689,650
The Navy claim would be:
Remove the original overhead allocation of $50 million × 0.20 $10,000,000This means that the overhead pool, which has been totally allocated to products, is now underallocated by $10 million. This overhead must be reallocated in proportion to the "corrected"direct labor in nuclear work and commercial work. In short,if the overhead allocation base shrinks from $150 to $145 million, the overhead rate increases from 20% to 20.68965%.The revised allocation is $45 million × .2068965. 9,310,342
$ 689,658
2. Revised overhead allocation rate = = 17.93103%
15-36
15-35 (Cont’d.)
Navy CostsCommercial
CostsRevised cost assignment:
Direct materialsDirect laborSE groupCommercial purchasingAllocated overhead (17.93103% × DL$)
$ – 45,000,0005,000,000
– 8,068,964 $58,068,964
$ – 100,000,000
– 4,000,000
17,931,030 $121,931,030
Given that the original Navy cost is $60,000,000, and the revised cost is $58,068,964, the Navy would claim a total refund of $1,931,036. The additional refund is $1,241,378 ($59,310,342-$58,068,964)
15-36 (60-80 min.) Allocating costs of support departments; dual rates; direct,step-down, and reciprocal methods.
1. Solution Exhibit 15-36 presents the costs allocated to each assembly department under the four service department cost allocation methods.
The linear equations underlying the complete reciprocated costs reported in Solution Exhibit 15-36 (in 000s) are:
Fixed-Cost Pool:ES = $2,700 + 0.20ISIS = $8,000 + 0.10ES
ES = $2,700 + 0.20 ($8,000 + 0.10ES)ES = $4,300 + 0.02ES
0.98ES = $4,300ES = $4,300 ÷ 0.98 = $4,387.76
IS = $8,000 + 0.10 ($4,387.76)= $8,438.78
Variable-Cost Pool:ES = $8,500 + 0.25ISIS = $3,750 + 0.15ES
ES = $8,500 + 0.25 ($3,750 + 0.15ES)ES = $9,437.5 + 0.0375ES
0.9625ES = $9,437.5ES = $9,437.5 ÷ 0.9625 = $9,805.19
IS = $3,750 + 0.15 ($9,805.19)= $3,750 + $1,470.78 = $5,220.78
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15-36 (Cont’d.)
The repeated iterations underlying the complete reciprocated costs reported in Fixed-Cost Pool:
Support Departments Operating Departments Home Security Business Security
ES IS Systems Systems
Costs $2,700.00 $8,000.001st Allocation of ES (.1, .4, .5) (2,700.00) 270.00 $1,080.00 $1,350.00
8,270.001st Allocation of IS (.2, .3, .5) 1,654.00 (8,270.00) 2,481.00 4,135.002nd Allocation of ES (.1, .4, .5) (1,654.00) 165.40 661.60 827.002nd Allocation of IS (.2, .3, .5) 33.08 (165.40) 49.62 82.703rd Allocation of ES (.1, .4, .5) (33.08) 3.31 13.23 16.543rd Allocation of IS (.2, .3, .5) 0.66 (3.31) 0.99 1.664th Allocation of ES (.1, .4, .5) (0.66) 0.07 0.26 0.334th Allocation of IS (.2, .3, .5) 0.01 (0.07) 0.02 0.045th Allocation of ES (.1, .4, .5) (0.01) 0 0.01 0Fixed-costs allocation $ 0 $ 0 $4,286.73 $6,413.27
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15-36 (Cont’d.)
The reported iterations underlying the complete reciprocated costs reported in Variable-Cost Pool:
Support Departments Operating Departments Home Security Business Security
ES IS Systems Systems
Costs $8,500.00 $3,750.001st Allocation of ES (.15, .30, .55) (8,500.00) 1, 275.00 $2,550.00 $4,675.00
5,025.001st Allocation of IS (.25, .15, .60) 1,256.25 (5,025.00) 753.75 3,015.00
2nd Allocation of ES (.15, .30, .55) (1,256.25) 188.44
376.87 690.94
2nd Allocation of IS (.25, .15, .60) 47.11 (188.44) 28.27 113.063rd Allocation of ES(.15, .30, .55) (47.11) 7.07 14.13 25.913rd Allocation of IS (.25, .15, .60) 1.77 (7.07) 1.06 4.244th Allocation of ES (.15, .30, .55) (1.77) 0.27 0.53 0.974th Allocation of IS (.25, .15, .60) 0.07 (0.27) 0.04 0.165th Allocation of ES (.15, .30, .55) (0.07) 0 0.03 0.04Variable-cost allocation $ 0 $ 0 $3,724.68 $8,525.32
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15-36 (Cont’d.)
SOLUTION EXHIBIT 15-36(in thousands)
EngineeringSupport
InformationSystemsSupport
Home SecuritySystems
Business Security Systems
a. Direct MethodFixed- Cost Pool Eng. Support (4/9, 5/9) Info. Support (3/8, 5/8)
Variable-Cost Pool: Eng. Support (30/85, 55/85) Info. Support (15/75,60/75)
$ 2,700 (2,700 )
$ 8,500 (8,500 )
$ 8,000
(8,000 )
$ 3,750
(3,750 )
$1,200.00 3,000 .00 $4,200 .00
$3,000.00 750 .00
$3,750 .00
$1,500.00 5,000 .00 $6,500 .00
$5,500.00 3,000 .00 $8,500 .00
b. Step-down (Information First)Fixed-Cost Pool: Info. Support (.2, .3, .5) Eng. Support (4/9, 5/9)
Variable-Cost Pool: Info. Support (.25, .15, .60) Eng. Support (30/85, 55/85)
$ 2,7001,600
(4,300 )
$ 8,500937.5
(9,437 .5 )
$ 8,000(8,000)
––
$ 3,750(3,750)
––
$2,400.00 1,911 .11 $4,311 .11
$ 562.50 3,330 .88 $3,893 .38
$4,000.00 2,388 .89 $6,388 .89
$2,250.00 6,106 .62 $8,356 .62
c. Step-down (Engineering First):Fixed-Cost Pool: Eng. Support (.1, .4, .5) Info. Support (3/8, 5/8)
Variable-Cost Pool: Eng. Support (.15, .30, .55) Info. Support (.2, .8)
$ 2,700 (2,700 )
$ 8,500 (8,500 )
$ 8,000270
(8,270 )
$ 3,7501,275
(5,025 )
$1,080.00 3,101 .25 $4,181 .25
$2,550.00 1,005 .00 $3,555 .00
$1,350.00 5,168 .75 $6,518 .75
$4,675.00 4,020 .00 $8,695 .00
d. Reciprocal MethodFixed-Cost Pool: Eng. Support (.1, .4, .5) Info. Support (.2, .3, .5)
Variable-Cost Pool: Eng. Support (.15, .30, .55) Info. Support (.25, .15, .60)
$ 2,700(4,387.76) 1,687 .76
$ 8,500.00(9,805.19)
1,305 .19
$ 8,000.00438.78
(8,438 .78 )
$ 3,750.001,470.78
(5,220 .78 )
$1,755.10 2,531 .63 $4,286 .73
$2,941.56 783 .12 $3,724 .68
$2,193.88 4,219 .39 $6,413 .27
$5,392.85 3,132 .47 $8,525 .32
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15-36 (Cont’d.)
A summary of the costs allocated under each method from Solution Exhibit 15-36 is:Home Security Business Security
(In Thousands) Systems Systems a. Direct Method:
Fixed-cost pool $4,200.00 $ 6,500.00Variable-cost pool 3,750.00 8,500.00
$7,950.00 $15,000.00b. Step-down (Information First):
Fixed-cost pool $4,311.11 $ 6,388.89Variable-cost pool 3,893.38 8,356.62
$8,204.49 $14,745.51
c. Step-down (Engineering First):Fixed-cost pool $4,181.25 $ 6,518.75Variable-cost pool 3,555.00 8,695.00
$7,736.25 $15,213.75d. & e. Reciprocal Method:
Fixed-cost pool $4,286.73 $ 6,413.27Variable-cost pool 3,724.68 8,525.32
$8,011.41 $14,938.59
2. Support department costs allocated per unit:
Home Security Business SecuritySystems Systems
Alloc. Costs ÷ $7,950 units Alloc. Costs ÷ $3,750 unitsa. Direct method $1,000 $4,000b. Step-down (Information first) 1,032 3,932c. Step-down (Engineering first) 973 4,057d. & e. Reciprocal method 1,008 3,984
3. Factors that might explain why the reciprocal method is not more widely used in practice include:
a. Managers find the reciprocal method difficult to understand, especially where there are many support departments.
b. The final cost allocations yielded by using the reciprocal method differ little in some cases from those yielded by using the direct or step-down methods. As illustrated in requirement 2, the differences among the four methods in this problem appear small.
c. It is costly to maintain records of the use of the support departments by other support departments.
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4. The manager of the Home Security Department would prefer the step-down method with the sequence starting with Engineering Support. This alternative results in the lowest amount ofsupport departments’ costs allocated to Home Security Systems.
Chapter 15 Internet Exercise
The Internet exercise is available to students only on the Prentice Hall Companion Website www.prenhall.com/horngren. Students can click on Cost Accounting, 11th ed., and access the Internet Exercise for the chapter, which links to the Web site of a company or organization. The Internet Exercise on the Web will be updated periodically so that it is current with the latest information available on the subject organization's Web site. A printout copy of the Internet exercise for this chapter as of early 2002 appears below.
The solution to the Internet exercise, which will also be updated periodically, is available to instructors from the Companion Website's faculty view. To access the solution, click on Cost Accounting, 11th ed., Faculty link, and then register once to obtain your password through the online form. After the initial registration, you will have a personal login ID and password to use to log in. A printout of the solution to the Internet exercise for this chapter as of early 2002 follows. The exercise and solution provide instructors with an idea of the content of the Internet exercise for this chapter.
Internet Exercise
For years, consumers purchased electricity as a single service at a single price from a regulated utility. But in recent years, states have begun to deregulate electricity markets and are offering consumers the ability to choose their electricity provider. This involves unbundling generation, transmission, and distribution services, and it gives rise to many contentious cost-allocation issues. Go to http://www.rpa.state.nj.us/unbunnht.htm to access a position paper on unbundling utility costs and services.
1. The two main electricity services are production (power generation) and the delivery of electricity (transmission and distribution). Which of these services will be opened to competition, and why?
2. Why is unbundling important?3. What is meant by cost shifting, and why do current providers have an incentive to shift
costs?4. How should common costs be allocated between the production and delivery of electricity?5. What steps are GPU and Rockland Electric proposing to take to help ensure the successful
deregulation of the New Jersey power market?
Solution to Internet Exercises
1. Since electricity is transmitted over a single power grid the transmission and distribution of electric power will remain a monopoly service. However, the production (or generation) of electricity will be opened to competition. Consumers will continue to pay their local power company for delivery services, but will have a choice of electricity providers.
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Internet Exercise (Cont’d.)
2. Unbundling of electricity services is a prerequisite to creating effective and efficient retail market for several reasons. First, before a prospective competitor will enter the production (or generation) market, it will want to analyze expected costs and revenues.
Second, unbundling the production and delivery of electricity will increase opportunities for new entrants into the electricity market. It will allow prospective competitors the opportunity to offer a wide variety of value-added services to customers, and may encourage providers to supply new and better services to low usage customers that might have otherwise been unprofitable. In addition, it can also allow competing providers to establish their identity with customers (e.g., through billing services) and distinguish themselves in the marketplace, either through new and higher quality services and/or lower costs.
Third, before new providers will enter a new electricity market it must be competitive. This requires the accurate unbundling of costs. Prices charged by regulated entities must fairly reflect the cost of each service they provide, free of any cross-subsidy or discriminatory allocations. If the cost of any competitive service has not been removed from regulated tariffs, customers would have to pay twice for that service. This charge would serve as a barrier to entry, as customers would be unwilling to switch to a new provider if they had to pay for a particular service twice.
3. Cost shifting occurs if utilities allocate an excessive portion of their common costs to the regulated (transmission and distribution) side of their business. Utilities have a strong financial incentive to do this because they are guaranteed the recovery of these costs plus a reasonable profit. To the extent that utilities can allocate excessive costs to their transmission and distribution business, they can be more competitive in pricing their power generation services. This unfair cost advantage may discourage potential entrants.
4. Reasonable allocation methods must be developed to allocate common costs. While assigning direct (or dedicated) cost is relatively straightforward, the allocation of indirect costs is more difficult. Indirect costs include costs such as general administrative expenses and general plant costs. Cost information from utilities most recent rate case should be used as a basis for allocating indirect cost between the distribution and generation functions. When possible, allocated costs should be benchmarked against the cost of obtaining the service if it were outsourced.
5. GPU and Rockland Electric are proposing to unbundle their generation through sale of generation assets. They are getting out of the business of generating electricity. Divestiture unequivocally opens their service markets to competitors.
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Chapter 15 Case
STANFORD UNIVERSITY: INDIRECT COST ALLOCATION, INDIRECT COST RECOVERY
SynopsisIn July of 1990, Stanford University enjoyed wide praise for cutting costs. Less than one year later, Stanford was at the center of a roiling dispute over indirect costs billed to the government for federally sponsored research. The case introduces students to procurement and audit from several perspectives––the regulator, the purchaser, and individuals within the supplier organization. The determination of costs under procurement regulations and contracts receives special attention. The not-for-profit setting adds an extra dimension.
Principal issues for discussion are:(i) the costs and benefits of various forms of procurement contracts;(ii) the effect of the cost allocation scheme on the incentives faced by individuals within
Stanford University and the government; and,(iii) the role of auditors and audited cost information in the procurement process.
The case also raises certain ethical and political issues. The case provides institutional detail that illustrates an analytical framework. Too often, students conclude that cost allocation is either straightforward or irrelevant. This situation is sufficiently rich to disabuse them. Issues in managerial accounting matter to senior executives. In the wake of this controversy, Stanford's president, provost, chief financial officer, and controller have resigned.
1. When a purchaser pays cash to a supplier in exchange for some good, the terms of the exchange depend on the nature of the good and the nature of the market for the good. Two prototypes of trade are: a perfectly competitive market; and bilateral exchange under uncertainty. Stanford's relationship with the government is closest to the latter. For example, the government procures both pencils and research from suppliers. Comparing the nature of these goods and the market for them explains why the terms of trade differ between pencils and research:
Pencils Research
Pencils are a standardized good. Research is a singular good. No piece of research is exactly like another.
There are many suppliers of pencils. For any given piece of research, there may be only one supplier.
Pencils have a commonly accepted The use of research may not be known in use. advance of (or even after) its production.One pencil serves this purpose as One piece of research does not easily well as another. substitute for another.The worth of a pencil is known in The worth of research is uncertain. advance of the exchange by the purchaser (and supplier).An efficient way to procure pencils There is no spot market for research. is to buy them on the open market at the spot price.
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Case (Cont’d.)
In sum, the procurement of research by the federal government is a case of bargaining and contracting over "a non-standardized item about which information is incomplete, costs are uncertain, and observability of supplier costs by the purchaser is limited.”
Three considerations that underlie optimal contracting are thus: (1) relieving the supplier of risk to encourage the supplier to undertake the project; (2) requiring the supplier to bear at least some of the consequences of his actions so that the supplier takes care to manage costs; (3) using a monitor to check on the project and its costs.
If several researchers are capable of conducting a given sponsored project and if the bidding process is competitive, then the government could award the contract to the lowest bidder. Obtaining competitive bids for a sponsored research project is virtually impossible. Multiple suppliers are not available and the risks of the project are so large that even the suppliers who are available would only be willing to do the project for an exorbitant price.
Suppliers are more willing to do cost-plus contracts because it minimizes their risk. Of course, cost-plus contracts raise two other issues for the government. First, what costs to include in the contract. Circular A-21 is an attempt to address this problem by specifying costs that are allocable to a contract and costs that are not. Second, monitoring and auditing the costs incurred on government contracts. The Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) has the responsibility of monitoring that costs are properly controlled and that only costs that are reimbursable are allocated to the contract.
2. Direct costs are costs that can be identified specifically with a particular sponsored project relatively easily with a high degree of accuracy. Indirect costs are costs that are incured for common or joint objectives and therefore cannot be identified readily and specifically with a particular sponsored project. Identification with a particular project rather than the nature of the goods or services is the determining factor in distinguishing direct from indirect costs. Examples of direct costs are the costs of materials and the salaries paid to employees and students for the time that they are specifically working on a particular project. Examples of indirect costs are general administration, operations, and maintenance costs of the University, library costs, and student administration and services.
A cost is allocable to a specific project if the goods or services involved are chargeable or assignable to the project based on the relative benefits received or other equitable relationship. All direct costs are allocable because they are directly associated with a particular project. Certain indirect costs, for example, alcoholic beverages and entertainment, are under government guidelines, ineligible for reimbursement. These costs are not allocable. Other indirect costs, such as general administration, operations and maintenance, that support or benefit a particular project are allocable in proportion to the relative benefits that these costs provide to the project.
15-45
Case (Cont’d.)
3. There are four possible combinations of the terms direct and indirect, and allocable and unallocable. Examples for each category follow:
Direct orIndirect
Allocable orUnallocable
Example or Explanation
Direct Allocable Economy class air travel related to a specific research project
Direct Unallocable Alcoholic beveragesEntertainment
Indirect Allocable Cost of books and periodicals purchased for campus librariesOperation, renovation, and depreciation of University-owned housesOrganized fund-raising costsInvestment managementPublic relationsAlumni activities
Indirect Unallocable Advertising Depreciation on the yacht Victoria
4. One reason the federal government pays indirect costs of sponsored research is that indirect costs are essential costs of the sponsored research activity. That is, libraries, buildings, and administrative services are all necessary and essential for the conduct of the sponsored research activity. Hence, the total cost to a university of conducting sponsored research is not only the direct costs of the research but also the supporting indirect costs.
Another argument for the federal government paying indirect costs is that it is a form of assistance (or subsidy) for higher education and basic research. Under this argument, the federal government is not signing a fee-for-service contract when it funds a research program. Rather, it is funding projects and paying indirect costs to support basic research to maintain U.S. competitiveness. Some university administrators believe that because federally sponsored research is assistance provided to universities, sponsored research projects should not be forced to conform with federal procurement accounting regulations.
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Case (Cont’d.)
Epilogue
In an agreement announced October 18, 1994, the U.S. government said it had no claims against Stanford for fraud, misrepresentation, or other wrongdoing in connection with the university's indirect cost reimbursement submissions.
The agreement reached between the university and the Office of Naval Research (ONR) settles all disputed matters related to the billing and payment of indirect costs of federally-sponsored research at Stanford for the fiscal years 1981 through 1992. Under terms of the settlement, the university will pay $1.2 million to the government in a final adjustment covering indirect costs for the 1981-1992 period and withdraw its own claims that the university had been underpaid during this period. The settlement will not affect the university's current budget or indirect rate.
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