Question: The accountant at Cellular Advantage needs to

> An organisation experiences a 20 per cent increase in pre-tax profits when revenues increase 20 per cent. Assuming linearity, what do you know about the organisation’s cost function?

> Explain how to calculate a weighted average contribution margin per unit.

> Identify an industry that would have a high level of operating leverage. Briefly comment on your selection.

> Give an example of how a business can reduce variable costs by increasing fixed costs.

> How do different cost structures affect the breakeven point and operating leverage?

> Under what circumstances will managers want sensitivity analysis results relating to a CVP analysis?

> Explain how CVP analysis can be used to make decisions about increases in advertising costs.

> Venture Buses operates throughout the south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne, with its depot located in Cheltenham. Every day, fuel is delivered and stored in tanks located in the depot. This fuel is used by all the buses and administration vehicles. The acc

> Describe three uses for CVP analysis.

> Can the margin of safety ever be negative? Explain your answer.

> If an entity has a mixed cost function, a 10 per cent increase in sales volume should increase income by more than 10 per cent. Explain why.

> Explain how cost data is sourced in a costing framework.

> What should determine the choice of cost allocation method (direct, step-down and reciprocal) discussed in this chapter?

> Explain the similarities and differences between support department costs and manufacturing overhead costs.

> Explain the differences and similarities among the direct, step-down and reciprocal methods.

> Discuss the importance of selecting an appropriate cost driver for cost allocation.

> Explain the difference between a direct cost and an indirect cost.

> How do organisations identify the costs of a cost object?

> Express Lunch operates a small food van that sells a variety of sandwiches and beverages. Total fixed costs are $20 000 per month. Last month total variable costs were $8000 when total sales were $32 000. Required (a) Write out the algebraic expression

> Why do managers need to measure, monitor and motivate performance?

> What is a cost object? Give three examples.

> During a recent management meeting at Sunset Consulting Services, a team member questioned why the costing system had multiple indirect cost pools given it would be easier just to have one. Provide a brief response to explain why the business has adopted

> Refer to the Partridge Insurance example (comprehensive example 1) in the chapter. Explain how the support departments can be classified as both cost objects and cost pools in the costing system.

> List at least three possible allocation bases that could be used to allocate accounting department costs to other departments. Give one advantage and one disadvantage of using each allocation base.

> What are the advantages and disadvantages of using estimated support cost allocation rates?

> Explain the difference between operating departments and support departments.

> A product is started in department 1 and completed in department 2. Is department 1 a support department or an operating department? Explain.

> What factors should be considered when choosing allocation bases?

> Outline the key steps in a costing framework.

> For what purposes do organisations need cost information?

> (a) Total fixed costs are $10 000 per week and the variable cost per unit is $8. Write the algebraic expression for the cost function and graph it. What are the assumptions of the cost function? (b) Total fixed costs are $25 000 per week up to 2000 units

> Why might some have trouble classifying costs as fixed or variable?

> List two examples of non-linear cost functions and describe a method of developing a cost function for each one.

> Explain the analysis at the account level approach to developing a cost function.

> Explain how information from a scatter plot helps in categorising a cost as fixed, variable or mixed.

> You are about to start a coffee shop business. What do you understand by ‘cost behaviour’? Explain how your accountants could help you in building an understanding of cost behaviour. Identify the likely key costs and classify each as fixed or variable.

> At two levels of activity within the relevant range, average costs are $192 and $188 respectively. Assuming the cost function is linear, what can be said about the existence of fixed and variable costs?

> You have been asked to provide the managing director with an approximate cost function for the entity’s activities, and it must be done by this afternoon. Some members of the board of directors want to understand why performance varies so much across sto

> A motor vehicle assembly plant closes every August to retool for the next year’s model. How should August’s cost data be used in estimating the overhead cost function?

> ‘As volume increases, total cost increases and per-unit cost decreases.’ What type of linear cost function does this describe? Draw a simple graph of this type of cost function.

> The trend line developed using regression analysis provides a more accurate representation of a mixed cost function than the two-point or high-low methods. Explain why.

> Bridges and Roads is an entity engaged in road construction. Some selected items from its chart of accounts are listed below. Required For each account, indicate whether the account represents a fixed, variable or mixed cost for the operation of road co

> Community Children’s Hospital can invest in one of two different projects. The first project is to purchase and operate a hotel that is located two blocks from the hospital. The CEO of the hospital has no experience in operating a hotel, but the hospital

> Suppose you are responsible for ordering a replacement for your office photocopy machine. Part of your job is to decide whether to buy or lease the machine. Required (a) Describe something that could be considered relevant information in this decision a

> (a) With reference to Merino Designs in self-study problem 2, demonstrate the meaning of the structural cost drivers’ scope, technology and experience. (b) Classify Merino Designs’ likely strategy as low cost or produc

> With reference to Merino Designs in self-study problem 2, differentiate between an industry value chain and an organisational value chain.

> Initially the Techtra entities bid for any type of electronic assembly work that became available (mostly subcontract work from other firms experiencing temporary capacity problems). But over the years the firm narrowed its focus. It now produces essenti

> Tiffany Campbell is the cost accountant in a small manufacturing company, Calculator Components (CC). CC produces components for one of the large calculator manufacturers. Its strategy is to provide highly reliable components at the lowest possible price

> Rausher Industries began a new product line this year. Management wants a cost report for the current year and a budget for next year. The product requires processing in two departments. Materials are added at the beginning of the process in department 1

> Toddler Toys produces toy construction vehicles for young children. Plastic pieces are moulded in the plastics department. These pieces are transferred to the assembly department, where direct materials are added after some assembly has been done. For ex

> The Rally Company operates under a process cost system using the weighted average method. All direct materials are added at the beginning of production in the department, and conversion costs are incurred evenly throughout production. Inspection occurs w

> The new cost analyst in your accounting department just received a computer-generated report that contains the results of a simple regression analysis. The analyst was estimating the costs of the marketing department using units sold as the cost driver.

> Empire Forging produces small plumbing valves. January data for its valve-making process follow. Beginning WIP was 60 000 units. Good units completed and transferred out during the current period totalled 420 000. Ending WIP was 68 000 units. Inspection

> Red Dog Products manufactures toys for dogs and cats. The most popular toy is a small ball that dispenses tiny treats and is placed within a larger ball. To get the treats, dogs must roll the balls around until the treats fall out. These balls are mass p

> Use the information for Kim Mills from Problem 8.25. Now, assume that inspection occurs when units are 40 per cent complete. Required (a) Calculate total spoilage for conversion cost calculations. (b) If normal spoilage is 1800 units instead of 3600, wh

> Kim Mills produces material for knitwear. The knit cloth is sold by the bolt. November data for its milling process follow. Beginning WIP was 20 000 units. Good units completed and transferred out during current period totalled 90 000. Ending WIP was 17

> Refer to the information provided in Problem 8.23 Required (a) Prepare a process cost report using the FIFO method. (b) Explain how a standard cost report would differ from the FIFO report you just produced. (c) Under what circumstances would a standard

> Victoria’s Closet mass-produces luxurious sleepwear for women. Consider the following data for the flannel nightgown department for the month of January. All direct materials are added at the beginning of production in the department, a

> Benton Industries began the year with 15 000 units in department 3 beginning WIP. These units were one-third complete, with $40 470 transferred-in cost for prior departments’ work and $14 322 for department 3 conversion costs. During the year, 93 000 add

> Fran Markus is in the cost accounting group at Boats Galore, a large manufacturing company that produces customised boats and yachts. The company sometimes experiences quality problems with its fibreglass raw material, causing flawed areas in boat hulls.

> 'Our costs are out of control, our accounting system is screwed up, or both!' screamed the sales manager. 'We are simply non-competitive on a great many of the jobs we bid on. Just last week we lost a customer when a competitor underbid us by 25 per cent

> Flexible Manufacturers produces small batches of customised products. The accounting system is set up to allocate plant overhead to each job using the following production cost pools and overhead allocation rates Actual resources used for job 75: The

> Spencer and Church is a CPA entity engaged in local practice. Some selected items from its chart of accounts are listed below. Required For each account, indicate whether the account represents a fixed, variable or mixed cost for the operations of the l

> The Eastern Seaboard Company uses an estimated rate for allocating factory overhead to job orders based on machine hours for the machining department and on a direct labour cost basis for the finishing department. The company budgeted the following for l

> You are helping a friend, Jonah, set up a new accounting system for a small start-up construction company. He specialises in custom, energy efficient homes that are built on a cost-plus basis. Cost-plus means that his customers pay a fixed percentage abo

> Dapper Dan Draperies manufactures and installs custom-ordered draperies. Required (a) For all drapes, occasionally the sewing equipment malfunctions and the drape must be reworked. Explain how to account for the cost of rework when it is needed. (b) Exp

> A family member asked you to review the accounting system used for Hanna’s, a custom stained glass manufacturing business. The owner currently uses a software package to keep track of her bank account, but she does not produce financial statements. The o

> Required (a) (i) Explain how the budgeting process helps top managers articulate decisions about the use of resources. (ii) Explain how a budget identifies the resources available to individual departments within an organisation. (b) (i) Explain why th

> You are the accountant for Wok and Egg Roll Express. Following are assumptions about sales for the coming month. Wok offers three basic meals: noodle bowls, egg rolls, and rice bowls. Each meal can be prepared with several different meats or with vegetab

> The accountant at Fighting Kites has always prepared a budget that is calculated using only one estimated volume of sales. He has asked you to help him set up a spreadsheet that can be used for sensitivity analysis in the budgeting process. This year it

> Central Coast Public Clinic is a free outpatient clinic for public assistance patients. Among other services, the clinic provides visiting nurses for elderly patients in their homes. A homemaker who cleans and performs other household tasks accompanies e

> Patricia sighed and briefly closed her eyes. She was frustrated with the reconciliation she was working on. She was sure that she was missing something, but she could not determine what it was. And she felt the clock ticking. Patricia knew that the time

> The Red Bean Company processes and distributes beans. The beans are packed in 500 gram-plastic bags and sold to grocery chains for $0.50 each in boxes of 100 bags. During March the entity anticipates selling 16 000 boxes (sales in February we

> Yummy Yoghurt sells yoghurt cones in a variety of natural flavours. Data for a recent month follow: (a) Categorise each cost as fixed or variable. (b) Create a cost function. Revenue Cost of ingredients Rent Store attendant salary Profit $4500 1000

> Point Piper prepares monthly cash budgets. Provided below is a set of relevant data extracted from existing reports, and the sub-budgets for the two months of September and October. All sales are on credit. Collections from debtors normally have the fo

> The Fairyland Children’s Centre is a community-based, not-for-profit childcare service. A committee of management oversees its operations, with the elected members being parents of children attending the centre. The centre is licensed t

> Refer to the Paige’s Fashion House case in self-study problem 1. Paige ensures that members of her staff regularly attend international fashion shows (for design ideas) as well as become involved in Australian fashion shows. While these

> The Dancing Goat is a small coffee operation with ten cafés located around Melbourne. Each has a manager and up to five full-time employees to cover the 7.30 am to 4.30 pm, Monday to Saturday opening hours. Logan, the owner, employs a total

> Green Building Group specialises in a range of construction services including design services, shop and office fiitouts, and recently developed environmental consulting services for architects and local government. Summarised statement of profit or loss

> ‘I’m really not sure our information systems are as well placed as they could be to help us drive our performance. The industry data and my own observations suggest we need to do better in this regard. I really want to be ready when the market and the ec

> Cowmilka is a dairy products producer. Its logistics cost centre has 65 employees and a fleet of 25 milk tankers. It is a cross-functional cost centre with administrative staff (customer service and order processors), mechanics and tanker drivers. Tanker

> Toddler Toy Company sells baby dolls, teddy bears, and toy cars. The managers established a preliminary budget using the following assumptions. They would now like to evaluate the sensitivity of budgeted results to different sets of assumptions. Requir

> Trang Nguyen owns Trang’s Stained Glass in Sydney. The business produces and sells three different types of stained glass windows: small, medium, and large. Trang has two full-time employees who work regular schedules to cut glass and assemble the window

> The Elder Clinic, a not-for-profit entity, provides limited medical services to low-income elderly patients. The manager’s summary report for the past four months of operations is reproduced here. The clinic receives an operating sub

> The following is the description of a cost: total fixed costs are $50 000 per month and the variable cost per unit is $10 when production is under 1000 units. The variable cost drops to $9 per unit after the first 1000 units are produced. Required (a) W

> Jasmine Krishnan has been taking entrepreneurship courses as part of her business degree. She developed a plan to start a travel agency specialising in semester break trips for students. She learned how to develop CVP analysis in her cost accounting clas

> Joe Davies is thinking about starting a company to produce carved wooden clocks. He loves making the clocks. He sees it as an opportunity to be his own boss, making a living doing what he likes best. Joe paid $300 for the plans for the first clock, and h

> Ersatz manufactures a single product. The following income statement shows two different levels of activity, which are assumed to be within Ersatz’s relevant range. You may want to use a spreadsheet to perform calculations. Required (

> A neighbour asked for your help preparing a grant for a not-for-profit after-school art program that would benefit primary school children in the neighbourhood. He wants to charge low fees for most children, but also offer some scholarships for low-incom

> Dreamtime produces two products: regular boomerangs and premium boomerangs. Last month 1200 units of regular and 2400 units of premium were produced and sold. Average prices and costs per unit for the month are displayed here. Product line fixed costs

> Francesca would like to lease a coffee cart in Melbourne. The lease is $800 per month and a city license to sell food and beverages costs $20 per month. The lessor of the stand has shown Francesca records indicating that gross revenues average $32 per ho

> Oysters Away picks, shucks and packs oysters and then sells them wholesale to fine restaurants across the state. The income statement for last year follows: Pickers, shuckers and packers are employed on an hourly basis and can be laid off whenever nece

> The following information for Pet Palace, a large retail store that sells pet-related merchandise, was recorded for the first quarter. The store tracks merchandise according to product type. The category ‘Other’ includ

> In recent years, slow response times and frequent repairs have plagued Jetson Engineering’s computer system. The cause was a substantial increase in computer-aided design work that pushed the system beyond its intended capacity. Bob Wilson, the productio

> The Gleason Company, a division of a large international company, has prepared estimated costs for next year that can be traced to each department as follows. Management would like to know the estimated total allocated product cost per unit. These cost

> Suppose that the following are activities conducted by Microsoft Corporation. A. Comparing the timeliness of development steps of a new release of Windows with the timeline that was laid out to guide development. B. Developing a timeline for the release

> Danish Hospital recently installed a RAP Scanner, which is a diagnostic tool used both in suspected cancer cases and for detecting certain birth defects while the foetus is still in the womb. The scanner is leased for $5000 per month, and a full-time ope

> In comprehensive example 6 (Middletown Children’s Clinic), we did not perform direct or step-down methods for the dual-rate costs. Following are the allocation bases for these costs. The support cost data are in comprehensive example 6.

> Space Products manufactures commercial and military satellites. Under its government contracts, the company is permitted to allocate administrative and other costs to its military division. These costs are then reimbursed by the government department. Go

> You are an accountant for the Department of Defence. The government is considering a change of rules for the allocation of research and development costs. The government is asking contractors to submit a list of potential cost pools and allocation bases