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Several reasons can be advanced in favour of computing target sell prices by means of cost
plus formulae, even if the prices are later modified firstly, the decision maker is faced with
uncertainties. The use of cost-pus formulae enables the decision-maker to absorb some of
these uncertainties and come up with a price that will be acceptable given the constraints at hard.
Secondly, cost may be reviews as abase from which the price setter moves, guarding
against the possibility of setting the price too low and incurring losses. Cost-plus pricing will
not guarantee against loss making; for instance, there are problems of volume estimating.
However, these will point the price setter in the right direction.
A third explanation of the popularity of cost-based price is the estimates of the
company's own cost may help the decision – maker to predict either competitor's cost
or a competitor's price. For example, if a company is operating in an industry where a 30%
mark-up is the norm, then the company may be able to assume that this pattern will hold
for new products and thereby either to predict competitor price or to price in such a way as
to gain quick acceptance of a new product line.
-- Motivation & Autonomy
The main reason is that information is rarely (if ever) available to allow an approach based
on marginal cost and marginal revenue.
Kavungya answered the question on May 6, 2021 at 10:01
- In preparing the cash budget for the next year, Kericho Tea Farm Limited finds that
it has limited surplus funds of Sh.70,000,000 which the managing directors...(Solved)
In preparing the cash budget for the next year, Kericho Tea Farm Limited finds that
it has limited surplus funds of Sh.70,000,000 which the managing directors wishes
to spend on one of two schemes.
Scheme A - Pay Sh.70,000,000 immediately to reputable sales promotion agency which
would provide extensive advertising and planned „reminder‟ advertising over
the next ten years. This is expected to increase the net operational cash flows
by sh.200,000,000 per annum for the first five years and Sh.100,000,000 for
the following five years. Thereafter, the effect would be zero.
Scheme B - Buy immediately labour saving machinery at a cost of Sh.70,000,000 which
would reduce the operating cash outflows by sh.150,000,000 per annum for
the next ten years, at the end of which the equipment will have a salvage
value of zero.
Required
(i) The average accounting rate of return (ARR) per annum for each scheme over 10 years.
(ii) The net present value (NPV) for each scheme assuming the desired rate of return is 18%.
(iii) The internal rate of return (IRR) for each alternative.
Date posted: May 6, 2021. Answers (1)
- Marashi Company Ltd. is a merchandising company selling a 40ml bottle of perfume in four
zones within Kenya. The variable cost per bottle is Sh.70 but...(Solved)
Marashi Company Ltd. is a merchandising company selling a 40ml bottle of perfume in four
zones within Kenya. The variable cost per bottle is Sh.70 but the selling price is different in
each of the four zones. The difference in the selling price is due to the transportation costs
involved. The company has four salesmen available for an assignment in the four zones. The
zones are not equally good in their sales potential. It is estimated that a typical salesman
operating in each zone would bring the following annual sales:
The objective of Marashi Company Ltd. is to maximize contribution from each zone.
Required:
(a) Determine how the four salesmen can be assigned to the zones in order for the
company to maximize the total contribution.
(b) Calculate the total contribution of the company after the assignment.
Date posted: May 6, 2021. Answers (1)
- Nzewani Electronic Ltd. manufactures and sells a brand of television sets called LD-TVs.
The three closest competitor brands in the market are SUM-TVs, SON-TVs. Because of...(Solved)
Nzewani Electronic Ltd. manufactures and sells a brand of television sets called LD-TVs.
The three closest competitor brands in the market are SUM-TVs, SON-TVs. Because of the
custom manufacturing process and their inherent high costs, no other competitor has any
effect on the current market. The year 2002 was an exceptionally good year in terms of gain loss
trade offs. The year's activity is summarized in the following table:
Required:
(a) Advise the management of Nzewani Electronic Ltd. on the expected market share
for each brand at the end of December 2002.
(b) Assuming the same pattern of switching persists, what would be the long run
market share for each brand?
(c) What are the assumptions of the technique you have used in (a) and (b) above?
Date posted: May 6, 2021. Answers (1)
- A sugar manufacturing company has two plants, one in Bungoma and the other one in
Busia, producing equivalent grades of sugar. The Bungoma plant has been...(Solved)
A sugar manufacturing company has two plants, one in Bungoma and the other one in
Busia, producing equivalent grades of sugar. The Bungoma plant has been operating at 75%
of its producing 270,000 tonnes of sugar per month. The Busia plant has been operating at
60% of its capacity producing 360,000 tonnes of sugar per month. The major raw material
used in producing sugar is cane. For each 800 tonnes of sugar, 1000 tonnes of care is
required. At the Bungoma plant, the local cane costs are Sh.1,875 per tonne but the supply is
limited to 144,000 tonnes per month. At Busia plant, local cane costs sh.3000 per tonne and
is limited to 400,000 tonnes per month. Additional cane must be purchased through brokers
at sh.2,750 per tonne (delivered at either plant). The cost schedules for a typical month‟s
production are as follows:
Required:
(a) (i) If the total combined production of both plants is to be maintained at a rate of
630,000 tonnes per month, would there be any apparent advantage in shifting part
of the schedule production from one plant to the other? If so, which plant's
production should be increased and by how much?
(ii) What is the amount of the cost saving as a result of this switch?
(b) If production requirements increased to 910,000 tonnes, how much would you
recommend to be produced at each plant?
Date posted: May 6, 2021. Answers (1)
- Sanders Ltd is a manufacturing company producing two joint products P1 and P2 in the ratio
of 3:1 at the split-off point. The two products are...(Solved)
Sanders Ltd is a manufacturing company producing two joint products P1 and P2 in the ratio
of 3:1 at the split-off point. The two products are taken to the mixing plant for blending and
refining after the split off point. The following information is also provided:
The joint process costs are 70% fixed and 30% variable whereas the mixing plant costs are
30% fixed and 70% variable. There are only 5000 hours available in the mixing plant. Usually
4000 hours are taken in processing of Product P1 and P2, 2000 hours for each product while
the remaining 1000 hours are used for other work that generates a contribution of
Sh.100,000 per hour.
The company is now planning to change the production mix of the joint process to 3:2 for
product P1 and P2 respectively. This change will result in an increase in the joint cost by
Sh.500 for each additional litre of P2produced.
Required:
(a) Advise the company on whether to change the production mix.
(b) Explain other qualitative factors that are important to consider before changing the production mix.
Date posted: May 6, 2021. Answers (1)
- Two manufacturers compete in a market for a specialized calculator. Company A
controls 75% of the market while company B controls 25% of the market. Company...(Solved)
Two manufacturers compete in a market for a specialized calculator. Company A
controls 75% of the market while company B controls 25% of the market. Company A
is considering a vigorous annual marketing campaign which will cost Sh.35,000,000. The
total market for the specialize calculator is 100,000 units per year. The profit
contribution per unit is Sh.3,000.
Company B is debating how much money to invest in research and development every
year. It is considering three alternatives: Sh.25,000,000, Sh.50,000,000 and Sh.80,000,000.
It is estimated that if company A runs a vigorous annual marketing campaign, its share
of the market after one yea will be either 79% or 73%, depending on company B‟s
investment in research and development (Sh.25,000,000, 50,000,000 and
Sh.80,000,000 respectively).
On the other hand, if company A does not run the marketing campaign, company
B‟s share of the market will decrease by 1% of the total market if it invests Sh.25,000,000 in
research and development, increase by 1% if it invests Sh.50,000,000 in research and
development and increase by 3% if Sh.80,000,000 is invested.
Required:
i Using the share of the market percentages only, convert the above into a zero sum game, and hence solve for the optimal strategies for both companies.
ii Obtain a pay off table consisting of contribution to profit in monetary terms, and hence solve the game.
Date posted: May 6, 2021. Answers (1)
- Aberdares Company Ltd. is a manufacturing company which produces and sells a single
product known as T1 at a price of Sh.10 per unit. The company...(Solved)
Aberdares Company Ltd. is a manufacturing company which produces and sells a single
product known as T1 at a price of Sh.10 per unit. The company incurs a variable cost of Sh.6
per unit and fixed costs of Sh.400,000. Sales are normally distributed with a mean of 110,000
units and a standard deviation of 10,000 units. The company is considering producing a
second product, T2 to sell at Sh.8 per unit and incur a variable cost of Sh.5 per unit with
additional fixed costs of Sh.50,000. The demand for T2 is also normally distributed with a
mean of 50,000 units and standard deviation of 5,000 units. If T2 is added to the production
schedule, sales of T 1 will shift downwards to a mean of 85,000 units and standard deviation
of 8,000 units. The correlation coefficient between sales of T1 and T2 is – 0.9.
Required:
i The company‟s break-even point for the current and proposed production schedules.
ii The coefficient of variation for the two proposals.
iii Based on your computation‟s in (i) and (ii) above advise the company on whether to add T2 to its production schedule.
Date posted: May 6, 2021. Answers (1)
- High-tex Engineering Company Limited wishes to set flexible budgets for each of its operating departments. A separate maintenance department performs all routine and major repair...(Solved)
High-tex Engineering Company Limited wishes to set flexible budgets for each of its operating departments. A separate maintenance department performs all routine and major repair works on the company‟s equipment and facilities. The company has determined that maintenance department performs all routine and major repair works on the
company's equipment and facilities. The company has determined that maintenance cost is
primarily a function of machine hours worked in the various production departments.
The maintenance cost incurred and the actual machine hours worked during the months of
January, February, March and April 2003 were as follows:
Required:
a) Determine the cost estimation function using:
i High-low method.
ii Regression analysis
b) Using the regression function estimate:
i The maintenance costs that would have been incurred if the machine hours were expected to be 900 in the month of May 2003.
ii The maximum machine hours that would have been worked If the maintenance cost incurred had been limited to Sh.400,000 for the month of May 2003.
c) Assuming that in the month of May 2003 machine hours were 900, establish a 95% confidence interval for this point estimate. (Assume tc = 2.7764 and standard error of estimate, se = 63.25).
Date posted: May 6, 2021. Answers (1)
- Joan Odero, an independent movie producer, is negotiating with Roadshow Productions
Limited on a contract for the production and marketing of her next film, titled “The
rise...(Solved)
Joan Odero, an independent movie producer, is negotiating with Roadshow Productions
Limited on a contract for the production and marketing of her next film, titled “The
rise and fall of a cock”. The budget for the film is, Sh.100 million.
Roadshow Productions Limited is offering Joan Odero a choice of one of the three contracts.
Contract A
1. Roadshow Productions Limited will pay all the production and marketing costs.
2. Joan Odero will receive a fixed fee of Sh.10 million.
3. Joan Odero will receive 10% of gross revenue from the film in excess of Sh.1 billion
(no payment is made for gross revenue up to Sh.1 billion).
Contract B
1. Roadshow Productions Limited will pay 80% of all the production and marketing costs
up to Sh.100 million and 30% of production and marketing costs in excess of Sh.100 million
2. Joan Odero will receive 10% of all gross revenue for the film. Contract C
1. Roadshow Productions Limited will pay 50% of production and marketing costs up to Sh.100 million.
2. Joan Odero will receive 30% of all gross revenue from the film.
Joan Odero estimates the following probabilities for the gross revenues:
P(high demand of Sh.2 billion) 0.1
P(medium demand of Sh.500 million) 0.3
P(low demand of Sh.100 million) 0.6
She estimates the following probabilities for the cost of production:
P(budgeted cost of Sh.100 million) 0.6
P(high cost of Sh.200 million) 0.4
Required:
a) The expected monetary value for Joan Odero under each contract for each of the six possible events.
(Hint: The possible events are high demand – budgeted costs, high demand –
high costs, medium demand – budgeted costs, medium demand – high costs, low demand – budgeted costs, and low demand – high costs).
b) Joan Odero will choose the contract that maximizes her expected monetary value from the film. Which contract should she choose? (Show calculations).
c) What information might Joan Odero use in assessing the probability distribution for the production and marketing costs of “The rise an fall of cock” film?
Date posted: May 6, 2021. Answers (1)
- Traditional budgeting systems are incremental in nature and tend to focus on cost centers. Activity based budgeting (ABB) links strategic planning to the overall performance...(Solved)
Traditional budgeting systems are incremental in nature and tend to focus on cost centers. Activity based budgeting (ABB) links strategic planning to the overall performance measurement aimed at continuous improvement.
Required:
i Explain the weakness of traditional incremental budgeting systems.
ii Describe the main feature of activity based budgeting system and comment on its advantages.
Date posted: May 6, 2021. Answers (1)
- “It is now fairly and widely accepted that conventional cost accounting, distorts
management's view of business through unrepresentative overhead allocation
and inappropriate product costing. This is because...(Solved)
“It is now fairly and widely accepted that conventional cost accounting, distorts
management's view of business through unrepresentative overhead allocation
and inappropriate product costing. This is because the traditional approach usually absorbs
overhead costs across products solely on the basis of the direct labour involved in their
manufacture. As direct labour cost expressed as a proportion of total manufacturing cost
continues to fall, this leads to more an more distortion and misrepresentation of the impact
of particular products on total overhead costs (from Financial Times)
Required:
Briefly discuss the above statement and state what approaches are being adopted by management accountants to overcome such criticism.
Date posted: May 6, 2021. Answers (1)
- Briefly explain three methods that can be used to analyze uncertainty in cost-volume-profit (C-V-P) analysis.(Solved)
Briefly explain three methods that can be used to analyze uncertainty in cost-volume-profit (C-V-P) analysis.
Date posted: May 5, 2021. Answers (1)
- A university offers a range of degree courses. The university's organization structure
consists of three faculties each with a number of teaching departments. In addition, there...(Solved)
A university offers a range of degree courses. The university's organization structure
consists of three faculties each with a number of teaching departments. In addition, there is
a university administrative/management function and a central services function.
The following cost information is available for the year ended 30 June 2002
a) Occupancy costs total Sh.15,000,000. Such costs are apportioned on the basis of area
used which is:
2. Administration/management costs:
Direct costs: Shs.17,750,000
Indirect costs: an apportionment of occupancy costs.
Direct and indirect costs are charged to degree courses on a percentage basis.
3. Faculty costs:
Direct costs: Shs. 7,000,000.
Indirect costs: an apportionment of occupancy and central services costs.
Direct and indirect costs are charged to teaching departments.
4. Teaching departments:
Direct costs: Shs. 55,250,000.
Indirect cost: an apportionment of occupancy costs and central services costs plus all
faculty costs.
Direct and indirect costs are charged to degree courses on a percentage basis.
5. Central services:
Direct costs: Sh.10,000,000
Indirect costs: an apportionment of occupancy costs.
6. Direct and indirect costs of central services have in previous years been charged to users
on a percentage basis. A study has now been completed which has estimated what user
areas would have paid external suppliers for the same services on an individual basis. For
the year ended 30 June 2002, the apportionment of central services costs is to be
recalculated in a manner which recognizes the cost/savings achieved by using the central
services facilities instead of using external service companies. This is to be done by
apportioning the overall savings to user areas in proportion to their share of the
estimated external costs.
7. The estimated external cost of service provision are as follows:
Central services are apportioned as detailed in (5) above.
The total number of graduates from the university in the year to 30 June 2002 was 2,500.
Required:
a) Prepare a flow diagram which shows the apportionment of costs to user areas. (No value needs to be shown).
b) Calculate the average cost per graduate for the year ended 30 June 2002, for the
university and for each of the degree courses in business studies, mechanical engineering
and catering studies (round your values to the nearest Sh.1,000)
c) Suggests reasons for any differences in the average cost per graduate from one degree
course to another, and discuss briefly the relevance of such information to the
university's management.
Date posted: May 5, 2021. Answers (1)
- Large service organizations such as banks and hospitals used to be noted for their lack of
standard costing systems and their relatively unsophisticated budgeting and control...(Solved)
Large service organizations such as banks and hospitals used to be noted for their lack of
standard costing systems and their relatively unsophisticated budgeting and control systems
compared to the practice in large manufacturing organizations. But this is changing any
many large service organizations are now reversing their use of management accounting techniques.
Required:
a) Explain which features of large service organizations encourage the application of
activity-based approaches to the analysis of cost information.
b) Explain which features of service organizations may create problems for the application
of activity-based costing.
c) Explain the uses of activity-based cost information in service industries.
Date posted: May 5, 2021. Answers (1)
- Tritech Ltd. has semi-automatic machine process in which a number of tasks are performed.
A system of standard costing and budgetary control is in operation. The...(Solved)
Tritech Ltd. has semi-automatic machine process in which a number of tasks are performed.
A system of standard costing and budgetary control is in operation. The process is
controlled by machine attendants who are paid a fixed rate per hour of process time. The
process has recently been reorganized as part of an ongoing total quality management
programme in the company.
The nature of the process is such that the machines incur variable costs even during nonproductive
(idle time) hours. Non-productive hours include time spent on the rework of
products.
(Note: Gross machine hours = productive hours + non-productive hours)
The standard data for the machine process are as follows:
1. Standard non-productive (idle time) hours as a percentage of gross machine hour is
10%.
2. Standard variable machine cost per gross hour is Sh.270.
3. Standard output productivity is 100% that is one standard hour of work is expected in
each productive machine hour.
4. Machine costs are charged to production output at a rate per standard hour sufficient to
absorb the cost of the standard level of non-productive time.
Actual data for the period August to November 2002 have been summarized below:
Required:
a) Calculate the machine variances for productivity, excess idle time and expenditure for
each of the two months of September and October.
b) In order to highlight the trend of variances in the months from August to
November 2002, express each as a percentage term as follows:
i Productivity variance as a percentage of standard cost of production achieved.
ii Excess idle time variance as a percentage of expected idle time.
iii Expenditure variance as a percentage of hours paid for all standard machine cost.
c) Comment on the trend of variances in the August to November period and possible
inter-relationships. Particularly in the context of the total quality management
programme which is being implemented.
Date posted: May 5, 2021. Answers (1)
- A company has determined that the EOQ for its only raw material is 2000 units every 30
days. The company knows with certainty that a four-day...(Solved)
A company has determined that the EOQ for its only raw material is 2000 units every 30
days. The company knows with certainty that a four-day lead time is required for
ordering. The following is the probability distribution of estimated usage of the raw
material for the month of December 2002.
Stock-outs will cost the company Sh.100 per unit and the average monthly holding cost
will be Sh.10 per unit
Required
i Determine the optimal safety stock
ii Compute the probability of being out of stock.
Date posted: May 4, 2021. Answers (1)
- Explain the advantages and disadvantages of the Just-In-Tie (JIT) inventory system.(Solved)
Explain the advantages and disadvantages of the Just-In-Tie (JIT) inventory system.
Date posted: May 4, 2021. Answers (1)
- In all the Republic of Ramuka there are five coal mines, which have the following outputs and production costs:
Required:
a) Determine how the output of each...(Solved)
In all the Republic of Ramuka there are five coal mines, which have the following outputs and production costs:
Required:
a) Determine how the output of each mine should be allocated to the three preparation plants.
b) Following the installation of a new equipment at coal mine No.3, the production
cost is expected to fall to Sh.3,000 per tonne.
What effect, if any, will have on the allocation of coal to the preparation plant?
c) It is planned to increase the output of coal mine No.5 to 180 tonnes per day, which
can be achieved without any increase in production cost per tonne.
How will this affect the allocation of coal to the preparation plants?
Date posted: May 4, 2021. Answers (1)
- Zimco Media Group has three major divisions: Newspapers. Television. Film studios.
The manager of each division has an annual bonus plan based on his division's
return on...(Solved)
Zimco Media Group has three major divisions: Newspapers. Television. Film studios.
The manager of each division has an annual bonus plan based on his division's
return on investment (ROI). The company defines ROI as operating income divided by total
assets. Senior executives from divisions reporting increases in the division's ROI from
the prior year are automatically eligible for a bonus. Senior executives of division reporting a
decline in ROI have to provide persuasive explanations for the decline. In order to be
eligible for any bonus, and they are limited to 50% of the bonus paid to the division
managers reporting an increase in ROI.
J. Kanyama, manager of the newspapers division is considering a proposal to invest Sh. 200
million in a fast speed printing process with colour options. The estimated increment to year
2002 operating income would be Sh. 30 million. The media group has a 12% required rate of
return for investments in all three divisions.
Required:
a. Use the Dupont Method to explain differences among the three divisions in their
2001 ROI. (Use 2001 total assets as the denominator).
b. Explain whether J Kanyama should undertake the fast-speed printing press
investments proposal.
c. T. J. Zimco the Chairman of the media group, has received a proposal to base senor
executive compensation in each division on Residual Income (RI) defined as
operating income less imputed interest charge. Compute the residual income (RI) of
each division in the year 2001
d. Would adoption of the residual income (RI) basis change J. Kanyama's decision on the acceptance of the fast-speed printing press investment proposal?
Date posted: May 4, 2021. Answers (1)
- Computer Games Ltd. (CGL) makes and sells three types of computer games for which the following budget/standard and actual information is available for a week...(Solved)
Computer Games Ltd. (CGL) makes and sells three types of computer games for which the following budget/standard and actual information is available for a week period:
Required:
a) Prepare a summary of sales variances for quantity, mix and volume for each model
and in total, where individual product standard contribution per unit is used as the
variance valuation base.
b) Prepare an alternative summary giving the same range of variances as in (a) above,
but using the budgeted weighted averaged contribution per unit as the variance valuation
base.
c) Prepare a report to the management which specifically comments on each of the
following points:
i. Similarities between the variances calculated in (a) as compared with those calculated
in (b) above.
ii. The arguments which may be put in favour of the individual product quantity and mix
variances as calculated in (b) above.
iii. The relevance of the individual product, quantity and mix variances to management.
Date posted: May 4, 2021. Answers (1)