Podcast
Questions and Answers
The key responsibilities of managers include:
(1) Deciding what the goals should be
(2) Deciding on the objectives that should be achieved to move towards the goal
(3) Tasks that need to be performed to achieve the goal
(4) Coordination of organizational activities
The key responsibilities of managers include:
(1) Deciding what the goals should be
(2) Deciding on the objectives that should be achieved to move towards the goal
(3) Tasks that need to be performed to achieve the goal
(4) Coordination of organizational activities
An organization’s control system is affected by the following facets of management control environment EXCEPT:
An organization’s control system is affected by the following facets of management control environment EXCEPT:
Rules, guidelines and procedures:
Rules, guidelines and procedures:
Organisational cultures are guided by:
(1) Tradition
(2) Internal Influences
(3) External Influences
(4) Attitudes of senior management and the Board of Directors (BOD)
Organisational cultures are guided by:
(1) Tradition
(2) Internal Influences
(3) External Influences
(4) Attitudes of senior management and the Board of Directors (BOD)
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The attitude of senior management will be reflected in the attitude of:
The attitude of senior management will be reflected in the attitude of:
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The key to control is:
The key to control is:
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_____________ Is the process of deciding on the programs the organisation will undertake and the approximate amount of resources to be allocated to each programme.
_____________ Is the process of deciding on the programs the organisation will undertake and the approximate amount of resources to be allocated to each programme.
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Control includes:
Control includes:
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What information is needed to create a budget?
What information is needed to create a budget?
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What are the basic functions of performance evaluation?
(1) to provide adequate feedback to each person on his or her performance
(2) to serve as a basis for modifying or changing behaviour toward more effective working habits
(3) to provide data to managers with which they may judge future job assignments and compensation.
What are the basic functions of performance evaluation?
(1) to provide adequate feedback to each person on his or her performance
(2) to serve as a basis for modifying or changing behaviour toward more effective working habits
(3) to provide data to managers with which they may judge future job assignments and compensation.
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Consider the following statements about goal congruence:
(1) Goal congruence is obtained when managers of subunits throughout an organization strive to achieve the goals set by top management.
(2) Managers are often more concerned about the performance of their own subunits rather than the performance of the entire organization.
(3) Achieving goal congruence in most organizations is relatively straightforward and easy to accomplish.
Which of the above statements is (are) true?
Consider the following statements about goal congruence:
(1) Goal congruence is obtained when managers of subunits throughout an organization strive to achieve the goals set by top management.
(2) Managers are often more concerned about the performance of their own subunits rather than the performance of the entire organization.
(3) Achieving goal congruence in most organizations is relatively straightforward and easy to accomplish.
Which of the above statements is (are) true?
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A number of elements contribute to the quality of an organisation’s control environment. These may be used as indicators of the quality of an organisation’s internal control environment.
Which one of the following is not one of these elements?
A number of elements contribute to the quality of an organisation’s control environment. These may be used as indicators of the quality of an organisation’s internal control environment.
Which one of the following is not one of these elements?
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______ refers to a cost that can be identified with, or traced to, a particular cost object in an economic manner.
______ refers to a cost that can be identified with, or traced to, a particular cost object in an economic manner.
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_____ refers to a cost that cannot be identified with, or traced to, a cost object in an economic manner.
_____ refers to a cost that cannot be identified with, or traced to, a cost object in an economic manner.
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_____ refers to an item assigned a separate measure of cost.
_____ refers to an item assigned a separate measure of cost.
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_______ refers to the potential benefit that is given up when one alternative is selected over another.
_______ refers to the potential benefit that is given up when one alternative is selected over another.
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______ refers to all costs incurred in the past that cannot be changed by any decision made now or in the future.
______ refers to all costs incurred in the past that cannot be changed by any decision made now or in the future.
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If a manager can control or significantly influence the level of a cost, then that cost is classified as a ________
If a manager can control or significantly influence the level of a cost, then that cost is classified as a ________
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_____ refers to a cost that changes, in total, in direct proportion to a change in the level of activity.
_____ refers to a cost that changes, in total, in direct proportion to a change in the level of activity.
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____ refers to a cost that remains unchanged in total despite changes in the level of activity.
____ refers to a cost that remains unchanged in total despite changes in the level of activity.
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The discipline that studies the behaviour of people in organisations is called _______.
The discipline that studies the behaviour of people in organisations is called _______.
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The cost of feeding 500 children in a public school cafeteria is $800 per day, or $1.60 per child per day. What economic term describes this $1.60
The cost of feeding 500 children in a public school cafeteria is $800 per day, or $1.60 per child per day. What economic term describes this $1.60
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What economic term would be used to describe the cost of including one extra child in a day-care centre.
What economic term would be used to describe the cost of including one extra child in a day-care centre.
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What economic term would be used to describe the cost of merchandise inventory purchased two years ago, which is now obsolete.
What economic term would be used to describe the cost of merchandise inventory purchased two years ago, which is now obsolete.
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The cost of building an automated assembly line in a factory is $800,000. The cost of building a manually operated assembly line is $375,000. What economic term is used to describe the difference between these two amounts?
The cost of building an automated assembly line in a factory is $800,000. The cost of building a manually operated assembly line is $375,000. What economic term is used to describe the difference between these two amounts?
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The cost of building an automated assembly line in a factory is $800,000. The cost of building a manually operated assembly line is $375,000. What economic term is used to describe the $800,000 cost of building the automated assembly line?
The cost of building an automated assembly line in a factory is $800,000. The cost of building a manually operated assembly line is $375,000. What economic term is used to describe the $800,000 cost of building the automated assembly line?
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What economic term would be used to describe the cost incurred by a mass customizer such as Dell Computer to produce one more unit in its most popular line of laptop computers.
What economic term would be used to describe the cost incurred by a mass customizer such as Dell Computer to produce one more unit in its most popular line of laptop computers.
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____ refers to the increase in production costs generated by the production of additional product units.
____ refers to the increase in production costs generated by the production of additional product units.
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_______ Is the process of deciding on the programs the organisation will undertake and the approximate amount of resources to be allocated to each programme.
_______ Is the process of deciding on the programs the organisation will undertake and the approximate amount of resources to be allocated to each programme.
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_____ is a planning process expressed in quantitative, usually monetary, terms that covers a specified period of time, usually one year.
_____ is a planning process expressed in quantitative, usually monetary, terms that covers a specified period of time, usually one year.
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What is the correct order of the "Phases of management control"?
(1) Budgeting
(2) Evaluation
(3) Measurement and reporting
(4) Strategic Planning
What is the correct order of the "Phases of management control"?
(1) Budgeting
(2) Evaluation
(3) Measurement and reporting
(4) Strategic Planning
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What is the per unit fixed manufacturing overhead given fixed overhead of $150,000 and 25,000 units produced?
What is the per unit fixed manufacturing overhead given fixed overhead of $150,000 and 25,000 units produced?
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Which advantage of variable costing emphasizes its use in pricing decisions?
Which advantage of variable costing emphasizes its use in pricing decisions?
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In what way does variable costing impact profit reporting compared to absorption costing?
In what way does variable costing impact profit reporting compared to absorption costing?
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What does management find beneficial about variable costing in relation to cost-volume-profit (CVP) analysis?
What does management find beneficial about variable costing in relation to cost-volume-profit (CVP) analysis?
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Which of the following is a disadvantage of variable costing?
Which of the following is a disadvantage of variable costing?
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Why might fixed manufacturing overhead be considered an important factor in profit evaluation?
Why might fixed manufacturing overhead be considered an important factor in profit evaluation?
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Which of these statements best describes contribution margin analysis in relation to variable costing?
Which of these statements best describes contribution margin analysis in relation to variable costing?
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What aspect of profit does variable costing emphasize that differs from absorption costing?
What aspect of profit does variable costing emphasize that differs from absorption costing?
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What does absorption costing primarily include as product costs?
What does absorption costing primarily include as product costs?
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Which costing method assigns only variable costs to products?
Which costing method assigns only variable costs to products?
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How do fixed costs relate to absorption costing?
How do fixed costs relate to absorption costing?
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What is a key distinction between absorption costing and variable costing?
What is a key distinction between absorption costing and variable costing?
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What type of costs does variable costing emphasize?
What type of costs does variable costing emphasize?
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Why might a company choose to use variable costing?
Why might a company choose to use variable costing?
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Which component is NOT included in product costs under absorption costing?
Which component is NOT included in product costs under absorption costing?
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In absorption costing, how are fixed costs treated during periods of lower production?
In absorption costing, how are fixed costs treated during periods of lower production?
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Which of the following costs can a profit center manager influence in approximately a year or less?
Which of the following costs can a profit center manager influence in approximately a year or less?
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What distinguishes full costing from variable costing?
What distinguishes full costing from variable costing?
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Which of the following is true about variable costing?
Which of the following is true about variable costing?
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Which of the following statements about noncontrollable fixed costs is correct?
Which of the following statements about noncontrollable fixed costs is correct?
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What is a key benefit of full costing when preparing financial statements?
What is a key benefit of full costing when preparing financial statements?
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Which management objective is best met by variable costing?
Which management objective is best met by variable costing?
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Which factor contributes to the use of full costing in product pricing?
Which factor contributes to the use of full costing in product pricing?
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Which aspect of full costing is particularly emphasized in financial reporting?
Which aspect of full costing is particularly emphasized in financial reporting?
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In a decentralized organization, where are decisions primarily made?
In a decentralized organization, where are decisions primarily made?
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What does it mean for decisions to be pushed down in a decentralized decision-making structure?
What does it mean for decisions to be pushed down in a decentralized decision-making structure?
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Which characteristic best describes a centralized organization?
Which characteristic best describes a centralized organization?
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What is the primary disadvantage of a centralized decision-making approach?
What is the primary disadvantage of a centralized decision-making approach?
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How does decentralization benefit lower-level managers in an organization?
How does decentralization benefit lower-level managers in an organization?
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What aspect might hinder effective decentralization in an organization?
What aspect might hinder effective decentralization in an organization?
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What is a key advantage of decentralization when it comes to decision-making?
What is a key advantage of decentralization when it comes to decision-making?
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Which of the following statements about decentralized organizations is typically true?
Which of the following statements about decentralized organizations is typically true?
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What impact does decentralization have on top management's involvement?
What impact does decentralization have on top management's involvement?
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In terms of resource allocation, what is often a concern in decentralized organizations?
In terms of resource allocation, what is often a concern in decentralized organizations?
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How is fixed manufacturing overhead treated under absorption costing?
How is fixed manufacturing overhead treated under absorption costing?
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What is a primary requirement for using absorption costing?
What is a primary requirement for using absorption costing?
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Which of the following statements is true regarding absorption costing?
Which of the following statements is true regarding absorption costing?
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Which of the following is a disadvantage of not using absorption costing?
Which of the following is a disadvantage of not using absorption costing?
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What is the impact of external reporting requirements on costing methods?
What is the impact of external reporting requirements on costing methods?
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What is the primary focus of relevant costing in decision-making?
What is the primary focus of relevant costing in decision-making?
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Which cost category refers to the potential benefit that is foregone when choosing one alternative over another?
Which cost category refers to the potential benefit that is foregone when choosing one alternative over another?
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What distinguishes variable costing from absorption costing?
What distinguishes variable costing from absorption costing?
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In the context of manufacturing decisions, which aspect is essential when dealing with joint products and limited resources?
In the context of manufacturing decisions, which aspect is essential when dealing with joint products and limited resources?
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Which statement best defines the role of management accountants in the decision-making process?
Which statement best defines the role of management accountants in the decision-making process?
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What is the primary focus of relevant costs in the context of special order decisions?
What is the primary focus of relevant costs in the context of special order decisions?
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What characterizes unique decisions compared to repetitive decisions?
What characterizes unique decisions compared to repetitive decisions?
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Which of the following costs is considered irrelevant when making special order decisions?
Which of the following costs is considered irrelevant when making special order decisions?
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What type of costs are typically considered when evaluating the feasibility of accepting a special order?
What type of costs are typically considered when evaluating the feasibility of accepting a special order?
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In decision making, which term refers to the benefit foregone when an alternative option is chosen?
In decision making, which term refers to the benefit foregone when an alternative option is chosen?
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What is a key characteristic of repetitive decisions?
What is a key characteristic of repetitive decisions?
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Which of the following best describes the capacity consideration for accepting a special order?
Which of the following best describes the capacity consideration for accepting a special order?
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What differentiates relevant information for unique decisions versus repetitive decisions?
What differentiates relevant information for unique decisions versus repetitive decisions?
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What is a common limitation that organizations face in resource management?
What is a common limitation that organizations face in resource management?
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When an organization is at maximum capacity for a specific resource, that resource is commonly referred to as what?
When an organization is at maximum capacity for a specific resource, that resource is commonly referred to as what?
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In decision-making involving limited resources, which factor is usually prioritized to maximize profitability?
In decision-making involving limited resources, which factor is usually prioritized to maximize profitability?
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What is the capacity of the lathe machine used in Martin, Inc.'s production?
What is the capacity of the lathe machine used in Martin, Inc.'s production?
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What factor should Martin, Inc. consider when deciding whether to produce Webs or Highs if the lathe is a constrained resource?
What factor should Martin, Inc. consider when deciding whether to produce Webs or Highs if the lathe is a constrained resource?
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Which statement about limited resource management is true?
Which statement about limited resource management is true?
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In the context of Martin, Inc., what does 'excess capacity on other machines' imply?
In the context of Martin, Inc., what does 'excess capacity on other machines' imply?
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What could be considered a bottleneck in production at Martin, Inc.?
What could be considered a bottleneck in production at Martin, Inc.?
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What costs should be considered when evaluating a special order in the presence of spare capacity?
What costs should be considered when evaluating a special order in the presence of spare capacity?
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What should be the primary consideration when accepting a special order with excess incremental revenues?
What should be the primary consideration when accepting a special order with excess incremental revenues?
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Which of the following best describes opportunity costs when there is no spare capacity?
Which of the following best describes opportunity costs when there is no spare capacity?
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In the scenario provided, what is the contribution margin per unit for the special order?
In the scenario provided, what is the contribution margin per unit for the special order?
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What is the total increase in income from accepting the special order for 4,200 units?
What is the total increase in income from accepting the special order for 4,200 units?
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What type of costs do organizations consider when deciding to make a product versus buying it externally?
What type of costs do organizations consider when deciding to make a product versus buying it externally?
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If an organization has no spare capacity, which of the following costs is relevant for decision-making regarding a special order?
If an organization has no spare capacity, which of the following costs is relevant for decision-making regarding a special order?
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Which of the following factors is NOT considered relevant in the evaluation of a special order?
Which of the following factors is NOT considered relevant in the evaluation of a special order?
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What method is used to determine the allocation of joint products based on their sales value?
What method is used to determine the allocation of joint products based on their sales value?
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When considering the sale of cocoa powder, what additional cost arises if it is processed into instant cocoa mix?
When considering the sale of cocoa powder, what additional cost arises if it is processed into instant cocoa mix?
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Based on the relative sales value method, when cocoa butter’s value is $750 and the total value for both products is $1,250, what percentage is assigned to cocoa butter?
Based on the relative sales value method, when cocoa butter’s value is $750 and the total value for both products is $1,250, what percentage is assigned to cocoa butter?
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If cocoa powder is not sold now but instead further processed, what should the company evaluate before this decision?
If cocoa powder is not sold now but instead further processed, what should the company evaluate before this decision?
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What is a crucial consideration for the company when deciding whether to process cocoa powder into instant cocoa mix?
What is a crucial consideration for the company when deciding whether to process cocoa powder into instant cocoa mix?
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If a product has a higher relative sales value, what implication does it have on cost allocation under the relative sales value method?
If a product has a higher relative sales value, what implication does it have on cost allocation under the relative sales value method?
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What percentage of the joint product's total value does the cocoa powder represent if its sales value is $750 in a scenario with a total joint value of $1,250?
What percentage of the joint product's total value does the cocoa powder represent if its sales value is $750 in a scenario with a total joint value of $1,250?
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What decision should be prioritized based on the relative sales value method for joint products?
What decision should be prioritized based on the relative sales value method for joint products?
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What are direct costs primarily characterized by?
What are direct costs primarily characterized by?
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Which statement correctly defines sunk costs?
Which statement correctly defines sunk costs?
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How do controllable costs differ from direct costs?
How do controllable costs differ from direct costs?
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Which term best describes the benefit forgone when choosing one alternative over another?
Which term best describes the benefit forgone when choosing one alternative over another?
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What is the primary effect of cost behavior analysis?
What is the primary effect of cost behavior analysis?
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What is not a facet of the management control environment?
What is not a facet of the management control environment?
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Goal congruence is best described as:
Goal congruence is best described as:
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Why is it important for management control systems to ensure that the incentives of participants align with the organization's goals?
Why is it important for management control systems to ensure that the incentives of participants align with the organization's goals?
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In the context of organizational culture, which of the following is true?
In the context of organizational culture, which of the following is true?
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What is a characteristic of organizations as defined in the text?
What is a characteristic of organizations as defined in the text?
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What does contribution margin represent?
What does contribution margin represent?
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Goal congruence is best described as which of the following?
Goal congruence is best described as which of the following?
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Which of the following best defines management control systems?
Which of the following best defines management control systems?
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When considering fixed overhead in absorption costing, what is a notable characteristic?
When considering fixed overhead in absorption costing, what is a notable characteristic?
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Which element is NOT a phase of management control?
Which element is NOT a phase of management control?
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What is a disadvantage of using variable costing?
What is a disadvantage of using variable costing?
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What is a key distinction between absorption costing and variable costing?
What is a key distinction between absorption costing and variable costing?
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Which of the following is true regarding variable costing?
Which of the following is true regarding variable costing?
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What are the components of manufacturing costs?
What are the components of manufacturing costs?
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Which of the following best defines product cost?
Which of the following best defines product cost?
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What type of costs does manufacturing overhead include?
What type of costs does manufacturing overhead include?
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How can direct materials be characterized?
How can direct materials be characterized?
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Which factor does NOT contribute to manufacturing overhead?
Which factor does NOT contribute to manufacturing overhead?
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What can be deduced about the nature of product costs?
What can be deduced about the nature of product costs?
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Which situation defines the categorization of a cost as direct labor?
Which situation defines the categorization of a cost as direct labor?
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In what context are indirect labor costs generally considered?
In what context are indirect labor costs generally considered?
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Which phase of management control directly involves deciding on the programs an organization will undertake?
Which phase of management control directly involves deciding on the programs an organization will undertake?
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What is the primary focus of the evaluation phase in management control?
What is the primary focus of the evaluation phase in management control?
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During which phase of management control are budgets typically prepared?
During which phase of management control are budgets typically prepared?
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Which phase of management control is essential for ensuring that operations are adjusted as needed?
Which phase of management control is essential for ensuring that operations are adjusted as needed?
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What is the sequence of the phases of management control?
What is the sequence of the phases of management control?
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What key function does the measurement and reporting phase serve in management control?
What key function does the measurement and reporting phase serve in management control?
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Which of the following is NOT a primary component of management control according to the phases outlined?
Which of the following is NOT a primary component of management control according to the phases outlined?
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In the context of management control, which statement best reflects the importance of information?
In the context of management control, which statement best reflects the importance of information?
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What is the role of strategic planning in the management control process?
What is the role of strategic planning in the management control process?
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Which aspect of management control ensures that an organization remains adaptive to changing circumstances?
Which aspect of management control ensures that an organization remains adaptive to changing circumstances?
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What is the primary purpose of a contribution income statement?
What is the primary purpose of a contribution income statement?
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Which of the following costs does Contribution by Profit Center (CPC) include?
Which of the following costs does Contribution by Profit Center (CPC) include?
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What is a significant advantage of using contribution income statements over full costing methods?
What is a significant advantage of using contribution income statements over full costing methods?
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How does the contribution income statement address the issue of the ‘inventory effect’ found in full costing?
How does the contribution income statement address the issue of the ‘inventory effect’ found in full costing?
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Which statement best describes the distinction between controllable and non-controllable costs within the contribution income statement framework?
Which statement best describes the distinction between controllable and non-controllable costs within the contribution income statement framework?
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What is the primary characteristic of a decentralised organization?
What is the primary characteristic of a decentralised organization?
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Which of the following best describes decision-making in decentralised organizations?
Which of the following best describes decision-making in decentralised organizations?
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In a centralised organization, who is primarily responsible for decision-making?
In a centralised organization, who is primarily responsible for decision-making?
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What is a potential drawback of a decentralised approach in decision-making?
What is a potential drawback of a decentralised approach in decision-making?
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How does a decentralised organisation structure influence the role of management?
How does a decentralised organisation structure influence the role of management?
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Which statement is true regarding decision-making in a decentralised organisation?
Which statement is true regarding decision-making in a decentralised organisation?
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What effect does decentralisation have on employee empowerment?
What effect does decentralisation have on employee empowerment?
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Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of decentralised decision-making?
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of decentralised decision-making?
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What is a key advantage of decentralisation in decision-making?
What is a key advantage of decentralisation in decision-making?
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Decentralisation is often preferred in large organizations because it:
Decentralisation is often preferred in large organizations because it:
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What is one benefit of decentralization in an organization?
What is one benefit of decentralization in an organization?
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What could be a potential cost of having a decentralized organization?
What could be a potential cost of having a decentralized organization?
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How does decentralization affect employee motivation?
How does decentralization affect employee motivation?
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In a decentralized organization, which challenge could arise?
In a decentralized organization, which challenge could arise?
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What is a common misconception about the benefits of decentralization?
What is a common misconception about the benefits of decentralization?
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Which aspect of decentralization is most likely to empower employees?
Which aspect of decentralization is most likely to empower employees?
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What impact does decentralization have on timely responses to problems?
What impact does decentralization have on timely responses to problems?
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Which of the following is a direct consequence of decision-making autonomy in decentralized organizations?
Which of the following is a direct consequence of decision-making autonomy in decentralized organizations?
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What defining characteristic distinguishes absorption costing from variable costing?
What defining characteristic distinguishes absorption costing from variable costing?
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Which type of costs does variable costing primarily focus on?
Which type of costs does variable costing primarily focus on?
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In terms of product costing, how are fixed costs treated under absorption costing during periods of lower production?
In terms of product costing, how are fixed costs treated under absorption costing during periods of lower production?
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What advantage does variable costing provide in relation to cost-volume-profit (CVP) analysis?
What advantage does variable costing provide in relation to cost-volume-profit (CVP) analysis?
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Why might a company limit the use of variable costing in financial reporting?
Why might a company limit the use of variable costing in financial reporting?
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What is a primary consideration when comparing profit reporting between absorption costing and variable costing?
What is a primary consideration when comparing profit reporting between absorption costing and variable costing?
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What is a disadvantage of using variable costing?
What is a disadvantage of using variable costing?
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What is one common misconception about absorption costing?
What is one common misconception about absorption costing?
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What is the treatment of selling and administrative expenses in unit product cost calculation?
What is the treatment of selling and administrative expenses in unit product cost calculation?
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If Mellon Co. produced 25,000 units and sold 20,000 units at $30 each, what factor affects their cost reporting?
If Mellon Co. produced 25,000 units and sold 20,000 units at $30 each, what factor affects their cost reporting?
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What is NOT included in the product costs under absorption costing?
What is NOT included in the product costs under absorption costing?
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Which costing method assigns only variable costs to products?
Which costing method assigns only variable costs to products?
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During periods of lower production, how are fixed costs treated under absorption costing?
During periods of lower production, how are fixed costs treated under absorption costing?
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What does variable costing emphasize that differs from absorption costing?
What does variable costing emphasize that differs from absorption costing?
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How does the treatment of fixed manufacturing overhead differ between absorption costing and variable costing?
How does the treatment of fixed manufacturing overhead differ between absorption costing and variable costing?
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What is a key distinction between full costing and variable costing?
What is a key distinction between full costing and variable costing?
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What factor should be treated carefully when making a make or buy decision?
What factor should be treated carefully when making a make or buy decision?
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Which of the following is the main characteristic of outsourcing decisions?
Which of the following is the main characteristic of outsourcing decisions?
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What aspect is essential to consider regarding suppliers when making outsourcing decisions?
What aspect is essential to consider regarding suppliers when making outsourcing decisions?
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What should be considered when adding or deleting a product or service?
What should be considered when adding or deleting a product or service?
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What should be considered when deciding to accept a special order if there is no spare capacity?
What should be considered when deciding to accept a special order if there is no spare capacity?
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If a special order generates more incremental revenue than the incremental costs associated with it, what is the recommended course of action?
If a special order generates more incremental revenue than the incremental costs associated with it, what is the recommended course of action?
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Which financial metric is calculated when determining the segment margin from a product line?
Which financial metric is calculated when determining the segment margin from a product line?
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In the context of a special order, what does the term 'incremental costs' refer to?
In the context of a special order, what does the term 'incremental costs' refer to?
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What does outsourcing typically involve?
What does outsourcing typically involve?
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What should managers be cautious about when evaluating traditional accounting data for decision-making?
What should managers be cautious about when evaluating traditional accounting data for decision-making?
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What is the per unit margin achieved from accepting a special order priced at $17 per unit with a cost of goods sold of $13 per unit?
What is the per unit margin achieved from accepting a special order priced at $17 per unit with a cost of goods sold of $13 per unit?
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In the decision to delete a product line, which cost is directly relevant?
In the decision to delete a product line, which cost is directly relevant?
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What type of costs must be evaluated when deciding whether to make or buy a product?
What type of costs must be evaluated when deciding whether to make or buy a product?
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Which component of cost must be factored in when production capacity is fully utilized?
Which component of cost must be factored in when production capacity is fully utilized?
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What is typically included in the cost of goods sold that affects the decision concerning special orders?
What is typically included in the cost of goods sold that affects the decision concerning special orders?
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In the decision-making process for a special order, what financial outcome is desired?
In the decision-making process for a special order, what financial outcome is desired?
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What are joint products?
What are joint products?
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What is the split-off point in production?
What is the split-off point in production?
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How are joint costs allocated among joint products?
How are joint costs allocated among joint products?
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In the process of producing cocoa products, which of the following is TRUE?
In the process of producing cocoa products, which of the following is TRUE?
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What best defines joint costs?
What best defines joint costs?
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Which one of the following best exemplifies a relative sales value method of joint cost allocation?
Which one of the following best exemplifies a relative sales value method of joint cost allocation?
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What happens to the cocoa powder after its initial production?
What happens to the cocoa powder after its initial production?
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Why is the relative sales value method important in production decisions?
Why is the relative sales value method important in production decisions?
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Which factor is most important for Martin, Inc. when determining production focus given its limited resources?
Which factor is most important for Martin, Inc. when determining production focus given its limited resources?
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What does the term 'bottleneck' refer to in the context of production?
What does the term 'bottleneck' refer to in the context of production?
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If Martin, Inc. has a lathe capacity of 2,400 minutes per week, how should it allocate time effectively?
If Martin, Inc. has a lathe capacity of 2,400 minutes per week, how should it allocate time effectively?
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What is a common outcome of working at maximum capacity at a bottleneck resource?
What is a common outcome of working at maximum capacity at a bottleneck resource?
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When operational resources are limited, which factor is generally irrelevant in the decision-making process?
When operational resources are limited, which factor is generally irrelevant in the decision-making process?
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In a situation where machines have excess capacity, which resource takes precedence for production decisions?
In a situation where machines have excess capacity, which resource takes precedence for production decisions?
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Why is it advantageous for Martin, Inc. to analyze contribution margins?
Why is it advantageous for Martin, Inc. to analyze contribution margins?
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What does maximizing the contribution margin imply for a company facing limited resources?
What does maximizing the contribution margin imply for a company facing limited resources?
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What is the net effect on operating income of adding a new feature to the Desk Company's product?
What is the net effect on operating income of adding a new feature to the Desk Company's product?
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How much additional revenue does Desk Company expect to generate from the new feature per unit sold?
How much additional revenue does Desk Company expect to generate from the new feature per unit sold?
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What are the total incremental costs associated with adding the new feature?
What are the total incremental costs associated with adding the new feature?
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What factor could be affected by adding a new feature to a product, as mentioned in the context?
What factor could be affected by adding a new feature to a product, as mentioned in the context?
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What is the expected number of units Desk Company plans to sell with the new feature?
What is the expected number of units Desk Company plans to sell with the new feature?
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What is the calculation used to determine the change in operating income after adding the feature?
What is the calculation used to determine the change in operating income after adding the feature?
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Which statement accurately describes the overall impact of the new feature on Desk Company's financials?
Which statement accurately describes the overall impact of the new feature on Desk Company's financials?
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What is a potential strategic issue to consider when adding a new feature to a product?
What is a potential strategic issue to consider when adding a new feature to a product?
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Study Notes
Key Responsibilities of Managers
- Define organizational goals to provide direction.
- Establish objectives necessary to achieve defined goals.
- Identify and assign specific tasks critical for goal fulfillment.
- Ensure coordination among various organizational activities to enhance efficiency.
Management Control Environment
- Influenced by rules, guidelines, and procedures.
- Organizational culture shaped by:
- Tradition, which establishes norms and practices.
- Internal influences such as company values and employee behaviors.
- External influences including market conditions and regulatory frameworks.
- Attitudes of senior management and the Board of Directors (BOD) play a significant role in shaping culture.
Influence of Senior Management
- The attitudes of senior management directly impact the overall organizational environment and employee behavior, creating a trickle-down effect.
Key to Control
- The essential process of determining organizational programs and allocating corresponding resources for effective management.
Budget Creation Information
- Data required includes historical spending, revenue projections, and resource allocation needs to inform financial planning.
Basic Functions of Performance Evaluation
- Provide constructive feedback to individuals regarding their performance.
- Serve as a foundation for behavior modification and the improvement of working habits.
- Supply managerial data for future job assignments, promotions, and compensation decisions.
Decentralisation vs. Centralisation
- Centralised organisations make decisions that are handed down from top management to lower levels of staff.
- In decentralised organisations, decision-making is delegated to divisional and departmental levels, allowing subordinates to carry out their responsibilities.
Decision Making Delegation
- Decision-making authority is pushed down from top management to encourage quicker responses at lower levels of the organization.
Controllable and Noncontrollable Fixed Costs
- Controllable Fixed Costs: Can be influenced by profit center managers within a year, includes expenses like advertising and data processing.
- Noncontrollable Fixed Costs: Cannot be influenced within a year's time, includes costs such as depreciation and taxes.
Variable Costing vs. Full Costing
- Variable Costing: Uses a contribution income statement that separates variable and fixed costs.
- Full Costing (or Absorption Costing): Includes fixed manufacturing costs as part of product cost and is required for financial reporting and tax purposes.
- Full costing adheres to the matching principle, while variable costing supports management control objectives.
Absorption Costing
- Accounts for both fixed and variable production costs as product costs.
Variable Costing
- Assigns only the variable costs of production to products.
Reconciling Income Under Absorption and Variable Costing
- Fixed manufacturing overhead is assessed at 150,000,translatingto150,000, translating to 150,000,translatingto6.00 per unit for 25,000 units produced.
Evaluation of Variable Costing
- Variable costing is straightforward and aligns with Cost-Volume-Profit (CVP) analysis.
- It emphasizes the contribution margin for short-term pricing decisions and shows the impact of fixed costs on profitability.
Evaluation of Absorption Costing
- Treats fixed manufacturing overhead as a product cost along with direct materials and labor.
- Suitability for long-run pricing decisions and complies with external reporting requirements and tax law standards.
Upcoming Topic
- Next week will cover Relevant Costing principles.
Learning Objectives
- Understand the decision-making process and the management accountant's role.
- Identify and evaluate relevant information for decision-making, including sunk and opportunity costs.
- Prepare income statements under absorption and variable costing.
- Analyze manufacturing decisions involving joint products and limited resources.
- Acknowledge the impact of information overload on decision efficacy.
Unique vs. Repetitive Decisions
- Unique Decisions: Infrequent occurrences requiring both internal and external relevant information.
- Repetitive Decisions: Regular or irregular intervals using readily available historical data.
Relevant Costs and Benefits
- Sunk Costs: Costs already incurred that cannot be recovered.
- Opportunity Costs: Benefits lost when choosing one alternative over another.
- Out-of-Pocket Costs: Cash expenses that will occur.
- Incremental Revenue: Additional income expected from a decision.
- Avoidable Costs: Costs that can be eliminated if a decision is made.
- Unavoidable Costs: Costs that cannot be eliminated regardless of the decision taken.
Special Order Decisions
- Decisions regarding one-off customer orders.
- Use of idle capacity allows for meeting special order without affecting regular production.
- Relevant costs focus on incremental costs. Fixed costs are often excluded from the analysis.
- If incremental revenues exceed costs, the order should be accepted.
Special Order Example
- Andre, Incorporated has excess capacity and a special order for 4,200 units at $17 each.
- Cost of Goods Sold per unit calculated at 13,yieldinga13, yielding a 13,yieldinga4 margin per unit.
- Total margin of $16,800 from the special order suggests acceptance.
Make or Buy Decisions
- Organizations decide whether to produce a product or purchase from an external supplier.
- Analysis includes evaluating avoidable and unavoidable costs, with opportunity costs considered.
Joint Products
- An example involves cocoa processing where cocoa butter is sold as a joint product.
- Further processing costs may be incurred, impacting the decision to produce additional products.
- If additional revenue from further processing surpasses costs, it is beneficial to proceed.
Decisions Involving Limited Resources
- Organizations often face constraints such as limited raw materials, labor, or machinery.
- Fixed costs typically persist regardless of production choices; maximizing contribution margin is vital.
- Bottlenecks may occur in production, requiring strategic focus on using limited resources effectively.
Example of Limited Resources
- Martin, Inc. faces a situation with a lathe as a bottleneck, operating at maximum capacity.
- Decisions must prioritize production of Webs or Highs to optimize resource utilization.
Manufacturing Costs
- Direct Materials: Raw materials used in production, easily traceable to the finished product.
- Direct Labor: Salaries, wages, and benefits for personnel directly involved in manufacturing.
- Manufacturing Overheads: Indirect costs including materials (e.g., lubricants), labor (e.g., maintenance staff), depreciation, and taxes.
- Product Cost: Total cost assigned to a product calculated as Direct Materials + Direct Labor + Manufacturing Overhead.
Cost Terminology
- Direct Costs: Easily traced to a product or department.
- Indirect Costs: Costs allocated to products or departments rather than easily traced.
- Opportunity Cost: Potential benefit lost when choosing one alternative over another.
- Sunk Cost: Past costs that cannot be altered by any current or future decisions.
- Controllable Cost: Costs that a manager can significantly influence.
Cost Behavior
- Represents how costs react to changes in business activity levels.
Contribution Margin
- Calculated as Total Revenues minus Total Variable Costs.
Introduction to Management Control Systems
- Refers to processes by which managers guide organization members to implement strategies efficiently and effectively, based on existing goals.
Goal Congruence
- Aligns individual participant goals with organizational objectives to promote a unified direction.
Management Control Environment
- Comprises four main facets:
- Nature of Organizations: Defines cooperative group dynamics.
- Rules and Procedures: Established guidelines governing member actions.
- Organizational Culture: The collective values and norms within the organization.
- External Environment: Influences from outside the organization impacting control systems.
Phases of Management Control
- Strategic Planning: Establishing goals and directions.
- Budgeting: Allocating resources based on strategic objectives.
- Evaluation: Assessing outcomes against strategies and budgets.
- Measurement and Reporting: Collecting and analyzing data for informed decision-making.
- Adjustments: Modifying operations based on feedback and evaluation results.
Decentralization
- Decentralization involves decision-making spread across different levels of management rather than concentrated at the top.
- Higher echelons in a centralized organization make decisions that subordinates carry out.
- Decentralization is typically seen as organizations expand, empowering lower-level management to make decisions.
Decision-Making Delegation
- Top management pushes decision-making down to middle management and supervisors.
- This delegation allows for quicker responses to opportunities and problems.
Benefits of Decentralized Organizations
- Delegating responsibilities provides time relief for managers.
- Empowers employees by leveraging their knowledge and expertise.
- Timely decision-making enhances responsiveness to market changes.
- Autonomy in decision-making promotes managerial training and professional growth.
- Increased decision-making authority boosts employee motivation.
Costs of Decentralized Organizations
- May result in a lack of a cohesive big-picture view among departments.
- Potential for poor coordination due to isolated decision-making.
- Narrow focus may hinder overall organizational effectiveness.
- Challenges in transferring knowledge between different management levels.
Contribution Income Statement
- A method for evaluating profit centers' performance by examining the contribution margin.
- Details vary based on the management's needs, focusing on costs controllable by individual profit centers.
- Measures all traceable costs and excludes non-controllable costs.
Role of Contribution Income Statement in Performance Evaluation
- Distinguishes between controllable and non-controllable costs.
- Avoids potential distortions associated with the "inventory effect" of full costing.
Absorption Costing
- An accounting method that includes both fixed and variable production costs as product costs.
- Allocates all costs associated with the production of goods to the units produced.
Variable Costing
- A cost accounting system that assigns only variable production costs to products.
- Fixed costs are treated separately as period expenses.
Unit Cost Determination
- Unit product costs are calculated while treating selling and administrative expenses as period expenses, deducted from total revenue.
Absorption Costing Income Statements (Mellon Co. Example)
- Mellon Co. produced 25,000 units with no beginning inventory.
- Sold 20,000 units at a selling price of $30 each.
- Absorption costing helps determine profitability by including all production costs in the cost of goods sold.
Relevant Costs for Special Orders
- Incremental costs are significant when assessing special orders, especially with spare capacity.
- Accept special orders if incremental revenues exceed incremental costs.
- In cases without spare capacity, consider opportunity costs as well.
Special Order Example
- Andre, Incorporated received a special order for 4,200 units at $17 per unit.
- Current production anticipated at 12,000 units, with a sales price of $240,000 and a COGS of $186,000, leading to a gross margin of $54,000.
- COGS per unit calculated to be $13.00 ([COGS $186,000 - Fixed Costs $30,000] ÷ 12,000 units).
- Margin from the special order is $4.00 per unit, totaling an increase in income of $16,800.
Make or Buy Decisions
- Organizations must evaluate whether to produce internally or purchase from suppliers, focusing on avoidable costs.
- Opportunity costs often play a crucial role in decision-making.
Make or Buy Considerations
- Careful treatment of fixed costs is essential.
- Strategic considerations include quality, delivery, and supplier reliability.
Outsourcing Decisions
- Involve contracting parts of manufacturing or other functions to external businesses.
- Typically represent long-term commitments and are challenging to reverse.
Adding or Deleting Products
- Examine changes in costs and benefits before making production decisions.
- Decisions can have long-term consequences; traditional accounting must be interpreted cautiously.
Add or Delete Example
- Desk Company selling a product for $40 considers adding a feature for $55, which will cost $32,000 to implement.
- Expected 1,900 units could reduce operating income by $3,500 (incremental revenue of $28,500 minus $32,000 cost).
Joint Products: Sell or Process Further
- Joint products are multiple outputs from a single manufacturing process.
- At the split-off point, products become identifiable separately, and joint costs are allocated based on relative sales value.
Joint Products Example
- Cocoa beans yield cocoa butter and cocoa powder, which can be sold directly or further processed into instant cocoa mix.
Decisions Involving Limited Resources
- Organizations often face constraints on resources such as floor space or manufacturing time.
- The goal is to maximize contribution margins while recognizing ongoing fixed costs.
Limited Resources Example
- Martin, Inc. has a lathe working at 100% capacity, serving as a bottleneck.
- Determine strategic focus between two products (Webs or Highs) based on lathe capacity and contribution margin analysis.
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Test your understanding of key management responsibilities. This quiz covers essential tasks like goal setting, objective determination, and activity coordination vital for effective management. Assess your knowledge and gain insights into management functions.