MBA 620

Note from professor for project 3:

 This project includes 7 steps.  Steps 1-6 are short and, can easily be completed over a long weekend if pursued intensely.  Each step requires a spreadsheet to complete the necessary computations.  Comments and explanations are also required.  The instructions ask you for both a spreadsheet and narrative in Word.   I would like you to incorporate all of your comments in the spreadsheet and not post a Word file for these steps .  Save the PPT accompanied by a narrative for step 7 when you will present your analysis to management. So, for Steps 1-6, a separate spreadsheet for each step that includes appropriate commentary is sufficient.  You do not need a PPT until you get to Step 7. 

Project three includes Steps 1-7.  The first six require a few computations.  They are not difficult, but do require a careful reading of the problems.  Fixed costs, variable costs, unit cost, and total costs, can get confusing if the problems are not read carefully.  Product costs generally have direct costs and indirect costs.  Direct costs (like materials, components, and labor) can be directly traced to the cost object (i.e. the product).  Overhead costs (some of which is variable and some fixed) is also a part of the cost of a product, but cannot be directly traced to the product.  So, they must be allocated.  Steps 1 and 2 ask you to use a variety of ways to compute the unit cost of a product.  You will find there can be a great deal of variability then, in the product cost.  So, which cost is most accurate?  (It’s not really which cost is best method as the method of allocation does not alter the total cost incurred by the business, just how much is allocated among different products.)  What we really want to know is, which product "consumes" which costs?  The better idea we have about that the better idea we have about the true cost per unit.  Then, in step 3, you are asked to compute the price per unit using a cost plus markup strategy.  That is a very common method of pricing.  It’s easy.  It ensures a certain gross profit for each unit sold.  But, it may not be a very realistic price in the market, especially if consumers have choices and the product is not very different from that of competitors. 

Be careful with terms:  total variable costs versus variable cost per unit; total fixed cost versus variable cost per unit; gross margin per unit (price per unit – total cost per unit); total gross margin (sales –total product costs); contribution margin per unit (price per unit – variable cost per unit); total contribution margin (sales – total variable costs).  The per unit versus total is critical to clearly communicating details about cost.

Step 7 is then when you need to prepare for your presentation to management (i.e. a PPT presentation).  This presentation should present the results of your analysis in Step 1-6.  You should explain what you learned from your analysis.  Don't assume management already understands different ways for determining product costs or the implications of cost plus pricing or joint product costs (Step 6).  Explain it to management.  Demonstrate your own understanding of Steps 1-6 by what you say and how you say it to management. 

Your posts for Steps 1-6 should include a single excel file that includes any required computations, but also includes explanations and insights.  Don’t skimp on the comments.  Show what you learn and what you know.  (No need for a separate PPT slides for steps 1-6). These explanations and insights included in Steps 1-6 will facilitate you completion of Step 7.  Take some time to think about your analysis each step of the way?

Assignment:

Integrating the different projects To give greater continuity between the projects, please add the following paragraph at the very beginning of Project 3: At IPS you spend the first few years analyzing the industry, comparing your firm’s financial health to other firms in the industry and making sure that the financial statements are accurate. After a while you start exploring the other areas of accounting and finance work in the firm. You realize that accounting information is not only needed by external stakeholders for evaluating the firm, but also by management to judge the efficiency and optimality of operations. Your work expands to include Managerial Accounting.

"Congratulations!"

You have been promoted to the CFO position at IPS! You have hardly settled into your new office when the CEO asks you to prepare a financial report on the proposed Android01, as well as the MiniX and MiniY.

$2M has already been spent on market research, and IPS wishes to determine if the new Android01 component be produced in a way that will yield a profit.

"As you know," the CEO says, "there are different ways of allocating fixed overhead costs and our choice will affect the cost-per-unit of Android01." He continues, "I hope you can help us understand the different choices and how they'll impact our business."

Your prior manufacturing experience makes you think that examining an alternative method of assigning costs would also be prudent since Android01 shares component assembly with a related product — Processor01.

In your conversation with the IPS production manager, he alludes to the fact that a 30 percent markup is standard at IPS. While you're at it, you look for information on the variable costs per unit for different levels of production so you can provide a recommendation on what level of output will maximize profit.

Thinking you've got everything covered, you decide to take a break. Just as your lunch arrives, you get a call from your CEO: "I almost forgot to ask you about the Mini line!"

The CEO continues, "The new MiniY product has been so successful that we would like to increase production. We will need a budget projection. Also, the shared production costs for the Mini line have affected the value of our premiere product, the MiniX — I would like you to provide me with a profit or loss figure for the MiniX as well.

As you scramble to take notes, she continues: "I'll need a report summarizing your findings and projections."

This project will require you to analyze operations costs for the organization using managerial finance techniques. You will next determine the level of production and prices that maximize the firm's profit. Finally, you will prepare a financial budget for the firm and present your recommendations.

Begin by going to Step 1: Allocation of Costs.

Step 1: Allocate Costs

You have been asked to look at production options for the Android01 since production methods and allocation of costs have implications for cost-per-unit. There are two alternative methods of production being considered. Begin by gathering data (using financial information in decision making), then answer various questions to determine the suitability of the project.

Production A

Costs are as follows:

· $4.5 million per year in rent for factory and machinery

· components and labor in the amount of $12 million will produce 300 units per year

Production B

In an alternative production method, the production of Android01 will share some production facilities and service divisions with Processor01. Fixed costs are $5 million per year, and are to be assigned at the rate of 30 percent to Android01 and 70 percent to Processor01.

The variable cost of the production facilities and service divisions is $20 million per year. The square footage of factory space and labor needed for the production of 500 units of Processor01 and 300 units of Android01 are listed below.

	Sq. Ft.	Labor
Processor01 (500 units)	70,000	120
Android01 (300 units)	30,000	80

The remaining cost for the production of Android01 is for components, at $25,000 per unit.

Question 1: In Method B, what would be the cost-per-unit of producing Android01 using factory space as the allocation basis? What would be the cost-per-unit using labor as the allocation basis?

Before starting on your calculations, review materials on production cost allocation.

Submit your Allocation of Costs Report and Calculations to the dropbox below. Submit a spreadsheet showing your calculations in Excel and provide a narrative analysis in Word. Please note that “narrative” in this Project does not mean audio, it rather means a presentation of the results of your analysis using words and the important numbers. Your narrative analysis should summarize the results of your analysis and make recommendations for the benefit of company.

Before you submit your assignment, review the competencies below, which your instructor will use to evaluate your work. A good practice would be to use each competency as a self-check to confirm you have incorporated all of them in your work.

· 3.1 Identify numerical or mathematical information that is relevant in a problem or situation.

· 3.2 Employ mathematical or statistical operations and data analysis techniques to arrive at a correct or optimal solution.

· 3.3 Analyze mathematical or statistical information, or the results of quantitative inquiry and manipulation of data.

· 3.4 Employ software applications and analytic tools to analyze, visualize, and present data to inform decision-making.

· 10.5 Develop operating forecasts and budgets and apply managerial accounting techniques to support strategic decisions

Step 2: Activity-Based Costing

An alternate method of assigning costs is activity-based costing. The major activity for the production of both Processor01 and Android01 is component assembly. There will be a total of 125,000 assemblies per year for the production of 500 units of Processor01 and 300 units of Android01 at a total cost of $25 million. Each unit of Android01 will require 180 assemblies. The remaining cost for the production of Android01 is for components, at $25,000 per unit.

Review: Section 4.1, Activity-Based Costing and Management and Section 4.2, Activity Based-Costing Method

Question 2: What would be the cost per unit of producing Android01 using activity-based costing?

Submit your Activity-Based Costing Report and Calculations to the dropbox below. Submit a spreadsheet showing your calculations in Excel and provide a narrative analysis in Word. Your narrative analysis should summarize the results of your analysis and make recommendations for the benefit of company.

Step 3: Markup Pricing

Suppose IPS uses markup pricing for Android01. Fixed costs are $4.5 million, and for a level of production of 300 units, the variable cost-per-unit is $48,000.

Question 3: What is the price of the Android01 at 30 percent markup over full cost?

Submit your Markup Pricing Report and Calculations to the dropbox below. Submit a spreadsheet showing your calculations in Excel and provide a narrative analysis in Word. Your narrative analysis should summarize the results of your analysis and make recommendations for the benefit of company.

Step 4: Choose the Profit-Maximizing Output Level

The CEO's next question is, "What level of output would be required to maximize our profit on the Android01?" You have calculated the variable cost-per-unit for different levels of production. From market research, you have a schedule of prices for these levels. The information is summarized in the table below:

Number of Units	Variable Cost-per-Unit ($)	Sale Price-per-Unit ($)
200	60,000	70,000
250	54,000	66,000
300	48,000	64,000
350	46,000	59,000
400	45,000	52,000

A recommendation on output could affect everyone in the company, from management to sales, to the floor manager and assembly line workers! You don't want to get this one wrong so you take some extra time to proof your calculations.

Question 4: Based on profit-maximization analysis, what level of output should you recommend to the CEO?

Before starting your calculations, review materials on profit maximization output.

Submit your Profit-Maximization Output Report and Calculations to the dropbox below. Submit a spreadsheet showing your calculations in Excel and provide a narrative analysis in Word. Your narrative analysis should summarize the results of your analysis and make recommendations for the benefit of the company.

Step 5: Budget

Your CEO has asked you to prepare a production cost budget for the MiniY for May 20X8.  The actual costs in April 20X8 were:

MiniY: Production Cost Budget
April 20X8
Production–Units of MiniY	3,000
Components cost (variable)	24,000,000
Labor cost (variable)	13,500,000
Rent (fixed)	6,000,000
Depreciation (fixed)	6,000,000
Other (fixed)	2,000,000
Total	$51,500,000

For the month of May, the number of MiniY produced will increase to 3,200, reflecting an anticipated sales increase related to a new marketing campaign.

Question 5: Using the above information, prepare a budget for May 20X8 stating the total cost. Use a spreadsheet to display your data and calculations.

Before starting your calculations, review materials on integrating accounting and financial information.

Submit your Production Cost Budget Report and Calculations to the dropbox below. Submit a spreadsheet showing your calculations in Excel and provide a narrative analysis in Word. Your narrative analysis should summarize the results of your analysis and make recommendations for the benefit of company.

Step 6: Profit or Loss

IPS operates a factory which produces the MiniY and the MiniX. During September 20X8, the factory produced 3200 units of MiniY and 3000 units of MiniX. The joint cost related to the operation was $3,000,000. MiniX sells for $27,100 per unit and MiniY sells for $25,000 per unit. Allocate the joint costs using the relative sales values of MiniY and MiniX.

Question 6: With the costs that you calculate, what is the profit or loss associated with MiniY? NOTE: Assume that the variable and fixed costs mentioned in Step 5 are also applicable to Step 6 when calculating the profit or loss for MiniY

Before starting your calculations, review the materials on integrating accounting and financial information.

Submit your Profit or Loss Report and Calculations to the dropbox below. Submit a spreadsheet showing your calculations in Excel and provide a narrative analysis in Word. Your narrative analysis should summarize the results of your analysis and make recommendations for the benefit of the company.

Step 7: Managerial Accounting Report to Management

Although you get frustrated at times with your CEO's constant requests for information, it is your job as a CFO to analyze that data for her. You both understand that data provides a basis for sound operational decision-making (integrating accounting and financial information). The CEO's final request is for an analysis and summary of financial projections for the Mini and Android lines, based on the information gathered in the previous steps.  

You collect your previous reports and spreadsheets and pore over them, looking for meaningful trends and patterns.