...Chapter 15 Operational Performance Measurement: Indirect-Cost Variances and Resource- Capacity Management Cases 15-1 Berkshire Toy Company (Source: Dean Crawford and Eleanor G. Henry, “Budgeting and Performance Evaluation at the Berkshire Toy Company,” Issues in Accounting Education, 15 (2) (May 2000), pp. 283-309.) 15-2 The Mesa Corporation (Source: Robert Capettini, C. W. Chow, and J. E. Williamson, “Instructional case: the Proper Use of Feedback Information,” Issues in Accounting Education, 7 (1) (Spring 1992) pp. 48-56.) Readings 15-1: “Using Enhanced Cost Models in Variance Analysis for Better Control and Decision Making,” by Kennard T. Wing, Management Accounting Quarterly (Winter 2000), pp. 1-9. This article points out that oversimplifications of fixed and variable costs can result in the standard costing system not being used or, if used, can lead to bad decisions. That is, misclassifications of cost behavior patterns make variance analyses “paper tigers.” For variance reporting to be useful, financial managers need to develop cost models that reflect how costs actually behave. Discussion Questions: 1. Describe the implications for variance analysis of analyzing a semi-variable cost as either a variable or fixed cost. 2. Describe the implications for variance analysis of analyzing a step-fixed cost as either a variable or fixed cost. 3. Describe the implications on operating decisions of analyzing an operation with mixed costs...
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