How do I identify and explain the classic budgeting error that Harlow apparently incorporated into his original cost report?
How do I identify and explain the classic budgeting error that Harlow apparently incorporated into his original cost report?
Chapter1: Financial Statements And Business Decisions
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 1Q
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Question
How do I identify and explain the classic budgeting error that Harlow apparently incorporated into his original cost report?
![variances? Explain.
and total standard costs equal the sum of all of the
EXTENDING YOUR KNOWLE
TYK 10-1. Business Decision Case Porter Corporation has just hired Bill Harlow as its new controller. Al-
though Harlow has had little formal accounting training, he professes to be highly experienced,
X
having learned accounting "the hard way'" in the field. At the end of his first month's work, Harlow
prepared the following performance report:](/v2/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcontent.bartleby.com%2Fqna-images%2Fquestion%2Fc3178b11-0d89-4944-aaab-005f74046825%2F7f251bfb-2c76-4bad-972b-1a9b2f0f52f6%2Fsbslope_processed.jpeg&w=3840&q=75)
Transcribed Image Text:variances? Explain.
and total standard costs equal the sum of all of the
EXTENDING YOUR KNOWLE
TYK 10-1. Business Decision Case Porter Corporation has just hired Bill Harlow as its new controller. Al-
though Harlow has had little formal accounting training, he professes to be highly experienced,
X
having learned accounting "the hard way'" in the field. At the end of his first month's work, Harlow
prepared the following performance report:
![Chapter 10 Standard Costing and Variance Analysis
PORTER CORPORATION
Performance Report
for the Month of June, 2018
Total Actual
Total Budgeted
Costs
Costs
Variances
$237,600
$20,970 F
$216,630
119,340
Direct materials.
12,660 F
Direct labor.
3,000 F
..
Variable overhead
184,000
Fixed overhead.
$582,970
$619,600 $36,630 F
In his presentation at Porter's month-end management meeting, Harlow indicated that things
were going "fantastically." "The figures indicate," he said, "that the firm is beating its budget in
all cost categories." This good news made everyone at the meeting happy and furthered Harlow's
acceptance as a member of the management team.
After the management meeting, Susan Jones, Porter's general manager, asked you, as an inde-
pendent consultant, to review Harlow's report. Jones' concern stemmed from the fact that Porter has
never operated as favorably as Harlow's report seems to imply, and she cannot explain the apparent
significant improvement.
While reviewing Harlow's report, you are provided the following cost and operating data for
June: Porter has a monthly normal capacity of 11,000 direct labor hours or 8,800 units of product.
Standard costs per unit for its only product are direct materials 3 pounds at $9 per pound; direct
labor, 1.25 hours at $12 per hour; and variable overhead rate per direct labor hour of $6. During
June, Porter produced 8,000 units of product, using 24,900 pounds of materials costing $8.70 each,
10,200 direct labor hours at an average rate of $11.70 each, and incurred variable overhead costs of
$63,000 and fixed overhead costs of $184,000.
After reviewing Porter's June cost data, you tell Harlow that his cost report contains a classic
budgeting error, and you explain how he can remedy it. In response to your suggestion, Harlow
revises his report as follows:
66
Total Actual
Total Budgeted
Costs
Costs
Variances
Direct materials.
$ 630 U
$216,630
119,340
$216,000
Direct labor.
Variable overhead
Fixed overhead.
n 000'
$582,970
$580,000
$2,970 U
Harlow's revised report is accompanied by remarks expressing regret at the oversight n ue
original report.
Required
In your role as consultant,
Verify that Harlow's actual cost figures are correct.
b. Identify and explain the classic budgeting error that Harlow apparently incorporated into ie
original cost report.
c. Explain why Harlow's revised figures could be considered deficient.
a.
Further analyze Harlow's revised variances, isolating underlying potential causal Tacio
d.
How do your analyses indicate bases for concern to management?
FYK10](/v2/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcontent.bartleby.com%2Fqna-images%2Fquestion%2Fc3178b11-0d89-4944-aaab-005f74046825%2F7f251bfb-2c76-4bad-972b-1a9b2f0f52f6%2Ftksv78p.jpeg&w=3840&q=75)
Transcribed Image Text:Chapter 10 Standard Costing and Variance Analysis
PORTER CORPORATION
Performance Report
for the Month of June, 2018
Total Actual
Total Budgeted
Costs
Costs
Variances
$237,600
$20,970 F
$216,630
119,340
Direct materials.
12,660 F
Direct labor.
3,000 F
..
Variable overhead
184,000
Fixed overhead.
$582,970
$619,600 $36,630 F
In his presentation at Porter's month-end management meeting, Harlow indicated that things
were going "fantastically." "The figures indicate," he said, "that the firm is beating its budget in
all cost categories." This good news made everyone at the meeting happy and furthered Harlow's
acceptance as a member of the management team.
After the management meeting, Susan Jones, Porter's general manager, asked you, as an inde-
pendent consultant, to review Harlow's report. Jones' concern stemmed from the fact that Porter has
never operated as favorably as Harlow's report seems to imply, and she cannot explain the apparent
significant improvement.
While reviewing Harlow's report, you are provided the following cost and operating data for
June: Porter has a monthly normal capacity of 11,000 direct labor hours or 8,800 units of product.
Standard costs per unit for its only product are direct materials 3 pounds at $9 per pound; direct
labor, 1.25 hours at $12 per hour; and variable overhead rate per direct labor hour of $6. During
June, Porter produced 8,000 units of product, using 24,900 pounds of materials costing $8.70 each,
10,200 direct labor hours at an average rate of $11.70 each, and incurred variable overhead costs of
$63,000 and fixed overhead costs of $184,000.
After reviewing Porter's June cost data, you tell Harlow that his cost report contains a classic
budgeting error, and you explain how he can remedy it. In response to your suggestion, Harlow
revises his report as follows:
66
Total Actual
Total Budgeted
Costs
Costs
Variances
Direct materials.
$ 630 U
$216,630
119,340
$216,000
Direct labor.
Variable overhead
Fixed overhead.
n 000'
$582,970
$580,000
$2,970 U
Harlow's revised report is accompanied by remarks expressing regret at the oversight n ue
original report.
Required
In your role as consultant,
Verify that Harlow's actual cost figures are correct.
b. Identify and explain the classic budgeting error that Harlow apparently incorporated into ie
original cost report.
c. Explain why Harlow's revised figures could be considered deficient.
a.
Further analyze Harlow's revised variances, isolating underlying potential causal Tacio
d.
How do your analyses indicate bases for concern to management?
FYK10
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