Xerox Corporation has been an innovator in its responsibility-accounting system. In one initiative, management changed the responsibility-center orientation of its Logistics and Distribution Department from a cost center to a profit center. The department manages the inventories and provides other logistical services to the company’s Business Systems Group. Formerly, the manager of the Logistics and Distribution Department was held accountable for adherence to an operating expense budget. Now the department “sells” its services to the company’s other segments, and the department’s manager is evaluated partially on the basis of the department’s profit. Xerox Corporation’s management feels that the change has been beneficial. The change has resulted in more innovative thinking in the department and has moved decision making down to lower levels in the company.
Required: Comment on the new responsibility-center designation for the Logistics and Distribution Department.
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Managerial Accounting: Creating Value in a Dynamic Business Environment
- Assume you have been hired by Cabelas Sporting Goods. As part of your new role in the accounting department, you have been tasked to set up a responsibility accounting structure for the company. As your first task, your supervisor has asked you to give an example of a cost center, profit center, and an investment center within the Cabelas organization. Your supervisor is a little unsure of the difference between a profit center and investment center and would like you to explain the difference.arrow_forwardAssume you have been hired by Hilton Hotels and Resorts. As part of your new role in the accounting department, you have been tasked to set up a responsibility accounting structure for the company. As your first task, your supervisor has asked you to give an example of a cost center, profit center, and an investment center within the Hilton organization. Your supervisor is a little unsure of the difference between a profit center and investment center and would like you to explain the difference.arrow_forward1. Differentiate between a profit center and an investment center. 2. Weyerhaeuser developed a system that assigns service department expenses to user divisions on the basis of actual services consumed by the division. Here are a number of Weyerhaeuser's activities in its central Financial Services Department: Payroll Accounts payable Accounts receivable Database administration—report preparation For each activity, identify an activity base that could be used to charge user divisions for service. What is the major shortcoming of using income from operations as a performance measure for investment centers? In a decentralized company in which the divisions are organized as investment centers, how could a division be considered the least profitable even though it earned the largest amount of income from operations? How does using the return on investment facilitate comparability between divisions of decentralized companies? Why would a firm use a balanced scorecard in…arrow_forward
- Responsibility centers. Elmhurst Corporation is considering changes to its responsibility accounting system. Which of the following statements is/are correct for a responsibility accounting system. In a cost center, managers are responsible for controlling costs but not revenue. The idea behind responsibility accounting is that a manager should be held responsible for those items that the manager can control to a significant extent. To be effective, a good responsibility accounting system must help managers to plan and to control. Costs that are allocated to a responsibility center are normally controllable by the responsibility center manager. I and II only are correct. II and III only are correct. I, II, and III are correct. I, II and IV are correct.arrow_forwardElmhurst Corporation is considering changes to its responsibility accounting system. Which of the following statements is/are correct for a responsibility accounting system. i. In a cost center, managers are responsible for controlling costs but not revenue. ii. The idea behind responsibility accounting is that a manager should be held responsible for those items that the manager can control to a significant extent. iii. To be effective, a good responsibility accounting system must help managers to plan and to control. iv. Costs that are allocated to a responsibility center are normally controllable by the responsibility center manager. 1. I and II only are correct. 2. II and III only are correct. 3. I, II, and III are correct. 4. I, II and IV are correct.arrow_forwardD. The Hilal Company uses a responsibility reporting system to measure the performance of its three investment centers: A, B, and C. Segment performance is measured using a system of responsibility reports and return on investment calculations. The allocation of resources within the company and the segment managers' bonuses are based in part on the results shown in these reports. Recently, the company was the victim of a computer virus that deleted portions of the company's accounting records. This was discovered when the current period's responsibility reports were being prepared. The printout of the actual operating results appeared as follows. A Service revenue 24 $450,000 $ ? Variable costs 5,000,000 320,000 Contribution margin 180,000 380,000 Controllable fixed costs 1,500,000 Controllable margin 70,000 176,000 Average operating assets 25,000,000 1,600,000 Return on investment 12% 10% Instructions Determine the missing pieces of information above.arrow_forward
- Company B uses a responsibility reporting system to measure the performance of its three investment centers: Planes, Taxis, and Limos. Segment performance is measured using a system of responsibility reports and return on investment calculations. The allocation of resources within the company and the segment managers’ bonuses are based in part on the results shown in these reports.Recently, the company was the victim of a computer virus that deleted portions of the company’s accounting records. This was discovered when the current period’s responsibility reports were being prepared. The printout of the actual operating results appeared as follows. Planes Taxis Limos Service revenue $ ? $450,000 $ ? Variable costs 5,000,000 ? 320,000 Contribution margin ? 180,000 380,000 Controllable fixed costs 1,500,000 ? ? Controllable margin ? 70,000 176,000 Average operating assets 25,000,000 ? 1,600,000 Return on investment 12% 10% ? InstructionsDetermine the missing pieces…arrow_forwardHow does the concept of responsibility accounting contribute to organizational accountability? If you have experiences from previous jobs, you can share those. Otherwise, find examples from companies through internet research, or share your insight on why you think this may matter. Responsibility accounting involves assigning specific financial responsibilities to managers or departments. This system tracks and evaluates performance based on how well these individuals or units adhere to their budgets and financial goals. It ensures that each manager or department is accountable for the financial results of their decisions and operations. By assigning specific financial responsibilities to individuals or departments, responsibility accounting makes it clear who is accountable for what. This clarity helps managers focus on their areas of responsibility and understand the direct impact of their decisions. This system allows for more precise performance evaluation. Managers are assessed…arrow_forwardHorton Technology has two divisions, Consumer and Commercial, and two corporate support departments, Tech Services and Purchasing. The corporate expenses for the year ended December 31, 20Y7, are as follows: Tech Services Department Purchasing Department Other corporate administrative expenses Total expense The other corporate administrative expenses include officers' salaries and other expenses required by the corporation. The Tech Services Department allocates costs to the divisions based on the number of computers in the department, and the Purchasing Department allocates costs to the divisions based on the number of purchase orders for each department. The services used by the two divisions are as follows: Consumer Division Commercial Division Total $1,125,900 235,500 Tech Services 310 $1,946,400 computers 500 810 585,000 Line Item Description 1,793,500 Purchasing 5,500 purchase orders 10,200 15,700 purchase orders computers The support department allocations of the Tech Services…arrow_forward
- Weyerhaeuser developed a system that assigns service department expenses to user divisions on the basis of actual services consumed by the division. Here are a number of Weyerhaeuser's activities in its central Financial Services Department: Payroll Accounts payable Accounts receivable Database administration—report preparation For each activity, identify an activity base that could be used to charge user divisions for service.arrow_forwardC Justin Bleeber has prepared the following list of statements about mi accounting, financial accounting, and the functions of management. Financial accounting focuses on providing information to internal users.Staff positions are directly involved in the company's primary revenue-generating activities.Preparation of budgets is part of financial accounting.Managerial accounting applies only to merchandising and manufacturing companBoth managerial accounting and financial accounting deal with many of the same economic events.Managerial accounting reports are prepared only quarterly and annually.Financial accounting reports are general-purpose reports. IManagerial accounting reports pertain to subunits of the business.Managerial accounting reports must comply with generally accepted accounting principles.The company treasurer reports directly to the vice president of operations.Instructions Identifv each statement as true or false. If false, indicate how to correct the statement. 11-36arrow_forwardIn each of the following situations, identify which type of responsibility center is appropriate based on the decision-making authority the manager would possess: 1. The manager of the accounting department in Ford’s corporate office. 2. The sales manager of a Ford dealership. 3. The general manager of a Ford dealership. 4. The manager of Ford’s corporate division. 5. The production manager in a Ford plant. options: Cost Center Investment Center Profit Center Revenue Centerarrow_forward
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