Cognitive Bias. A team of accounting students is working on a case where they are required to assess a set of information to determine the useful life used to
- The company has used a 20-year useful life for the last several years.
- The industry average useful life for similar equipment is 15 years.
- The company purchased the equipment 5 years ago.
- The demand for smart phone cases has increased over the last several years.
- This year, the company has explored purchasing new machinery using a more efficient technology to produce the cases. This equipment would have a useful life of about 10 years.
- The average time that a machine is down for repairs has increased from 3 days to 12 days per year.
Following is part of the discussion at their first team meeting. Analyze the discussion and determine the type of cognitive bias most consistent with the statements made by each student, providing an explanation for your answer.
Discussion
Khalil initiated the discussion saying, “Information on what the other companies in the industry are using is what is relevant The industry average is an aggregate of all the useful lives used and represents the best overall estimate We need to use 15 years.”
Ashanti’s view was, “Even though the industry average is 15 years, the company’s history is most important here. The company’s history is the first piece of information presented because it is the most important. What another company is doing is just not relevant. So, we do not change the 20-year useful life.”
Amanda asserted, “This is obvious Of course, the answer is 10 years. Anyone can see that. All the facts support a 10-year useful life.”
Joe suggested, “Amanda is convinced the answer is 10 years and is sure about it. Khalil wants 15 years. I am not sure what the answer is, but let’s take the average of 12.5 years. Can we all agree to 12.5 years? We all should be happy with this answer.”
Trending nowThis is a popular solution!
Chapter 3 Solutions
INTERMEDIATE ACCT.-MYLAB COMBO ACCESS
- Your family started a new manufacturing business making outdoor benches for use in parks and outdoor venues two years ago. The business has been very successful, and sales are soaring. Because of this success, your family realizes that the equipment purchased to start the business will not last as long as expected because the company has needed to run twenty-four-hour production shifts for most of the past year. There has been a lot of wear and tear on the equipment. The original useful lives and salvage values are not as accurate as your family had hoped. Your aunt, who is the production manager for the family business, has approached you because she is concerned about this issue, and she knows you have had an accounting class. What advice do you have for her? How should the company readjust given the realities of the last few years?arrow_forwardA grocery distribution center is considering whether to invest in RFID or bar code technology to track its inventory within the warehouse and truck loading operations. The useful life of the RFID and bar code devices is projected to be 5 years with minimal or zero salvage value. The bar code investment cost is $105,000 and can be expected to save at least $33,000 in product theft and lost items annually. The RFID system is estimated to cost $230,000 and will save $30,000 the first year, with an increase of $15,000 annually after the first year. For a 6% MARR, should the manager invest in the RFID system or the bar code system? Analyze incrementally using rate of return.arrow_forwardBob Downe is auditing Red Cedar Office Furniture (RCOF), a manufacturer of office furniture and custom cabinets. RCOF was founded 25 years ago by a husband-and-wife team and has grown rapidly in the last five years as solid, environmentally friendly wooden furniture has grown in popularity. The company has inventory consisting of raw materials, work in process, and finished goods with a book value of $6,719,028.95. You have been assigned the task of testing the accuracy of the final inventory compilation for RCOF. You may assume that you have separately observed the inventory and that you are satisfied that the inventory was accurately counted. However, you need to test that quantities were accurately transcribed to the final accumulation and valuation of inventory and that the inventory is correctly priced and accumulated. A file showing the client’s accumulation of inventory is available in Wiley Course Resources. This case will guide you through the process of selecting a sample…arrow_forward
- Last year (2016), Bramble Condos installed a mechanized elevator for its tenants. The owner of the company, Ron Richter, recently returned from an industry equipment exhibition where he watched a computerized elevator demonstrated. He was impressed with the elevator's speed, comfort of ride, and cost efficiency. Upon returning from the exhibition, he asked his purchasing agent to collect price and operating cost data on the new elevator. In addition, he asked the company’s accountant to provide him with cost data on the company’s elevator. This information is presented below. Old Elevator New Elevator Purchase price $103,500 $159,000 Estimated salvage value 0 0 Estimated useful life 5 years 4 years Depreciation method Straight-line Straight-line Annual operating costs other than depreciation: Variable $34,000 $11,000 Fixed 23,900 8,200 Annual revenues are…arrow_forwardHarriet Moore is an accountant for New World Pharmaceuticals. Her duties include tracking research and development spending in the new product development division. Over the course of the past six months, Harriet has noticed that a great deal of funds have been spent on a particular project for a new drug. She hears “through the grapevine” that the company is about to patent the drug and expects it to be a major advance in antibiotics. Harriet believes that this new drug will greatly improve company performance and will cause the company’s stock to increase in value. Harriet decides to purchase shares of New World in order to benefit from this expected increase. Required What are Harriet’s ethical responsibilities, if any, with respect to the information she has learned through her duties as an accountant for New World Pharmaceuticals? What are the implications of her planned purchase of New World shares?arrow_forwardNote:- Do not provide handwritten solution. Maintain accuracy and quality in your answer. Take care of plagiarism. Answer completely. You will get up vote for sure.arrow_forward
- Skiles Coporation is a manufacturer of classic rocking chairs. The company has been using a particular sanding and finishing machine for over 10 years and believes that it may be time to replace the machine. The company is trying to decide whether replacing the old machine is a wise economic decision. The company's controller pulled together the following information on the old machine and the new possible replacement machine. Old Machine: Original cost Current accumulated depreciation Estimated annual variable manufacturing costs for machine Estimated selling price of machine Estimated remaining useful life (in years) New Machine: Purchase cost Estimated annual variable manufacturing costs for machine Estimated residual value Estimated useful life (in years) Select the relevant or irrelevant information below: Relevant Relevant Matching lives Relevant Purchase price of new machine Relevant Accumulated depreciation of old machine Irrelevant Annual variable costs of old machine Selling…arrow_forwardJohnson and Gomez, Incorporated, is a small firm involved in the production and sale of electronic business products. The company is well known for its attention to quality and innovation. During the past 15 months, a new product has been under development that allows users improved access to e-mail and video images. Johnson and Gomez code named the product the Wireless Wizard and has been quietly designing two models: Basic and Enhanced. Development costs have amounted to $189,000 and $270,000, respectively. The total market demand for each model is expected to be 45,000 units, and management anticipates being able to obtain the following market shares: Basic, 20 percent; Enhanced, 15 percent. Forecasted data follow. Projected selling price Per-unit production costs: Direct material Direct labor Variable overhead Basic $ 370.00 47.00 25.00 41.00 200,000 Enhanced $ 470.00 15% 75.00 35.00 53.00 325,000 Marketing and advertising (fixed but avoidable) Sales commissions" *Computed on the…arrow_forwardI know this is a lot of information but this is what I would need to solve the problem. Any help would be appreciated! Your company, VR Co., has been approached to bid on a contract to sell 20,000 voice recognition (VR) computer keyboards a year for four years. Due to technological improvements, beyond that time they will be outdated and no sales will be possible. The equipment necessary for the production will cost $4 million and will be depreciated on a straight-line basis to a zero salvage value. Production will require an investment in net working capital of $80,000 initially and to be returned at the end of the project, and the equipment can be sold for $200,000 at the end of production. Fixed costs are $700,000 per year, and variable costs are $48 per unit. In addition to the contract, you feel your company can sell 4,000, 12,000, 14,000, and 7,000 additional units to companies in other countries over the next four years, respectively, at a price of $145. This price is fixed.…arrow_forward
- Johnson and Gomez, Inc., is a small firm involved in the production and sale of electronic business products. The company is well known for its attention to quality and innovation. During the past 15 months, a new product has been under development that allows users improved access to e-mail and video images. Johnson and Gomez code named the product the Wireless Wizard and has been quietly designing two models: Basic and Enhanced. Development costs have amounted to $207,000 and $288,000, respectively. The total market demand for each model is expected to be 57,000 units, and management anticipates being able to obtain the following market shares: Basic, 25 percent; Enhanced, 20 percent. Forecasted data follow. Projected selling price Per-unit production costs: Direct material Direct labor Variable overhead Marketing and advertising (fixed but avoidable) Sales commissions* Problem 14-46 Part 3 Req 3A *Computed on the basis of sales dollars. Since the start of development work on the…arrow_forwardJohnson and Gomez, Inc., is a small firm involved in the production and sale of electronic business products. The company is well known for its attention to quality and innovation. During the past 15 months, a new product has been under development that allows users improved access to e- mail and video images. Johnson and Gomez code named the product the Wireless Wizard and has been quietly designing two models: Basic and Enhanced. Development costs have amounted to $204,000 and $285,000, respectively. The total market demand for each model is expected to be 55,000 units, and management anticipates being able to obtain the following market shares: Basic, 30 percent; Enhanced, 25 percent. Forecasted data follow. Projected selling price Per-unit production costs: Direct material Direct labor Variable overhead Projected selling price Per-unit production costs: Direct material Direct labor Variable overhead Marketing and advertising (fixed but avoidable) Sales commissions Basic $ 420.00…arrow_forwardA property title search firm is contemplating using online software to increase its search productivity. Currently an average of 40 minutes is needed to do a title search. The researcher cost is $2 per minute. Clients are charged a fee of $400. Company A's software would reduce the average search time by 10 minutes, at a cost of $3.50 per search. Company B's software would reduce the average search time by 12 minutes at a cost of $3.60 per search. a. Calculate the productivity in terms of revenue per dollar of input. (Round your intermediate calculations and final answers to 2 decimal places. Omit the "$" sign in your response.) Productivity (Revenue per Dollar Input) $ Approach Current Company A Company B $ b. Which option would have the highest productivity in terms of revenue per dollar of input? Company A Company B Currentarrow_forward
- Cornerstones of Cost Management (Cornerstones Ser...AccountingISBN:9781305970663Author:Don R. Hansen, Maryanne M. MowenPublisher:Cengage LearningEssentials of Business Analytics (MindTap Course ...StatisticsISBN:9781305627734Author:Jeffrey D. Camm, James J. Cochran, Michael J. Fry, Jeffrey W. Ohlmann, David R. AndersonPublisher:Cengage LearningPrinciples of Accounting Volume 1AccountingISBN:9781947172685Author:OpenStaxPublisher:OpenStax College
- Managerial Accounting: The Cornerstone of Busines...AccountingISBN:9781337115773Author:Maryanne M. Mowen, Don R. Hansen, Dan L. HeitgerPublisher:Cengage Learning