In: Accounting
BluStar Company has two service departments, Administration and
Accounting, and two operating departments, Domestic and
International. Administration costs are allocated on the basis of
employees, and Accounting costs are allocated on the basis of
number of transactions. A summary of BluStar operations
follows.
Administration | Accounting | Domestic | International | |||||||||
Employees | — | 25 | 15 | 60 | ||||||||
Transactions | 50,000 | — | 10,000 | 40,000 | ||||||||
Department direct costs | $ | 58,000 | $ | 24,500 | $ | 159,750 | $ | 597,000 | ||||
BluStar estimates that the cost structure in its operations is as
follows.
Administration | Accounting | Domestic | International | |||||||||
Variable costs | $ | 25,500 | $ | 6,600 | $ | 113,000 | $ | 435,000 | ||||
Fixed costs | 32,500 | 17,900 | 46,750 | 162,000 | ||||||||
Total costs | $ | 58,000 | $ | 24,500 | $ | 159,750 | $ | 597,000 | ||||
Avoidable fixed costs | $ | 11,000 | $ | 3,600 | $ | 22,500 | $ | 114,000 | ||||
Required:
a. If BluStar outsources the Administration Department, what is the maximum it can pay an outside vendor without increasing total costs?
b. If BluStar outsources the Accounting Department, what is the maximum it can pay an outside vendor without increasing total costs?
Answer a.
If Blustar outsources administration department, it can pay a maximum of $ 36,500.
Explanation:
Administration department has the variable costs of $ 25,500 and fixed costs of $ 32,500 (out of which $ 11,000 are avoidable and $ 21,500 are unavoidable). If this department is outsourced, variable costs will not be incurred and also avoidable fixed costs will be avoided.
Hence, total amount that can be paid is $ 25,500 + $ 11,000 = $ 36,500.
Answer b.
If Blustar outsources accounting department, it can pay a maximum of $ 10,500.
Explanation:
Accounting department has the variable costs of $ 6,900 and fixed costs of $ 17,900 (out of which $ 3,600 are avoidable and $ 14,300 are unavoidable). If this department is outsourced, variable costs will not be incurred and also avoidable fixed costs will be avoided.
Hence, total amount that can be paid is $ 6,900 + $ 3,600 = $ 10,500.
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