(a) Perform the first-stage allocation of costs to the activity cost pools. (b) Compute the activity rates for the activity cost pools. (c) By referring to the long-simmering dispute between the company's estimator (estimator's position) and the work supervisors, explain how ABC system can address the distortions or disputes that may be associated with contract estimates.

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Chapter20: Management Of Employee Welfare
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Astoms Asbestos Ltd is in the business of removing potentially toxic asbestos insulation and related
products from buildings. There has been a long-simmering dispute between the company's estimator
and the work supervisors. The on-site supervisors claim that the estimators do not take enough care
in distinguishing between routine work such as removal of asbestos insulation around heating pipes
in older homes and non-routine work such as removing asbestos-contaminated ceiling plaster in
industrial buildings. The on-site supervisors believe that non-routine work is far more expensive than
routine work and should bear higher customer charges. The estimator sums up his position in this
way: "my job is to measure the area to be cleared of asbestos. As directed by top management, I
simply multiply the square metreage by £2.50 to determine the bid price. Since our average cost is
only £2.175 per square metre, that leaves enough cushion to take care of additional costs of non-
routine work that shows up. Besides, it is difficult to know what is routine or not routine until you
actually start tearing things apart".
Partly to shed light on this controversy, the company initiated an activity-based costing study of all
of its costs. Data from the activity-based system follow:
Activity cost pool
Activity measure
Job size
Thousands of square metres
Number of jobs
Estimating and job set-up
Dealing with non-routine jobs
Number of non-routine jobs
Not applicable
Other (costs of idle capacity and organisational
sustaining costs)
Costs for the year
Wages and salaries
Disposal fees
Equipment depreciation
On-site supplies
Office expenses
Licensing and insurance
Total cost
£300,000
700,000
90,000
50,000
200,000
400,000
£1,740,000
Transcribed Image Text:Astoms Asbestos Ltd is in the business of removing potentially toxic asbestos insulation and related products from buildings. There has been a long-simmering dispute between the company's estimator and the work supervisors. The on-site supervisors claim that the estimators do not take enough care in distinguishing between routine work such as removal of asbestos insulation around heating pipes in older homes and non-routine work such as removing asbestos-contaminated ceiling plaster in industrial buildings. The on-site supervisors believe that non-routine work is far more expensive than routine work and should bear higher customer charges. The estimator sums up his position in this way: "my job is to measure the area to be cleared of asbestos. As directed by top management, I simply multiply the square metreage by £2.50 to determine the bid price. Since our average cost is only £2.175 per square metre, that leaves enough cushion to take care of additional costs of non- routine work that shows up. Besides, it is difficult to know what is routine or not routine until you actually start tearing things apart". Partly to shed light on this controversy, the company initiated an activity-based costing study of all of its costs. Data from the activity-based system follow: Activity cost pool Activity measure Job size Thousands of square metres Number of jobs Estimating and job set-up Dealing with non-routine jobs Number of non-routine jobs Not applicable Other (costs of idle capacity and organisational sustaining costs) Costs for the year Wages and salaries Disposal fees Equipment depreciation On-site supplies Office expenses Licensing and insurance Total cost £300,000 700,000 90,000 50,000 200,000 400,000 £1,740,000
Distribution of resources consumption across activities
Estimating and Dealing with:
Job Set-Up
Size
Non-Routine Jobs
Other
10%
30%
10%
50%
Wages and salaries
0%
40%
0%
60%
Disposal fees
40%
5%
20%
Equipment depreciation
35%
60%
On-site supplies
30%
10%
0%
Office expenses
10%
35%
25%
30%
30%
Licensing and insurance
0%
50%
20%
Activity cost pool
Activity for the year
Job size
1600 thousand square metres
1000 jobs
Estimating and job set-up
Dealing with non-routine jobs
200 non-routine jobs
(a)
Perform the first-stage allocation of costs to the activity cost pools.
(b)
Compute the activity rates for the activity cost pools.
(c)
By referring to the long-simmering dispute between the company's estimator (estimator's
position) and the work supervisors, explain how ABC system can address the distortions
or disputes that may be associated with contract estimates.
Total
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
Transcribed Image Text:Distribution of resources consumption across activities Estimating and Dealing with: Job Set-Up Size Non-Routine Jobs Other 10% 30% 10% 50% Wages and salaries 0% 40% 0% 60% Disposal fees 40% 5% 20% Equipment depreciation 35% 60% On-site supplies 30% 10% 0% Office expenses 10% 35% 25% 30% 30% Licensing and insurance 0% 50% 20% Activity cost pool Activity for the year Job size 1600 thousand square metres 1000 jobs Estimating and job set-up Dealing with non-routine jobs 200 non-routine jobs (a) Perform the first-stage allocation of costs to the activity cost pools. (b) Compute the activity rates for the activity cost pools. (c) By referring to the long-simmering dispute between the company's estimator (estimator's position) and the work supervisors, explain how ABC system can address the distortions or disputes that may be associated with contract estimates. Total 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%
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