Compute Equivalent Units: Ethical Issues Hoyt, Inc. has a process costing system at its Forest Street Plant. All materials are introduced when conversion costs reach 40 percent. The following information is available for physical units during August: Units started in August    163,000 Units transferred out to Finishing Department in August    178,000 Work in process, August 1 (85% complete as to conversion costs)    41,000 Work in process, August 31 (25% complete as to conversion costs)    26,000 Required Compute the equivalent units for materials costs and for conversion costs using the weighted-average method. Compute the equivalent units for materials costs and for conversion costs using the FIFO method. The company president has been under considerable pressure to increase income. He tells the controller to change the estimated completion for ending work in process to 45 percent (from 25 percent). What effect will this change have on the unit costs of units transferred to finished goods in August? Would this be ethical? Is this likely to be a successful strategy for affecting income over a long period of time?

Cornerstones of Cost Management (Cornerstones Series)
4th Edition
ISBN:9781305970663
Author:Don R. Hansen, Maryanne M. Mowen
Publisher:Don R. Hansen, Maryanne M. Mowen
Chapter6: Process Costing
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 20E: Holmes Products, Inc., produces plastic cases used for video cameras. The product passes through...
icon
Related questions
icon
Concept explainers
Topic Video
Question

8-30. Compute Equivalent Units: Ethical Issues

Hoyt, Inc. has a process costing system at its Forest Street Plant. All materials are introduced when conversion costs reach 40 percent. The following information is available for physical units during August:

Units started in August    163,000
Units transferred out to Finishing Department in August    178,000
Work in process, August 1 (85% complete as to conversion costs)    41,000
Work in process, August 31 (25% complete as to conversion costs)    26,000
Required

Compute the equivalent units for materials costs and for conversion costs using the weighted-average method.

Compute the equivalent units for materials costs and for conversion costs using the FIFO method.

The company president has been under considerable pressure to increase income. He tells the controller to change the estimated completion for ending work in process to 45 percent (from 25 percent).

What effect will this change have on the unit costs of units transferred to finished goods in August?

Would this be ethical?

Is this likely to be a successful strategy for affecting income over a long period of time? 

Expert Solution
trending now

Trending now

This is a popular solution!

steps

Step by step

Solved in 5 steps with 6 images

Blurred answer
Knowledge Booster
Costing Systems
Learn more about
Need a deep-dive on the concept behind this application? Look no further. Learn more about this topic, accounting and related others by exploring similar questions and additional content below.
Similar questions
  • SEE MORE QUESTIONS
Recommended textbooks for you
Cornerstones of Cost Management (Cornerstones Ser…
Cornerstones of Cost Management (Cornerstones Ser…
Accounting
ISBN:
9781305970663
Author:
Don R. Hansen, Maryanne M. Mowen
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Managerial Accounting
Managerial Accounting
Accounting
ISBN:
9781337912020
Author:
Carl Warren, Ph.d. Cma William B. Tayler
Publisher:
South-Western College Pub
Principles of Cost Accounting
Principles of Cost Accounting
Accounting
ISBN:
9781305087408
Author:
Edward J. Vanderbeck, Maria R. Mitchell
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Managerial Accounting: The Cornerstone of Busines…
Managerial Accounting: The Cornerstone of Busines…
Accounting
ISBN:
9781337115773
Author:
Maryanne M. Mowen, Don R. Hansen, Dan L. Heitger
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Principles of Accounting Volume 2
Principles of Accounting Volume 2
Accounting
ISBN:
9781947172609
Author:
OpenStax
Publisher:
OpenStax College