Question & Answer

Harrisburg Company is considering changing its inventory valuation method from FIFO to LIFO because of the potential tax savings. However, management wishes to consider all of the effects on the company, including its reported performance, before making the final decision. The inventory account, currently valued on the FIFO basis, consists of 1,000,000 units at $8 per unit on January 1, 2014. There are 1,000,000 shares of common stock outstanding as of January 1, 2014, and the cash balance is $400,000. The company has made the following forecasts for the period 2014–2016. 2014 2015 2016 Unit sales (in millions of units) 1.1 1.0 1.3 Sales price per unit $10 $12 $12 Unit purchases (in millions of units) 1.0 1.1 1.2 Purchase price per unit $8 $9 $10 Annual depreciation (in thousands of dollars) $300 $300 $300 Cash dividends per share $0.15 $0.15 $0.15 Cash payments for additions to and replacement of plant and equipment (in thousands of dollars) $350 $350 $350 Income tax rate 40% 40% 40% Operating expenses (exclusive of depreciation) as a percent of sales 15% 15% 15% Common shares outstanding (in millions) 1 1 1 Instructions (a) Prepare a schedule that illustrates and compares the following data for Harrisburg Company under the FIFO and the LIFO inventory method for 2014–2016. Assume the company would begin LIFO at the beginning of 2014. (1) Year-end inventory balances. (3) Earnings per share. (2) Annual net income after taxes. (4) Cash balance. Assume all sales are collected in the year of sale and all purchases, operating expenses, and taxes are paid during the year incurred. (b) Using the data above, your answer to (a), and any additional issues you believe need to be considered, prepare a report that recommends whether or not Harrisburg Company should change to the LIFO inventory method. Support your conclusions with appropriate arguments.

Stallman Company took a physical inventory on December 31 and determined that goods costing $200,000 were on hand. Not included in the physical count were $25,000 of goods purchased from Pelzer Corporation, f.o.b. shipping point, and $22,000 of goods sold to Alvarez Company for $30,000, f.o.b. destination. Both the Pelzer purchase and the Alvarez sale were in transit at year-end. What amount should Stallman report as its December 31 inventory?c

Consider the following independent situations. (a) Mike Finley wishes to become a millionaire. His money market fund has a balance of $92,296 and has a guaranteed interest rate of 10%. How many years must Mike leave that balance in the fund in order to get his desired $1,000,000? (b) Assume that Sally Williams desires to accumulate $1 million in 15 years using her money market fund balance of $182,696. At what interest rate must Sally’s investment compound annually?

Norman’s Televisions produces television sets in three categories: portable, midsize, and flat-screen. On January 1, 2014, Norman adopted dollar-value LIFO and decided to use a single inventory pool. The company’s January 1 inventory consists of: Category Quantity Cost per Unit Total Cost Portable 6,000 $100 $ 600,000 Midsize 8,000 250 2,000,000 Flat-screen 3,000 400 1,200,000 17,000 $3,800,000 During 2014, the company had the following purchases and sales. Quantity Quantity Selling Price Category Purchased Cost per Unit Sold per Unit Portable 15,000 $110 14,000 $150 Midsize 20,000 300 24,000 405 Flat-screen 10,000 500 6,000 600 45,000 44,000 Instructions (Round to four decimals.) (a) Compute ending inventory, cost of goods sold, and gross profit. (b) Assume the company uses three inventory pools instead of one. Repeat instruction (a).

It has been suggested that tax policy favors deductions for AGI compared to itemized deductions. Describe two ways in which deductions for AGI are treated more favorably than itemized deductions.

What is the difference between external customers and internal customers in TQM?

Based on the analysis in Figure 21.13, what would an impulse response function look like for the rate of inflation?

1.       : Can you think of potential drawbacks to retailers using labor-waste elimination systems based on scientific management principles, as described in the text? Do you believe that scientific management characteristics will ever cease to be a part of organizational life, since they are now about 100 years old? Discuss.

A square hole is to be cut using ECM through a plate of pure copper (valence = 1) that is 20 mm thick. The hole is 25 mm on each side, but the electrode used to cut the hole is slightly less that 25 mm on its sides to allow for overcut, and its shape includes a hole in its center to permit the flow of electrolyte and to reduce the area of the cut. This tool design results in a frontal area of 200 mm2. The applied current = 1000 amps. Using an efficiency of 95%, determine how long it will take to cut the hole.

Consider situations where you might consider swapping items with someone. Why are such situations relatively rare? Can you think of circumstances in which this might be more common?

What is the freeze drying process used to make certain new ceramic powders?

1.    : By the time an online or mobile business starts noticeably losing customers, it is often too late to turn things around. If you were the creator of a successful game app, such as Fortnite Battle Royale or League of Legends, how might you know when it was time to pivot so as to keep thriving?

List the most common methods for forming the pressed parts in powder metallurgy according to the powder metallurgy video.

1.       : List some possible advantages and disadvantages of using artificial intelligence for managerial decision making.

On July 1, 2015, Fontaine Company purchased for cash 40% of the outstanding capital stock of Knoblett Company. Both Fontaine Company and Knoblett Company have a December 31 year-end. Knoblett Company, whose common stock is actively traded in the over-the-counter market, reported its total net income for the year to Fontaine Company and also paid cash dividends on November 15, 2015, to Fontaine Company and its other stockholders. Instructions How should Fontaine Company report the above facts in its December 31, 2015, balance sheet and its income statement for the year then ended? Discuss the rationale for your answer.

How does the viscosity of a polymer melt differ from most fluids that are Newtonian.

A small company uses a band saw to cut through 2-inch metal bar stock. A material supplier is pushing a new material that is supposed to be more machinable while providing similar mechanical properties. The company does not have access to sophisticated measuring devices, but they do have a stopwatch. They have acquired a sample of the new material and cut both the present material and the new material with the same band saw settings. In the process, they measured how long it took to cut through each material. To cut through the present material, it took an average of 2 minutes, 20 seconds. To cut through the new material, it took an average of 2 minutes, 6 seconds. (a) Develop a machinability rating system based on time to cut through the 2.0-inch bar stock, using the present material as the base material. (b) Using your rating system, determine the machinability rating for the new material.

1.              : Tell Carolyn Campbell that employee volunteerism is important to the company and that while her performance evaluation will not be affected by her decision, she should consider helping Hayes because it is an opportunity to help a worthy community project.

Darby Sporting Goods Inc. has been experiencing growth in the demand for its products over the last several years. The last two Olympic Games greatly increased the popularity of basketball around the world. As a result, a European sports retailing consortium entered into an agreement with Darby’s Roundball Division to purchase basketballs and other accessories on an increasing basis over the next 5 years. To be able to meet the quantity commitments of this agreement, Darby had to obtain additional manufacturing capacity. A real estate firm located an available factory in close proximity to Darby’s Roundball manufacturing facility, and Darby agreed to purchase the factory and used machinery from Encino Athletic Equipment Company on October 1, 2013. Renovations were necessary to convert the factory for Darby’s manufacturing use. The terms of the agreement required Darby to pay Encino $50,000 when renovations started on January 1, 2014, with the balance to be paid as renovations were completed. The overall purchase price for the factory and machinery was $400,000. The building renovations were contracted to Malone Construction at $100,000. The payments made, as renovations progressed during 2014, are shown below. The factory was placed in service on January 1, 2015. 1/1 4/1 10/1 12/31 Encino $50,000 $90,000 $110,000 $150,000 Malone 30,000 30,000 40,000 On January 1, 2014, Darby secured a $500,000 line-of-credit with a 12% interest rate to finance the purchase cost of the factory and machinery, and the renovation costs. Darby drew down on the line-of-credit to meet the payment schedule shown above; this was Darby’s only outstanding loan during 2014. Bob Sprague, Darby’s controller, will capitalize the maximum allowable interest costs for this project. Darby’s policy regarding purchases of this nature is to use the appraisal value of the land for book purposes and prorate the balance of the purchase price over the remaining items. The building had originally cost Encino $300,000 and had a net book value of $50,000, while the machinery originally cost $125,000 and had a net book value of $40,000 on the date of sale. The land was recorded on Encino’s books at $40,000. An appraisal, conducted by independent appraisers at the time of acquisition, valued the land at $290,000, the building at $105,000, and the machinery at $45,000. Angie Justice, chief engineer, estimated that the renovated plant would be used for 15 years, with an estimated salvage value of $30,000. Justice estimated that the productive machinery would have a remaining useful life of 5 years and a salvage value of $3,000. Darby’s depreciation policy specifies the 200% declining-balance method for machinery and the 150% declining-balance method for the plant. One-half year’s depreciation is taken in the year the plant is placed in service, and one-half year is allowed when the property is disposed of or retired. Darby uses a 360-day year for calculating interest costs. Instructions (a) Determine the amounts to be recorded on the books of Darby Sporting Goods Inc. as of December 31, 2014, for each of the following properties acquired from Encino Athletic Equipment Company. (1) Land. (2) Buildings. (3) Machinery. (b) Calculate Darby Sporting Goods Inc.’s 2015 depreciation expense, for book purposes, for each of the properties acquired from Encino Athletic Equipment Company. (c) Discuss the arguments for and against the capitalization of interest costs. Angie Justice, chief engineer, estimated that the renovated plant would be used for 15 years, with an estimated salvage value of $30,000. Justice estimated that the productive machinery would have a remaining useful life of 5 years and a salvage value of $3,000. Darby’s depreciation policy specifies the 200% declining-balance method for machinery and the 150% declining-balance method for the plant. One-half year’s depreciation is taken in the year the plant is placed in service, and one-half year is allowed when the property is disposed of or retired. Darby uses a 360-day year for calculating interest costs. Instructions (a) Determine the amounts to be recorded on the books of Darby Sporting Goods Inc. as of December 31, 2014, for each of the following properties acquired from Encino Athletic Equipment Company. (1) Land. (2) Buildings. (3) Machinery. (b) Calculate Darby Sporting Goods Inc.’s 2015 depreciation expense, for book purposes, for each of the properties acquired from Encino Athletic Equipment Company. (c) Discuss the arguments for and against the capitalization of interest costs.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of having an individual’s   remuneration linked to performance outcomes?             (LO4 and 5)

1.       : Research on team interactions indicates that when people eat lunch at 12-person tables, they are more talkative and collaborative than when they eat at 4-person tables, even if they aren’t eating with their own team members. What do you think would explain this finding?

What can a mill-turn center do that a conventional turning center cannot do?

Explain the meaning of surplus units and deficit units. Provide an example of each. Which types of financial institutions do you deal with? Explain whether you are acting as a surplus unit or a deficit unit in your relationship with each financial institution. (LO1)

1.    : What do you see as the primary advantage of using big data analytics—understanding the environment or influencing the environment? Why?

Use the information presented in BE7-11 for Arness Woodcrafters but assume that the recourse liability has a fair value of $4,000, instead of $8,000. Prepare the journal entry and discuss the effects of this change in the value of the recourse liability on Arness’s financial statements