What is a responsibility center?

Short Answer

Expert verified

Responsibility center refers to the section or unit of an organization responsible for specific tasks assigned to the same.

Step by step solution

01

Meaning of Organization

The term organization refers to the association of individuals and other bodies who agree to perform particular activities for the accomplishment of common goals specified by the management.

02

Meaning of Responsibility Center

The term responsibility center refers to a unit of anentity or organization responsible for all the events, tasks, and activities associated with such a particular unit. Each responsibility center carries its separatetasks and goals.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Padgett Company has compiled the following data:

Net sales revenue $1,000,000

Operating income 60,000

Average total assets 400,000

Management’s target rate of return 12%

Compute the following amounts for Padgett:

  1. Profit margin ratio
  2. Asset turnover ratio
  3. Return on investment
  4. Residual income

Each of the following managers works for a national chain of hotels and has been given certain decision-making authority. Classify each of the managers according to the type of responsibility center he or she probably manages.

a. Manager of the Central Reservation Office

b. Managers of various corporate-owned hotel locations

c. Managers of the Northeast and Southeast Corporate Divisions

d. Manager of the Housekeeping Department at one hotel

e. Manager of the complimentary breakfast buffet at one hotel

Henderson Company manufactures electronics. The Calculator Division (an investment center) manufactures handheld calculators. The division can purchase the batteries used in the calculators from the Battery Division (another investment center) or from an outside vendor. The cost to purchase batteries from the outside vendor is \(5. The transfer price to purchase from the Battery Division is \)6. The Battery Division also sells to outside customers. The sales price is \(6, and the variable cost is \)3. The Battery Division has excess capacity.

Requirements

1. Should the Calculator Division purchase from the Battery Division or the outside vendor?

2. If Henderson Company allows division managers to negotiate transfer prices, what is the maximum transfer price the manager of the Calculator Division should consider?

3. What is the minimum transfer price the manager of the Battery Division should consider?

4. Does your answer to Requirement 3 change if the Battery Division is operating at capacity?

The Harris Company is decentralized, and divisions are considered investment centers. Harris has one division that manufactures oak dining room chairs with upholstered seat cushions. The Chair Division cuts, assembles, and finishes the oak chairs and then purchases and attaches the seat cushions. The Chair Division currently purchases the cushions for \(22 from an outside vendor. The Cushion Division manufactures upholstered seat cushions that are sold to customers outside the company. The Chair Division currently sells 800 chairs per quarter, and the Cushion Division is operating at capacity, which is 800 cushions per quarter. The two divisions report the following information:

Chair Division Cushion Division

Sales Price per Chair \) 85 Sales Price per Cushion \( 32

Variable Cost (other than cushion) 42 Variable Cost per Cushion 13

Variable Cost (cushion) 22

Contribution Margin per Chair \) 21 Contribution Margin per Cushion $ 19

Requirements

1. Determine the total contribution margin for Harris Company for the quarter.

2. Assume the Chair Division purchases the 800 cushions needed from the Cushion Division at its current sales price. What is the total contribution margin for each division and the company?

3. Assume the Chair Division purchases the 800 cushions needed from the Cushion Division at its current variable cost. What is the total contribution margin for each division and the company?

4. Review your answers for Requirements 1, 2, and 3. What is the best option for Harris Company?

5. Assume the Cushion Division has capacity of 1,600 cushions per quarter and can continue to supply its outside customers with 800 cushions per quarter and also supply the Chair Division with 800 cushions per quarter. What transfer price should Harris Company set? Explain your reasoning. Using the transfer price you determined, calculate the total contribution margin for the quarter.

What are some limitations of financial performance measures?

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