MENU
The segmented income statement for a retail company with three product lines is presented below:
The company buys the goods in the three product lines directly from manufacturers' representatives. Each product line is directed by a manager whose salary is included in the administrative expenses. Administrative expenses are allocated to the three product lines equally because the administration is spread evenly among the three product lines. Salaries represent payments to the workers in each product line and therefore are traceable costs of each product line. Advertising promotes the entire company rather than the individual product lines. As a result, the advertising is allocated to the three product lines in proportion to the sales revenue. Commissions are paid to the salespersons in each product line based on 2% of gross sales. Rent represents the cost of the retail store and warehouse under a lease agreement with 5 years remaining. The product lines share the retail and warehouse space, and the rent is allocated to the three product lines based on the square footage occupied by each of the product lines. The company buys the goods in the three product lines directly from manufacturers' representatives. Each product line is directed by a manager whose salary is included in the administrative expenses. Administrative expenses are allocated to the three product lines equally because the administration is spread evenly among the three product lines. Salaries represent payments to the workers in each product line and therefore are traceable costs of each product line. Advertising promotes the entire company rather than the individual product lines. As a result1 the advertising is allocated to the three product lines in proportion to the sales revenue. Commissions are paid to the salespersons in each product line based on 2% of gross sales. Rent represents the cost of the retail store and warehouse under a lease agreement with 5 years remaining. The product lines share the retail and warehouse space, and the rent is allocated to the three product lines based on the square footage occupied by each of the product lines. The segmented income statement for this retail company does not facilitate performance evaluation because it does not distinguish between controllable and uncontrollable costs. The only costs and expenses controllable at the product-line level for this retail company are
Post-investment audits should be conducted to serve as a control mechanism and to deter managers from proposing unprofitable investments. Actual-to-expected cash flow comparisons should be made, and unfavorable variances should be explained. Individuals who supplied unrealistic estimates should have to explain Differences.