Controllability, responsibility, and balanced scorecard Ashley Peek manages the production division of Myrex Corporation. Ms. Peek's responsibility report for the month of August follows.

The budget had called for 4,600 pounds of raw materials at $5 per pound, and 4,600 pounds were used during August; however, the purchasing department paid $6 per pound for the materials. The wage rate used to establish the budget was $20 per hour. On August 1, however, it increased to $23 as the result of an inflation index provision in the union contract. Furthermore, the purchasing department did not provide the materials needed in accordance with the production schedule, which forced Ms. Peek to use 110 hours of overtime at a $34.50 rate. The projected 500 hours of labor in the budget would have been sufficient had it not been for the 110 hours of overtime. In other words, 610 hours of labor were used in August.
Required
a. When confronted with the unfavorable variances in her responsibility report, Ms. Peek argued that the report was unfair because it held her accountable for materials and labor variances that she did not control. Is she correct? Comment specifically on the materials and labor variances.
b. Prepare a responsibility report that reflects the cost items that Ms. Peek controlled during August.
c. Will the changes in the revised responsibility report require corresponding changes in the financial statements? Explain.
d. Explain how a balanced scorecard may be used to improve the performance evaluation.

Transcribed Image Text:

Actual Variance Budget Controllable costs Raw materials Labor Maintenance $27,600 15,295 4,600 $ 4,600 U 5,295 U 1,400 U 1,250 F $10,045 U $23,000 3,200 2,350 $38,550 Supplies Total 1,100 $48,595