Faulkenheim GmbH is a manufacturer of tool and die machinery. Faulkenheim is a vertically integrated company that
Question:
Faulkenheim monitors its divisions on the basis of return on investment (ROI) with investment defined as average operating assets employed. Faulkenheim uses ROI to determine management bonuses. All investments in operating assets are expected to earn a minimum return of 11% before income taxes. For many years, Frankfurt's ROI has ranged from 11.8% to 14.7%. During the fiscal year ending 31 December 2014, Frankfurt contemplated a capital acquisition with an estimated ROI of 11.5%; division management, however, decided against the investment because it believed that the investment would decrease Frankfurt's overall ROI.
Frankfurt's 2014 operating income statement follows. The division's operating assets employed were ¬15 750 000 at 31 December 2014, a 5% increase over the previous year-end balance.
Required
1. Calculate the return on investment in average operating assets employed (ROI) for 2014 for the Frankfurt Steel Division.
2. Calculate Frankfurt Steel Division's residual income on the basis of average operating assets employed.
3. Would the management of Frankfurt Steel Division have been more likely to accept the investment opportunity it had in 2014 if residual income were used as a performance measure instead of ROI? Explain.
4. Frank Weissmann, the chairman of Faulkenheim GmbH is considering one of four alternative ways to compensate division managers.
a. Pay each division manager only a flat salary and no bonus.
b. Make all of each division manager's compensation depend on division residual income.
c. Make all of each division manager's compensation depend on company-wide (Faulkenheim GmbH) residual income rather than divisional residual income.
d. Use benchmarking and compensate each division manager on the basis of his or her own division's residual income minus the residual profit of the other division. Assume the two divisions have comparable levels of investment and required rates of return.
Assume that division managers do not like bearing risk. Evaluate each of the four alternatives Weissmann is considering, in the context of the structure and businesses of Faulkenheim GmbH. Indicate the positive and negative features of each proposal.
5. What compensation arrangement would you recommend? Explain your answer briefly.
Step by Step Answer:
Management and Cost Accounting
ISBN: 978-1292063461
6th edition
Authors: Alnoor Bhimani, Charles T. Horngren, Srikant M. Datar, Madhav V. Rajan