1.	Allocate the two support departments' costs to the two operating departments using the following methods:
	a.	Direct method
	b.	Step-down method (Allocate AS first)
	c.	Step-down method (Allocate IS first)
2.	Compare and explain differences in the support-department costs allocated to each operating department.
3.	What approaches might be used to decide the sequence in which to allocate support departments when using the step-down method?

Data table SUPPORT OPERATING AS IS GOVT CORP Total $ 390,000 $ 2,100,000 $ 7,500,000 $ 12,420,000 $ 22,410,000 Budgeted overhead costs before any interdepartment cost allocations Support work supplied by AS (budgeted head count) Support work supplied by IS (budgeted computer time) 0 25% 45% 30% 100% 10% 0 36% 54% 100% Print Done Houstin Partners provides management consulting services to government and corporate clients. Houstin has two support departmentsadministrative services (AS) and information systems (IS)and two operating departmentsgovernment consulting (GOVT) and corporate consulting (CORP). For the first quarter of 2017, Houstin's cost records indicate the following: (Click the icon to view the cost records.) Read the requirements. Requirement 1a. Allocate the two support departments' costs to the two operating departments using the direct method. (Do not round intermediary calculations and round your final answers to the nearest whole dollar. Use parentheses or a minus sign when decreasing departments by allocating costs. Enter a "0" for any zero balances.) Support Departments Operating Departments Direct Method AS IS GOVT CORP Total Budgeted overhead costs before interdepartment cost allocations $ 390,000 3600000 8750000 12540000 25280000 Allocation of AS costs -765306 367347 244898 Allocation of IS costs 153061 1351102 2026653 $ 0 $ 0 10468449 14811551 25280000 Total budgeted overhead of operating departments Data table SUPPORT OPERATING AS IS GOVT CORP Total $ 390,000 $ 2,100,000 $ 7,500,000 $ 12,420,000 $ 22,410,000 Budgeted overhead costs before any interdepartment cost allocations Support work supplied by AS (budgeted head count) Support work supplied by IS (budgeted computer time) 0 25% 45% 30% 100% 10% 0 36% 54% 100%