Assisi Electronics manufactures motherboards for computers. The company is divided into two divisions: manufacturing and programming. The manufacturing division makes the board, and the programming division makes the adjustments required to meet the customer's specifications The average total cost per unit of the boards in the manufacturing division is about $450 and the average total cost per board incurred in the programming division is $100. The average selling price of the boards is $700. The company is now operating at capacity, and increasing the volume of production is not a feasible alternative. In the past, the managers of the two divisions have negotiated a transfer price. The average transfer price has been about 5500, resulting in the manufacturing division recognizing a profit of about $100 per board. Each of the managers receives a bonus that is proportional to the profit reported by his/her division. Karen Barton, the manager of the manufacturing division, has announced that she is no longer willing to supply boards to the programming division. Sam Draper, the senior purchasing executive for Perugia Electronics, 3 computer manufacturer, has indicated that he is willing to purchase, at $650 per unit, all the boards that Karen's division can supply and is willing to sign a long-term contract to that effect. Karen indicated that she offered the boards to the programming division at $625 per board on the grounds that selling and distribution costs would be reduced by selling inside. Neil Wilson, the manager of the programming division, refused the offer on the grounds that the programming division would show a loss at the transfer price. Neil has appealed to Shannon McDonald, the general manager, arguing that Karen should be prohibited from selling outside. Neil has indicated that a preliminary investigation suggests that he cannot purchase these boards for less than $640 outside. Therefore, allowing Karen to sell outside would effectively doom Neil's division. 1. What transfer price would you recommend and why? 2. What recommendations do you have for the programming division? 3. What are some of the strategic issues that Assisi Electronics needs to consider? cuse b Current Contribution Manufacturing Programming Sales 500 700 Less: Variable Costs 450 100 500 Contribution Margin 50 100 150 Contribution if manufacturing sells to programming at $625 Manufacturing Programming Sales 625 700 Less: Variable Costs 450 100 625 Contribution Margin 175 -25 150 Contribution if manufacturing sells exclusively externally and programming buys externally Manufacturing Programming Sales 650 700 Less: Variable Costs 450 100 640 Contribution Margin 200 -40 160 Contribution without programming Manufacturing Programming Sales 650 Less: Variable Costs 450 (650-625) 25 Contribution Margin 175 0 175 Contribution with $600 transfer price Manufacturing Programming Sales 600 700 Less: Variable Costs 450 100 600 Contribution Margin 150 0 150