Cost Allocation in Healthcare at Merck & Co.

Requirements:

1. Allocate overhead costs to different departments (e.g., R&D, Production, Sales) at Merck & Co. using an appropriate cost allocation method.

Department	Direct Costs ($)	Overhead Costs ($)
R&D	9,000,000	3,600,000
Production	14,000,000	5,600,000
Sales	7,000,000	2,800,000

2. Calculate the total cost for each department.
3. Evaluate the impact of overhead cost allocation on department budgets.
4. Recommend strategies to optimize cost allocation and improve financial performance.