Ethics and the Manager, Understanding the Impact of Percentage Completion on ProfitWeighted-Average Method LO42, LO43, LO44

Gary Stevens and Mary James are production managers in the Consumer Electronics Division of General Electronics Company, which has several dozen plants scattered in locations throughout the world. Mary manages the plant located in Des Moines, Iowa, while Gary manages the plant in El Segundo, California. Production managers are paid a salary and get an additional bonus equal to 5% of their base salary if the entire division meets or exceeds its target profits for the year. The bonus is determined in March after the companys annual report has been prepared and issued to stockholders.

Shortly after the beginning of the new year, Mary received a phone call from Gary that went like this:

1. Gary:Hows it going, Mary?

2. Mary:Fine, Gary. Hows it going with you?

3. Gary:Great! I just got the preliminary profit figures for the division for last year and we are within $200,000 of making the years target profits. All we have to do is pull a few strings, and well be over the top!

4. Mary:What do you mean?

5. Gary:Well, one thing that would be easy to change is your estimate of the percentage completion of your ending work in process inventories.

6. Mary:I dont know if I can do that, Gary. Those percentage completion figures are supplied by Tom Winthrop, my lead supervisor, who I have always trusted to provide us with good estimates. Besides, I have already sent the percentage completion figures to corporate headquarters.Page 181

7. Gary:You can always tell them there was a mistake. Think about it, Mary. All of us managers are doing as much as we can to pull this bonus out of the hat. You may not want the bonus check, but the rest of us sure could use it.

The final processing department in Marys production facility began the year with no work in process inventory. During the year, 210,000 units were transferred in from the prior processing department and 200,000 units were completed and sold. Costs transferred in from the prior department totaled $39,375,000. No materials are added in the final processing department. A total of $20,807,500 of conversion cost was incurred in the final processing department during the year.

Required:

1. Tom Winthrop estimated that the units in ending work in process inventory in the final processing department were 30% complete with respect to the conversion costs of the final processing department. If this estimate of the percentage completion is used, what would be the cost of goods sold for the year?

2. Does Gary Stevens want the estimated percentage completion to be increased or decreased? Explain why.

3. What percentage completion would result in increasing reported net operating income by $200,000 over the net operating income that would be reported if the 30% figure were used?

4. Do you think Mary James should go along with the request to alter estimates of the percentage completion? Why or why not? (Note: besides the fact that manipulating numbers to meet an earnings goal is wrong tell me A) how it would negatively impact shareholders B) which financial statements would be impacted and how would it impact those statements C) what would be the potential ramifications if the auditors discovered the estimate manipulation D) how might the auditors discover the estimate manipulation and E) and what might happen if other employees found out about the estimate manipulation?

5. If you were Mary, name three options you would have in dealing with this situation?

6. If you are Mary what is your opinion of Gary after this conversation?

7. Would you likely/not likely support a promotion for Gary within the company? Why or Why not?

8. Are there any legal consequences to Mary if she changes the completion percentage?

9. What percentage chance (0 100%) do you give yourself that you will be faced with an ethical dilemma in your career within the first 10 years post-graduation?