Behrend Clinic Uses the Direct Method to Allocate Service Department

question 274

Multiple Choice

Behrend Clinic uses the direct method to allocate service department costs to operating departments. The clinic has two service departments, Personnel and Support, and two operating departments, Prenatal and Pediatrics. Personnel Department costs are allocated on the basis of employee hours and Support Department costs are allocated on the basis of space occupied in square feet. The total Pediatrics Department cost after the allocations of service department costs is closest to:

• A) $441,260
• B) $443,660
• C) $433,440
• D) $444,471

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Definitions:

Decreasing Returns to Scale

A situation in which a firm experiences a less than proportional increase in output despite a proportional increase in all inputs, typically due to inefficiencies.

Increasing Opportunity Costs

The concept that as you produce more of one good, the opportunity cost of producing that next unit increases.

Scale Reduction

The process of downsizing the scope or size of operations, often in response to operational inefficiencies or declining profits.

Long-Run Average Total Cost

The average cost per unit of output incurred when all factors of production, including capital, are variable, considered over a sufficient period for all adjustments to be made.