Answer to Question 1
D
Answer to Question 2
Contribution margin per pair of shoes = 70 30 = 40
Fixed costs = 100,000
Units sold = Total sales Selling price = 350,000 70 per pair = 5,000 pairs of shoes
1. Variable costs decrease by 20; Fixed costs increase by 15
Sales revenues 5,000 70 350,000
Variable costs 5,000 30 (1 0.20) 120,000
Contribution margin 230,000
Fixed costs 100,000 1.15 115,000
Operating income 115,000
2. Increase advertising (fixed costs) by 30,000; Increase sales 20
Sales revenues 5,000 1.10 70.00 385,000
Variable costs 5,000 1.10 30.00 165,000
Contribution margin 220,000
Fixed costs (100,000 + 25,000) 125,000
Operating income 95,000
3. Increase selling price by 10.00; Sales decrease 20; Variable costs increase by 8
Sales revenues 5,000 0.80 (70 + 10) 320,000
Variable costs 5,000 0.80 (30 + 8) 152,000
Contribution margin 168,000
Fixed costs 100,000
Operating income 68,000
4. Double fixed costs; Increase sales by 60
Sales revenues 5,000 1.60 70 560,000
Variable costs 5,000 1.60 30 240,000
Contribution margin 320,000
Fixed costs 100,000 2 200,000
Operating income 120,000
Alternative 4 yields the highest operating income. Choosing alternative 4 will give Derby a 20 increase in operating income (120,000 100,000)/100,000 = 20, which is less than the company's 25 targeted increase. Alternative 1also generates more operating income for Derby, but it too does not meet Derby's target of 25 increase in operating income. Alternatives 2 and 3 actually result in lower operating income than under Derby's current cost structure. There is no reason, however, for Derby to think of these alternatives as being mutually exclusive. For example, Derby can combine actions 1 and 4, automate the machining process and decrease variable costs by 20 while increasing fixed costs by 15. This will result in a 38 increase in operating income as follows:
Sales revenue 5,000 1.60 70 560,000
Variable costs 5,000 1.60 30 (1 0.20) 192,000
Contribution margin 368,000
Fixed costs 200,000 1.15 230,000
Operating income 138,000
The point of this problem is that managers always need to consider broader rather than narrower alternatives to meet ambitious or stretch goals.