LP04 NAUX Change Discussion
LP04 NAUX Change Discussion
LP04-Owning a car is a big responsibility. Pretend that you are helping your child, nephew, or niece understand the various financial expenses that come with owning a car. Help them by making a list of direct and indirect cost that will allow them to understand how to manage their finances related to owning a vehicle. Share your list to the discussion board.
Distinction Between Direct and Indirect Costs (1 of 2)
- Direct Costs are specifically associated with a particular unit or department or patient.
- Direct costs are directly attributable to the cost object (any unit for which a separate cost measurement is desired).
Distinction Between Direct and Indirect Costs (2 of 2)
- Indirect Costs, on the other hand, cannot be specifically associated with a particular unit or department or patient.
- Indirect costs cannot be directly attributed to the cost object (any unit for which a separate cost measurement is desired).
Practice Exercise 7-1:
Identifying Direct and Indirect Cost
Distinction Between Direct
and Indirect Costs
- Direct Costs are for the sole benefit of a particular operating unit (department) and can be traced.
- Indirect Costs are for the benefit of the overall operation and not for any one unit (department). They must be allocated.
Figure 7-1 Assigning Costs to the Cost Object.
Why the Difference Is
Important to Management
- The Manager is often responsible for the traceable expenses (Direct Expenses) but is not responsible for the allocated expenses (the Indirect Expenses, or overhead).
(Study the examples in the chapter closely.)
Responsibility Centers
- In a Responsibility Center the Manager is responsible for both the revenue/volume (inflow) side and the expense (outflow) side of a department, division, unit, or program.
- Another term for responsibility center is “profit center.”
- Responsibility Center information is especially important because the Manager is responsible for the operation.
(Study the Westside Center example in the chapter carefully.)
Figure 7-2 Lines of managerial responsibility at Westside center.
Courtesy of Resource Group, Ltd., Dallas, Texas
Distinction Between
Product and Period Costs (1 of 4)
- Traditionally, Product Costs represent a product that has been manufactured and placed into inventory while waiting to be sold.
- Then, when the product is sold, it is removed from inventory, matched with revenue, and recognized as a cost.
Distinction Between
Product and Period Costs (2 of 4)
- A Period Cost is not connected to the manufacturing process.
- Instead it is matched with revenue on the basis of what period the cost is incurred; thus “period” costs.*
* The term comes from the span of time in which matching occurs, known as a “time period.”
Distinction Between
Product and Period Costs (3 of 4)
- Medical Supply and Pharmacy Departments have inventories on hand.
- They use the Product Cost method, removing the item from inventory and then matching it with cost.
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Distinction Between
Product and Period Costs (4 of 4)
- Except for departments that carry inventories, however, health care is a service business.
- One way to think of product costs in this instance is as necessary to the department, division, unit, etc. to deliver the service, while period costs are necessary to support the existence of the organization itself.