Warning: foreach() argument must be of type array|object, bool given in /var/www/html/web/app/themes/studypress-core-theme/template-parts/header/mobile-offcanvas.php on line 20

What is cost stickiness? Why do managers need to be aware of cost stickiness?

Short Answer

Expert verified

Answer

Variable cost and contribution margin have an inverse connection.

Step by step solution

01

Meaning of cost stickiness

When the ratio of increase in cost due to increased sales is higher than the ratio of decrease in cost to reduce in sales is known as cost stickiness.

02

Why do managers need to be aware of cost stickiness?

Due to cost stickiness, costs can behave differently than expected from their CVP analysis; that’s why managers need to be aware of cost stickiness.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with Vaia!

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

Diversified Investor Group is opening an office in Boise, Idaho. Fixed monthly costs are office rent (\(8,000), depreciation on office furniture (\)1,700), utilities (\(2,400), special telephone lines (\)1,500), a connection with an online brokerage service (\(2,500), and the salary of a financial planner (\)11,900). Variable costs include payments to the financial planner (9% of revenue), advertising (11% of revenue), supplies and postage (4% of revenue), and usage fees for the telephone lines and computerized brokerage service (6% of revenue).

Requirements

  1. Use the contribution margin ratio approach to compute Diversified’s breakeven revenue in dollars. If the average trade leads to \(800 in revenue for Diversified, how many trades must be made to break even?
  2. Use the equation approach to compute the dollar revenues needed to earn a monthly target profit of \)11,200.
  3. Graph Diversified’s CVP relationships. Assume that an average trade leads to \(800 in revenue for Diversified. Show the breakeven point, the sales revenue line, the fixed cost line, the total cost line, the operating loss area, the operating income area, and the sales in units (trades) and dollars when monthly operating income of \)11,200 is earned.
  4. Suppose that the average revenue Diversified earns increases to $2,000 per trade. Compute the new breakeven point in trades. How does this affect the breakeven point?

Question: Computing contribution margin in total, per unit, and as a ratio

Complete the table below for contribution margin per unit, total contribution margin, and contribution margin ratio:

A B C Number of units 1,720 units 14,920 units 4,620 units

Sales price per unit \( 1,800 \) 4,500 $ 5,550

Variable costs per unit 720 3,600 1,665

Calculate:                  

Contribution margin per unit                      

Total contribution margin                        

Contribution margin ratio

Calculating breakeven sales and sales to earn a target profit;preparing a contribution margin income statement

Famous Productions performs London shows. The average show sells 1,000 ticketsat \(60 per ticket. There are 175 shows a year. No additional shows can be held as thetheater is also used by other production companies. The average show has a cast of60, each earning a net average of \)320 per show. The cast is paid after each show. Theother variable cost is a program-printing cost of \(8 per guest. Annual fixed costs total\)459,200.

Requirements

1. Compute revenue and variable costs for each show.

2. Use the equation approach to compute the number of shows Famous Productionsmust perform each year to break even.

3. Use the contribution margin ratio approach to compute the number of showsneeded each year to earn a profit of $4,264,000. Is this profit goal realistic? Giveyour reasoning.

4. Prepare Famous Productions’s contribution margin income statement for 175shows performed in 2018. Report only two categories of costs: variable andfixed.

White Company sells flags with team logos. White has fixed costs of \(639,600 per year plus variable costs of \)4.20 per flag. Each flag sells for \(12.00.

Requirements

1. Use the equation approach to compute the number of flags White must sell each year to break even.

2. Use the contribution margin ratio approach to compute the dollar sales White needs to earn \)32,500 in operating income for 2018. (Round the contribution margin to two decimal places.)

3. Prepare White’s contribution margin income statement for the year ended December 31, 2018, for sales of 73,000 flags. (Round your final answers up to the next whole number.)

4. The company is considering an expansion that will increase fixed costs by 23% and variable costs by $0.60 per flag. Compute the new breakeven point in units and in dollars. Should White undertake the expansion? Give your reasoning. (Round your final answers up to the next whole number.)

What is cost stickiness? Why do managers need to be aware of cost stickiness?

See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Business Studies Textbooks

View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.

Sign-up for free