Professional Documents
Culture Documents
BACKGROUND
Medium sized, partly integrated company 3 products-white and Kraft papers and paperboard
BIRCH
Northern
Southern
Thompson
Division 4
Timberland
SITUATION
Northern and Thompson divisions together designed box for Northern division Thompson division was reimbursed by northern division for its designing and development. After finalization, apart from Thompson's bid it also get offers from two outside companies.
Company policy where each division manager had full freedom and discretion to buy from anywhere .
SITUATION
Thompsons most materials from within company, but sales mostly to outsiders.
BIDS(per 1000)
Thompson - $480
It would buy outside linear board from birch with special printing(to be done by Thompson) @ a cost of $90(per thousand) and $30 for printing.
Competitive market where higher costs cannot be passed on, how can we buy our own supplies @ 10% higher than market rate. -William Kenton
Other factors
Thompson division felt not received profit for their development work, hence entitled to mark up on production of box. Costs variable for one division could be largely fixed for company as a whole Without orders from top management Kenton would accept the lowest bid. Transactions involved only 5% of volume of divisions involved.
Which bid should northern division accept that is in best interest of the company?
Thompson division; even though the bid from West Paper seems at first to be the best choice.
In you calculate out the cost you find that Thompson actually has the lowest costs associated with them.
(intricacies involved)
Costs involved
Costs for Thompson are a: Linearboard and corrugating medium: Cost $400x70%*60%= $168 plus Out of Pocket: $400x30%=120, for a total cost of $288.
Mr. Kenton should not accept the bid from West because it isnt in the best interest of the company, but at the same time with the transfer policy that exists, it is really up to him what is in the best interests of his division. I believe he should accept the bid from Thompson because not only will it result in the lowest cost, but also it will encourage buying from within the company.
Yes. As if no orders come from top management Kenton would accept the lowest bid The vice president of Birch should take action in order to remedy the overall problems associated with this transfer pricing policy.
To an extent - yes. The transfer price system is dysfunctional because it focuses too much on individual sectors making profit and return on investment. Some alternative should be present which strikes a balance between both.
THANK YOU