Cost Allocation and Profitability Explain the relationship between cost allocation and customer profitability. Why is determining customer profitability important to a business, and how can appropriate cost allocation help accomplish that goal? Focus on the following five main factors that businesses can use to evaluate customer profitability: ¢Likelihood of customer retention ¢Potential for sales growth ¢Long-run customer profitability ¢Increases in overall demand from having well known customers ¢The ability to learn from customers Discuss how and why examining these variables can help a business increase its overall profitability. Discussion: Cost Allocation Methods: When to Use What? You have read about the methods for allocating support costs to supporting departments: the single-rate method and the dual-rate method. Offer example scenarios where each of these would be appropriately used and explain why you chose those scenarios. Discussion: The Death of LIFO? LIFO or FIFO? This is often the question when Congress and analysts discuss energy companies’ accounting methods. Discuss why the distinction between LIFO and FIFO is important when looking at oil revenue profits and why there is such controversy over LIFO’s continued use. Then post your opinion on whether LIFO should be available to energy companies as an accounting method and why. Discussion: Lean Accounting and Waste Lean manufacturing processes (like Six Sigma or Kaizen) are popular because they reduce waste, thereby increasing profits. But what are some of the issues accountants face when switching to a lean manufacturing system? Identify some of the ways lean manufacturing reduces scrap, waste, and spoilage and how the accounting in these companies reflects the increased vigilance in preventing scrap, waste, and spoilage. Are there any downsides to enacting lean manufacturing from an accounting standpoint? If so, what are they? Discussion: How Will You Use What You’ve Learned? For the final discussion, take a moment to think back to where you were when you began this class and where you are now. How did you grow as a student over the course of this class? How do you expect to use what you’ve learned in this class throughout the rest of your education? How will you use it in your chosen/anticipated profession? What did you find to be the most interesting/surprising/useful topic covered? Why? Short Paper: Reimbursable Costs and Contract Disputes The U.S. government employs a large number of contractors throughout many different departments. Unfortunately, not all contractors are scrupulous when seeking reimbursement for costs incurred during their contract period. Your reading covered four examples of contract disputes within the U.S. Department of Defense. Research another example of a reimbursement-related contract dispute between the U.S. government and a contractor. Then create a short case study report, including the following topics: “ A summary of the reason for and nature of the contract “ A summary of the company (what it does, any history/legal proceedings relevant to the topic of contract disputes/reimbursement, information on company’s past profits) “ An overview of the contract reimbursement allegations and dispute “ A summary of the outcome of the dispute.