Question Tag: Profit Centres

Olascom Nigeria Limited has two operating divisions, Western division and Eastern division that are treated as profit centres for the purpose of performance reporting. Western division makes two products, Tot and Tal. Tot is sold to external customers for ₦310 per unit. Tal is a part-finished item that is sold only to Eastern division. Eastern division can obtain the part-finished item from either Western division or from an external supplier. The external supplier charges a price of ₦275 per unit.

The production capacity of Western division is measured in total units of output of Tot and Tal. Each unit requires the same direct labour time. The costs of production in Western division are as follows:

Required:
a. What is an optimal transfer price? (4 Marks)
b. What would be the optimal transfer price for Tal if there is spare production capacity in Western division? (4 Marks)
c. What would be the optimal transfer price for Tal if Western division is operating at full capacity due to a limited availability of direct labour, and there is unsatisfied external demand for Tot? (7 Marks)
d. Discuss two methods that can be used to evaluate performance of divisions that operate as investment centres,
(5 Marks)