更多“(c) Suggest ways in which each of the six problems chosen in (a) above may be overcome. (6 marks)”相关问题
  • 第1题:

    (b) Examine how adopting a Six Sigma approach would help address the quality problems at UPC.

    (10 marks)


    正确答案:
    (b) In many ways Six Sigma started out as a quality control methodology. It focused on measurement and the minimisation of
    faults through pursuing Six Sigma as a statistical measure of some aspects of organisational performance. However, Six Sigma
    has developed into something much more than a process control technique. It includes a problem-solving process called
    DMAIC and a comprehensive toolkit ranging from brainstorming to balanced scorecards and process dashboards. It also has
    defined team roles for managers and employees, often with martial arts names such as Black Belt, Green Belt and Master
    Black Belt.
    Six Sigma was first used in organisations in the early 1990s. However, it was its adoption and promotion by Jack Welch, the
    CEO of GE that brought Six Sigma wider publicity. He announced that ‘Six Sigma is the most important initiative GE has ever
    undertaken’. As Paul Harmon comments, ‘Welch’s popularity with the business press, and his dynamic style, guaranteed that
    Six Sigma would become one of the hot management techniques of the late 1990s’.
    Six Sigma uses an approach called DMAIC in its problem solving process. This stands for Define, Measure, Analyse, Improve
    and Control. Three aspects of this are considered below in the context of how they would address the problems at UPC.
    Defining the problem
    Part of defining the problem is the identification of the customer. It is important to understand what customers really want
    and value and one of the main themes of Six Sigma is its focus on the customer. Six Sigma explicitly recognises the ‘voice of
    the customer’ (VOC) in its approach. In the UPC situation quality requirements are currently defined by the physical condition
    of the goods and by the alignment of the image. However, this may be a limiting view of quality because there is no evidence

    of any systematic investigation of the requirements of the customer. Solving these problems may not lead to any significant
    long-term gain; they may be quickly replaced by other ‘quality issues’. Furthermore, the customer is also perceived in a limited
    way. These quality requirements are in the eye of the gift shop owner who is interested in saleable products. The end customer
    – the consumer – who buys and uses the product may have other requirements which can also be addressed at this time.
    By considering the VOC the problem and scope of the project becomes re-defined and the solution of the problems potentially
    more valuable.
    Measurement
    Measurement is fundamental to Six Sigma. This includes the gathering of data to validate and quantify the problem. The
    creation of the inspection team was based on initial evidence about an increase in breakages. This needs to be quantified.
    The inaccurate printing of the image had been quantified as 500 units per month, out of the 250,000 shipped out of the
    company. This equates to a failure rate of 0·2%, so that 99·8% of items are shipped with a correctly aligned image. This
    sounds quite reasonable but it still raises issues and complaints that have to be dealt with, as well as creating wastage costs
    of $10,000 per month. The problem is that even a relatively low percentage of defects can lead to a lot of unhappy customers.
    Aiming for Six Sigma would reduce defects down to about one faulty item per month, reducing the wastage cost to $20.
    Analysis
    Analysis is concerned with understanding the process to find the root cause. Six Sigma focuses on processes and their
    analysis. Analysis concerns methods, machines, materials, measures, Mother Nature and people. The alignment problem
    needs investigation to find out what causes the imaging machine to irregularly produce misaligned images. Management
    currently appear to blame the machine but it may be due to the way that certain people load the machine. The analysis of
    the breakages is particularly important. It is unclear at present where these breakages occur (for example, are some of the
    items broken before they leave UPC’s despatch facility) or are they all broken in transit? Neither is it understood why the
    breakages occur. Management appear to blame the packers for packing incorrectly and not following the correct method.
    However, it may be that the material is just not strong enough to withstand heavy handling by couriers who are outside the
    control of UPC. Additionally, the breakages may be due to some manufacturing problem or raw material imperfection in the
    items that break. Six Sigma stresses understanding the problem before solving it.
    Although DMAIC has been selected as the framework for the sample answer, focusing on other aspects of Six Sigma would
    be acceptable – as long as they are presented in the context of the UPC scenario.

  • 第2题:

    (iv) Tyre recently undertook a sales campaign whereby customers can obtain free car accessories, by presenting a

    coupon, which has been included in an advertisement in a national newspaper, on the purchase of a vehicle.

    The offer is valid for a limited time period from 1 January 2006 until 31 July 2006. The management are unsure

    as to how to treat this offer in the financial statements for the year ended 31 May 2006.

    (5 marks)

    Required:

    Advise the directors of Tyre on how to treat the above items in the financial statements for the year ended

    31 May 2006.

    (The mark allocation is shown against each of the above items)


    正确答案:
    (iv) Car accessories
    An obligation should not be recognised for the coupons and no provision created under IAS37 ‘Provisions, Contingent
    Liabilities and Contingent Assets’. A provision should only be recognised where there is an obligating event. There has to be
    a present obligation (legal or constructive), the probability of an outflow of resources and the ability to make a reliable estimate
    of the amount of the obligation. These conditions do not seem to have been met. Until the vehicle is purchased the
    accessories cannot be obtained. That is the point at which the present obligation arises, the outflow of resources occurs and
    an estimate of the amount of the obligation can be made. When the car is purchased, the accessories become part of the
    cost of the sale. The revenue recognised will be the amount received from the customer (the sales price). The revenue will
    not be grossed up to include the value of the accessories.

  • 第3题:

    (b) Discuss ways in which the traditional budgeting process may be seen as a barrier to the achievement of the

    aims of EACH of the following models for the implementation of strategic change:

    (i) benchmarking;

    (ii) balanced scorecard; and

    (iii) activity-based models. (12 marks)


    正确答案:
    (b) Benchmarking
    Benchmarks enable goals to be set that may be based on either external measures of ‘best practice’ organisations or internal
    cross-functional comparisons which exhibit ‘best practice’. A primary aim of the traditional budgeting process is the setting of
    realistic targets that can be achieved within the budget period. The setting of realistic targets means that the extent of
    underperformance against ‘best practice’ standards loses visibility, and thus short-term financial targets remain the
    predominant focus of the traditional budgeting process. It is arguable that because the budgetary reporting system purports
    to give managers ‘control’, there is very little real incentive to seek out benchmarks which may be used to raise budgeted
    performance targets. Much depends upon the prevailing organisational culture since benchmarking may be viewed as an
    attempt by top management to impose impossible targets upon operational managers. The situation is further exacerbated
    where organisations do not measure their success relative to their competition.
    Balanced scorecard
    The Balanced scorecard is often misunderstood as a consequence of the failure by top management to ensure that it is
    implemented effectively within the organisation. Thus it may be viewed as the addition of a few non-financial measures to
    the conventional budget. In an attempt to overcome this misperception many management teams now establish a
    performance-rewards linkage based upon the achievement of Scorecard targets for the forthcoming budget period.
    Unfortunately this can precipitate dysfunctional behaviour at every level within the organisation.
    Even in situations where the Scorecard has been well-designed and well-implemented it is difficult for it to gain widespread
    acceptance. This is because all too often there exists a culture which places a very high value upon the achievement of the
    fixed annual targets in order to avoid the loss of status, recognition and rewards.
    A well-constructed Scorecard contains a mix of long-term and short-term measures and therefore drives the company in the
    direction of medium-term strategic goals which are supported by cross-functional initiatives. On the other hand, the budgeting
    process focuses the organisation on the achievement of short-term financial goals supported by the initiatives of individual
    departments. Budgets can also act as an impediment to the acceptance of responsibility by local managers for the
    achievement of the Scorecard targets. This is often the case in situations where a continued emphasis exists on meeting shortterm
    e.g. quarterly targets.
    Activity-based models
    Traditional budgets show the costs of functions and departments (e.g. staff costs and establishment costs) instead of the costs
    of those activities that are performed by people (e.g. receipt of goods inwards, processing and dispatch of orders etc). Thus
    managers have no visibility of the real ‘cost drivers’ of their business. In addition, it is probable that a traditional budget
    contains a significant amount of non-value-added costs that are not visible to the managers. The annual budget also tends
    to fix capacity for the forthcoming budget period thereby undermining the potential of Activity-based management (ABM)
    analysis to determine required capacity from a customer demand perspective. Those experienced in the use of ABM
    techniques are used to dealing with such problems, however their tasks would be much easier to perform. and their results
    made more reliable if these problems were removed.

  • 第4题:

    (ii) Suggest THREE other performance measures (not applied in (i)) which might be used to assess the

    customer perspective of the balanced scorecard of GER. (3 marks)


    正确答案:
    (ii) Performance measures that may be used to assess the customer perspective of the balanced scorecard of GER include
    the following:
    Lost or damaged luggage per 1,000 passengers
    Train cancellation rate
    Denied boarding rate
    Number of passenger complaints.
    Note: Only three measures were required.

  • 第5题:

    (c) Discuss the practical problems that may be encountered in the implementation of an activity-based system

    of product cost management. (5 marks)


    正确答案:
    (c) The benefits of an activity-based system as the basis for product cost/profit estimation may not be straightforward. A number
    of problems may be identified.
    The selection of relevant activities and cost drivers may be complicated where there are many activities and cost drivers in
    complex business situations.
    There may be difficulty in the collection of data to enable accurate cost driver rates to be calculated. This is also likely to
    require an extensive data collection and analysis system.
    The problem of ‘cost driver denominator level’ may also prove difficult. This is similar to the problem in a traditional volume
    related system. This is linked to the problem of fixed/variable cost analysis. For example the cost per batch may be fixed. Its
    impact may be reduced, however, where the batch size can be increased without a proportionate increase in cost.
    The achievement of the required level of management skill and commitment to change may also detract from the
    implementation of the new system. Management may feel that the activity based approach contains too many assumptions
    and estimates about activities and cost drivers. There may be doubt as to the degree of increased accuracy which it provides.
    (alternative relevant examples and discussion would be acceptable)

  • 第6题:

    (b) Analyse THREE potential problems, based solely on the information provided above, that TMC might

    encounter in the acquisition of CBC. (5 marks)


    正确答案:
    (b) Three potential problems that TMC might encounter in the proposed acquisition of CBC are as follows:
    (i) TMC is forecast to have a 22% share of the market for disposable nappies at the end of 2008. If TMC was to acquire
    CBC at that time it would then have a market share of ($681m + $155m)/$3,095m = 27%. Much will depend on
    prevailing legislation. For example, in the UK it might be the case that the Director General of Fair Trading may ask the
    Competition Commission (CC) to investigate if any organisation controls 25% or more of the market. The Secretary of
    State may do likewise in circumstances where the proposed takeover would lead to the creation of a firm that would
    control 25% or more of the market. (Similar examples from other countries would be equally acceptable.)
    (ii) The directors of TMC need to be aware of the precise nature of the cultural problems that CBC has experienced during
    recent years as this could be very damaging to its business if the acquisition of CBC goes ahead. In an extreme case
    the organisational cultures of TMC and CBC might be incompatible. The directors of TMC need to make a very careful
    assessment as to whether it would be possible to transform. a negative culture into a positive one. If they consider that
    this would prove to be very difficult then they might be best advised not to proceed with the acquisition.
    (iii) The directors of TMC have no experience of managing such acquisitions and this might mean that the integration of CBC
    into TMC would prove problematic. It is probable that the systems are different as well as the management styles,
    employee skills and business infrastructure.
    (Alternative relevant discussion would be acceptable)

  • 第7题:

    (b) The Superior Fitness Co (SFC), which is well established in Mayland, operates nine centres. Each of SFC’s

    centres is similar in size to those of HFG. SFC also provides dietary plans and fitness programmes to its clients.

    The directors of HFG have decided that they wish to benchmark the performance of HFG with that of SFC.

    Required:

    Discuss the problems that the directors of HFG might experience in their wish to benchmark the performance

    of HFG with the performance of SFC, and recommend how such problems might be successfully addressed.

    (7 marks)


    正确答案:
    (b) There are a number of potential problems which the directors of HFG need to recognise. These are as follows:
    (i) There needs to exist a sufficient incentive for SFO to share their information with HFG as the success of any
    benchmarking programme is dependent upon obtaining accurate information about the comparator organisation. This is
    not an easy task to accomplish, as many organisations are reluctant to reveal confidential information to competitors.
    The directors of HFG must be able to convince the directors of SFO that entering into a benchmarking arrangement is a
    potential ‘win-win situation’.
    (ii) The value of the exercise must be sufficient to justify the cost involved. Also, it is inevitable that behavioural issues will
    need to be addressed in any benchmarking programme. Management should give priority to the need to communicate
    the reasons for undertaking a programme of benchmarking in order to gain the full co-operation of its personnel whilst
    reducing the potential level of resistance to change.
    (iii) Management need to handle the ethical implications relating to the introduction of benchmarking in a sensitive manner
    and should endeavour, insofar as possible, to provide reassurance to employees that their status, remuneration and
    working conditions will not suffer as a consequence of the introduction of any benchmarking initiatives.

  • 第8题:

    (iii) Identify and discuss an alternative strategy that may assist in improving the performance of CTC with

    effect from 1 May 2009 (where only the products in (a) and (b) above are available for manufacture).

    (4 marks)


    正确答案:
    (iii) If no new products are available then CTC must look to boost revenues obtained from its existing product portolio whilst
    seeking to reduce product specific fixed overheads and the company’s other fixed overheads. In order to do this attention
    should be focused on the marketing activities currently undertaken.
    CTC should consider selling all of its products in ‘multi product’ packages as it might well be the case that the increased
    contribution achieved from increased sales volumes would outweigh the diminution in contribution arising from
    reductions in the selling price per unit of each product.
    CTC could also apply target costing principles in order to reduce costs and thereby increase the margins on each of its
    products. Value analysis should be undertaken in order to evaluate the value-added features of each product. For
    example, the use of non-combustible materials in manufacture would be a valued added feature of such products
    whereas the use of pins and metal fastenings which are potentially harmful to children would obviously not comprise
    value added features. CTC should focus on delivering ‘value’ to the customer and in attempting to do so should seek to
    identify all non-value activities in order that they may be eliminated and hence margins improved.

  • 第9题:

    (iii) Can internal audit services be undertaken for an audit client? (4 marks)

    Required:

    For each of the three questions, explain the threats to objectivity that may arise and the safeguards that

    should be available to manage them to an acceptable level.

    NOTE: The mark allocation is shown against each of the three questions above.


    正确答案:

    (iii) Internal audit services
    A self-review threat may be created when a firm, or network firm, provides internal audit services to a financial statement
    audit client. Internal audit services may comprise:
    ■ an extension of the firm’s audit service beyond requirements of International Standards on Auditing (ISAs);
    ■ assistance in the performance of a client’s internal audit activities; or
    ■ outsourcing of the activities.
    The nature of the service must be considered in evaluating any threats to independence. (For this purpose, internal audit
    services do not include operational internal audit services unrelated to the internal accounting controls, financial systems
    or financial statements.)
    Services involving an extension of the procedures required to conduct a financial statement audit in accordance with
    ISAs would not be considered to impair independence with respect to the audit client provided that the firm’s or network
    firm’s personnel do not act or appear to act in a capacity equivalent to a member of audit client management.

    When the firm, or a network firm, provides an audit client with assistance in the performance of internal audit activities
    or undertakes the outsourcing, any self-review threat created may be reduced to an acceptable level by a clear separation
    of:
    ■ the management and control of the internal audit by client management;
    ■ the internal audit activities.
    Performing a significant portion of an audit client’s internal audit activities may create a self-review threat. Appropriate
    safeguards should include the audit client’s acknowledgement of its responsibilities for establishing, maintaining and
    monitoring the system of internal controls.
    Other safeguards include:
    ■ the audit client designating a competent employee, preferably within senior management, to be responsible for
    internal audit activities;
    ■ the audit client, audit committee or supervisory body approving the scope, risk and frequency of internal audit
    work;
    ■ the audit client being responsible for evaluating and determining which recommendations of the firm should be
    implemented;
    ■ the audit client evaluating the adequacy of the internal audit procedures performed and the resultant findings by
    obtaining and acting on reports from the firm; and
    ■ appropriate reporting of findings and recommendations resulting from the internal audit activities to the audit
    committee or supervisory body.
    Consideration should also be given to whether such non-assurance services should be provided only by personnel not
    involved in the financial statement audit engagement and with different reporting lines within the firm.

  • 第10题:

    Which two statements are TRUE regarding Coherence Indexes ? ()

    • A、 indexes are maintained by cache entry ownes
    • B、 an application should not suggest an index that another aplication had suggested
    • C、 indexes cannot be sorted
    • D、 each application using Coherence may suggest the same set of indexes when it starts

    正确答案:A,D

  • 第11题:

    单选题
    Which of the following problems may occur if the clearance between a piston and cylinder liner is insufficient?()
    A

    Excessive wear

    B

    Scuffing of the liner

    C

    Piston seizure

    D

    All of the above


    正确答案: C
    解析: 暂无解析

  • 第12题:

    单选题
    Each liferaft,which does not have an indicated maximum stowage height indicated on the liferaft,must be().
    A

    limited to carry no more than 10 persons

    B

    stowed not more than 59 feet above the lightest waterline

    C

    stowed in quick release racks

    D

    inspected every six months


    正确答案: C
    解析: 暂无解析

  • 第13题:

    (d) There is considerable evidence to suggest that as a result of implementation problems less than 50% of all

    acquisitions achieve their objectives and actually end up reducing shareholder value.

    Required:

    Provide Ken with a brief report on the most likely sources of integration problems and describe the key

    performance indicators he should use to measure progress towards acquisition objectives. (15 marks)


    正确答案:
    (d) Many academic studies, together with actual managerial experience, point to the post-acquisition integration phase as being
    the key to an acquirer achieving their acquisition objectives. In particular, the creation (or destruction) of shareholder value
    rests most heavily on the success of the integration phase, which in turn helps determine whether the acquirer has chosen
    the ‘right’ target company and paid the right price for it. One source strongly argues that the capability to manage the
    integration of the two organisational sturctures, in particular the conversion of information systems and retention and
    motivation of key employees, determines how much value can be extracted from the combined entities. The ability to manage
    the integration process will therefore affect the success of the prior phases of the acquisition process – the search for and
    screening of potential candidates, the effective carrying out of due diligence, financial evaluation and successful negotiation
    of the deal.
    Unfortunately, the failure to develop the necessary integration skills dooms many firms to continued failure with their
    acquisitions, though some firms are conspicuously successful in developing such a capability and they gain significant
    competitive advantage over their less successful competitors and create value for the stakeholders. One explanation for this
    conspicuous inability to learn from past acquisition experience, compared with other activities in the value chain, lies with
    their infrequency and variety. ‘No acquisition is like another.’ Much of the difficulty however lies in the complex

    interrelationship and interdependency between the activities being integrated and a consequent difficulty of knowing what is
    causing performance problems. Thus, it is no good communicating all the positives to the customer if there is a failure to
    retain and motivate the sales force. To this complexity of integrating different processes is added the problem of developing
    appropriate measures of and accurate monitoring of the integration processes. In one study of US bank acquirers, only 40%
    had developed specific performance measures for the systems conversion process, despite the critical importance of systems
    integration to efficient operation of the combined banks. Key performance indicators need to be set in the areas previously
    identified as offering major opportunities for synergies. These synergies will affect both the cost and revenue side of the
    business. Real cost reductions are clearly a major reason for the proposed acquisition in view of the competitive environment
    faced. Equally relevant are appropriate measures of customer service. Each area will need appropriate key performance
    indicators showing priorities and relevant timescales for achievement.
    Therefore, there is a critical need to learn from previous experience and the relationship between decisions made, actions
    taken and performance outcomes. This knowledge and experience needs to be effectively recorded and shared. It can then
    influence the earlier phases of the acquisition referred to above, thus leading to a virtuous circle of better integration and
    acquisitions that actually enhance value. In so doing, acquisitions can lead to faster growth and better performance.

  • 第14题:

    (b) Discuss the relevance of each of the following actions as steps in trying to remedy performance measurement

    problems relating to the ‘365 Sports Complex’ and suggest examples of specific problem classifications that

    may be reduced or eliminated by each action:

    (i) Focusing on and improving the measurement of customer satisfaction

    (ii) Involving staff at all levels in the development and implementation of performance measures

    (iii) Being flexible in the extent to which formal performance measures are relied on

    (iv) Giving consideration to the auditing of the performance measurement system. (8 marks)


    正确答案:
    (b) Trying to focus on and improve the measurement of customer satisfaction.
    This is a vital goal. Without monitoring and improvement of levels of customer satisfaction, an organisation will tend to
    underachieve and is likely to have problems with its future effectiveness. Positive signals from performance measures made
    earlier in the value chain are only relevant if they contribute to the ultimate requirement of customer satisfaction. Tunnel vision
    and sub-optimisation are examples of measurement problems that may be reduced through recognition of the need for a
    management focus on customer satisfaction. For example undue focus on the importance of maximising opening hours may
    lead to lack of focus on other quality issues seen as important by customers.
    Involving staff at all levels in the development and implementation of performance measures.
    People are involved in the achievement of performance measures at all levels and in all aspects of an organisation. It is
    important that all staff are willing to accept and work towards any performance measures that are developed to monitor their
    part in the operation of the organisation and in the achievement of its objectives. This should help, for example, to reduce
    gaming. At the sports complex an example of gaming might be, a deliberate attempt to understate the potential benefits of
    maintaining the buildings in order to ensure that funds would be used for other purposes such as an increased advertising
    budget. The directors of Astrodome Sports Ltd must recognise that leisure facilities that appear dated and in a poor state of
    repair will cause customers to look for more aesthetically appealing alternatives.
    Being flexible in the extent to which formal performance measures are relied on.
    It is best to acknowledge that measures should not be relied on exclusively for control. A performance measure may give a
    short-term signal that does not relate directly to actions that are taking place to improve the level of performance in the longer
    term. To some extent, improved performance may be achieved through the informal interaction between individuals and
    groups. This flexibility should help to reduce measure fixation and misrepresentation. For example the percentage increase in
    the quantity of bowling equipment purchased is seen as necessarily implying increased demand for use of the bowling greens.
    Giving consideration to the audit of the performance measurement system.
    Actions that may be taken may include:
    – Seeking expert interpretation of the performance measures in place. It is important that any audit is ‘free from bias’ and
    conducted independently on an ‘arm’s length’ basis. Thus it is essential that such audits should be ‘free from the
    influence’ of those personnel involved in the operation of the system.
    – Maintaining a careful audit of the data used. Any assessment scheme is only as good as the data on which it is founded
    and how this data is analysed and interpreted.
    The above actions should help, in particular, to reduce the incidence and impact of measure fixation, misinterpretation and
    gaming.
    For example, an audit may show that the directors of Astrodome Sports Ltd are fixated on equipment availability and
    misinterpret this as being the key to customer volume and high profitability. The audit may also provide evidence of gaming
    such as a deliberate attempt to underplay the benefits of one course of action in order to release funds for use on some
    alternative.

  • 第15题:

    (ii) Briefly discuss FOUR non-financial factors which might influence the above decision. (4 marks)


    正确答案:
    (ii) Four factors that could be considered are as follows:
    (i) The quality of the service provided by NSC as evidenced by, for example, the comfort of the ferries, on-board
    facilities, friendliness and responsiveness of staff.
    (ii) The health and safety track record of NSC – passenger safety is a ‘must’ in such operations.
    (iii) The reliability, timeliness and dependability of NSC as a service provider.
    (iv) The potential loss of image due to redundancies within Wonderland plc.

  • 第16题:

    (b) Identify and discuss the appropriateness of the cost drivers of any TWO expense values in EACH of levels (i)

    to (iii) above and ONE value that relates to level (iv).

    In addition, suggest a likely cause of the cost driver for any ONE value in EACH of levels (i) to (iii), and

    comment on possible benefits from the identification of the cause of each cost driver. (10 marks)


    正确答案:
    (b) A cost driver is the factor that determines the level of resource required for an activity. This may be illustrated by considering
    costs for each of the four levels in Order Number 377.
    Unit based costs:
    Direct material costs are driven by the quantity, range, quality and price of materials required per product unit according to
    the specification for the order.
    Direct labour costs are driven by the number of hours required per product unit and the rate per hour that has been agreed
    for each labour grade.
    Batch related costs:
    The number of machine set-ups per batch is the cost driver for machines used.
    The number of design hours per batch is the cost driver for design work.
    Product sustaining costs:
    The number of marketing visits to a client per order is the cost driver for marketing cost chargeable to the order.
    The number of hours of production line maintenance per order is the cost driver for production line cost.
    Business sustaining costs:
    These costs are absorbed at a rate of 30% of total cost excluding business sustaining costs. This is an arbitrary rate which
    indicates the difficulty in identifying a suitable cost driver/drivers for the range of residual costs in this category. Wherever
    possible efforts should be made to identify aspects of this residual cost that can be added to the unit, batch or product related
    analysis.
    The cost drivers are useful in that they provide a basis for an accurate allocation of the cost of resources consumed by an
    order. In addition, investigation of the cause(s) of a cost driver occurring at its present level allows action to be considered
    that will lead to a reduction in the cost per unit of cost driver.
    Examples of causes that might be identified are:
    Material price may be higher than necessary due to inefficient sourcing of materials. This may be overcome through efforts
    to review sourcing policy and possibly provide additional training to staff responsible for the sourcing of materials.
    The number of machine set-ups per batch may be due to lack of planning of batch sizes. It may be possible for batch sizes
    in this order to be increased to 1,250 units which would reduce the number of batches required to fulfil the order from five
    to four. This should reduce overall costs.
    The amount of production line maintenance (and hence cost) required per order may be reduced by examining causes such
    as level of skill of maintenance carried out – by GMB’s own staff or out-sourced provision. Action would involve re-training of
    own staff or recruitment of new staff or changing of out-source providers.
    (alternative relevant examples and discussion would be acceptable for all aspects of part (b))

  • 第17题:

    (d) Suggest a set of SIX performance measures which the directors of SSH could use in order to assess the

    quality of service provided to its clients. (3 marks)


    正确答案:
    (d) The following performance measures which could be used to assess the quality of service provided to its clients:
    – The reliability of staff in keeping to scheduled appointment times with clients
    – The responsiveness of staff to client enquiries or requests for assistance
    – The quality of communications between SSH and its clients
    – The competence of its staff in providing training to its clients
    – The access times to staff upon the request of clients
    – The availability of staff to meet emergency needs of clients
    – The security of the data of its client base.
    Notes: (i) Only six performance measures were required
    (ii) Other relevant performance measures would be acceptable.

  • 第18题:

    (b) Using the unit cost information available and your calculations in (a), prepare a financial analysis of the

    decision strategy which TOC may implement with regard to the manufacture of each product. (6 marks)


    正确答案:

     

  • 第19题:

    (b) Illustrate EACH of the six problems chosen in (a) using the data from the Bettamould division/TRG scenario;

    and (6 marks)


    正确答案:
    (b) An illustration of each of the problems using the data from the Battamould division/TRG scenario is as follows:
    Meeting only the lowest targets
    – In the scenario, the budgeted variable cost of $200 per tonne has been agreed. There is no specific incentive for the
    Bettamould division to try to achieve a better level of performance.
    Using more resources than necessary
    – In the scenario, the current budget allows for 5% machine idle time. There is evidence that a move to outsourcing
    machine maintenance from a specialist company could help reduce idle time levels and permit annual output in excess
    of 100,000 tonnes.
    Making the bonus – whatever it takes
    – At present, the only sanction/incentive is to achieve 100,000 tonnes of output. There is no mention of any sanction for
    example, if processing losses (and hence costs) rise to 20% of material inputs.
    Competing against other divisions, business units and departments
    – At present, the Bettamould division sources its materials from chosen suppliers who have been used for some years.
    There is evidence that materials of equal specification could be sourced for 40% of the annual requirement from another
    TRG division which has spare capacity. Why has this not been investigated?
    Ensuring that what is in the budget is spent
    – In the Bettamould scenario, there is a fixed cost budget allowance of $50,000,000. We are told in the question that
    salaries of all employees and management are paid on a fixed salary basis. Bettamould’s management will not want a
    reduction in the fixed budget allowance, since this could lead to the need to reduce the number of employees, which
    they may see as having a detrimental effect on the ability of the division to meet its annual budget output target of
    100,000 tonnes.
    Providing inaccurate forecasts
    – In the scenario there may have been deliberate efforts to increase the agreed budget level of aspects of measures and
    costs. For example, by putting forward the argument that the budget requirement of 15% processing losses is acceptable
    because of the likelihood that ageing machinery will be less effective in the coming budget period.
    Meeting the target but not beating it
    – In the scenario the bonus of 5% of salary is payable as long as the 100,000 tonnes of output is achieved. This does
    not require that actual results will show any other aspects of the budget being improved upon. For example there is no
    need to consider a reduction in the current level of quality checks (25% of daily throughput) to the 10% level that current
    evidence suggests is achieved by competitor companies. The current budget agreement allows the Bettamould division
    to transfer its output to market based profit centres at $200 + $500 = $700 per tonne. There is no specified penalty
    if costs exceed this target level.
    Avoiding risks
    – Bettamould has not yet incorporated the changes listed in note 4 in the question. For example why has the sourcing of
    40% of required materials from another TRC division not been quantified and evaluated. It is possible that the division
    with spare capacity could supply the material at cost (possibly based on marginal cost) which would be less than
    currently paid to a supplier external to TRC. It may be that Bettamould have not pursued this possibility because of risk
    factors relating to the quality of the material transferred or its continued availability where the supplying division had an
    upturn in the level of more profitable external business.

  • 第20题:

    (ii) If a partner, who is an actuary, provides valuation services to an audit client, can we continue with the audit?

    (3 marks)

    Required:

    For each of the three questions, explain the threats to objectivity that may arise and the safeguards that

    should be available to manage them to an acceptable level.

    NOTE: The mark allocation is shown against each of the three questions above.


    正确答案:
    (ii) Actuarial services to an audit client
    IFAC’s ‘Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants’ does not deal specifically with actuarial valuation services but with
    valuation services in general.
    A valuation comprises:
    ■ making assumptions about the future;
    ■ applying certain methodologies and techniques;
    ■ computing a value (or range of values) for an asset, a liability or for a business as a whole.
    A self-review threat may be created when a firm or network firm2 performs a valuation for a financial statement audit
    client that is to be incorporated into the client’s financial statements.
    As an actuarial valuation service is likely to involve the valuation of matters material to the financial statements (e.g. the
    present value of obligations) and the valuation involves a significant degree of subjectivity (e.g. length of service), the
    self-review threat created cannot be reduced to an acceptable level of the application of any safeguard. Accordingly:
    ■ such valuation services should not be provided; or
    ■ the firm should withdraw from the financial statement audit engagement.
    If the net liability was not material to the financial statements the self-review threat may be reduced to an acceptable
    level by the application of safeguards such as:
    ■ involving an additional professional accountant who was not a member of the audit team to review the work done
    by the actuary;
    ■ confirming with the audit client their understanding of the underlying assumptions of the valuation and the
    methodology to be used and obtaining approval for their use;
    ■ obtaining the audit client‘s acknowledgement of responsibility for the results of the work performed by the firm; and
    ■ making arrangements so that the partner providing the actuarial services does not participate in the audit
    engagement.

  • 第21题:

    (ii) Discuss TWO problems that may be faced in implementing quality control procedures in a small firm of

    Chartered Certified Accountants, and recommend how these problems may be overcome. (4 marks)


    正确答案:
    (ii) Consultation – it may not be possible to hold extensive consultations on specialist issues within a small firm, due to a
    lack of specialist professionals. There may be a lack of suitably experienced peers to discuss issues arising on client
    engagements. Arrangements with other practices for consultation may be necessary.
    Training/Continuing Professional Development (CPD) – resources may not be available, and it is expensive to establish
    an in-house training function. External training consortia can be used to provide training/CPD for qualified staff, and
    training on non-exam related issues for non-qualified staff.
    Review procedures – it may not be possible to hold an independent review of an engagement within the firm due to the
    small number of senior and experienced auditors. In this case an external review service may be purchased.
    Lack of specialist experience – where special skills are needed within an engagement; the skills may be bought in, for
    example, by seconding staff from another practice. Alternatively if work is too specialised for the firm, the work could be
    sub-contracted to another practice.
    Working papers – the firm may lack resources to establish an in-house set of audit manuals or standard working papers.
    In this case documentation can be provided by external firms or professional bodies.

  • 第22题:

    单选题
    Where must the draft marks be placed on a small passenger vessel? ()
    A

    On each side of the stem

    B

    Near the stern post or rudder post

    C

    At each end of the vessel

    D

    All of the above


    正确答案: D
    解析: 暂无解析

  • 第23题:

    问答题
    Advances in technology and science have solved many problems. However,they have also created new problems,among which pollution has attracted much attention of the public. Write a composition of about 400 words on the following topic,discussion the problems caused by pollution.ON POLLUTIONIn the first part of your writing you should present your thesis statement, and in the second part you should support the thesis statement with appropriate details. In the last part you should bring what you have written to a natural conclusion or a summary.  Marks will be awarded for content, organization, grammar and appropriateness. Failure to follow the above instructions may result in a loss of marks.

    正确答案:
    ON POLLUTION Nowadays we have many conveniences in our society, which have been brought through technology and science. However, these same advancements in technology and science have caused some very dangerous problems. These problems will not go away easily because people do not want to give up the conveniences of a modem lifestyle. The most critical problems that should be dealt with immediately are those of pollution.
    Pollution caused by chemicals is a very serious problem because it causes the loss of the ozone layer. Without our ozone, not only we ourselves but also plant and animal life are exposed to dangerous rays from the sun. Aerosol cans emit chemicals that break down our ozone layer. Refrigeration and air-conditioning systems and ears also have dangerous emissions. A very serious threat to the planet—the warming of the earth's atmosphere—is primarily caused by carbon dioxide emissions. Many scientists think that the warming could be sufficient to melt the polar ice caps, thus raising the sea levels. This would mean that many parts of the world would be submerged below sea level.
    There are other problems caused by pollution. Factories that make our modem conveniences emit poisonous gases onto the air we breathe. The chemicals we use for cleaning and wastes from factories go into our water systems and pollute the water we drink and the fish we eat. They also kill much of the wildlife we depend on for food. Some of the pesticides we have sprayed on our crops have been found to be dangerous. This kind of pollution may stay in the ground for a very long period of time.
    Last but not the least, nuclear pollution will lead directly to nuclear damage. The explosions at Three Mile Island in the United States in 1979 and at Chernobyl in the Soviet Union in 1986 provided lessons to the global nuclear industry. The exposure to very high radiation levels released by nuclear plants within a short period of time may harm the environment many years, and usually will cause fatal injuries to human health.
    In conclusion, the problems created by pollution are growing daily. Because people do not want to change their lifestyles, we must invent a way to neutralize the pollutants we are putting into our environment. People need to be educated so that will stop damaging the planet. Furthermore, government must take action to prevent individuals and companies from harming their environment.
    解析:
    本文讨论了人们一直关心的话题——污染问题。作者首先指出:随着科技 的发展,出现了许多问题,而污染问题则是最严峻的问题。然后作者用三段就污染问题进行了论述:臭氧层被破坏使全球气候变暖、空气与水污染严重以及核污染。在最后一段作者指出,为了避免环境污染进一步恶化,个人与政府都应采取相应措施。