IVAX manufactures commercial brushes in two operating divisions (O1 and O2) and has two...

IVAX manufactures commercial brushes in two operating divisions (O1 and O2) and has two service departments (Human Resources and Janitorial/Maintenance). The two service departments’ costs are allocated to the two operating departments. Human Resources’ costs of $600,000 are allocated based on the number of employees, and Janitorial/Maintenance costs of $800,000 are allocated based on square footage. The following table summarizes the number of employees and the square footage in each division and department.

Required:

a. Allocate the costs of the two service departments to the two operating divisions using the direct allocation method.

b. Allocate the costs of the two service departments to the two operating divisions using the step-down allocation method where Human Resources is allocated first and Janitorial/ Maintenance is allocated second.

c. Allocate the costs of the two service departments to the two operating divisions using the step-down allocation method where Janitorial/Maintenance is allocated first and Human Resources is allocated second.

d. Compute the Human Resource Department cost per employee under the three allocation methods (direct allocation, step-down allocations where Human Resources is first, and the step-down method where Janitorial/Maintenance is first).

e. Compute the Janitorial/Maintenance cost per square foot under the three allocation methods (direct allocation, step-down allocations where Human Resources is first, and the step-down method where Janitorial/Maintenance is first).

f. Briefly discuss the various factors IVAX management should consider in choosing how to allocate the two service department costs to the two operating divisions.