Learning Objective 3

Compute the direct labor

rate and efficiency
variances and explain
their significance.
 Labor Variances Example

Glacier Peak Outfitters has the following direct

labor standard for its mountain parka.
1.2 standard hours per parka at $10.00 per hour

Last month, employees actually worked 2,500

hours at a total labor cost of $26,250 to make
2,000 parkas.
 Labor Variances Summary
Actual Hours Actual Hours Standard Hours
× × ×
Actual Rate Standard Rate Standard Rate
2,500 hours 2,500 hours 2,400 hours
× × ×
$10.50 per hour $10.00 per hour. $10.00 per hour
= $26,250 = $25,000 = $24,000

Rate variance Efficiency variance

$1,250 unfavorable $1,000 unfavorable
 Labor Variances Summary
Actual Hours Actual Hours Standard Hours
× × ×
Actual Rate Standard Rate Standard Rate
2,500 hours 2,500 hours 2,400 hours
× $26,250×  2,500 hours ×
$10.50 per hour $10.00 per hour.
= $10.50 per hour $10.00 per hour
= $26,250 = $25,000 = $24,000

Rate variance Efficiency variance

$1,250 unfavorable $1,000 unfavorable
 Labor Variances Summary
Actual Hours Actual Hours Standard Hours
× × ×
Actual Rate Standard Rate Standard Rate
2,500 hours 2,500 hours 2,400 hours
× ×
1.2 hours per parka  2,000 ×
$10.50 per hour parkas
$10.00 per hour.
= 2,400 hours $10.00 per hour
= $26,250 = $25,000 = $24,000

Rate variance Efficiency variance

$1,250 unfavorable $1,000 unfavorable
 Labor Variances:
Using the Factored Equations
Labor rate variance
LRV = AH (AR - SR)
= 2,500 hours ($10.50 per hour – $10.00 per hour)
= 2,500 hours ($0.50 per hour)
= $1,250 unfavorable
Labor efficiency variance
LEV = SR (AH - SH)
= $10.00 per hour (2,500 hours – 2,400 hours)
= $10.00 per hour (100 hours)
= $1,000 unfavorable
 Responsibility for Labor
Variances
Production managers are Mix of skill levels
usually held accountable assigned to work tasks.
for labor variances
because they can
Level of employee
influence the:
motivation.

Quality of production
supervision.

Quality of training
provided to employees.
Production Manager
 Responsibility for
Labor Variances
I think it took more time
to process the
I am not responsible for materials because the
the unfavorable labor Maintenance
efficiency variance! Department has poorly
maintained your
You purchased cheap equipment.
material, so it took more
time to process it.
 Zippy
Quick Check 

Hanson Inc. has the following direct labor

standard to manufacture one Zippy:
1.5 standard hours per Zippy at $12.00 per
direct labor hour

Last week, 1,550 direct labor hours were

worked at a total labor cost of $18,910
to make 1,000 Zippies.
 Zippy
Quick Check 

Hanson’s
Hanson’s labor
labor rate
rate variance
variance (LRV)
(LRV) for
for
the
the week
week was:
was:
a.
a. $310
$310 unfavorable.
unfavorable.
b.
b. $310
$310 favorable.
favorable.
c.
c. $300
$300 unfavorable.
unfavorable.
d.
d. $300
$300 favorable.
favorable.
 Zippy
Quick Check 

Hanson’s
Hanson’s labor
labor rate
rate variance
variance (LRV)
(LRV) for
for
the
the week
week was:
was:
a.
a. $310
$310 unfavorable.
unfavorable.
b.
b. $310
$310 favorable.
favorable.
c. LRV = AH(AR - SR)
c. $300
$300 unfavorable.
unfavorable.
LRV = 1,550 hrs($12.20 - $12.00)
d.
d. $300
$300 favorable.
favorable.
LRV = $310 unfavorable
 Zippy
Quick Check 

Hanson’s
Hanson’s labor
labor efficiency
efficiency variance
variance (LEV)
(LEV)
for
for the
the week
week was:
was:
a.
a. $590
$590 unfavorable.
unfavorable.
b.
b. $590
$590 favorable.
favorable.
c.
c. $600
$600 unfavorable.
unfavorable.
d.
d. $600
$600 favorable.
favorable.
 Zippy
Quick Check 

Hanson’s
Hanson’s labor
labor efficiency
efficiency variance
variance (LEV)
(LEV)
for
for the
the week
week was:
was:
a.
a. $590
$590 unfavorable.
unfavorable.
b.
b. $590
$590 favorable.
favorable.
c.
c. $600
$600 unfavorable.
unfavorable.
d.
d. $600
$600 favorable.
favorable.
LEV = SR(AH - SH)
LEV = $12.00(1,550 hrs - 1,500 hrs)
LEV = $600 unfavorable
 Zippy
Quick Check 

Actual Hours Actual Hours Standard Hours

× × ×
Actual Rate Standard Rate Standard Rate
1,550 hours 1,550 hours 1,500 hours
× × ×
$12.20 per hour $12.00 per hour $12.00 per hour
= $18,910 = $18,600 = $18,000

Rate variance Efficiency variance

$310 unfavorable $600 unfavorable
Learning Objective 4

Compute the variable

manufacturing overhead
spending and efficiency
variances.
 Variable Manufacturing
Overhead Variances Example

Glacier Peak Outfitters has the following direct

variable manufacturing overhead labor standard for
its mountain parka.
1.2 standard hours per parka at $4.00 per hour

Last month, employees actually worked 2,500 hours

to make 2,000 parkas. Actual variable
manufacturing overhead for the month was $10,500.
 Variable Manufacturing
Overhead Variances Summary
Actual Hours Actual Hours Standard Hours
× × ×
Actual Rate Standard Rate Standard Rate
2,500 hours 2,500 hours 2,400 hours
× × ×
$4.20 per hour $4.00 per hour $4.00 per hour
= $10,500 = $10,000 = $9,600

Spending variance Efficiency variance

$500 unfavorable $400 unfavorable
 Variable Manufacturing
Overhead Variances Summary
Actual Hours Actual Hours Standard Hours
× × ×
Actual Rate Standard Rate Standard Rate
2,500 hours 2,500 hours 2,400 hours
× $10,500× 2,500 hours ×
$4.20 per hour $4.00 per per
= $4.20 hourhour $4.00 per hour
= $10,500 = $10,000 = $9,600

Spending variance Efficiency variance

$500 unfavorable $400 unfavorable
 Variable Manufacturing
Overhead Variances Summary
Actual Hours Actual Hours Standard Hours
× × ×
Actual Rate Standard Rate Standard Rate
2,500 hours 2,500 hours 2,400 hours
× ×
1.2 hours per parka  2,000 ×
$4.20 per hour parkas$4.00 per hour
= 2,400 hours $4.00 per hour
= $10,500 = $10,000 = $9,600

Spending variance Efficiency variance

$500 unfavorable $400 unfavorable
 Variable Manufacturing
Overhead Variances: Using
Factored Equations
Variable manufacturing overhead spending variance
VMSV = AH (AR - SR)
= 2,500 hours ($4.20 per hour – $4.00 per hour)
= 2,500 hours ($0.20 per hour)
= $500 unfavorable
Variable manufacturing overhead efficiency variance
VMEV = SR (AH - SH)
= $4.00 per hour (2,500 hours – 2,400 hours)
= $4.00 per hour (100 hours)
= $400 unfavorable
 Quick Check 
Zippy

Hanson Inc. has the following variable

manufacturing overhead standard to
manufacture one Zippy:
1.5 standard hours per Zippy at $3.00 per
direct labor hour

Last week, 1,550 hours were worked to make

1,000 Zippies, and $5,115 was spent for
variable manufacturing overhead.
 Quick Check 
Zippy

Hanson’s
Hanson’s spending
spending variance
variance (VOSV)
(VOSV) for
for
variable
variable manufacturing
manufacturing overhead
overhead for
for
the
the week
week was:
was:
a.
a. $465
$465 unfavorable.
unfavorable.
b.
b. $400
$400 favorable.
favorable.
c.
c. $335
$335 unfavorable.
unfavorable.
d.
d. $300
$300 favorable.
favorable.
 Quick Check 
Zippy

Hanson’s
Hanson’s spending
spending variance
variance (VOSV)
(VOSV) forfor
variable
variable manufacturing
manufacturing overhead
overhead for
for
the
the week
week was:
was:
a.
a. $465
$465 unfavorable.
unfavorable.
b.
b. $400
$400 favorable.
favorable.
VOSV = AH(AR - SR)
c.
c. $335
$335 unfavorable.
unfavorable.
VOSV = 1,550 hrs($3.30 - $3.00)
d.
d. $300 favorable.VOSV = $465 unfavorable
$300 favorable.
 Quick Check 
Zippy

Hanson’s
Hanson’s efficiency
efficiency variance
variance (VOEV)
(VOEV) forfor
variable
variable manufacturing
manufacturing overhead
overhead for
for the
the
week
week was:
was:
a.
a. $435
$435 unfavorable.
unfavorable.
b.
b. $435
$435 favorable.
favorable.
c.
c. $150
$150 unfavorable.
unfavorable.
d.
d. $150
$150 favorable.
favorable.
 Quick Check 
Zippy

Hanson’s
Hanson’s efficiency
efficiency variance
variance (VOEV)
(VOEV) forfor
variable
variable manufacturing
manufacturing overhead
overhead for
for the
the
week
week was:
was:
a.
a. $435
$435 unfavorable.
unfavorable.
b.
b. $435
$435 favorable.
favorable. 1,000 units × 1.5 hrs per unit
c.
c. $150
$150 unfavorable.
unfavorable.
d.
d. $150
$150 favorable.
favorable.
VOEV = SR(AH - SH)
VOEV = $3.00(1,550 hrs - 1,500 hrs)
VOEV = $150 unfavorable
 Quick Check 
Zippy

Actual Hours Actual Hours Standard Hours

× × ×
Actual Rate Standard Rate Standard Rate
1,550 hours 1,550 hours 1,500 hours
× × ×
$3.30 per hour $3.00 per hour $3.00 per hour
= $5,115 = $4,650 = $4,500

Spending variance Efficiency variance

$465 unfavorable $150 unfavorable
 Variance Analysis and
Management by Exception

Larger variances, in
How do I know dollar amount or as
which variances to a percentage of the
investigate? standard, are
investigated first.
 Exhibit
9-9

A Statistical Control Chart

Warning signals for investigation

Favorable Limit
• •
• • •
Desired Value
• •
Unfavorable Limit •
•
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Variance Measurements
Advantages of Standard Costs
Management by Promotes economy
exception and efficiency

Advantages
Enhances
Simplified responsibility
bookkeeping accounting
 Potential Problems with
Standard Costs
Emphasizing standards Favorable
may exclude other variances may
important objectives. be misinterpreted.
Potential
Problems
Standard cost Emphasis on
reports may negative may
not be timely. impact morale.

Continuous
Invalid assumptions improvement may
about the relationship be more important
between labor than meeting standards.
cost and output.
Learning Objective 5

Understand how a
balanced scorecard
fits together and
how it supports a
company’s strategy.
 The Balanced Scorecard
Management
Management translates
translates its
its strategy
strategy into
into
performance
performance measures
measures that
that employees
employees
understand
understand and
and accept.
accept.

Financial Customers

Performance
measures
Internal Learning
business and growth
processes
 The Balanced Scorecard: From Exhibit
9-11

Strategy to Performance
Measures
Performance Measures
Financial What are our
Has our financial
financial goals?
performance improved?

Customer What customers do Vision

we want to serve and
Do customers recognize that how are we going to and
we are delivering more value? win and retain them? Strategy

Internal Business Processes What internal busi-

Have we improved key business ness processes are
processes so that we can deliver critical to providing
more value to customers? value to customers?

Learning and Growth

Are we maintaining our ability
to change and improve?
 The Balanced Scorecard:
Non-financial Measures
The balanced scorecard relies on non-financial measures
in addition to financial measures for two reasons:


 Financial
Financial measures
measures are are lag
lag indicators
indicators that
that summarize
summarize
the
the results
results of
of past
past actions.
actions. Non-financial
Non-financial measures
measures are
are
leading
leading indicators
indicators of
of future
future financial
financial performance.
performance.


 Top
Top managers
managers are
are ordinarily
ordinarily responsible
responsible forfor financial
financial
performance
performance measures
measures –– not
not lower
lower level
level managers.
managers.
Non-financial
Non-financial measures
measures are
are more
more likely
likely to
to be
be
understood
understood and
and controlled
controlled by
by lower
lower level
level managers.
managers.
 The Balanced Scorecard for
Individuals
The entire organization
should have an overall
balanced scorecard.
Each individual should
have a personal
balanced scorecard.

AA personal
personal scorecard
scorecard should
should contain
contain measures
measures that
that can
can be
be
influenced
influenced by
by the
the individual
individual being
being evaluated
evaluated and
and that
that
support
support the
the measures
measures in in the
the overall
overall balanced
balanced scorecard.
scorecard.
 The Balanced Scorecard
A balanced scorecard should have measures
that are linked together on a cause-and-effect basis.

If we improve Another desired

Then
one performance performance measure
measure . . . will improve.

The balanced scorecard lays out concrete

actions to attain desired outcomes.
The Balanced Scorecard
and Compensation
Incentive
compensation should
be linked to
balanced scorecard
performance
measures.
 Exhibit

The Balanced Scorecard

9-13

Jaguar Example
Profit
Financial
Contribution per car

Number of cars sold

Customer
Customer satisfaction
with options

Internal
Business Number of Time to
options available install option
Processes

Learning Employee skills in

and Growth installing options
 The Balanced Scorecard
Jaguar Example
Profit

Contribution per car

Number of cars sold

Customer satisfaction Results

with options Satisfaction
Increases
Strategies
Increase Number of Time to
Options options available install option Time
Decreases

Increase Employee skills in

Skills installing options
The Balanced Scorecard
Jaguar Example
Profit

Contribution per car

Results
Cars sold
Number of cars sold Increase

Customer satisfaction
with options Satisfaction
Increases

Number of Time to
options available install option

Employee skills in
installing options
The Balanced Scorecard
Jaguar Example
Profit
Results
Contribution per car Contribution
Increases

Number of cars sold

Customer satisfaction
with options Satisfaction
Increases

Number of Time to
options available install option Time
Decreases

Employee skills in
installing options
 The Balanced Scorecard
Jaguar Example Results
Profit Profits
Increase
If number
Contribution per car Contribution
of cars sold Increases
and contribution
Cars Sold
per car increase, Number of cars sold
Increases
profits
increase. Customer satisfaction
with options

Number of Time to
options available install option

Employee skills in
installing options
Advantages of Graphic Feedbck
Tim e to Install an Option

35
Time to Install in Minutes

30
25
20
15
10
5
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Week

When interpreting its performance, Jaguar will look for

continual improvement. It is easier to spot trends or
unusual performance if these data are presented
graphically.