Chapter 9 – Short-Term Profit Planning: Cost-Volume-Profit Analysis
Case 9-6: Profit Planning—Choice of Cost Structure
Note to Instructor:
For those students seeking to become a Certified Management Accountant (CMA), the topic of CVP
analysis is an important one covered on the CMA exam. 1 In terms of this topic, the successful candidate
is expected to be able to:
demonstrate an understanding of how cost/volume/profit (CVP) analysis is used to examine
the behavior of total revenues, total costs, and operating income as changes occur in output
levels, selling prices, variable costs per unit, or fixed costs
differentiate between costs that are fixed and costs that are variable with respect to levels of
output
demonstrate an understanding of the behavior of total revenues and total costs in relation to
output within a relevant range
explain why the classification of fixed vs. variable costs is affected by the timeframe being
considered
demonstrate an understanding of how contribution margin per unit is used in CVP analysis
calculate contribution margin per unit and total contribution margin
calculate the breakeven point in units and dollar sales to achieve targeted operating income or
targeted net income
demonstrate an understanding of how changes in unit sales mix affect operating income in
multiple-product situations
demonstrate an understanding of why there is no unique break-even point in multiple-product
situations
analyze and recommend a course of action using CVP analysis
demonstrate an understanding of the impact of income taxes on CVP analysis
Recommended Solutions
(1) What is meant by the term “short-term profit-planning” model, and how can such a model be
used by management? (That is, in what sense can this model be used to facilitate planning,
control, or decision-making by managers of an organization?)
Short term operating profit can be modeled as a function of five factors: (1) selling price per unit; (2)
variable cost per unit; (3) total (short-term) fixed costs; (4) sales volume; and, (5) sales mix. A short-
term profit planning model combines these factors into a predictive model, that is, a model that can be
What volume of sales (in units or dollars) is needed to break even?
What volume of sales (in units or dollars) is needed to achieve a particular level of profit,
either on a pre-tax or post-tax basis?
1 Ceriied Management Accountant Learning Outcome Statements (efecive 7/1/04) (Updated 07-2008), available
at htp://www.imanet.org.tw/img/CMALOS.pdf.
9-14