Benchmarking Multiple Choice is inherently unethical if it involves companies that are direct competitors because it involves gathering competitively sensitive information about the operations and costs of rivals. is not a valid tool for measuring the cost-effectiveness of an activity unless it is restricted to companies in the same industry. entails comparing how different companies perform various value chain activities and then making cross-company comparisons of the costs of these activities. loses much of its managerial usefulness if it is done with the aid of third-party organizations. entails calculating the costs of performing each of the primary and related support activities in a company's value chain.

Kiona co. set up a petty cash fund for payments of small amounts. the following transactions involving the petty cash fund occurred in may (the last month of the company's fiscal year). may 1 prepared a company check for $350 to establish the petty cash fund. 15 prepared a company check to replenish the fund for the following expenditures made since may 1. a. paid $109.20 for janitorial services. b. paid $89.15 for miscellaneous expenses. c. paid postage expenses of $60.90. d. paid $80.01 to the county gazette (the local newspaper) for an advertisement. e. counted $26.84 remaining in the petty cashbox. 16 prepared a company check for $200 to increase the fund to $550. 31 the petty cashier reports that $380.27 cash remains in the fund. a company check is drawn to replenish the fund for the following expenditures made since may 15. f. paid postage expenses of $59.10. g. reimbursed the office manager for business mileage, $47.05. h. paid $48.58 to deliver merchandise to a customer, terms fob destination. 31 the company decides that the may 16 increase in the fund was too large. it reduces the fund by $50, leaving a total of $500.

Kumar consulting operates several stock investment portfolios that are used by firms for investment of pension plan assets. last year, one portfolio had a realized return of 12.6 percent and a beta coefficient of 1.15. the average t-bond rate was 7 percent and the realized rate of return on the s& p 500 was 12 percent. what was the portfolio's alpha?

Assume the perpetual inventory method is used. 1) the company purchased $12,500 of merchandise on account under terms 2/10, n/30. 2) the company returned $1,200 of merchandise to the supplier before payment was made. 3) the liability was paid within the discount period. 4) all of the merchandise purchased was sold for $18,800 cash. what effect will the return of merchandise to the supplier have on the accounting equation?