Quetzal Inc. is a manufacturer of after-market parts for automobiles. The company has 23 support departments that provide services for 55 production departments. Quetzal management is looking to revamp the company’s outdated cost accounting system and is trying to decide between using the direct method, sequential method, or reciprocal services method for support department cost allocation.

Liam, Rose, and Miranda are financial analysts working in the office of the CFO. They have been tasked with determining which allocation method should be used at Quetzal. Each manager has agreed to research and come prepared to debate the pros and cons of each of the three methods under consideration. Liam will discuss the direct method, Rose the sequential method, and Miranda the reciprocal services method.

Select three members of your team to role-play as members of the financial analyst team. Have each team member defend the selection of one of the three allocation methods.