Answer:
ATCHULO Company Ltd
A) ATCHULO Company Ltd, as it is currently being operated should not be using an investment center as the appropriate organizational design when a profit center structure could have been applied. However, if it wants to continue the use of the investment center model as a preferred organizational structure, then it should implement the structure fully. For one, an investment center is a division in ATCHULO company that is supposed to be in control of all its investment activities (assets), and is responsible for generating profits (revenue and costs) for its sustenance. Its performance will then be evaluated based on the revenue it generates less the expenses, including the capital costs incurred for generating the revenue.
B) For a better operation of the investment center, revenues generated by the investment centers should be assigned to the investment centers and all their costs will be assigned as well. The investment centers should have their operational assets and make the necessary decisions regarding their use.
The hub should not be sorting packages for the investment centers as each investment center could handle the sorting at their various centers and route packages to appropriate destinations, accordingly. The investment centers should operate their own trucks or outsource such services at some costs. Since packages are sent from one center to the other and vice versa, they can charge for the services they provide for one another. In this way, each investment center's performance will be more accurately evaluated.
C) The investment center approach would have been the best for ATCHULO Company Ltd if it were being properly implemented, both in terms of operational activities and performance evaluation.
However, since ATCHULO Company has decided to change the model, I recommend the centers to be operated as profit centers, because this is the next best thing in terms of performance evaluation. However, each center must be able to make its own revenue and cost decisions, so that it can be assessed based on profit performance.
Explanation:
An investment center in ATCHULO Company should be a unit of the firm that is responsible for its revenue, cost, and investment decisions, with its performance judged based on the overall outcome achieved or the value added to the company.
A profit center in ATCHULO Company is a unit that is only responsible for its revenue and cost decisions, while investment activities are handled from the headquarters. Its performance is evaluated on profits without consideration of the capital costs incurred in generating the profits.
