The executive officers of Rouse Corporation have a performance-based compensation plan. The performance criteria of this plan is linked to growth in earnings per share. When annual EPS growth is 12%, the Rouse executives earn 100% of the shares; if growth is 16% they earn 125%. If EPS growth is lower than 8%, the executives receive no additional compensation.
In 2012,Gail Devers, the controller of Rouse, reviews year-end estimates of bad debt expense and warranty expense. She calculates the EPS growth at 15%. Kurt Adkins, a member of the executive group, remarks over lunch one day that the estimate of bad debt expense might be decreased, increasing EPS growth to 16.1%. Devers is not sure she should do this because she believes that the current estimate of bad debts is sound. On the other hand, she recognizes that a great deal of subjectivity is involved in the computation.
Instructions:
Answer the following questions.
(a) What, if any, is the ethical dilemma for Devers?
(b) Should Devers's knowledge of the compensation plan be a factor that influences her estimate?
(c) How should Devers respond to Adkins's request?