Cases and Assignments from BM350, BU320C, Bu330, Bu340, BU470, BU450, BU480, BZ480

Cases and Assignments 


***************** BM350 Case-11 Harley Davidson******************
BM350 Marketing Management
 Directions: Your response should be a minimum of one (1) single-spaced page to a maximum of two (2) pages in length; refer to the "Assignment Format" page for specific format requirements. Case 11: harleydavidson.com and the Global Motorcycle Industry (pp. 354-358) This case discusses the success of Harley-Davidson and reviews its global position in 1998. It discusses the company's initiatives that continued a thirteen-year record of growth in revenues and earnings. The company had a phenomenal 74 percent increase in the value of the firm in 1998 alone. It offers market share and sales information for global competitors in three regions, North America, Europe, and Asia/Pacific, and briefly discusses the product offerings of competitors including BMW, Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, and Yamaha. The case has been kept relatively short since the Web sites for Harley and its competitors contain abundant additional information. The major objective of the case is to get you to visit these Web sites, compare them, and evaluate them as strategic marketing tools
Questions
1. Why is the Internet a particularly good promotion medium for Harley-Davidson? Discuss at least three (3) reasons. (55 points)
2. What different roles could Harley-Davidson’s Web site play for Harley owners, for people shopping for a motorcycle, and for people just interested in motorcycles in general? (45 points)

*********************** BM350 Case-22 Cowgirl Chocolates ***************
Case 22:  Cowgirl Chocolates (pp. 488-500)
Marilyn Lysohir, an internationally celebrated ceramic artist, started Cowgirl Chocolates to provide some funding support for a yearly published arts magazine, High Ground, that she and her husband, Ross Coates, started in 1995. Her love of chocolates and hot and spicy foods spurred the idea of making hot and spicy chocolates to be sold in creative, artistic tins and packaging, which she labeled Cowgirl Chocolates. Her small business, begun in 1997, had won a number of awards in fiery food competitions. While Cowgirl Chocolates had grown steadily over its four years in business, it still had only generated $30,000 in sales revenue in 2000, which was not enough to cover expenses. Marilyn had drained much of her personal savings to keep Cowgirl Chocolates in business. Her cash accounting methods and record keeping were not very sophisticated although she seemed to have a good sense of her costs in production and raw materials and the packaging. However, Marilyn had taken a shotgun approach to most of her marketing efforts and had tried a number of activities to increase product demand. She allowed herself to make one risky financial move each year in her pursuit of profitability and increased sales. She had just made her one risky move for year 2001: She had taken out a full-page ad in Chile Pepper magazine for $3,000.

Questions
 1.   The suggested retail price and wholesale prices of Cowgirl Chocolates products are displayed in Exhibit 2 (p. 491) along with the product and packaging costs. Based on this information, discuss the relative merits of using a cost-based, demand-based, and competition-based pricing method.  (50 points)
2.   What are four (4) options that Cowgirl Chocolates may consider as far as pricing? What would you recommend?  (50 points)

************ BU450  Leadership Skills  Assignment-4 charismatic leadership **********
BU450  Leadership Skills
Directions:  Your response should be a minimum of one (1) single-spaced page to a maximum of two (2) pages in length; refer to the "Assignment Format" page for specific format requirements.

Part A: What is charismatic leadership?
Part B:  Explain what is meant by the statement that charismatic leaders use active impression management with their followers to support their image. Provide and elaborate on one example.
Part C:  Why is charismatic leadership considered a double-edged sword that requires careful monitoring to avert abuse?

**********  BU450 Assignment-7 Leadership Skills Delegation *****************
BU450  Leadership Skills
Directions:  Your response should be a minimum of one (1) single-spaced page to a maximum of two (2) pages in length; refer to the "Assignment Format" page for specific format requirements.


Part A:  List and define five (5) potential benefits of delegation.

Part B:  List and describe the seven (7) guidelines for good delegation.

Part C:  Discuss why one of the major complaints of subordinates regarding delegation is the issue of dumping. Offer an example of a personal experience or observation of dumping taking place.

********* BU470 Strategic Management Assignment-03 Timber King **********
Directions: Sources must be cited in APA format. Your response should be a minimum of (1) single-spaced page to a maximum of (2) pages in length; refer to the "Assignment Format" page for specific format requirements.

Timber King is a new Midwest company in the portable saw mill industry. You have been asked to give Edward Perry, Timber King’s new CEO, general advice and guidelines to assist him in doing an external analysis of the portable saw mill industry.


Part A: Explain three benefits of conducting an external analysis.

Part B: Educate Mr. Perry on some of the challenges of conducting an external analysis.

Part C: Explain the two perspectives on the environment.

Part D: Explain the primary responsibility of Mr. Perry’s managers in conducting external analysis.


****** BU470 Strategic Management Assignment-07 Terry Wilson ******************
Assignment-7
Terry Wilson, a seasoned marketing veteran, has recently decided to explore growth options for Tuscan Treasures, an importer of Italian furniture. Profits are declining and Mr. Wilson must decide whether to downsize or expand to improve the situation. You have been asked to advise Mr. Wilson on which growth strategy would best aid Tuscan Treasures should he chose that route. You have also been asked to provide Mr. Wilson with a better understanding of why profits have been down recently, including possible causes of the decline. He also wants to know what he would need to do if he decides to downsize he operation.

Part A: Provide Mr. Wilson with three possible growth strategies.

Part B: What are the possible causes of his company’s decline?

Part C: What are some recommendations for handling a downsizing? 


******  BU480  eBusiness Strategy Assignment-4 Internet effect on planning  ************
BU480  eBusiness Strategy
Directions:  Your response should be a minimum of one (1) single-spaced page to a maximum of two (2) pages in length;

Explain the Internet’s effects on planning by how it influences 1) the motivation for planning, 2) the processes for planning, and 3) the outcomes of planning.  Be sure to give complete explanations of each effect, using examples in your discussion.

******* BU480  eBusiness Strategy Assignment-7 B2B Exchange ***********
BU480  eBusiness Strategy
Directions:  Your response should be a minimum of one (1) single-spaced page to a maximum of two (2) pages in length; refer to the "Assignment Format" page for specific format requirements.


Describe each of the three (3) business-to-business (B2B) exchanges.  For each exchange type, discuss how the Internet acts as a resource in the exchange.

********* BU490 Business Ethics Assignment-3 Six steps *********
BU490 Business Ethics
Directions:  Your response should be a minimum of one (1) single-spaced page to a maximum of two (2) pages in length; refer to the "Assignment Format" page for specific format requirements.
What are the six steps that a board of an organization can take to become effective?

******   BU490 Business Ethics Assignment-6 Business ethics-electronic monitoring  ******
BU490 Business Ethics
Directions:  Your response should be a minimum of one (1) single-spaced page to a maximum of two (2) pages in length; refer to the "Assignment Format" page for specific format requirements.
Discuss the employer and employee position on electronic monitoring at the workplace.

*************** BU320C  Assignment-05 Marketing of services vs products ***********
Explain how the marketing of services differs from the marketing of products, including the four (4) marketing elements that distinguish services from products. Next, discuss six (6) ways that firms can help employees provide better service. Finally, explain the four (4) service gaps identified by the Gaps Model and list two (2) ways to overcome each of the four (4) service gaps.

****************** BU320C Assignment-08 – IMC **************************
Define Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) and explain the goal of IMC. Also list and describe the seven (7) different components of the communication process. Lastly, discuss at least three (3) factors firms should use as marketing metrics to plan for and measure IMC success.


****************** BZ480 Assignment-4 Globalization and regionalization *****************
BZ480 international management – Assignment-4
Describe the strategies of globalization and regionalization and explain when each strategy can be used effectively. Give examples of successful companies that have followed each strategy.

************** BZ480 Assignment-08 Leadership style in EU *********************
BZ480 Assignment-08  International management
Discuss the appropriateness of using the same leadership style across all EU countries. Include in your discussion the research results for both views given in your textbook.

************* BU330 Assignment 04-Park Theater *****************************
Return on Investment and Residual Income

Portia Carter is the president of a company that owns six multiplex movie theaters. Carter has delegated decision-making authority to the theater managers for all decisions except those relating to capital expenditures and film selection. The theater managers’ compensation depends on the profitability of their theaters. Max Burgman, the manager of the Park Theater, had the following master budget and actual results for the month.

Master Actual
Budget Results
Tickets sold 120,000 480,000
Revenue--tickets $ 840,000 $ 880,000
Revenue--concessions 480,000 330,000
Total revenue $1,320,000 $1,210,000
Controllable variable costs
Concessions 120,000 99,000
Direct labor 420,000 330,000
Variable overhead 540,000 550,000
Contribution margin $ 240,000 $ 231,000
Controllable fixed costs
Rent 55,000 55,000
Other administrative expenses 45,000 50,000
Theater operating income $ 140,000 $ 126,000

1. Assuming that the theaters are profit centers, prepare a performance report for the Park Theater using the chart below. Include a flexible budget. Determine the variances between actual results, the flexible budget, and the master budget. (25 points)

Actual Flexible Master
Results Variance Budget Variance Budget
Tickets sold 110,000 ( ) 120,000
Revenue--tickets $ 880,000 ( ) ( ) $ 840,000
Revenue--concessions 330,000 ( ) ( ) 480,000
Total revenue $1,210,000 ( ) $1,320,000
Controllable variable costs
Concessions 99,000 ( ) ( ) 120,000
Direct labor 330,000 ( ) ( ) 420,000
Variable overhead 550,000 ( ) ( ) 540,000
Contribution margin $ 231,000 ( ) ( ) $ 240,000
Controllable fixed costs
Rent 55,000 55,000
Other administrative expenses 50,000 ( ) 45,000
Theater operating income $ 126,000 ( ) ( ) $ 140,000

2. Evaluate Burgman’s performance as a manager. (25 points)





3. Assume that the managers are assigned responsibility for capital expenditures and that the theaters are thus investment centers. Park Theater is expected to generate a desired ROI of at least 6 percent on average invested assets of $2,000,000.

a. Compute the theater’s return on investment and residual income using the chart below. (25 points)

Actual Flexible Master
ROI ÷ ÷ ÷
= 0.00% = 0.00% = 0.00%
Residual income – ( 0% x ) – ( 0% x ) – ( 0% x )
= = =


b. Using the ROI and residual income, evaluate Burgman’s performance as a manager. (25 points)

*************** BU340 Managerial Finance I Assignment 03 ****************
  1. Cyber Security Systems had sales of 3,000 units at $50 per unit last year. The marketing manager projects a 20 percent increase in units volume sales this year with a 10 percent price increase. Returned merchandise will represent 6 percent of total sales. What is your net dollar sales projection for this year?
  2.  Delsing Plumbing Company has beginning inventory of 14,000 units, will sell 50,000 units for the month, and desires to reduce ending inventory to 40 percent of beginning inventory. How many units should Delsing produce?
  3. At the end of January, Higgins Data Systems had an inventory of 600 units, which cost $16 per unit to produce. During February the company produced 850 units at a cost of $19 per unit. If the firm sold 1,100 in February, what was its cost of goods sold (assume LIFO inventory accounting)?
  4. Victoria’s Apparel has forecast credits sales for the fourth quarter of the year as:
    September (actual) ……………… $50,000
    Fourth Quarter
    October …………………………………. $40,000
    November ……………………………… $35,000
    December ………………………………..$60,000
    Experience has shown that 20 percent of sales receipts are collected in the month of sale, 70 percent in the following month, and 10 percent are never collected. Prepare a schedule of cash receipts for Victoria’s Apparel covering the fourth quarter (October through December).
  5. The Manning Company has financial statements as shown below, which are representative of the company’s historical average. The firm is expecting a 20 percent increase in sales next year, and management is concerned about the company’s need for external funds. The increase is sale is expected to be carried out without any expansion of fixed assets, but rather through more efficient asset utilization. In the existing store. Among liabilities, only current liabilities vary directly with sales. Using the percent-of-sales method, determine whether the company has external financing needs, or a surplus of funds.
    Income Statement
    Sales $200,000
    Expenses 158,000
    Earnings before interest and taxes $42,000
    Interest 7,000
    Earnings before taxes $35,000
    Taxes $15,000
    Earnings after taxes $20,000
    Dividends $6,000

    Balance Sheet
    Assets
    Cash $5,000
    Accounts receivable 40,000
    Inventory 75,000
    Current assets $120,000
    Fixed assets 80,000
    Total assets 200,000

    Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
    Accounts payable 25,000
    Accrued wages 1,000
    Accrued taxes 2,000
    Current liabilities 28,000
    Notes payable 7,000
    Long-term debt 15,000
    Common Stock 120,000
    Retained earnings 30,000
    Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity 200,000
****************** BU340 Managerial Finance –I ************
BU340 Managerial Finance I

Directions: Be sure to make an electronic copy of your answer before submitting it to Ashworth College for grading. Unless otherwise stated, answer in complete sentences, and be sure to use correct English spelling and grammar. Sources must be cited in APA format. Your response should be a minimum of one (1) single-spaced page to a maximum of two (2) pages in length; refer to the "Assignment Format" page for specific format requirements.


1. What form of partnership allows some of the investors to limit their liability? Explain by giving examples. (25 points)

2. When does insider trading occur? What government agency is responsible for protecting against the unethical practice of insider trading? Explain by giving examples. (25 points)

3. Explain how the tax code allows depreciation to contribute to cash flow. (25 points)

4. Explain why inflation may restrict the usefulness of the balance sheet as normally presented. (25 points)


******************** BU440 Managerial Finance II **********************

BU440 Managerial Finance II

Directions: Be sure to make an electronic copy of your answer before submitting it to Ashworth College for grading. Unless otherwise stated, answer in complete sentences, and be sure to use correct English spelling and grammar. Sources must be cited in APA format. Your response should be a minimum of one (1) single-spaced page to a maximum of two (2) pages in length; refer to the "Assignment Format" page for specific format requirements.

NOTE: Show all work in arriving at the solutions requested.

1. Discuss four (4) advantages and four (4) disadvantages accruing to a company that is traded in the public securities markets.

2. Garland Corporation has a bond outstanding with a $90 annual interest payment, a market price of $820, and a maturity date in five years. Find the following:

a. The coupon rate

b. The current rate

c. The approximate yield to maturity

3. An investor must choose between two bonds: Bond A pays $92 annual interest, has a market value of $875, and has 10 years to maturity. Bond B pays $82 annual interest, has a market value of $900, and has two years to maturity.

a. Compute the current yield on both bonds.

b. Based on your computations above, which bond should the investor select?

c. A drawback on the current yield is that it does not consider the total life of the bond. For example, the approximate yield to maturity on Bond A is 11.30%. What is the approximate yield to maturity on Bond B?

d. Has your answer changed between parts “b” and “c” of this question in terms of which bond to select? Explain.

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