Managers must have the tools and resources necessary to "steer" the organization through future unknown conditions and often through "uncharted waters." Having a well-thought-out plan with a subsequent strategy provides the manager with some direction in these uncertain conditions.

This activity is important because the planning and strategic management processes are critical to an organization's survival and success. The goal of this exercise is to challenge your knowledge of the strategic planning process.

Place each of the steps in the planning and strategic management process below in the correct order. Rank the options below.

a. Establish the mission and vision
b. Establish the mission and vision
c. Formulate the grand strategy & strategic, tactical & operational plans
d. Formulate the grand strategy & strategic, tactical & operational plans
e. Assess the current reality
f. Open choices for matching
g. Maintain strategic control

Stella company sells only two products, product a and product b. product a product b total selling price $50 $30 variable cost per unit $20 $10 total fixed costs $2,110,000 stella sells two units of product a for each unit it sells of product b. stella faces a tax rate of 40%. stella desires a net afterminustax income of $54,000. the breakeven point in units would be

Coop inc. owns 40% of chicken inc., both coop and chicken are corporations. chicken pays coop a dividend of $10,000 in the current year. chicken also reports financial accounting earnings of $20,000 for that year. assume coop follows the general rule of accounting for investment in chicken. what is the amount and nature of the book-tax difference to coop associated with the dividend distribution (ignoring the dividends received deduction)?

Costco wholesale corporation operates membership warehouses selling food, appliances, consumer electronics, apparel and other household goods at 471 locations across the u.s. as well as in canada, mexico and puerto rico. as of its fiscal year-end 2005, costco had approximately 21.2 million members. selected fiscal-year information from the company's balance sheets follows. ($ millions). selected balance sheet data 2005 2004 merchandise inventories $4,015 $3,644 deferred membership income (liability) 501 454 (a) during fiscal 2005, costco collected $1,120 cash for membership fees. use the financial statement effectstemplate to record the cash collected for membership fees. (b) in 2005, costco recorded $46,347 million in merchandise costs (that is, cost of goods sold). record thistransaction in the financial statement effects template. (c) determine the value of merchandise that costco purchased during fiscal-year 2005. use the financial statementeffects template to record these merchandise purchases. assume all of costco's purchases are on credit.