The smartphone market has been dominated by Apple, but recently the Droid has been able to leverage Google's information services into market gains, while Blackberry, known for its secure business-oriented network, has attempted to become more attractive with a "friendlier" interface. At the same time, a number of less capable fringe firms are emerging. Suppose an economist analyzes this industry as follows: ECONOMIST: Each firm brings its own distinct capabilities to its product design, with each product design appealing to a different segment of the market. Apple is known for the aesthetics of its products; Google is known for its ability to manage information effectively; and Blackberry is known for its more secure data network. Each of these distinct capabilities is likely to be sustainable for some time and will be a source of competitive advantage for each. Fringe firms, on the other hand, do not appear to be able to replicate these capabilities; thus, they are more homogeneous and more likely to compete on price.

This analysis is consistent with the:

The uno company was formed on january 2, year 1, to sell a single product. over a 2-year period, uno’s acquisition costs have increased steadily. physical quantities held in inventory were equal to 3 months’ sales at december 31, year 1, and zero at december 31, year 2. assuming the periodic inventory system, the inventory cost method which reports the highest amount for each of the following is inventory december 31, year 1/ cost of sales year 2 a: lifo fifo b: lifo lifo c: fifo fifo d: fifo lifo

The cost of capital: introduction the cost of capital: introduction companies issue bonds, preferred stock, and common equity to aise capital to invest in capital budgeting projects. capital is』necessary factor of production and like any other factor, it has a cost. this cost is equal to the select the applicable security. the rates of return that investors require on bonds, preferred stocks, and common equity represent the costs of those securities to the firm. companies estimate the required returns on their securities, calculate a weighted average of the costs of their different types of capital, and use this average cost for capital budgeting purposes. required return on rate: when calculating om operations when the firm's primary financial objective is to select shareholder value. to do this, companies invest in projects that earnselect their cost of capital. so, the cost of capital is often referred to as the -select -select and accruals, which a se spontaneously we hted average cost of capital wa c our concern is with capital that must be provided by select- 쑤 interest-bearing debt preferred stock and common equity. capital budgeting projects are undertaken, are not included as part of total invested capital because they do not come directly from investors. which of the following would be included in the caculation of total invested capital? choose the response that is most correct a. notes payable b. taxes payable c retained earnings d. responses a and c would be included in the calculation of total invested capital. e. none of the above would be included in the cakulation of total invested capital.

Medtronic, inc., is a medical technology company that competes for customers with st. jude medical s.c., inc. james hughes worked for medtronic as a sales manager. his contract prohibited him from working for a competitor for one year after leaving medtronic. hughes sought a position as a sales director for st. jude. st. jude told hughes that his contract with medtronic was unenforceable and offered him a job. hughes accepted. medtronic filed a suit, alleging wrongful interference. which type of interference was most likely the basis for this suit? did it occur here? medtronic, inc., is a medical technology company that competes for customers with st. jude medical s.c., inc. james hughes worked for medtronic as a sales manager. his contract prohibited him from working for a competitor for one year after leaving medtronic