Each team is now responsible for the survival of their company in a very dynamic environment. According to Porter (1996), "competitive advantage is, at best, temporary." What factors are impacting this industry? Define each factor and share your thoughts on how best to approach this competitive market. What becomes most important for companies in sustaining competitiveness, operational effectiveness or strategic positioning? Why would you choose one over the other or why both? How would a crisis, such as the current pandemic impact the competitiveness of a company?

Which of the following best explains cost-push inflation? a. increasing wages for workers drive up the cost of production, forcing producers to charge more to meet their costs. b. consumers demand goods faster than they can be supplied, increasing competition among buyers. c. rising prices for goods and services reduce spending power and cut into consumer demand. d. wages drop so that workers have to spend a higher percentage of income on the cost of necessities.2b2t

Ida sidha karya company is a family-owned company located on the island of bali in indonesia. the company produces a handcrafted balinese musical instrument called a gamelan that is similar to a xylophone. the gamelans are sold for $860. selected data for the company’s operations last year follow: units in beginning inventory 0 units produced 320 units sold 285 units in ending inventory 35 variable costs per unit: direct materials $ 135 direct labor $ 355 variable manufacturing overhead $ 30 variable selling and administrative $ 15 fixed costs: fixed manufacturing overhead $ 64,000 fixed selling and administrative $ 27,000 the absorption costing income statement prepared by the company’s accountant for last year appears below: sales $ 245,100 cost of goods sold 205,200 gross margin 39,900 selling and administrative expense 31,275 net operating income $ 8,625 required: 1. under absorption costing, how much fixed manufacturing overhead cost is included in the company's inventory at the end of last year? 2. prepare an income statement for last year using variable costing. what is the amount of the difference in net operating income between the two costing methods?

The common stock and debt of northern sludge are valued at $65 million and $35 million, respectively. investors currently require a return of 15.9% on the common stock and a return of 7.8% on the debt. if northern sludge issues an additional $14 million of common stock and uses this money to retire debt, what happens to the expected return on the stock? assume that the change in capital structure does not affect the interest rate on northern’s debt and that there are no taxes.