Assignment 2: Case Analysis—Adapting to Market Conditions

A business must be able to adapt to the market conditions in the host country. Using the Argosy University online library resources, find an example of a U.S. firm attempting to gain access to a foreign market dominated by the host country’s corporations, retailers, and distributors.

Analyze the case. In your case analysis, address the following:

1. Summarize the basic situation in the case including a discussion of the business strategy of the U.S. firm you identified.
2. Discuss the host country’s market along with the retail market, including its structural features. In your opinion, what are the primary differences compared to the U.S. markets where the U.S. firm normally does business?
3. Discuss the changes that occurred in the host country’s marketplace over the last 20-30 years.
4. Explain the efforts by the U.S. firm you identified to enter the host country’s marketplace.
5. From your assessment, what seem to be the two most important factors that make entry into the host country’s marketplace challenging and potentially risky for a U.S. firm?

Submit your work in a 4- to 5-page Word document. Apply current APA standards for writing style to your work. All written assignments and responses should follow APA rules for attributing sources.

Analyze Business Case 20-6, “The Statute of Frauds,” (Attached). Then, prepare a professional-caliber brief on the
case.

Based on the case information provided:

• State the facts of the case and the key issues.
• Cite the code or statute provisions applicable to the case.
• Determine whether the contract is enforceable under the Statute of Frauds, and explain your reasoning.
• Express your main points, arguments, concepts, and information coherently and logically.

To support your brief:

• Explain the requirements of sales and lease contracts, as determined under the provisions of the UCC.
• Explain when the title of goods passes from the seller to the buyer, as determined under the provisions of the UCC.

Additional Requirements

• Cover page: Include your name, the assignment
  number, and the assignment or case title (for example: John Smith,
  u01a1, The Statute of Frauds Case).
• Length: 1–2 double-spaced pages, not including the cover page.
• Font and font size: Times New Roman, 12-point.
• APA formatting: Format resources and citations according to current APA guidelines.

Length and/or format: 1500 words

You are to consider the tools used in this unit (Johari window, MBTI, TA and DISC) and reflect how they have helped you to reflect on your own attitudes and behaviours in terms of conflict and communication. You need to provide at least one solid example of an experience in which you managed conflict using your personal understanding of the models. You can identify in your reflection the tools that helped most to identify your areas of concern and what you have learned about yourself.

PLEASE MENTION

-Johari window

-MBTI

– TA

-DISC

Reflective Essay Rubric Worth 30%

LO	Criteria	Unsatisfactory	Needs Improvement	Satisfactory	Good	Excellent
LO1, 2,4	Focus	Essay fails to establish and maintain a consistent sense of purpose; no clear response to any of the questions posed.	Essay manages to divulge some relevant or promising insights, but fails to maintain attention sufficient for full meaning.	Essay establishes focus early and maintains purposeful attention throughout; some details confuse	Essay establishes focus early and maintains purposeful attention throughout; some details may confuse or undermine main point.	Essay establishes a clear and complex focus early and maintains purposeful attention throughout via relevant and memorable details.
LO2	Content	Essay simply restates facts rather than reflecting on experiences. The writer’s point of view is not evident.	Contains some interesting ideas, but the essay does not explore them thoroughly. Lacks detailed explanation or supporting examples.	Essay shows thoughtful reflection. Writer’s point of view could be clearer	Essay shows thoughtful reflection. Writer’s point of view is apparent.	Demonstrates fresh, original thought and ideas. Point of view is thoroughly explored and clearly expressed.
LO2	Organization	No clear direction. Main ideas are vague, and connections are confusing or incomplete.	Includes an organizational skeleton (intro, body, conclusion), but often strays from the main idea. Lacks transitions.	Organization is generally good, but there are unclear transitions.	Organization is generally good, but there may be some extraneous details or unclear transitions.	Organization enhances the main ideas. Supporting information is presented logically, with no extraneous details. Transitions are smooth.
LO4	Sentence Fluency and Word Choice	Contains frequent grammar errors. Sentences are choppy, awkward, and hard to follow. Vocabulary is limited and words are used incorrectly.	Some errors in grammar and word choice. Sentences may be incomplete or rambling.	Generally applies standard English usage and appropriate word choices.. Generally conveys meaning	Generally applies standard English usage and appropriate word choices. Sentences are grammatical, but sometimes stiff or choppy.	The writing flows and shows a high level of sophistication. Strong and specific words are used to convey meaning.
LO4	Mechanics	Frequent spelling, punctuation, and typographical errors. No evidence of proofreading.	Some distracting errors. Needs more thorough proofreading.	Contains some spelling, punctuation, and typographical errors, but the errors are not overly distracting	Contains occasional spelling, punctuation, and typographical errors, but the errors are not overly distracting.	Proofreading is thorough. Correct spelling and punctuation throughout.

Read “Space Age Furniture Company” in Chapter 9 of your text.

Space Age Furniture Company

The Space Age Furniture Company manufactures tables and cabinets to hold microwave ovens and portable televisions. These products are made in various sizes and with various features, but all follow basically the same production and assembly operations. However, two of these products—the Saturn microwave stand and the Gemini TV stand—have a part (no. 3079) that requires machining on a special lathe used only for making that part. At present the machine is run by Ed Szewczak, a machinist who also operates other machines in Space Age’s shop. Once set up and started, the lathe can run nearly unattended. However, the machinist must be present (even if not actually attending the machine)any time one of the machines, including the lathe, is in operation. At present, Ed works a regular 40-hour week. However, due to the workload for producing part 3079, it has been necessary to schedule frequent overtime for him in order to finish the necessary parts on time.

Coral Snodgrass, operations manager for Space Age, has just heard from Ed’s foremen that Ed is becoming unhappy about so much overtime. AsCoral knows, Ed has been with the company a long time and is an excellent, reliable employee. Skilled machinists with Ed’s experience and employment record are extremely difficult to find. Coral wonders what can be done to alleviate this problem.

Recently, Space Age began using an MRP system that has helped reduce inventories greatly and improve on-time deliveries. In fact, Space Age carries no finished-goods inventory. Instead, everything in the master schedule is being produced for customer orders, so all products are shipped almost immediately. Previously Space Age had estimated that it cost $1.25 per week to store each Gemini and $1.50 per week to store each Saturn that wasn’t shipped immediately. The master schedule for producing these two items for the next six weeks is shown below.

Master Schedule
Week
	1	2	3	4	5	6
Gemini	600	400	700	500	400	600
Saturn	300	400	400	600	300	300

The part in question, 3079, is used in two different subassemblies: no. 435, which is used in the Gemini TV stand, and no. 257, which is used in the Saturn microwave stand. One of part 3079 is used in each subassembly, and one of each subassembly is used in each of the final products.

Part 3079 may be produced in any quantity since the lathe that makes it is not used for anything else. However, both of the subassemblies are produced using the same equipment. To minimize change over time, Space Age has decided that these subassemblies should be made in minimum quantities of 1,000 at a time, although there is no problem with capacity on the equipment that makes them. In fact, an order for1,000 of subassembly 435 is due to be received in week 1, as is an order for 1,000 of subassembly 257. Lead time for both these sub assemblies is one week, and no inventory is expected to be on hand for either part at the beginning of week 1. There is not any on-hand inventory of part3079, and there are no orders in process.

Ed Szewczak earns $22 per hour and gets a 50% premium for any overtime work. Whenever part 3079 is made, there is no set-up time, but processing takes 0.03 hour per unit. It costs $0.25 per week to hold any of these parts over from one week to the next. The cost of holding each subassembly in inventory is $0.75 per unit per week.

Respond to the following and include any Materials Requirement Planning (MRP) calculations:

• Develop an MRP for Space Age Furniture Company using the information in the case including the production of sub-assemblies in lot sizes of 1,000.
• The lot size of 1,000 for sub-assemblies has produced a lumpy demand for part 3079. Suggest ways for improvements over sub-assemblies in lot sizes of 1,000.
• Analyze the trade-off between overtime costs and inventory costs.
• Calculate a new MRP that improves the base MRP.
• Compare and contrast the types of production processing—job shop, batch, repetitive, or continuous—and determine which the primary mode of operation is and why.
• Describe ways that management can keep track of job status and location during production.
• Recommend any changes that might be beneficial to the company and/or add value for the customer.

The final case study should demonstrate your understanding of the reading as well as the implications of new knowledge. The paper should integrate readings, scholarly sources, and class discussions into work and life experiences. It may include explanation and examples from previous events as well as implications for future applications.

The purpose of the final case study is for you to culminate the learning achieved in the course by describing your understanding and application of knowledge in the field of operations management.

Writing the Final Paper
The Final Paper:

• Must be 10 to 12 double-spaced pages in length (not including the title and reference pages) and formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.
• Must include a title page with the following:
  • Title of paper
  • Student’s name
  • Course name and number
  • Instructor’s name
  • Date submitted
• Must begin with an introductory paragraph that has a succinct thesis statement.
• Must address the topic of the paper with critical thought.
• Must end with a conclusion that reaffirms your thesis.
• Must use at least five scholarly sources.
• Must document all sources in APA style, as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.
• Must include a separate reference page, formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.

Answer these 5 topics in at least 100 word count each

TOPIC: THE SOLE PROPRIETORSHIP

1. Provide citation and reference to the material(s) you discuss. Describe what you found interesting regarding this topic, and why.
2. Describe how you will apply that learning in your daily life, including your work life.
3. Describe what may be unclear to you, and what you would like to learn.

TOPIC: Net Fixed Assets and Depreciation

1. Provide citation and reference to the material(s) you discuss. Describe what you found interesting regarding this topic, and why.
2. Describe how you will apply that learning in your daily life, including your work life.
3. Describe what may be unclear to you, and what you would like to learn.

TOPIC: capital structure

1. Provide citation and reference to the material(s) you discuss. Describe what you found interesting regarding this topic, and why.
2. Describe how you will apply that learning in your daily life, including your work life.
3. Describe what may be unclear to you, and what you would like to learn. TOPIC:THE PARTNERSHIP

1. Provide citation and reference to the material(s) you discuss. Describe what you found interesting regarding this topic, and why.
2. Describe how you will apply that learning in your daily life, including your work life.
3. Describe what may be unclear to you, and what you would like to learn. TOPIC:capital budgeting

1. Provide citation and reference to the material(s) you discuss. Describe what you found interesting regarding this topic, and why.
2. Describe how you will apply that learning in your daily life, including your work life.
3. Describe what may be unclear to you, and what you would like to learn.