Is outsourcing good for an e-business firm? The firm’s employees? Explain your answer.
> Circle the letter before the most accurate answer. 6. The activities involved in acquiring, maintaining, and developing an organization’s human resources are called a. human resources management. b. human resources planning. c. skills inventory. d. recru
> Circle the letter before the most accurate answer. 6. A budgeting approach in which every expense in every budget must be justified is referred to as __________ budgeting. a. zero-base b. financial-based c. traditional d. TQM e. efficient-market 7. The m
> Circle the letter before the most accurate answer. 6. A _______ is a measure that summarizes a particular characteristic of an entire group of numbers. a. pie chart b. statistic c. database d. datum e. tabular display 7. If assets total $125,000 and owne
> Circle the letter before the most accurate answer. 6. A type of computer usage in which services stored on the Internet are provided to users on a temporary basis is known as a. data mining. b. cloud computing. c. a cookie. d. crowdsourcing. e. malware.
> Circle the letter before the most accurate answer. 6. A middleman that takes title to products and then sells the products to other firms is commonly referred to as a(n) a. retailer. b. agent. c. producer. d. wholesaler. e. commissioner. 7. __________ ma
> Circle the letter before the most accurate answer. 6. All of the following are characteristics of the decline stage of the product life-cycle except a. a sharp decrease in sales volume. b. a decline in the number of competing firms. c. increased consumer
> Select the correct answer. 1. T F When buyers, sellers, marketing intermediaries, and facilitating agencies work together, the cooperative relationship results in compromise and adjustments that meet customer needs. 2. T F The most expensive promoti
> Select the correct answer. 1. T F Generally, the product life-cycle consists of five stages: development, introduction, growth, maturity, and decline. 2. T F A narrow product mix allows a firm to gain stability by concentrating on just a few markets
> Select the correct answer. 1. T F Influences in a society and its culture that result in changes in attitudes, beliefs, norms, customers, and lifestyles are known as economie forces. 2. T F The business philosophy that involves the entire organizati
> 1. Social Media Exercise 1. Visit the YouTube channel for Turbo Tax (www.youtube.com/user/TurboTax). Do you think social media is an effective method of obtaining the tax information you might need to prepare your taxes? 2. Can you think of other compani
> Select the correct answer. 1. T F Motivation is the internal process that energizes, directs, and sustains behavior. 2. T F A main discovery of the Hawthorne Studies was that human factors are at least as im- portant to motivation as pay rates. 3. T
> Select the correct answer. 1. T F An organization's most important resource is its human resources. 2. T F The starting point for human resources planning is the firm's overall strategic plan. 3. T F Cultural diversity in the workplace is an issue t
> Select the correct answer. 1. T F Speculative production is an example of a long-term financial need. 2. T F A budget is a financial statement that projects income and/or expenditures over a speci- fied future period. 3. T F Trade eredit is the leas
> Select the correct answer. 1. T F For a manager or employee, information and data mean the same thing. 2. T F Financial accounting provides managers and employees within the organization with the information needed to make decisions about a firm's f
> Select the correct answer. 1. T F A blog is a digital audio or video file that people listen to or watech online. 2. T F Social media communities are groups of people who share no common interests. 3. T F A wiki is a collaborative online working spa
> Circle the letter before the most accurate answer. 6. The activities involved in the acquisition of human resources are HR planning, a. job analysis, recruiting, employee relations, and compensation. b. job analysis, recruiting, selection, and orientatio
> Circle the letter before the most accurate answer. 6. A __________ budget estimates a firm’s expenditures for major assets. a. cash b. capital c. long-term needs d. traditional e. zero-base 7. The prime interest rate is the a. highest rate charged by a c
> Circle the letter before the most accurate answer. 6. A computer program that uses artificial intelligence to imitate a human’s ability to think is a(n) a. decision-support system (DSS). b. expert system. c. GAAP. d. database. e. management information s
> Circle the letter before the most accurate answer. 6. Typical quantitative measurements for social media websites include a. unique visitors. b. number of followers. c. number of embedded links. d. growth of wall response. e. all of the above. 7. Softwar
> Circle the letter before the most accurate answer. 6. The use of only a single retail outlet in each geographic area for distribution purposes is called __________ distribution. a. exclusive b. intentional c. selective d. patterned e. intensive 7. The fo
> 1. Social Media Exercise 1. Choose one of the Big Four accounting firms and take a look at its Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, or YouTube websites. 2. How does the accounting firm you chose use social media? Are they trying to reach potential job candidates
> Circle the letter before the most accurate answer. 6. A consumer product for which buyers will expend effort or planning, that is purchased infrequently, and that is usually purchased only after being compared with competing products is a __________ prod
> Circle the letter before the most accurate answer. 6. Which of the following is not one of the steps in implementing the marketing concept? a. Obtaining information about existing and potential customers b. Pinpointing needs and potential customers for f
> Circle the letter before the most accurate answer. 6. Which of the following is uncharacteristic of low morale? a. High rate of turnover b. Shoddy work c. Absenteeism d. Teamwork e. Employees leaving for more satisfying jobs 7. A sense of involvement and
> 1. When Chris Mittelstaedt says, “People like to be part of something bigger than them-selves,” what are the implications for employee motivation? 2. Why would an accounting firm spend money week after week for deliveries of fresh fruit for its employees
> 1. Describe some of the ways that Zappos uses social media to build a social community. 2. How does Zappos encourage word-of-mouth marketing through social media? 3. If you were the social media director for Zappos, what quantitative and qualitative meas
> 1. What steps did Jim Moon take to build a relationship between his business and Bank Rhode Is-land? 2. What collateral, if any, do you think Moon works can use as security for a future loan? Explain your answer. 3. Put yourself into the shoes of the ban
> 1. How would you classify Mi Ola’s consumer products? Explain your answer. 2. In which stage of the product life-cycle would you place Mi Ola’s products? In this stage, would you expect Helena Fogarty to put more emphasis on developing new products, dele
> 1. What are the ethical and legal implications of using accounting practices such as the book-and-hold technique to accelerate revenues and inflate corporate earnings? 2. Why would Commodore’s auditor insist that Rob document any sales booked under the b
> 1. Is Huy Fong using the marketing concept? Explain. 2. What type of market is Huy Fong targeting with its sriracha sauce? 3. Of the four categories of segmentation variables, which is most important to Huy Fong’s segmentation strategy, and why?
> 1. How would you describe Honest Tea’s ideal level of market coverage? Why would this intensity of market coverage be appropriate for such beverages? 2. Should Honest Tea use the same distribution channels for its K-Cup pods as it uses for its bottled an
> 1. Social Media Exercise 1. Do you think that social media buzz is an effective way to promote a product? Why or why not? 2. Have you ever participated in a social media campaign like “Share a Coke”? If so, how did your participation in the campaign impa
> What are the objectives of the MBO? What do you think might be its disadvantage?
> What are the two dimensions in Herzberg’s theory? What kinds of elements affect each dimension?
> What are the advantages and disadvantages of external recruiting? Of internal recruiting?
> What are the major challenges and benefits associated with a culturally diverse work-force?
> How do human resources managers go about matching a firm’s supply of workers with demand?
> What is relationship marketing?
> In general, on what basis is responsibility for HRM divided between line and staff managers?
> In what circumstances might a large corporation sell stock rather than bonds to obtain long-term financing? In what circumstances would it sell bonds rather than stock?
> How can a small-business owner or corporate manager use financial leverage to improve the firm’s profits and return on owners’ equity?
> Why would a lender offer unsecured short-term loans when it could demand collateral?
> 1. Social Media Exercise 1. Go to Twitter.com and search for @Casper and look through recent tweets in the account’s timeline. How is Casper using humor and pop culture to build brand loyalty? 2. What is the role of humor in Casper’s tweets? In what ways
> Develop a personal cash budget for the next six months. Explain what you would do if there are budget shortfalls or excess cash amounts at the end of any month during the six-month period.
> Many financial managers and corporate officers have been criticized for (a) poor decisions, (b) lack of ethical behavior, (c) large salaries, (d) lucrative severance packages worth millions of dollars, and (e) extravagant lifestyles. Is this criticism ju
> Do the balance sheet, income statement, and statement of cash flows contain all the information you might want as a potential lender or stockholder? What other information would you like to examine?
> Do managers really need all the kinds of information discussed in this chapter? If not, which kinds can they do without?
> Experts predict that the Internet, social media, and e-business will continue to expand along with related computer technologies. What effect will this expansion have on how businesses connect with customers in the future?
> What distinguishes a B2B from a B2C e-business model?
> How can a small cosmetics wholesaler located in Jacksonville, Florida, use e-business and social media to increase its customer base, increase revenues, and reduce expenses?
> Given the fast pace of everyday life, most people often feel there is not enough time to do everything that needs to be done. Yet, people do find time to post personal information, photos, etc., on Facebook, Twitter, blogs, and other social media sites.
> If a middleman is eliminated from a marketing channel, under what conditions will costs decrease? Under what conditions will costs increase? Will the middleman’s functions be eliminated? Explain.
> 1. Social Media Exercise 1. After exploring @Comcast cares on Twitter, do you think that this helps with customer service? Why or why not? 2. Do you see other applications for Twitter for a communications giant like Comcast? 2. Building Team Skills 3. Re
> Many producers sell to consumers both directly and through middlemen. How can such a producer justify competing with its own middlemen?
> Identify three kinds of full-service wholesalers. What factors are used to classify wholesalers into one of these categories?
> What is the difference between publicity and public relations? What is the purpose of each?
> Identify and give examples of the three major types of salespersons.
> Identify and describe the major ingredients of a promotion mix.
> What is integrated marketing communications, and why is it becoming increasingly accepted?
> What are the most common marketing channels for consumer products? For industrial products?
> What is the difference between manufacturer brands and store brands? Between family branding and individual branding?
> What are the four stages of the product life-cycle? How can a firm determine which stage a particular product is in?
> If you were the financial manager of Stars and Stripes Clothing, what would you do with the excess cash that the firm expects in the second and fourth quarters?
> Of the three financial ratios discussed in this chapter, which do you think is the most important financial ratio? Why?
> What can be said about a firm whose owners’ equity is a negative amount? How could such a situation come about?
> Bankers usually insist that prospective borrowers submit audited financial statements along with a loan application. Why should financial statements be audited by a CPA?
> How might buyers’ perceptions of price influence pricing decisions?
> 1. Social Media Exercise 1. Do you think social media is an effective way to engage employees who are in large organizations? Why or why not? 2. Do you think social media would work well in smaller companies? Why or why not? 3. Do you think that using so
> How can confidential data and information (such as the wages of individual employees) be kept confidential and yet still be available to managers who need them?
> In what situations might a producer use agents or commission merchants rather than its own sales offices or branches?
> What is physical distribution? Which major functions does it include?
> What can nonstore retailers offer their customers that in-store retailers cannot?
> List the services performed by wholesalers. For whom is each service performed?
> What are the three levels of market coverage? What types of products is each used for?
> Why do firms use event sponsorship?
> What are the major differences between consumer and trade sales promotion methods? Give examples of each.
> What are the major tasks involved in managing a sales force?
> For what purposes is labeling used?
> What does the purchaser of a product obtain besides the good, service, or idea itself?
> What is the difference between a line extension and a brand extension?
> Why must firms introduce new products?
> Why do products have to be deleted from a product mix?
> What major factor determines whether a product is a consumer or a business product?
> For what type of products are psychological pricing strategies most likely to be used?
> Under what conditions would a business most likely decide to employ one of the differential pricing strategies?
> Under what conditions would a firm be most likely to use non-price competition?
> Some firms do not delete products until they become financially threatening. What problems may result from this practice?
> Identify and describe the main types of discounts that are used in the pricing of business products.
> Why do marketers need to understand buying behavior?
> What are the five major categories of pricing strategies? Give at least two examples of specific strategies that fall into each category.
> Compare and contrast the characteristics of price and non-price competition.
> What new information technologies are changing the ways that marketers keep track of business trends and customers?
> How is a marketing-oriented firm different from a production-oriented firm or a sales-oriented firm?
> How does the marketing environment affect a firm’s marketing strategy?
> Is marketing information as important to small firms as it is to larger firms? Explain.
> Is it a good strategy to focus most marketing efforts on the most profitable customers?
> How does employee participation increase motivation?
> Describe the steps involved in the MBO process.
> What combination of motivational techniques do you think would result in the best over-all motivation and reward system?
> What is a marketing plan, and what are its major components?