Transfer Pricing at Southern :: Business and Management Studies

Transfer Pricing at Southern Alternatives 1. Cost Based Transfer Price Maintain the status quo within the company. All cost methods require that standard costs be used; therefore each division is encouraged to meet standard cost levels, instead of working around actual costs. This will increase goal congruence. Currently, the price Southern is charging is based on the market but they are running under capacity and had excess inventory. Therefore, Thompson is charging market price even though he is running under capacity. If Southern’s VC = 60% then the 40% represents OH and profit. To prevent conflicts in the future it must be clear that variable costs of one division are not actually fixed costs for the whole company. Thompson’s VC = $400 some of that could be FC for the whole company. (Align this alternative with Rob’s Analysis). Advantages: increases goal congruence, requires that the vice president perform a routine cost analysis, therefore requires little resources. Southern mostly supplies Northern therefore, a market based system would be difficult due to the intermediate nature of the materials being transferred, adding attractiveness to a cost based system. Disadvantages: will be very difficult to determine what profit markup will be. Northern supplies mostly to outside companies and therefore will require additional resources in his division to price internal sales. The resources needed to work through the complexity of this system might not be justified by such a low volume. Two Step Pricing The standard VC is charged per unit sold then a periodic charge is made equal to the fixed costs associated with the facilities reserved for the buying unit. Since Thompson rarely sells to other divisions this might work because the facilities needed could easily be identified. Advantages: the buying unit would have proper information needed for marketing and long-term decisions Disadvantages: requires that FC be negotiated regularly, since Thompson rarely sells to Northern the resources needed for this negotiation might not be justified. 2. Negotiation Increase communication between divisions. Currently, Northern may not know that Thompson is paying a higher then expected price for the intermediate materials they need from Southern. If Northern was aware of the amount of upstream costs and profit involved internally, it might be encouraged to forgo its own profits for the sake of the company as a whole. Profit sharing could be introduced to motivate Northern to do this. A specified set of rules would be set up when each manager is negotiating a price. Such as if there is a match in price internally and externally, the business must be kept internally. Also if the managers cannot come to an agreement on price the outside market price will be used. If true negotiation occurred at Birch, each division manager would Transfer Pricing at Southern :: Business and Management Studies Transfer Pricing at Southern Alternatives 1. Cost Based Transfer Price Maintain the status quo within the company. All cost methods require that standard costs be used; therefore each division is encouraged to meet standard cost levels, instead of working around actual costs. This will increase goal congruence. Currently, the price Southern is charging is based on the market but they are running under capacity and had excess inventory. Therefore, Thompson is charging market price even though he is running under capacity. If Southern’s VC = 60% then the 40% represents OH and profit. To prevent conflicts in the future it must be clear that variable costs of one division are not actually fixed costs for the whole company. Thompson’s VC = $400 some of that could be FC for the whole company. (Align this alternative with Rob’s Analysis). Advantages: increases goal congruence, requires that the vice president perform a routine cost analysis, therefore requires little resources. Southern mostly supplies Northern therefore, a market based system would be difficult due to the intermediate nature of the materials being transferred, adding attractiveness to a cost based system. Disadvantages: will be very difficult to determine what profit markup will be. Northern supplies mostly to outside companies and therefore will require additional resources in his division to price internal sales. The resources needed to work through the complexity of this system might not be justified by such a low volume. Two Step Pricing The standard VC is charged per unit sold then a periodic charge is made equal to the fixed costs associated with the facilities reserved for the buying unit. Since Thompson rarely sells to other divisions this might work because the facilities needed could easily be identified. Advantages: the buying unit would have proper information needed for marketing and long-term decisions Disadvantages: requires that FC be negotiated regularly, since Thompson rarely sells to Northern the resources needed for this negotiation might not be justified. 2. Negotiation Increase communication between divisions. Currently, Northern may not know that Thompson is paying a higher then expected price for the intermediate materials they need from Southern. If Northern was aware of the amount of upstream costs and profit involved internally, it might be encouraged to forgo its own profits for the sake of the company as a whole. Profit sharing could be introduced to motivate Northern to do this. A specified set of rules would be set up when each manager is negotiating a price. Such as if there is a match in price internally and externally, the business must be kept internally. Also if the managers cannot come to an agreement on price the outside market price will be used. If true negotiation occurred at Birch, each division manager would

Essay on Literacy in Song of Solomon -- Song Solomon essays

Literacy in Song of Solomon    Through literacy will come emancipation. But emancipation comes in many forms, as does literacy. The various aspects of academic literacy are rather obvious in relation to emancipation, especially when one is confronted with exclusion from membership in the dominant culture. Most, but not all, of Toni Morrison's characters in Song of Solomon appear to have attained at least a modicum of literacy. But what part does literacy play in the advancement of the individual, and to what lengths will one go to achieve it?    "But if the future did not arrive, the present did extend itself, and the uncomfortable little boy in the Packard went to school and at twelve met the boy who [...] could liberate him [...]" (Song of Solomon 35-36). So says Toni Morrison of Milkman Dead, the boy in the Packard, in Song of Solomon. The other boy of whom she speaks is Guitar Bains, Milkman's mentor-of-the-street. Morrison tells us little more of Milkman's formal education, but we can assume that he goes on to high school because Guitar is in high school when she introduces him. We do learn that Milkman's sisters attend and graduate from college, but their education isolates them from the rest of the community. In fact, at age forty-four, Corinthians eventually goes to work as a maid and enters into a relationship with Porter, one of her father's tenants, much to her father's dismay. Within the class structure of "haves" and "have-nots," Corinthians finds the "haves" side abhorrent, the "have-nots" side attractive, but she can not cross the socioeconomic line that her father has drawn. She must remain within the paradigm that separates her from the lower, uneducated portion of their society.    Milkman's mor... ...ith the earth and at the conclusion of the novel when he finds he is able to fly. Is the state of super-metacognition he enters during these episodes a metaphor for an inherent attachment to the past? something akin to a shared history? something ingrained and transferred with roots deeply embedded in African traditions? Morrison leaves the answers to these questions (and many others) up to her readers, but it is obvious that Milkman finds more in historical literacy than he ever received from his formal education.    Milkman sees hope for the future through a connection with the past. In a certain sense, he finds emancipation through his relationships with literacy.    Works Cited Middleton, David. Toni Morrison's Fiction: Contemporary Criticism. New York: Garland, 1997. Morrison, Toni. Song of Solomon. New York: Penguin Books USA, Inc., 1987.

A Cataclysm in Repose Essay

Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s â€Å"A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings† is a short story that fuses together magical and realistic elements. In an interview, Marquez explains the influences and origins of this unique style of writing. The story (not surprisingly) is about an old man with enormous wings who somehow ends up in a small Caribbean or Central American town and the events that surround this occurrence. The story is written in such a way that magical elements appear in a seemingly realistic setting. The interview with Marquez, although never specifically mentioning the story, provides insight as to how he achieves writing in this oxymoronic style. Marquez attributes his magical-realistic style of writing to the reciprocal relationship between novels and journalism. Marquez says that his â€Å"†¦true profession is that of a journalist (131.† This background in journalism helps keep his writing in â€Å"†¦a close relationship with reality (137).† Marquez further states that trying to â€Å"transpose† reality can lead to losing contact with it and journalism is a good guard against that. As a journalist Gabriel Garcia Marquez believes that writing is hard work that requires a certain technique with structure and careful attention to detail. Marquez also describes a â€Å"journalistic trick (138)† used to make things credible; saying that there are four hundred and twenty-five elephants in the sky is much more believable than simply stating there are elephants in the sky. Evidence of this journalistic influence is clearly seen throughout â€Å"A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings† and thi s makes the story seem much more believable. Another important aspect of Marquez’s writing is his use of vivid imagery. He began writing by drawing cartoons and in â€Å"†¦ the genesis of all [his] books there’s always an image (143),† such as a photograph. Gabriel Garcia Marquez visited his hometown and he experienced it as everything in the town evolved into literature. Marquez follows by saying that â€Å"it’s always easy to tell whether a writer is writing about something that has happened to him or something he has read or been told (136).† Writing on his birthplace adds a sense of realism and imagery to the story. Marquez also gives credit to his  grandmother’s â€Å"brick face† style of story telling as an influence to his writing. â€Å"She told things that sounded supernatural and fantastic, but she told them with complete naturalness (138).† The combination of these elements adds to the authenticity and colorfulness of Marquez’s stories. Gabriel Garcia Marquez explains, in his interview, the importance of the first paragraph as setting the tone for the rest of the story. â€Å"A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings† is no exception. The story begins with a reference to Marquez’s fascination with plagues as he describes an abundance of crabs after three days of rain. Marquez continues by saying that â€Å"the world had been sad since Tuesday. Sea and Sky were a single ash-gray thing†¦Ã¢â‚¬  This is an example of the aforementioned journalistic trick which makes the sadness more believable. There is a convergence with the interview when Marquez says that every Mexican he sees in Europe leaves the following Wednesday, as opposed to any other day. The â€Å"ash-gray† description also provides a vivid image of the sea and sky. The first paragraph ends with an introduction of the old man, â€Å"†¦impeded by his enormous wings.† This does indeed set the tone for the rest of the story with detailed descriptions, sharp imagery and the magical-realistic elements are introduced. The story continues with a detailed, precise, and unconventional description of an angel. Word about the angel gets out, and many people come to see him, including the Priest, Father Gonzaga. There is evidence, in the beginning of the story that the setting is in a small Caribbean or Central America town, such as the one Marquez grew up in. Statements like â€Å"†¦everyone knew†¦Ã¢â‚¬ , â€Å"neighbor women† and referring to the priest as Father Gonzaga give the image of a small Spanish-speaking town. The credibility of the winged man as an angel is questioned in the story by Father Gonzaga. The visiting people torture and test the patience of the angel. Eventually, a carnival took the attention away from him, including a â€Å"†¦woman who had been changed into a spider for having disobeyed her parents (572),† another example of the journalistic trick. An example of the brick faced story telling appears when things return to the â€Å"†¦time it had rained for three days and crabs walked through the bedroom (573).† The paragraph simply ends here, with something completely fantastical told as if it were completely normal. The keepers of  the angel profit at the angel’s expense until people no longer care to see him and eventually the angel regains his strength and flies away ungracefully. The interview did not specifically address â€Å"A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings† and therefore it was not useful in understanding the story nor did it take anything away from it. The interview was, however, effective and useful in understanding how Marquez can effectively write in such a unique style. The way the story seems to be so believable yet at the same time so fantastical is explained. If I could ask Gabriel Garcia Marquez another question, I would like to know more about what he meant by the â€Å"intellectual writing† and more on the influence of politics in his writing. Being a Marxist, how did this affect the non-traditional representation of the angel? I found that, in general, the interview provided helpful insight on what makes Marquez’s magical-realistic writing so vivid and believable. Work Cited Stone, Peter H. An interview with Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Unknown date and publisher. Marquez, Gabriel Garcia. â€Å"A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings.† The Story and it’s Writer. Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martin’s ., 2003.

ENG 225 quiz 4 ashford university Essay

1. Question : Which female auteur is best known for staking out traditionally male territory in her films Sophia Coppola CORRECT Kathryn Bigelow Nora Ephron 2. Question : Which quality most distinguishes the musical as a genre in its own right? Student Answer: CORRECT Its songs are part of the action Its songs accompany the action It contains only songs and no score Its dialogue is primarily sung 3. Question : According to John Truby, why are genre films generally favored by American studios? They are less expensive to make CORRECT They provide more reliable profits They are risky investments, but can yield big profits 4. Question : Which of the following is true of horror films in recent decades? They are becoming less realistic They are becoming more expensive CORRECT They are becoming more violent 5. Question : Which critic is best known for opposing the auteur theory? Roger Ebert Francois Truffaut CORRECT Pauline Kael Instructor Explanation: The answer can be found in Chapter 7 of Introduction to Film. 6. Question : Which of the following gangster films was forced to add a title at the end to satisfy public watchdog groups? Student Answer: CORRECT The Public Enemy Scarface Gomorrah 7. Question : Which of the following is the best way to describe a director’s style? Student Answer: CORRECT His or her favorite mise en scà ¨ne, cinematography, editing, and sound techniques The habitual way he or she deals with the actors on the set Typical way he or she deals with producers and other studio executives His or her preferred subject matter and genre in which to work 8. Question : Which stylistic movement in film was best known for using well-worn actual locations and ordinary-looking, nonglamorous actors? German Expressionism CORRECT Italian Neorealism French New Wave 9. Question : Why do many theorists doubt that genres exist at all? Because studios invented the idea as a cynical marketing tool Because they are the product of audience expectations, not films themselves CORRECT Because the definitions are fluid at best, meaningless at worst 10. Question : In which of the following genres is the audience most likely to be asked to sympathize with the forces of evil? CORRECT Gangster Horror Romantic comedy

Best Practices inTraining and Development Article

Best Practices inTraining and Development - Article Example The individual development planning process includes self-assessment, assessment of current position and work environment of the employee, identification of development activities, and finally putting the development plan in action. Furthermore, the article talks about different cost-effective practices in training and development. These include on-the-job experience that involves committees, conferences and forums, critical incident notes, field trips, job aids, job expanding opportunities, job shadowing, learning alerts, peer-assisted learning, stretch assignments, and special projects. Other practices include coaching, mentoring, networking, and performance appraisal. Classroom training practices are also important, and these include courses, seminars and workshops. Off-the job training and development can be provided through courses offered by educational institutions, professional associations, reading groups, and self paced independent learning. In short, the article talks abou t some of the best practices in training and development of employees. If implemented correctly, these practices can prove to be very fruitful for the progress and productivity of the organization in the long

Marketing strategies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Marketing strategies - Essay Example For marketing strategies to be effectively implemented there must be marketing objectives. These objectives shape the perception and approach to the market. The objectives are generated in regards to the requirements and goals set by the management team. Kotler & Armstrong points out that marketing objectives are set as goals that an organization tends to achieve in terms of acquiring a greater competitive advantage over other organizations (65). Marketing objectives are also used as measurement tools of the effectiveness of the strategies applied in the market. If a marketing strategy satisfies all the requirements stipulated in the objectives, it is allowed a greater lifeline in an organization. Additionally, marketing objectives dictate the mode in which promotional activities will be integrated. Promotional activities are activities that are used in the marketing of an organization’s goods and services. In referring to the definition by Kotler & Armstrong promotional activ ities are forms and ways of marketing implemented by organizations (112). Promotional activities include personal selling, exhibitions, media marketing, corporate image, public relations and sales promotion. Depending on the organizational culture and marketing objectives, an organization selects the forms of promotional activities to be implemented in the organizational system. ... In such an organization, the first objective would be to create a corporate image for the facility. This can be done by providing special services and offers upon interest on the facility. The organization may also a marketing objective of reaching out to corporate bodies. To realize this objective the most proper promotional activity to be implemented would be personal selling. By personal selling the relationship between the interested parties and the organization is more personalized (Kotler & Armstrong 89). In a sporting facility a good public relation with the communities is a compulsory objective. In this case, the organization may opt to implement Corporate Social responsibility as a promotional activity and tool. This entails organizing communal activities and funding community projects (Kotler & Armstrong 64). From the analysis one could easily argue that the objectives set by an organization in terms of acquiring a greater market support significantly dictates the type of t he promotional activities used by an organization. The integration of promotional activities is done by an analysis of the opportunities that the market presents to an organization. For instance, if an organization aims to capture the attention of a specific market population for example the young people: the advertising promotional activity would be integrated in a way that social sites and trendy magazines are effectively exhausted (Kotler & Armstrong 77). What is the importance of the three extra elements of the service mix to you as the customer? According to Kotler & Armstrong it is human nature for a consumer to be selective in the way they chose to relate to an organization (154). This relationship is a great determinant of the consumer’s allegiance to an

Global Economics and the Energy Policies in the US Essay

Global Economics and the Energy Policies in the US - Essay Example Based on reports the real energy revolution lies here unlike the much-touted green energy being sold by the US government. President George W. Bush administration had the solution of investing in new green technology in the production of energy. Although the strategy did not yield a lot of results, Obama’s administration did double spending on these forms of energy without much success. The energy policies adopted by the UK government over the years have been on green energy which only contributed to increased energy costs. Energy production is set to change in the future and the United State will lead the revolution. This change is massive and it cannot be easily stopped by anyone including environmentalists since technology and demand have changed over the years. Despite the fact that fracking contributes to decreased emission levels compared to old energy sources such as coal. The deployment of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing (fracking) has created a potential for unconventional oil deposits from shale to be tapped. Most governments are opposed to this technology and imposed restrictions on the use of the technology (Wall Street Journal, 2012, 1). Countries like France and the UK are among the countries that can be oil sufficient yet they continue to adopt costly and ineffective green energy. The presence of technology and resources such as Shale sho uld give a boost to countries to bring about an energy revolution. Politicians being the decision makers should be among the first people to adopt the changes in the oil industry. For instance, in the United States, the Obama administration should support the new revolution instead of imposing federal restrictions. Politicians have a tendency of taking credit for successes they were not involved in envisaging or supporting.