ECO 415 All DQs

Week 1

Why do you believe that it is important for managers to understand both short run and long run supply and demand? Cite one hypothetical or real life example that illustrates your response.

Under what circumstances would it be appropriate to resort to plant closings or layoffs? Develop a guideline and explain how it may help a manager make this type of decision.

Week 2

In what market type would you most prefer to manage a business? Explain why. What skills do you have that would allow you to be especially successful in this market type? In what market type would it be most difficult for you to manage a business? What is it about the competition within this market type that would make success a challenge?

How would you characterize the competition (market structure) in the restaurant industry? Are there submarkets? If so, do these submarkets have distinct competitive pressures? How may a restaurant maximize profits?

Week 3

Although most people agree that the governments role in the free market economy should be limited, the degree of appropriate government involvement is contested. Under what circumstances should the government bailout a failing business? Explain and cite a specific example to illustrate your reasoning.

Some people might argue that the reason the government has to manage cost and benefit externalities is that people are basically selfish. Explain the reasoning of that statement. Do you agree or disagree? Explain why.

Week 4

If you were a manager of a large manufacturing company and decided to offshore labor-intensive production to another country, how would you justify the decision to your employees and the community where your plants are located? What economic arguments would you make? What social or ethical argument could you make?

Pepsi-Cola and Coca-Cola have dominated the market for almost a century whereas General Motors and Ford Motor Company have suffered due to increased competition. What is it about the markets, the products, or the companies themselves that has allowed the two former companies to thrive whereas the later two falter? Frame your answer in terms of competitive advantage and international business.

Week 5

On what ethical, moral, or social grounds would you make a management decision that would lead to decreased profits? Cite a specific example and explain why your decision would be appropriate.

Sustainability is often viewed as a break with an outdated business philosophy in which management decisions are driven strictly by the desire to increase profits whereas social and environmental concerns fall by the wayside. In The Triple Bottom Line, Savitz argues convincingly in favor of sustainable business, showing how, in todays socially and environmentally conscious world, companies must take the wellbeing of non-financial stakeholders into account to achieve financial success. Do you believe that todays companies make socially and environmentally sound decisions because it is the right thing to do? Or do you believe it is simply because the risk of negative financial consequences for not doing so has become too great? Is there a new triple bottom line?