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An understanding of the factors that drive the microeconomics of a business provides the insight needed for strategic and tactical improvements in operational effectiveness. Competitive-cost analysis, a method for analyzing the cost structure of a company, represents a strategic application of cost modeling. The first note in this three-part series (UV3521) identifies the basic framework and principles for developing accurate and comprehensive cost models. The second note (UV3558) discusses specific techniques that will further assist in analyzing cost drivers for competitive analysis. This final note provides detailed guidance on calculating scale curves and utilization effects.

Before taking competitive action, managers must anticipate the actions of their competitors. This can only be accomplished by performing thorough competitor analysis.

Discusses U.S. and Japanese innovation systems. Illustrates these with comparative studies of computer and pharmaceutical industries. Probes effects of labor, capital, and customer market institutions on these sectors in the United States and Japan.

This case provides a brief overview of valuation for owners of closely held companies. The focus is on a comparable transactions approach, although rules of thumb and discounted cash flow are mentioned. Earnings multiples and their drivers are discussed. It uses company example and transaction data on private deals as an exercise in screening for comparable companies and valuation based on multiples. It includes a three-page bibliography with references to further sources on valuation methods, private transaction data, financial databases for company screening, and professional advisors from appraisal and valuation communities.

International finance plays a large, although often hidden, role in our lives. As a result, an understanding of this market is essential to understanding the new global economy. In this note, students are provided with a thorough introduction to the foreign exchange market from a Canadian perspective. The history of the Canadian dollar, from confederation until the present is chronicled. Many aspects of the current flexible exchange rate system and the terminology used in the different exchange markets - the spot, forward, future, options and swap markets - are introduced.

Variations in tax impact make it essential to know a person's tax status for personal financial planning and the structuring of business transactions. A broad overview of the Canadian income tax system is presented in this note along with descriptions of various types of taxable receipts. Key messages are: that different types of income are often taxed differently; that same types of income are often taxed differently depending on the entity that receives it; and that the amount of income tax varies based on the level of income the taxpayer earns.

Provides a rigorous description of the economic dynamics that may produce inherent advantages for large and/or first-mover firms within an industry, as well as those factors that may result in disadvantages for such leading firms. The leader advantages discussed include both size advantages, such as economies of scale and scope, network effects, and learning effect, as well as timing advantages, such as preemption, reputation effects, buyer switching costs, and patents or institutional barriers. The leader disadvantages analyzed include pioneering costs, demand uncertainty, technological uncertainty, and incumbent inertia. Throughout the note, the experiences of Intel Corp., the world's largest manufacturer of semiconductors, are used to provide specific examples of the causes and consequences of leader advantages and disadvantages.

This note will familiarize users of financial statements with how Earnings Per Share (EPS) is calculated, what accounting rules apply, and how the new CICA Handbook Section 3500 will make Canadian, U.S. and international EPS figures more comparable. It also includes a simple exercise to test the students' understanding of the mechanics. The accompanying teaching note provides the solution.

This note will familiarize users of financial statements with how Earnings Per Share (EPS) is calculated, what accounting rules apply, and how the new CICA Handbook Section 3500 will make Canadian, U.S. and international EPS figures more comparable. It also includes a simple exercise to test the students' understanding of the mechanics. The accompanying teaching note provides the solution.

This technical note addresses the taxation of employment-related income and benefits (including salary deferrals, allowances, reimbursements, automobiles, employee loans, stock options, and other taxable and non-taxable benefits) from both an employee's and an employer's point of view. A section is also included on deductions (including salesperson's expenses, travelling expenses) and other related items (moving expenses, death benefits). Several questions are included to allow students to apply the theoretical information presented in the case.

This note explains how federal taxes payable are computed for an individual taxpayer. The mechanics underlying Canada's progressive tax structure are reviewed in order to determine taxes payable and how marginal tax rates vary with income. The main tax credits available to an individual are considered as well as associated tax planning opportunities. Several short problems are provided at the end of the note.

Surveys approaches to understanding the state; highlights the relationships between the state, order, and property; and offers an analytical framework for how states vary from place to place and over time.

This case explains the importance of closing sales quickly and provides a framework for managing the marketing and sales efforts to achieve success. It covers strategic sales management tools; related pricing, finance, product line and service portfolio issues; and selling tactics to provide a comprehensive and complete approach.

Substantially rewritten to establish the relevance of countries in the global context. It does so in terms of their differing economic performance in recent decades, and also by contrasting those that have "converged" toward the rich country norm (as theory would predict) from those that have not. It then develops the country analysis framework, with a scheme to identify context, strategy, and performance. Adds a political dimension, following Sam Huntington's emphasis on the strength of a state/government rather than its form; Hernando de Soto's notion that property rights are more important for most Third World countries than FDI receipts; and Joe Stiglitz's thesis that the notion of differing positions on a common production function is simply not plausible. Thus, advantages remain to be created, and substandard returns should be expected in order to catch up. In addition, provides an economic strategy matrix for the classification of strategies, or for the analysis of their evolution through time. A short bibliography is included. A rewritten version of an earlier note.

Examines the Application Service Provider (ASP) business model. First, defines the ASP model and describes different ways to categorize ASPs. Next, summarizes the various ways that ASPs create value for their clients. Then, analyzes the economic model for ASPs, focusing on their revenue and cost drivers. Last, examines the payoff to ASPs from pursuing aggressive growth strategies.

Describes the major responsibilities and rights of family shareholders of a family owned business.

Describes online brokers, companies that use the Internet to help clients identify prospective trading partners and sometimes help their clients complete transactions. First, summarizes the various ways that online brokers create value for their clients. Then analyzes the economic model for online brokers, focusing on their revenue and cost drivers. Building on that analysis, the next section examines the payoff to online brokers from pursuing aggressive growth strategies. Delineates the differences between and advantages of being a broker versus a retailer or a market maker, and explores some of the strategic challenges facing offline brokers as they move their businesses online, e.g., the risk of self-cannibalization and the threat of disintermediation by clients. Explores the value proposition offered by these companies and the economic imperatives they face. Finally, seeks to provide a framework to evaluate whether the adoption of aggressive growth strategies is prudent for online brokers.

This note describes the replenishment-inventory management -- framework, concepts and tools.

This note describes the Coordination Module in the core-curriculum Operations Management course at the Darden School.

This note describes the Operations Management course in the core curriculum at the Darden School.