Question
Answer the following questions on separate sheets of paper. Show all of your calculations. If you cannot answer all of the questions, answer the parts
Answer the following questions on separate sheets
of paper. Show all of your calculations. If you cannot answer all of the questions, answer
the parts you can. Turn this page and your answer sheets in together.
- Max Leonard, vice president of Marketing for Dysk Computer, Inc must decide
whether to introduce a mid-priced version of the firm's DC 6900 personal computer
product line - the DC 6900-X. The DC6900-X would sell for $3,900, with unit
variable costs of $1,800. Projections made by an independent marketing research firm
indicate that the DC6900-X would achieve a sales volume of 50,000 units next year,
in its first year of commercialization.
One-half of the first year's volume would come from competitors' personal
computers and market growth. However, a consumer research study indicates that
30 percent of the DC6900-X sales volume would come from the higher-priced
DC6900-0mega personal computer, which sells for $4,800 (with unit variable costs of
$2,200). Another 20 percent of the DC6900-X sales volume would come from the
economy-priced DC6900-Alpha personal computer, priced at $2,400 (with unit
variable costs of$ 1,200). The DC6900-0mega unit volume is expected to be 40,000
units next year, and the DC6900-Alpha is expected to achieve a 60,000 unit sales
level.
The fixed costs of launching the DC6900-X have been forecast to be $2 million
during the first year of commercialization. Should Mr. Leonard add the DC6900-X
model to the line of personal computers? Why?
- The annual planning process at Century Office Systems, Inc. had been arduous but
produced a number of important marketing initiatives for the next year. Most
notably, company executives had decided to restructure its product-marketing team
into two separate groups: (1) Corporate Office Systems and (2) Home Office
Systems. Angela Blake was assigned responsibility for the Home Office Systems
group, which would market the company's word-processing hardware and software
for home and office-at-home use by individuals. Her marketing plan, which included
a sales forecast for next year of $25 million, was the result of a detailed market
analysis and negotiations with individuals both inside and outside the company.
Discussions with the sales director indicated that 50 percent of the company sales
force would be dedicated to selling products of the Home Office Systems group.
Sales representatives would receive a 10 percent commission on sales of home office
systems. Under the new organizational structure, the Home Office Systems group
would be charged with 40 percent of the budgeted sales force expenditure. The sales
director's budget for salaries and fringe benefits of the sales force and noncommission
selling costs for both the Corporate and Home Office Systems groups
was $7 million.
The advertising and promotion budget contained three elements: trade magazine
advertising, cooperative newspaper advertising with Century Office Systems, Inc.
dealers, and sales promotion materials including product brochures, technical
manuals, catalogs, and point-of-purchase displays. Trade magazine ads and sales
promotion materials were to be developed by the company's advertising and public
relations agency. Production and media placement costs were budgeted at $250,000.
Cooperative advertising copy for both newspaper and radio use had budgeted
production costs of $150,000. Century Office Systems, Inc. 's cooperative advertising
allowance policy stated that the company would allocate 5 percent of company sales
to dealers to promote its office systems. Dealers always used their complete
cooperative advertising allowances.
Meetings with manufacturing and operations personnel indicated that the direct
costs of material and labor and direct factory overhead to produce the Home Office
System product line represented 50 percent of sales. The accounting department
would assign $400,000 in indirect manufacturing overhead (for example,
depreciation, maintenance) to the product line and $250,000 for administrative
overhead (clerical, telephone, office space, and so forth). Freight for the product line
would average 15 percent of sales.
Blake's staff consisted of two product managers and a marketing assistant. Salaries
and fringe benefits for Ms. Blake and her staff were $200,000 per year.
- Prepare a pro forma income statement for the Home Office Systems
group given the information provided.
- Prepare a pro forma income statement for the Home Office Systems
group given annual sales of only $20 million.
- At what level of dollar sales will the Home Office Systems group break even?
Step by Step Solution
There are 3 Steps involved in it
Step: 1
Get Instant Access to Expert-Tailored Solutions
See step-by-step solutions with expert insights and AI powered tools for academic success
Step: 2
Step: 3
Ace Your Homework with AI
Get the answers you need in no time with our AI-driven, step-by-step assistance
Get Started