1 Which of the problems outlined by the consultant do you consider the highest priority? Second priority? Why? James Cowart started making and selling outdoor furniture in 1984. He built up the business to 300 employees and AU$28 million in sales in 2005. SunBright operates a single factory, where it fabricates and assembles a wide range of outdoor furniture, including tables, chairs, umbrellas and matching accessories. SunBright's major production tasks include extruding the aluminium furniture parts, bending and shaping the extruded parts, finishing and painting the parts, and then assembling the parts into completed furniture. Cloth and leather upholstery, glass for tabletops, wood finishing and hardware such as screws and bolts are purchased from outside vendors. Running this business was an almost 24-hour-a-day job for Cowart, because manufacturing or sales problems arose constantly. Cowart seemed to be the only person who could solve them. In 2005, Cowart decided to hire a general manager to run the manufacturing and sales department so he could have more time for other interests, including his grandchildren. To his good fortune, he was approached by Eva Rucker, who offered to invest in the business and grow it from a regional manufacturer to one that sold to major national retailers.