...following demand curve of a consumer for a monopolist’s product Q = 14 – 2P ( a) fi nd the total revenue of the monopolist when it sells 6 units of the commodity without practicing any form of price discrimination. What is the value of the consumers’ surplus? ( b) What would be the total revenue of the monopolist if it practiced first-degree price discrimination? How much would the consumers’ surplus be in this case? ( c) What if the monopolist charged P = $ 5.50 for the first 3 units of the commodity and P = $ 4 for the next 3 units— what type of price discrimination is this? Note: 1. P12: You could use figure 12-4 as a reference (p. 492). 2. Spreadsheet problem 1: This is the demand curve for Q=14-2P. Froeb et al.’s Chapter 14: a. Individual problems: 14–1 Why might Mattel set a much lower contribution margin on its Barbie dolls than on the accessories for the dolls? b. and 14–4. A manufacturer of microwaves has discovered that male shoppers have little value for micro-waves and attribute almost no extra value to an auto- defrost feature. Female shoppers generally value microwaves more than men and attribute greater value to the auto- defrost feature. There is little additional cost to incorporating an auto-defrost feature. Since men and women cannot be charged different prices for the same product, the manufacturer is considering introducing two dif-ferent models. The manufacturer has determined that men value a simple microwave at $ 70 and one with auto-...
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...are “Barbie Q” and “Eleven”. Most of her writings are about the different events that she encounters throughout her life, some are about the Hispanic community and some about the role of women in society. Cisneros writes about how important is to love one. She utilizes these stories in order to express frustration on the role and superiority that man have and the importance we give age. In her writing Cisneros portrays the struggles she had to contend with growing up as in immigrant in the United States. Cisneros expressed these viewpoints as a child to add an innocent tone to her writings. Sandra Cisneros began writing on the experiences she encountered throughout her life. She came from a different background then most Americans writers. In her stories she spoke about her life, struggles, and challenges she faced. Born in Chicago in 1954 to Mexican parents Sandra Cisneros learned to value culture and the importance of dependency. She was the third and only daughter in a family of seven children. Most of her writings explore issues that are important to her such as feminism, love, oppression, and religion. Cisneros says, "If I were asked what it is I write about, I would have to say I write about those ghosts inside that haunt me, which will not let me sleep, of that which even memory does not like to mention."(Cisneros 1). In the intriguing short story “Barbie Q” Cisneros writes about the wish every little girl wants which is a Barbie doll. A Barbie doll...
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...Fatoumatta Jaiteh ENGL 1312: Section 2 Dr. West-Fort October 1, 2013 A Response to "BARBIE Q" by Sandra Cisneros "Barbie Q!" I did not understand the title of the story at first but to my understanding, i thought the writer wanted to use the word "Barbie" instead of "Barbeque" to make it look "posh" and feminine. As we read the story in class, i got a better and deeper undstanding of the whole moral of the story and why she used the word "Barbie". When i saw "Titties" pg (339) i was like "wow," the writer is bold and no wonder they banned it. It seemed like two girls were playing with the dolls and making remarks about their dresses and comparing how glamorous they look. We were all kids at some point so i get that. These barbie dolls send negative messages to the children of today. When kids play with them, they tend to know about make up, boyfriend, the glitz and the glam etc at an early stage. Yes i understand it's good for a female to look good but not at age 3. You can look good for yourself. Some females are more secure when they wear make up some are not. I won't call myself a "feminist" but i stand and support womens rights. These kids might want to look like barbie at some point. Well, it's already happening e.g "Toodlers & Tiara's" is a perfect example of how mothers of today teach their kids to believe that if you do not wear tons of hair, jewelry, exposing dresses, heels & make up, you are not beautiful enough and society will not appreciate your natural...
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...Q U ES TI O N 1 Paulo Sanchez feels that there is a market niche for software that helps entrepreneurs file for a patent. Surveying the features and prices of legal forms already in the market, the Paulo believes that a price of $150 would be about right for such software. At that price, he estimates that 1,000 copies could be sold each year. To design, develop, produce and service this software, an investment of $400,000 would be required. Paulo desires a 15% return on his investment (ROI). Given these data, the target cost to create, sell, and service the software is: $150 $60 $90 $40 1 points Q U ES TI O N 2 (Not a repeat question.) The New Product Development Team at Mattel Inc. has developed a new version of the Barbie doll for the upcoming holiday season - "Holiday Barbie". Their market research suggests that they can sell approximately 500,000 units of Holiday Barbie at a price of $13.50/unit to retail stores. The variable production costs are $4.50/unit and total fixed costs are expected to be $3,600,000. In order for the new design to enter production, the target profit on the new doll must equal 30% each year on Mattel's capital investment. The total required investment is $3,600,000. If the number of units sold and selling price per unit cannot be increased beyond the current projection, to what level does variable cost per unit (currently $4.50) need to be reduced in order to ensure the 30% return on capital? (Ignore minor rounding.) $0...
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...their lives. Whether it’s gender roles or just wanting to be accepted by others, people feel the need to “live” according to these guidelines. As time progresses so do the “guidelines” and if the individuals cannot keep up with these norms, they can be left behind or deemed as an outcast. Gender roles seem to be the most common. From the day a child is born societal norms are placed on them. For example a young boy’s room will be probably be blue and filled with sports items, while a young girls room will be pink and be filled with dolls and a play kitchen set. These small details, along with expectations, begin to shape their role in society. “Barbie Q” by Sandra Cisneros is a perfect example of societal expectations. In this short story Cisneros introduces two young girls who are playing with their Barbie dolls. The girls go into great detail when describing their dolls and the outfits the dolls are wearing. One can conclude that the girls are poor when the main character tells the reader that they only have one outfit for their dolls. They even had to make a dress from a sock because they could not afford other outfits. This is further illustrated when the girls begin describing how they will play with the dolls. Everyday the two girls play out the same story with the two Barbies fighting over an invisible Ken doll. One day when walking through a market, the young girls discover a set of dolls that have been damaged by a fire in the toy warehouse. Although the...
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...PART 1 Company Allocation Ticker symbol | Company | | GICS Sector | GICS Sub Industry | Address of Headquarters | | BEN | Franklin Resources | | Financials | Diversified Financial Services | San Mateo, California | | FCX | Freeport-McMoran Cp & Gld | | Materials | Diversified Metals & Mining | Phoenix, Arizona | | The cost of capital of the aforementioned companies will be discussed in the following questions. The companies will be referred to by their Ticker Symbols henceforth. Question 1 BEN The book value of the company’s liabilities and equity can be deduced from a number of online sources. The US Securities and Exchange Commission (2013) provided the company filings data whereby BEN’s Form 10q, dated 29/07/2013, showed the following (included on page 2 of this report). The book value of long-term debt is $1,252.1 million, and the book value of equity is $10,402.3 million. The schedule of outstanding debt shows that this figure includes $54.5 million of FHLB advances and $1197.6 million of Senior Notes at various effective interest rates. The notes on Stockholders Equity and Non- Redeemable Non-Controlling Interests reveal that Franklin Resources Inc Stockholders Equity totals $9779.8 million whilst the Non- Redeemable Non-Controlling Interests (previously referred to as minority interests) totals $622.5 million. FCX The book value of the company’s liabilities and equity can be deduced from a number of online sources. The US Securities...
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...customer’s needs and wants. Delivering what the customer needs and wants can be segregated into two broad categories: First, product development: According to the case, Mattel’s product development ensures that its portfolio never stagnates. Unfortunately, Mattel has failed to adapt to the evolving demands of children, as they are becoming increasingly technologically savvy and are therefore interested in electronic and interactive rather than traditional toys such as Barbie or Hot Wheels at a younger age. This is evident, for example, from the demise of the ‘ELLO’ building toys for young girls1.The product development disparity between customers’ needs and Mattel’s production is further demonstrated by their lack of attention to their global market, which, according to the text, account for 46% of gross sales. This is evident in the Malaysian Consumers Association having attempted to ban the Barbie brand, one of Mattel’s core products, because of her non-Asian appearance and the lack of intellectual stimulation that Barbie provides; and many other countries are following suit. According to the text, Asian sales account for a mere 11% of Mattel’s gross revenues. Second, Corporate and Social Responsibility: A strong product is no longer enough; customers increasingly demand corporate social responsibility2. With increasing concerns with regards to internet privacy, and the risks associated for children surfing the internet3, Mattel’s move into the virtual realm comes with increased...
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...Kimberly Tucker, Chris Salt, Ashley Solomon Case 7: Mattel: Overcoming Marketing and Manufacturing Challenges 11/01/2010 Marketing Management 6800 Section 004 The Problem: The problem surrounding Mattel Inc., one of the world’s largest toy companies, is their mismanagement of international subcontractors and vendors and the production of certain toys (the manufacturing process), as well as their inability to adapt their marketing strategy or product to the constantly changing “demographic and socioeconomic trends” (Ferrell, et. all 466). This is supported by Mattel’s legal battle with Carter Bryant and MGA, their forced recall of certain toys that were manufactured overseas, and the increasing rate at which traditional toys are becoming less appealing to today’s young audience. Essentially, Mattel’s mismanagement and oversight lead to violations in terms of ethical and social responsibilities and safety standards. Issues Relevant to the Problem: Mattel’s problem of mismanagement can be divided into several issues that need to be considered: legal issues, international supply chain issues, and an increase in technology-based toys. In regards to legal issues, Mattel has been involved in prolonged litigation with Carter Bryant and MGA over a breach of an employment contract and copyright infringement. Due to Mattel’s poor management of its overseas manufacturers, in which unauthorized subcontractors and third-party suppliers were hired and unsafe materials used, several...
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...Multicultural Barbie and the Merchandizing of Difference” In the article “Dyes and Dolls” by Ann duCille she discusses how many, “manufactures have taken on a global perspective of a nearsightedness that constructs this whole new world as small and cultural difference as consumable (Ann duCille, p267). When Barbie turned the age of thirty Newsweek reported that there were 500 million Barbie dolls sold, on Barbie’s thirty fifth birthday Boston Globe reported that nearly two Barbie dolls are sold every second somewhere in the world; and fifty percent of these dolls are sold in the U.S (Ann duCille, p267). 1990 Mattel Inc discovered a new marketing strategy to make more money by going “ethnic” launching a campaign for Black and Hispanic versions ( A. duCille, p267). According to Deborah Mitchell, say Ann, Deborah ( African American woman) says, “Barbie allows little girls to dream”. “When little girls fantasize themselves into the conspicuous consumption, glamour, perfection, and, and some have argued anorexia of Barbie’s world, it is rarely, if ever, “in their own image that they dream” Regardless of what color dyes the dolls are dipped in or what costumes they are adorned with, the image they present is of the same mythically thin, long-legged, luxurious haired, buxom beauty (A. duCille, p268). But profit still continues to be the driving factor merchandizing of difference (A. duCille, p267). “As feminist have protested almost from the moment she hit the market, Barbie is not...
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...Guerline Donisvitch “Introduction to Literature” Ann Rasmussen April 23, 2009 Barbie Doll The poem begins in a fairy-tale vein, the archaic term “girl-child” being used to underscore the mythic quality of the story. The dolls, stove, iron and lipstick are all traditional play things for young girls, but they are also markers of an identity in the making, the things that young girls grow to identify with their own social roles. The doll presents an idealized image of the body, and stove and irons tell them what kind of work is expected of them as adults. The lipstick perhaps is the most sexualized cosmetic for women, signals to young girls that they will be valued for their physical appearance. The “magic of puberty” introduces the theme of growth. It is a magical time because the body changes rapidly. She also refers to the pain that comes with puberty. When girls are growing older they are really cruel to each other. The “girl child” is told she has “a great big nose and fat legs” even though she is smart, healthy and strong. The girl was made to feel guilty for who she was, for her intelligence and abilities, and also for not being slim and “beautiful.” She apologized to everyone for not being the person they wanted her to be, but all they could see was her body and how it did not match their idea of what a woman should look like. They tried to help her be more of an idealized woman by suggesting how to compensate for her unfeminine qualities. “girl-child”...
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...Excellent variety of products for both boys and girls * Mattel has been in the fore front of the toy industry for 6o years * Strong online privacy policy * Controls fate of Barbie’s main competitor, Bratz. * Has excellent Global Manufacturing Principles * Weaknesses * Battered brand image over recent series of recalls * Losing control of their products and company image due to the outsourcing of their manufacturing to third party overseas manufacturers * They have little pricing power due to heavy reliance on Wal-Mart and Target * Keeping children’s interest when they are growing into the tween demographic. * Opportunities * Online and Video Game Market * Barbie retail store * Social Media * Create new alliances with other companies to help market products * Changing focus from traditional toys (Barbies/Hot Wheels) to electronic toys * Moving production from china back to the United States or a more sustainable country * Threats * Decreasing demand for toys * Economic recession * Raising oil prices * Children are outgrowing toys at an earlier age * MGA Entertainment Inc. Criteria: 1) Long term profitability (10) 2) Rebuild customer trust in product safety (10) 3) Relative time to implement (8) 4) Cost to implement (8) 5) Sustain competitive advantage (7) 6) Appealing to tween...
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...Unit 4 Mattel’s China Experience Case Study Analysis MT460 Management Policy and Strategy Professor: Dr. Margery Mayer Date: June 18, 2011 In 1944, based in California, Ruth and Elliot Handler founded Mattel after World War II. In the 1950’s, Mattel start advertising on Mickey Mouse Club with their core product being Barbie. Barbie was named after their daughter Barbara’s nickname. In the 1960, Mattel became publicly owned and in 1965, their sales top $100 million the company now qualified as a Fortune 500 company. Mattel is engaged in designing, manufacturing, and marketing of toys and family products across the world. The company's key global brands include Barbie, Hot Wheels, American Girl, and Fisher-Price. The company operates in the Americas, Asia Pacific, and Europe. It is headquartered in El Segundo, California and employs 27,000 people. (xplosivestocks.com) The start or recovery from damage done to the well-known brand due to recalls. After paying $40 million dollars in recalls for more than 19 million toys in China, Mattel was in a crisis. Their stock was dropping, lawsuits, media attacks, lost sales, and increased expense of litigation cost. Mattel was now suffering from a tarnished brand name and customer loyalty. Mattel’s challenges included convincing parents that child safety and product safety is more important that revenue, form an alliance with Chinese suppliers and the government to create honorable quality control solutions, improve...
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...Assessment activity 3.3 In this assignment I am going to be explaining how and why groups of customers are targeted for selected products, I am going to pick 6 different target markets and for two of them will be business to business markets. Saga over 50’s insurance For the first target market I am going to be looking at Saga over 50’s, they offer life insurance, health insurance, car insurance, home insurance, travel insurance, cruise holidays, tour holidays, savings, bank accounts, saga magazines and cheap UK trips, they are all very important when you look at their target market which are over 50’s, the average pension pay-out is £113 a week, and when you hit 80 you get a 25p increase, regarding the holidays, they are offering cheaper holidays and cheap cruises and 25% of UK trips. Saga Insurance is a good investment. Seniors and older people may find that a fixed income investment comes with less financial risk. It allows them to have a fixed monthly income, this is perfect for retirement. Health insurance- Although the NHS does a wonderful job, many people choose private health insurance to speed up diagnosis and treatment. Private health insurance also gives you much greater choice about where, when and by whom you’ll be treated. Saga target this age group by offering these service because they are discounted and are suited to a pensioners pay out. • Quick referral to a consultant • Access to prompt treatment- at a private hospital of your choice from our extensive...
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...LITR 301 February 18, 2014 Girl Compared to a Barbie Doll Women were considered the subordinate gender that was expected to have this stay at home homemaker attitude. They were supposed to powder their noses and look pretty. Women are discriminated against in society. Women have stereotypical gender roles they are supposed to uphold. As suggested in the poem “Barbie Doll” by Marge Piercy the Barbie doll is the idealized image of a woman and is considered to have long legs, perfect skin, small waist and a slender figure. The Barbie doll speaks for itself. It says that women should be domestic workers and maintain a feminine outer appearance. These type of values affect young girls because they are taught early that this is what a woman should look and act like. The Barbie doll has a lot of appeal and popularity for the past several years so it is difficult to alter the ideas of womanhood suggested by this doll. These ideas to be like and do as a Barbie doll cannot be overthrown because it has already been deeply planted in our society. In contrast, the short story “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid suggests that women are condemned to patriarchy because of socially constructed gender stereotypes. She criticizes the idealized patriarchal norms and pressures which overshadows the lives of women. Young girls are exposed to the pressures and expectations of how they should live. They are also brainwashed in believing that their role as a women is to become a domestic homemaker and that...
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...Guns are drawn, and we face the enemy. It has come down to live or death. The first hand grenade is thrown. It misses its targets but then again they always miss their target. I peek under my shield of cover to find myself face to face with the littlest enemy! I yell and take off running in fear of what I have seen. Bullets are flying and my partner has been hit. I know not to turn around as I know what I will see. She is gone, she is now a zombie. She is now on the other team. BING, BING! “Pause, Dinner is done” I yell from under the kitchen table. “Oh mom!” My three zombies all say almost at the same time. “Sorry guys, even zombies have to eat dinner and your dad will be home soon. I’ll get dinner, y’all clean the living room” I tell them as they are walking into the war zone, which was ones our living room. As I turn to finish dinner, I think about all the rainy Saturday afternoons that we have spent playing and laughing and just pretending. I believe that playing and enjoying your kids while they are little is what life is all about. I believe that by playing with Mitchell, Cheyenne, and Nicole I will forever be young. I believe that playing with Mitchell my oldest child is helping break down the barriers. It is hard rising a teenager, and Mitchell is almost there at eleven. We don’t pretend much anymore but this morning is different. He is up bright and early this nasty Saturday morning. When he comes popping in the kitchen and gives me his I am still your baby smile...
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