information for a marketing strategy

information for a marketing strategy

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TASK

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This assessment item continues on from Part 1 of the STPL Case Study

Question 1   (15 marks)

Marty, the marketing manager, would like you to assist in providing information for a marketing strategy he is proposing at the annual general meeting next month. He is focusing only on the maca-sponge and wants to know the optimal product mix. Below is an estimate of the costs of the three sizes of the maca-sponge.


Maca-Sponge Sizes

1.5kg800 gram300gram
Selling Price$30.00$25.00$19.00




Costs:



Raw materials$10.00$8.00$3.00

Direct labour$7.00$4.00$2.00

Overhead$5.00$4.00$2.80

Selling and Admin$3.00$2.50$2.20

Each of the three products goes through the same manufacturing process which consists of mixing, spreading, cooking and then packaging ready to be sold. The time for each process, in minutes, is in the table below.


MixingSpreadingCookingPackaging

HOURS REQUIRED
1.5 kg48303
800 gram103202
300 gram88202
HOURS AVAILABLE8,00012,000100,00010,000

Required:

  1. Formulate a linear program to determine the expected mix of maca-sponge, ensuring that the maximum profit is obtained. (8 marks)
  2. State the optimal mix and resulting profit. Discuss your results (7 marks)

Question 2   (15 marks)

To assist Marty with his marketing proposal you have offered to provide him with a break-even analysis for the 3 maca-sponge sized cakes.  The costs are the same (refer to the cost estimation table in question 1).  Fixed costs are $525,000 and the sales mix in the same percentage allocation that you calculated in question 1.

  1. Calculate the unit contribution for each product.  (2 marks)
  2. What is the sales mix?  (2 marks)
  3. Calculate the weighted average unit contribution margin? (3 marks)
  4. What is the break-even sales revenue in dollars?  (4 marks)
  5. How many of each type of maca-sponges must be sold to earn a target profit of $350,000?   Assume a constant sales mix. (4 marks)

Question 3   (10 marks)

Marty wants to propose that STPL makes icing sugar figurines to go on top of the maca-sponges. The machine is available, however, it is not always reliable and will often make defective figurines. The figurines would be 1,2,3,4, and 5 inches tall. Based on one day’s production there were a total of 130 of the 1 inch figurine, 256 of the 2 inch, 25 of the 3 inch, 396 of the 4 inch and 278 of the 5 inch.  

Required

  1. What is the probability of selecting a 1 inch figurine from the defective bin? (2 marks)
  2. What is the probability of selecting a figurine that is 3 inches or more from the defective bin? (2 marks)
  3. How can probability information be used to assist management in making better decisions? (6 marks)

Question 4 (10 marks)

The Board of Management tends to focus decisions based on events occurring in the next month, only ever considering a longer-term question when they set budgets, which typically have focused on the previous year’s events. You would like to encourage the Board of Management to adopt a stronger strategic focus rather than be operational in their approach to decision making. Explain the difference between operational and strategic decisions. Ensure you provide examples and current thinking about the role each type of decision-making plays within an organisation. (10 marks)

Online submission via Turnitin is required for this assignment. Details will be provided by your subject lecturer.

RATIONALE

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SUBJECT LEARNING OUTCOMES

This assessment task will assess the following learning outcome/s:

  • be able to apply decision theory to business situations.
  • be able to explain the use of simulation in complex decisions.
  • be able to demonstrate understanding of the application of statistical hypothesis testing to decisions, with particular emphasis on quality control and interpreting the significance of regression coefficients in cost estimation.
  • be able to apply cost-volume-profit analysis and linear programming to product mix decisions.

The requirements of this assignment cover up to and including Topic 8 of the Online Learning materials. The assignment is designed to develop your problem solving, spreadsheet (Excel) design, and written communication skills. The questions require you to apply the knowledge and tools covered in the subject topics in order to demonstrate your understanding of the subject content and also to illustrate your capacity for strategic thinking. The assignment will also test your ability to communicate and explain the impacts of your findings whether through quantitative or written reports. The ability to communicate effectively has been identified by the accounting professional bodies as being critical to your future role as an accountant.

GRADUATE LEARNING OUTCOMES

This task also contributes to the assessment of the following CSU Graduate Learning Outcome/s:

  • Academic Literacy and Numeracy (Application) – Charles Sturt Graduates consider the context, purpose, and audience when gathering, interpreting, constructing, and presenting information.
  • Digital Literacies (Skill) – Charles Sturt Graduates use, create, communicate and share multimodal information in digital environments.

MARKING CRITERIA AND STANDARDS

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Assessment Item 3

The criteria described below will not apply to all parts of all questions but describe the standards expected where the question requirements are appropriate. It is expected that all students will complete their own work with no collusion with other students.

CriteriaHigh distinctionDistinctionCreditPass










Apply probability concepts to decision makingCompletely correct application of rational-decision making techniques to business problems, including the ability to evaluate further information prior to decisions.
Mostly correct application of rational-decision making techniques to business problems, including the correct evaluation of further information prior to decisions.Some difficulty in correctly applying rational-decision making techniques to business problems including, somewhat correct evaluation of further information prior to decisions.Weakness in applying rational-decision making techniques to business problems and difficulty in evaluating further information prior to decisions.
Be able to use computer spreadsheets as an aid to effectively present mathematical problems.
Level of technical proficiency in using spreadsheets to prepare management accounting reports. Ability to use Excel to solve management accounting problems. This includes the ability to use appropriate Excel (or similar) analysis tools and functions, construct appropriate spreadsheet formulae and to effectively and appropriately print and present your material and results. Ability to present your answers effectively, appropriately, and neatly, using computers.
Use of appropriate formulae with no errors. Correct use of data input sections where appropriate. Excellent design allowing intuitive and easy comprehension of key data. High standard of formatting enhancing the logical presentation of the data output enhancing comprehension by report end-users.
Consistent use of appropriate formulae with very few (if any) minor errors. Correct use of data input sections where appropriate. Well designed and logical data output presentation. Good formatting allowing easy and effective comprehension by report end-users.
Use of appropriate formulae with few errors. Correct use of data input sections where appropriate. Logical data output presentation and formatting allowing easy and effective comprehension by report end-users.
Effectively and appropriately present your material and results and clearly convey your understanding of the results to the reader. All references and resources acknowledged and professionally presented using APA (6th or 7th ed) referencing.The business report is well presented, logically argued, and well written in a manner that very effectively conveys the key outcomes and recommendations to the end-user. All references and sources acknowledged and professionally presented.
The business report is well written with references and sources acknowledged and output professionally presented.
The business report is well written with references and sources acknowledged and professionally presented.
The business report is clearly written with references and sources acknowledged and professionally presented.

PRESENTATION

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Preparation and submission requirements

This assignment requires a Microsoft Word document as well as a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet solution.  Both of these must be submitted online using Turnitin.

You must submit both a Word file AND an Excel file. Failure to submit both of the files by the due date constitutes non-submission and late penalties will apply.

Your spreadsheet solutions must be cut and pasted into the Word document. This Word document is what will be marked and returned to you. Remember that in the business world, the professional presentation of information is fundamental and accordingly, marks will be deducted for poor presentation. An electronic version of your source spreadsheet is required to enable markers to open the file and test your efficient use of spreadsheet formula by, for example, changing the values of input variables. Marks will be awarded on the basis of correctness of answers, appropriate use of spreadsheet modelling, effective worksheet design, and level of professional presentation.

Your business report should include:

  1. a cover page addressed to your required audience;
  2. an executive summary (refer to the note below regarding an executive summary);
  3. a table of contents (linked to the headings in the report);
  4. headings and subheadings clearly identifying what is being discussed;
  5. brief explanation and purpose on what each question is addressing
  6. a conclusion; and
  7. referencing (using APA style).

A reference list is mandatory for this assessment item. It is important that you are aware of how to reference properly and a reference list must be provided, properly formatted using APA guidelines with a hanging indent. Please note that it is a submission requirement that you include a reference list and assignments which do not include a properly formatted reference list will incur up to a 5 mark penalty. 

Review the rules regarding plagiarism.  If you are not sure, contact your lecturer or Academic Skills advisor for advice. There is no excuse for presenting the work of others as your own; this includes cutting and pasting material from the web without properly referencing the source.

The CSU Library site provides an on-line guide to APA style referencing. This is the referencing style adopted by the School of Accounting and Finance. The guide can be found at https://www.csu.edu.au/current-students/learning-resources/build-your-skills/academic-skills-help/referencing 

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