Supply Chain 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Supply Chain 2 - Essay Example Question 1 The product design for personal computers was mainly developed by way of analyzing the need for that particular product in the business market. Specifically, there were certain product design decisions that were made during the simulation. In this regard, the major decision was about determining the manufacture of products that are user led product decisions. It can be affirmed that these sorts of decisions have been made in order to serve the best interests of the consumers and comply with their requirements. Before making the product design, the requirement of personal computers was analyzed in an in-depth manner. Based on this analysis, it had been found that personal computers were in high demand given the IT industry booming at a significant level. It was thus decided to penetrate the market with a high amount of sales of personal computers by ABC Limited. In terms of product design decisions, it was determined to sell personal computers, laptops, desktops, and hard d rives as these products were in high demand, as revealed by the market analysis. It had been determined that in the past decade there has been a rapid development in demand of such products due to an increase in the number of information technology users such as students, office users and other general business users. Thus, it can be said that this product design decision influenced the branding as well because the company felt that the focus on such high demand products in terms of branding will certainly lead to high end business outcomes. Regarding the branding decision pertaining specifically to the developed computers, the company needs to taken into concern certain important factors. These factors comprise generating a loyal brand team, establishing the objectives relating to branding and advancing concept development among others. In the simulation, development of brand image was given significant priority as in the modern competitive world branding can create the ultimate di fferentiation and can render competitive advantage. As these products are high in demand, these have been selected while making the product design decisions. Also, the simulation method was used in making the product design and for adopting and executing appropriate marketing strategies. It can be affirmed that the above discussed analysis would broadly influence branding decisions such as standardization and customization of personal computers through determining the factors favoring customization along with standardization of the product. Specially mentioning, the decision of launching the concerned product was made after conducting a proper simulation analysis. Question 2 The decision pertaining to selection of target market would be considered by taking into concern the location of sales offices. The sales office location should represent the major cities along with towns in a particular country. In addition, if provided with the opportunity to repeat the simulation process, the decision of changing the target market i.e. the location of sales offices should not be made. This might be owing to the reason that the sales offices are strategically situated at the heart of the big towns along with cities in the nation proving much beneficial for the company to attract maximum number of customers and most vitally to enhance its overall productivity. It can further be reiterated that no changes in

History shows us that attempts to fix exchange rates or create Essay

History shows us that attempts to fix exchange rates or create monetary unions between different countries usually end in failur - Essay Example While there are certainly several similarities between these experiences, the European experiment must be viewed in its broader political and administrative context to see that such pessimism is not entirely warranted. The failure of monetary cooperation was partly due to the loss of autonomy countries face when they agree to fix exchange rates or participate in a union. This loss of autonomy means that a country has fewer tools at its disposal to reach its internal and external balance. Different countries define the term â€Å"balance† differently with respect to their internal and external balance goals – for instance, the German Bundesbank has historically been considered very inflation-averse, while the central bank of Italy has generally seemed comfortable with higher inflation rates1. In normal economic times, this divergence in goals is not a problem and countries find their fiscal tools sufficient to address short- and medium- term deviations from their interna l and external balance goals. In times of crises, however, countries with a lower tolerance for deviation from goals may find that they require more than just their fiscal tools to address the crisis. This is particularly true under fixed exchange rate regimes. When a country is facing unemployment, in addition to fiscal measures, monetary authorities might want to stimulate investment by increasing the money supply and lowering interest rates. However, the Mundell-Fleming model shows us that under a fixed exchange rate regime (unless the nation imposes restrictions on capital mobility, such as China did until recently)2, such a move would be ineffective because a lower interest rate would cause a capital outflow, which in turn would apply depreciating pressures on the domestic currency. To maintain the exchange rate, the central bank would then be obliged to buy back the very same currency that it initially supplied to the economy to encourage investment.3 Where the costs are deeme d to outweigh the benefits, countries are left with three options: (i) Continue to remain within the arrangement, but act autonomously (ii) Continue to remain within the arrangement, but renegotiate the terms to address the crisis, or (iii) Cease to remain within the arrangement Examples of these options being exercised are numerous. For example, under the Gold Standard, which was a fixed exchange regime between 1870 and 1914, central banks were required to adhere to the â€Å"rules of the game,† when there were disturbances in the price-specie flow mechanism that held the Gold Standard in place4. These â€Å"rules† meant that central banks would sell domestic assets while experiencing a current account deficit and buy domestic assets while experiencing a surplus. However, the urgency to bring about an external balance was felt more sharply by countries facing deficits, so countries often exercised the first option - which meant that the â€Å"rules† were freque ntly violated or ignored5 although to all appearances, the system was not overthrown. The second option, often takes a form that either returns a degree of autonomy to the member countries or enhances the power of a third body to address the crisis. Examples of the second option being exercised can be found in both the history of the Bretton Woods System as well as the European Monetary System (EMS). Under the Bretton Woods System, countries were required to peg their currencies to the U.S. dollar while