Answer:
a. International standards
Explanation:
Firms use many techniques for determining the wage structure for positions within the firm.
However International standards is not normally used by firms to determine their wage structures
Firms usually will consider Job evaluation outcomes before promoting staff to a new level which will better pay, hence wages culd be performance-based
They also use Comparable worth for workers who do the same job to earn the same pay
Wage surveys are also done to benchmark the level of wages paid by competitors within the same industry.
Answer:
Instructions are listed below
Explanation:
Giving the following information:
For each of the following, indicate the possible effects on demand, supply, or both as well as equilibrium price and quantity of chocolate ice cream.
a. A severe drought in the Midwest causes dairy farmers to reduce the number of milk-producing cattle in their herds by a third. These dairy farmers supply cream that is used to manufacture chocolate ice cream.
Demand: decreases (because of the higher price)
Supply: restrains.
Equilibrium price: rises
Equilibrium quantity: decreases
b. A new report by the American Medical Association reveals that chocolate does, in fact, have significant health benefits.
Demand: increases
Supply: increases
Equilibrium price: rise
Equilibrium quantity: increases
c. The discovery of cheaper synthetic vanilla flavoring lowers the price of vanilla ice cream.
Demand: decreases
Supply: decreases
Equilibrium price: decrease
Equilibrium quantity: decrease
d. New technology for mixing and freezing ice cream lowers manufacturers' costs of producing chocolate ice cream.
Demand: remains
Supply: increase
Equilibrium price:
Equilibrium quantity:
Explanation:
Starbucks noted a gross margin of 29.6% in 2018 and 28.2% in 2019. Therefore, just like we had discussed above the gross margins might be impacted in the medium term due to competitive pricing strategies to win market share in China and competition from McDonald's. McDonald's noted a gross margin of 46.5% and 51.3% in the last two fiscal years. Starbucks deals with premium coffee and other food products and therefore has a lower gross margin compared to McDonald's whose volumes are driven by its friendly pricing.
The debt to capital ratio rose from 86.8% in 2018 to 216.4% in 2019. Expansion in a new market comes with higher capital which leads to an increase in the costs in the form of interest expenses. McDonald's debt to capital ratio for the last two fiscals were 107.8% and 119.4% respectively. The increase in debt was driven by the ongoing efforts towards bringing innovations to the company's menu, restaurants and other related matters to drive the revenue and profits.
The return on equity stood at 136.2% in 2018 and turned into a negative 142.2% in 2019 due to the stockholder deficit. The higher capital issue associated with the expansion might worsen the returns further. McDonald's noted a negative return on equity of 189.8% and 124.4% in the last two fiscals.
Starbucks and McDonald's have noted a spike in their capital expenditure to increase their market share. Both the companies are focused on their respective strategies of geographical expansion and store and menu renovation. The gross margin expansion of Starbucks will be intially driven by higher volumes from friendly pricing and loyalty programs. Once it has gained market share it will take the help of pricing power to drive revenue in the 1.4 billion Chinese economy. McDonald's has already won market share through its friendly pricing policies leading to higher volumes. The store and menu renovation and loyalty programs will further add value to the margins.
The growth in revenue and profits will help the companies to gradually repay and lower their debt levels. All of which will drive their net incomes and convert their stockholder deficit into a positive stockholder equity.
Once the companies start expanding their profits and margins then the return on equity will also turn positive and will witness growth.