Assignment - Managerial Economics
Assignment - Managerial Economics
Name: M A M Siyam
Reg No : 320272281
Today's real-world commercial organizations have several obstacles to overcome, including
declining markets, growing expenses, and unstable economic situations. Business managers can
make use of a variety of economic theories and concepts to manage these intricate problems
and preserve competitiveness. This is a detailed examination of how certain economic ideas can
be used to get past these obstacles:
Economies of Scale
Companies benefit from economies of scale, or reduced costs, when production becomes more
efficient. Businesses can cut expenses and boost production to reach economies of scale. This
occurs as a result of costs being divided over many products. Both fixed and variable costs are
possible.
Economies of scale are financial benefits businesses receive as their production becomes more
efficient because expenses may be divided over a higher volume of products.
The ability to attain economies of scale is correlated with a company's size; larger businesses
can achieve greater cost reductions and higher output levels.
There are two types of economies of scale: internal and external. While external forces impact
the entire sector, internal economies are influenced by factors within a particular firm.
Economies of Scope
When one good is produced, it lowers the cost of producing another similar good, which is
known as an economy of scope. Economies of scope arise when a company can provide a
greater variety of goods or services at a lower cost by producing each good separately or in
tandem with another enterprise. When complementary goods and services are produced, a
company, organization, or economy's long-term average and marginal costs drop.
Economies of scope refer to circumstances in which the marginal cost of manufacturing two or
more items is lower when produced jointly than when produced separately.
Economies of scale refer to creating more of the same good in order to increase efficiency,
whereas economies of scope refer to producing a number of different products together in order
to lower costs.
Products that share production inputs, have complementary production processes, or are co
products or complements in the manufacturing process can all lead to economies of scope.
Co-Products
Cooperative production links between finished products can give rise to economies of scope.
These products are referred to as complements in manufacturing in the economic world. This
happens when the process of producing one good inevitably results in the development of
another good as a byproduct or side effect. Even though a product is sometimes a byproduct of
another, it might still be valuable to the manufacturer or market. Reducing waste and expenses
while increasing revenues can be achieved by finding a profitable application or market for the
by products.
Dairy farmers, for instance, divide raw milk from cows into Dairy producers, for instance,
separate the raw milk from their cows into curds and whey, with the curds being used to make
cheese. They also obtain a large amount of whey in the process, which they can market as a
dietary supplement to weightlifters and fitness aficionados or utilize as a high-protein feed for
cattle to lower their overall feed expenses. The so-called black liquor that is created when wood
is processed into paper pulp serves as another illustration of this. Alternatively, black liquor can
be used to heat and power the facility, eliminating the need for additional fuel and potentially
saving money on disposal or can potentially be converted into more advanced bio fuels for on-
site or commercial use. Producing and using black liquor lowers money on paper production.
Complementary Production Processes
scope economies can also be achieved by the direct interaction of two or more production
processes. A typical example of companion planting in agriculture is the "Three Sisters" crops,
which were historically cultivated by Native Americans. The Three Sisters approach, which
involves planting corn, pole beans, and ground trailing squash together, boosts each crop's
output while simultaneously improving the soil. The tall corn stalks offer support for the bean
vines to climb; the beans nourish the corn and squash by fixing nitrogen in the soil; and the
squash's broad leaves shade out weeds among the crops. All three plants benefit from being
produced together, allowing the farmer to grow more harvests for a lesser cost.
A modern example might be a cooperative training program between an aircraft manufacturing
and an engineering school, in which students from the school work part-time or intern at the
company. The company can decrease its overall expenses by gaining low-cost access to skilled
workers, and the engineering school can cut its instructional costs by effectively outsourcing
some instructional time to the manufacturer's trainers. The ultimate products being produced
(airplanes and engineering degrees) may not appear to be direct complements or share many
inputs, but producing them together lowers the cost of both.
Learning Curve
A learning curve is a mathematical concept that graphically displays how a process improves
over time as a result of greater knowledge and expertise. According to the learning curve idea,
tasks will take less time and resources to complete as the method is learnt. Hermann
Ebbinghaus, a psychologist, initially described the learning curve in 1885, and it is now used to
anticipate costs and measure manufacturing efficiency.
A learning curve is often described using a percentage to indicate the pace of improvement. In
the graphic representation of a learning curve, a steeper slope denotes initial learning, which
converts into bigger cost savings, whereas subsequent learning result in increasingly gradual
and harder cost reductions.
The learning curve depicts how long it takes to gain new skills or knowledge.
In business, the slope of the learning curve measures the rate at which acquiring new abilities
results in cost savings for the company.
A learning curve is commonly described using a percentage to indicate the pace of
improvement.
The steeper the learning curve, the greater the cost savings per unit of output.
Strengths
Strengths describe what a business excels at and what distinguishes it from the competition: a
strong brand, a dedicated client base, a strong balance sheet, innovative technology, and so on.
For example, a hedge fund may have created a proprietary trading technique that outperforms
the market. It must next determine how to exploit the results to attract fresh investors.
Weaknesses
Weaknesses prevent an organization from performing at its peak level. A bad brand, higher-
than-average turnover, high levels of debt, an inadequate supply chain, or a lack of cash are
examples of areas where the company must improve in order to remain competitive.
Opportunities
Opportunities are favorable external factors that may provide a business with a competitive
edge. For example, if a government lowers tariffs, a car manufacturer can export their vehicles
to a new market, increasing sales and market share.
Threats
Analysts depict a SWOT analysis as a square divided into four quadrants, each of which
represents a SWOT factor. This visual arrangement gives a fast picture of the company's status.
Although not all of the items under a single area are equally important, they should all provide
essential insights into the balance of opportunities and dangers, benefits and drawbacks, and so
on.
The SWOT table is frequently arranged with the internal elements on the top row and the
external factors on the bottom row. In addition, the items on the left side of the table are more
positive/favorable, whilst the items on the right are more concerning/negative.
Benefits of SWOT Analysis
A SWOT analysis won't solve every major question a company has. However, there's a number
of benefits to a SWOT analysis that make strategic decision-making easier.
A SWOT analysis makes complex problems more manageable. There may be an
overwhelming amount of data to analyze and relevant points to consider when making a
complex decision. In general, a SWOT analysis that has been prepared by paring down all ideas
and ranking bullets by importance will aggregate a large, potentially overwhelming problem
into a more digestible report.
A SWOT analysis requires external consider. Too often, a company may be tempted to only
consider internal factors when making decisions. However, there are often items out of the
company's control that may influence the outcome of a business decision. A SWOT analysis
covers both the internal factors a company can manage and the external factors that may be
more difficult to control.
A SWOT analysis can be applied to almost every business question. The analysis can relate
to an organization, team, or individual. It can also analyze a full product line, changes to brand,
geographical expansion, or an acquisition. The SWOT analysis is a versatile tool that has many
applications.
A SWOT analysis leverages different data sources. A company will likely use internal
information for strengths and weaknesses. The company will also need to gather external
information relating to broad markets, competitors, or macroeconomic forces for opportunities
and threats. Instead of relying on a single, potentially biased source, a good SWOT analysis
compiles various angles.
A SWOT analysis may not be overly costly to prepare. Some SWOT reports do not need to
be overly technical; therefore, many different staff members can contribute to its preparation
without training or external consulting
Break-Even Analysis
Break-even analysis compares sales revenue to fixed operating costs. The five components of
break-even analysis are fixed expenses, variable costs, revenue, contribution margin, and
break-even point (BEP). When businesses compute the BEP, they determine the amount of
revenue needed to cover all fixed expenditures and begin turning a profit.
Using the break-even point formula, businesses can determine how many units or dollars of
sales cover the fixed and variable production costs.
The break-even point (BEP) is considered a measure of the margin of safety.
Break-even analysis is used broadly, from stock and options trading to corporate budgeting for
various projects.
Pricing: Businesses get a comprehensible perspective on their cost structure with a break-even
analysis, setting prices for their products that cover their fixed and variable costs and provide a
reasonable profit margin.
Decision-Making: When it comes to new products and services, operational expansion, or
increased production, businesses can chart their profit to sales volume and use break-even
analysis to help them make informed decisions surrounding those activities.
Cost Reduction: Break-even analysis helps businesses find areas to reduce costs to increase
profitability.
Performance Metric: Break-even analysis is a financial performance tool that helps
businesses ascertain where they are in achieving their goals.
Business owners, as well as stock and option traders, use break-even analysis. Break-even
analysis is critical for calculating the minimal sales volume needed to pay total costs and break
even. It assists firms in determining pricing strategies, as well as managing costs and
operations. Break-even analysis is useful in stock and options trading because it helps
determine the minimal price movements required to cover trading costs and profit. Break-even
analysis allows traders to set realistic profit targets, manage risk, and make informed trading
decisions.
Cost benefit Analysis
Business owners, as well as stock and option traders, use break-even analysis. Break-even
analysis is critical for calculating the minimal sales volume needed to pay total costs and break
even. It assists firms in determining pricing strategies, as well as managing costs and
operations. Break-even analysis is useful in stock and options trading because it helps
determine the minimal price movements required to cover trading costs and profit. Break-even
analysis allows traders to set realistic profit targets, manage risk, and make informed trading
decisions.
A cost-benefit analysis is the process used to measure the benefits of a decision or taking action
minus the costs associated with taking that action.
A cost-benefit analysis involves measurable financial metrics such as revenue earned or costs
saved as a result of the decision to pursue a project.
A cost-benefit analysis can also include intangible benefits and costs or effects from a decision
such as employees morale and customer satisfaction.
More complex cost-benefit analysis may incorporate sensitivity analysis, discounting of cash
flows, and what-if scenario analysis for multiple options.
All else being equal, an analysis that results in more benefits than costs will generally be a
favorable project for the company to undertake.
Before constructing a new factory or undertaking a new project, sensible managers do a cost-
benefit analysis to assess all the costs and profits that the company may produce from the
initiative. The results of the analysis will determine if the project is financially viable or if the
company should pursue another idea.
In many models, a cost-benefit analysis includes the opportunity cost in the decision-making
process. Opportunity costs are the benefits that may have been obtained by choosing one choice
over another. In other terms, the opportunity cost is the loss of an opportunity due to a choice or
decision. All other things being equal, an analysis that results in more benefits than expenses is
often a favorable initiative or the company to undertake.
Factoring in opportunity costs helps project managers to examine the benefits of other courses
of action, rather than just the current path or choice, in the cost-benefit analysis. By taking into
account all possibilities and potential missed opportunities, the cost-benefit analysis becomes
more detailed and enables for improved decision-making.
Determine the Costs
With the framework behind us, it's time to start looking at numbers. The second step of a cost-
benefit analysis is to determine the project costs. Costs may include the following.
Direct costs would be direct labor involved in manufacturing, inventory, raw materials,
manufacturing expenses.
Indirect costs might include electricity, overhead costs from management, rent, utilities.
Intangible costs of a decision, such as the impact on customers, employees, or delivery times.
Opportunity costs such as alternative investments, or buying a plant versus building one.
Cost of potential risks such as regulatory risks, competition, and environmental impacts.
When determining costs, it's important to consider whether the expenses are reoccurring or a
one-time cost. It's also important to evaluate whether costs are variable or fixed; if they are
fixed, consider what step costs and relevant range will impact those costs.
Determine the Benefits
Every project will have different underlying principles; benefits might include the following:
Higher revenue and sales from increased production or new product.
Intangible benefits, such as improved employee safety and morale, as well as customer
satisfaction due to enhanced product offerings or faster delivery.
Competitive advantage or market share gained as a result of the decision
An analyst or project manager should assign a monetary value to each item on the cost-benefit
list, taking care not to underestimate costs or overstate benefits. When assigning a value to both
costs and benefits for a cost-benefit analysis, it is recommended to use a conservative approach
and make an attempt to eliminate any subjective tendencies when computing estimations.
Analysts should also be mindful of the difficulties in determining both explicit and implicit
benefits. Explicit advantages necessitate future assumptions on market conditions, sales
volumes, customer desires, and product expectations. In contrast, implicit costs may be difficult
to determine because there is no straightforward formula. Consider the example above
regarding enhancing employee happiness. There is no formula to compute the financial impact
of happier workers.
The cost-benefit analyst must often summarize data before presenting them to management.
This contains a succinct summary of the costs, benefits, net impact, and how the findings
support the analysis's original aim.
In general, a positive cost-benefit analysis indicates that the project's advantages outweigh its
expenses. A corporation must be cognizant of its limited resources, which may result in
mutually exclusive options. For example, a firm may have a limited amount of resources to
invest; even if a cost-benefit analysis of an upgrade to its warehouse, website, and equipment is
positive, the company may not be able to fund all three.
Conclusion
By employing these economic concepts, business managers can make educated and strategic
decisions in the face of growing costs, dwindling markets, and uncertain economic situations.
These ideas offer a framework for increasing efficiency, optimizing resource allocation,
anticipating competitive behavior, and improving overall strategic planning. Leveraging these
tools can assist firms in lowering costs, increasing productivity, and maintaining a competitive
advantage in a volatile and complex economic context.
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