Automated Data Processing (ADP) provides computer software and services to a host of companies, including automobile dealerships. ADP charges dealerships a monthly lease for hardware, software, and support services, but does not charge for training the dealerships’ employees. Dealerships need only pay for their employees’ time and travel to ADP headquarters, where they attend “Software U” at no additional charge. Discuss the specialized investments (if any) made by an automobile dealership, its employees, and ADP—and identify a potential vulnerability that a dealership faces under this arrangement.

Automated Data Processing (ADP) provides computer software and services to a host of companies, including automobile dealerships. ADP charges dealerships a monthly lease for hardware, software, and support services, but does not charge for training the dealerships’ employees. Dealerships need only pay for their employees’ time and travel to ADP headquarters, where they attend “Software U” at no additional charge. Discuss the specialized investments (if any) made by an automobile dealership, its employees, and ADP—and identify a potential vulnerability that a dealership faces under this arrangement.

Practical Management Science

6th Edition

ISBN:9781337406659

Author:WINSTON, Wayne L.

Publisher:WINSTON, Wayne L.

Chapter12: Queueing Models

Section: Chapter Questions

Problem 59P

See similar textbooks

Similar questions

Scenario 3 Ben Gibson, the purchasing manager at Coastal Products, was reviewing purchasing expenditures for packaging materials with Jeff Joyner. Ben was particularly disturbed about the amount spent on corrugated boxes purchased from Southeastern Corrugated. Ben said, I dont like the salesman from that company. He comes around here acting like he owns the place. He loves to tell us about his fancy car, house, and vacations. It seems to me he must be making too much money off of us! Jeff responded that he heard Southeastern Corrugated was going to ask for a price increase to cover the rising costs of raw material paper stock. Jeff further stated that Southeastern would probably ask for more than what was justified simply from rising paper stock costs. After the meeting, Ben decided he had heard enough. After all, he prided himself on being a results-oriented manager. There was no way he was going to allow that salesman to keep taking advantage of Coastal Products. Ben called Jeff and told him it was time to rebid the corrugated contract before Southeastern came in with a price increase request. Who did Jeff know that might be interested in the business? Jeff replied he had several companies in mind to include in the bidding process. These companies would surely come in at a lower price, partly because they used lower-grade boxes that would probably work well enough in Coastal Products process. Jeff also explained that these suppliers were not serious contenders for the business. Their purpose was to create competition with the bids. Ben told Jeff to make sure that Southeastern was well aware that these new suppliers were bidding on the contract. He also said to make sure the suppliers knew that price was going to be the determining factor in this quote, because he considered corrugated boxes to be a standard industry item. As the Marketing Manager for Southeastern Corrugated, what would you do upon receiving the request for quotation from Coastal Products?
Centralised distribution at NikeNike has a central customer service centre (distribution centre) located at Laakdal in Belgium. The centre is 200,000 squaremetres in size and serves 45,000 customers in EMEA with footwear, apparel and equipment. The centre receives productsfrom supplier factories around the world for distribution to retail clients both before the start of all four seasons each year,and during a given season. Prior to the start of a season, when work is at a peak, the workforce stands at some 2,300operational staff. Off peak, that drops to 1,350 staff. Deliveries are very time-critical, given the seasonal nature of thebusiness. Retailers demand in-store availability on day one of a new season. The centre is a clear example of a companydeciding to centralise receiving, storage and shipment to customers at one location in Europe. The benefits includeconsolidation of inbound shipments, lower inventory levels and better delivery service (in comparison to fragmentedwarehouses…
Centralised distribution at NikeNike has a central customer service centre (distribution centre) located at Laakdal in Belgium. The centre is 200,000 squaremetres in size and serves 45,000 customers in EMEA with footwear, apparel and equipment. The centre receives productsfrom supplier factories around the world for distribution to retail clients both before the start of all four seasons each year,and during a given season. Prior to the start of a season, when work is at a peak, the workforce stands at some 2,300operational staff. Off peak, that drops to 1,350 staff. Deliveries are very time-critical, given the seasonal nature of thebusiness. Retailers demand in-store availability on day one of a new season. The centre is a clear example of a companydeciding to centralise receiving, storage and shipment to customers at one location in Europe. The benefits includeconsolidation of inbound shipments, lower inventory levels and better delivery service (in comparison to fragmentedwarehouses…
Star Garage Limited provides motor vehicle accessories and services for a wide range of vehicles in Dominica. Customers purchase parts to take to their individual mechanics to complete vehicle repairs or they may choose to bring their vehicles to Star Garage for in-house repairs and servicing. This means that they pay for both the parts and the labour associated with the type of service required. Some services do not include any new parts, just the labour costs for that service. Individual customers must pay for all parts purchases in full at the time of sale. Individual customers must pay 50% down when they bring their vehicles in for servicing and pay the balance when they come to pick them up when the job is completed. Corporate customers, however, are billed monthly for all sales (parts or service). Although Star Garage Limited has several different banking accounts, all sales are deposited intact into its main chequing account. Star Garage Limited purchases its inventory of parts…
Star Garage Limited provides motor vehicle accessories and services for a wide range of vehicles in Dominica. Customers purchase parts to take to their individual mechanics to complete vehicle repairs or they may choose to bring their vehicles to Star Garage for in-house repairs and servicing. This means that they pay for both the parts and the labour associated with the type of service required. Some services do not include any new parts, just the labour costs for that service. Individual customers must pay for all parts purchases in full at the time of sale. Individual customers must pay 50% down when they bring their vehicles in for servicing and pay the balance when they come to pick them up when the job is completed. Corporate customers, however, are billed monthly for all sales (parts or service). Although Star Garage Limited has several different banking accounts, all sales are deposited intact into its main chequing account. Star Garage Limited purchases its inventory of parts…
Farmers Groceries To You (FGTY) is a fast-growing company started by JMU alumni, which delivers fresh groceries collected in Virginia farms to families in the Shenandoah region. As part of an expansion plan, FGTY is considering approaching the northern Virginia market through printed product lists (PLs) containing deals, coupons and customers testimonies. The initial plan is to send 200,000 PLs to households in Fairfax and Arlington, expecting new customers to place orders. The company estimates to incur a fixed cost of $30,000 associated with design, printing setup and transportation contracting. Beyond this, the average transportation cost per PL is ¢20, while the printing cost per PL is ¢10. Also, FGTY incurs in an average cost of ¢25 for processing each order placed by a customer using the PL’s promotion codes. The expected size of an order is $50, and FGTY’s variable cost per order (mainly product costs labor) is close to 80% of the order’s average. You’ve been hired to help FGTY…
Homie Appliance Company operates a branch in Manila City. The following are transactions between the home office and branch for the current year. The home office sends P200,000 cash to the branch. Shipments to branch are billed at cost of P78,750. The Home Office pays branch expense of P3,500. Home office expense of 3,375 are paid by the branch. The branch returned merchandise costing P10,000 to the home office. Home office acquires branch furniture for P20,500 cash. The said fixed asset is carried on Branch Books. The annual depreciation on the branch furniture is 5%. The branch sends a P15,000 cash remittance to home office. Q1-What is the adjusted balance of Branch Current account in the Home Office Books? Q2-What is the adjusted Home Office Current account in the Home Office Books?
Dr. Vicki Belya is traveling from Yangoon to Los Angeles. She needs to change planes in Bangkok and board another airline’s flight in Tokyo. However, the ariline she is flying does not have interline agreements. Provide a basic explanation of what she can expect at every point of her journey.
John Clooney, a bush pilot in Alaska, makes regular charter flights in his floatplane to various towns and cities in western Alaska. His passengers include hunters, fishermen, backpackers and campers, and tradespeople hired for jobs in the different localities. He also carries some cargo for delivery. The following network shows the possible air routes between various towns and cities John might take (with the times, in hours). For safety reasons, he flies point-to-point, flying over at least one town along a route, even though he might not land there. In the upcoming week John has scheduled charter flights for Kotzebue, Nome, and Stebbins. Determine the shortest route between John’s home base in Anchorage and each of these destinations.
Checkers plans to open its first “dark store” later this year to support growing demand for its Sixty60 on-demand grocery app. A dark store is a retail outlet that exists exclusively to support on-demand deliveries. It does not have a store front or retail customers, but purely assists with order fulfilment.It will be in Bree Street in Cape Town’s central business district, and comes as the group considers the capacity of its store base to meet the growing demand from SA’s leading grocery app. Discuss the role of the corporate parent and the management of a multi business organisation
You are the Procurement Manager of the Caribbean Maritime University . The Universit equipment to upgrade all the classes on the C Block of the Main campus . Explain FIVE will have to play in purchasing the equipment needed for this renovation .
Valles Galactic Industries (VGI) owns a small company (VGI-Durango Sur) that manufactures various electronic products for original equipment manufacturers. Customer companies provide engineering designs, materials lists, and some unique materials. VGI-DS provides labor and space for the manufacturing and assembly operations and stocking a variety of inventory items for production, such as wire, cables, some electronic components, etc. Thus, VGI-DS orders a variety of components and raw materials by contract. The labor pool is primarily composed of about 100 retirees picking up extra cash by working four to six-hour shifts. Thus, the assembly operations must be simple and easy to teach. Skilled employees must do several raw material conversions for packaging—there are currently three such employees. VGI-DS receives forecasts from VGI headquarters for planned production for two years on a rolling quarterly basis. Staff at VGI-DS develop schedules and inventory plans based on this…