LABRST 1C03 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Bargaining Power, Deindustrialization, Technological Change
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1.) Using the computed financial ratios from question 1, compare Grounds Keeperâs performance from 2011 to 2012. Address what areas the company has improved and what areas it has not
a.) Liquidity
b.) Activity / turnover / efficiency
c.) Profitability
d.) Leverage / use of debt / solvency
2.) If you were the CEO of Grounds Keeper, what area(s) would you concentrate on to improve the performance of the company?
2012 | 2011 | |
Current ratio | 2.54404052 | 2.37843623 |
Quick ratio | 0.91950568 | 0.81560714 |
Inventory turnover | 3.0658051 | 2.37047444 |
Average Collection Period | 37.5274142 | 46.9735877 |
Total asset turnover | 1.07567837 | 0.82629249 |
Net profit margin | 0.09345852 | 0.07608566 |
Operating profit margin | 0.15403918 | 0.13639319 |
Times Interest Earned | 26.0681373 | 6.25082817 |
Debt/Net worth Ratio | 0.59903778 | 0.67234699 |
Return on Equity ratio | 0.16075336 | 0.1051388 |
Below is the provided information/scenario.
Grounds Keeper is considering adding fair trade coffee to their line of products. Other larger coffee companies are now including it, at consumersâ insistence. At a recent strategic management meeting, the companyâs officers identified the following points:
Fair trade coffee may attract new customers.
Fair trade coffee would allow Grounds Keeper to demonstrate its social responsibility.
Fair trade coffee would require more paperwork to meet certification and contract requirements.
The higher cost of Fair Trade Coffee would require a higher price or a reduced profit margin.
If coffee prices worldwide continue to increase, consumers may be reluctant to pay extra for Fair Trade Coffee.
Current suppliers of coffee to Grounds Keeper might be in competition with Fair Trade Coffee cooperatives.
One officer present asked the following question: Should we as a company have a good reason to try to influence actions in other parts of the world? Donât we have governments to do that?
Fair Trade Coffee
What is fair trade certification?
Much like organic certification, fair trade certification lets you know about the origin of a product. Fair trade certified products come from all over the world, but share a common history. Farmers who grow fair trade products receive a fair price, and their communities and the environment benefit as well.
Fair trade certified coffee directly supports a better life for farming families in the developing world through fair prices, community development and environmental stewardship. Fair trade farmers market their own harvests through direct, long-term contracts with international buyers, learning how to manage their businesses and compete in the global marketplace. Receiving a fair price for their harvest allows these farmers to invest in their families' health care and education, reinvest in quality and protect the environment. This empowerment model lifts farming families from poverty through trade, not aid, creating a more equitable and sustainable model of international trade that benefits producers, consumers, industry and the Earth. The Fair for Life label is backed by IMO, one of the third-party certifiers of fair trade products for the U.S. market.
The Fair for Life label guarantees:
Fair price: Family farmers receive fair prices for their harvest, and premiums specifically earmarked for community development projects; even higher premiums are given for certified organic products. Farmer organizations are also eligible for pre-harvest credit.
Environmental sustainability: Harmful agrochemicals and GMOs are strictly prohibited in favor of environmentally sustainable farming methods that protect farmers' health and preserve valuable ecosystems for future generations. Fair trade farmers protect the land and wildlife habitat by intercropping plant species to improve soil fertility and protect against erosion. Stringent environmental management programs, including water conservation, proper waste disposal and prohibitions on planting in protected areas further encourage environmental stewardship.
Fair labor conditions: Workers on fair trade farms enjoy freedom of association, safe working conditions and fair wages. Forced child labor is strictly prohibited.
Direct trade: Importers purchase from fair trade producer groups as directly as possible, eliminating unnecessary middlemen and empowering farmers to develop the business capacity needed to compete in the global marketplace.
Democratic and transparent organizations: Fair trade farmers and farm workers decide how to invest fair trade revenues, and proof of a democratic process is required.
Community development: Fair trade farmers and workers invest fair trade premiums in social and business development projects like scholarship programs, healthcare services and quality improvement training.
Examples of community projects include:
Members of the COSURCA coffee cooperative in Colombia successfully prevented the cultivation of more than 1,600 acres of coca and poppy used to produce illicit drugs.
In the highlands of Guatemala, indigenous Tzutuhil Mayans in the La Voz cooperative are sending local kids to college for the first time.
Near Lake Titicaca, in Peru, the CECOVASA cooperative is assisting members from Quechua and Aymara indigenous groups in improving coffee quality and transitioning to certified organic production.
The CECOCAFEN cooperative in Nicaragua established a reproductive health program providing tests for the virus that causes cervical cancer.
What is IMO "Fair for Life" fair trade certification?
"Fair for Life" is a brand neutral third party certification program for social accountability and fair trade in agricultural, manufacturing and trading operations. The program complements existing fair trade certification systems. Social accountability and fair trade have become important indicators to select business partners in a global market place. The Fair for Life Social & FairTrade Certification Program offers operators of socially responsible projects a solution for objective inspection and certification by a highly qualified external verifier. It combines strict social and fair trade standards with adaptability to local conditions.
Why is fair trade certification needed today?
Throughout the global south, family farmers follow generations of tradition to cultivate food products we enjoy every day. Yet many family farmers in the developing world don't receive a fair price for their crops. These isolated rural communities lack direct market access, often selling their premium crops below the cost of production to local middlemen who misrepresent global prices. This cycle of debt forces many to abandon their land and years of agricultural heritage, destroying the social and cultural fabric of these communities. When farming communities in the developing world suffer, the whole world suffers - forced immigration, inferior-quality products and large-scale farming methods that often compromise the environment.
Who benefits from fair trade certification?
Producers: Beyond receiving a fair, stable price, fair trade also empowers producers to invest in their organizations, improve their communities and protect the environment.
Consumers: Fair trade certification enables consumers to "vote with their dollar" by providing an independent guarantee that products were produced and traded fairly. We all lead busy lives, and we want to do the right thing, but we're busy. What if we could make a positive impact just with the purchases we make every day? And not have to go out of our way to do this? That's the compelling proposition of fair trade.
The Earth: Fair trade certification requires and rewards environmentally sustainable farming practices that protect farmers' health and preserve valuable ecosystems for future generations, and provides the resources and technical assistance needed for organic certification.
(Please Summerize the work down below, thank you) | |
Political | Economic |
Growing political influences on healthcare advances | Cost of living increases |
Global government influence on healthcare cost | Cost of insurance prices |
Government control of Medicaid, Medicare funding | Rise of forecasted interest rates |
Social/Cultural | Technical or Technology |
Increase average age of population | Demand on new medical treatments |
Patient expectations increase | Customize treatments |
Demographics are in constant change | More advance service facilities |
Environmental | Legal |
Growing need for green business | Constant change of government drug Regulations |
Environmental agenda and community awareness | Consumer laws |
Health and safety regulations | |
Porters 5 forces of business model | |
Competitive Rivalry | |
Growth opportunity for healthcare companies are expected to growing the next few years | |
Increase in new revolutionary drugs both in and outside of the US | |
Threat if New Entrants | |
Strict government regulations | |
Difficult to keep up due to constant change | |
Huge startup cost | |
Substitute Products | |
Threat of other substituting product and service at lower cost | |
Bargaining Power of Customers | |
Generic drugs offered at large discount to consumer | |
Larger less customized healthcare facility with lower housing costs | |
Several facilities offering similar services. | |
Bargaining power of supplier | |
Medical suppliers have a large pricing power | |
Bargaining power of physicians and nurses is huge because of large hospital benefits |
Swot Analysis
Strengths
Highly trained and capable employees
Market experience
Strong leadership
High level of organizational efficiency
Excellent facilities
Strong commitment to bettering the community
Weaknesses
Increased cost of healthcare could lower our clientele
Limited staff resources
Limited cash flow to hire and train new employees
Lack of resources
Opportunities
Fast growing technology opens new doors for using state of the art equipment to better serve the patients. Nursing and residential care is one of the fastest growing industries Aging population Threats Uncertainty in political and economic climate causes hesitation for receiving new patients. Funding constraints Highly competitive market Product or Service Analysis Our services will be used by patients who cannot afford experimental treatments and patients who have been abandoned by the system because hospitals can no longer provide medical assistance. At our facility, we will be able to work with the families and provide them with different payments options, such as low monthly payment plans. Our main goal is to be able to treat the patient at a very affordable cost; however, if any patient does not possess the means to pay for treatment, he or she would not be turned away; our facility will tap into government and private funding to cover treatment cost. The beauty of this service is that there isnât a charge of any kind to take part in our program because it is completely funded by government grants. Individuals that would take part would more than likely not have the means to pay a monthly deductible. Due to the nature of the business listed as a non-profit agency, there is no way to make a profit of any kind, as it would jeopardize the business in its entirety. Some of the market factors that create a demand for our services include the need of medical care after having maximized all resources, the number of low income families, and the number of patients facing health issues needed extended medical care. Opportunities that may derive from this business is the opportunity to expand and open multiple facilities, while extending a helping hand to many more in need. The risk, however, is the unstable funds deriving from grants. This can pose a huge treat to the business, as grants often times come and go and cannot be counted on as a constant income. After studying the healthcare system and current policies in place, data shows many individuals facing severe health issues usually go untreated and uncared for due to the outrageous cost of medical care. It is devastating to see how often people, especially the elderly, are sent home and forgotten for the mere reason that hospitals and doctors are not willing to care for patients without financial means. In fact, in 2009 Harvard news reported 45,000 annual deaths due to lack of health coverage in the U.S. alone, which is significantly higher than the 18,000 reported by USA Today in 2002. Financial Analysis Clermont will be a nonprofit organization, dedicated to help the most needed. To open the facility fully operational we must take in consideration some fixed expenses like the land acquisition, permits, interest, brokers, administration fees, professionals (facility setup), staff, reports (environmental, occupational, fire, FDA), electricity, water, phone, water & sewer , connections, taxes, insurance, management, security, advertising, accountants, food, lawn mowers, bank fees, etc. The facility will need have a total value of approximately three million dollars, but if we break the price of the land acquisition in to a thirty (30) year mortgage we can star up the business with an investment of approximately $ 233,944.61 USD to cover the first month of operation including all the startup permits and connections. After the first month the fixed expenses will be $184,444.00 USD with the exception of the months were taxes are due; taxes are around $ 43,000.00 USD paid quarterly will increase the tax month (depending on the facility fiscal year) for $ 10,750.00 USD approximately. We will fund all the costs with private and public funding, fundraiser, events, raffles, and most important with the help of the community. As we mentioned before, Clermont is a nonprofit organization and we will do everything in our power to give the relief to the families in need. No one will be rejected because they do not have the money or the insurance cannot help. No money will be required from patient and every single dollar received will be spent in the patients, and in improving our facility and our service every day. We believe our financial even breaking point will be a year after we begin operations, and be profitable soon after. There are many patients in need, and with the government and public grants each person will receive the treatment they need, and we will become the hope of many. |