SCM830 Midterm Notes (6240)
SCM830 Midterm Notes (6240)
SCM830 Midterm Notes (6240)
Personal Expenditures: These are personal consumption expenditures. They are typically broken
down into the following categories: durable goods, non-durable goods, and services.
Business Expenditures: This is gross private investment; it is generally broken down into fixed
investment and changes in business inventories.
Government Expenditures: This category includes government spending on items that are
"consumed" in the current period, such as office supplies and gasoline; and also capital goods, such
as highways, missiles, and dams. Note that transfer payments are not included in GDP, as they are
not part of current production.
Net Exports (Exports – Imports):This is calculated by subtracting a nations imports from exports.
Imports are goods and services produced outside the country and consumed within, and exports are
goods and services produced domestically and sold to foreigners. Note that this number may be
negative
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25 – 55 This age group - you’re making money and spending it
They’re coupled
They have student debt
They have car loans
They have mortgages
Supporting Economy through taxes
When you have a country with a lot of people in the 25-55 age
range, the economy is booming. However, if a lot of your citizens
are 0-15 or 55+, you’re probably not in a booming economy
56-65 Retired, no longer supporting Children.
When you have a country with a lot of people in the 25-55 age
range, the economy is booming. However, if a lot of your citizens
are 0-15 or 55+, you’re probably not in a booming economy
Domestic Demographics
Baby Boomer
4.5
3.5
2.5
1.5
0.5
0
1945 1946 1961 1968
Series 1
1945 – End of WW2. During the war in, not many Canadian babies born since most men were
overseas at war
1946, people were coming back, getting married, and having babies = boom in marriages
1946 to 1961 Baby boom
In 1961, birth control was introduced, so less babies
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The period between 1946 – 1968 is the baby boomer generation
o Baby boomers currently make up 32% of Canada’s population
Canada is highly educated. In the Organization for Economic Cooperation & Development (OECD):
In Canada:
o 56% of people aged 25-34 have BA’s, only Russia and S. Korea is higher
o 56% of people aged 35- 44 have BA’s, only Russia his higher
o 45% of people aged 45-54 have BA’s, only Russia and Israel is higher
o 41% of people aged 55-64 have BA’s, only Russia, Israel, USA is higher (government paid
Americans’ education after returning from Vietnam War)
Most countries had baby booms. Canadian politicians made favorable policies for baby boomers and it
resulted in 6 disadvantages for our generation:
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The plan was set up for one wage-earner families, so the maximum someone could get is about
$13,000
o Back then, if a woman wasn’t working and the man was, but the man dies, the woman can
still collectCPP from the husband
o Now, both women and men work, but there’s still a maximum amount. The woman wage
earner can collect her share, but she cannot collect her husband’s share if he dies and she
meets the maximum already
Companies do not have to make matching contributions to Defined Contribution and Defined
Benefit plans if they are not profitable. However they can make promises and pledges and are
obligated to catch up with payments in such a situation.
o So they can owe 4.1% if they aren’t profitable in the first year, 8.2% in the second year,
12.3% in the third year (if it continues), etc
In a bankruptcy situation, pensions are likely not fully funded and closed, no more money can go in
o If you were a pensioner in a company that went bankrupt, and you put in $1000, if the
company is 25% underfunded, you would only get $750 back (25% less) when they declare
bankruptcy. You have no legal recourse
Companies don’t have to tell you if pension plans are private.
There is always a risk with pension plans if you can’t see it. If you change companies, always take
pension plan with you in case that company goes bankrupt, and because of the fact that they have
to pay you it to you including any shortfalls.
Private pension plans are not guaranteed in Canada whereas a Public pension plan like those
provided by Seneca College is.
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5) Health Care Costs: As of 1994
Health care costs are skyrocketing, and government funnels more money into healthcare from
other avenues
This is partially why tuition costs more every year, above inflation rate. The government
reallocates money to healthcare
6) Interest Rates:
If interest rates are low, housing prices go up making it unaffordable
As of 2015, 5 year Government of Canada Bond for $100,000 pays 0.57% yet inflation rate as of
2014 is 1.95%
o Assuming 35% tax, you get $370.50/year (or 0.3705% interest rate per year)
o Essentially, putting money in this bond will result in negative interest (-1.5%)
International Demographics
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And tax laws that support this – you aren’t taxed if you
obtain an inheritance
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Above countries will be weaker in the future and it will be bad for their production and for
opening factories in, but they will be good countries to sell to.
Japan produces a lot of robots – a lot of them are to help with production, cater to an aging
generation, etc
Why is there such a huge drop off in the ratio for males in Russia from 25-54?
With the collapse of communism, the state no longer provides job security.
Therefore, the competition for jobs is fierce, and its easier for young men to find jobs
As the older males get, they can’t compete and eventually lose their skills
Thus, many men experience low morale and self-esteem because they can’t support their
families. So, many depend on vodka, pass out in the cold and lose limbs to frost bite.
In Russia, women support the economy
Case Study: STELCO (Losing profitability as cars are made of less steel and increasing more plastic)
In Hamilton, 27% of the products they make is high quality steel. 73% is
common steel. This would increase cost per unit and utilize less capacity
US Steel in America wants to move the high quality steel production to
the US.
o If Canada only makes common steel, Chinese steel will be
cheaper to buy.
o They will also stop making full use of the plant
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o U.S. Steel wants the following concessions to keep the plant in Hamilton open:
Stop paying municipal taxes
Stop paying for pension plan
Stop paying retirement benefits
o U.S. Steel laid off all the marketing people
So HQ is left with selling the steel
o Ontario offered to help the U.S. Steel pension plan pay $800 million
Demanded the above to stay in Canada? Is this good for Canada? No, because then Canada can’t
stay competitive. US didn’t want to invest in Canadian operations, but then Canada will be
become obsolete.
Protect yourself by knowing what’s going on with your pension plan.
Larger companies will always extract all value from a smaller company and bankrupt it
“It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends upon him not
understanding” – Upton Sinclair
o Some people will never tell you the truth if they have personal gain from lying. A
salesperson will always say they have the best product, even if they know there’s
something better out there for you so that they can close the sale.
o People will want to give you the answer you want to hear if it’s at all possible.
“When you blame others, you give up your power to change” – Robert Anthony
o You have to improve if you want to get promoted
When you start a new job, you spend the first year learning about the cycle. The
second and third year should be about making big improvements in your
company, then after three years, leave to find another job (it’ll be difficult to
keep up momentum in improving if you’ve already made big improvements)
“The opposite of bravery is not cowardice but conformity” – Robert Anthony
o Companies look for managers who are willing to try something new to bring more
success to the business, not conformists who are fine with how things are going
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As a manager you can:
Improve
or
Remain in stasis
o It’s much more important to always improve.
o All business have cycles:
First cycle (year one): survive first and spend it learning about the cycle
Second cycle: You need to improve yourself and make improvements in the
company.
Third/Fourth cycle: After third/fourth year, you should change jobs because you
can’t improve anymore. (It’ll be difficult to keep up momentum in improving if
you’ve already made big improvements). Change jobs and take what you’ve
learned to a new job.You have to improve if you want to get promoted
Canada has 4 main newspapers:
o Toronto Star – Liberal/NDP
o Globe and Mail - Conservative
o National Post
o Toronto Sun
America has 5 TV stations with news:
o ABC – democratic
o NBV – democratic
o CBS – democratic
o PBS – balanced
o FOX – republican
When you look for a source of information, you need to consider the source – if they have bias,
if they’re reputable, etc
o Google searches for things regarding global warming might pull up scientific evidence,
but it might also include an opinionated piece with no fact
Google searches in China might yield different results than Google searches in
US
Filtered photos of Tianamin Square from China sources
Canada has 16% population under 14 years old
o Canada has 16.1% over 65
All G7 nations have a higher percentage of people over 65 years old than
Canada, except the US (15%)
Unemployment
o Students are not considered unemployed or employed
o People who are not on unemployment insurance (after 9 months of unemployment, for
example) are not considered unemployed. They are considered not part of the
workforce
In the US, during the 2007/8 crash, government increased number of weeks to
qualify for unemployment (50-99 weeks)
When people were past the 99 weeks, they were unlikely to find new
work since they were out of work for 2 years
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Government doesn’t consider them unemployed anymore
When analyzing stats, look beyond the numbers!
Tier 1 supplier
Customer
It’s best to run a supply chain at full speed or stop. Don’t run a supply chain at partial speed.
o Case study: GM vs. Chrysler during 9/11.
o Chrysler stopped production, GM continued
o Thousands of parts are needed to make a car.
o Inventory levels at any given time are set by production planning
o Since Chrysler stopped, they could easily resume because they had the right balance of parts
in inventory to continue where they left off and anticipated when new parts would come
despite border security
o GM had an imbalance because they continued making cars, so inventory balance was out of
whack. Had huge problems getting the right balance of inventory in parts across the border
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o A flow of materials and inventory management issue. Global supply chain managers know
how to control inventory
Two approaches:
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o Second option is harder to do, but gives you a better answer
o You can match the strongest advantages with the strongest disadvantages
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In response, the government will put away 1 billion for the industry
A few years ago, Canada signed a free trade agreement with South Korea. If you go to Hyundai site
for the car, you’ll see an initial price, then a revised price.
Corporate Strategies and Structures
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1. Differentiation
One company shows its products to be different from its competitors: MAC vs PC
Problem: It provides free advertising for competitors you’re comparing yourself to
Problem: It can backfire and your company can become the target
If you are going to use this strategy, identify your competitor’s main weakness and show how
you’re better
2. Focus
Targets people who are not price sensitive
Company creates and maintains their ‘brand’ i.e. BMW, Mercedes
Used for luxury products
This strategy should be applied to your resume, focusing on your strengths.
LEGEND
Traditional Option
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Lowest cost provider (LCP):
TPP: Globally
China not involved in TPP, US didn’t want them, wants to hurt China
TPP is a war against China. It will cut off 2.2% of China’s GDP – 226 Billion USD
What will China do?
o China will move production to TPP exporting countries
o Devalue its currency to stay competitive
This will cause a lot of people to leave because they will lose purchasing power
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For example, $1.00 USD =$.062 CAD. Many Canadian professionals work in the US
and convert earnings back to CAD
The main point: International trade agreements affect supply chains
Introduction Phase
1. Integrated Strategies
A) Forward integration
You have a supplier, manufacturer, distributor
Either a supplier buys a manufacturer, or a manufacturer buys a distributor
Manufacturer buying distributor is more common, since manufacturers have
more money
Benefits to forward integration:
Increased control
Increased market share
Increased profits
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B) Backward integration
C) Horizontal integration
When a supplier buys another supplier, a manufacturer buys another
manufacturer, or a distributor buys another distributor
Benefits:
Increased control
Increased market share
Increased profits
Same benefits
D) Vertical integration
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2. Intensive Strategies
2) Intensive strategy
A) Market penetration
B) Market development
They will attempt to sell their current product to a new location or country
Some products can be sold as-is, but other kinds of products need to be
customized based on the values and environment
Kit Kat tastes like wax in Africa because the ingredients are
changed to maintain the integrity of the chocolate bar (it won’t
melt)
In Japan, they create lots of flavours in order to cater to the
snack market that’s always looking for new flavours
Use of International marketing
C) Product development
3) Diversification Strategies
A) Concentric diversification
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Can be related through manufacturing technology
Iphone is related to ipad
This will be sold in your current market
If it’s a related product, there’s brand transfer. Ipad’s reputation was
based on iphone, ipod, etc. Your current market will be more open to
buying your product if they value your brand.
Least risky because of benefits of brand carryover
B) Horizontal diversification
New product
Unrelated to current product
If BIC pens started making coats, it would fall under this category
Sold to current customers
More risk, but in middle
C) Conglomerate diversification
New product
Unrelated product
Sold to future customers
Most risky
Bankruptcy scenario:
Company XYZ goes through court ordered bankruptcy
XYZ reduces wages and benefits
Eliminates debts
Terminates bad employees
There are job lay offs
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Comes out as low cost provider (LCP)
LCPs will take market share from existing companies
o They will raise costs for everyone else
o Other companies will face pressures
o Job losses
o Cause other bankruptcies
D) Joint Venture
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o USA is best at researching
o Japan is best at developing
o Growth stage – VP operations is in charge
Integration strategy
o Decline stage – VP finance is in charge
Defensive strategy
o Maturity stage – VP marketing is in charge
Intensive/diversification strategy used
o Operations controls R&D
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If you need to add extra, put it in the attachments
o Predict how minimum wage will change in the next three years for Toronto and LA
Government can mandate the minimum wage
Can go up by the rate of inflation
If government says that, provide an estimate of the inflation rate in the
assignment
o For this example only, don’t include vacation pay entitlements (4%)
Assignment is worth 5%
Outsourcing
o Company gives up direct control of 1 or more processes
o Example: payroll
o Processes are sent out. You lose direct control, but you don’t
lose control
o Offshoring – process is leaving Canada
Downsizing
o Reduce the number of full time employees
Permanent full time employees are the most expensive
Temporary full time (cheaper than permanent full time)
Permanent part time (cheaper than temporary full time)
Temporary/casual/seasonal part time (cheapest)
By definition, all these types are contractors, so it may
be a bit confusing to refer to a certain work group as
contractors
o Laid off/retired early
Rightsizing
o Keep good employees by skill set and terminate displaced employees by skill set
o For this to work, you need strong HR performance management policies
If you get rid of a good employee you don’t like, and
keep a bad employee you like, you can be sued
Downsizing can be short-sighted
o Canadian MCE (mapping and charted establishment) are constantly changing because
the arctic is melting
o Government retired anyone 55+ years old
o They got rid of the cheapest employees (younger employees; anyone under 35 was laid
off)
Everyone who survived was 36-54 years old
While they fixed the issue with too many employees, they now have
issues with training new employees, promotions, etc
o People 36 years old have to wait for everyone older than them
to get promoted before they do
Issues with everyone turning over at once (since they’re the same age
bracket)
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1999/2000
o Y2K
DD/MM/YY was the format
They had to hire people to change the formats to DD/MM/YYYY
Big demand for programmers
Government around this time told Ontario Hydro to reduce costs
Ontario Hydro decided to have people opt out to leave, no restrictions
o The corporate IT department all took advantage of it, so
everyone quit at the same time (35 people). They all receive
packages to leave.
o Ontario Hydro needs people to run IT. IT has offers to get paid
more with the Y2K issues. In order for them to accept, they
requested a 25% pay increase
So at the end of the day, those workers returned to
work the next day, kept their packages to leave, and got
a 25% pay increase
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Clarification for exchange rate for the paper:
o Calculate an all-in minimum wage for LA (ex. $10 USD/hr)
o Calculate an all-in minimum wage for Toronto (ex. $12 CAD/hr)
1 USD = 1.20 CAD
This is a benchmark that doesn’t change frequently
We compare this benchmark to actual daily exchange rate to figure out
where it would be better to produce
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Seller – first party
Buyer – second party
3PL – third party logistics provider
o AKA “asset based”
Trucks – own
Warehouse – own
Customs – own
4PL – fourth party logistics provider
o Non-asset based
Trucks – load based
Warehouses – contracts
Customs – contracts
o 3PL has higher reliability
o 4PL has lower cost
o 4PL, you’re taking a risk on insurance. You don’t have a contract
with the 4PL company, but rather the truck driver who took
your load
o 4PLs are risky too because they can claim bankruptcy easily and
have zero assets for you to claim if you sue them
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o Example:
o Corp A
Owns trucks
Corp A leases (out?) trucks
o Corp B
Operating trucking company
Lease trucks from Corp A
o Corp B might have a lot of claims
against it if you have claims against
them (maybe for damaged goods or
something)
Corp B leased trucks form Corp
A, so Corp B has no assets
When people sue Corp B, Corp
B will claim bankruptcy
Corp B will return assets to
Corp A, and Corp B has no
assets to pay back with
Corp B shuts down, then
reopens Corp B1 with a blank
slate
Safer to go with a 3PL company to avoid sketchy issues
like claiming bankruptcy out of the blue
SCM830 – test in class
o Same day as assignment is due
o 15%
o 13-14 short answer questions (25-30 words, point form preferred)
o If something is worth 3 points, and there’s one question (that asks for support),
1 point goes to the answer
2 points go towards the support
Sample question:
o 1961 was an important period in Canada. What is going to happen in 2026, and why?
Most people will retire because they will be 65 or over at this time
o Which corporate strategy is best for a luxury brand, and why?
Focused. Luxury products are not price sensitive.
o Of the 4 corporate strategies, which strategy is most applicable to commodity items?
Support your answer
Lowest cost provider, because it provides the customer with the cheapest price
for the unit
o Vice presidential strategies
If you have a product, and your demand > supply, what functional strategy will
be implemented and why?
o If your product demand is falling rapidly, what strategy do you expect to be in place, and
what vice president would be dominant?
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There might not be enough information for a single answer, but you can choose
a list of answers you know and answer appropriately
You’re not expected to memorize lists
Test covers everything covered in class – no SAP questions
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