In a month, I can sell 420 of my unlicensed Warriors T-shirts at a price of $12. At $18, I sell 180. The T-shirts cost me $8 each, and I bribe the local law enforcement $300 per month to use a corner near a BART station to sell my shirts.

1. Assume price-demand is linear

a. Find the slope of the price-demand function.

b. Find the vertical-intercept of the price-demand function.

c. Write a function to predict demand (in a month) given any price.

d. Predict the demand at a price of $10.

e. What price fetches a demand of 800 shirts?

2. Assume cost is linear.

a. Write a function to predict cost (in a month) given any price.

b. Predict the cost at a price of $10.

Case – Recreational Park Project
The public has recognized the benefits of recreation and parks as essential to their health and quality of life. A recent survey conducted in 2016 found that the construction of more recreational facilities was a top priority among residents in Lazarette Town (in the Caribbean).
As such, the town council in Lazarette, with the help of other key stakeholders, has sourced and secured three (3) million dollars of grant funds from the Caribbean Wellness Community (CWC) for the development of a mini outdoor recreational park on three (3) acres of land donated by a benevolent resident of the town.   
The park will contain sporting facilities among other recreational facilities (e.g. walking trails, children playground, tennis court, basketball court, work out stations, benches, shower facilities, rest rooms etc.). All major key stakeholders and sponsors have unanimously agreed that that the facility should cater for residents of all ages. Additionally, a group of minority stakeholders has expressed their requirements of having an eco-friendly and climate resilient facility. The park should be completed and ready for use by 2022, i.e. the project duration should not exceed two years.
To ensure that the project is completed on time, within scope and on budget, the funding agency and the Lazarette Town Council require that a dedicated and knowledgeable project team is assigned to the project. CWC has expressed the need for the project deliverables to be of ‘high’ quality to guarantee stakeholders’ satisfaction and safety. The CWC requires that ‘tight’ procurement processes should be followed to ensure transparency, accountability and economy. It is anticipated that most of the goods, works and services for building the park will be procured from vendors, suppliers and contractors in the town. In addition, CWC has detailed the need for both positive and negative projects risk to be properly managed throughout the project.
In response to CWC implied and expressed requirements, the Lazarette Town Council has selected and appointed your team to provide project management services for the Recreational Park Project. As a proactive team, your team has decided to use ‘best practices’ in project management to plan project activities and get approval from key project stakeholders before constructing or building the facility. Give the type and nature of the project, the intention is to use a traditional/waterfall approach to project management activities instead of the largely popular and contemporary agile methodology used other industries.   
Your team understands the value of planning before doing, and the council’s concerns of not losing the grant funding from CWC. In addition, your team is keen on building a good reputation in the
town. With a can do attitude and the need to increase the chances of the project success, the project management team (your 5-member group) is determined to ensure that the team utilizes the ‘best practices’ for planning, executing and controlling this valuable community based project.

1.Develop a quality management plan to consist of quality management approach,quality requirements and standard,quality assurance,quality control and quality control measures.

Case – Recreational Park Project

The public has recognized the benefits of recreation and parks as essential to their health and quality of life. A recent survey conducted in 2016 found that the construction of more recreational facilities was a top priority among residents in Lazarette Town (in the Caribbean).

As such, the town council in Lazarette, with the help of other key stakeholders, has sourced and secured three (3) million dollars of grant funds from the Caribbean Wellness Community (CWC) for the development of a mini outdoor recreational park on three (3) acres of land donated by a benevolent resident of the town.

The park will contain sporting facilities among other recreational facilities (e.g. walking trails, children playground, tennis court, basketball court, work out stations, benches, shower facilities, rest rooms etc.). All major key stakeholders and sponsors have unanimously agreed that that the facility should cater for residents of all ages. Additionally, a group of minority stakeholders has expressed their requirements of having an eco-friendly and climate resilient facility. The park should be completed and ready for use by 2022, i.e. the project duration should not exceed two years.

To ensure that the project is completed on time, within scope and on budget, the funding agency and the Lazarette Town Council require that a dedicated and knowledgeable project team is assigned to the project. CWC has expressed the need for the project deliverables to be of ‘high’ quality to guarantee stakeholders’ satisfaction and safety. The CWC requires that ‘tight’ procurement processes should be followed to ensure transparency, accountability and economy. It is anticipated that most of the goods, works and services for building the park will be procured from vendors, suppliers and contractors in the town. In addition, CWC has detailed the need for both positive and negative projects risk to be properly managed throughout the project.

In response to CWC implied and expressed requirements, the Lazarette Town Council has selected and appointed your team to provide project management services for the Recreational Park Project. As a proactive team, your team has decided to use ‘best practices’ in project management to plan project activities and get approval from key project stakeholders before constructing or building the facility. Give the type and nature of the project, the intention is to use a traditional/waterfall approach to project management activities instead of the largely popular and contemporary agile methodology used other industries.

Your team understands the value of planning before doing, and the council’s concerns of not losing the grant funding from CWC. In addition, your team is keen on building a good reputation in the

town. With a can do attitude and the need to increase the chances of the project success, the project management team (your 5-member group) is determined to ensure that the team utilizes the ‘best practices’ for planning, executing and controlling this valuable community based project.

1. Justify the need to effectively manage quality for the project.

Case – Recreational Park Project

The public has recognized the benefits of recreation and parks as essential to their health and quality of life. A recent survey conducted in 2016 found that the construction of more recreational facilities was a top priority among residents in Lazarette Town (in the Caribbean).

As such, the town council in Lazarette, with the help of other key stakeholders, has sourced and secured three (3) million dollars of grant funds from the Caribbean Wellness Community (CWC) for the development of a mini outdoor recreational park on three (3) acres of land donated by a benevolent resident of the town.

The park will contain sporting facilities among other recreational facilities (e.g. walking trails, children playground, tennis court, basketball court, work out stations, benches, shower facilities, rest rooms etc.). All major key stakeholders and sponsors have unanimously agreed that that the facility should cater for residents of all ages. Additionally, a group of minority stakeholders has expressed their requirements of having an eco-friendly and climate resilient facility. The park should be completed and ready for use by 2022, i.e. the project duration should not exceed two years.

To ensure that the project is completed on time, within scope and on budget, the funding agency and the Lazarette Town Council require that a dedicated and knowledgeable project team is assigned to the project. CWC has expressed the need for the project deliverables to be of ‘high’ quality to guarantee stakeholders’ satisfaction and safety. The CWC requires that ‘tight’ procurement processes should be followed to ensure transparency, accountability and economy. It is anticipated that most of the goods, works and services for building the park will be procured from vendors, suppliers and contractors in the town. In addition, CWC has detailed the need for both positive and negative projects risk to be properly managed throughout the project.

In response to CWC implied and expressed requirements, the Lazarette Town Council has selected and appointed your team to provide project management services for the Recreational Park Project. As a proactive team, your team has decided to use ‘best practices’ in project management to plan project activities and get approval from key project stakeholders before constructing or building the facility. Give the type and nature of the project, the intention is to use a traditional/waterfall approach to project management activities instead of the largely popular and contemporary agile methodology used other industries.

Your team understands the value of planning before doing, and the council’s concerns of not losing the grant funding from CWC. In addition, your team is keen on building a good reputation in the

town. With a can do attitude and the need to increase the chances of the project success, the project management team (your 5-member group) is determined to ensure that the team utilizes the ‘best practices’ for planning, executing and controlling this valuable community based project.

1. Create an appropriate quality management plan for the project.

Recreational Park Project
The public has recognized the benefits of recreation and parks as essential to their health and quality of life. A recent survey conducted in 2016 found that the construction of more recreational facilities was a top priority among residents in Lazarette Town (in the Caribbean).
As such, the town council in Lazarette, with the help of other key stakeholders, has sourced and secured three (3) million dollars of grant funds from the Caribbean Wellness Community (CWC) for the development of a mini outdoor recreational park on three (3) acres of land donated by a benevolent resident of the town.   
The park will contain sporting facilities among other recreational facilities (e.g. walking trails, children playground, tennis court, basketball court, work out stations, benches, shower facilities, rest rooms etc.). All major key stakeholders and sponsors have unanimously agreed that that the facility should cater for residents of all ages. Additionally, a group of minority stakeholders has expressed their requirements of having an eco-friendly and climate resilient facility. The park should be completed and ready for use by 2022, i.e. the project duration should not exceed two years.
To ensure that the project is completed on time, within scope and on budget, the funding agency and the Lazarette Town Council require that a dedicated and knowledgeable project team is assigned to the project. CWC has expressed the need for the project deliverables to be of ‘high’ quality to guarantee stakeholders’ satisfaction and safety. The CWC requires that ‘tight’ procurement processes should be followed to ensure transparency, accountability and economy. It is anticipated that most of the goods, works and services for building the park will be procured from vendors, suppliers and contractors in the town. In addition, CWC has detailed the need for both positive and negative projects risk to be properly managed throughout the project.
In response to CWC implied and expressed requirements, the Lazarette Town Council has selected and appointed your team to provide project management services for the Recreational Park Project. As a proactive team, your team has decided to use ‘best practices’ in project management to plan project activities and get approval from key project stakeholders before constructing or building the facility. Give the type and nature of the project, the intention is to use a traditional/waterfall approach to project management activities instead of the largely popular and contemporary agile methodology used other industries.   
Your team understands the value of planning before doing, and the council’s concerns of not losing the grant funding from CWC. In addition, your team is keen on building a good reputation in the
town. With a can do attitude and the need to increase the chances of the project success, the project management team (your 5-member group) is determined to ensure that the team utilizes the ‘best practices’ for planning, executing and controlling this valuable community based project.

1. Create an appropriate quality management plan for the project.

2. Justify the need to effectively manage quality for the project.

US Hotelier and Chinese Insurer Contest Ownership of Starwood In March 2016, struggling US hotel group, Starwood Hotels and Resorts, owner of Weston and Sheraton Hotels, found itself in a bidding war. It had accepted an offer of $10.8bn (€8.1bn, £6.5bn) in cash and stock from US hotelier Marriott International the previous year. Whilst discussing the details of the acquisition, due to close in March 2016, Beijing-based Anbang Insurance Group made an unsolicited offer of $12.9bn. Marriott responded by increasing its offer to $13.6bn and Starwood investors eagerly awaited higher bids.

If Marriott succeeded it would create the world’s largest hotel company with 5500 owned or franchised hotels with 1.1 million rooms under 30 brands. Marriott believed it was a compelling bidder having demonstrated multi-year industry-leading growth, powerful brands and consistent return of capital to shareholders, with shares trading consistently above those of its peers. Having already conducted five months of extensive investigation and joint integration planning with Starwood, including careful analysis of the brand architecture, Marriott was confident it could make annual cost savings of $250m, generate greater long-term shareholder value from a larger global presence and offer wider choice of brands to consumers and improved economics to owners and franchisees.

Little known outside of China before 2013, Anbang Insurance Group originated as a small car insurer, before China’s move to give insurers greater freedom to invest their money. This allowed Anbang to sell investment products and other services, making them major players in real estate. A slowing Chinese economy and devaluing currency encouraged many domestic companies to invest overseas and Anbang then aggressively pursued overseas deals, largely fuelled by selling high yield investment products at home. Having spent $2bn on insurers in Belgium and South Korea, Anbang also made many large US acquisitions including the Waldorf Astoria for $1.95bn, the American insurer, Fidelity & Guaranty Life Insurance ($1.6bn) and the biggest-ever acquisition of American property assets by a mainland Chinese buyer, Strategic Hotels and Resorts ($6.5bn), owner of Four Seasons hotels, the Fairmont and Intercontinental hotels and the JW Marriott Essex House hotel. As a late bidder, Anbang had had little time for in-depth investigation of Starwoods but was making its bid in a consortium that included American private equity firm J.C. Flowers & Company. With close personal links to the Chinese Government, commentators believed Anbang could greatly increase Starwood’s cash reserves.

On 28 March, Anbang raised its bid to $14bn and analysts wondered whether Marriott would be able to raise its offer further as increasing the cash part of its offer could threaten its investment-grade rating and adding more stock would dilute its earnings per share. Marriott’s response was to say that its offer was not just about price. It also questioned whether Anbang had sufficient funds to close the deal and whether the Committee on Foreign Investment (Cfius), which reviews all deals for American companies that involve national security, would intervene as it had with the Waldorf sale, although this had been approved. Starwood properties could be deemed to be near government offices and military bases. This could delay the deal and possibly discourage Anbang’s bid. Commentators also wondered whether they had the skills to manage Starwood as the management team at its Belgian acquisition had left quickly amid complaints about Anbang’s management style.

Questions

1. How do the bidders’ acquisition motives differ?

2. What are the strategic and organisational fit implications of both bids?

Please answer questions 2 through 7

1. A deli raises the price of its deluxe cheeseburger from $9.50 to $10.50. The quantity sold falls from 125/day to 100/day. Calculate the arc price elasticity of demand.

2. Given your answer to (1), and given that the marginal cost of is $5, should the restaurant raise or lower its price of its deluxe cheeseburger to increase profits?

3. AutoClean does car detailing for $80 per car. Market research indicates that if the price was increased to $105 quantity demanded would fall to zero. Assuming that demand can be modeled with a linear demand curve, estimate the price elasticity of demand at $80.

4. The only thing that changes in Dullsville is the price of a stay at the Dullsville Inn. You've collected the following data on the rates charged (for a suite with 2 queen-sized beds and 'free' continental breakfast) and the number of rooms occupied. The Inn has 100 suites, and at no time were potential visitors turned away due to no vacancy. Use this data to estimate a 'constant elasticity' demand function. Estimate the price elasticity of demand.

Observation Rate per night Quantity (rooms rented)

1 $70 40

2 $65 50

3 $80 30

4 $52 62

5 $92 31

6 $64 41

7 $43 78

8 $74 35

9 $83 33

10 $54 52

11 $87 30

12 $84 28

13 $68 40

14 $43 69

15 $48 53

16 $78 34

17 $72 48

18 $58 53

19 $56 59

5 - 7. Next door to the Dullsville Inn is the Vagabond Hotel. Their rate for a single room is $50/night, with an average of 60 rooms occupied per night. Assume that the industry norm for the price elasticity of demand for hotels like the Vagabond Hotel is -1.6. Further assume that the demand function is reasonably approximated with a constant-price elasticity of demand functional form: Q = aP^b, where b is the price elasticity of demand.

5. Use the above information to calculate the value for 'a.'

6. Use the resulting demand function to estimate the number of rooms occupied if the price was increased to $60/night.

7. The marginal cost of providing a room at the Vagabond Hotel is $20. Use the markup rule for profit maximization to calculate the profit maximizing rate.

Said Al Hamli and his friend Khaled Al Masri are the owners of a small hotel, the Sun Star, in the Red Sea town of Hurghada. Close to Cairo, the resort town has grown from a fishing village to one of Egypt’s famous vacation spots. Hurghada is the gateway to many small islands and offshore reefs favored by recreational snorkelers and divers and many tourists combine their stay with excursions to the Nile Valley, the Great Pyramids and Luxor.

To take advantage of the growing numbers of tourists, particularly from Europe and the Middle East, Said and Khaled are planning to double the room capacity of their hotel by adding a second building to the already existing structure. Fortunately, Said recognized the great potential of Hurghada ten years ago, well before the town became a hub for recreational tourism, and bought the land adjacent to the hotel for relatively little money when it was still under construction.

Now, Said and Khaled are studying the new layout and trying to determine if the expected revenues justify the substantial initial investment of EGP 70 million ($11.8 million). According to their calculations, operating cost would rise by EGP 23.8 million ($4 million) in the first year, which would include hiring and training of new personnel, maintenance of facilities and equipment etc., and likely increase by about 5 percent per year thereafter. With an aggressive marketing strategy, Said and Khaled believe that a revenue enhancement of EGP 20.8 million in the first year is realistic and that a subsequent annual increase of about 15 percent for eight to nine years, with revenues leveling off thereafter, can be achieved. Ideally, Khaled would like to retire in ten years. Seeking advice from you, a knowledgeable friend, they share their detailed cost and revenue projections with you.

QUESTIONS

Thunder Corporation, an amusement park, is considering a capital investment in a new exhibit. The exhibit would cost $147,150 and have an estimated useful life of 6 years. It can be sold for $68,000 at the end of that time. (Amusement parks need to rotate exhibits to keep people interested.) It is expected to increase net annual cash flows by $24,000. The company’s borrowing rate is 8%. Its cost of capital is 10%. Click here to view the factor table. Calculate the net present value of this project to the company and determine whether the project is acceptable. (If the net present value is negative, use either a negative sign preceding the number eg -45 or parentheses eg (45). For calculation purposes, use 5 decimal places as displayed in the factor table provided. Round present value answer to 0 decimal places, e.g. 125.)

The project: