Merrimack Tractors and Mowers, Inc.: LIFO or FIFO?

Merrimack Tractors and Mowers, Inc.: LIFO or FIFO? Description

When students have the English-language PDF of this Brief Case in a coursepack, they will also have the option to purchase an audio version.At Merrimack Tractors and Mowers in 2008, product manufacturing costs are increasing faster than competitors' costs, and as a result earnings are likely to fall below those reported in 2007. The company president and the company controller have discussed this problem, and the controller has mentioned that if the company changed from LIFO to FIFO it might be possible to maintain earnings growth in 2008. He prepares a memo to the president explaining how inventory flow assumptions work and provides pro-forma income statements that show that, for one product (reel mower units), adopting FIFO would allow Merrimack to report higher income in 2008 than it did in 2007, but higher income taxes would have to be paid.

Case Description Merrimack Tractors and Mowers, Inc.: LIFO or FIFO?

Strategic Managment Tools Used in Case Study Analysis of Merrimack Tractors and Mowers, Inc.: LIFO or FIFO?

STEP 1. Problem Identification in Merrimack Tractors and Mowers, Inc.: LIFO or FIFO? case study

STEP 2. External Environment Analysis - PESTEL / PEST / STEP Analysis of Merrimack Tractors and Mowers, Inc.: LIFO or FIFO? case study

STEP 3. Industry Specific / Porter Five Forces Analysis of Merrimack Tractors and Mowers, Inc.: LIFO or FIFO? case study

STEP 4. Evaluating Alternatives / SWOT Analysis of Merrimack Tractors and Mowers, Inc.: LIFO or FIFO? case study

STEP 5. Porter Value Chain Analysis / VRIO / VRIN Analysis Merrimack Tractors and Mowers, Inc.: LIFO or FIFO? case study

STEP 6. Recommendations Merrimack Tractors and Mowers, Inc.: LIFO or FIFO? case study

STEP 7. Basis of Recommendations for Merrimack Tractors and Mowers, Inc.: LIFO or FIFO? case study

Case Analysis of Merrimack Tractors and Mowers, Inc.: LIFO or FIFO?

Merrimack Tractors and Mowers, Inc.: LIFO or FIFO? is a Harvard Business (HBR) Case Study on Finance & Accounting , Texas Business School provides HBR case study assignment help for just $9. Texas Business School(TBS) case study solution is based on HBR Case Study Method framework, TBS expertise & global insights. Merrimack Tractors and Mowers, Inc.: LIFO or FIFO? is designed and drafted in a manner to allow the HBR case study reader to analyze a real-world problem by putting reader into the position of the decision maker. Merrimack Tractors and Mowers, Inc.: LIFO or FIFO? case study will help professionals, MBA, EMBA, and leaders to develop a broad and clear understanding of casecategory challenges. Merrimack Tractors and Mowers, Inc.: LIFO or FIFO? will also provide insight into areas such as – wordlist , strategy, leadership, sales and marketing, and negotiations.

Case Study Solutions Background Work

Merrimack Tractors and Mowers, Inc.: LIFO or FIFO? case study solution is focused on solving the strategic and operational challenges the protagonist of the case is facing. The challenges involve – evaluation of strategic options, key role of Finance & Accounting, leadership qualities of the protagonist, and dynamics of the external environment. The challenge in front of the protagonist, of Merrimack Tractors and Mowers, Inc.: LIFO or FIFO?, is to not only build a competitive position of the organization but also to sustain it over a period of time.

Strategic Management Tools Used in Case Study Solution

The Merrimack Tractors and Mowers, Inc.: LIFO or FIFO? case study solution requires the MBA, EMBA, executive, professional to have a deep understanding of various strategic management tools such as SWOT Analysis, PESTEL Analysis / PEST Analysis / STEP Analysis, Porter Five Forces Analysis, Go To Market Strategy, BCG Matrix Analysis, Porter Value Chain Analysis, Ansoff Matrix Analysis, VRIO / VRIN and Marketing Mix Analysis.

Texas Business School Approach to Finance & Accounting Solutions

In the Texas Business School, Merrimack Tractors and Mowers, Inc.: LIFO or FIFO? case study solution – following strategic tools are used - SWOT Analysis, PESTEL Analysis / PEST Analysis / STEP Analysis, Porter Five Forces Analysis, Go To Market Strategy, BCG Matrix Analysis, Porter Value Chain Analysis, Ansoff Matrix Analysis, VRIO / VRIN and Marketing Mix Analysis.

We have additionally used the concept of supply chain management and leadership framework to build a comprehensive case study solution for the case – Merrimack Tractors and Mowers, Inc.: LIFO or FIFO?

Step 1 – Problem Identification of Merrimack Tractors and Mowers, Inc.: LIFO or FIFO? - Harvard Business School Case Study

The first step to solve HBR Merrimack Tractors and Mowers, Inc.: LIFO or FIFO? case study solution is to identify the problem present in the case. The problem statement of the case is provided in the beginning of the case where the protagonist is contemplating various options in the face of numerous challenges that Merrimack Fifo is facing right now. Even though the problem statement is essentially – “Finance & Accounting” challenge but it has impacted by others factors such as communication in the organization, uncertainty in the external environment, leadership in Merrimack Fifo, style of leadership and organization structure, marketing and sales, organizational behavior, strategy, internal politics, stakeholders priorities and more.

Step 2 – External Environment Analysis

Texas Business School approach of case study analysis – Conclusion, Reasons, Evidences - provides a framework to analyze every HBR case study. It requires conducting robust external environmental analysis to decipher evidences for the reasons presented in the Merrimack Tractors and Mowers, Inc.: LIFO or FIFO?.

The external environment analysis of Merrimack Tractors and Mowers, Inc.: LIFO or FIFO? will ensure that we are keeping a tab on the macro-environment factors that are directly and indirectly impacting the business of the firm.

What is PESTEL Analysis? Briefly Explained

PESTEL stands for political, economic, social, technological, environmental and legal factors that impact the external environment of firm in Merrimack Tractors and Mowers, Inc.: LIFO or FIFO? case study. PESTEL analysis of " Merrimack Tractors and Mowers, Inc.: LIFO or FIFO?" can help us understand why the organization is performing badly, what are the factors in the external environment that are impacting the performance of the organization, and how the organization can either manage or mitigate the impact of these external factors.

How to do PESTEL / PEST / STEP Analysis? What are the components of PESTEL Analysis?

As mentioned above PESTEL Analysis has six elements – political, economic, social, technological, environmental, and legal. All the six elements are explained in context with Merrimack Tractors and Mowers, Inc.: LIFO or FIFO? macro-environment and how it impacts the businesses of the firm.

How to do PESTEL Analysis for Merrimack Tractors and Mowers, Inc.: LIFO or FIFO?

To do comprehensive PESTEL analysis of case study – Merrimack Tractors and Mowers, Inc.: LIFO or FIFO? , we have researched numerous components under the six factors of PESTEL analysis.

Political Factors that Impact Merrimack Tractors and Mowers, Inc.: LIFO or FIFO?

Political factors impact seven key decision making areas – economic environment, socio-cultural environment, rate of innovation & investment in research & development, environmental laws, legal requirements, and acceptance of new technologies.

Policy Making Impact on Merrimack Tractors and Mowers, Inc.: LIFO or FIFO?

Government policies have significant impact on the business environment of any country. The firm in “ Merrimack Tractors and Mowers, Inc.: LIFO or FIFO? ” needs to navigate these policy decisions to create either an edge for itself or reduce the negative impact of the policy as far as possible.

Data safety laws – The countries in which Merrimack Fifo is operating, firms are required to store customer data within the premises of the country. Merrimack Fifo needs to restructure its IT policies to accommodate these changes. In the EU countries, firms are required to make special provision for privacy issues and other laws.

Competition Regulations – Numerous countries have strong competition laws both regarding the monopoly conditions and day to day fair business practices. Merrimack Tractors and Mowers, Inc.: LIFO or FIFO? has numerous instances where the competition regulations aspects can be scrutinized.

Import restrictions on products – Before entering the new market, Merrimack Fifo in case study Merrimack Tractors and Mowers, Inc.: LIFO or FIFO?" should look into the import restrictions that may be present in the prospective market.

Export restrictions on products – Apart from direct product export restrictions in field of technology and agriculture, a number of countries also have capital controls. Merrimack Fifo in case study “ Merrimack Tractors and Mowers, Inc.: LIFO or FIFO? ” should look into these export restrictions policies.

Foreign Direct Investment Policies – Government policies favors local companies over international policies, Merrimack Fifo in case study “ Merrimack Tractors and Mowers, Inc.: LIFO or FIFO? ” should understand in minute details regarding the Foreign Direct Investment policies of the prospective market.

Taxation & Regulation Impact on Merrimack Tractors and Mowers, Inc.: LIFO or FIFO?

Corporate Taxes – The rate of taxes is often used by governments to lure foreign direct investments or increase domestic investment in a certain sector. Corporate taxation can be divided into two categories – taxes on profits and taxes on operations. Taxes on profits number is important for companies that already have a sustainable business model, while taxes on operations is far more significant for companies that are looking to set up new plants or operations.

Tariffs – Chekout how much tariffs the firm needs to pay in the “ Merrimack Tractors and Mowers, Inc.: LIFO or FIFO? ” case study. The level of tariffs will determine the viability of the business model that the firm is contemplating. If the tariffs are high then it will be extremely difficult to compete with the local competitors. But if the tariffs are between 5-10% then Merrimack Fifo can compete against other competitors.

Government Scheme & Subsidies Impact on Merrimack Tractors and Mowers, Inc.: LIFO or FIFO?

Research and Development Subsidies and Policies – Governments often provide tax breaks and other incentives for companies to innovate in various sectors of priority. Managers at Merrimack Tractors and Mowers, Inc.: LIFO or FIFO? case study have to assess whether their business can benefit from such government assistance and subsidies.

Consumer protection – Different countries have different consumer protection laws. Managers need to clarify not only the consumer protection laws in advance but also legal implications if the firm fails to meet any of them.

Political System & Stability, and its Impact on Merrimack Tractors and Mowers, Inc.: LIFO or FIFO?

Political System and Its Implications – Different political systems have different approach to free market and entrepreneurship. Managers need to assess these factors even before entering the market.

Freedom of Press is critical for fair trade and transparency. Countries where freedom of press is not prevalent there are high chances of both political and commercial corruption.

Corruption level – Merrimack Fifo needs to assess the level of corruptions both at the official level and at the market level, even before entering a new market. To tackle the menace of corruption – a firm should have a clear SOP that provides managers at each level what to do when they encounter instances of either systematic corruption or bureaucrats looking to take bribes from the firm.

Independence of judiciary – It is critical for fair business practices. If a country doesn’t have independent judiciary then there is no point entry into such a country for business.

Government attitude towards trade unions – Different political systems and government have different attitude towards trade unions and collective bargaining. The firm needs to assess – its comfort dealing with the unions and regulations regarding unions in a given market or industry. If both are on the same page then it makes sense to enter, otherwise it doesn’t.

Economic Factors that Impact Merrimack Tractors and Mowers, Inc.: LIFO or FIFO?

Social Factors that Impact Merrimack Tractors and Mowers, Inc.: LIFO or FIFO?

Technological Factors that Impact Merrimack Tractors and Mowers, Inc.: LIFO or FIFO?

Environmental Factors that Impact Merrimack Tractors and Mowers, Inc.: LIFO or FIFO?

Legal Factors that Impact Merrimack Tractors and Mowers, Inc.: LIFO or FIFO?

Step 3 – Industry Specific Analysis

What is Porter Five Forces Analysis

PESTEL stands for political, economic, social, technological, environmental and legal factors that impact the external environment of firm in Merrimack Tractors and Mowers, Inc.: LIFO or FIFO? case study. PESTEL analysis of " Merrimack Tractors and Mowers, Inc.: LIFO or FIFO?" can help us understand why the organization is performing badly, what are the factors in the external environment that are impacting the performance of the organization, and how the organization can either manage or mitigate the impact of these external factors.

Step 4 – SWOT Analysis / Internal Environment Analysis

Step 5 – Porter Value Chain / VRIO / VRIN Analysis

Step 6 – Evaluating Alternatives & Recommendations

Step 7 – Basis for Recommendations

References :: Merrimack Tractors and Mowers, Inc.: LIFO or FIFO? case study solution