The branded market benchmarking data in each issue of the Footwear Industry Report showing the industry-low, industry-average, and industry-high values for operating profit per branded pair sold in each geographic region

a. are of considerable value to the managers of companies looking for evidence that their company needs to cut branded footwear prices and spend more money on marketing efforts so as to increase sales of branded footwear and gain a bigger share of the market for branded footwear.
b. always merit close attention because when these benchmarks signal that a company's operating profit margins in one or more geographic regions compare unfavorably, managers are well-advised to take immediate corrective actions in the upcoming decision round,
c. have the greatest value to the managers of companies earning above-average operating profits per branded pair sold in one or more geographic regions.
d. are of little value to company managers in making decisions to improve company performance in the upcoming decision round because the benchmarking data do not identify which companies have the lowest/highest operating profit margins per branded pair sold.
e. are least valuable to the managers of companies whose operating profits per pair sold are below the industry average benchmark.