Which firm will have a higher level of economic performance: a) a firm with valuable, rare, and costly-to imitate resources and capabilities operating in a very attractive industry or b) a firm with valuable, rare, costly-to-imitate resources and capabilities operating in a very unattractive industry

Gibson's bodywork does automotive collision work. an insurance agency has determined that the standard time to replace a fender is 2.5 hours (i.e., "standard output" 0.4

The gilbert instrument corporation is considering replacing the wood steamer it currently uses to shape guitar sides. the steamer has 6 years of remaining life. if kept,the steamer will have depreciaiton expenses of $650 for five years and $325 for the sixthyear. its current book value is $3,575, and it can be sold on an internet auction site for$4,150 at this time. if the old steamer is not replaced, it can be sold for $800 at the endof its useful life. gilbert is considering purchasing the side steamer 3000, a higher-end steamer, whichcosts $12,000 and has an estimated useful life of 6 years with an estimated salvage value of$1,500. this steamer falls into the macrs 5-year class, so the applicable depreciationrates are 20.00%, 32.00%, 19.20%, 11.52%, 11.52%, and 5.76%. the new steamer is fasterand allows for an output expansion, so sales would rise by $2,000 per year; the newmachine's much greater efficiency would reduce operating expenses by $1,900 per year.to support the greater sales, the new machine would require that inventories increase by$2,900, but accounts payable would simultaneously increase by $700. gilbert's marginalfederal-plus-state tax rate is 40%, and its wacc is 15%.a. should it replace the old steamer? b. npv of replace = $2,083.51

Wisconsin snowmobile corp. is considering a switch to level production. cost efficiencies would occur under level production, and after tax costs would decline by $36,000, but inventory would increase by $300,000. wisconsin snowmobile would have to finance the extra inventory at a cost of 13.5 percent.a. determine the extra cost or savings of switching over to level production. should the company go ahead and switch to level production? b how low would interest rates need to fall before level production would be feasible?