Custom Leather (Scenario) Lamia Has Been Hired as a Consultant for XYZ Consulting

question 19

Multiple Choice

Custom Leather (Scenario)
Lamia has been hired as a consultant for XYZ Consulting. Her first assignment is to work with one of XYZ's newest clients, Custom Leather, Inc., a manufacturer of high-end leather furniture. Custom Leather was founded over a decade ago with the idea that great looking, comfortable leather furniture could be custom made and delivered to customers in 30 days. Traditionally, retailers stock leather sofas to satisfy the desire to receive new furniture fast limiting the choice of colors and style for the consumer. In stark contrast, Custom Leather offers 13 different styles in over 70 different colors from rich, deep browns to bright, sunflower; sleek, silver grays and bright, ruby red through a select group of retail outlets. Each piece is built to the customer's individual requirements and is shipped within 2-3 weeks. However, the emergence of a new manufacturing technology has enabled a few, traditionally mass-production competitors to offer greater customization, minimizing some of Custom Leather's competitive advantage. As a result, Custom Leather is considering sweeping changes to current work processes and organizational structure.
-At their first meeting, Lamia provides copies of a collection of Joan Woodward's essays for Custom Leather's management to read. Lamia believes that Woodward's work may be particularly pertinent in considering Custom Leather's organizational structure, since Woodward believed that the effectiveness of the organization was related to the fit between the firm's ________.

• A) technology and structure
• B) size and structure
• C) processes and employees
• D) employees and products

---

Definitions:

Total Manufacturing Cost Variance

The difference between actual manufacturing costs and the standard costs of those manufactured items.

Direct Labor Cost Variance

The difference between the budgeted or standard cost of direct labor and the actual cost incurred, used in variance analysis for cost control.

Factory Overhead Cost Variance

The difference between the actual overhead costs incurred and the expected (or standard) costs, relating to production.

Variances From Standard

The differences between actual costs and the standard (expected) costs set by a company for its products or processes.