Value Chain and Classification of Costs, Car Company

question 125

Essay

Value chain and classification of costs, car company.
General Motors incurs the following costs:
a. Electricity costs for the plant assembling the Chevrolet Camaro
b. Transportation costs for shipping the Camaro to dealers
c. Payment to Shelby Designs for the design of the Camaro.
d. Salary of an engineer working on the next generation of Camaros
e. Cost of GM employees' visit to an auto show to demonstrate the Camaro
f. Testing the Camaro at the GM track
g. Payment to television network for running Camaro advertisements
h. Cost of brake pads purchased from outside supplier to be installed on the Camaro
Required:
Classify each of the cost items (a-h)into one of the business functions of the value chain.
1) Research and development
2) Design of products and processes
3) Production
4) Marketing
5) Distribution
6) Customer service

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Definitions:

Economic Profits

The profit a firm makes after deducting both its explicit and implicit costs, reflecting the total opportunity costs of all resources used.

Yearly Return

The total gain or loss on an investment over a one-year period, expressed as a percentage of the investment's initial value.

Variable Costs

Expenditures that adjust in relation to the level of production.

Fixed Costs

Costs that do not vary with the level of output produced by a firm, such as rent, salaries, and insurance premiums.