/*! This file is auto-generated */ .wp-block-button__link{color:#fff;background-color:#32373c;border-radius:9999px;box-shadow:none;text-decoration:none;padding:calc(.667em + 2px) calc(1.333em + 2px);font-size:1.125em}.wp-block-file__button{background:#32373c;color:#fff;text-decoration:none} Problem 12 In his autobiography, T. Boone P... [FREE SOLUTION] | 91Ó°ÊÓ

91Ó°ÊÓ

In his autobiography, T. Boone Pickens, a geologist, entrepreneur, and oil company executive, wrote: It's unusual to find a large corporation that's efficient.... When you get an inside look, it's easy to see how inefficient big business really is. Most corporate bureaucracies have more people than they have work. Was Pickens describing diminishing returns or diseconomies of scale? Briefly explain.

Short Answer

Expert verified
T. Boone Pickens is describing 'Diseconomies of Scale' in his statement.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding concepts: Diminishing Returns

To start, it's crucial to note that 'diminishing returns' is an economic concept that takes place when increasing numbers of a certain input lead to smaller and smaller increases in output. It happens when an input variable is increased incrementally, while all other variables are held constant. However, after certain point, the output will decrease or will increase at a very slow rate as compared to the input.
02

Understanding concepts: Diseconomies of Scale

On the other hand, ‘diseconomies of scale’ refers to a situation where as a firm increases in size, its costs per unit start to rise. The higher expenses might be due to management problems caused by the operation’s larger size, offices being too far apart, ineffective communication, or a decrease in productivity and motivation of the workforce.
03

Applying the Concepts to the Statement

Given the statement, The author describes a situation where large corporation has more employees than they have work to dedicate to, a quite common situation where large corporations face management issues such as ineffective communication due to their size. Therefore, Pickens is illustrating 'Diseconomies of Scale'.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with 91Ó°ÊÓ!

Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Diminishing Returns
The concept of diminishing returns is an important notion in economics. It occurs when increasing a single factor of production leads to a decrease in the marginal output. Imagine increasing the number of workers in a factory that is already running at full capacity. Initially, bringing in more workers might increase productivity. But, after reaching a certain point, each additional worker contributes less to the overall output because the workspace and machinery become crowded.

This principle highlights the importance of balancing multiple inputs to maintain efficiency. If not well-balanced, the benefits of additional investments in one area might be offset by inefficiencies created elsewhere. It’s like trying to pour more water into a glass that is already full – some of it will inevitably spill over, representing wasted resources.

Understanding diminishing returns helps businesses evaluate when further investment in a particular area will no longer result in proportional output increases, allowing them to make more informed investment decisions.
Corporate Bureaucracy
Corporate bureaucracy is often seen as a double-edged sword in large organizations. On one hand, having structured processes and clear chains of command can prevent chaos and ensure accountability. On the other hand, bureaucracy can lead to inefficiencies and slow decision-making processes.

A common area where bureaucracy manifests is in the layers of management that act as intermediaries between employees and top executives. This can lead to communication breakdowns where critical information and innovative ideas are delayed or even lost in endless approval loops.

While rules and procedures are necessary for consistency, excessive regulations can bind firms into rigidity, preventing them from adapting swiftly to market changes. So, for large corporations, the challenge lies in creating a balanced organizational structure that maintains order without overshadowing agility and creativity.
Large Corporations
Large corporations are often perceived as too big to efficiently manage. Their size allows them to achieve significant market influence and economies of scale, which means producing goods or services at a lower cost per unit. However, this massive scale can also set the stage for the notorious inefficiencies known as diseconomies of scale.

Operating across multiple locations, these corporations may struggle with coordinating tasks, leading to duplicated efforts and misalignment among departments. Furthermore, the hierarchical nature can result in a slow decision-making process, ultimately impacting their ability to innovate and respond swiftly to competition.

Given these challenges, large corporations often have to invest significantly in sophisticated management systems and continuous training to keep their workforce aligned and motivated, which if not managed well, could further contribute to inefficiency.
Management Inefficiency
Management inefficiency in large corporations arises when managers fail to effectively coordinate and control the operations of the company. Often, managers are confronted with complex issues like excessive layers of managerial staff or unclear role definitions, leading to overlapping responsibilities and confusion.

These inefficiencies could lead to wasted resources and higher operational costs. For instance, if departmental goals are not well-aligned, different units might work against each other’s interest, hindering the overall performance of the corporation.

Moreover, inefficient managers might also contribute to low employee morale. Workers may feel undervalued or overburdened with work without adequate recognition or rewards, increasing turnover rates.

Addressing management inefficiency thus requires clarity of roles, sufficient training in leadership for managers, and a workplace culture that values open communication and collaboration.

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

Where does the marginal cost curve intersect the average variable cost curve and the average total cost curve?

Is it possible for average total cost to be decreasing over a range of output where marginal cost is increasing? Briefly explain.

The table below shows the quantity of workers and total output for a local pizza parlor. Answer the following questions based on the table. $$ \begin{array}{c|c} \hline \text { Quantity of Workers } & \text { Total Output } \\ \hline 0 & 0 \\ \hline 1 & 5 \\ \hline 2 & \- \\ \hline 3 & 19 \\ \hline 4 & 24 \\ \hline 5 & 28 \\ \hline 6 & 26 \\ \hline \end{array} $$ a. When the owner hires 4 workers, what is average product of labor? b. What is the marginal product of the fifth worker? c. If the marginal product of the second worker is 6 , what is the total number of pizzas produced when 2 workers are hired? d. Assuming that the marginal product of the second worker is \(6,\) with which worker hired does the law of diminishing returns set in?

(Related to the Apply the Concept on page 376 ) For jill Johnson's pizza restaurant, explain whether each of the following is a fixed cost or a variable cost. a. The payment she makes on her fire insurance policy b. The payment she makes to buy pizza dough c. The wages she pays her workers d. The lease payment she makes to the landlord who owns the building where her store is located e. The \(\$ 300\) -per-month payment she makes to her local newspaper for running her weekly advertisements

We saw in the chapter opener that some colleges and private companies have launched online courses that anyone with an Internet connection can take. The most successful of these massive open online courses (MOOCs) have attracted tens of thousands of students. Suppose that your college offers a MOOC and spends a total of \(\$ 200,000\) on one-time costs to have instructors prepare the course material and buy additional server capacity. The college administration estimates that the variable cost of offering the course will be \(\$ 20\) per student per course. This variable cost is the same, regardless of how many students enroll in the course. a. Use this information to fill in the missing values in the following table: $$ \begin{array}{c|c|c|c|c} \hline \text { Number of } & & \\ \begin{array}{c} \text { Students } \\ \text { Taking the } \\ \text { Course } \end{array} & \begin{array}{c} \text { Average } \\ \text { Total Cost } \end{array} & \begin{array}{c} \text { Average } \\ \text { Variable } \\ \text { Cost } \end{array} & \begin{array}{c} \text { Average } \\ \text { Fixed Cost } \end{array} & \begin{array}{c} \text { Marginal } \\ \text { Cost } \end{array} \\ \hline 1,000 & & & & \\ \hline 10,000 & & & & \\ \hline 20,000 & & & & \\ \hline \end{array} $$ b. Use your answer to part (a) to draw a cost curve graph to illustrate your college's costs of offering this course. Your graph should measure cost on the vertical axis and the quantity of students taking the course on the horizontal axis. Be sure your graph contains the following curves: average total cost, average variable cost, average fixed cost, and marginal cost.

See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Economics Textbooks

View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.