A retailer experiences a seasonal demand pattern for its services. Labor requirements over a typical six-month period follow.

Costs associated with operations are as follows:
Wages = $1,500 per worker per month
Hiring cost = $1,500 per worker
Layoff cost = $1,500 per worker
The current workforce level is 11 workers. Use the spreadsheet approach and the preceding data to answer the following questions.
a. What is the total cost of the staffing plan, including the cost of regular wages, hiring, and layoffs using a chase strategy with hiring and layoffs, but no overtime?
b. What is the total cost of the staffing plan, using a level strategy in which no overtime is allowed, and the undertime paid for?
c. Suppose that overtime is allowed up to 25% of the regular-time capacity, and that overtime wages are 150% of the regular-time rate. What is the total cost of the level strategy with overtime and undertime that also minimizes undertime?

Question

A retailer experiences a seasonal demand pattern for its services. Labor requirements over a typical six-month period follow.
  
Costs associated with operations are as follows:
Wages = $1,500 per worker per month
Hiring cost = $1,500 per worker
Layoff cost = $1,500 per worker
The current workforce level is 11 workers. Use the spreadsheet approach and the preceding data to answer the following questions.
a. What is the total cost of the staffing plan, including the cost of regular wages, hiring, and layoffs using a chase strategy with hiring and layoffs, but no overtime?
b. What is the total cost of the staffing plan, using a level strategy in which no overtime is allowed, and the undertime paid for?
c. Suppose that overtime is allowed up to 25% of the regular-time capacity, and that overtime wages are 150% of the regular-time rate. What is the total cost of the level strategy with overtime and undertime that also minimizes undertime?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Answer of A retailer experiences a seasonal demand pattern for its services. Labor requirements over a typical six-month period follow.
  
Costs associated with operations are as follows:
Wages = $1,500 per worker per month
Hiring cost = $1,500 per worker
Layoff cost = $1,500 per worker
The current workforce level is 11 workers. Use the spreadsheet approach and the preceding data to answer the following questions.
a. What is the total cost of the staffing plan, including the cost of regular wages, hiring, and layoffs using a chase strategy with hiring and layoffs, but no overtime?
b. What is the total cost of the staffing plan, using a level strategy in which no overtime is allowed, and the undertime paid for?
c. Suppose that overtime is allowed up to 25% of the regular-time capacity, and that overtime wages are 150% of the regular-time rate. What is the total cost of the level strategy with overtime and undertime that also minimizes undertime?

A Retailer Experiences a Seasonal Demand Pattern for Its Services