A differentiation strategy works best when A. many rival firms are also pursuing a differentiation approach. B. buyers' needs are homogeneous. C. technological change is fast-paced and competition revolves around rapidly evolving product features. D. there are few other ways to make a product unique to buyers. E. firms have ample excess cash to invest in R&D activities.

You are chairman of the board of a successful technology firm. there is a nominal federal corporate tax rate of 35 percent, yet the effective tax rate of the typical corporation is about 12.6%. your firm has been clever with use of transfer pricing and keeping money abroad and has barely paid any taxes over the last 5 years; during this same time period, profits were $28 billion. one member of the board feels that it is un-american to use various accounting strategies in order to avoid paying taxes. others feel that these are legal loopholes and corporations have a fiduciary responsibility to minimize taxes. one board member quoted what the ceo of exxon once said: “i’m not a u.s. company and i don’t make decisions based on what’s good for the u.s.” what are the alternatives? what are your recommendations? why do you recommend this course of action?

James albemarle created a trust fund at the beginning of 2016. the income from this fund will go to his son edward. when edward reaches the age of 25, the principal of the fund will be conveyed to united charities of cleveland. mr. albemarle specified that 75 percent of trustee fees are to be paid from principal. terry jones, cpa, is the trustee. james albemarle transferred cash of $500,000, stocks worth $400,000, and rental property valued at $250,000 to the trustee of this fund. immediately invested cash of $360,000 in bonds issued by the u.s. government. commissions of $7,900 are paid on this transaction. incurred permanent repairs of $9,000 so that the property can be rented. payment is made immediately. received dividends of $8,000. of this amount, $3,000 had been declared prior to the creation of the trust fund. paid insurance expense of $4,000 on the rental property. received rental income of $10,000. paid $8,000 from the trust for trustee services rendered. conveyed cash of $7,000 to edward albemarle.

Why should managers invest any excess cash