The management at Bellows Inc. is faced with a strike threat from union members over a dispute concerning working hours for employees. The disputing parties approach a neutral third party to ensure that the discussions between them are moving forward. The third party, however, has no formal power over union representatives or over management. Which process is best exemplified in the scenario?

Shelby company produces three products: product x, product y, and product z. data concerning the three products follow (per unit): product x product y product z selling price $ 85 $ 65 $ 75 variable expenses: direct materials 25.50 19.50 5.25 labor and overhead 25.50 29.25 47.25 total variable expenses 51.00 48.75 52.50 contribution margin $ 34.00 $ 16.25 $ 22.50 contribution margin ratio 40 % 25 % 30 % demand for the company’s products is very strong, with far more orders each month than the company can produce with the available raw materials. the same material is used in each product. the material costs $8 per pound, with a maximum of 4,400 pounds available each month. required: a. compute contribution margin per pound of materials used. (round your intermediate calculations and final answers to 2 decimal places.) contribution margin per pound product x $ product y $ product z $ b. which orders would you advise the company to accept first, those for product x, for product y, or for product z? which orders second? third? product x product y product z