Question 210100
As a manager of a financial planning business you have two financial planners, Phil and Francis. In an hour, Phil can produce either one financial statement or answer 8 phone calls, while Francis can either produce 4 financial statements or answer 10 phone calls. Does either person have an absolute advantage in producing both products? Should these two planners be self-sufficient (each producing statements and answering phones) or specialize? Be sure to show your work.
          f.s.   calls
phil    = a = 1  b = 8                talktime = time / # of calls
francis = c = 4  d = 10        productivity time = time / # of financial statement
 

time    = 1hr = 60min


productivity time for financial statement

phil  = 60 / 1             
      = 60min/fs                   

francis =  60 / 4
        =  15min/fs


talktime

phil  = 60 / 8             
      =  7.5min/call               

francis =  60 / 10
        =  6min/call

francis is more productive, he can make more financial statement in an hour and can also handle more calls than phil.

i can say they should have separate work. with receiving calls, Phil can concentrate on receiving calls so Francis can do concentrate in doing more financial statement 

and Francis can adjust in making 2 financial statement and receive 5 calls in an hour if needed.

for Francis
let a=prod time /fs   b=talk time /call


  60min = 2a + 5b
  
  60min = 2fs(15min/fs) + 5calls (6min/calls)
  
  60min = 30 min + 30 min

  60min = 60min