Case B$.$ Dawn Limited $$Frankly$,$ if we continue to grow, we will be out of business soon. This was the glum assessment of Kathy Lin, President and CEO of Dawn Limited, a company that designs, manufactures, and retails women$$s fashion. Kathy has a $30-$year history in the fashion business and has managed her own label for much of that time. In $20$X$0,$ she

incorporated Purple, and the company grew rapidly. It was particularly known for its edgy fashion design, reasonable prices, and quick turnaround. Dawn hires young designers and has established

a highly efficient manufacturing and distribution system to place trendy clothes in stores ahead of her competition. Initially, designs had been sold only in Dawn$$s own stores, but over the last two years, Dawn began selling to larger chains. As a result, the scope of Dawn has significantly

increased as have revenues and profits. In fact, the company reported a loss of $$1,345$ in $20$X$0$ but moved to earnings of $$133$ in $20$X$1,$ earnings of $$2,580$ in $20$X$2,$ and an impressive $$6,245$ in $20$X$3($all figures in thousands$).$ Sales had more than tripled over the past three years. Capital assets purchased over this period were $$16,000$ in $20$X$2,$ $$9,500$ in $20$X$2,$ and $$8,000$ in $20$X$3.$We are pretty much out of cash, and I have bills to suppliers that are due. My banker willcprovide some cash, but not enough to keep up with this$-$and all that borrowing is getting expensive.

I$$m not sure how we can post such high earnings and be so broke. Can you explain this to me and help me with a plan to get out of this mess? I need good advice, fast.$$

Required: You are an accounting professional in public practice and have provided business advice to Kathy in the past. You agree to meet with her on this issue tomorrow and now are preparing a draft report for discussion. You decide that calculating cash flows from operating

activities is a good place to start $($Exhibit $1).$ In addition to providing an analysis of cash flows from operating activities of Dawn Ltd$,$ you are also expected to provide advice on cash flow management to Kathy Lin.