Final answer:
A product line is most likely too short if managers can start selling new products to satisfy market demand and increase potential profits without the longer-term commitments required for expanding production or modifying employment levels.
Step-by-step explanation:
A product line is most likely too short if managers can start selling new products. When a product line is insufficient to meet consumer demand or profits are less than their potential, managers might consider that their product line is too short, indicating the need to add more products. In contrast to the complexities associated with other options such as expanding production, opening or closing factories or sales facilities, or hiring and laying off workers, which are generally more feasible over a longer term, adding new products can be a relatively faster way to respond to market demand and increase revenue.
There are practical reasons for this. Expanding a product line can be quicker and less costly than building new factories or hiring significant numbers of new workers, which often require more extensive planning and capital investment. Therefore, a manager who identifies a too-short product line will likely first consider whether the company can benefit from introducing additional products to the range to better cater to their target market.