Final answer:
Employee self-training on new technology is not a direct operating cost, but an investment that could benefit the firm through improved productivity and efficiency. The examples provided show how wage changes impact technology choice in production, but employee education is more of an investment in human capital.
Step-by-step explanation:
The time that employees devote to self-training on new technology is not an example of direct operating costs. Rather, it is an investment in employee education, which can lead to improvements in productivity and efficiency over time. Direct operating costs are typically associated with the day-to-day operation of a business and involve expenses like materials, labor, and overhead that are directly tied to the production of goods or services.
In economic terms, firms may incur different types of costs including fixed and variable costs. As the wages of employees rise, it could influence whether a firm decides to adopt a different form of technology or production process. For instance, Example A, Example B, and Example C illustrate scenarios where wage increases lead to changes in production technology preferences.
In contrast, the education of employees, which includes self-training on new technology, would likely be categorized as an investment in human capital, enhancing the human resources of the firm which can lead to a decreasing cost market.