Author: chris

Decision Analysis Problem: You are a potential business owner in the hoomaflopper industry. You have hired Dustin R. Mopps as your industry insider to help you decide which businesses to focus on potentially buying. He has collected useful data from multiple sources for you. The problem with Mr. Mopps is that he is a terrible decision analyst. So, it is up to you to figure out what to do.

 

Dustin found a business for you to look into for a possible purchase: property ID number 51 in your data set, valued at $188,000. If this property is indeed viable, it is estimated to earn you $500,000 in the first year of business. However, you will have to pay $60,000 to perform a systems audit and refurbish it right after you buy it. Your back-of-the-envelope estimate is that there is X chance that you could realize the $500,000. You will need to spend a little time to figure out X for your model.

 

Alternatively, you could hire Dustin to first do some real estate legwork for you, since real estate data is his specialty. He will ask for $16,000 to do further market research for you. From sneakily talking to his other clients, you estimate the probability as 60% that Dustin’s market research will be favorable, if the business is going to be viable. The probability of an unfavorable report from Dustin is 70% if the business will not be viable. In other words, you trust him, but not that much. He might be able to give you an edge. You need to know if it is worth paying him the $16,000 or not. Keep all of these values in mind for your conditional probability calculations.

 

 

 

1. Open the ProblemSet 5 Treefile in Excel
2. Using the information provided with the problem, fill in all of the blue cells on the Excel worksheet.
3. Calculate the sheet (hit F9)
5. Provide the answers to the questions that follow:
6. Describe and interpret what is going on in this tree in about 250 words.
7. Include a discussion on what the optimal strategy is and why is it the optimal strategy?
8. Include a statement of what the expected value is? What does expected value mean here?
9. Change the values in cells B:20 to B:26.  These contain the costs and payouts.  Change these one at a time and calculate sheet. Discuss what threshold values flip the decision tree to recommending a different strategy?

s it inevitable that employees will respond to change with feelings of fear?  If you believe the answer is yes, state the implications of this for managing strategic change.  If you believe the answer is no, describe what managers can do to minimize such feelings during cha

Choose a product or service and determine how to make it available to the end user. Using your textbook and the articles from the databases in the AIU library, develop a distribution system for the product or service that you have chosen.

Click here for the research requirements and guide for this assignment.

Week 3 Research

• Give an overview of the following distribution channels:
  • Channel levels: Direct versus indirect distribution
  • Channel organizations: Conventional, vertical, horizontal, and multichannel marketing systems
• Analyze your target market’s needs, and explain what you know about your target market and what it wants from a channel of distribution.
• Determine which of the following channel members you will use, and explain why:
  • Indirect: Retailer, wholesaler, dealer, manufacturer’s rep, and so forth
  • Direct: Catalog, telephone, sales force, and so forth
• Discuss how many channel members you will use (intensive distribution, exclusive distribution, or selective distribution), and explain why.
• Recommend a channel organization (conventional, vertical, horizontal, or multichannel marketing system), and explain why.

Your report must include a reference list. All research should be cited in the body of the paper. In-text citations and corresponding references should be included in your paper. For more information on APA style, please visit the APA lab. The paper should be written in third person, which means that pronouns like “I”, “we”, and “you” are not appropriate. The use of direct quotes is strongly discouraged.

Your assignment should contain a cover page, an abstract page, and a reference page in addition to the body. The body of the paper should be 2–3 pages in length, starting with a brief 1-paragraph introduction and ending with a short conclusion. The entire submission will be 5–6 pages in length.

Question 1:

The Global War on Terror has introduced a new phenomenon on the modern battlefield: private contractors. Contractors have taken on new roles as support service providers to the U.S. military and have assumed security force roles involving active combat.

Identify at least two ethical problems with using private contractors in combat operations such as those that are currently used to support operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Do you believe that private contractors used to support contractors are actually mercenaries? Explain your answer and note whether you believe it is legitimate and ethical to use private contractors in combat.

 

Question 2:

The use of assassination in warfare has been a topic of debate throughout history. At different times, the United States has outlawed or condoned the use of assassination in warfare.

Discuss two ethical concerns with regards to the use of assassination in warfare. Provide one argument for why targeted assassination is legitimate in warfare, and then provide one argument for why targeted

discussion question

How might the communications needs of a virtual worker differ from those of a more traditional office worker? Based on these needs, how would you structure various types of communications–memo, voice mail message, and so forth–for a virtual worker? Discuss how a manager’s style might need to change if he or s

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is an important component of the strategy developed by every company.  The need to address social issues and community needs should be a part of the development of a sound approach to the marketplace.  However, this raises questions about the type of responsibility a company has to the community.  This case analysis asks you to ponder the types of responsibility we expect from a company.  Should a company like McDonald’s be responsible for clientele getting fat and unhealthy when eating their product?  What level of responsibility do consumers have to make wise and healthy choices?  What impact does maintaining a global competitive advantage have on the expectations of CSR?

As a company moves into a global marketplace, their approach may vary, leading to different levels of CSR.  This might mean that a company is extremely involved in CSR initiatives in one country and not in another.  This could lead to issues associated with public perception, due to our communication capabilities.  A company’s choices in one country are no longer protected because of distance.

In New York City, the government has taken a step to ban all large drinks.  They are viewing people’s unhealthy choices as a public policy issue, because of the associated costs of health care.  This is a national/public policy issue, because of the tax dollars spent on long-term care.  Where do we draw the lines of CSR?  Answering these questions is an important part of discussing CSR.  Only when we evaluate the ethics of our own expectations can we hold companies to an ideal.  Clarifying our expectations for CSR provides a foundation for a sound argument for CSR policies as a strategic necessity.

View:

• McDonalds. (2007, July 9). Corporate social responsibility-Making progress / Sustainability [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_bgP3ASUM4&feature=youtu.be

Read:

• Schrempf, J. (2014). A social connection approach to corporate responsibility: The case of the fast-food industry and obesity. Business & Society, 53(2), 300-332. doi:10.1177/0007650312449577.
• Jacobs, H. (2004, February 7). McDonald’s counters super size me attack. Asia’s Media & Marketing Newspaper,16.
• Trecroci, D. (2005). Did you see ‘super size me’ and decide that Morgan Spurlock’s move was a bunch of baloney? Diabetes Health, 14(3), 26.
• (2012, June). New York bans large colas in war on fat. Daily Mail, p.13.

Use your text to create a foundation for the ethics theory, relationship to CSR principles, and the global impacts of CSR choices. This must be a concise evaluation of the case, so provide information on your understanding of the application of theory and expectations of fast food restaurants’ CSR initiatives. Focus on the responsibility of fast food companies to address the health of consumers.

Consider these questions while completing your case analysis:

• Should a company like McDonald’s be responsible for clientele getting fat and unhealthy when eating their product?
• What level of responsibility do consumers have to make wise and healthy choices?
• What impact does maintaining a global competitive advantage have on the expectations of CSR?

Prepare a case analysis on the topic.

Develop your case analysis using the five following sections:

Section 1: Introduction and situational analysis: Describe the ethical dilemma, giving appropriate background information. The term “dilemma” implies that there are pros and cons to various options, even if some are clearly more socially acceptable than others. This is also where you do your situational analysis – identifying factors related to the individual(s) involved (consider the readings from this module), company and managerial practices and policies, external factors such as economic pressure, and any other aspects of the situation that you believe helped create the dilemma.

Section 2: Stakeholder analysis: Identify the key stakeholders and how they are potentially affected by the various options inherent in the dilemma.

Section 3: Analysis based on ethical theories: Analyze the ethical dilemma from the perspective of cultural relativism (how it relates to cultural norms – what society would view as acceptable, as well as what is legal), teleology (looking at consequences and acting for the greater good), deontology (duties and principles), and virtue.

Note that the stakeholder analysis is particularly pertinent to the consequentialist approach, and that one of the challenges is estimating positive and negative impacts on relevant stakeholders. Do the best you can, looking at both good and bad consequences for each stakeholder group. Make sure you summarize the overall situation and come to a conclusion about the greater good.

Section 4: Conclusion and recommendations. Up to now, you have been analyzing and comparing options. Here is where you pull together the different threads of your analysis and determine whether or not the company did the right thing. Also, make recommendations about what the company should have done. Make sure your justifications clearly flow from your analysis. Make managerial and policy recommendations that would help avoid similar ethical dilemmas in the future and provide guidance to help those facing a similar dilemma.

Section 5: References. List at least three sources (other than the articles provided, your text, or the case articles) where you located additional information about the company and the associated ethical dilemma(s).

General guidance: Include a title page, and label the five sections. Your paper should be 2-3 pages in length, not including the title and reference pages. All citations should be in APA 6th Edition format. Double space your paper, and use Times New Roman, 12-point font, with one inch margins. For more information, link to APA Tip Sheet, 6th ed. [PDF file size 177 KB]

Compose your work using a word processor (or other software as appropriate) and save it frequently to your computer. When you’re ready to submit your work, click Browse My Computer and find your file. Once you’ve located your file click Open and, if successful, the file name will appear under the Attached files heading. Scroll to the bottom of the page, click Submit and you’re done. Be sure to check your work and correct any spelling or grammatical errors before you post it.

Review the SBT Case Analysis Rubric located in the “Start Here” section of the course for mo

There are three main parts to this case that requires you to prepare and submit a three to five page paper. Please make sure this paper is well organized and covers all of the items below.

Part I

Search the course background information, the Internet and/or the Cyber Library. Discuss the terms listed below. Your discussion should expand on the definition as given in the module background. Explain why these concepts are important to financial statements.

• Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (US GAAP);
• International Accounting Standards (IFRS);
• Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC);
• Annual report; and
• 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K

Part II

Explain the basic formats of financial statements such as income statement, balance sheet, statement of cash flows, and statement for retained earnings.

Part III

1. Everything in Accounting typically falls into one of three categories, as illustrated by the Accounting Equation. State the Accounting Equation: Assets = _______________ + _______________
2. You will note that the Accounting Equation comprises 3 “categories,” each of which can be broken down further into accounts.  For each of the three main categories of the Accounting Equation, list 5 or more accounts with actual amounts that would typically be classified into each. For instance, Land & Equipment would typically be categorized as Assets.
3. To simplify your answers, complete the assignment using a basic table or diagram.

Assignment Expectations

The submission should be 3 to 6 pages and need to include answers to all the questions listed above. Show computations, discuss the results and include references in APA format.

 

Groups advancing specific viewpoints or interests use lobbying and other methods of persuasion to influence political policies and decisions. They often have the financial resources to make contributions.

 

Research special interest groups in U.S. politics using your textbook, the Argosy University online library resources, and the Internet. Based on your research, respond to any one item below:

 

• Many successful interest groups are associated with highly educated, upper-income groups. Which voices of less educated and lower-income groups do you think have the strongest impact on American opinions and on decision makers?
• Compare the political parties’ impact on the government with the impact of interest groups.

Write a 500-750 word essay using exemplification as a method of development. Include a title page and outline with your essay.

Writing Approach

Determine exactly what point you are going to make and write it down in precise terms. Think about why you want to make this point. Develop a thesis statement (pages 47-49 in The St. Martin’s Handbook). Then choose examples and details that count for something, those that move the reader toward some goal.

Choose the best examples that honestly reflect the group or class they represent. Do not pick examples that do not support your thesis. Also, make sure that your examples display all the chief features of whatever you are illustrating.

Do not give your examples and their details in a haphazard manner; give some real thought to arranging them in the best possible order. You may use order of familiarity, climax, importance, or some other order.

If an essay develops a single example, try to have at least three important things to say about it–three areas of discussion.

Writing Assignment

Purpose: to inform

Method of Development: exemplification

For topics, see the list at the end of Chapter 5, Exemplification, in The Longman Reader