Author: chris

Which of the following conclusions would be true if you earn a higher rate of return on

your investments?

a. The greater the present value would be for any lump sum you would receive in the

future.

b. The lower the present value would be for any lump sum you would receive in the

future.

c. Your rate of return would not have any effect on the present value of any sum to be

received in the future.

d. The greater the present value would be for any annuity you would receive in the

future.

2) At what rate must $500 be compounded annually for it to grow to $1,079.46 in 10

years?

a. 6 percent

b. 7 percent

c. 8 percent

d. 5 percent

3) What is the present value of $12,500 to be received 10 years from today? Assume a

discount rate of 8% compounded annually and round to the nearest $10.

a. $17,010

b. $9,210

c. $11,574

d. $5,790

4) The appropriate measure for risk according to the capital asset pricing model is:

a. the standard deviation of a firm’s cash flows

b. alpha

c. the standard deviation of a firm’s stock returns

d. beta

5) How much money must you pay into an account at the end of each of 20 years in

order to have $100,000 at the end of the 20th year? Assume that the account pays

6% per year, and round to the nearest $1.

a. $2,195

b. $1,840

c. $2,028

d. $2,718

Unit 2 Examination

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Introduction to Financial Management

6) You have the choice of two equally risk annuities, each paying $5,000 per year for

8 years. One is an annuity due and the other is an ordinary annuity. If you are going

to be receiving the annuity payments, which annuity would you choose to maximize

your wealth?

a. The annuity due

b. Either one because they have the same present value.

c. The ordinary annuity

d. Since we don’t know the interest rate, we can’t find the value of the annuities and

hence we cannot tell which one is better.

7) If you put $1,000 in a savings account that yields 8% compounded semi-annually,

how much money will you have in the account in 20 years (round to nearest $10)?

a. $4,660

b. $4,801

c. $2,190

d. $1,480

8) You want $20,000 in 5 years to take your spouse on a second honeymoon. Your

investment account earns 7% compounded semiannually. How much money must you

put in the investment account today? (round to the nearest $1)

a. $14,178

b. $15,985

c. $13,349

d. $12,367

9) You invest $1,000 at a variable rate of interest. Initially the rate is 4% compounded

annually for the first year, and the rate increases one-half of one percent annually for

five years (year two’s rate is 4.5%, year three’s rate is 5.0%, etc.). How much will you

have in the account after five years?

a. $1,462

b. $1,359

c. $1,276

d. $1,338

10) Assume that you have $165,000 invested in a stock that is returning 11.50%,

$85,000 invested in a stock that is returning 22.75%, and $235,000 invested in a

stock that is returning 10.25%. What is the expected return of your portfolio?

a. 14.8%

b. 12.9%

c. 18.3%

d. 15.6%

Unit 2 Examination

99

Introduction to Financial Management

11) Which of the following statements is most correct concerning diversification and risk?

a. Risk-averse investors often select portfolios that include only companies from the

same industry group because the familiarity reduces the risk.

b. Risk-averse investors often choose companies from different industries for their portfolios because the correlation of returns is less than if all the companies came from

the same industry.

c. Only wealthy investors can diversify their portfolios because a portfolio must contain

at least 50 stocks to gain the benefits of diversification.

d. Proper diversification generally results in the elimination of risk.

12) The yield to maturity on a bond ________.

a. is fixed in the indenture

b. is lower for higher risk bonds

c. is the required rate of return on the bond

d. is generally below the coupon interest rate

13) You are considering buying some stock in Continental Grain. Which of the following

are examples of non-diversifiable risks?

I.  Risk resulting from a general decline in the stock market.

II.  Risk resulting from a possible increase in income taxes.

III.  Risk resulting from an explosion in a grain elevator owned by Continental.

IV.  Risk resulting from a pending lawsuit against Continental.

a. III and IV

b. II, III, and IV

c. I and II

d. I only

14) Of the following, which differs in meaning from the other three?

a. Systematic Risk

b. Market Risk

c. Asset-unique Risk

d. Undiversifiable Risk

Unit 2 Examination

100

Introduction to Financial Management

15) You must add one of two investments to an already well- diversified portfolio.

Security A  Security B

Expected Return = 12%  Expected Return = 12%

Standard Deviation of  Standard Deviation of

Returns = 20.9%  Returns = 10.1%

Beta = .8  Beta = 2

If you are a risk-averse investor, which one is the better choice?

a. Security A

b. Security B

c. Either security would be acceptable.

d. Cannot be determined with information given.

16) Which of the following is true of a zero coupon bond?

a. The bond has a zero par value.

b. The bond sells at a premium prior to maturity.

c. The bond makes no coupon payments.

d. The bond has no value until the year it matures because there are no positive cash

flows until then.

17) In an efficient securities market the market value of a security is equal to

a. par value.

b. its intrinsic value.

c. its book value.

d. its liquidation value.

18) In 1998 Fischer Corp. issued bonds with an 8 percent coupon rate and a $1,000

face value. The bonds mature on March 1, 2023. If an investor purchased one of

these bonds on March 1, 2008, determine the yield to maturity if the investor paid

$1,050 for the bond.

a. 8.5%

b. The yield to maturity must be greater than 8% because the price paid for the bond

exceeds the face value.

c. The yield to maturity is $950 ($1,000 interest less $50 capital loss).

d. 7.44%

Unit 2 Examination

101

Introduction to Financial Management

19) A bond’s yield to maturity depends upon all of the following except:

a. the maturity of the bond

b. the coupon rate

c. the individual investor’s required return

d. the bond’s risk as reflected by the bond rating

20) A bond will sell at a discount (below par value) if:

a. The economy is booming.

b. Current market interest rates are moving in the same direction as bond values.

c. The market value of the bond is less than the present value of the discount rate of the

bond.

d. Investor’s current required rate of return is above the coupon rate of the bond.

21) How is preferred stock similar to bonds?

a. Investors can sue the firm if preferred dividend payments are not paid (much like

bondholders can sue for non-payment of interest payments).

b. Dividend payments to preferred shareholders (much like bond interest payments to

bondholders) are tax deductible.

c. Preferred stockholders receive a dividend payment (much like interest payments to

bondholders) that is usually fixed.

d. Preferred stock is not like bonds in any way.

22) Many preferred stocks have a feature that requires a firm to periodically set aside

an amount of money for the retirement of its preferred stock. What is the name of this

feature?

a. Callable

b. Cumulative

c. Sinking fund

d. Convertible

23) How is preferred stock affected by a decrease in the required rate of return?

a. The value of a share of preferred stock increases.

b. The dividend increases.

c. The dividend yield increases.

d. The dividend decreases.

Unit 2 Examination

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Introduction to Financial Management

24) Modem Development, Inc. paid a dividend of $5.00 per share on its common stock

yesterday. Dividends are expected to grow at a constant rate of 10% for the next two

years, at which point the dividends will begin to grow at a constant rate indefinitely.

If the stock is selling for $50 today and the required return is 15%, what it the expected annual dividend growth rate after year two?

a. 5.000%

b. 3.365%

c. 4.556%

d. 3.878%

25) Market efficiency implies which of the following?

a. book value = intrinsic value

b. market value = intrinsic value

c. book value = market value

d. liquidation value = book value

Competitive Strategy Over the Web Assignment In this case study, you will research an organization and determine how their business strategy differentiates them from other organizations in the same industry using Porter’s four competitive strategies model (p. 85). Write a one- to two-page (250-500-word) paper to include the following:  A brief explanation of Porter’s four competitive strategies. o A brief explanation of how competitive strategy determines value chain structure.  Identify and discuss the competitive strategy that the organization you researched utilizes in order to differentiate them from other organizations in the same industry. APA rules for formatting, quoting, paraphrasing, citing, and listing of sources are to be followed. Information about accessing the Blackboard Grading Rubric for this assignment is provided below.

Assignment Objectives

Predict some budgeting issues, including format and budget monitoring

Assignment Details

Deliverable Length:  4-5 pages

Today, many companies face budgetary challenges on a continual basis. Two critical aspects that businesses lack are effective control practices and monitoring. You have been asked by your manager of the Money Cares Investment Corporation, to outline problematic or risk areas in the company’s financial procedures. Upon reviewing the budget, you notice that there is overspending in marketing supplies, transportation, and workshop items that include hospitality items such as food and drink for the customers. Each investment specialist is given a company credit card for the above expenses but there are no policies established for monitoring. Money Cares is a small business of 8 employees: CEO, Financier, a manager, 3 investment specialists, and 2 clerical assistants.

For this assignment you must identify possible risks for the Money Cares Investment Corporation.   In establishing an investment company, you must answer the following

• What could go wrong?

o   Identify at least 3 possible risks.

• What must happen in order for the company to succeed?
• What are the company’s most vulnerable areas?
• Identify the company’s assets
• Where is the most money spent?

• How should the budget activities be regulated?

Your ethical code of conduct plan which will be incorporated into your company’s international business expansion plan should include the different concepts and ideas that have been discussed over the past several weeks in this course. You are to submit a detailed plan covering your operations both nationally and internationally in addition to the conduct of its employees, vendors, board of directors, and its business operations overall. The following points need to be addressed in your ethical code of conduct plan:

• The legal regulations of conducting business overseas
• The ethical code of conduct for employees and vendors
• Guidelines for adherence to EEOC, ADA, and Civil Rights laws
• Distinguishing between right and wrong in business dealings and when an action is legal
• Identifying the issues surrounding the motivation behind unethical or illegal business operations when the consequences are properly documented
• The ethical responsibilities of companies in the marketplace if they are a monopoly or oligopoly.

Anything else that you deem important to support your ethical code of conduct plan. The code of conduct plan should be structured so as to be easily navigable for employees; including headings for each section, a clear description of expected and required behavior, training requirements, method of reporting of unethical or illegal behavior, and consequences of unethical or illegal behavior.

• Your ethical code of conduct plan should demonstrate your understanding of the concepts and ideas covered throughout the course.
• Ensure that the assignment adheres to APA formatting and that it meets the required deliverable length. Don’t forget to cite your resources.

Write an analysis of each article or news story addressing the following:

• Describe the crime depicted in the article.
• How is criminal justice system portrayed?
• What feelings or reactions are evoked in you by the article?
• How would you explain the reported criminal behavior using at least two theories from the psychological perspectives to each article or news story?

Give a complete citation for the selected article and include a digital copy, if possible.

Write a 2–3-page log entry in Word format. Apply APA standards to citation of sources.

Assignment 2: Marketing Plan
Helpful Tips for Completing Assignment 2
Before you get started on this assignment, watch the video below for some helpful tips on completing Assignment 2.
https://www.kaltura.com/index.php/extwidget/preview/partner_id/956951/uiconf_id/29018381/embed/iframe?&flashvars[streamerType]=auto&flashvars[playlistAPI.kpl0Id]=1_h65m21ag
This assignment consists of two (2) sections: a marketing plan and sales strategy, and a marketing budget. Note: You must submit both sections as separate files for the completion of this assignment.
For the first six (6) months your company is in business—to give you time to perfect your product and to learn from actual customers—you will start marketing and selling in your own community, a radius of twenty-five (25) miles from where you live.
For most non-alcoholic beverages, marketing (as opposed to the actual product itself) is key to success. Cola drinks, for example, are fairly undifferentiated, as are many energy drinks, juices, bottled water, and the like. Companies producing these types of beverages differentiate themselves and attract market share through marketing and brand awareness—both of which are critical to success.
Section 1: Marketing Plan & Sales Strategy (MS Word or equivalent)
Write the three to five (3-5) page Marketing Plan & Sales Strategy section of your business plan, in which you:
Define your company’s target market.
Analyze the types of consumers who will be drinking your beverage in demographic terms (i.e., age, education level, income, gender, ethnic group, etc.). Support your analysis with actual data on the size of the demographic groups in your local community (nearby zip codes).
Outline the demographic information for your company specified on the worksheet in the course text (p. 107 | Demographic Description). Click here for help accessing a specific page number in your eBook.
Hints: At American FactFinder (http://census.gov), you will find demographic information on potential consumers in your area. If you are selling through other businesses (such as grocery stores), indicate the number of those businesses in your local area. You will find information about such businesses in your local area at County Business Patterns (http://www.census.gov/econ/cbp/). Check Chapter 2 of Successful Business Plan for more research sources.
Assess your company’s market competition.
Use the factors listed in the course text graphic (p. 123 | Assess the Competition) to assess your company’s market competition.
Defend your strategy to successfully compete against market leaders in your segment.
Hints: For example, in the soft drink market, it is intimidating to try to compete against Coke and Pepsi. Newcomers in mature markets typically must pursue niche markets or even create new market categories, as Red Bull did with energy drinks.
Defend your plan to differentiate yourself from the competition using the information detailed on the worksheet in the text (p. 131 | Market Share Distribution).
Hints: Every business faces competition and the non-alcoholic beverage market is an especially crowded market.
Clarify your company’s message using the information provided on the worksheet in the text (p. 160 | The Five F’s).

Hints: Before you choose your marketing vehicles, you must determine the message you want to convey through those vehicles.
Identify the marketing vehicles you plan to use to build your company’s brand. Justify the key reasons why they will be effective. Provide examples of other non-alcoholic beverage companies that use these tactics effectively.

Hints: If you plan to use online marketing tactics, refer to the worksheet in the text (p.171 | Online Marketing Tactics) to aid your response. Remember that even if you’re selling through grocery stores you need to build your brand and social media is a major part of that in regard to beverages. Some of the marketing tactics that beverage companies use include: sampling in grocery stores, building a following on social media, sponsoring events, exhibiting at trade shows attended by retailers, and so on. You will use a combination of these tactics. For example, if you decide to give out samples in grocery stores, promote your sampling on your social media networks and those of the grocery store.

Hints: If you are planning to distribute through resellers, describe how you plan to reach them, for example, through industry trade shows or by establishing your own sales force. For information on trade shows, visit the Trade Show News Network (http://www.tsnn.com). You can exhibit or network at these shows.
Format your assignment according to these formatting requirements:
Cite the resources you have used to complete the exercise. Note: There is no minimum requirement for the number of resources used in the exercise.
Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.
Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required page length.
Section 2: Marketing Budget (MS Excel worksheets template)

rite an essay that present your views on the importance of interactivity within the online course environment. Include the following in your essay:

• Include the pros and cons of interactivity, as well as the types of interactivity that you deem to be the most efficacious for e-learning.
• Discuss several strategies that you will utilize to help maximize interaction among students within an online course.
• Provide a specific description, with examples, where possible.

Length: 5-7 pages

Assignment 2: LASA: Industrial Organization (I/O) Consultant Report

Scenario:

Erica Freeman, president and CEO of LoneStar Landscaping, has recently partnered with Andrew Porter to expand her established, reputable business to include his business specialties: hardscapes, pools, and spas. Erica and Andrew realize that they need to examine combined organizational structure, hire additional staff, and perhaps reassign several existing employees.

Tasks:

Erica and Andrew hire you as an Industrial Organization (I/O) consultant. Design a narrated Microsoft PowerPoint presentation to help them accomplish their goals.

In your presentation, respond to the following:

• Section 1: Explain the role of a job analysis for successfully accomplishing their stated goals.
  • Explain why a job analysis is a necessary prerequisite to engage in the employee classification, selection, and placement projects.
  • Evaluate the existing job description that Erica and Andrew have provided you for the office manager position.
  • Deliver your professional opinion regarding whether the existing job description is sufficient or whether it needs revisions.
  • Justify your recommendations by citing relevant resources.
• Section 2: Create and critique a selection rating scale for the position of receptionist.
  • Select and describe fifteen to twenty factors such as education, experience, abilities, and attitude, for assessment based on the job description provided.
  • Describe the measures used to assess candidate skills: resume, interview, other assessment instruments, or behavioral observation or a combination of assessment measures.
  • Design instructions for the use of the rating scale.
  • Discuss how you would test for reliability and validity of your selection plan.
  • Justify your recommendations by citing relevant resources.
• Section 3: Analyze the need for a classification policy at LoneStar Landscaping. Next, develop an appropriate classification policy for LoneStar.
  • Identify the variety of employment classifications that may exist at the company, including exempt versus nonexempt, seasonal, temporary, and regular.
  • Explain how the policy addresses federal and state laws; clearly define each classification.
• Section 4: Create a diversity policy for LoneStar Landscaping.
  • Identify and integrate strategies in the selection process to ensure the diversity in the hiring practices of LoneStar Landscaping.
  • Explain what considerations Erica and Andrew must make in order to address the needs of a multicultural candidate pool.
• Section 5: Recommend a candidate for the position of office manager. (Note, the office manager is a different position from that of the receptionist position mentioned in section 1).
  • Erica and Andrew interviewed three candidates for an open administrative position. Please review their resumes and profiles and view and/or read a transcript of their interviews.

    Click here to view the details. Please note that there are multiple screens of additional detail. You will need to click the next arrow located in the bottom right-hand corner of each screen to advance to the next screen of additional detail.

  • Based on your learning in this course and the information provided in the interview materials, recommend and justify the best candidate for the job. Give reasons for choosing one candidate and not choosing the others.

Executive Summary

Create an executive/summary brief for your clients, Erica and Andrew. In the summary, provide an overview of the work you performed in Sections 1–4. Conclude your summary with recommended future workforce initiatives they might want to consider.

Your final product will be an audiovisual Microsoft PowerPoint presentation consisting of 15–20 slides, utilizing at least seven scholarly sources, and incorporating narration throughout. Your presentation should be delivered in a clear, concise, and organized manner; demonstrate ethical scholarship in accurate representation and attribution of sources; and display accurate spelling, grammar, and punctuation.

Below is a link to a resource you may find helpful in creating your narrated Microsoft PowerPoint presentation.

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/powerpoint-help/record-and-add-narration-and-timings-to-a-slide-show-HA010338313.aspx?CTT=1

This assignment seeks to help you understand the answer to a broader concern and that is, why should we study organizations?
Please answer the following questions:
What is the purpose of an organization?
Why do organizations exist?
How do managers measure and assess the effectiveness of an organization?
How can an organization’s effectiveness be enhanced through the use of the principals of organization theory?
How are the meanings of the terms ‘organizational theory’ and ‘organizational design’ related to each other?
What is the difference between an organization’s structure and its culture?

Assignment 2：
This assignment seeks to help you understand the answer to a broader concern and that is, who runs organizations?
Please answer the following questions:
What are the key stakeholders of an organization and the claims of each?
What are some of the problems facing organizations in their quest to satisfy stakeholder claims?
Where do authority and responsibility reside within an organization,
and why do they reside at those levels?
What is the agency problem?
What are the mechanisms that can be used to align managerial behavior with organizational goals?
What role do ethics play in an organization?

Assignment 3
Please answer the following questions:
What general and macro-environmental forces enhance an organization’s chances of success and failure?
Why does uncertainty exist in an organization’s environment?
By what means can an organization respond to such uncertainty?
How might the main ideas of resource dependence theory be summarized in six sentences

Assignment 4
This assignment seeks to help you understand the answer to a broader concern and that is, ‘What are some of the basics of organizational design?’
Please answer the following questions:
What insight can you offer about the four main challenges facing designers of organizations?
If the objective is to create an effectively designed organization need these four challenges be addressed at the same time?
How are these four challenges related to each other?
If a manager wished to design a mechanistic organization, what design choice would he or she face? Would these choices differ if an organic structure was the desired form?
How might the ideas of contingency theory be described?
Hint:
When thinking about how to respond to these questions, frame them from the point of view of one type of organization such as a church, or professional service organization or a professional sports team, etc. It will simplify your responses.
Please limit your response to this assignment to a maximum of four single spaced, typed pages. Where necessary please identify relevant theories and examples noted in the text. In some instances, your responses should take the form of a summary, in your own words, of the main ideas of particular sections of the chapter. Please cite your sources in the text and please reference them at the end of your assignment. Please end your write–up with one paragraph that suggests what you think is the importance of this assignment.
Assignment 5
This assignment seeks to help you understand the answer to a broader concern and that is, what are some of the current forms available to designers of organizations?
Please answer the following questions.
Why is a functional structure the most common form of structure and what are some of the concerns associated with this form?
Why do organizations make use of divisional structures and describe each type of divisional structure in three sentences.
Please describe a network, a matrix and a product team structure and suggest some shortcomings for each.
What are some of the challenges facing designers seeking to build effective organizational hierarchies?
What is a bureaucracy and what are the advantages associated with its usage when designing an organizational hierarchy?
Why are empowered organizational teams and flattened hierarchies becoming more prevalent in organizations?
Hint:
In this chapter, examples are offered that focus on the experiences of Union Pacific, General Mills, General Gypsum Company and EMI. Where applicable use ideas from these examples to build your responses to these questions.
Please limit your response to this assignment to a maximum of four single spaced, typed pages. Where necessary please identify relevant theories and examples noted in the text. In some instances, your responses should take the form of a summary, in your own words, of the main ideas of particular sections of the chapter. Please cite your sources in the text and please reference them at the end of your assignment. Please end your write–up with one paragraph that suggests what you think is the importance of this assignment.

Assignment 6
This assignment seeks to help you understand the answer to a broader concern and that is, ‘How can an understanding of culture benefit managers of organizations?’
Please answer the following questions:

How are an organization’s values different from its norms?
How might one describe the four foundations that explain cultural differences between organizations?
How might an individual formally and informally learn an organization’s culture?
How can a manager influence the culture of an organization?
What is the relationship between an organization’s culture and the organizations outlook in terms of corporate social responsibility?
Hint:
When responding to these questions, pick one organization and use it as your frame of reference.
Please limit your response to this assignment to a maximum of four single spaced, typed pages. Where necessary please identify relevant theories and examples noted in the text. In some instances, your responses should take the form of a summary, in your own words, of the main ideas of particular sections of the chapter. Please cite your sources in the text and please reference them at the end of your assignment. Please end your write–up with one paragraph that suggests what you think is the importance of this assignment.

Assignment 7
This assignment seeks to help you understand the answer to a broader concern and that is, how do technology and global pressure affect organizational design?
Please answer the following questions:
Please distinguish between functional, business and corporate level strategies and summarize each in two or three sentences.
Which organizational design problems are associated with each of the following global expansion strategy – multi domestic, international, global, and transnational?
How might the relationship between technology and organizational effectiveness be summarized?
How might the connection of specific technologies and organizational structures with organizational effectiveness be summarized?
How is corporate culture affected by technology?
Hint:
When responding to the questions above that refer to technology, use the RIM Blackberry as the technology of interest.
Please limit your response to this assignment to a maximum of four single spaced, typed pages. Where necessary please identify relevant theories and examples noted in the text. In some instances, your responses should take the form of a summary, in your own words, of the main ideas of particular sections of the chapter. Please cite your sources in the text and please reference them at the end of your assignment. Please end your write–up with one paragraph that suggests what you think is the importance of this assignment.
Assignment 8
This assignment seeks to help you understand the answer to a broader concern and that is, why is change so difficult to accomplish in organizations?
Please answer the following questions:
What are the connections that link the concepts of organizational effectiveness, redesign and organizational change?
How might the different forms of revolutionary and evolutionary change be defined?
What are some of the challenges and obstacles faced by executives seeking to effectively manage change?
What is organizational development (O.D.)?
What are some of the O.D. techniques that can be used to pursue desired future organizational outcomes?
Hint:
When responding to the questions of this assignment, do keep in mind that the concepts of change noted in the chapter can apply to an organization that may take the form of a government or a local baseball league. Pick an example of an organization that you understand fairly well when thinking about your responses.
Please limit your response to this assignment to a maximum of four single spaced, typed pages. Where necessary please identify relevant theories and examples noted in the text. In some instances, your responses should take the form of a summary, in your own words, of the main ideas of particular sections of the chapter. Please cite your sources in the text and please reference them at the end of your assignment. Please end your write–up with one paragraph that suggests what you think is the importance of this assignment.
Assignment 9
This assignment seeks to help you understand the answer to a broader concern and that is,
what is the role of growth and decline in an organization’s life?
Please answer the following questions:
What are some of the challenges that organizations must overcome if they are to grow beyond the organizational birth stage?
In general what are some of the changes that should occur in an organization if is to prosper through growth?
Why is decline a part of an organization’s life cycle and what are the stages associated with decline?
What are some of the actions that managers can take to avoid organizational decline?
Hint:
Nortel is an example of an organization that has experienced dramatic growth and then dramatic decline. Use the World Wide Web to research the history of Nortel. It offers an example that may be useful when responding to these questions.
Please limit your response to this assignment to a maximum of four single spaced, typed pages. Where necessary please identify relevant theories and examples noted in the text. In some instances, your responses should take the form of a summary, in your own words, of the main ideas of particular sections of the chapter. Please cite your sources in the text and please reference them at the end of your assignment. Please end your write–up with one paragraph that suggests what you think is the importance of this assignment.

Assignment 10
This assignment seeks to help you understand the answer to a broader concern and that is, what is the role of decision making in organizations?
Please answer the following questions:
Please identify and describe some of the perspectives that explain how managers make decisions.
What is organizational learning and at what levels does it occur?
How can managers use information technology and knowledge management processes to improve how organizations learn?
Poor decision making and reduced organizational learning can result from factors such cognitive biases. What are these factors?
What techniques can be used to enhance organizational learning and overcome organizational biases?
Hint:
When responding to the questions in this chapter, look to the ideas found in the examples from Microsoft, General Electric, and Telus to frame your answers.
Please limit your response to this assignment to a maximum of four single spaced, typed pages. Where necessary please identify relevant theories and examples noted in the text. In some instances, your responses should take the form of a summary, in your own words, of the main ideas of particular sections of the chapter. Please cite your sources in the text and please reference them at the end of your assignment. Please end your write–up with one paragraph that suggests what you think is the importance of this assignment.

Assignment 11
This assignment seeks to help you understand the answer to a broader concern and that is, how can innovative or creative organizations be constructed?
Please answer the following questions:
How do changes in technology affect innovation?
In an organizational setting, what is the connection between creativity, intrapreneurship and innovation?
What are some of the steps that can be taken by managers to help develop an organization rich in creativity and innovation?
If a manager wished to speed innovation, foster creativity, and enhance product development in an organization, how might he or she make use of information technology?
Hint:
Once again, when responding to these questions you might want to consider using RIM’s Blackberry as a technology or innovation upon which to frame your answers.
Please limit your response to this assignment to a maximum of four single spaced, typed pages. Where necessary please identify relevant theories and examples noted in the text. In some instances, your responses should take the form of a summary, in your own words, of the main ideas of particular sections of the chapter. Please cite your sources in the text and please reference them at the end of your assignment. Please end your write–up with one paragraph that suggests what you think is the importance of this assignment.
Assignment 12
To undertake this assignment you will need to read Chapter 14.
This assignment seeks to help you understand the answer to a broader concern and that is, why are power and politics important in organizational life?
Please answer the following questions:
Why does conflict exist in organizations, what forms does it take and from where does it originate?
What is the role of politics in organizations and how does it play out in terms of decision making?
How can power be used to overcome organizational inertia and improve performance?
Hint:
An interest case example that might be used as the basis for responding to these questions is George Bush and the neo-conservatives who ran the White House and pushed the U.S. in the Iraq war.
Please limit your response to this assignment to a maximum of four single spaced, typed pages. Where necessary please identify relevant theories and examples noted in the text. In some instances, your responses should take the form of a summary, in your own words, of the main ideas of particular sections of the chapter. Please cite your sources in the text and please reference them at the end of your assignment. Please end your write–up with one paragraph that suggests what you think is the importance of this assignment.