Author: chris

Choose one (1) of the topics below and develop a three to four (3-4) paragraph essay (of at least 250-500 words) which adequately address the topic you have chosen.

 

Topic Choices

 

• There have been many theories regarding how the pyramids at Giza were constructed. Most experts agree that they were constructed as burial monuments for pharaohs, but “how” these ancient people constructed monuments of such great size without modern machinery is a mystery which is still being debated.
• No one can say for certain what happened to the great urban Mayan civilization, but theories abound and include varied possible alternatives to explain the relatively abrupt and mysterious disappearance of the Mayan civilization.
• Tutankhamen died young, at approximately eighteen (18) years of age. However, his cause of death has been the subject of quite varied scholarly theories and conclusions. Did he die of an injury, of illness, of murder, or something else?.
• Minoan Crete was a major civilization in its time, but several theories have been advanced to explain its demise, including speculations associating it with mythical Atlantis. What were the causes of Minoan Civilization’s decline?
• Great Zimbabwe is an enormous complex of structures in East Africa. Since the builders and occupants left no written records, several theories have developed as to the identity of its builders and the functions of the structures. Which theory makes the most sense?
• The monumental size and complexity of the Tomb of Shihuangdi is astounding, yet its location and construction details were to be kept secret. What was the emperor’s purpose for such an elaborate, secret burial place?
• Other topic choice recommended and approved by the professor and supported by the grading rubric.

 

Write a three to four (3-4) paragraph paper in which you:

 

1. Clearly state the “mystery” and provide a brief summary of at least two (2) reasonable and scholarly theories which could explain the mystery. Because some theories may sound far-fetched, include the source or promoter of each theory – such as a scientist, a historian, a theologian, etc.
2. After summarizing at least two (2) scholarly theories, identify one (1) of the theories as the most plausible and provide at least two (2) convincing reasons why the theory you have chosen is the best one to explain the mystery. This will involve some critical reasoning skills on your part.
3. Use at least two (2) sources plus the class textbook. (Three [3] sources total as the minimum) Note: Wikipedia and other similar Websites do not qualify as academic resources. You are highly encouraged to use the Resource Center tab at the top of your Blackboard page.

 

Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:

 

• Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA style format. Both in-text citations and a References list are required. Citations and references must follow APA style format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions. (Note: Students can find APA style materials located in the course shell for guidance).
• 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 assignment page length. For our purposes, you may omit any abstract page.

Assignment Objectives

Explain what a company’s MIS department does and how companies use information systems to help manage internal operations and to make decisions

Interpret a business problem which might be solved using information technology, and then work with MIS to develop and implement a solution

Evaluate security breaches and computer crimes

Library Assignment

Use the library, course materials, or other credible sources to research risk control strategies. Write a 4–5 page paper that will explain to your clients the importance of implementing and managing security with their information system. Make sure your paper covers the following:

1. Explain the process of risk identification, risk assessment, and the development of risk control strategies in designing security for an information management system.
2. What are some of the risk control strategies a company can employ to minimize risk?
3. Describe how an organization uses each of these tools in developing a risk control policy that will reduce an organization’s vulnerabilities.
4. Describe the type of control, how it used, how it is implemented, and what type of risk it will minimize.

Select one (1) of the following publically traded health care organizations: Universal Health Services (NYSE: UHS) or Health Management Associates (NYSE: HMA).

Suppose you are a newly appointed CFO of your chosen health care organization. One of your first tasks is to conduct an internal financial analysis of the organization. Conduct a brief financial analysis and review of the chosen company’s financial statements for at least three (3) consecutive years. After conducting the analysis, interpret the data contained within the statements.

Write a three to four (3-4) page paper in which you:

1. Based on your review of the financial statements, suggest a key insight about the financial health of the company. Speculate on the likely reaction to the financial statements from various stakeholder groups (employee, investors, shareholders). Provide support for your rationale.
2. Identify the current industry trend that has the most significant impact on your chosen organization’s financial performance. Indicate the trend’s impact on the financial performance of the organization. As the CFO, suggest at least one (1) way that you might minimize the impact of the trend on the organization.
3. As the CFO, suggest one (1) key strategy that you might use in order to improve the financial performance of the organization. Recommend an approach to implement the suggested strategy. Provide support for your recommendation.
4. Use at least four (4) quality academic resources. Note: Wikipedia and other Websites do not qualify as academic resources.

Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:

• Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and 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 assignment page length.

The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

• Evaluate the financial statements and the financial position of health care institutions.
• Analyze the role of important financial reporting statements – income statement, balance sheet, and statement of cash flows – and explain how they relate to one another and to the underlying sources of data.
• Use technology and information resources to research issues in health financial management.
• Write clearly and concisely about health financial management using proper writing mechanics.

This assignment is designed to help you synthesize the course material and apply the material in creating an assessment, and generating a diagnosis, as well as treatment recommendations.

Read the case study provided and write a clinical report which includes:

1. A summary of the major issues facing the client needing to be addressed.
2. A working diagnosis for the client (with diagnostic summary and rationale) utilizing the following information from the CAGE screening tool and case history information.
3. A Mental Status Exam which applies the information from the case history.
4. Detailed treatment recommendations determining which modality (family, individual, group, or couples) is most appropriate for this client.  Be sure to provide the rational for your choice by integrating information from the case summary.
5. Recommendations on whether individual is a good candidate for treatment placement (inpatient, residential, or outpatient) and an analysis of the pros and cons for your selection based on a summary of the issues.

Your paper should be at least 4 pages long. Remember to include a cover page and reference page, and to support your arguments with information drawn from the online content, the textbook, and other credible, scholarly sources to substantiate the points you are making.  Apply APA standards for writing and citations to your work.

Larry Landlord has recently renovated an apartment and has put it on the market to be rented for $800.00 a month. Larry Landlord has been in business for approximately five (5) years and has had both positive and negative experiences with tenants. Larry Landlord is hoping to find a good, long-term tenant for his apartment. Roger Renter saw Larry’s sign for the apartment for rent and thought the location and the apartment would be perfect. Roger met Larry to look at the apartment and Roger fell in love with it. All of the interior fixtures had been replaced and the unit had a nice large closet. Roger noticed that although newly painted, the exterior of the apartment did show a little bit of wear. Because of the condition of the exterior of the building, Roger asked Larry about any roof leaks. Larry stated that he had never had a leak and was not aware of any leaks.

Roger and Larry entered into a valid contract for the rental of the apartment. (Note: The issue of whether or not a contract exists is NOT part of this question. For purposes of this question assume the contract is valid and there are no issues with the contract.) Â

Roger Renter was very happy in his new location; the apartment was quiet and the neighbors were friendly. Larry Landlord was also very happy because Roger Renter was a model tenant. Roger Renter paid on time and was quiet and respectful to other tenants.

The part of the country where Roger rented was rainy in the summertime. Roger rented and moved into the apartment in October. In June, a tremendous rainstorm occurred and Roger’s roof began to leak. The leak was minor at first and Roger merely put a trash can under the leak and had no other issues that month. When handing over his monthly rent check, Roger told Larry about the small leak. Larry thanked Roger for letting him know about the leak and told Roger he would have it fixed.Â

The next month the rains came again and the leak grew larger in Roger’s apartment. Roger was not home at the time of the rain and therefore the leak damaged some of Roger’s furniture. Roger called Larry to let him know that there was a leak and asked when it might be fixed. Roger also stated that he thought Larry had fixed the roof. Larry curtly stated, “When it rains, sometimes it pours. When it pours, sometimes it leaks.†Roger did not like Larry’s tone or response and called back to ask when the roof might be fixed. Larry stated, “When I get to it.†The following day, Roger sent Larry a note about the roof leak and asked Larry to please address the issue.

The week before the rent was due, another rainstorm occurred and the leak was even larger. This time the leak damaged Roger’s clothing, furniture, and some precious items he had inherited from family members. Roger called Larry and asked Larry to fix roof immediately. Larry responded in a similar and condescending manner. Roger hung up the phone and threw his baseball bat against the wall, damaging the drywall and knocking out an electrical socket. Â

Since it was the rainy season, Roger knew it would rain again and therefore simply moved his items away from the leak and did nothing to help mitigate the damage from the leaking roof.

Larry came into the apartment to investigate the leak and found damage from not only the leak but also from the thrown baseball bat. Roger states that the baseball bat damage was a direct result of Larry’s inability to fix the leak based on his anger from Larry’s curt response.Â

Suppose you are a mediator. In five to seven (5-7) pages discuss the rights and responsibilities of the landlord and the tenant in which you:

Explore the legal rights and responsibilities of the tenant and the landlord.Â
Decide whether or not the landlord and / or the tenant had a legal duty to mitigate damages.Â
Determine whether or not Larry has legal grounds to evict Roger. Explain why or why not. Â
Describe whether or not Roger has a legal obligation to pay for the damage he caused and determine whether or not Larry would be liable for any direct damage.Â
Support each response with facts presented in the scenario.
Use proper legal terminology throughout your responses.Â
Use at least three (3) quality academic resources in this assignment. Note: Wikipedia and other Websites do not qualify as quality academic resources.
Format your assignment according to the following formatting requirements:
Typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides.
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 is not included in the required page length.
Include a reference page. Citations and references must follow APA format. The reference page is not included in the required page length.

1. How do you think Erikson’s Eight Stages of Development could affect how someone constructs reality? For example, in Stage 4: Preadolescence, if a child fears that he/she does not measure up, it could affect how he/she views his/her world. (Look at the social construction of reality as a reference.)

   Your response should be at least 200 words in length. You are required to use at least your textbook as source material for your response. All sources used, including the textbook, must be referenced; paraphrased and quoted material must have accompanying citations.

 

 

 

 

 

2. Identify each stage of Erikson’s Eight Stages of Development. Determine which stage you currently fall into and why. If you do not think you fall into any, then theorize. Briefly explain yourself.

   Your response should be at least 200 words in length. You are required to use at least your textbook as source material for your response. All sources used, including the textbook, must be referenced; paraphrased and quoted material must have accompanying citations.

 

 

 

 

 

3. Examine the challenges related to the evolution of formal organizations. How does the changing nature of work benefit (or hinder) the employee?

   Your response should be at least 200 words in length. You are required to use at least your textbook as source material for your response. All sources used, including the textbook, must be referenced; paraphrased and quoted material must have accompanying citations.

 

 

 

 

 

4. Describe four benefits of the “McDonaldization” of society. Provide three examples (that are not in the textbook) of how this has benefited our society as a whole.

   Your response should be at least 200 words in length. You are required to use at least your textbook as source material for your response. All sources used, including the textbook, must be referenced; paraphrased and quoted material must have accompanying citations.

 

 

 

 

 

5. In your own words, define a formal organization and its purpose. Do you agree or disagree with Max Weber’s stance that bureaucracy dehumanizes a person?

   Your response should be at least 200 words in length. You are required to use at least your textbook as source material for your response. All sources used, including the textbook, must be referenced; paraphrased and quoted material must have accompanying citations.

 

 

 

 

 

6. Examine the social constructs of feeling, gender, and humor. How do these relate to the presentation of self? Provide examples that show the correlation between the influence of society and how we present ourselves.

   Your response should be at least 200 words in length. You are required to use at least your textbook as source material for your response. All sources used, including the textbook, must be referenced; paraphrased and quoted material must have accompanying citations.

 

 

 

 

 

7. In your own words, define fertility and mortality. How do these factors affect population growth? Provide examples.

   Your response should be at least 200 words in length. You are required to use at least your textbook as source material for your response. All sources used, including the textbook, must be referenced; paraphrased and quoted material must have accompanying citations

 

 

 

 

 

8. Examine different sociologists’ accounts of the effect of urbanism. Describe how urbanization has changed the interaction of people within society. Provide examples.

   Your response should be at least 200 words in length. You are required to use at least your textbook as source material for your response. All sources used, including the textbook, must be referenced; paraphrased and quoted material must have accompanying citations

 

 

 

 

 

9. Examine the different types of medical care in high-income nations around the world. Describe which is most beneficial for a country with a population over 300 million. What are some solutions to the problem of healthcare?

   Your response should be at least 200 words in length. You are required to use at least your textbook as source material for your response. All sources used, including the textbook, must be referenced; paraphrased and quoted material must have accompanying citations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10. Compare and contrast some of the issues regarding health in the United States. Provide three examples of and create solutions on how these can be prevented/resolved.

    Your response should be at least 200 words in length. You are required to use at least your textbook as source material for your response. All sources used, including the textbook, must be referenced; paraphrased and quoted material must have accompanying citations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11. In your own words, describe three different issues surrounding U.S. education, and provide solutions to each.

    Your response should be at least 200 words in length. You are required to use at least your textbook as source material for your response. All sources used, including the textbook, must be referenced; paraphrased and quoted material must have accompanying citations.

 

 

 

 

 

12. According to Macionis, “I = PAT, where environmental impact (I) reflects a society’s population (P), its level of affluence (A), and its level of technology (T)” (2011, p. 463). In other words, the higher the population, the richer the country and the higher level of technology, causes a greater impact upon the environment of that society. In your own words, describe the term environmental deficit, and discuss the effects a rising global population has upon the environment.

    Your response should be at least 500 words in length. You are required to use at least your textbook as source material for your response. All sources used, including the textbook, must be referenced; paraphrased and quoted material must have accompanying citations.

Choose one (1) of the topics below and develop a three to four (3-4) paragraph essay (of at least 250-500 words) which adequately address the topic you have chosen.

 

Topic Choices

 

• There have been many theories regarding how the pyramids at Giza were constructed. Most experts agree that they were constructed as burial monuments for pharaohs, but “how” these ancient people constructed monuments of such great size without modern machinery is a mystery which is still being debated.
• No one can say for certain what happened to the great urban Mayan civilization, but theories abound and include varied possible alternatives to explain the relatively abrupt and mysterious disappearance of the Mayan civilization.
• Tutankhamen died young, at approximately eighteen (18) years of age. However, his cause of death has been the subject of quite varied scholarly theories and conclusions. Did he die of an injury, of illness, of murder, or something else?.
• Minoan Crete was a major civilization in its time, but several theories have been advanced to explain its demise, including speculations associating it with mythical Atlantis. What were the causes of Minoan Civilization’s decline?
• Great Zimbabwe is an enormous complex of structures in East Africa. Since the builders and occupants left no written records, several theories have developed as to the identity of its builders and the functions of the structures. Which theory makes the most sense?
• The monumental size and complexity of the Tomb of Shihuangdi is astounding, yet its location and construction details were to be kept secret. What was the emperor’s purpose for such an elaborate, secret burial place?
• Other topic choice recommended and approved by the professor and supported by the grading rubric.

 

Write a three to four (3-4) paragraph paper in which you:

 

1. Clearly state the “mystery” and provide a brief summary of at least two (2) reasonable and scholarly theories which could explain the mystery. Because some theories may sound far-fetched, include the source or promoter of each theory – such as a scientist, a historian, a theologian, etc.
2. After summarizing at least two (2) scholarly theories, identify one (1) of the theories as the most plausible and provide at least two (2) convincing reasons why the theory you have chosen is the best one to explain the mystery. This will involve some critical reasoning skills on your part.
3. Use at least two (2) sources plus the class textbook. (Three [3] sources total as the minimum) Note: Wikipedia and other similar Websites do not qualify as academic resources. You are highly encouraged to use the Resource Center tab at the top of your Blackboard page.

 

Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:

 

• Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA style format. Both in-text citations and a References list are required. Citations and references must follow APA style format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions. (Note: Students can find APA style materials located in the course shell for guidance).
• 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 assignment page length. For our purposes, you may omit any abstract page.

Supply Chain Theory
Assignment Overview

Virtual Word Task Assignment: Ordering Kentucky Hooch Brew

To: You

From: Danny Wilco <dwilco@ebbd.com>

Subject: Re: Ordering product for EBBD from the Kentucky Hooch and Beer Company

Now that you have become familiar with EBBD and how we do things here, I think it’s time to put you to work. We’ve been informed that KHBC is going to begin a new promo and advertising campaign sometime during the next month – this will put Kentucky Swamp Brew in the mind of every college student in the Midwest. We currently supply this beer to most of our retail customers. And we think we can expect an increase in orders from them in a few weeks when the ad campaign hits.

If this happens, and there is no reason to believe that it won’t, given the habits of college students, then we need to carefully consider how much we want to order from the KHBC brewery. We expect you to do the ordering for this product over the next 20 to 25 weeks, before, during, and after the KHBC ad campaign for Kentucky Swamp Brew.

At the end of this period, we want you to give us a report on what happened. We are interested in knowing how our retailers responded with their orders, what we did in response, i.e. how much we ordered, and what kind of backlogs there were, if any, in the order levels for the retailers, and for us. And finally, what did our inventory and stocking levels look like? Did we overstock?

Let me know if you have any questions.

~DW, VP LogOps.

Learning Wizard: Learning Assignment & Assistance

Running the simulation: Go the simulation at http://forio.com/simulate/jelson/excellentbeerdistrib

You should have already experimented with this simulation as indicated on the Background page.

Read the scenario on Page 1 and go to Page 2. On Page 2, choose the KHBC Ad Campaign Scenario-2. Based on the weekly orders from your Retail Customers, you need to determine the weekly amount to order from KHBC. Enter the order and Advance (1 week). You can review the running status of orders and inventory in the table provided. Your goal is to minimize your backlog and your Retail Customers backlog, as well keep your inventories at a minimum. And avoid the Bull-whip effect. You may want to experiment a bit with your ordering strategy.

During the simulation (the one that you are going to use in your report), you should keep track of the highest levels of Customer Backlogs, EBBD Order Backlog, and levels of EBBD inventory.
When the simulation run has ended, copy the data from the Graph to Excel.
First, download this Excel file. EBBD-Case 1 Results Graph. Note: You should be sure to watch the two videos in YouTube that are provided on the Background page.
How To COPY DATA from the Simulation. After running the simulation, while you are in the simulation, select the Graph tab. Then with the mouse right-click on the graph and select copy data. Then paste it into the Excel Worksheet (put the cursor in the designated cell, and do a paste), and save it. You will see that the Graph is done for you automatically. You will also see a copy of the graph in the background reading authored by Padmanabhan & Whang (entitled “The Bullwhip Effect In Supply Chains”). Note there is a 2nd tab that shows additional data such as Backlog Levels and Inventory Levels.

Assignment Part 1: Analyze the data you saved in the Excel file. Write your report about the situation and explain the results, including the levels of order backlogs and EBBD inventory. Also explain your ordering strategy and logic.

Assignment Part 2: After you have completed your report to Management at EBBD, you need to add a section to articulate your learning and knowledge gained. You should identify the causes of the Bull-whip Effect. Discuss your results and how they compare with the historical Bull Whip affect. Compare your graph of your decisions to the graph of the historical bull whip. Explain your strategy and how you determined it. Explain why your results are the same or different from the historical bull whip results. Were you able to avoid the Bull-whip Effect? Why or Why not?

Upload the Report and the Excel file with the data and graph to the Case 1 Dropbox.
Assignment Expectations

The report should thoroughly address these aspects in depth and breadth; be sure to use Headings to label both parts, as Part 1 and Part 2.

Part 1: Report to your boss, Danny Wilco (be sure to write this part as a report addressed to Mr. Wilco).

Background: elucidate the current situation and context – tell about the campaign and what it was supposed to do and why you were assigned.
Strategy: articulate the details of your strategy for ordering and avoiding the bull whip effect; explain how you developed your strategy, e.g. why you are ordering the specific amounts. What is the logic?
Results: explain your results.
What happened in terms of the Customer Order Backlog, EBBD order backlog, and EBBD inventory levels?
What was your ordering pattern as shown in the Excel file
Show data in the form of graphs and tables.
Provide clear references to the data.
Conclusions: explain your conclusions to your boss about the success of the campaign at EBBD.

Part 2: Explain what you learned about the Bull-whip Effect (write this part to your professor.)

What are the causes of the Bull-whip Effect?
Comparison to historical bull whip:
Include bull whip graphs.
Articulate the analysis of the difference between your performance and the historical performance.
Elucidate how your ordering strategy caused your ordering performance in comparison to the historical
Did you avoid the bull-whip? Why or why not?

Overview of the Session Long Project (SLP)

This Session Long Project is about the Supply Chain. It is divided into 4 assignments just like all other SLPs at TUI. Each assignment focuses on a different aspect of the Supply Chain: SLP1 is focusing on a specific product, the producer of that product, and the key competitors in that industry as well as the suppliers and customers of the target company. SLP2 extends the Supply Chain discussed in SLP1 into what is known as the Extended Enterprise Supply Chain, which explodes the supplier channels all the way back to the Raw Materials and those industries which provide the raw materials. And it explodes the Customers frontwards all the way to the Retail and consumer. SLP3 then looks at this EESC and identifies the transportation methods used and where the three modes of water, rail, and road are key aspects. The final SLP in this course looks at the whole infrastructure of the U.S., to include the transportation network, energy, and communications. It serves as discussion of the state of the national infrastructure – and possible solutions for its improvement.

Assignment 1 – the Primary Supply Chain

Want to review about how to Research and Write Academic Papers?

This SLP, like most other SLPs in TUI courses, requires research and writing academic papers. You need to know how to use and cite references correctly. You learned how to do this ETH501.

But just in case you need a refresher, here are two links to help you.

TUI’s Well Written Paper

Purdue’s Online Writing Library (OWL)

Read the resources for SLP1 in the Background page.

For this first SLP you will choose a product and a company that you will use throughout all of the SLPs.

Choose one of the following consumer products:

Motorcycle
Blue jeans
Antibiotic
Diamond ring
Baseball glove
Soccer ball
Indoor house paint

Choose a company that produces this product in the USA (materials may come from abroad). You will research this product, company and the industry and the related Supply Chain.

There are many websites that will show you how a product is made – e.g., materials needed, processes used, etc.

Once you have chosen a product, you can search for a company that produces this product. Then you can research this company and the specific brand. Search the company’s website. If it is a publicly held company you can find its 10k report for good information. And also search IBIS and ProQuest for articles about this company.

What is the size of the market for this general product, e.g. how many of these are sold or the total sales of these per year at the retail level?

What is the brand of the product and the company you are focusing on and what is its market share for this product? What are the locations of the company in the US?

Then research the competition for this product:

Identify 3 – 5 competitors of this company and their market share for their brands?
Now research the supply chain:

Upstream Supply Chain. What are the key supplies and materials needed to produce this product? Include not only the materials that go into the product, but also any packaging that is needed. Identify as many of the actual supplier companies as you can and where they are located in the U.S.

Downstream Supply Chain. What are the customers of this company/industry? Do they sell to distributors, wholesalers, retailers? Identify as many customers as you can and where they are located in the U.S.

Generate a diagram of this Supply Chain including the specific company/industry and showing the suppliers and customers.

Session Long Project

Choose a product from the list and find a company that produces this product in the USA. Research this company and this product.
SLP Assignment Expectations

The paper should include major locations of the company. Identify the size of the market, identifying key competitors in the industry,. Identify key components, materials, and packaging needed to produce this product. Identify key upstream and downstream aspects of the supply chain and locations of suppliers and customers. Discuss this supply chain. Generate a diagram of the SC.

Background: Review and discuss the product, company, and industry
Diagram: Include a diagram of the Supply Chain
Industry Competitors: Identify the company’s competitors; identify competitors’ brands.
Supply Chain Discussion: Discuss key upstream (supplies/suppliers) and downstream (customers) aspects of the SC and locations of each.
Clarity and Organization: The paper should be well organized and clearly discuss the various topics and issues with appropriate depth and breadth.
Use of references and citations: At least four (4) proper references should be used in the paper, cited in the text, and listed in the references. APA is required.
Length: The paper should be three to four pages – the body of the paper excluding title page and references page.

Instructions

 

• After you have downloaded this document from the Midterm Exam Assignment, please save a copy of this document and rename it using your own name as the file name so that I can keep them separate on my machine (i.e., “Jim Peters Mid.doc”).
• Type all your answers in this document.
• Once you have completed the exam, submit your completed Word files by attaching them to the Midterm assignment in LEO by midnight, November 1st.I will assess a 5% per day late penalty for late exams.
• If you need clarification on the wording of any question on the exam, you can e-mail me or call me at the phone numbers listed in my contact information.
• I will not accept direct quotes in your answers.If you use outside sources, you need to paraphrase the material in your own words.
• I will deduct points for not following these instructions.For example, I will deduct points if you do not type your answers in this document and submit some other type of file; if you do not attached your file to the assignment; or if you do not rename your file as instructed above.

I have posted a spreadsheet file, which I refer to as a grading checklist, with this exam.  That spreadsheet file shows you how I have allocated points to questions.  When grading your exams, I will fill in a copy of this file for each student and return it with your graded exam.  When I grade exams, I embed comments in the Word documents to explain why I am deducting points.

 

Course Policy on Collaboration and Individual Work

 

This exam is an individual assignment.  You are not to discuss it with anyone other than myself.  It is also open book and open note.  However, it is not a research assignment and I want you to base your answers to the questions on the material I have included in the exam, the text for the course, and the materials I have handed out in class.

 

Questions

 

None of these questions has a style component, thus you don’t have to write in complete sentences and well-formed paragraphs.  You can use lists where appropriate if you want.

 

1)             You are a partner in a medium-sized, regional CPA firm and have been approached by XYZ, Inc., a relatively small, public company, to do their audit for next year.  XYZ is registered with the SEC and has filed audited 10-Ks for the last 10 years since they went public.  They haven’t indicated why they are switching auditors.

XYZ specializes in developing shale gas using fracking technology.  Fracking technology involves drilling wells into shale formations and injecting high pressure water containing special chemicals into the well to fracture the shale formation and release the trapped natural gas.

You and your firm currently are members of the AICPA.  All the partners and managers are licensed CPAs in the state of New Mexico and also members of the AICPA.  Your firm has limited experience with oil and gas extraction and has no other fracking clients.  However, your firm has offices that can cover the physical locations where the prospective client does business.

 

1. a) Develop a checklist of five areas or issues that you would want to research before you accepted this firm as an audit client. For each area or issue, explain why you would want to research it and give an example of where you might go to get some information about each issue.
2. i) Issue 1 –

 

 

1. ii) Issue 2 –

 

 

iii)           Issue 3 –

 

 

1. iv) Issue 4 –

 

 

1. v) Issue 5 –

 

 

1. b) Describe two reasons why a firm like this firm would want an audit even if they were not required to do so by the SEC. I am looking for substantive reasons that show you understand the importance of auditing in capital markets and why possible stakeholders like lenders and investors would want a firm like this to have an audit.

 

 

1. c) Describe three organizations, boards, or groups that have legal authority to regulate aspects of your audit of this client and discuss how that organization, board, or group would regulate your work on this audit.

 

 

2)             Describe how the following fit into an overall regulatory framework that guides external audits:  the Auditing Standards Board’s (ASB’s) 10 Generally Accepted Auditing Standards, SAS (The ASB’s Statements of Auditing Standards), PCAOB rules, and ISA (International Standards on Auditing).  By “fit into a regulatory environment” I mean that I want to you cover the organizations that promulgates these standards, how those organizations and the standards relate to each other, and what types of audits they apply to.

 

 

3)             For of the following situations, indicate whether it violates the AICPA’s Code of Professional Conduct.  If it violates the Code, indicate the rule is most directly violated and explain why.  That is, I want you to select the rule that is most clearly violated by the specifics of the case.  If you don’t think it violations a rule, explain why as well.  Use the rule numbers cited in the text and not paragraph numbers from the codification.  In all cases you are a CPA and member of the AICPA.

1. a) You are a former partner for Sullivan and Peters, CPAs. You left that firm two years ago and to become the CFO for one of its financial services clients.  While you worked for Sullivan and Peters, you were the only expert in the financial services industry.  Therefore, Sullivan and Peters have maintained a relationship with you and occasionally pays you consulting fees to advise them on their financial service client audits.

 

 

1. b) You provide a variety of non-audit services to one of your audit clients to include bookkeeping and tax preparation. You also provide informal advice on tax planning issues for the client’s management and sometimes attend their Board of Directors meetings.  The client’s CEO considers you one of the firm’s major business advisors.  The client is not publicly traded.

 

 

1. c) You have just completed your first audit of a new client. During the audit, you identified an area of their tax return that you believe could be handled differently that would result in a refund for the client.  You offer to advise them on preparing a amended tax return and state that you will charge them 50% of any refund that they obtain by following your advice.  The client accepts your offer.

 

 

1. d) You are working to build you client base of non-profit organizations for the CPA firm of which you are a partner. You take out an ad in a local newspaper where you claim that you audit 40% of the largest non-profit organizations in the region.  You also state that your average fees when related to the size of the non-profits you audit is the lowest in the region.

 

 

4)             For each of the following situations, describe how the auditor should modify the audit report for the firm’s financial statements and provide an explanation of why you made the choice you did.  Just cover the report on the financial statements and ignore any reference to the report on internal controls.  By “modify the audit report,” I mean what modifications the auditor would make to any paragraph of the report because of the information described.  Make sure your answer either states clearly that no modifications to any paragraph are needed and explains why or describes what modifications would be needed to which paragraphs of the report and explains why.

1. a) The auditor wishes to emphasize that the auditee has engaged in significant related party transactions. The information on the related party transaction is fully disclosed in the footnotes to the financial statements.

 

 

1. b) The auditor has substantial doubt about the auditee’s ability to continue as a going concern, but the circumstances are fully disclosed in the financial statements. Cover both the case where the auditor believes the situation is severe enough to undermine the credibility of the financial statements taken as a whole and where the auditor believes the situation is less severe and the overall credibility of the financial statements are not impaired.

 

 

1. c) The auditee experienced a computer failure during the year being audited and the auditor was not able to verify the ending inventory balance. Inventory is material to the auditee’s financial statements, but not pervasively material

 

 

1. d) You complete the audit of KLM, Inc. and, in your opinion, the financial statements are fairly presented. On the last day of the audit, you discover that one of your supervisors assigned to the audit has a material investment in KLM.

 

 

5)             Your annual audit of OPQ, Inc. had the following issues:

• Even though OPQ had significant long-term debt, all of which were bank loans secured by various fixed assets and some of which included restrictive covenants, you decided not to confirm the debt with the banks that issued the debt.You had auditing the firm for years and their balance sheet listed the same loans as last year, just reduced by the amount of the principle they paid during the year.  However, management didn’t tell you that the firm had incurred a major new loan to compensate for a significant drop in its operating cash flows.  Thus, you ended providing a clean opinion on a set of financial statements that materially understated long-term debt.
• You were aware that all of the banks that had issued loans to OPQ in the past required audited financial statements as part of their loan approval process.
• Shortly after you had issued your report, OPQ’s cash flow problems continued to deteriorate.The tried to compensate in two ways.  First, they took out another large bank loan from one of the banks that held other bank notes from the firm, using your audited financial statements as support for the loan.  Second, they sold additional stock to raise additional capital.  The used your audit financial statements in the prospectus they issued to support the new stock sale.  OPQ’s stock is publicly traded and subject to SEC regulation.
• Approximately six months after OPQ executed both the new loan and the stock sale, they declared bankruptcy because their operating cash continued to deteriorate to the point they could no longer make the debt payments.Because of the bankruptcy, trading was suspended on OPQ’s stock because its value had dropped by 98% and the banks could only recover 20% of the remaining balances on their loans.
• Both the bank that had issued the new loan and several major stockholders that had purchased stock from the new offering sued you to recover their losses.

Answer the following questions and justify your answers with specific references to the appropriate laws and legal principles.  Be thorough in covering all the issues concerning both if they bank will prevail.

 

1. a) Will the bank be successful in their law suit against you for:
2. i) ordinary negligence?

 

 

1. ii) fraud?

 

 

1. b) Will the stockholders who purchased their stock in the stock offering for which OPQ used your audit financial statements succeed in against you under each of the following bodies of law?
2. i) Common Law

 

 

1. ii) Federal securities law (be sure to indicate which statue)

 

 

6)             The following is a list of independent situations that may affect an auditor’s report on a firm’s internal controls under PCAOB rules for such reports.  For each situation, describe how the auditor should modify the audit report for the firm’s internal controls and provide an explanation of why you made the choice you did.  By “modify the audit report,” I mean what modifications the auditor would make to any paragraph of the report because of the information described.  Make sure your answer either states clearly that no modifications to any paragraph are needed and explains why or describes what modifications would be needed to which paragraphs of the report and explains why.  Note that the text isn’t very clear on how to handle scope limitation in the internal control report.  Modifications to the internal control report for scope limitations are the same as those required for scope limitations on financial statement audit reports.

1. a) The auditor identified several significant deficiencies in internal control. Because of these significant deficiencies, the auditor believes that there is a reasonable possibility that internal controls will not prevent or detect a material misstatement on a timely basis.

 

 

1. b) The auditee installed a new control procedure over inventory near the end of the audit year. Inventory makes up 15% of the auditee’s total assets.  The auditor believes that the control has not been in place long enough to be adequately tested as of the balance sheet date.

 

 

Questions 7 and 8 were taken from the CPA exam and reprinted in the text.  My normal warnings about attempting to access the solutions apply.  For each question, selected the best answer and then explain why it is better than all the alternatives.  Your explanations should cover all the alternatives in the question and explain why each one of is not as good as the answer you select.

 

7)             Because of the risk of material misstatement due to fraud (fraud risk), an audit of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards should be performed with an attitude of

1. a) impartial conservatism
2. b) independent integrity
3. c) professional skepticism
4. d) objective judgment

Answer:

 

Explanation:

 

 

8)             Which of the following statements reflects an auditor’s responsibility for detecting fraud?

1. a) An auditor should design the audit to provide reasonable assurance of detecting errors and fraud that are material to the financial statements.
2. b) An auditor should plan the audit to detect fraud caused by departures from GAAP.
3. c) An auditor is not responsible for detecting fraud unless the application of the auditing standards would result in such detection.
4. d) And auditor is responsible for detecting employee errors and simple fraud, but not for discovering fraudulent acts involving employee collusion and management override.