Author: chris

Stand-Alone Project: Industry Analysis 

Each assignment in this course focuses on a different portion of an industry analysis. The activities and discussion questions serve as an introduction to the process of critically evaluating a corporation, one of its direct competitors, and the industry as a whole which constitute a thorough and complete industry analysis. Your MB609 Capstone Project will be a complete industry analysis including a publicly traded company, its industry, and two of its competitors. (Be sure that you keep your textbook from this course as well as all of the projects you write.)

This Industry Analysis project (MB601) is an introductory project to prepare you for the Capstone Project (MB609). At this time you will only analyze a publicly traded company and its industry (none of its competitors will be analyzed). To begin this project, select a publicly traded corporation to study. In other words, you should be able to purchase stock in the corporation you select. The corporation must be large enough for the business and trade press to have written about it, but not so large that the amount of available information is overwhelming making your ability to suggest innovative recommendations for the corporation’s survival and success. Consequently, make sure that you do not choose one in which any and all potential strategies and recommendations have been discussed at length in the press. A table of contents and a bibliography listing only those works that you cited in your analysis is required. Your Stand-Alone Project responses should be both grammatically and mechanically correct, and formatted in the same fashion as the project itself. If there is a Part A, your response should identify a Part A, etc. In addition, you must appropriately cite all resources used in your response and document in a bibliography using APA style. (300 points) (A 20-page response is required for the combination of Parts A through H.)

First, collect the following documents and information.

1. The corporation’s annual report
2. At least 15 business or trade articles concerning the current status of your corporation and predictions of its future success
3. Information on your corporation’s CEO and Board of Directors
4. Information about the industry in general, including major players, consumers, trends, etc.

Next, thoroughly read the information and documents you collected on your company and its industry. As you read, make notes on the topics listed below, synthesize the information, and analyze the current state of the corporation and its industry. This synthesis and analysis process is essential to build your conceptual skills which are to be further developed as you proceed through the MBA Program. It is the goal of an MBA program to build your conceptual skills which are required for management positions which oversee a variety of departments, specialists, and projects.

Following the outline below, write your analysis of your corporation and its industry.

 

Part A	CEO Profile and Assessment of Effectiveness
	1.	Profile your CEO’s qualifications (experience, education, etc.) as well as why  this person was selected and the circumstances that created the CEO vacancy.
	2.	Students should relate the CEO’s qualifications as it applies to the type of strategy the company has elected to follow and the type of CEO that typically is success in achieving that strategy.
	3.	Discuss the impact that the CEO has made on the organization thus far and why.
Part B	Board of Directors Profile and Analysis:  This section includes a wealth of information regarding the role that the Board of Directors plays in your organization.
	1.	You should discuss the manner in which the Board of Directors is nominated and selected, the way in which the Board is organized and why, and the way in which the Board utilizes or matches the trends in corporate governance that are listed in the text.
	2.	You should evaluate and identify the strengths and weakness of the Board of Director’s composition with respect to their affiliation (who they really work for and that company’s relationship to your corporation), diversity, experience in the industry and the company, insiders/outsiders, etc.
	3.	Also, evaluate the changes in members to the Board in the last five years.  If there have been changes, do those changes (new board members with different attributes and affiliations) suggest a change in your corporation’s strategy, target markets, etc.?  Are these changes in any way indicative of a new strategic move?
Part C	Industry Assessment
	1.	Evaluate your corporation’s competitive position within its industry using Porter’s model:  threat of new entrants, suppliers, buyers, rivalry, substitutes, and other stakeholders.
	2.	You should include a discussion of the other factors considered crucial to the industry’s survival.  Suggestions include industry dynamics, industry structure, life cycle, strategic groups, and other elements as necessary.
Part D	Direct and Indirect Competition:  Using the information provided in your text related to competitive intensity and the types of competitor information available, identify the competition with respect to your corporation.  Identify the nature of their competitive relationship – similarity in products, strategy, etc.  At least two (2) competitors for each category should be discussed.
Part E	Internal Strengths and Weakness:  Evaluate your corporation using the VRIO provided in your textbook.
Part F	External Opportunities and Threats:  Evaluate your corporation’s competitive environment for opportunities and threats using the TOWS matrix.
Part G	Overall Competitive Position:  Briefly evaluate the state of your corporation’s competitive position within its industry.
Part H	Recommendations
	1.	Make two (2) recommendations for increasing your corporation’s shareholder wealth in the future.  This includes ensuring long term survival as well as meeting and exceeding your shareholders expectations for the generation of their wealth in the short term and the long term.
	2.	Your two (2) recommendations should be well supported by information contained in your written analysis and your supporting information should be specifically identified in this section to justify your recommendations.
	3.	Your two (2) recommendations should be accompanied by your expectations for your corporation and its industry if your recommendations were adopted.  Your expectations should include the impact to the industry structure, the likely response of competitors, and both positive and negative consequence should be identified.

Weekly tasks or assignments (Individual or Group Projects) will be due by Monday and late submissions will be assigned a late penalty in accordance with the late penalty policy found in the syllabus. NOTE: All submission posting times are based on midnight Central Time.

Two important policy goals of the government and the Fed are to keep unemployment and inflation low, while at the same time making sure that GDP is increasing at an average of 3% per year. It is important to have the right mix of policies and that all the variables be timed perfectly.

Part 1: Assume that the country is in a period of high unemployment, interest rates are at almost zero, inflation is about 2% per year, and GDP growth is less than 2% per year.

• Suggest how fiscal and monetary policy can move those numbers to an acceptable level keeping inflation the same.
• What is the first action you would take as the president? As the chairman of the Fed? Why?
• What would be your subsequent steps?
• Make sure you include both the positive and negative effects of your actions, and include the trade-offs or opportunity costs.

Include the following concepts in your discussion:

• Demand and supply of money
• Interest rates
• The Phillips curve
• Taxation
• Government spending
• Wages
• Costs of inflation
• The multiplier and the tax multiplier
• The idea of tax rebates to stimulate the economy

Part 2: Assume that the country is in a budget deficit and carrying a very large debt. Discuss the dangers of a high debt to GDP ratio and a growing budget deficit. Would this affect any policy changes you discussed in Part 1?

Answer the following questions .

The length of your paper should be no less than 5 but not more than 10 pages. Project 1

Stakeholders are defined in the text as “all the people who stand to gain or lose by the policies and activities of a business and whose concerns the businesses need to address”

Consider the following stakeholders:

• Customers
• Media
• Elected Officials
• Employees
• Stockholders
• Suppliers

Based on the assigned Apple article answer the following questions:

1. Outline the major issues that could be of interest to each stakeholder.

2. Explain what you think the optimal solution would be from the point of view of each stakeholder.

3. Use the stakeholder analysis framework( Chapter 1 slide 16) and identify where each stakeholder would fall in the quadrants. Outline the appropriate strategy Apple can use to deal with each stakeholder.   See the attatchment artical

Assignment 1: Implications of Health Economic Concepts for Healthcare
Due Week 4 and worth 200 points
Select at least five (5) economic concepts covered in the first four weeks’ readings, and discuss the primary manner in which these concepts impact the world of health care economics. Some examples of selected concepts are health demand and supply, elasticity, resources, health measures, and costs.
Write a four to six (4-6) page paper in which you:
Assess the value of healthcare professionals and decision makers understanding the discipline of health economics.
Defend or critique the importance of considering the complex nature of health and healthcare when examining the economic principles related to healthcare delivery.
Analyze the primary potential benefits of learning about health economics related to government involvement in healthcare economics, financing, and delivery.
Analyze the main potential benefits of learning about health economics related to private sector government involvement in healthcare economics, financing, and delivery.
Use at least five (5) current references. Three of these references must be from current peer-reviewed sources to support and substantiate your comments and perspectives.
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:
Explain how selected economic principles apply to the health care market and the provisions of health care services.
Analyze the factors that are influencing the demand and supply of health care services in the U.S.
Assess current economic trends that influence the cost, quality, and access to care.
Use technology and information resources to research issues in health economics.
Write clearly and concisely about health economics using proper writing mechanics.

In this assignment, you will gather data from children’s books as a means of seeing (1) how early gender socialization begins and (2) how gendered images and stereotypes are perpetuated.

For this assignment, you are to find 2 children’s picture/illustrated books (you may use your own books, those bought from a store, viewed online, or borrowed from a library). One book should feature a female protagonist and the second a male protagonist. [Some popular children’s books feature animals and objects as the lead characters in the story. In those cases, the character usually has a gendered name or appearance, so use that as the indicator of gender and be sure to discuss your reasoning for assigning a gender to the character in your paper. Bonus points if you can find a book with an authentically gender-neutral protagonist.]

After you have selected and read each book carefully, address the following questions in 3-5 typed, double-spaced pages (12 point, Times New Roman font or the equivalent):

1. How is the female character gendered?
2. How is the male character gendered?
3. Compare and contrast the gendering between the two protagonists?
4. What activities do the stories imply that girls are interested in? Boys?
5. Are there any gender stereotypes that are portrayed in these stories? If so, what are they?
6. Do any of these characters conform to the active/passive dynamic that we have discussed

   throughout the course?

Finally, comment on your feelings regarding the implications of this gendering in children’s books— What do these children’s books suggest about gender? Do these messages matter? Why or why not?

Why is the support of lower union officials vitally needed by union negotiators in the contract process?

In this assignment, you will select a program, quality improvement initiative, or other project from your place of employment. Assume you are presenting this program to the board for approval of funding. Write an executive summary (850-1,000 words) to present to the board, from which they will make their decision to fund your program or project. The summary should include:

1. The purpose of the program or project.
2. The target population or audience.
3. The benefits of the program or project
4. The cost or budget justification.
5. The basis upon which the program or project will be evaluated.

Share your written proposal with your manager, supervisor or other colleague in a formal leadership position within a health care organization. Request their feedback using the following questions as prompts:

1. Do you believe the proposal would be approved if formally proposed?
2. What are some strengths and weaknesses of the proposal?

Submit the written proposal along with the “Executive Summary Feedback Form.”

Prepare this assignment according to the APA guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.

Write a 1,050- to 1,400-word comprehensive paper. A comprehensive paper should incorporate concepts from your previous GEN/201 coursework including but not limited to: The Continuing Academic Success Thesis/Outline, Critical Thinking/Ethics Inventory, and the Sources Assignments.

Use the template provided to assist in your paper.

The final paper’s focus is to help you share what you learned throughout your studies in GEN/201, including how you will apply this knowledge to take responsibility for your success in your education and your career.

Include the following concepts and ideas in your final paper:

• Create an opening statement or thesis, developing a core theme for your paper (i.e. Continuing Academic Success).
• Include at least one educational goal and one career goal and how setting goals can lead to greater educational and career success.
• Discuss how the writing process discussed in GEN201 can help you advance in your education and your career.
• Share an example of how the information from your Ethical Lens Inventory can help you make better decisions and how this impacts your educational and career success.
• Elaborate on the steps will you take to improve your critical-thinking skills to help you advance academically. Use the critical thinking information you explored in GEN201.
• Highlight the university resources you will use to ensure academic success and also consider the benefits and challenges of working with outside sources.
• As you conclude the paper feel free to include any other important lessons you learned in this course and summarize.

 The paper format should include the following:

• An introduction
• A body incorporating the ideas below as well as a minimum of three properly cited and referenced sources from the University Library
• A conclusion
• A reference page

Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines. Run a Grammarly Report and proofread your paper.

1. Suppose you purchase a plasma screen television for $1100.00 with a First Premier credit card that has 79.9% APR. Assuming simple interest and no monthly payments, how much interest will you owe at the end of 12 months? What will the total cost of the television be?

 

2. Suppose you open a savings account with $1100.00 at a 0.5% annual interest rate. Assume simple interest. How much interest will your account accrue at the end of 12 months? What will be the balance of your account?

 

 

3. In one scenario you are the lender (to the bank) in the other scenario the credit card company is the lender. Compare and contrast the two different scenarios. Is this a fair situation?

Answer ONE of the following questions. Your answer may be worth up to 10 points of extra credit. Please offer a philosophical argument to support your position. Please keep your answer reasonably brief (no longer than one or two pages, double-spaced). You may either write your answer in the text box or attach a document.

1. People often suffer terribly because of things like disease and natural disasters. Is this fact incompatible with the belief that there is an all-powerful God who cares about people? Why or why not?

2. Do you know that what seems to be going on right now is really happening? How could you be mistaken? Is this a realistic possibility? Do you know that you’re working on an extra credit essay for your philosophy course right now?