Author: chris

The Situational Leadership Model paper consists of two parts to the assignment:

 

 

 

1)  An outline of your preliminary research on the situational leadership model with at least two scholarly references. Within your outline, discuss why you chose your topic, possible subtopics for focus (at least two), possible research questions you could investigate, and the relevance of your two scholarly references to your research. Make sure that your topics, research questions, and references provide a description of the model, leader behaviors, follower behaviors, and any other elements of the theory you chose.

 

 

 

Your outline should be at least two pages in length, double spaced, Times New Roman 12 point font, with appropriate APA style writing.

 

 

 

2) The research paper. In this research paper, you will submit the research paper topic with the answers to the following points:

How does this theory address organization change?

What are the leader’s behaviors and characteristics?

What are the follower’s behaviors and characteristics?

What situational characteristics does this theory work in?

Provide two examples of this theory in action. (This can be based on theory or your own experiences.)

Your paper should be formatted to APA standards. This includes a title page and a reference page.

 

Your research paper should include the follow sections:

*research paper topic or introduction

*name of the theory which is The Situational Leadership Model.

 

This paper should be a minimum of eight pages in length (excluding the title and reference pages). Be sure to include least four scholarly sources (no wikipedia).

Using a Web site that provides current stock and bond pricing and yield information, complete and analyze the tables illustrated below. Your mentor suggests using a Web site similar to http://finance.yahoo.com/

To fill out the first table, you will need to select 3 bonds with maturities between 10 and 20 years with bond ratings of “A to AAA,” “B to BBB” and “C to CC” (you may want to use bond screener at the Web site linked above). All of these bonds will have these values (future values) of $1,000. You will need to use a coupon rate of the bond times the face value to calculate the annual coupon payment. You should subtract the maturity date from the current year to determine the time to maturity. The Web site should provide you with the yield to maturity and the current quote for the bond. (Be sure to multiply the bond quote by 10 to get the current market value.) You will then need to indicate whether the bond is currently trading at a discount, premium, or par.

Bond	Company/ Rating	Face Value (FV)	Coupon Rate	Annual Payment (PMT)	Time-to Maturity (NPER)	Yield-to-Maturity (RATE)	Market Value (Quote)	Discount, Premium, Par
A-Rated		$1,000
B-Rated		$1,000
C-Rated		$1,000

 

• Explain the relationship observed between ratings and yield to maturity.
• Explain why the coupon rate and the yield to maturity determine why the bonds would trade at a discount, premium, or par.
• Based on the material you learn in this Phase, what would you expect to happen to the yield to maturity and market value of the bonds if the time to maturity was increased or decreased by 5 years?

In this step, you have been asked to visit a credible Web site that provides detailed information on publicly traded stocks and select 1 that has at least a 5-year history of paying dividends and 2 of its closest competitors.

To fill up the first table, you will need to gather information needed to calculate the required rate of return for each of the 3 stocks. You will need to calculate the risk-free rate for this assignment. You will need the market return that was calculated in Phase 2, and the beta that you should be able to find on the Web site.

Company	5-year Risk-Free Rate of Return	Beta (β)	5-Year Return on Top 500 Stocks	Required Rate of Return (CAPM)

 

To complete the next table, you will need the most recent dividends paid over the past year for each stock, expected growth rate for the stocks, and the required rate of return you calculated in the previous table. You will also need to compare your results with the current value of each stock and determine whether the model suggests that they are over- or underpriced.

Company	Current Dividend	Projected Growth Rate (next year)	Required Rate of Return (CAPM)	Estimated Stock Price (Gordon Model)	Current Stock Price	Over/Under Priced

 

In the third table, you will be using the price to earnings ratio (P/E) along with the average expected earnings per share provided by the Web site. You will also need to compare your results with the current value of each stock to determine whether or not the model suggests that the stocks are over- or underpriced.

Company	Estimated Earning (next year)	P/E Ratio	Estimated Stock Price (P/E)	Current Stock Price	Over/Under Priced

After completing the 3 tables, explain your findings and why your calculations coincide with the principles related to bonds that were presented in the Phase. Be sure to address the following:

• Explain the relationship observed between the required rate of return, growth rate and the dividend paid, and the estimated value of the stock using the Gordon Model.
• Explain the value and weaknesses of the Gordon model.
• Explain the how the price-to-earnings model is used to estimate the value of the stocks.
• Explain which of the 2 models seemed to be the most accurate in estimating the value of the stocks.
• Based on the material that you learn in this Phase, what would you expect to happen to the value of the stock if the growth rate, dividends, required rate of return, or the estimated earnings per share were to increase or decrease? Be sure to explain each case separately.

In this assignment, you will use a spreadsheet to examine pairs of variables, using the method of linear regression, to determine if there is any correlation between the variables. Afterwards, you will postulate whether this correlation reveals a causal relationship (and why).

Click here to open the Excel spreadsheet containing the data for this assignment.

This spreadsheet contains the data from a study that attempted to see if there is a correlation between the hours that students studied and the grade that they earned on a test. The correlation test you are about to run will help you to determine if there is, in fact, a correlation between study time and test score. If you find a strong correlation, then you will postulate whether you feel this indicates a causal relationship.

Below are instructions on how to perform this correlation test in Microsoft Excel.

In the Excel spreadsheet, perform the following operations:

1. Save the spreadsheet to your computer.
2. With your mouse, highlight all of the data on the spreadsheet in columns A and B.
3. In the tabs at the top of the page, click Insert.
4. In the Insert ribbon, in the Charts section, click Scatter. Be sure to select the option where it will just plot dots, it will be called Scatter with only Markers. If you do this right, then you’ll see a chart on the page.
5. Now, on the chart, right-click on one of the data points (dots). Just pick a dot somewhere near the middle of the distribution.
6. Select Add Trendline from the drop-down menu that appears when you right-click on a dot.
7. A new menu will appear. Select Linear, select Automatic, and click the boxes next to Display Equation on chart and Display r-squared value on chart.
8. Click Close.
9. Now, you should see a line drawn through the dots. It will roughly cut through the middle of the dot distribution.
10. You’ll also see the linear regression equation and r² value displayed next to the line.

To see an example spreadsheet containing a completed analysis click here.

Now that you’ve completed your analysis and determined the linear regression formula and r², it is now time to report on the results of your study and examine your findings.

In a Microsoft Word document, respond to the following:

1. Report the sample you selected and the question that was explored in the study.

2. Report the r² linear correlation coefficient and the linear regression equation produced in the Excel spreadsheet.

3. What would be the value of Pearson’s r (simply the square root of r²)?

4. Would Pearson’s r be positive or negative? What does this imply about the relationship between the factors in this study?

5. What is the implication of any correlation found between the variables in the study you picked?

6. Does this correlation imply a causal relationship? Explain.

7. Are there other variables that you think should have been examined that would have improved this study or helped to pinpoint what factors

This assignment consists of two (2) parts: a written paper and a PowerPoint presentation. YOU MUST SUBMIT BOTH PARTS AS SEPARATE FILES FOR THE COMPLETION OF THIS ASSIGNMENT. Label each file name according to the section of the assignment it is written for. Additionally, you may create and / or assume all necessary assumptions needed for the completion of this assignment.

Imagine you’ve been sought out as a guest lecturer at a local university for an ethical hacking course. You have been asked to prepare a paper for the students, as well as a PowerPoint presentation, regarding the use of cryptography in corporations to minimize data theft.

Part 1: Written Paper

 

1. Write a four to five (6-7) page paper in which you:
   1. Explain, in your own words, the purpose of cryptography and take a position on whether or not you believe encryption is sufficiently utilized in organizations today. Provide a rationale with your response.
   2. Describe the differences between symmetric and asymmetric encryption.
   3. Select the encryption method you believe is typically more reliable of the two and explain why. Determine if there are any situations where the typically less reliable method could be the better option.
   4. Select one (1) of the common cryptographic systems and justify why you believe it to be the best encryption technology to date.
   5. Describe the common uses of the aforementioned selected cryptographic system and provide a real-world example of how it is used in securing networks, files, and / or communications in the present day.
   6. Create a network diagram of a network and / or in a data flow where your real-world example would exist using a diagramming application such as Visio or Dia.
   7. Analyze current cryptographic attacks that are used in the present day and determine how they can be a detriment to the security where encryption is implemented.
   8. Use at least three (3) quality resources in this assignment. Note: Wikipedia and similar Websites do not qualify as quality 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.
• Include diagrams created in Visio or one of their equivalents such as Dia. The completed diagrams must be imported into the Word document before the paper is submitted.

 

Part 2: PowerPoint Presentation

Use Microsoft PowerPoint or an open source alternative, such as OpenOffice, to:

 

1. Create a five to ten (6-10) slide PowerPoint presentation in which you:

 

1. Summarize the concepts from your written paper in Part 1 of this assignment for the lecture you would give to the class regarding the use of cryptography in corporations to minimize data theft.

 

1. Use a professional technically written style to graphically convey the information.

 

The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

 

• Describe cryptology and impact on cybercrime response.
• Use technology and information resources to research issues in cybercrime techniques and response.
• Write clearly and concisely about topics related to cybercrime techniques and response using proper writing mechanics and technical style conventions.

 

 

 

Assignment 1: Demand Estimation

Imagine that you work for the maker of a leading brand of low-calorie, frozen microwavable food that estimates the following demand equation for its product using data from 26 supermarkets around the country for the month of April.

For a refresher on independent and dependent variables, please go to Sophia’s Website and review the Independent and Dependent Variables tutorial, located athttp://www.sophia.org/tutorials/independent-and-dependent-variables–3.

Option 1

Note: The following is a regression equation. Standard errors are in parentheses for the demand for widgets.

QD       =          – 5200 – 42P + 20PX + 5.2I + 0.20A + 0.25M

(2.002)  (17.5) (6.2)    (2.5)   (0.09)   (0.21)

R2 = 0.55           n = 26               F = 4.88

Your supervisor has asked you to compute the elasticities for each independent variable. Assume the following values for the independent variables:

Q          =          Quantity demanded of 3-pack units

P (in cents)       =          Price of the product = 500 cents per 3-pack unit

PX (in cents)     =          Price of leading competitor’s product = 600 cents per 3-pack unit

I (in dollars)       =          Per capita income of the standard metropolitan statistical area

(SMSA) in which the supermarkets are located = $5,500

A (in dollars)     =          Monthly advertising expenditures = $10,000

M                     =          Number of microwave ovens sold in the SMSA in which the

supermarkets are located = 5,000

Option 2

Note: The following is a regression equation. Standard errors are in parentheses for the demand for widgets.

QD       =          -2,000 – 100P + 15A + 25PX + 10I

(5,234)  (2.29)   (525)   (1.75)  (1.5)

R2 = 0.85           n = 120             F = 35.25

Your supervisor has asked you to compute the elasticities for each independent variable. Assume the following values for the independent variables:

Q          =          Quantity demanded of 3-pack units

P (in cents)       =          Price of the product = 200 cents per 3-pack unit

PX (in cents)     =          Price of leading competitor’s product = 300 cents per 3-pack unit

I (in dollars)       =          Per capita income of the standard metropolitan statistical area

(SMSA) in which the supermarkets are located = $5,000

A (in dollars)     =          Monthly advertising expenditures = $640

Write a four to six (4-6) page paper in which you:

1. Compute the elasticities for each independent variable. Note: Write down all of your calculations.
2. Determine the implications for each of the computed elasticities for the business in terms of short-term and long-term pricing strategies. Provide a rationale in which you cite your results.
3. Recommend whether you believe that this firm should or should not cut its price to increase its market share. Provide support for your recommendation.
4. Assume that all the factors affecting demand in this model remain the same, but that the price has changed. Further assume that the price changes are 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600 cents.
   1. Plot the demand curve for the firm.
   2. Plot the corresponding supply curve on the same graph using the following MC / supply function Q = -7909.89 + 79.1P with the same prices.
   3. Determine the equilibrium price and quantity.
   4. Outline the significant factors that could cause changes in supply and demand for the low-calorie, frozen microwavable food. Determine the primary manner in which both the short-term and the long-term changes in market conditions could impact the demand for, and the supply, of the product.
5. Indicate the crucial factors that could cause rightward shifts and leftward shifts of the demand and supply curves for the low-calorie, frozen microwavable food.
6. Use at least three (3) quality academic resources in this assignment. Note: Wikipedia does not qualify as an academic resource.

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:

• Analyze how production and cost functions in the short run and long run affect the strategy of individual firms.
• Apply the concepts of supply and demand to determine the impact of changes in market conditions in the short run and long run, and the economic impact on a company’s operations.
• Use technology and information resources to research issues in managerial economics and globalization.
• Write clearly and concisely about managerial economics and globalization using proper writing mechanics.

Assume that you are a consultant hired by this organization to study it and provide recommendations about your findings. Evaluate the organization you have chosen to study throughout this course.

Provide the following in your paper that is due this week:

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs lists 5 basic categories of human needs.

• Identify the 5 categories and describe each one.
• What are some organizational examples of each of these needs? Evaluate the organization you have selected for study during the course.
• How do managers and supervisors at the organization motivate and improve employee performance?

Provide a 2–3-page analysis of the challenges faced in these areas.

Assume that you are a consultant hired by this organization to study it and provide recommendations about your findings. Evaluate the organization you have chosen to study throughout this course.

Provide the following in your paper that is due this week:

• Define coaching leadership versus just being the “boss.” Why is it difficult for some leaders to take on a coaching perspective?
• Define situational leadership. What are the 3 most important traditional situational theories of leadership?
• Define the contingency approach. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this approach?

Evaluate the organization you have selected for study during the course on these 3 areas.

• What types of leadership are evident in the organization?
• What are the leadership challenges within the organization?

Provide a 2–3-page analysis of the organization’s leadership.

Write a two to four (2-4) page paper in which you:

1. Explain what you believe are the three (3) most important concerns when it comes to mobile devices in the workplace. Justify your response.
2. Determine whether or not you believe organizations should have strict policies regarding the use of mobile devices in the workplace, also known as BYOD. Recommend whether these policies should stretch across all industries or apply to only a select few. Provide a rationale for your recommendation.
3. Select a current mobile operating system (e.g., iOS, Android, etc.) that you believe to be the largest concern in the workplace, and explicate why you believe that to be the case.
4. Use at least three (3) quality resources in this assignment. Note: Wikipedia and similar Websites do not qualify as quality 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:

• Illustrate the use of information and communication technologies to solve problems as an information technology professional.
• Use technology and information resources to research issues in information technology.
• Write clearly and concisely about introductory information technology topics using proper writing mechanics and technical style conventions.

Contemporary Leadership

Write a three to four page paper (not including the title and reference pages) about a contemporary leadership situation that is familiar to you.  Your paper needs to:

• Identify the development level and style demonstrated in the situation.
• Support your position with specific examples.
• Explain whether the action taken was appropriate and effective.
• Determine and discuss if the situational leadership approach would be useful in understanding the leadership applied to the situation.

In addition to the requirements above, your paper:

• Must be double-spaced and 12 point font
• Must be formatted according to APA style
• Must include an introductory paragraph with a thesis statement
• Must conclude with a restatement of the thesis and a conclusion paragraph
• Must reference at least two scholarly resources
• Must include a reference page written in APA format

Walmart is the largest retailer in the US (and other parts of the world) employing 1.2 million in the USA. In February 2015 Doug McMillon announced a series of employment changes, among other things raising minimum starting pay to $9/hr. with plans to further increase it to $10.hr. within one year.

http://cdn.corporate.walmart.com/a1/0e/6fec066e4cf48b9ec4b9f09bcd67/associate-opportunity-fact-sheet.2.pdf

 

He also announced increases in employee benefits (e.g. healthcare, 401k plan, educational support, etc.) and career development and promotion opportunities, etc.

http://cdn.corporate.walmart.com/a1/0e/6fec066e4cf48b9ec4b9f09bcd67/associate-opportunity-fact-sheet.2.pdf

 

Of course, these changes increased their costs substantially, and information on these (and future) cost increases was included in the announcements (or could be estimated by external analysts). Since January, Walmart’s stock price has declined substantially (approximately 30% by mid-September. When WMT announced their quarterly results, documenting their increased costs, the stock price fell more than 13% in just a few days! Note that these declines in the market value of Walmart’s stock are predominantly (if not completely) due to its Human Resource practices!

 

1)   How (Price, Quantity, Customization, Availability) does Walmart compete?

2)   Who are Walmart’s competition, and what changes have occurred in the past several years?

3)   Why did Mr. McMillon (His HR head, the Board, etc.) make such broad changes in Walmart’s employment practices?

4)   Why was the Stock Market’s reaction so negative?

5)   Do you believe Walmart’s employment strategy will produce positive results?

6)   When do you estimate those results will be recognized by investors?