As preparation for the final research paper, formulate a theory about the correlation between measurable independent variables (causes) and one measurable dependent variable (the effect). Be sure to have at least two independent variables for proposed research paper. The topic proposal should include the following four items which serve as the foundation for the final research paper after instructor feedback is given.
In one paragraph, state the correlation and identify the primary independent variables.
State the correlation as in the following:
“The dependent variable _______ is determined by independent variables ________, _________, ________, and ________.”
Identify and defend the “primary” independent variable, or the variable believed to have the strongest impact on the dependent variable:
“The most important independent variable in this relationship is ________ because _________.”
For each variable, write a single definition paragraph talking about the variable. Paragraphs should be in this order: dependent variable, primary independent variable, and three independent variables.
In addition to defining the independent variables, defend why each determines the dependent variable.
For the primary independent variable, at least two research sources that discuss the variable also must be cited. These sources need not be technical documents but should contain evidence to justify the relationship between the primary independent variable and the dependent variable. List these sources in the Works Cited (reference) page.
**Note: Citations from encyclopedias, Wikipedia, blogs, abstracts, or non-governmental websites are not acceptable research sources.
For each of the variables, at least 30 observations of cross-sectional or time-series data must be obtained. Thus for the final research paper, a data matrix that is at least 30 rows by numbers of variables must be presented.
In one paragraph, identify the data sources and describe the data (i.e., which government agencies supply the data, which methods are used to compile them, when they were collected, etc.).
The final page of the proposal should be a Works Cited page listing the two research sources for the primary independent variable and the data sources, with a separate citation for each table of data, including specific table numbers for each of the sources.
We live in a world where geographic boundaries cease to exist when it comes to goods, services, and even food. We think nothing of having freshly squeezed orange juice or kiwis for breakfast, even if we live in New York City with 10-inches of snow on the ground in the middle of January. We live in an age where everything and anything is available for consumption year-round at your local grocery store. However, this convenience also comes with potentially major ecological and economic impacts (both positive and negative). For example, the coffee you drink may come from beans imported from Columbia, the sugar you use may come from India, or the steaks you sear on the grill may have come from Argentina. How much fuel was spent transporting these products across the ocean? Were any pesticides used? If so, was it done in a sustainable fashion? Were forests cleared to make room for grazing herds or larger agricultural fields? These are just a few of the many questions we should be asking ourselves when we make our selections at the grocery store
Explore the following resources to learn more about the foods we rely on and the variety of ways in which we can acquire them.
The People’s Garden by the United States Department of Agriculture
http://www.agrifood.info/connections/2008/Stringer_Umberger.html
http://search.ebscohost.com.lib.kaplan.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=bth&AN=21054770&site=eds-live
http://www.cias.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/comingin.pdf
For this assignment, analyze the meal provided by your instructor. Include the following analysis within your discussion:
If you were to purchase each item at a local chain grocery store, where would these items be sourced from. For example, where were the fruits, vegetables, and/or meats grown immediately prior to sale (do not discuss the history or origin of the item i.e., “corn or maize originated in Mexico around 2500 BC…). Discuss the events that allowed your local grocery store to carry these items:
What farming methods were likely used to grow these items and how do these methods impact the environment around the farms as well as the employees who work within these establishments?
Were the items grown and shipped in from another country?
What types of processing and packaging must take place in order for you to be able to purchase the product? If you were to follow the suggestions shared within the articles provided above, where could you purchase the items (provide specific sources within your local community)? If a food item is not available locally, is there an alternative that you could use as a substitute?
Discuss the ecological and economic advantages and disadvantages of purchasing food items that are locally sourced versus those shipped from other areas of the country and from around the world. Use your textbook reading for this unit in order to explore the environmental impacts, and use these to further analyze the impacts our food purchases may have on the environment.
The food choices we make have the potential to generate both local and global impacts. This can be summarized in the phrase “Think Globally, Act Locally.” Based upon your analysis of the meal provided by your instructor for this assignment, discuss how the choices you make when planning and buying meals might change in the future and how your choices, when combined with those of others, can have a global impact.
This project should be a minimum of 1,000-words in APA style format. As always, be sure to provide appropriate citations, references, and links to any information you use in this paper. Your paper should include a minimum of 5 sources. These can include those provided within the project directions and the course materials. Be sure to avoid copying and pasting large sections of text from any given source. For help with citations, refer to the APA Quick Reference.
Financial Statement Analysis Project—A Comparative Analysis of Oracle Corporation and Microsoft Corporation
Here is the link for the financial statements for Oracle Corporation for the fiscal year ending 2011. First, select 2011 using the drop-down arrow labeled Year on the right-hand side of the page, and then select Annual Reports using the drop-down arrow labeled Filing Type on the left-hand side of the page.
You should select the 10k dated 6/28/2011 and choose to download in PDF, Word, or Excel format.
http://www.oracle.com/us/corporate/investor-relations/sec/index.html
Here is the link for the financial statements for Microsoft Corporation for the fiscal year ending 2011. You need to press the word Go on the left-hand side of the page. Then you should select the 10k dated 7/28/2011 and choose to download in Word or Excel format.
http://www.microsoft.com/investor/SEC/default.aspx?year=2011&filing=annual
A sample project template is available for download in Doc Sharing. The sample project compares the ratio performance of Tootsie Roll and Hershey using the 2012 financial statements of Tootsie Roll and Hershey provided at their websites.
Description
This course contains a Course Project. You will be required to submit one draft of the project at the end of Week 5 and the final, completed project at the end of Week 7. Using the financial statements for Oracle Corporation and Microsoft Corporation, respectively, you will calculate and compare the financial ratios listed further down this document for the fiscal year ending 2011 and prepare your comments about the two companies’ performance based on your ratio calculations. The entire project will be graded by the instructor at the end of the final submission in Week 7, and one grade will be assigned for the entire project.
Overall Requirements
For the Final Submission
Your final Excel workbook submission should contain the following items. You cannot use any software but Excel to complete this project.
1. A completed worksheet title page tab, which is really a coversheet with your name, the course, the date, your instructor’s name, and the title for the project.
2. A completed worksheet profiles tab that contains a one-paragraph description regarding each company with information about their histories, what products they sell, where they are located, and so on.
3. All 16 ratios for each company, with the supporting calculations and commentary on your worksheet ratio tab. Supporting calculations must be shown either as a formula or as text typed into a different cell. The ratios are listed further down this document. Your comments for each ratio should include more than just a definition of the ratio. You should focus on interpreting each ratio number for each company and support your comments with the numbers found in the ratios.
4. The Summary and Conclusions worksheet tab is an overall comparison of how each company compares in terms of the major category of ratios described in Chapter 13 of your textbook. A nice way to conclude is to state which company you think is the better investment and why.
5. The Bibliography worksheet tab must contain at least your textbook as a reference. Any other information you use to profile the companies should also be cited as a reference.
Required Ratios for Final Project Submission
1. Earnings per Share of Common Stock
2. Current Ratio
3. Gross Profit Margin
4. Rate of Return on Sales (Net Profit Margin)
5. Inventory Turnover
6. Days’ Inventory Outstanding (DIO)
7. Accounts Receivable Turnover
8. Days’ Sales Outstanding (DSO)
9. Asset Turnover
10. Rate of Return on Total Assets (ROA)
11. Debt Ratio
12. Times Interest Earned Ratio
13. Dividend Yield (For the purposes of this ratio, use Yahoo Finance to look up current dividend yield and stock price; just note the date that you looked up this information.)
14. Rate of Return on Common Stockholders’ Equity (ROE)
15. Free Cash Flow
16. Price/Earnings Ratio (Multiple) (For the purpose of this ratio, for Oracle, use the market price per share on May 30, 2011 and for Microsoft, use the market price per share on June 30, 2011.)
The Excel files uploaded in the Dropboxes should not include any unnecessary numbers or information (such as previous years’ ratios, ratios that were not specifically asked for in the project, etc.).
Please upload your final submission to the Week 7 Dropbox by the Sunday ending Week 7.
For the Draft
Create an Excel spreadsheet or use the project template to show your computations for the first 10 ratios listed above. The more you can complete regarding the other requirements, the closer you will be to completion when Week 7 arrives. Supporting calculations must be shown either as a formula or as text typed into a different cell. If you plan on creating your own spreadsheet, please follow the format provided in the Tootsie Roll and Hershey template file.
Please upload your draft submission to the Week 5 Dropbox by the Sunday at the end of Week 5.
Other Helpful information
If you feel uncomfortable with Excel, you can find many helpful references on Excel by performing a Google search.
BigCharts.com provides historical stock quotes.
Read the two scenarios below, and write a two page paper in APA format, double spaced, in 12 point font and with a 1” margin for each scenario. Please make sure to properly cite all sources.
Write a persuasive argument defending your position. Cover the following:
Please re-save this document and type your answers below the question. This way, I will know how many points the questions you have chosen to do are worth for purposes of determining your grade. If you fail to do this, it will be more difficult for me to calculate your grade because I will have to refer to the answer key. If you fail to follow these instructions, I will deduct 5 points off your final grade for failure to follow instructions.
Chapter 1
1. (a) What is law? (b) What are the functions of law? (c) Is the law fair? (d) Is the law flexible?
2. (a) List and Describe the six (6) sources of law in the United States? (b) Explain where these sources are derived from?
Chapter 2
1. (a) Please explain the two major functions of the U.S. Constitution. (b) What are the three (3) branches of government and how do they function?
2. (a) The First Amendment contains two separate religion clauses. What are they and what is the difference between them?
3. Inga Johannsen works as a second grade teacher in the state of Utopia. Utopia is very lucky to have an educational think tank in that state that does excellent research on how to best educate children. The think tank recently released a study that concluded that children learn best from teachers who have black hair. The study is too new to be fully evaluated, but previous studies from this think tank have always been confirmed when tested. The state of Utopia decides that, in the interest of offering the most effective educational environment, it will require all teachers who have been with the school system for less than 1 year to change their hair color to black. Inga is blond and has been with the school system for 364 days (1 day away from meeting the 1 year threshold). When she refuse to change her hair color, she is fired. Evaluate whether Inga’s due process and/or equal protection rights have been violated.
Chapter 4
1. Laura Beguiled and Spencer Lacey are famous movie stars, and they are planning to be married. One day, while standing in line at their local supermarket, they noticed Spenser’s picture on the cover of several magazines. One magazine showed a picture of Spencer with his arm around his brother, Casey, and the headline read: “Spenser Lacey and his gay lover!” Another magazine showed Laura holding a bottle of vodka. Beneath the photograph caption read: “Absolutely Beguiled.” The third magazine showed a picture of both Laura and Spencer in the hospital, at a time when Laura had plastic surgery. The pictures inside the magazine depicted her surgery, complete with nude photos on the operating table. Neither Laura nor Spenser had any idea that the surgery was being taped. Spenser became so angry that he ran up to the cashier, waved his finger in her face and shouted, “I should kill you for selling this trash!” As he stormed away, the cashier called security. Security came right away, but not before Spenser sped away in the couple’s car, leaving Laura behind. In the confusion, security threw Laura onto the floor and held her there until the police came. When the police came and ascertained that Laura had not committed any crimes, they released her. Identify all the potential lawsuits.
2. List and define the three (3) intentional torts against property?
3. List and describe the five (5) special business torts.
There are a number of companies that utilize a global supply chain management strategy. Identify and research a company with a successful global supply chain management strategy and provide basic background information. Discuss the strategies this company utilizes to get their product(s) distributed internationally and how they address risks and meet business demands.
Submit to your instructor your two to three page (not including title and reference pages). Your paper should be formatted according to APA style as outlined in the approved APA style guide, and should cite at least two scholarly sources in addition to the textbook.
Reference:
Wisner, J.D., Keah-Choon, T., & Leong, G. (2012). Principles of Supply Chain Management (3rd ed.). Mason, OH:
South-Western Cengage Learning. ISBN: 9780538475464
Directions: You must create a thread in response to the discussion board prompt below. Your thread must be at least 500 words and no more than 550 words. Your thread must include at least 1 source from a peer-reviewed journal article (outside of the assigned course readings) cited in current APA format. Please remember to include appropriate formatting using the APA manual, 6th edition. This is very important as a graduate level student. Be precise, concise and clear and give you instructor exactly what the rubric and instructions ask for when completing your assignments. Graduate quality work is expected to be free from spelling and grammatical errors, written according to the most current APA formatting guidelines, and adhere to the specific assignment rubrics that are provided.
Thread Forum Question: You are a middle school counselor in a public school setting. Susan is a 15-year-old at your school, and she has come to you describing her plan to commit suicide. She tells you but explains that you cannot tell anybody because, if her parents find out, she will be abused. She says she wants to commit suicide because she is being bullied by other girls at the school because for being a lesbian.
What ethical, legal, and professional issues are involved in Susan’s case?
Compare and contrast the ACA, ASCA, and AACA ethical codes, identifying the differences and similarities. Then, identify those that you are applying to Susan’s case.
Identify the legal issues involved in Susan’s case.
Identify other professional, spiritual, and cultural issues that need to be addressed in Susan’s case.
Specifically describe the actions that you would take to address all the issues that need to be addressed in order to help Susan, describe how you might integrate biblical principles related to this case and in this secular setting, and describe the impact of your own religious beliefs and values.
Note: Be sure to address everything above in your original post. Use the attached rubric as you complete this assignment to make sure that you are covering everything correctly.
Cultural differences and personality differences can impact cooperation. Team building is an important aspect of communication. Consider some aspects of culture and personality that may impact how people work together.
Research the importance of teamwork and the impact of personal and cultural differences on team building using your textbook, the Argosy University online library resources, and the Internet.
Situation:
After you helped your company, Labolg, prepare for expansion into other countries, the chief operating officer (COO) approaches you and tells you that she feels the differences among team members is negatively affecting production. She asks if you have any ideas for productive ways to work with the differences in their organization.
Analyze the situation and prepare a recommendation for the COO. State any assumptions you make
Victimization theories argue that victims are sometimes responsible for their own victimization. There are primary theories (VICTIM PRECIPITATION THEORY, LIFESTYLE THEORIES, DEVIANT PLACE THEORY, ROUTINE ACTIVITIES THEORY) of victimization that attempt to explain the aforementioned. The theories focus on victimization as it relates to conventional crimes. In your paper,
Your paper must