Author: chris

The text should be handed in, printed and stapled, following a Microsoft Word format, a letter size twelve (12) and a spacing of one and a half (1.5) between sentences (or line spacing in the paragraph options). The extension of the work should not be less than three (3) pages or greater than five (5) pages of content…. The written essay should be a product that reflects your understanding and interpretation (substantiated with arguments, evidence and reasoning, expressed in a clear, consistent, and accurate matter) of the assigned readings( I WILL PROVIDE THEM) Do not use Internet sources and limit yourself to the assigned texts, the discussion in class and your own argumentative capabilities. DUE PREFERABLY ON SEPTEMBER 30, IF NOT OCTOBER 1ST NO LATER THAN 6AM. 

 

 

Instructions:

To understand the validity of an instrument we must critically assess the core concepts that supposedly are being defined, measured and applied in a psychometric test. Having that in mind we have, during the second unit, critically revised the concept of “Intelligence” since the beginnings of “mental tests”, in the late XIX century, until the more recent theories of Intelligence developed in late XX century (specially during the 1980s and 1990s). For that reason the purpose of the this test is to elaborate a single essay that discusses the following:

 

1. How certain interpretations of the concept of evolution influenced the instrumentation and measurement of “Intelligence” in the “Nature vs. Nurture” debate at the end of the XIX century and the beginning of the XX century.

 

2. The problems and limitations regarding how “Intelligence” has been measured, defined and applied. 3. How recent theories, specially Robert Sternberg’s and Howard Gardner’s theories, have tried to solve some of these problems and limitations. It is advisable that you take into account the following “guidelines” when elaborating your discussion:

 

1. Take into consideration the historical overview regarding the theory of evolution and individual differences as discussed in class and on Hergenhahn and Hanley’s (2014) text. It also advisable to look at Sternberg’s (2003) historical revision of some of the theories of Intelligence.

 

2. Focus on one of the recent theories, either Sternberg’s or Gardner’s, giving examples on how they prove that “Intelligence” cannot be reduced to what usual and traditional psychometric tests measure.

The Genesis Energy operations management team, nearing completion of its agreement with Sensible Essentials, was asked by senior management to present a capital plan for the operating expansion. The capital plan was not to be a wish list but an analysis of the necessary expenditures to successfully establish a fully equipped operating facility overseas.

In addition, senior management requested meaningful financial and operating metrics to ensure that the performance objectives for the facility were being met. The operations management team was given five days to accomplish the following:

1. Calculate the firm’s WACC.
2. Prepare and analyze each planned capital expenditure.
3. Evaluate, rank, and recommend the capital expenditures according to beneficial value to the organization, using the evaluation tools NPV, payback, and IRR. Evaluation, ranking, and recommendations should be by category of expenditures. For example, facility, equipment 1, 2, and 3, and inspection.
4. Using the selected choices in part three, calculate the full cost of establishing a fully equipped facility. This would include the facility, equipment 1, 2, and 3, and inspection. In addition, calculate the payback, NPV, and IRR for the completed facility.
5. Construct and recommend between three and five metrics to measure the performance of the organization. At least one metric should be dividend decision-making driven.
6. Prepare an executive summary along with a separate document showing the calculations.

Part I

Following the example of the operations management team, do the following:

1. Download the Capital Budgeting spreadsheet, and compute the WACC for Genesis Energy.
2. Using the information provided in the spreadsheet, analyze Genesis Energy’s project options. Then, calculate the periodic and cumulative net cash flows for each potential project and its associated options. Please note that there are five projects (facility, equipment pieces 1, 2, and 3, and internal inspection), and that each project offers multiple-configuration options (facility size, equipment type, etc.).
3. Evaluate, rank, and recommend a specific option for each capital project according to beneficial value to the organization, using the evaluation tools NPV, payback, and IRR.
4. Construct and recommend between three and five metrics to measure the performance of the new operating strategy. At least one metric should reflect dividend policy as it relates to rewarding shareholders.
5. Prepare an executive summary describing your recommendations for each project and the overall cost, net cash flows, and expected returns of the operating configuration that you recommend. Be sure to justify your recommendations in terms of the investment criteria applied in Step 3 above. Be sure to report the full cost of the facility as it is configured per your recommendations. Present and justify your operating strategy performance metrics.

Your complete report should include all of your calculations as appendices (5 pages, or 1 page for each project).

Part II—Executive Summary Presentation

Because of limited resources in an era of plentiful opportunities, companies must carefully select investments. You analyzed Genesis Energy’s expansion plans and explained your findings in M5: Assignment 1.

This assignment is based on those findings. In this assignment, you will create a PowerPoint presentation that will include the following information:

• An executive summary of your findings from M5: Assignment 1. Be sure to adhere to the following:
  • The presentation should be approximately 6–8 minutes (or 10–12 slides).
  • A statement of the problem or topic is included.
  • A concise analysis of the findings is included.
  • Specific details from M5: Assignment 1 to highlight or support the summary are incorporate

You are a manager for a pet supplies manufacturer. This responsibility requires you to create budgets, make pricing decisions, and analyze the results of operations to determine if changes need to be made to make the company more efficient.

Using the workbooks and budget variance report you created for Final Project Part I, you will make recommendations about possible changes. You will look at the possibility of making some components of one product instead of buying them, and you will determine how to evaluate the company as a whole and managers in particular. You will create a budget analysis detailing your findings.

Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed in your analysis:

a) Budget Process and Variances

1. Discuss the initial budget process, the variances, and potential reasons for the variances.

2. What are the changes you think the company should make based on the variance analysis? What will the changes accomplish?

3. What are the ethical considerations of the changes you have selected? Why are you recommending these particular changes?

b) “Make” or “Buy”: Suppose you were to consider buying a particular component of one of your products or making the product in-house.

1. What factors would you consider in such a “make” or “buy” decision?

2. What are the ethical considerations of your decision? What implications could this decision have?

3. For each option (i.e., to “make” or to “buy”), how will this impact the efficiencies of your operation?

c) Nonfinancial Performance Measures

1. What suggestions would you make for nonfinancial performance measures that the company should adopt? What are the pros and cons of each?

2. What are the ethical considerations of your suggestions? Explain the significance of each.

For this assignment, you will review the steps to communicating the purpose of a research study and management question, examine the process to create a literature review, and develop Purpose of the Investigation andManagement/Business questions to use as a guide to your investigation. You will also begin researching information for the Problem or Opportunity Background section of your Portfolio Project.

Please note that the literature review, which is in Section II of your Portfolio Project, is entitled Problem or Opportunity Background. There are several components to this assignment:

Section I

• Revise and complete the Section I Worksheet—Business Opportunity  or Section I Worksheet—Organizational Problem
• Draft Section I using the Portfolio Project Template.

Problem or Opportunity Background

• Provide an outline of areas/topics you intend to investigate.
• Submit a list of at least twelve references that you will analyze and incorporate into Section II of the Portfolio Project (Problem or Opportunity Background) for the Week 8 Portfolio assignment in this course.
• Concentrate on using references that were published within the last five years.
• Ensure that a minimum of three references for each topic area have been identified at this point in the process.
• Identify and include a specific theory that is relevant to the topic, problem, purpose and management question.

Remember: the literature review does not attempt to answer your problem statement. The twelve references will provide the most up-to-date review of the areas/topics of your investigation. The references will be a starting point to develop Section II – Problem or Opportunity Background, which is due in Week 8 as part of the Portfolio Project.

Your well-written paper (one to three pages for Section I draft, plus outline of areas/topics for investigation and list of twelve references) should be formatted according to APA guidelines, including a title page, running head, page numbers, a separate reference page and the completed Worksheet asanAppendix.

Tom Emory and Jim Morris strolled back to their plant from the administrative offices of Ferguson & Son Manufacturing Company. Tom is manager of the machine shop in the company’s factory; Jim is manager of the equipment maintenance department. The men had just attended the monthly performance evaluation meeting for plant department heads. These meetings had been held on the third Tuesday of each month since Robert Ferguson, Jr., the president’s son, had become plant manager a year earlier. As they were walking, Tom Emory spoke: “Boy, I hate those meetings! I never know whether my department’s accounting reports will show good or bad performance. I’m beginning to expect the worst. If the accountants say I saved the company a dollar, I’m called ‘Sir,’ but if I spend even a little too much—boy, do I get in trouble. I don’t know if I can hold on until I retire.” Tom had just been given the worst evaluation he had ever received in his long career with Ferguson & Son. He was the most respected of the experienced machinists in the company. He had been with the company for many years and was promoted to supervisor of the machine shop when the company expanded and moved to its present location. The president (Robert Ferguson, Sr.) had often stated that the company’s success was due to the high-quality work of machinists like Tom. As supervisor, Tom stressed the importance of craftsmanship and told his workers that he wanted no sloppy work coming from his department. When Robert Ferguson, Jr., became the plant manager, he directed that monthly performance comparisons be made between actual and budgeted costs for each department. The departmental budgets were intended to encourage the supervisors to reduce inefficiencies and to seek cost reduction opportunities. The company controller was instructed to have his staff “tighten” the budget slightly whenever a department attained its budget in a given month; this was done to reinforce the plant manager’s desire to reduce costs. The young plant manager often stressed the importance of continued progress toward attaining the budget; he also made it known that he kept a file of these performance reports for future reference when he succeeded his father. Tom Emory’s conversation with Jim Morris continued as follows: Emory: I really don’t understand. We’ve worked so hard to meet the budget, and the minute we do so they tighten it on us. We can’t work any faster and still maintain quality. I think my men are ready to quit trying. Besides, those reports don’t tell the whole story. We always seem to be interrupting the big jobs for all those small rush orders. All that setup and machine adjustment time is killing us. And quite frankly, Jim, you were no help. When our hydraulic press broke down last month, your people were nowhere to be found. We had to take it apart ourselves and got stuck with all that idle time. Morris: I’m sorry about that, Tom, but you know my department has had trouble making budget, too. We were running well behind at the time of that problem, and if we had spent a day on that old machine, we would never have made it up. Instead, we made the scheduled inspections of the forklift trucks because we knew we could do those in less than the budgeted time. Emory: Well, Jim, at least you have some options. I’m locked into what the scheduling department assigns to me and you know they’re being harassed by sales for those special orders. Incidentally, why didn’t your report show all the supplies you guys wasted last month when you were working in Bill’s department? Morris: We’re not out of the woods on that deal yet. We charged the maximum we could to other work and haven’t even reported some of it yet. Emory: Well, I’m glad you have a way of getting out of the pressure. The accountants seem to know everything that’s happening in my department, sometimes even before I do. I thought all that budget and accounting stuff was supposed to help, but it just gets me into trouble. It’s all a big pain. I’m trying to put out quality work; they’re trying to save pennies.

Review the case. Respond to the following:

• Identify the problems that appear to exist in Ferguson & Son Manufacturing Company’s budgetary control system and explain how the problems are likely to reduce the effectiveness of the system. (approximately 1 page)
• Explain how Ferguson & Son Manufacturing Company’s budgetary control system could be revised to improve its effectiveness. (approximately 1–2 pages)
• Explain how the use of an activity-based costing system could change the results of the budget, if utilized. (approximately 1 page)
• As stated in the case, many employees have “quit trying” and have altered behavior on the job. Provide specific ways for how you would use a budget to change employee behavior and align goals in the organization. Explain how goal alignment can improve profitability and overall return to the shareholders of the company. (approximately 1 page)
• Synthesize data to explain the concept of ROI and describe how the use of an activity-based costing system can improve the company’s ROI and the potential impact on free cash flow. (approximately 1 page)

Complete both parts of this assignment and submit as a single document.

Part One Based upon recording balance of payment (BOP) transactions, determine whether or not the following is a debit, credit, or no entry to the U.S. Balance of Payment statement. Also determine what chart of account is affected (i.e., CA, KA, or OSB):

1. U.S. resident purchases Mercedes Benz C230,

2. U.S. resident purchases Chevelot Impala,

3. foreigner purchases GE dryer,

4. U.S. resident purchases UK stock, and

5. U.S. resident borrows funds from British broker to purchase stock.

 

Part Two  

Read the case study, pp. 759-762, “H&M: The Challenges of Global Expansion and the Move to Adopt International Financial Reporting Standards.” Answer questions 19-3 and 19-4 at the end of the case study and the questions listed below. Your response for all four questions should be at least three pages in length and follow APA style guidelines.

What type of exposure could the CFO of H&M in the U.S. be subjected to since H&M is based in Sweden and the financial statements are prepared according to IFRS?

Payments or liabilities may also be subjected to exposure. Explain the operational hedging strategies that may offset exposure.

19-3. If an investor wants to compare the financial results of the Gap, Index, and H&M. what difference does it make that their financial statements are prepared according to different GAAP? Would you expect there to be a big difference between U.S. GAAP as used by the GAP and IFRS as used by H&M and Inditex?

 

19-4. Waht are the major sources of influences o H&M’s accounting standards and practice?

Discussion
Comparison of Health System Characteristics Around the World
How does the U.S. healthcare delivery system compare with other countries’ healthcare delivery systems? What is the relationship of a country’s economic resources to health outcomes? How does the funding of services influence access to care? How does government involvement in healthcare delivery inform the patient/consumer experience?
There are no simple answers to the questions above. Yet, it is essential to engage in thoughtful, ongoing inquiry into questions such as these in order to gain a well-rounded perspective on healthcare delivery. In this Assignment, you will analyze and compare data to deepen your understanding of the U.S. healthcare delivery system, as well as other healthcare delivery systems around the world. Your examination of data can provide valuable insights, but it is also important to consider the context surrounding healthcare expenditures and outcomes. In this Discussion, you will examine health system characteristics, such as government involvement and funding of healthcare delivery in the United States and other nations.
For the Discussion and this week’s Assignment, select one country to compare with the United States in terms of healthcare (i.e., compare the same country in both the Discussion and Assignment).
To prepare for this Discussion:
Review the information related to health system characteristics in the Shi and Singh (2015) course text, as indicated in the Resources.
Research the characteristics of the U.S. healthcare delivery system and the systems of your selected countries using the Walden library and credible websites, such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) site.
Consider the following questions as you research your selected country:
How is the health system organized? Is there a central governing agency?
How does an individual gain access to needed services, including specialized care?
How are healthcare services paid for? For example, does the country have a national health system with tax-funded coverage, a health insurance system with a single payer, a health insurance system with multiple insurers, or something else?
What benefits do people in this country experience because of the health system’s characteristics? For instance, are people guaranteed access to healthcare services? Do patients receive well-coordinated care because their health information is readily available to providers through an integrated technology system? Do they have a great deal of choice when selecting physicians?
What challenges do people in this country encounter? For instance, is there typically a long wait to see a specialist? Do patients encounter adverse effects because medical supplies are not readily available? Are healthcare services prohibitively expensive for most people?
Week 5 Discussion Instructions – 300 -500 words
Describe two or more defining characteristics of the U.S. healthcare system.
Explain how these characteristics compare to the characteristics of the healthcare system of your selected country. (Be sure to identify the country in your posting.)
Explain potential benefits and challenges for people in the United States and your selected country based on the health system characteristics you have identified.
Reminder: Be sure to cite your supporting documentation appropriately in correct APA format.

WEEK 5 Assignment Instructions –
Week 5 Assignment
International Comparison of Data
The World Health Organization’s “Statistical Information System” is an interactive database that allows you to compare health indicators for multiple countries. For this Assignment, you will compare the country you selected for the Discussion with the United States in terms of healthcare (i.e., please compare the same country in both the Discussion and Assignment.)
To prepare for this Assignment:
Consider the value of using standardized quantitative health measures or indicators to compare information internationally.
Examine the definitions of indicators presented in the Resources, including pages 55–62 of the Shi and Singh (2015) course text.
Use the WHO website to examine country statistics and profiles.
Create a table to record data related to three health indicators for the two countries you are comparing, as illustrated in the example Indicators Chart on this page.
Once your table is complete, compare the data and analyze it in light of the information presented in this week’s Resources and the research you conducted for the Discussion. What insights does this comparison give you about health and disease within the U.S. healthcare delivery system and the system of the other country you selected?
The Assignment
Write a 1- to 2-page paper in which you:
Identify the country that you are comparing with the United States.
Define the three health indicators you have selected for your analysis and explain why you chose them.
Include the table you created to record and compare your data.
Summarize the results of your comparison, sharing at least two insights that you gained through this analysis of health and disease in the United States and your selected country.
Due by Day 7 of Week 5.
Your Assignment must be written in standard edited English. Be sure to support your work with specific citations from this week’s Learning Resources and additional scholarly sources as appropriate. Refer to the Essential Guide to APA Style for Walden Students to ensure that your in-text citations and reference list are correct. See the rubric for additional requirements related to research and scholarly writing.
Indicators Chart
Indicators (2012)    United States    Somalia
Life expectancy at birth m/f (years)    76/81    51/55
Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $)    8,895    17
Under-5 mortality rate (per 1,000 live births) (both sexes)    7    147

It is easy to criticize society for not using renewable resources, but in reality, how difficult would this transition be? What processes and procedures would be involved? How would such a transition be made?

The purpose of this assignment is for you to consider what type of energy your neighborhood is currently powered by and what it would really take to convert this source to a renewable one. How much would it take to switch your community to a renewable resource and what would this mean for the environment?

For the assignment, complete the following:

• Identify three primary types of energy that powers your home as well as all of the homes in your community. You may find this information on your community Web site or the Web sites of the local power companies. For example, your community may use electricity and solar panels.
• Explain how the sources of energy you identified impact the environment. Consider the following:
  • Does the use of these types of energy resource have a negative impact on the environment in your area?
  • Does your community have nuclear waste to dispose of?
  • Has your community always used these three power sources? If so, how do you feel this has impacted the environment over time?
  • How much of an impact have these sources of energy had on local air and water quality?
• Considering the current source(s) of power available, determine how much energy your house uses each month. You can find this information on your monthly energy bill.

  Calculate your annual usage for a year. Using this value, estimate the energy consumption for your community. The US Census Bureau is one resource you can use to estimate the number of households in your community.

  You can use the following formulae for this calculation:

  (monthly energy usage) × (12 months per year) = (household energy usage per year); (yearly energy estimate for your house) × (estimated number of houses in your community) = (estimated yearly energy use for your community)

  The following is an example of the above calculation:

  52.8 kilowatt hours (kwh) per month × 12 months = 633.6 kwh; 633.6 kwh × 200 houses in your community = 126,720 kwh

• Recommend a realistic, renewable resource to power your community, using your calculated power needs. Consider the following sources: hydropower, solar power, wind turbines, and geothermal energy.
  • Which source would be the best for your community?
  • Justify your choice based on the kind of resources that are available, how much power these alternative sources can produce, and your estimated energy demands for the community.
• Having recommended an alternative power source, conclude by addressing the following:
  • How realistic is this alternative power source for your community?
  • How will people in your community respond to energy conversion? Will they support it or be against it? Give reasons.
  • How expensive would it be to convert to the alternative power source you recommended? How would this new source impact the environment?
  • What organisms would benefit most from this conversion?

 

Complete the Addressing International Legal and Ethical Issues simulation.

 

Write a 350-word summary. In your paper, answer the following questions:

 

• What are the issues involved in resolving legal disputes in international transactions?
• What are some practical considerations of taking legal action against a foreign business partner based in another country?
• What factors could work against CadMex’s decision to grant sublicensing agreements?
• When the local customs and laws conflict with the customs and laws of an organization operating abroad, which should prevail? Explain why.
• How would you compare the issues in this simulation to the domestic legal issues discussed in your Week One readings? How should companies resolve domestic and international issues differently?
• Include an in-depth introduction and conclusion.

 

Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines.

 

Please see the attachment the results of the Addressing International Legal and Ethical Issues simulation.

 

This is the second part of the assignment.

Write a 85-150-word summary defining statutory law and differences between substantive law, procedural law, criminal law, civil law, and common law. Provide examples of statutory law and discuss what U.S. Constitution amendments were implemented to protect the rights of businesses and organizations. Discuss the topics you are comfortable with, the topics you struggled with, and how the weekly topics relate to application in your field.

•Read the paper by Stone and colleagues (1994), paying particular attention to the use of hypocrisy and cognitive dissonance to motivate people to practice safe sex (Will include as attachment)

 

•Think of the hypocrisy paradigm, pay particular attention to how you would define and explain it, and consider ways that dissonance in hypocrisy differs from dissonance in an induced compliance paradigm.

 

•Think about how researchers test the effect of hypocrisy on behavior and how it can be measured.

 

•Consider the limitations in the Stone, et al., study and think about how you might avoid them.

 

•Then think about designing an induction of hypocrisy that would motivate people to use sunscreen.

 

The assignment (2–3 pages): Not including title or reference page- APA Standards

 

•Briefly define and explain the hypocrisy paradigm. How does the dissonance in hypocrisy differ from the dissonance in the induced compliance paradigm? Why do the researchers predict that hypocrisy motivates people to change their behavior rather than their attitudes?

 

•Explain how the researchers tested the effect of hypocrisy on behavior change in this study. Specifically, describe who the subjects were, what they did in each condition of the study, and how behavior change was measured. Summarize the results of the study.

 

•Assess and explain the problems you see with the study and the conclusions drawn by the researchers. Describe two limitations to the study and explain how they impact the results.

 

•Design an induction of hypocrisy to motivate people to use sunscreen more often when they spend time in the sun. Describe who the target individuals would be and then explain how you would get them to make a public commitment to the use of sunscreen and how you would make them mindful of past failures to use sunscreen. Finally, explain how you would measure their motivation to reduce dissonance by changing their behavior.

 

Support your Application Assignment with specific references to all resources used in its preparation and cite appropriately.