Author: chris

Select a publicly traded company using the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) EDGAR System  and submit to the instructor for approval. Please note that each student must research a different company. Once the instructor has approved the company selection, obtain the Annual Report (Form 10K) and Proxy Statement (Form DEF 14A) of the company for the immediate past fiscal year. Review these documents in addition to Earnings Releasesand other financial information available on the company’s Investor Relations website to evaluate the following items.

Independent Auditor’s Report

• Based on the selected public traded company, what type of auditor’s report was issued on the financial statements.
• What kind of evidence the auditors found that indicated the company did not follow Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).

Audit Committee

• Identify members of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors, its functions, and number of meetings held.
• Determine if the composition of this committee satisfies Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) requirements in terms of independence and accounting knowledge.
• Review the audit committee report and discuss Committee actions. Determine how these actions ensure the integrity of the audited financial statements.

Independent Registered Public Accountants

• Identify the company’s independent registered public accounting firm.
• Determine how long this firm has served as the external auditors.
• Determine other services, if any, provided to or on behalf of the company.
• Determine fees paid to this firm by type of service provided.
• Discuss changes in or disagreements with the accountants on accounting and financial disclosures, if any.

Reports of the Independent Registered Public Accountants

• Review the report of the independent registered public accounting firm on internal controls. Determine if the report and its contents meet the criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) and the PCAOB.
• Review the report of the independent registered public accounting firm on the audited financial statements. Determine what type of opinion was issued and whether the work performed meets the criteria of COSO and the PCAOB, in addition to GAAP and GAAS.

Prepare a 10-12 page research paper (excluding title page, abstract, references page, and appendices containing financial analysis) in APA format that presents the findings of your analysis of the company’s SEC filings. Your paper should also discuss the following:

• The type of auditor’s report that was issued.
• What kind of evidence the auditors found which indicated the company did not follow Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
• Roles, responsibilities, and objectives of internal and external auditors.
• Types and assessment of audit and Internal control risks.
• Ethical standards in auditing and the implications of unethical behavior.
• Internal control system, its role in a business and its significance in the auditing process.
• Use of computer assisted auditing techniques.
• GAAS, GAAP, PCAOB, and COSO requirements for audits of publicly traded companies.

The purpose of the Risk Matrix is to provide a picture of the risk for the entire project.  It is a communication tool.  If you look at the template for week four you will notice some of the cells are blue.  I believe these should be red.  For the various categories, cells in the spreadsheet, you are expected to place, in each cell the number of risks, from your project that correspond to the cell type.  Here are my expectations.

• List 10 risks from your project, using the appropriate risk metalanguage, along with your estimate of probability and impact.  Using a separate table is fine.
• Include this list in your submission.
• Then use this list to complete the provided template.
• Again, remember to attach you name, as in assignment 1, and a brief project description.

Please keep in mind that these assignments are designed to help you create your final project.  So the more thought and effort put in now will make life easier at the end.

Here is an example that may clarify things.  If you look in your text on pages 214 and 215 or pages 69- 70, you will see two templates.  Fig B5(6-2) shows how to determine the P-I for each individual risk.  So let us say we are building a shed in the backyard.  The contractor wants 50% of the bid up front.  One of our risks is that the contractor may take the money and not complete the job.  So looking at B5(6.2) for that risk, we figure the probability at Medium (31 – 50%).  For this assignment, assume that you have gotten the opinion of an expert to make this determination.  The impact is half the cost of our project and is negative, so it would be Very High.  Taking this, we then look at the matrix for B6(6.3).  We have a Medium probability the third row down and a Very High negative impact, the fifth column from the left.  Therefore, in the cell where the row and column intersect, you add the number one.  If your second risk also had a medium probability and a very high impact, you would add another 1 to the cell giving 2.

Here is how this overall rating provided by the matrix would be used.  If in your shed project, there are no opportunities and all of the risks are in the red zone, you may want to cancel the project prior to starting.  Alternatively, for example, prior to the start purchase insurance against the contractor taking your money and running making it less risky.  I have seen projects be killed prior to starting based on the risks being greater than the potential rewards.

Your portfolio project for this course is a formal research proposal for a QUALITATIVE research study based on a subject of your choosing within your current or future career field. Following is a summary of what you will be required to do to successfully complete your research project.

Compose a 12 – 15 page research report on a topic of your choosing within your career field. This assignment requires that you reflect on, evaluate, analyze, synthesize, and apply your research on each of the topics listed in the project.
Your research proposal must include the following items:
Title page
Executive summary or abstract (use an executive summary if your topic is business related or an abstract if your topic is education related)
Background of the problem (1-2 pages describing the history and importance of your chosen topic)
Problem statement (a discussion of the topic or problem that clearly explains what the issue is and why it is important
Purpose statement (say something like, “The purpose of this study is to…”)
Review of related literature. This should show the reader how the sources support your topic and explain their relationship to one another.
Research methodology (a 1-2 page explanation of the qualitative methodology that your study will use, including the research question(s), population, sample, instrumentation, and methods for analyzing the data)
Summary and recommendations (show how the literature supports your problem statement and how your research will support the problem statement, and make recommendations based on this information)
Conclusion (a paragraph that summarizes the information, refers back to the introductory paragraph, or offers a future outcome of the information presented in the essay body)
Reference page formatted in APA style
Appendix (material that you do not include in the body of the paper, but ask your readers to refer to)
Annotated bibliography (a final version of the Week 4 annotated bibliography, including any changes or new sources included in the final project)
Two visuals in addition to any appendix material you provide.
12 – 15 pages in length, not counting the required title page, abstract, and reference pages.
10 to 12 scholarly sources that are not required or recommended readings for this course. The CSU-Global Library is a reliable place to find these sources.
Formatted according to the CSU-Global Guide to Writing and APA Requirements
Adheres to the standards laid out in the rubric, which can be found in the Module 8 folder
Please note: an academic research proposal is a formal project based on research and therefore it is not appropriate to use first person (voice). Use third person (voice) when engaging in academic writing.

Write clearly and logically, as you will be graded on content, analysis, and your adherence to the tenets of good academic writing, which should be succinct where possible while also exploring the topics appropriately.

The board of directors for Riordan Manufacturing has asked your consulting team (i.e., your Learning Team) to create a strategic plan for the organization.

Write a 2,500- to 3,500-word strategic plan paper as a collaborative project, that includs the following, that includes the following:

1. A relevant overview of Riordan Manufacturing.
2. A brief summary of the strategic management process (i.e., environmental scanning, strategy formulation, strategy implementation, and evaluation and control).
3. An actionable strategic plan, specifically designed for Riordan Manufacturing, that answers to the following questions:

• • Why does Riordan Manufacturing need a strategic plan?
  • What role should ethical and social responsibility considerations have in Riordan Manufacturing’s strategic management process?
  • What competitive advantages does Riordan Manufacturing currently have?
  • What proposed competitive strategies should Riordan Manufacturing utilize to improve innovation and sustainability in both domestic and international operations?
  • What measurement guidelines should Riordan Manufacturing use to verify ongoing strategic effectiveness?
  • What internal dynamics, along with cultural and structural leadership considerations, should Riordan Manufacturing use when implementing the proposed competitive strategies?
  • How will the proposed competitive strategies influence long-term business continuity at Riordan Manufacturing?
  • What assessment and feedback controls should be used to determine if Riordan Manufacturing is achieving the strategic plan’s anticipated outcomes?
  • If the proposed competitive strategies for Riordan Manufacturing do not achieve the anticipated outcomes, at what point should senior management consider altering this strategic plan, and how?

Explain and justify all of the decisions and recommendation presented in your strategic plan using data collected from Riordan Manufacturing’s Virtual Organization website, and research and understanding learned from this course’s reading materials.

Format your paper according to 400-level APA standards (see Writing & Style Guidelines in the eCampus Center for Writing Excellence for assistance). An abstract is not required, but the paper must include a Conclusion heading. The word count does not include the title and reference pages.

Discuss Manet’s relationship with historical painting. What examples did he follow, and in what ways did he radically break from those examples?

2. Using Mont Saint-Victoire as an example, explain how Paul Cézanne changes Impressionism and sets the stage for twentieth-century art.

3. Compare and contrast the goals of two art movements of the 20^th Century. Focus your analysis on how they rebel against. Use examples of artists and their artworks to illustrate your points.

4. Describe the development and influence of cubism on twentieth century art. Include a comment regarding the working relationship of Picasso and Braque.

Final Project – Submission

The Final Project is due this week with your Module 8 Homework Assignment.  Please upload a second document entitled “Final Project” with your Module 8 Homework Assignment.

Choose one of the following artworks or artists for your Final Report.  Your report must completely answer the four questions posed to guide your research.  Write in complete sentences and utilize APA guidelines.  You will need to use the LIRN library and the Internet to find enough information and, therefore, you will need to cite your sources on a final page labeled “References.”

1. Describe the work or artist (100 words or more).

–       state the correct name

–       state the artist(s) if known

–       give the actual dimensions of the work (feet and inches)

–       note the principle features of the work

2. Compare (50 words or more).

–       explain how this artwork (or artist) is similar to others of the same time

–       is it part of a trend?

3. Contrast (50 words or more).

–       explain how this artwork (or artist) is different from all others of the same time

–       is it/he part of a revolution

4. Evaluate (100 words or more).

–       explain why this artwork (or artist) is significant or important to his or her age

–       why did he become popular during his time

–       what did he contribute to the future of art

5. References

–       list your sources of information so that the instructor can locate them later and check your work

• Artists

o       Paul Gaugin

o       Mary Cassatt

Uniform Pricing Monopolist I
Given an inverse demand function:  P = a – bQ; where a = 170, b = 1, and the short-run cost function is C(Q) = eQ + f, where e = 30 and f = 200, if the monopolist is maximizing profit:
a.     Solve for Q*, P*, total revenue, marginal revenue, total cost, marginal cost, profit, price elasticity of demand, consumer surplus and producer surplus.

Uniform Pricing Monopolist II
Given an inverse demand function:  P = a – bQ; and the short-run cost function is C(Q) = eQ + f, where e = 30 and f = 200, if the monopolist is maximizing profit:
Solve for Q*, P*, total revenue, marginal revenue, total cost, marginal cost, profit, price elasticity of demand, consumer surplus and producer surplus where a = 340 and b = 1.
Solve for Q*, P*, total revenue, marginal revenue, total cost, marginal cost, profit, price elasticity of demand, consumer surplus and producer surplus where a = 170 and b = 2.
Compare your results with the results 2a and 2b with 1a above.

Uniform Pricing Monopolist III
Given an inverse demand function:  P = a – bQ; where a = 170, b = 1, and the short-run cost function is C(Q) = eQ + f, where e = 30 and f = 200, if the monopolist is maximizing revenue:
Solve for Q*, P*, total revenue, marginal revenue, total cost, marginal cost, profit, price elasticity of demand, consumer surplus and producer surplus.
Compare your results with the results from 1a above.

Group Pricing
Given an inverse demand function:  P = a1 – b1Q; where a1 = 25, b1 = 0.05, and the short-
run cost function is C(Q) = eQ + f, where e = 10 and f = 0:  Solve for Q*, P*, total revenue, marginal revenue, total cost, marginal cost, profit, consumer surplus and producer surplus.
Given an inverse demand function:  P = a2 – b2Q; where a2 = 50, b2 = 0.10, and the short-
run cost function is C(Q) = eQ + f, where e = 10 and f = 0:  Solve for Q*, P*, total revenue, marginal revenue, total cost, marginal cost, profit, consumer surplus and producer surplus.
Given an inverse demand function:  P = a – bQ; where a = 33.33, b = 0.033, and the
short-run cost function is C(Q) = eQ + f, where e = 10 and f = 0:  Solve for Q*, P*, total
revenue, marginal revenue, total cost, marginal cost, profit, consumer surplus and producer surplus.
Compare the outputs, prices, profits and sum of CS and PS from 4a and 4b with the results in 4c.

Two-Part Pricing:  Identical Customers
Given an inverse demand function:  P = a – bQ; where a = 170 and b = 1, and the short-run cost function is C(Q) = eQ + f, where e = 30 and f = 200, if the monopolist is maximizing profit:
a.     Solve for Q*, P*, optimal fee, total revenue, marginal revenue, total cost, marginal cost, profit, and consumer surplus minus the fee.

You can become a millionaire!  That’s what the junk mail said.  But then there was the fine print:

If you act before midnight tonight, then here are you chances: 0.1% that you receive $1,000,000;

75% that you get nothing, otherwise you must PAY $5000.

But wait, there’s more!  If you don’t win the million AND you don’t have to pay on your first attempt then

you can choose to play one more time.

If you do, then we 20X your probability of winning big – yes, you will hava a 2% chance of

receiving $100,000 and 60% chance of winning $7500, but must pay $10,000 otherwise.

What is your expected outcome for attempting this venture?  Solve this problem using

a decision tree and clearly show all calculations and the expected value at each node.

Answer these questions:

1) should you play at all? (5%) And if so, what is my expected (net) monitary value? (10%)

2) If you play and don’t win at all on the first try (but don’t lose money), should you try again? (5%) Why? (5%)

3) clearly show the decision tree (40%) and expected net monitary value at each node (25%)

For this Application Assignment, you are to write a 4- to 5-page paper on the issues of data quality, patient safety, and access to health care. Reflect on your own practices and review your readings and the media programs about how information technology improves patient safety and quality of care.

Conduct additional research using the Walden Library. Then, addressing the following:

• Describe strategies that are used to ensure the accuracy and safety of data entered into information systems used in nursing practice.
• Explain the importance of data integrity for health care institutions.
• Summarize how information technology contributes to patient safety and to access to health care.

Make sure to refer to your Application Assignment Rubric prior to submission. Support your position or those of others with references from the professional literature.

Visit the Choose Your Business Structure section of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s website.

If you were to start your own business, which business entity structure would you choose? Justify why your chosen structure is the best organizational form.

Explain the following business structures: sole proprietorship, partnership, LLC, and a corporation. In your analysis address the following for each business structure:

1. Steps to form
2. Personal liability for owners
3. Taxation
4. Advantages and disadvantages

Your paper must be three to five pages (excluding title and reference pages), and it must be formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center. You must cite at least two scholarly sources in addition to the course textbook..

Required Resources

Required Text

1. Essentials of Business Law:
   1. Chapter 11: Personal and Real Property
   2. Chapter 13: Business Organizations