#1

Discuss the appropriate use and construction of mixed methods research and research design. Pay particular attention to Creswell’s discussion regarding the components of mixed methods procedures.

In your post, address the following:

• Explain why both qualitative and quantitative means might provide a more robust research study.
• What do you see as the most critical aspects of mixed methods research?
• How do the key tenets of mixed methods research assist us when evaluating criminal justice data?
• How do the key tenets contribute to successfully interpreting published research findings?

#2

Every researcher is faced with a host of uncertainties as they embark upon any respective research endeavor. Decisions have to be made, methodologies finalized, data analyzed, and inferences made. Take a moment to reflect on the course you took and the decisions you made as you finalize the form your proposal will take.

• Which research methodology did you select? (You must select whichever one you want between quantitative method, qualitative method, or mixed methods)
• What about your research study led you to select this methodology?

Find the cash flow statement for CVS Healthcare and post it, as well as the cash flow for their competitor Walgreens. Compare the cash flow for both companies, compare, and provide comment on each. Attach the cash flow statements to response.

Primarily discuss the elements of the cash flow statement and compare each section. The purpose of the analysis is not to compare the volume of cash flow. Many companies that are competitors of each other are very different in size. Focus on how each company is obtaining their cash and how it is being use. Be sure to document both the similarities and differences. Also, be sure to compare year over year numbers and note and research any significant trends or differences from year to year.

 

The response should be scholarly and accurate, using APA formatting (with in-text citations and reference list.).  Also, be sure to use headers.

	Prepare: Prior to completing this discussion, read the Critical Literary Theories handout.
	Reflect: In the Critical Literary Theories handout, four different kinds of critical approaches are presented. Consider which of the four theories you find most interesting as a means for understanding literature.
	Write: Your initial post should be at least 200 words in length. The minimum word count does not include references.Choose two of those critical approaches and address the points below. Describe each critical approach in detail. Compare and/or contrast the two critical approaches. How are they different and similar? Determine which critical approach you find most useful for examining the conflicts and meaning in literature. Explain why you chose this particular approach as the most useful. Why does it appeal to you?
	Respond to Peers: Respond to at least two of your classmates’ initial posts. Each response should be at least 75 words in length and should address two or more of the following points: Do you agree with your classmates’ perspectives? Why, or why not? Be specific. Ask a specific question to encourage further discussion on the topic. Challenge your classmates’ interpretation of literature and/or point of view. Do a small amount of research and share what you learn with your peers about the topic discussed in this post.

How does natural culture affects bussiness all around the world.

Consider the following Case Study:

You are a HR Consultant who has been contracted by the Fellows Company.

The Fellows Company would like to implement a HRIS. The company has 200 employees and plans on growing 100% over the next 3 years. Currently, Fellows utilizes Excel and Word for keeping track of employee files. Annually, the company spends $50,000 for the HR Department for the salaries of one HR employee who maintains the employee records. There is an accounts payable clerk who makes $45,000 a year and works on Payroll 2 days per week.

Your project is to help the Fellows Company determine the cost-savings and ROI for a new HRIS. Based on research and the Module Readings, determine the ROI of implementing a HRIS. Estimate the initial cost of implementation of an Employee Records/Payroll HRIS for the Fellows Company. You may make assumptions for costs, if you are unable to discover actual costs of HRIS systems.

Create a 3-4-page proposal that summarizes the benefits and the ROI of a new HRIS. Consider the following in your proposal:

What functions does the HRIS offer and how will it save Fellows time and money?
What will be the ROI for the investment? (Consider the initial investment as well as the cost per month/per employee)
What reassurances can you offer the company to help them feel confident in your recommendation?

What are expectations regarding the strength of the U.S. economy in the next 2 years?

Strategic Groups and Marketing Decisions

Complete the following discussions:

• Although strategic groups tend to be rigid, they are by no means fixed. One of the things managers have to be aware of is which firms may change group membership. With the results from Year 13 of the simulation, consider the following:
  • Why do firms tend to cluster into strategic groups?
  • Would it not make sense for firms to spread out across strategic spaces? Why or why not? Explain your rationale.
  • How likely is it that firms competing in other strategic groups will adapt their strategy to compete directly against you? Explain your rationale.
  • Which firms currently not in your strategic group would be most likely to try and enter your group? Why?
• Firms also sell in the Internet markets and have to coordinate the Internet marketing strategy with the branded marketing strategy.
  • How do firms that are successful in the Internet market balance their sales there with those in retail markets?
  • Is there any evidence showing firms that emphasize the Internet channel are being hurt in the retail channel and vice versa? Support your answer with examples.
  • A firm has to market an athletic shoe product line that it orders from its factories. Which decisions on the Production and Labor screens are critical to coordinate with the firm’s marketing strategy? Why?

The Genesis Energy operations management team is now preparing to implement the operating expansion plan. Previously, the firm’s cash position did not pose a challenge. However, the planned foreign expansion requires Genesis Energy to have a reliable source of funds for both short-term and long-term needs.

One of Genesis Energy’s potential lenders tells the team that in order to be considered as a viable customer, Genesis Energy must prepare and submit a monthly cash budget for the current year and a quarterly budget for the subsequent year. The lender will review the cash budget and determine whether or not Genesis Energy can meet the loan repayment terms. Genesis Energy’s ability to repay the loan depends not only on sales and expenses but also on how quickly the company can collect payment from customers and how well it manages its supplier terms and other operating expenses. The Genesis Energy team members agreed that being fully prepared with factual data would allow them to maximize their position as well as negotiate favorable financing terms.

The Genesis Energy management team held a brainstorming session to chart a plan of action, which is detailed here.

• Evaluate historical data and prepare assumptions that will drive the planning process.
• Produce a detailed cash budget that summarizes cash inflow, outflow, and financing needs.
• Identify and compare interest rates, both short-term and long-term, using debt and equity.
• Analyze the financing mix (short/long) and the cost associated with the recommendation.

Since this expansion is critical to Genesis Energy expanding into new overseas markets, the operations management team has been asked to prepare an executive summary with supporting details for Genesis Energy’s senior executives.

Working over a weekend, the management team developed realistic assumptions to construct a working capital budget.

1. Sales: The marketing expert and the newly created customer service personnel developed sales projections based on historical data and forecast research
2. Other cash receipt: Rental income $15,000 per month
3. Production material: The production manager forecasted material cost based on cost quotes from reliable vendors, the average of which is 50 percent of sales
4. Other production cost: Based on historical cost data, this cost on an average is 30 percent of the material cost and occurs in the month after material purchase
5. Selling and marketing expense: Five percent of sales
6. General and administrative expense: Twenty percent of sales
7. Interest payments: $75,000—Payable in December
8. Tax payments: $15,000—Quarterly due on 15th of April, July, October, and January
9. Minimum cash balance desired: $25,000 per month
10. Cash balance start of month (December): $15,000
11. Available short-term annual interest rate is 8 percent, long-term debt rate is 9 percent, and long-term equity is 10 percent. All funds would be available the first month when the firm encounters a deficit
12. Dividend payment: None

Based on this information, do the following:

1. Using the Cash Budget spreadsheet, calculate detailed company cash budgets for the forthcoming and subsequent years. Summarize the sources and uses of cash, and identify the external financing needs for both the forthcoming and subsequent years.

   Download this Excel spreadsheet to view the company’s cash budget (this is the attached document titled m3_a2_cash budget). You will calculate the company’s monthly cash budget for the forthcoming year and quarterly budget for the subsequent year using this information.

2. In an executive-level report, summarize the company’s financing needs for the forecast period and provide your recommendations for financing the planned activities. Be sure to comment on the following:
   1. Your recommended financing solution and cost to the firm: If Genesis Energy needs operating cash, how should it fund this need? Are there internal policy changes with regard to collections or payables management you would recommend? What types of external financing are available?
   2. Your concerns associated with the firm’s cash budget. Is this a sign of weak sales performance or poor cost control? Why or why not?

Based upon the emergency management concept of incident management that includes the phases of preparedness and mitigation, response, and recovery, identify the actions that will need to be taken in each phase as they relate to Hurricanes in Miami, Florida.
Identify the major challenges that Miami and responders will encounter when responding to Hurricanes.
What solutions exist (e.g., mutual aid, contract services) to overcome challenges from a hurricane? Explain in detail.
What should be the short- and long-term recovery goals of Miami following the occurrence of a hurricane?
Be sure to reference all sources using APA style.

Individual Portion

Develop a PowerPoint presentation of 6–7 slides that provides details about your plan.
Include speaker notes of 200–300 words that will be used when presenting the plan t

Mathis, Inc. is a designer and manufacturer of women’s clothing and specializes in high-end women’s winter fashions. Normandale, a retailer, sells high-end products in malls throughout the country. With Mathis’s high costs, Normandale is unable to make a profit from the sale of Mathis’s products.

Countess Lori-Ann (CLA) is a Mathis competitor. Normandale sends photographs and samples of the Mathis line to CLA and instructs them to make an identical line at a lower price. Mathis labels are easily discernable in the photographs and the samples have the Mathis label attached. CLA copies the Mathis line for Normandale.

CLA sells the clothing to Normandale at a low price allowing Normandale to sell the products for a total gross profit of nearly $3 million, an increase of nearly 50% over its sale of Mathis products. Mathis discovers that Normandale is selling counterfeit products, and sends several cease-and-desist letters to them—to no avail. Mathis then sues Normandale alleging Normandale has engaged in illegal conduct. Normandale counters that it did nothing wrong.

Research business law in regard to protection of intellectual property using your textbook, the Argosy University online library resources, and the Internet. Based on the facts of the case and research, write an analytical paper. In the paper, respond to the following questions:

• Was it ethical for Normandale to sell the alleged knock-off products at a lower price? Explain.
• What federal or state laws protect owners of intellectual property?  How do they apply here? Explain.
• What damages, if any, has Mathis suffered because of Normandale’s conduct? Explain.
• What are the differing views on the social responsibility of corporations like Normandale?
• What ethical code could Normandale implement to prevent similar incidents in the future?
• Do the owners of Normandale have personal liability to Mathis for damages?  Explain.
• Do the owners of Normandale have personal criminal liability for their conduct and that of the business?  Explain.