Author: chris

Use and Misuse of Percentages

One of the concepts you encountered in the readings this module was how to recognize the use and misuse of information presented in the form of percentages. In this discussion assignment, you will conduct an Internet search to find several examples of the use of percentages. These can be examples of percentages used in advertising claims, reported results from a study, or information shared by a government agency.

In a minimum of 200 words, post to the Discussion Area your response to the following:

Find an example of two of the following types of usage of percentages.

• Use of percentages as a fraction. Remember that this type will use the word of to imply multiplication. Explain whether this was an effective way to represent this information within the context of the example you found.
• Use of percentages to describe change. In the example you find, determine whether the reported percentage demonstrated absolute or relative change. Show your work. Explain whether this was an effective way to represent this information within the context of the example you found.
• Use of percentages for comparison. In the example you find, determine whether the reported percentage demonstrated absolute or relative change. Show your work. Explain whether this was an effective way to represent this information within the context of the example you found.

Now, find an example of two of the following misuses of percentages.

• Use of a shifting reference value. In this situation, the base values are changing as differing values of percentages are applied as increases, decreases, or both. Percentage increases, decreases, or both do not have a cumulative effect. Be sure to demonstrate why your example fits this category.
• Use of percentage to represent less than nothing. Look for an example where you are seeing a reduction of some percentage greater than 100. Be sure to demonstrate why your example fits this category.
• Situation where the average percentage is reported. In general, you can not average percentages. The result isn’t representative of what actually has occurred in the situation in question. Be sure to demonstrate why your example fits this category.

By Sunday, December 6, 2015, post your response to the appropriate Discussion Area. Through Wednesday, December 9, 2015, review the postings of your peers and respond to at least two of them. Consider commenting on the following:

• Examine each example that the student provided. Did these examples sufficiently demonstrate the ways that percentages are used and misused? Explain.
• What have you learned regarding the necessity of carefully examining the percentages reported in advertising, news media, government reports, etc.?

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand was the immediate cause of World War I. But the events that led to the Great War go further back into the nineteenth century. As with the Boxer Rebellion of 1900, nationalism, imperialism, and militarism all played a part.

Analyze how the forces of nationalism, imperialism, and militarism irrevocably led to World War I. Pay particular attention to the rise of Pan-Slavism in Eastern Europe and the corresponding rise of nationalism in German-speaking states. Analyze how the alliance system contributed to the ultimate outbreak of war.

Then analyze the events that drew the United States into World War I. Clearly discuss why America first remained neutral between1914-1917. What role did ethnicity play in America’s neutrality? Then identify and analyze the specific events that led to America’s entrance into the war. Evaluate America’s contribution to the war effort and to what extent America’s entry contributed to the end of the war. Finally, analyze the events that led to the defeat of the Treaty of Versailles. What effect did this have on America’s role in the world during the 1920s and 1930s? Pay particular attention to the role of President Woodrow Wilson both during and after the war, in particular, his efforts to establish the League of Nations.

This paper must be four to five double-spaced pages in length (not including the References page) and utilize no less than four academic quality sources. Margins should be no more than one inch (right and left) and the essay should be composed in an appropriate font and size. Sources must be documented and cited using APA format.

Write a 700- to 1,050-word summary of the team’s discussion about IFRS versus GAAP, based on your team collaborative discussions. The summary should be structured in a subject-by-subject format. An introduction and a conclusion are needed. Your essay should include the answers to the following:

IFRS 8-1: What are some steps taken by both the FASB and IASB to move to fair value measurement for financial instruments? In what ways have some of the approaches differed?

IFRS 9-1: What is component depreciation, and when must it be used?

IFRS 9-2: What is revaluation of plant assets? When should revaluation be applied?

IFRS 9-3: Some product development expenditures are recorded as development expenses and others as development costs. Explain the difference between these accounts and how a company decides which classification is appropriate.

IFRS 10-2: Explain how IFRS defines a contingent liability and provide an example.

IFRS10-3:

Format your essay consistent with APA guidelines.

Use the Financial Accounting text and at least two additional scholarly-reviewed references.

Q1)  The text emphasizes the need for strong business/IT relationships for managing IT. Describe what factors or variables contribute to a strong cross-unit relationship. Provide examples and cite your sources as appropriate.

Reading

Chapter 13 in Managing Information Technology

 

Q2)  Analyze the importance of internal and external sustainability audits in corporate sustainability. When should organizations catch their errors? Identify a well-known organization (or a not so well-known one) that has been “caught” in an audit nightmare. What might the corporation have done to avoid a catastrophe? Was the blunder a recoverable one?

My assignment got erased so I only have the rough draft and can give you the information I already have/

You are training individuals you supervise on how to attain expertise in your field.

Write a 1,050- to 1,200-word instruction paper on the processes involved with attaining expertise, reference the chapter in your text titled, “Expertise”.

 

Include the following salient points in your work:

1. Outline the stages in the development of expertise.
2. Outline the dimensions involved in the development of expertise.
3. Discuss how obtaining skills makes changes to the brain.

When faced with a problem, what do you do to solve it? This assignment asks you to apply a six-step to problem solving process to a specific problem scenario. You will write a paper that presents a synthesis of your ideas about solving the problem using this systematic approach. As Voltaire said, “No problem can withstand the assault of sustained thinking.”

Choose one (1) of the problem scenarios as a topic choice for your paper (Note: Your professor must approve your topic choice before you begin work on the assignment.)

Scenario 1: You have worked at your company for eleven (11) years. You have returned to college to earn a Bachelor’s degree in order to increase your chances for a promotion. You are nearly finished with your degree, when a supervisor’s position in a competing company becomes available in another state. The start date is in two (2) weeks, during your final exam period for your courses. The position offers a $15,000 per year salary increase, a car allowance, and relocation expenses. Your former supervisor works for the company and is recommending you for the position based on your outstanding job performance; if you want the job, it’s yours. All of the other supervisors at this level in the company have Master’s degrees, so you know that you would be expected to earn your Bachelor’s degree and continue on to a Master’s degree. Your present company offers tuition reimbursement, but the new company does not.

Scenario 2: Your child comes home from school with an assignment sheet for a school project. He / she is very excited about the project and begins work immediately, doing research on the Internet and gathering materials. You read over the assignment sheet and notice that your child is not including all of the required items in the project, and you have some ideas for how to improve the quality of the presentation. You recently read an article in a parenting magazine about the importance of a child developing responsibility for his/ her own learning. You recall the many ways in which your parents took over your school projects. You, on the other hand, want to encourage your child’s confidence in his / her ability to complete a project independently. The next day, you are at the grocery store when you see a parent of a student in your child’s class. That parent has spent over $30 in supplies for the science project and is taking a day off of work to put the pieces of the project together.

Scenario 3: You have two jobs—one during the week from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm, and one on Saturday from 3:00 pm to 11:00 pm. You are taking two classes—one that meets from 6:00 to 10:00 pm, and one class online. You have two kids—one who plays soccer, and one who is in band. You have two elderly parents who no longer drive. You have two siblings—one who lives two (2) miles away, and one who lives in another state. You have two (2) papers due in your classes the same week that one (1) of your children has a soccer tournament, and the other child has a band concert. You are coaching the soccer team, and you are in charge of fundraising for the band. You have a goal to complete your degree in two (2) years. Your doctor tells you that your blood pressure, your cholesterol, and your weight are too high and recommends several medications that cost you nearly $200 per month after your insurance co-pay.

Scenario 4: You are a sales representative for a company that encourages staff to log time in the field and away from the office. You are expected to begin and end your day at the office. You notice that each day when you arrive and return another co-worker is already there, and you wonder whether this person spends most of his / her time at the office. At your weekly sales meeting, you are informed of your co-workers’ outstanding sales performance. You suspect that this co-worker is spending more time flattering the boss instead of working leads in the field, and as a result is getting the best client referrals. Your own sales numbers have steadily decreased since this other sales representative was hired.

Scenario 5: Professor’s Choice – problem scenario presented by your professor.

Scenario 6: Student’s Choice – Problem scenario presented by you.

Review the six-step problem solving process outlined in the webtext, based on the article “The Problem Solving Process” located at http://www.gdrc.org/decision/problem-solve.html:

• Step One: Define the problem
• Step Two: Analyze the problem
• Step Three: Generate options
• Step Four: Evaluate options
• Step Five: Make your decision
• Step Six: Implement and reflect

Write a four to five (4-5) page paper in which you:

1. Define the problem in the scenario that you have chosen.

2. Analyze the problem in the scenario.

3. Generate options for solving the problem in the scenario.

4. Evaluate the options for solving the problem.

5. Decide on the best option for solving the problem.

6. Explain how you will implement the decision made and reflect on whether this option was the most effective.

The paper should follow guidelines for clear and organized writing:

• Include an introductory paragraph and concluding paragraph.
• Address main ideas in body paragraphs with a topic sentence and supporting sentences.
• Adhere to standard rules of English grammar, punctuation, mechanics, and spelling.

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 Style 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.

You should follow these submission guidelines:

• Submit the paper draft to Turnitin.com and then submit the originality report with the draft to Blackboard.

The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

• Recognize the hindrances to the decision-making process in order to apply problem-solving skills to a variety of situations.
• Create written work utilizing the concepts of critical thinking.
• Use technology and information resources to research issues in critical thinking skills and informal logic.

Requirements;apa format cover page, cites references, 12 font double space

Step 1: Create a case study based on your own life. Follow the headings as presented in the case studies on pages 29–30 of your text:

Name:

Education:

Marital Status:

Children:

Hometown:

Current Residence:

Complete your case study with a written narrative of 1 to 1½ pages about yourself. Unlike the case studies in the text, please write your assignment in the first person (“I am…,” “I was…”). Share only information you are comfortable sharing with others. If you prefer, you may create your case study about a family member or friend you know well.

Step 2: Write a reflection of 1 to 1½ pages on your current view of the meaning and importance of diversity consciousness in your personal life and/or in your workplace. Use the following questions as a guide for your reflection:

• What does “diversity consciousness” mean to you?
• How have your past life experiences affected your views of diversity and diversity consciousness?
• How have your views of diversity changed over time?
• How important is it to you to exercise diversity consciousness in your personal life and/or in your workplace?

Remember to cite concepts from your text in preparing your case study and to use APA style in your writing.

Total pages: 2–3

 

• Course Text: Bucher, R. D. (2015). Diversity consciousness: Opening our minds to people, cultures, and opportunities (4th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: PearsonEducation.

 

• • Chapter 1, “Diversity: An Overview”
  • Chapter 5, “Communicating in a Diverse World” (p. 144, “Eight Ground Rules for Difficult Dialogues”)

 

This assignment consists of two (2) sections: your final business plan and your business plan financials. Note: You must submit both sections as separate files for the completion of this assignment.

 

You have completed all of the necessary sections of your business plan and will now create a final draft. Use any / all feedback you have received to polish your plan to the point that you could confidently show it to investors and potential partners or customers.

 

Refer to the Outline of a Business Plan, beginning on p. 399 of the course text. (Click here for help accessing a specific page number in your eBook.) Not all businesses will include all of these components in this order, but use the outline as a guide. Specifically your plan will not require the Development, Milestones, and Exit Plan section of the business plan.

 

Section 1: Business Plan (MS Word or equivalent)

 

Construct a ten to thirty (10-30) page business plan. Note: Twenty (20) pages are sufficient for most businesses.

 

1. Write a one to three (1–3) page executive summary for your business plan, in which you justify:
   1. A clear and concise business concept.
   2. A thoroughly planned business concept.
   3. A capable management structure.
   4. A clear-cut market need.
   5. Significant competitive advantages for your business.
   6. Realistic financial projections.
   7. That investors have an excellent chance to make money.
   8. A realistic and developed exit plan.

 

Note: Read Chapters 4 and 18 of the course text: Successful Business Plan . Use the plan preparation worksheets on pp. 58–61 and the sample executive summaries on pp. 62–66 to help guide you, choose to write either a synopsis summary or a narrative summary, and include highlights from the each section of your business plan.

 

2. Combine all of the sections stated below and revise your initial business plan draft, which you submitted in Week 8, based on feedback you have received.
   • Executive Summary
   • Company Description (Assignment 1)
   • Industry Analysis and Trends ( Assignment 1 )
   • Target Market ( Assignment 2 )
   • Competition ( Assignment 2 )
   • Strategic Position & Risk Assessment ( Assignment 1 )
   • Marketing Plan & Sales Strategy ( Assignment 2 )
   • Operations Plan ( Assignment 3 Part 1 )
   • Technology Plan ( Assignment 3 Part 1 )
   • Management & Organization ( Assignment 3 Part 1 )
   • Ethics & Social Responsibility ( Assignment 3 Part 2)
   • The Financials ( Week 7 Discussion )

3. The Financials and the Management description—must spark enough interest to convince a reader to continue. Enhance the two (2) mentioned sections to appropriately engage the reader.
   • Hints: The financial section of your business plan will be derived from the previously completed financial worksheets.
4. Format your assignment according to these formatting requirements:
   • Cite the resources you have used to complete the exercise. Note: There is no minimum requirement for the number of resources used in the exercise.
   • Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; 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 page length.

 

Section 2: Business Plan Financials (MS Excel worksheets bundled with course textbook)

 

5. For year one, submit a revised Income Statement, Cash Flow Projection, and Balance Sheet from the “Business Plan Financials” Excel template based on your feedback from Project Deliverable 4: Business Plan – Draft .

 

The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

 

• Describe strategic planning techniques used to formulate alternative strategies designed to achieve stated business goals.
• Create a plan to implement a firm’s strategy and manage the change from current operations.
• Analyze strategies for exerting the internal leadership needed to drive the implementation of strategic initiatives and improve operating excellence.
• Use technology and information resources to research issues in strategic management.
• Write clearly and concisely about strategic management using proper writing mechanics.

Tasks:

On the basis of the cases that you read, answer the following question:

1. Is the business as an agent of world benefit (BAWB) an academic fad or a change in business principles? Why?

In a minimum of 300 words, post your responses using critical thinking and analysis.

 

Write your initial response in 300–500 words. Your response should be thorough and address all components of the discussion question in detail, include citations of all sources, where needed, according to the APA Style, and demonstrate accurate spelling, grammar, and punctuation

Do the following when responding to your peers:

• Read your peers’ answers.
• Provide substantive comments by
  • contributing new, relevant information from course readings, Web sites, or other sources;
  • building on the remarks or questions of others; or
  • sharing practical examples of key concepts from your professional or personal experiences
• Respond to feedback on your posting and provide feedback to other students on their ideas.
• Make sure your writing
  • is clear, concise, and organized;
  • demonstrates ethical scholarship in accurate representation and attribution of sources; and
  • displays accurate spelling, grammar, and punctuation.

 

Option topic 

In 1960, a political scientist named Richard Neustadt observed that while the founders intentionally designed American government as a system of separated powers, what they actually created was a system of shared powers. In other words, according to Neustadt, it is not Congress that has most legislative powers, but the president and Congress both share equally in the lawmaking process. Do you agree or disagree with Neustadt? Explain your reasons, citing examples. A strong case can be made either way. Be clear, concise, and intelligent as you explain your answer.