Category: Business and management

Overview This week there is a focus on the objective of a supply chain and achieving a strategic fit in a supply chain. The goal of a supply chain should be to increase the difference between the value generated for customers and the total cost incurred across the supply chain. Supply chain decisions have a large impact on the success or failure of each firm. Strategic fit requires that all functions within a firm and stages in the supply chain target the same goal, one that is consistent with customer needs. Instructions Each question must be answered thoroughly, and the responses must be supported by the concepts introduced in the reading/study materials. Each question/answer must be delineated under a heading in current APA format. The overall format of the assignment should include an appropriate introduction (or abstract) and a conclusion. Provide well-supported ideas and relate the course content to practical examples and applications. Include a title page and reference page also in current APA format. Incorporate a minimum of 5 peer-reviewed sources with at least 1 source per question. All

A discussion question response is considered to be a 250 word answer to each discussion question. A response to a classmate should be 100 words. Less than this will automatically result in a significant reduction in ones grade. One initial response and one response to a classmate’s posting are required for each question within your group’s question.

In addition to required discussion question responses, you could post substantive comments and respond in a thoughtful and constructive way to class members. Substantive comments should add to the class discussion in a way that enhances knowledge. Responses such as, I agree, are not considered to be substantive.

Please be aware, when you post to a forum you have 5 mins to edit your post in case there is anything you would like to change. During this 5 minute period you won’t be able to reply to your classmates posts. After 5 minutes have passed, you will be able to see and reply to your classmates.

Discussion Activity (Choose Two):

1. Identify the three main pathways to entering business for a prospective entrepreneur.
2. In evaluating whether or not to buy a franchise operation, the potential investor should ask a series of questions. What questions should the potential investor ask about the franchisor, the franchise, the market, and the potential investor themselves?
3. Why would a venture capitalist be more interested in buying a convertible debenture for $500,000 than lending the new business $500,000 at a 4 percent interest rate?

750 words As part of your Doctoral journey, you are reading Timothy Kellers book Every Good Endeavor. On page 41 of the hardcover version of this book, he included, Did God create food only to provide for necessity (nutrition) and not also for delight and good cheer? So, to the purpose of clothing apart from necessity (protection) was comeliness and decency. In grasses, trees, and fruits, apart from their various uses, there is the beauty of appearance and pleasantness of fragrance…Did he not, in short, render many things attractive to us, apart from their necessary use? Additionally, you will explore the concept of Relationship Marketing and, in particular, you will focus on Differentiating Customers by Their Needs. Please answer these questions and use scholarly support for your answers: Why has more progress been made on customer value differentiation than on customer needs differentiation? Is it possible to meet individual needs? Is it feasible? Can you describe three examples where it has been profitable? For each of the following product categories, name a branded example, then hypothesize about how you might categorize customers by their different needs. Automotive Airlines Personal Care (cosmetics, deodorant, toothpaste, etc.) Hotels Connect the chapter from ‘Every Good Endeavor’ called ‘The Design of Work’ to ONE of the examples you provided. For example, a Louis Vuitton handbag holds important items for their consumers from their money and credit cards and many other daily essentials. But a handbag from Walmart works just as effectively. Why is there such a following for Louis Vuitton then? You choose YOUR example. Connect Timothy Keller’s excerpt from page 41. Search the Bible for at least threeverses that would guide people as they engage in relationship marketing with one another in the world today. State and discuss the Bible verses that can be applied to relationship marketing. Please make sure to review and analyze the context of the verses you selected to gain correct of understanding of the message contained therein. Discuss relationship marketing principles found within your Bible verses. Discuss the importance of understanding and applying the truth of the Bible on both personal and business levels. , students must support their assertions with at least 2 scholarly authored citations in current APA format, plus at least one new reference from a Marketing Journal to support the topic researched. That is a minimum of 3 scholarly sources. Any sources cited must have been published within the last five years, except for the Bible. Students should also integrate a minimum of three scripture verses into the discussion.

Read the HR Answer Book Chapter 1-Employee Selection In Chapter 1 of The HR Answer Book, we learn that hiring the right employee is critical to business success. The chapter outlines key steps in the selection process, including defining job requirements, evaluating resumes, conducting interviews, and making final hiring decisions. Discussion Questions: What are the most important qualities or qualifications you believe HR professionals should prioritize during the employee selection process? The chapter mentions structured vs. unstructured interviews. In your opinion, which approach is more effective and why? Have you ever been part of a hiring process (as an applicant or interviewer)? Share your experience and discuss how it aligns or differs from the best practices described in the chapter. What strategies can employers use to reduce unconscious bias during selection? Instructions: Post your response (at least 150 words)

Create a 9-slide presentation in which you analyze cost accounting practices to make a recommendation about whether or not to accept a purchase offer at a lower price than normal. You may write a 23 page supporting report.

Collapse AllIntroduction

This portfolio work project will help you to assess a request, complete an analysis to understand the impact on an organization, provide a recommendation, and communicate that recommendation.

Scenario

The Acme Pickle Company has distributed pickles under the “Florida’s Best” brand for eight years from its production facility in Jacksonville, Florida. It sells the pickles to stores in the southeastern United States. Acme normally produces between 8,000 and 10,000 cases of pickles a month but has the capacity to produce 12,000 cases without adding equipment or personnel.

The owner of a twenty-store supermarket chain in Wisconsin, called Super Deals, visits friends in Florida and is impressed with the quality of “Florida’s Best” pickles. He approaches you, an Acme Pickle account manager, with an offer to buy 2,000 cases of pickles to use in a special promotion at his stores. He is thinking of something such as:

“Free jar of Florida’s Best pickles with every purchase of forty dollars or morethis month only!”

He offers Acme a price of $9.50 per case, knowing that it is a very substantial discount from the normal selling price of $20 a case. Acme’s management is inclined to turn the offer down, because their cost is calculated at $10.00 a case. They believe they would lose money if they sold at $9.50 a case. You, on the other hand, believe that some errors have been made in the cost accounting.

Your Role

You are the account manager for Acme Pickles.

Requirements

Your analysis for the controller and sales manager is needed to suggest a different way of calculating the pricing of the pickles that may be lower. As part of your analysis, address the following items:

• Explain why some production costs are variable and some are fixed.
• Analyze the benefit of recalculating the cost of pickle production.
• How would you recalculate it?
• What would the result be?
• What is the benefit to the company of recalculating the cost?
• Analyze how financial accounting of production cost differs from managerial accounting of production cost.
• Explain the difference between the two accounting methods.
• Identify the benefits and drawbacks of each method.
• Recommend a plan of action to management regarding Super Deals offer.

Below is the cost report for a recent month. In this month, Acme produced 9,000 cases and sold them at $20 per case, which is Acme’s normal selling price. Nine thousand cases are well beyond Acme’s break-even point, enabling Acme to record a substantial profit at the nine-thousand-case level.

Acme Pickle Company Cost Report

ItemCostCucumbers$15,000Spices and vinegar11,000Jars and lids10,000Direct labor, paid by the case30,000Line supervisors, on salary10,000Depreciation on factory10,000Property taxes on factory3,000Insurance on factory1,000Total Costs:$90,000Cost per case (9,000 cases produced) $10.00

Deliverable Format

Your team lead wants to share this analysis across remote locations of the organization and is hoping you will set the standard for how analyses and decisions of this type should be presented and supported. Your team has requested a presentation (including slides and notes). Prepare a presentation of at least nine slides using PowerPoint or software of your choice detailing your recommendation and the information you used to make your recommendation. You must provide detailed speaker notes, including citations on slides and in Notes area of the slide. You are required to add a recorded voice-over in which you present and interpret data. The voice-over does not replace your Notes section; you must still have written speaker notes for each slide.

Recommendation requirements:

• Presentation slides:
• Create at least nine slides detailing your recommendation and the information you used to make your recommendation.
• Include additional details as slide notes.

Related company standards:

• The recommendation report is a professional document and should therefore follow the corresponding MBA Academic and Professional Document Guidelines, including single-spaced paragraphs.
• In addition to the presentation or report materials, include:
• Title (slide or page).
• References (slide or page).
• Appendix with supporting materials.
• At least two APA-formatted references.

Faculty will use the scoring guide to review your deliverable as if they were the controller or sales manager. Along with reviewing the content, they will also review the way you present this content. Review the scoring guide prior to developing and submitting your assessment.

ePortfolio

This portfolio work project demonstrates your competency in applying knowledge and skills required of an MBA learner in the workplace. Include this in your personal .

Competencies Measured

By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies through corresponding scoring guide criteria:

• Competency 1: Explain how accounting concepts and practices impact financial reporting.
• Explain why some production costs are variable and some are fixed.
• Competency 2: Apply principles of accounting to assess financial performance.
• Analyze how financial accounting of production cost differs from managerial accounting of production cost.
• Competency 3: Analyze accounting information to support business decisions.
• Analyze the benefit of recalculating the cost of pickle production.
• Recommend a plan of action to management.
• Competency 4: Communicate financial information with multiple stakeholders.
• Communicate accounting information clearly.

Scoring Guide

Use the scoring guide to understand how your assessment will be evaluated.

Collapse AllCriterion 1

Explain why some production costs are variable and some are fixed.

Distinguished

Explains why some production costs are variable and some are fixed and provides examples.

Proficient

Explains why some production costs are variable and some are fixed.

Basic

Identifies fixed and variable production costs but does not explain why they are so.

Non Performance

Does not explain why some production costs are variable and some are fixed.

Criterion 2

Analyze the benefit of recalculating the cost of pickle production.

Distinguished

Analyzes the benefit of recalculating the cost of pickle production and includes examples of benefits to the company.

Proficient

Analyzes the benefit of recalculating the cost of pickle production.

Basic

Explains that the production cost can be recalculated but does not explain the benefits.

Non Performance

Does not analyze how the production cost can be recalculated.

Criterion 3

Analyze how financial accounting of production cost differs from managerial accounting of production cost.

Distinguished

Analyzes, in detail, how financial accounting of production cost differs from managerial accounting of production cost and provides examples illustrating the differences in taxes and profits.

Proficient

Analyzes how financial accounting of production cost differs from managerial accounting of production cost.

Basic

Explains the difference between managerial and financial accounting but does not analyze the difference it would make in the production cost of pickles.

Non Performance

Does not analyze how financial accounting of production cost differs from managerial accounting of production cost.

Criterion 4

Recommend a plan of action to management.

Distinguished

Recommends a plan of action to management using sound financial information to support the recommendation.

Proficient

Recommends a plan of action to management.

Basic

Suggests potential actions to management.

Non Performance

Does not recommend a plan of action to management.

Criterion 5

Communicate accounting information clearly.

Distinguished

Communicates clearly and engages the reader with the fluidity of expression. There are few if any errors of mechanics, grammar, or style.

Proficient

Communicates accounting information clearly.

Basic

Communicates accounting information, but some information is not clear.

Non Performance

Does not communicate accounting information effectively.

Use the resources linked below to help complete this assessment.

Collapse AllCost Accounting and Budgeting

The following reading provides information on cost accounting and budgeting:

• Marshall, D. H., McManus, W. W., & Viele, D. F. (2023). Accounting: What the numbers mean (13th ed.). McGraw-Hill.
• The following chapters are most appropriate for this week:
• Chapter 12, “Managerial Accounting and Cost-Volume-Profit Relationships.”
• .
• Chapter 14, “Cost Planning.”
• .

Production and Price Decisions

The following reading addresses making production and pricing decisions:

• Marshall, D. H., McManus, W. W., & Viele, D. F. (2023). Accounting: What the numbers mean (13th ed.). McGraw-Hill.
• Chapter 13, “Cost Accounting and Reporting.”
• .

Answer the questions labeled discussion questions 700 words not including reference list, students must support their assertions with at least 2 peer-reviewed journal articles in current APA format. The thread must include a reference list, and each question/answer must be delineated under an APA heading.

Read the HR Answer Book Chapter 1-Employee Selection In Chapter 1 of The HR Answer Book, we learn that hiring the right employee is critical to business success. The chapter outlines key steps in the selection process, including defining job requirements, evaluating resumes, conducting interviews, and making final hiring decisions. Discussion Questions: What are the most important qualities or qualifications you believe HR professionals should prioritize during the employee selection process? The chapter mentions structured vs. unstructured interviews. In your opinion, which approach is more effective and why? Have you ever been part of a hiring process (as an applicant or interviewer)? Share your experience and discuss how it aligns or differs from the best practices described in the chapter. What strategies can employers use to reduce unconscious bias during selection? Instructions: Post your response (at least 150 words)

In general, business planning, like any process, must have a goal. The success of any business project depends on 3 key factors: 1. Awareness of the current state of the entity/company (point “A”) the so-called initial state 2. A clear idea of the set goal, or what the entity/company should achieve (point “B”) this is the so-called vision of the future state 3. A clear understanding of the sequence of set activities (steps) and the necessary instruments (or resources) to move from point “A” to point “B”. The main purpose of a business plan is to prove the viability of the conceived project and the efficient use of resources (financial, material, intellectual (knowledge, patents, brand or other form of intellectual property), human, IT, technological, information, etc.) and instruments (methods, analyses, procedures, etc.) that are at your disposal. The instructions consist of: Instructions for writing a business plan (this document) Excel spreadsheet for calculation (attached) Each chapter of the business plan should contain: a detailed explanation by chapter a definition of key terms in the chapter link the chapter to the sheet to the Excel spreadsheet The business plan is based on several principles: readability and comprehensibility, is oriented towards the market, technology, work technology and capacities contains an assessment of the impact of the market and competition, contains a coherent marketing plan that includes the 4Ps – product, price, promotion and distribution, analysis of market opportunities, market segmentation according to selected criteria and an assessment of the profit potential of the selected market segment finally, the business plan has – a convincing, sustainable and realistic development vision. Business plan and excel in English the plan should be about German football club SSV Ulm 1846, the excel is in Croatian But should be in english

Please rewrite this discussion post:

I think religion has the potential to have a positive effect on the way a person performs their job in today’s workplace. Religions give individuals many of their core values and ethical principles; these same values and ethics will ultimately affect the way a person approaches their work and their interactions with co-workers. If a person feels as though their beliefs are compatible with their work, or that their beliefs are recognized and accepted by their employer, this could be a motivator for them to be more productive and committed to their work.

Religion can also significantly impact a persons workplace role through daily activities such as praying, dressing in a certain manner, adhering to specific diets, or taking time off for religious holidays. When employers take steps to support and accommodate employees who practice religion in a reasonable manner, employees typically feel valued and supported, and as a result their morale improves and they perform at a higher level. However, when an organization fails to recognize or understand religious differences it may lead to employee discomfort, discrimination, or poor communication with coworkers, all of which may have a negative impact on team work and productivity.

Ultimately, I do not see religion as the problem – but rather the way religion is handled in the workplace. The key to making religious diversity a benefit (and not a hindrance) is through inclusive leadership and respectful organizational policy. When leaders create a culture of respect for all religious beliefs and treat each belief system equally, then religion can be a contributor to both an individual’s ability to perform and the overall culture of the workplace.

Discussion Post:

Is there anything else you would add to the Bill of Rights if you were asked to make an amendment? What would you add, and why? If you would not add anything, justify why you think nothing else is needed.

Respond to peer post:

If I were asked to add an amendment to the Bill of Rights, I would focus on reforming congressional leadership through term limits, an age cap, and stricter ethical standards. Specifically, I would support limiting elected congressional officials to a set number of terms and establishing an age cap of 65. The intent is not to diminish experience, but to ensure that those in power remain connected to the realities faced by the majority of citizens in their states and districts. As generational gaps grow, long-serving and significantly older officials have become disconnected from modern challenges, technology, and social conditions that shape everyday life.

This amendment ratification would require full transparency regarding insider trading and financial activity by elected officials. Members of Congress should not be in positions where they can profit from information unavailable to the public. Mandatory disclosure, strict oversight, and real-time reporting of financial transactions would help reduce fraud and restore public trust.

Finally, the amendment would establish stricter and clearly defined punishments for congressional officials who commit fraud or abuse their position. The consequences (if any) appear minimal compared to the impact of the misconduct. Holding leaders to higher standards reinforces accountability and ensures that no one is above the law.

Together, these measures would promote fairness, transparency, and representation, strengthening public confidence in government and preserving the integrity of democratic leadership.