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  • FINC600: Corporate Finance (need in 8 hours)

    Week 2 Assignment: Case 1 – Ratios and Financial Planning

    Turnitin enabledThis assignment will be submitted to Turnitin.

    Case 1 – Ratios and Financial Planning

    [Chapter 3, page 81]

    In 1969, Tom Warren founded East Coast Yachts. The companys operations are located near Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, and the company is structured as a sole proprietorship. The company has manufactured custom midsize, high-performance yachts for clients, and its products have received high reviews for safety and reliability. The companys yachts have also recently received the highest award for customer satisfaction. The yachts are primarily purchased by wealthy individuals for pleasure use. Occasionally, a yacht is manufactured for purchase by a company for business purposes.

    The custom yacht industry is fragmented, with a number of manufacturers. As with any industry, there are market leaders, but the diverse nature of the industry ensures that no manufacturer dominates the market. The competition in the market, as well as the product cost, ensures that attention to detail is a necessity. For instance, East Coast Yachts will spend 80 to 100 hours on hand-buffing the stainless steel stem-iron, which is the metal cap on the yachts bow that conceivably could collide with a dock or another boat.

    Several years ago, Tom retired from the day-to-day operations of the company and turned the operations of the company over to his daughter, Larissa.

    Because of the dramatic growth at East Coast Yachts, Larissa decided that the company should be reorganized as a corporation and, today, the company is publicly traded under the ticker symbol ECY.

    Dan Ervin was recently hired by East Coast Yachts to assist the company with its short-term financial planning and also to evaluate the companys financial performance. Dan graduated from college five years ago with a finance degree, and he has been employed in the treasury department of a Fortune 500 company since then.

    The companys past growth has been somewhat hectic, in part due to poor planning. In anticipation of future growth, Larissa has asked Dan to analyze the companys cash flows. The companys financial statements are prepared by an outside auditor.

    After Dans analysis of East Coast Yachts cash flow (at the end of our previous chapter), Larissa approached Dan about the companys performance and future growth plans. First, Larissa wants to find out how East Coast Yachts is performing relative to its peers. Additionally, she wants to find out the future financing necessary to fund the companys growth. In the past, East Coast Yachts experienced difficulty in financing its growth plan, in large part because of poor planning. In fact, the company had to turn down several large jobs because its facilities were unable to handle the additional demand. Larissa hoped that Dan would be able to estimate the amount of capital the company would have to raise next year so that East Coast Yachts would be better prepared to fund its expansion plans.

    To get Dan started with his analyses, Larissa provided the following financial statements. Dan then gathered the industry ratios for the yacht manufacturing industry.

    East Coast Yachts
    2023 Income Statement

    Item

    Income

    Sales

    $495,381,600

    Cost of goods sold

    $357,466,500

    Selling, general, and administrative

    $ 59,200,300

    Depreciation

    $ 16,166,700


    EBIT

    $ 62,548,100

    Interest expense

    $ 8,910,000


    EBT

    $ 53,638,100

    Taxes (25%)

    $ 13,409,525


    Net Income

    $ 40,228,575



    Dividends

    $ 17,437,050

    Retained earnings

    $ 22,791,525
    East Coast Yachts
    2023 Balance Sheet

    Current Assets

    Amount

    Current Liabilities

    Amount

    Cash and equivalents

    $ 9,096,300

    Accounts payable

    $ 36,146,575

    Accounts receivable

    $ 15,131,900

    Accrued expenses

    $ 5,151,400


    Inventory

    $ 16,322,100

    Total current liabilities

    $ 41,297,975

    Other

    $ 949,400


    Total current assets

    $ 41,499,700

    Fixed assets

    Long-term debt $137,200,000


    Property, plant, and equipment

    $370,828,800 Total long-term liabilities $137,200,000


    Less accumulated depreciation

    (92,206,700)


    Net property, plant, and equipment

    $278,622,100

    Intangible assets and others

    $ 6,094,800


    Stockholders’ equity

    Total fixed assets

    $284,716,900


    Preferred stock $ 1,595,700
    Common stock $ 29,057,000
    Capital surplus $ 24,178,000
    Accumulated retained earnings $131,382,725
    Less treasury stock (38,494,800)


    Total equity $ 147,718,625


    Total assets

    $326,216,600



    Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity $326,216,600



    Yacht Industry Ratios

    Ratio

    Lower Quartile

    Median

    Upper Quartile

    Current ratio

    .86

    1.51

    1.97

    Quick ratio

    .43

    .75

    1.01

    Total asset turnover

    1.10

    1.27 1.46

    Inventory turnover

    12.18 14.38 16.43

    Receivables turnover

    10.25 17.65 22.43

    Debt ratio

    .32 .56 .61

    Debt-equity ratio

    .83 1.13 1.44

    Equity multiplier

    1.83 2.13 2.44

    Interest coverage

    5.72 8.21 10.83

    Profit margin

    5.02% 7.48% 9.05%

    Return on assets

    7.05% 10.67% 14.16%

    Return on equity

    14.06% 19.32% 26.41%

    Assignment Directions

    Write a case analysis of 2,000 2,500 words (8 to 10 pages), content (title page and reference page not included) in proper APA format, covering the following requirements:

    1. East Coast Yachts uses a small percentage of preferred stock as a source of financing. In calculating the ratios for the company, should preferred stock be included as part of the companys total equity?
    2. Calculate all of the ratios listed in the industry table for East Coast Yachts for 2023. (Use Excel to do the calculations, then copy and paste them into your paper).
    3. Compare the performance of East Coast Yachts to the industry as a whole. For each ratio, use decision criteria and comment on why it might be viewed as positive or negative relative to the industry. Suppose you create an inventory ratio calculated as inventory divided by current liabilities. How would you interpret this ratio? How does East Coast Yachts compare to the industry average for this ratio?
    4. Calculate the sustainable growth rate for East Coast Yachts. Calculate external funds needed (EFN) and prepare pro forma income statements and balance sheets assuming growth at precisely this rate. Recalculate all of the ratios in the previous question given these new criteria. What does your analysis conclude? (Use Excel to do the calculations, then copy and paste them into your paper).
    5. As a practical matter, East Coast Yachts is unlikely to be willing to raise external equity capital, in part because the shareholders dont want to dilute their existing ownership and control positions. However, East Coast Yachts is planning for a growth rate of 20 percent next year. What are your conclusions and recommendations about the feasibility of East Coasts expansion plans?
    6. Most assets can be increased as a percentage of sales. For instance, cash can be increased by any amount. However, fixed assets often must be increased in specific amounts because it is impossible, as a practical matter, to buy part of a new plant or machine. In this case, a company has a staircase or lumpy fixed cost structure. Assume that East Coast Yachts is currently producing at 100 percent of capacity and sales are expected to grow at 20 percent. As a result, to expand production, the company must set up an entirely new line at a cost of $75 million. Prepare the pro forma income statement and balance sheet given these new criteria. What is the new EFN with these assumptions? What does this imply about capacity utilization for East Coast Yachts next year? (Use Excel to do the calculations, then copy and paste them into your paper).

    Submission Guidelines

    • Prepare this Assignment according to the APA guidelines, including a title page, an introduction, and a conclusion. An abstract is not required. Usein-text citations and include a References section. A template is included in the Resources and Supports.
    • Calculate all financial data in an Excel worksheet (preferred) and submit with the assignment. If calculations are shown in Word, please show step by step. Place in Appendix (page after References) and refer to the information in the content of the paper. Please label/organize the calculations in detail.
    • In your report, make certain that you include at least three (3) credible outside references from search engines or scholarly sources from the APUS Online Library.
    • Note that your attached paper will automatically be submitted to Turnitin, and an Originality Report should be sent back to the classroom within around 15 minutes. The Originality report does not actually recommend changes. It does point out where you may need to add a citation or quotation marks (if not already cited). Once you use it a few times, you will appreciate this tool, as it will assist you in improving quality and content, as well as avoiding plagiarism. Your goal is to keep direct quotations to a minimum and to make sure that you do not just cut and paste material. Ensure that all your references are cited. Students should strive for a TII report with a similarity index of less than 20%.
        • In the Assignment dropbox, please attach your paper as a file; do not copy & paste. Submit your assignment by 11:59 pm ET, Day 7 (Sunday).

        Your paper will be evaluated according to the Writing Assignment Grading Rubric shown below. To maximize your grade, be sure to use the proper organization (intro, body, conclusion) and follow APA style. Your paper should have a title page and reference page, but you do not need an abstract for this assignment. See the PowerPoint presentation attached for APA assistance.

        This paper will be graded according to the FINC Graduate Grading Paper Rubric


        Be sure to review the following before submitting your assignment:

        • Assignment Rubric:
          • If you do not see the rubric, in the blue horizontal navigation bar select Course Tools, then Assignments. Select the appropriate assignment, and the rubric will be located near the bottom of the page.

        This Assignment aligns with the following:

        • Course Objective:
        • Learning Objectives:

        Resources and Supports

        • : You have free access as an APUS student. Sign in with your MyCampus Email credentials.
        • : Watch this 3-minute video if you need guidance on submitting your assignment.

        Requirements: 2,000 2,500 words (8 to 10 pages), content (title page and reference page not included)

        Requirements: Need in 8 hours

      • FINC600: Corporate Finance

        Week 2 Assignment: Case 1 – Ratios and Financial Planning

        Turnitin enabledThis assignment will be submitted to Turnitin.

        Case 1 – Ratios and Financial Planning

        [Chapter 3, page 81]

        In 1969, Tom Warren founded East Coast Yachts. The companys operations are located near Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, and the company is structured as a sole proprietorship. The company has manufactured custom midsize, high-performance yachts for clients, and its products have received high reviews for safety and reliability. The companys yachts have also recently received the highest award for customer satisfaction. The yachts are primarily purchased by wealthy individuals for pleasure use. Occasionally, a yacht is manufactured for purchase by a company for business purposes.

        The custom yacht industry is fragmented, with a number of manufacturers. As with any industry, there are market leaders, but the diverse nature of the industry ensures that no manufacturer dominates the market. The competition in the market, as well as the product cost, ensures that attention to detail is a necessity. For instance, East Coast Yachts will spend 80 to 100 hours on hand-buffing the stainless steel stem-iron, which is the metal cap on the yachts bow that conceivably could collide with a dock or another boat.

        Several years ago, Tom retired from the day-to-day operations of the company and turned the operations of the company over to his daughter, Larissa.

        Because of the dramatic growth at East Coast Yachts, Larissa decided that the company should be reorganized as a corporation and, today, the company is publicly traded under the ticker symbol ECY.

        Dan Ervin was recently hired by East Coast Yachts to assist the company with its short-term financial planning and also to evaluate the companys financial performance. Dan graduated from college five years ago with a finance degree, and he has been employed in the treasury department of a Fortune 500 company since then.

        The companys past growth has been somewhat hectic, in part due to poor planning. In anticipation of future growth, Larissa has asked Dan to analyze the companys cash flows. The companys financial statements are prepared by an outside auditor.

        After Dans analysis of East Coast Yachts cash flow (at the end of our previous chapter), Larissa approached Dan about the companys performance and future growth plans. First, Larissa wants to find out how East Coast Yachts is performing relative to its peers. Additionally, she wants to find out the future financing necessary to fund the companys growth. In the past, East Coast Yachts experienced difficulty in financing its growth plan, in large part because of poor planning. In fact, the company had to turn down several large jobs because its facilities were unable to handle the additional demand. Larissa hoped that Dan would be able to estimate the amount of capital the company would have to raise next year so that East Coast Yachts would be better prepared to fund its expansion plans.

        To get Dan started with his analyses, Larissa provided the following financial statements. Dan then gathered the industry ratios for the yacht manufacturing industry.

        East Coast Yachts
        2023 Income Statement

        Item

        Income

        Sales

        $495,381,600

        Cost of goods sold

        $357,466,500

        Selling, general, and administrative

        $ 59,200,300

        Depreciation

        $ 16,166,700


        EBIT

        $ 62,548,100

        Interest expense

        $ 8,910,000


        EBT

        $ 53,638,100

        Taxes (25%)

        $ 13,409,525


        Net Income

        $ 40,228,575



        Dividends

        $ 17,437,050

        Retained earnings

        $ 22,791,525
        East Coast Yachts
        2023 Balance Sheet

        Current Assets

        Amount

        Current Liabilities

        Amount

        Cash and equivalents

        $ 9,096,300

        Accounts payable

        $ 36,146,575

        Accounts receivable

        $ 15,131,900

        Accrued expenses

        $ 5,151,400


        Inventory

        $ 16,322,100

        Total current liabilities

        $ 41,297,975

        Other

        $ 949,400


        Total current assets

        $ 41,499,700

        Fixed assets

        Long-term debt $137,200,000


        Property, plant, and equipment

        $370,828,800 Total long-term liabilities $137,200,000


        Less accumulated depreciation

        (92,206,700)


        Net property, plant, and equipment

        $278,622,100

        Intangible assets and others

        $ 6,094,800


        Stockholders’ equity

        Total fixed assets

        $284,716,900


        Preferred stock $ 1,595,700
        Common stock $ 29,057,000
        Capital surplus $ 24,178,000
        Accumulated retained earnings $131,382,725
        Less treasury stock (38,494,800)


        Total equity $ 147,718,625


        Total assets

        $326,216,600



        Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity $326,216,600



        Yacht Industry Ratios

        Ratio

        Lower Quartile

        Median

        Upper Quartile

        Current ratio

        .86

        1.51

        1.97

        Quick ratio

        .43

        .75

        1.01

        Total asset turnover

        1.10

        1.27 1.46

        Inventory turnover

        12.18 14.38 16.43

        Receivables turnover

        10.25 17.65 22.43

        Debt ratio

        .32 .56 .61

        Debt-equity ratio

        .83 1.13 1.44

        Equity multiplier

        1.83 2.13 2.44

        Interest coverage

        5.72 8.21 10.83

        Profit margin

        5.02% 7.48% 9.05%

        Return on assets

        7.05% 10.67% 14.16%

        Return on equity

        14.06% 19.32% 26.41%

        Assignment Directions

        Write a case analysis of 2,000 2,500 words (8 to 10 pages), content (title page and reference page not included) in proper APA format, covering the following requirements:

        1. East Coast Yachts uses a small percentage of preferred stock as a source of financing. In calculating the ratios for the company, should preferred stock be included as part of the companys total equity?
        2. Calculate all of the ratios listed in the industry table for East Coast Yachts for 2023. (Use Excel to do the calculations, then copy and paste them into your paper).
        3. Compare the performance of East Coast Yachts to the industry as a whole. For each ratio, use decision criteria and comment on why it might be viewed as positive or negative relative to the industry. Suppose you create an inventory ratio calculated as inventory divided by current liabilities. How would you interpret this ratio? How does East Coast Yachts compare to the industry average for this ratio?
        4. Calculate the sustainable growth rate for East Coast Yachts. Calculate external funds needed (EFN) and prepare pro forma income statements and balance sheets assuming growth at precisely this rate. Recalculate all of the ratios in the previous question given these new criteria. What does your analysis conclude? (Use Excel to do the calculations, then copy and paste them into your paper).
        5. As a practical matter, East Coast Yachts is unlikely to be willing to raise external equity capital, in part because the shareholders dont want to dilute their existing ownership and control positions. However, East Coast Yachts is planning for a growth rate of 20 percent next year. What are your conclusions and recommendations about the feasibility of East Coasts expansion plans?
        6. Most assets can be increased as a percentage of sales. For instance, cash can be increased by any amount. However, fixed assets often must be increased in specific amounts because it is impossible, as a practical matter, to buy part of a new plant or machine. In this case, a company has a staircase or lumpy fixed cost structure. Assume that East Coast Yachts is currently producing at 100 percent of capacity and sales are expected to grow at 20 percent. As a result, to expand production, the company must set up an entirely new line at a cost of $75 million. Prepare the pro forma income statement and balance sheet given these new criteria. What is the new EFN with these assumptions? What does this imply about capacity utilization for East Coast Yachts next year? (Use Excel to do the calculations, then copy and paste them into your paper).

        Submission Guidelines

        • Prepare this Assignment according to the APA guidelines, including a title page, an introduction, and a conclusion. An abstract is not required. Usein-text citations and include a References section. A template is included in the Resources and Supports.
        • Calculate all financial data in an Excel worksheet (preferred) and submit with the assignment. If calculations are shown in Word, please show step by step. Place in Appendix (page after References) and refer to the information in the content of the paper. Please label/organize the calculations in detail.
        • In your report, make certain that you include at least three (3) credible outside references from search engines or scholarly sources from the APUS Online Library.
        • Note that your attached paper will automatically be submitted to Turnitin, and an Originality Report should be sent back to the classroom within around 15 minutes. The Originality report does not actually recommend changes. It does point out where you may need to add a citation or quotation marks (if not already cited). Once you use it a few times, you will appreciate this tool, as it will assist you in improving quality and content, as well as avoiding plagiarism. Your goal is to keep direct quotations to a minimum and to make sure that you do not just cut and paste material. Ensure that all your references are cited. Students should strive for a TII report with a similarity index of less than 20%.
            • In the Assignment dropbox, please attach your paper as a file; do not copy & paste. Submit your assignment by 11:59 pm ET, Day 7 (Sunday).

            Your paper will be evaluated according to the Writing Assignment Grading Rubric shown below. To maximize your grade, be sure to use the proper organization (intro, body, conclusion) and follow APA style. Your paper should have a title page and reference page, but you do not need an abstract for this assignment. See the PowerPoint presentation attached for APA assistance.

            This paper will be graded according to the FINC Graduate Grading Paper Rubric


            Be sure to review the following before submitting your assignment:

            • Assignment Rubric:
              • If you do not see the rubric, in the blue horizontal navigation bar select Course Tools, then Assignments. Select the appropriate assignment, and the rubric will be located near the bottom of the page.

            This Assignment aligns with the following:

            • Course Objective:
            • Learning Objectives:

            Resources and Supports

            • : You have free access as an APUS student. Sign in with your MyCampus Email credentials.
            • : Watch this 3-minute video if you need guidance on submitting your assignment.

            Requirements: 2,000 2,500 words (8 to 10 pages), content (title page and reference page not included)

          • BUSN660: Advanced Analytics I

            Week 2 – Assignment: Homework Problem Set

            Turnitin enabledThis assignment will be submitted to Turnitin.

            Assignment Directions:

            Week 2 Homework Assignment: Decision Analysis in Marketing Strategy

            Background:

            TechTrend, a leading electronics firm, is considering launching a new smartwatch model to rival its competitors. The marketing team has conducted a preliminary analysis, gathering data about potential sales, marketing strategies, and costs. Your task is to assist in the decision-making process using the concepts learned in Week 2.

            Data Table:
            Strategy Marketing Cost Expected Sales (Units) Expected Price per Unit ($) Competitor-response Probability Potential Market Share Loss due to Competitor
            A 500,000 60,000 200 0.6 15
            B 700,000 80,000 220 0.7 20
            C 900,000 210 210 0.8 25

            Questions:

            1. For each strategy, calculate the potential revenue without considering competitor response. Which strategy offers the highest potential revenue?
            2. Using the concept of expected value, estimate the revenue for each strategy considering the potential loss of market share due to competitor response.
            3. Construct a decision tree for Strategy A detailing the potential outcomes with and without competitor response. What is the expected value of Strategy A considering both scenarios?
            4. Which strategy carries the highest risk, given the combination of marketing costs and competitor response probability?
            5. Using sensitivity analysis, determine how much the Expected Sales would have to increase for Strategy C to be the most favorable option in terms of expected value.
            6. If TechTrend is risk-averse, which strategy would you recommend they consider? Justify your answer.
            7. Given a fixed budget of $800,000 for marketing, which strategies can TechTrend afford?
            8. Calculate the return on investment (ROI) for each strategy without considering competitor response. Which strategy offers the best ROI?
            9. Suppose TechTrend has prior data that suggests a 10% increase in market share loss for every 5% increase in competitor response probability. Recalculate the expected values based on this new information. Does the optimal strategy change?
            10. If a new market survey suggested that Strategy B’s price per unit could be increased to $240 without affecting sales volume, how would this change your recommendation? Calculate the new expected revenue for Strategy B.

            Submission Instructions:

            • A 35-page Word Document including title page anda references page
            • Must include a title page, abstract, and references. These are not counted in the page count/slide count.
            • Must include your original Excel Sheet.

            Be sure to review the following prior to submitting your assignment:

            This assignment aligns with the following:

              Resources & Supports

              • : You have free access as an APUS student. Sign in with your MyCampus Email credentials.
              • : Watch this 3-minute video if you need guidance on submitting your assignment.

              Requirements: 3-5 not including title and reference pages

            • Question: Ecological Theory: Coercive and Exploitative Power

              Based on the information in the powerpoint I attached, complete the discussion question below:

              2. Choose one of the following social problems, and identify one example of how coercive power and/or exploitive power might be operating: domestic violence, child abuse, elder abuse, homelessness, addiction, mental Illness, or other disability. (1 paragraph)

              Please do not use any AI.

              This is what another tutor provided but it is coming up as 80% AI:

              Coercive and Exploitative Power in Domestic Violence

              Domestic violence shows how coercive and exploitative power occurs and operates in intimate systems of relationships. Coercive power operates through threats, intimidation, and force to control victims’ behavior. This makes the abuser have power over the victim, which limits freedom and leads to psychological dependency on the abuser. Exploitative power operates through economic manipulation, denying financial freedom and job access. Victims have no means of escape as the abusive system deprives them of the resources they need. These power relations create boundaries in closed systems that do not allow outside support systems. A lack of energy exchange denies victims access to community resources or information. This creates entropy, since the system is in a poor state without external influence or assistance. In an ecological perspective, extreme stress arises from imbalances between needs and the capacity to cope. The goodness-of-fit is unsuccessful because environmental conditions are made unfavorable to the adaptive functioning requirements.

              Requirements: 1-2 paragraphs

            • Marketing Question

              Redesign the Contact Landing Page | Ignite Atlantic

              Scenario: Congratulations on creating a successful welcome email! Your email readers are opening your email and clicking through to the website however, the link hasnt been overly successful at converting. Ignite Atlantic has asked you to redesign the . The current page is not optimized for SEO or AI discoverability.

              Its good timing. Once this landing page is done, you can also use this page for

              Landing Page Objectives:

              • Redesign the .
              • Optimize it for SEO and AI Discoverability. For inspiration on what similar organizations webpages look like, see , , and .

              Requirements:

              Total webpage copy 300-350 words (addresses, phone, email address up to 50 words)

              • Create unique webpage copy (60-80 words) for each location Northern, Southern and Cape Breton; location optimized, relevant keywords.
              • Add three employee contact photos – one per location (Brittany, Jody, Maya). Optimized images.
              • Include personalized CTA buttons for each employee.

              Tip! Landing pages are meant to convert. Keep it simple. Navigation bars and footers are not required for this assignment. Keep the focus on copy that converts.

              Option: If you own a business or work for one and would like to apply this assignment to your business, please contact your instructor.

              Instructions:

              • Refer to the creative brief and background information from Assignment #1
              • Sign up for a free version of . This will provide you with nine free templates. A credit card is not required for the free version. Option: Hubspot is an option for this assignment however the templates require more technical design skill.
              • Choose a free landing page template. Tip: any landing page template can be used but remember, you arent asking the reader to sign up or subscribe. You already have subscribers, the objective to is move customers further down the funnel.
              • Name the page: Ignite Atlantic [Your Name] Landing Page
              • Edit the template as you wish.
              • Apply the .
              • Use only copyright free images from Ignite, , or other creative commons websites. Note that some templates use images from Shutterstock (paid with watermark these wont work). Be sure to swap these out before sharing your link.
              • Once complete, publish the page. Copy the URL into a Word document and submit to Brightspace. A list of URLs will be shared with Ignite who will provide us with general feedback. The client feedback does not directly impact your grade.
              • Test your work by using the resources found at

              Grading Rubric (25 Points Total):

              • Call to Action (3 points)
              • 3-5 Blink Test (2 points)
                • Key elements assist with the landing page intent and pass the 3-5 second blink test for the above the fold content.
              • Attention Ratio (2 points)
                • Focus on a single message or offer, minimal distractions.
              • Headlines and Sub-headlines (3 points)
              • Branding (2 points)
                • Consistent use of logos, colors, and messaging specific to the brand identity
              • Social Proof (2 points)

              Clear and compelling CTA (2 points)

              Placement of CTA for visibility (1 point)

              Attention-grabbing headline (1.5 points)

              Engaging sub-headline or lead sentence supporting the message (1.5 points)

              oTestimonials or endorsements included (1point)

              oVisual proof like logos of affiliated companies or partners if applicable (1 point)

              • Hero Shot, images and graphics (3 points)
              • On-brand (2 points)
              • Privacy Statement (1 point)
              • Quality Content (5 points)

              oHigh-quality hero image supporting the message (1 point)

              oEffective use of images and graphics (2 points)

              • The landing page should be on-brand for Ignite Atlantic, with consistent use of logos, colors, and messaging specific to the brand identity and brand voice.
              • Mention privacy assurance related to data handling and user privacy

              Requirements: As written

            • IT530 | Cloud Computing | Discussion 2: Elasticity, Multi-Te…

              Discussion 2: Elasticity, Multi-Tenancy, and Service Models

              How do providers balance the benefits of high-level service abstractions (SaaS/PaaS) against the operational risks of “provider lock-in”?.

              Grading Guidelines (100%)

              • Initial Post (50%): 200-250 words with at least 1 peer reviewed resources,.
              • Citations (10%): Proper use and APA format.
              • Replies (50%): Minimum TWO (2) thoughtful and valuable replies to others (50 words each).

              AWS Cloud Skill Builder

              Create free account inside AWS skillbuilder

              Click link to open resource.

              AWS Cloud Practitioner Essentials Training

              if the link isn’t available search for AWS Cloud Practitioner Essentials inside

              Click link to open resource.

              AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner (CLF-C02) Recommended Path

              Click link to open resource.

              Requirements: * Initial Post (50%): 200-250 words with at least 1 peer reviewed resources,. * Citations (10%): Proper use and APA format. * Replies (50%): Minimum TWO (2) thoughtful and valuable replies to others (50 words each)

            • Management Question

              Background: Tessile, S.A., headquartered in Turin, Italy, is a mid-sized textile manufacturer with a strong reputation for high-quality cotton and linen fabrics. Originally a cotton plantation business, the company was transformed under the leadership of CEO Giuseppe Franco into one of Northern Italy’s leading textile exporters. In the past decade, Tessile S.A. has seen increased international demand due to the European luxury apparel boom and rising popularity of sustainable, locally sourced fabrics. With strong operational capabilities and a loyal customer base, Tessile has enjoyed a solid financial positionuntil recently.

              The Shift:

              Over the last three years, Mr. Franco has pursued an aggressive diversification strategy, acquiring a series of boutique wineries across Southern and Central Italy. These moves, while initially welcomed, have raised concerns among board members and shareholders who view the shift as straying too far from the companys core competencies. Now, Mr. Franco has announced intentions to expand Tessile into the tourism and cheese industries by acquiring heritage farm properties with potential for agritourism and cheese production. The expansion will require:

              • A 45 million loan from an international lender
              • Reallocation of personnel from textile operations to manage new ventures
              • Cross-functional leadership with limited industry expertise in hospitality or food production

              Meanwhile, Tessile’s stock value has declined 28%, and debt-to-equity ratios have risen to concerning levels. Shareholder meetings have become contentious, and media outlets have begun questioning the direction of the company.

              Risk and Strategic Evaluation: As a hired strategic consultant, you are tasked with presenting a formal report to Tessiles Board of Directors. Your responsibility is to identify and assess the risks associated with the companys current direction, and to advise on how to integrate a robust risk management system to protect the organization moving forward.

              Risk Identification and Classification:

              1. Define the difference between a hazard, threat, and risk.
              2. Describe the process and tools you would use to identify risks in Tessiles business strategy (e.g., SWOT, PESTLE, stakeholder mapping).
              3. Identify at least five key risks, classify them (strategic, operational, financial, reputational, legal), and assess their severity and likelihood.

              Understanding Risk Management Systems:

              1. What is the purpose of a risk management system in an organization like Tessile?
              2. Describe how such a system would be applied in this case.
              3. What roles do security (e.g., cybersecurity, asset protection) and capacity (e.g., staffing, financial flexibility) play in effective risk management?

              Risk Assessment Methodologies:

              1. Compare qualitative vs. quantitative risk assessment approaches.
              2. Discuss at least two risk assessment methodologies (e.g., Risk Matrix, FMEA, Monte Carlo simulation) and how they support a systematic approach to evaluating risks.

              Risk Response Strategies:

              1. Describe the four risk response strategies: Avoid, Transfer, Mitigate, and Accept.
              2. Apply each strategy to one of the risks identified in Tessiles current expansion strategy.

              Strategic Recommendations:

              1. How can Tessile realign its expansion into tourism and cheese production with its textile heritage to reduce reputational and strategic risk?
              2. What would you recommend the board do to restore stakeholder confidence, manage current debt levels, and maintain long-term growth?

              Requirements:

              • There is no minimum or maximum required number of pages. Your response will be considered complete, if it addresses each of the components outlined above.
              • Use of proper APA formatting and citations – If supporting evidence from outside resources is used those must be properly cited. A minimum of 3 -5 sources (excluding the course textbook) from scholarly articles or business periodicals is required.
              • Include your best critical thinking and analysis to arrive at your justification.
            • Discussion question post

              Assigned Readings:

              Chapter 5 – Executive Stakeholders

              Chapter 7 – Stakeholder Communication

              Initial Postings: Read and reflect on the assigned readings for the week. Then post what you thought was the most important concept(s), method(s), term(s), and/or any other thing that you felt was worthy of your understanding in each assigned textbook chapter.Your initial post should be based upon the assigned reading for the week, so the textbook should be a source listed in your reference section and cited within the body of the text. Other sources are not required but feel free to use them if they aid in your discussion.

              Also, provide a graduate-level response to each of the following questions:

              Before attempting this case study, students must review the following article:

              This article provides essential context on the characteristics, expectations, and influence of C-level stakeholders in project environments. Your insights should reflect an understanding of how executive relationships impact project outcomes.

              Tania, a senior consultant at Nexen Business Consultants, has been assigned to lead a high-impact digital transformation initiative for MediCore, a $1.5B healthcare technology company. The project has broad implications for MediCores operations, from patient record systems to supply chain analytics.

              Tania is not just managing tasks and timelinesshes navigating a complex network of executive stakeholders, each of whom has high influence and unique expectations:

              • The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is focused on competitive advantage and investor confidence, and expects to see clear ROI metrics early.
              • The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is concerned about cost overruns and is hesitant to approve additional resource requests.
              • The Chief Operating Officer (COO) wants detailed risk assessments tied to operational disruptions.
              • The Chief Information Officer (CIO) has mandated Agile delivery but rarely attends sprint reviews.
              • The Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) is interested in how the change will affect staffing and culturebut feels left out of the loop.

              Tania knows that executive stakeholders can make or break project success. If she fails to win their trust, attention, and ongoing support, the project may lose funding, hit resistance, or fall short of strategic alignment.

              Tania is developing a Stakeholder Management Plan focused specifically on executive-level stakeholders. She is also creating a Stakeholder Network Register to track conversations, expectations, influence, and commitment levels across the executive suite. Her goals are to:

              • Communicate effectively across multiple leadership styles
              • Build credibility and trust
              • Align the project to strategic goals
              • Prevent disengagement or passive resistance

              Discussion Questions

              1. Why do executive stakeholders require a unique engagement strategy compared to mid-level or operational stakeholders? How do power, influence, and organizational knowledge shape their involvement?
              2. What is the specific role of a Stakeholder Register in managing executive engagement? How can Tania use this tool to support her communication strategy and anticipate challenges?
              3. What are the essential components of a Stakeholder Management Plan focused on C-level executives? How do these elements differ from plans designed for non-executive stakeholders?
              4. Based on the lessons learned in the PMI abstract (e.g., Let them quickly catch on, Be visible, Break hierarchy), which two tactics should Tania prioritize when developing relationships with the MediCore C-Suite? Why?

              [Your post must be substantive and demonstrate insight gained from the course material. Postings must be in the student’s own words – do not provide quotes!]

              [Your initial post should be at least 450+ words and in APA format (including Times New Roman with font size 12 and double spaced). Post the actual body of your paper in the discussion thread then attach a Word version of the paper for APA review]

              Chapter 5 – Executive Stakeholders

              Overview:

              Executive stakeholders are typically powerful. The project manager should pay close attention to this stakeholder group to ensure the project is aligned with their expectations. Executive stakeholders include the customer, the executive sponsor, the executives who are on the Executive Council, executives actively involved in the project, and supplemental executive stakeholders who are likely to come and go as the project ebbs and flows. The project manager should include executive stakeholders in the project, clearly communicate project success and shortcomings, and always find ways to proactively identify potential barriers to success. We discuss the importance of relationships between the project manager and key executives. Executives, like most stakeholders, are busy. We discuss the top watch-outs for working with executive stakeholders. The project manager and project team should constantly be vigilant for ways to make their communications with the engagement of executives concise and efficient.

              Learning Objectives

              • Understand the categories used to analyze stakeholders
              • Understand the need for and use of the stakeholders engagement assessment matrix
              • Able to articulate the importance of a stakeholder management plan
              • Define the elements within a stakeholder management plan

              Chapter 7 – Stakeholder Communication

              Overview:

              Project stakeholder communication is part science and part art. The main point of this chapter is that there are many different types of communication: verbal, nonverbal, written, visual, kinesthetic, and emotional. The most effective communicators learn how to use these communication channels holistically. Since poor communication has been the cause of failure for so many projects, the savvy project manager embraces the holistic approach to communication. It is important to be persistent in the communication of the message. Successful project managers communicate the same message to their stakeholders over and over. It takes repetition for the message to sink in. The successful project manager realizes that communication is a two-way street and is constantly open to communication from their stakeholders. The project manager should ask clarifying questions and ensure that they understand the message being communicated to them.

              Learning Objectives

              • Understand the various types of communication
              • Understand the need for constant, persistent stakeholder communications
              • Discuss how a project manager communicates differently with an executive stakeholder as opposed to other stakeholders
              • Discuss various communication channels and which each is more applicable

              Supplementary Readings:

              Requirements: 450 + words

            • Management Question

              Orion Manufacturing, a global producer of precision components for the aerospace sector, has launched a strategic initiative to modernize its enterprise resource planning (ERP) system. The project, titled Orion CoreStream, aims to consolidate multiple legacy systems into a single, cloud-based platform to streamline procurement, production, and inventory management.

              Ravi Patel, the project manager, is excited but aware of the enormous communication challenges ahead. With operations spread across North America, Europe, and Southeast Asiaand a diverse group of stakeholdersthe project demands precise and inclusive communication strategies to ensure stakeholder alignment.

              The stakeholder list includes:

              • Executive Sponsor (COO) Highly invested in business transformation and expects detailed dashboards showing milestones and risks. Prefers briefings every other week.
              • IT Director Supports technical execution and prioritizes data security and integration risks. Wants technical documentation and weekly status updates.
              • Regional Operations Managers Care most about operational disruptions and training for their staff. Want monthly email updates and site-specific video walkthroughs.
              • Procurement Team Frustrated with legacy systems and eager for change but feel uninformed. Need hands-on demos and clear task assignments.
              • External Vendor (Cloud ERP provider) Provides implementation support. Seeks timely, consistent documentation and decisions to avoid scope creep.

              The Challenge

              Three months into the project, Ravi notices communication cracks forming:

              • The COO has expressed frustration about not being informed early enough on vendor delays.
              • The IT Director is overwhelmed by change requests but claims decisions are made without full technical input.
              • Regional managers are resisting training sessions, claiming theyre too generic and not tailored to their operational context.
              • The vendor is warning that scope misalignment could derail the timelineand they blame inconsistent communication from Orions internal teams.

              Ravi realizes the Stakeholder Communication Plan he developed at the beginning of the project may have been too general and not tailored to the communication preferences, roles, and concerns of each group. With team morale slipping and executive confidence faltering, he must quickly reassess and redesign the plan to regain control of the project narrative and stakeholder confidence.

              Your Task What You Must Do

              You have been brought in as an external consultant to diagnose communication issues in the Orion CoreStream project and help project manager Ravi rebuild an effective stakeholder communication strategy.

              To complete this assignment, you must:

              Step 1: Identify Key Communication Failures

              • Analyze the case study and describe at least three specific communication breakdowns.
              • Explain what went wrong, which stakeholders were affected, and what the consequences were.

              Step 2: Design a Stakeholder Communication Plan

              Select three stakeholders or stakeholder groups from the case (e.g., COO, IT Director, Procurement Team, Vendor).

              For each selected stakeholder:

              • Define their communication needs, preferences, and pain points.
              • Propose a tailored communication strategy, including:
              • Frequency of communication (e.g., weekly, monthly)
              • Preferred format (e.g., dashboard, email, video, live meeting)
              • Communication channel (e.g., Teams, email, phone call, in-person)
              • Key content or focus areas
              • Responsible communicator (e.g., Ravi, project coordinator)

              Step 3: Propose a Communication Feedback Mechanism

              • Describe how Ravi can ensure communication is two-way, not just top-down.
              • Include a method for stakeholders to give feedback or raise concerns (e.g., check-ins, surveys, stakeholder meetings).

              Step 4: Prepare a Response for an Executive Meeting

              • Imagine Ravi is invited to an urgent executive review meeting.
              • Prepare a brief action plan or slide outline (in bullet points) that Ravi can present to:
              • Show an understanding of the issues
              • Communicate next steps
              • Reassure leadership that the project is under control

              Requirements:

              • There is no minimum or maximum required number of pages. Your analysis will be considered complete, if it addresses each of the components outlined above.
              • Use of proper APA formatting and citations. If supporting evidence from outside resources is used those must be properly cited. A minimum of 3 – 5 sources (excluding the course textbook) from scholarly articles or business periodicals is required.
              • Include your best critical thinking and analysis to arrive at your justification.

              Requirements: whatever it says on the requirements

            • Psychology Question

              Your Assignment

              Instructions. Please select one of the 3 following ethical scenarios listed below and write a paper to address the following:

              (1) Why this is or is not an ethical dilemma,

              (2) What are 1-3 of the BACB ethical codes (including code numbers) that apply to the situation,

              (3) The steps or process you would recommend implementing based on the BACB Ethics code to address and resolve the issue, and

              (4) Your personal reflection or reaction to the scenario.

              Ethical Scenarios:

              1. The supervisor of your ABA professional practice, who is a BCBA, instructs you to bill for twice as many hours per week compared to what you are actually providing. Her rationale is that your organization is having financial difficulties and cannot survive without this additional income. Explain how you would address this situation in accordance with the assignment instructions and the BACB Ethics Code.
              2. You are a BCBA who also oversees RBTs. The parents of a child for whom you are providing in-home ABA services would like you to add punishment procedures, as they are concerned about your current methods being ineffective in treating the problem behavior (that includes self-injury) quickly enough. You currently base your methods on evidence-based practices using replacement skills and positive reinforcement approaches. After reviewing the function, ongoing data collection, and data analysis, it appears that progress is taking place but not quickly enough for the parents. After explaining why you selected the methods in your behavior plan, the parents persist in their demands for use of punishment procedures. Explain how you would address this situation based on the BACB ethics code and the assignment instructions.
              3. Fran is a BCBA who works as a Behavior Analyst in a program that has a very conservative Human Rights policy. This policy requires that all potential positive interventions be attempted prior to implementing any restrictive treatment plans. Fran is currently providing services to a child on her caseload who engages in self-injurious behavior, including hitting the face and head, causing bruising, and making loud grunting or vocalizations when hitting herself. To practice behavior analysis within the BACBs Ethical Code for Behavior Analysts (2022), what should Fran do in this situation?

              Paper requirements:

              1. Approximately 3-pages in length, including the scenario you selected listed at the beginning of the paper, and NOT including your title and reference pages.
              2. Written in APA format (**See link to APA publication style in the course site resources.)
              3. Submitted as a Word document using Times New Roman 12 font.
              4. Include an appropriate heading on the first page (i.e., College, Program name, Title of Paper, Assignment no., Your Name, and Date) and references to support methods or procedures used.
              5. Include a citation of the current ethics code in your references. *Please use this link to download the current ethics code:

              Requirements: 3-4   |   .doc file