Category: Business and Management

Briefly discuss a purchase you made within the last two months and explain whether you applied the limited problem-solving approach or extended problem solving approach in the process of making the decision to purchase and consume the product.

ATTACHED IS THE TEMPLATE TO USE AND THE TEXT BOOK REFERENCES BUT THERE HAS TO BE ATLEAST TWO OTHER REFERENCES
THIS IS THE LINK TO THE TEXT BOOK YOU WILL NEED CHAPTERS 1-5
https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/apus/detail.action?docID=4797456
This week’s assignment is to create a Powerpoint presentation. This presentation should be 12 – 15 slides long in addition to a cover page and a reference page. Use bullets on most slides but each page should include a note section with at least 150 words in addition to the slide (VIEW/NOTES). Cite your work, limit quotes, and edit your work well for spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors. Quotes should always be rare and properly cited. Slides or notes with excessive quotes will have deductions. Use your own words.
Assignment – Examine Trait, Skills, Behavioral, Situational, and Path-goal approaches/theories of leadership
You have two options for this assignment:
Prepare a presentation as if you were a leadership instructor. You are to prepare it so you will be able to teach a lesson to a class. Using the five approaches/theories of leadership we have discussed in the first three weeks of class, document what the approach or theory is based on, how it is different than the others, and when it is best used. Consider the strengths and weaknesses of each one. Give examples of when each theory would work best. For example, consider different positions like a construction plant manager or a school principal or a nurse. What approach would work best for different positions? Incorporate that into your lesson. Your goal is to have your audience (students) understand the five approaches and when to use them.
Do not copy definitions from the book. Use your own words to get your students to understand the different aspects of the theories. Use the 12 – 15 slides for the five approaches/theories, approximately two- three slides for each one.
Format:
Please see the attached templates for helpful hints to a good presentation.
Title Slide – Include a title page with your name, student number, title of your paper, course number, course name, & date.
Introductory Slide – Include a short introduction of your agenda/topics.
Length – 12 – 15 slides plus the title page and reference page. Make sure you have at least      150 words in the note section of each page. Do not include any quotes in your notes. 
Reference Page – Include at least two outside sources in addition to your textbook and other course articles on a separate reference page. Use references with authors, not websites. All references must have citations within your presentation. Wikipedia is not an acceptable reference.
Proof read your work well to ensure spelling/grammar/punctuation and sentence structure are in good order.
Late submissions will have deductions. Be professional. Grammar, spelling, punctuation are important.

Hello Warriors!
The purpose of the Individual Case Study is for you to showcase an in-depth understanding of materials learned throughout the course of the semester.
As with the Group Case Studies, you will have a choice as to which Individual Case Study you would like to write about…in fact, you have thirteen (13) choices (which appear at the very bottom of these instructions)…
In contrast to the Group Case Studies, the Individual Case Study does not take place in a discussion forum environment (meaning no reply posts are required). But rather, you will construct one (1) Word document and upload it to the appropriate link in Canvas upon completion.
So…here are your directions:
Access the below document entitled Individual Case Study choices.
Read through the case studies and select one (1).
Note: You must answer all questions as posed.
Once you have selected a case study, construct a Word document with a minimum of 1,350 words using Times New Roman 12-point font and 1-inch margins (this comes out to approximately 3.4 pages single-spaced and 5.6 pages double-spaced).
Please include a title page with your final submission with the name of this class and your name. So, it would look something like this:
Title Page Format.png
Please use the below format for your responses.
Group Case Studies Format-1.png
Please ensure you read and understand the Individual Case Study Grading Rubric as it appears in the Grading Rubrics module.
You will want to pay attention to such items as the Sources criteria requiring you to incorporate at least five (5) credible sources (peer-review journal articles, scholarly books, authoritative websites).
Also, please ensure you take a deep dive into the materials required to answer the questions (coming from the textbook and your research), illustrating your in-depth and detailed understanding (FYI – make sure you pick a case study that really interests you – you will naturally perform better)…😊
Additionally, please ensure your document is well-organized within the format provided. The Individual Case Study is due on no Friday no later than 11:59 p.m. CST.
HERE IS THE CASE STUDY
Group Case Study #1 (Chapter 1)
Customer-Focused Innovation Drives CarMax
CarMax transformed the used car buying experience back in the 1990s with its no-haggle car prices that allows the customer to focus on other features (such as fuel economy, safety features, entertainment package, and so on) of the auto. Today, CarMax is the largest used car retailer in the United States with 173 used car stores and an aggressive growth plan that calls for the opening of more than a dozen new stores each year. During the fiscal year ended February 28, 2017, total revenue was $15.9 billion from the retail sale of just over 1 million used cars. CarMax continues to revolutionize car buying through consumer insights and customer-focused technology innovations that further distance CarMax from its competitors.
Since 90 percent of used car buyers start their search online, CarMax built a Web site search platform similar to the highly effective “Amazon product description” design with which most consumers are familiar. CarMax has a centralized vehicle inventory system with information on over 50,000 CarMax Quality Certified vehicles. Its customers can search through this inventory using their mobile devices or portable or desktop computers. Consumers may even request that CarMax transfer the car of their choice to a store near them and, indeed, nearly 30 percent of the cars it sells are transferred for this reason.
CarMax launched a new online financing app to enable customers to get prequalified for a loan prior to visiting a store. This app helps move the customer further along the sales process and provides a faster in-store shopping experience. It has been received well by customers and contributes to increased leads, which CarMax believes generates incremental sales.
When a customer arrives to sell his or her car, a CarMax associate armed with a mobile device can evaluate the vehicle in real-time without ever leaving the customer or the vehicle. The associate has access to all the information needed to provide an accurate appraisal via a mobile app. This creates a positive initial experience both for the customer and the associate. CarMax associates use their mobile devices and the same app to appraise vehicles at off-site auto auctions. This enables them to buy the best cars at the best prices so that CarMax can make them available to its customers.
CarMax customers interested in getting an appraisal value for their vehicle can also submit their vehicle information online without having to come to a store.
CarMax plans to add an app to support a loyalty program for car owners. This will help them maintain and replace auto parts and obtain roadside assistance. There will also be a wallet-like feature where customers can store their vehicle ID number and insurance information.
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CarMax has a strong program for onboarding information system new hires. Once new software developers arrive at CarMax, they attend Information Technology Academy. This academy is an eight-week program designed to jump-start their CarMax career. Here they learn about the primary technologies and tools as well as the software development process used at CarMax, thus laying a strong foundation for success in their new role. They also visit CarMax stores to observe first hand, different business processes and learn how CarMax information systems support employees and customers alike. This experience helps them to appreciate how their contributions will have a direct and significant impact on the organization’s ongoing success.
At the end of the eight-week program, each graduate is assigned to a product team matching their skill set, interests, and aptitude. CarMax fuels the innovation process by creating multi-functional product teams consisting of up to 10 people including a product manager, lead software developer, and people from quality assurance and user design. The team is challenged to go after business objectives and key results such as how many leads they generate or how many prospect-to-customer conversions they deliver. It’s up to them to determine the best solution for each customer to meet their goals. Every two weeks, the product teams conduct open houses that anyone can attend. A team member presents what the product team has accomplished against its business objectives. CarMax senior managers, including an occasional board of directors’ member, regularly attend these open houses.
Group Case Study #1 Questions – Answer Both
1. Would you classify the new auto appraisal system as operating in the personal, workgroup, enterprise, or interorganizational sphere of influence? Why? Identify key organizational complements CarMax needed to put in place to ensure that the new system would be successful.
2. Based on their use of multi-functional product teams, what personal traits, technical skills, and non-technical skills do you think CarMax looks for in its information systems new hires?
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POSSIBLE FORMAT FOR THE PAPER
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY (1 page)
 Should be written from the perspective of a manager delivering this analysis to the
CEO of Meta
STRATEGIC PROFILE/ ISSUE STATEMENT
 What specific problem(s) is the company facing?
 Is the problem well known? Has it been previously addressed? [Your report will be
highlighting this issue with critical analysis].
 Company’s vision, mission, business and marketing strategy
STRATEGIC ANALYSIS – EXTERNAL
 The external environment (economic, demographic, legal/political, technological,
global, sociocultural, sustainable physical)
 Porter’s Five Forces Model of CompetitionCompetitor Analysis (see SWOT analysis below)
STRATEGIC ANALYSIS – INTERNAL
 Does the company use cost leadership? Differentiation? Focus?
 Does it tend to use strategic leadership? Tactical?
 Company’s business plan, operational plan, leading indicators, and financial
considerations for success
 What are the core competencies?
 What level of diversification is present within the company? What does this mean?
 If the company is global, how does its international strategy differ from its domestic?
 How does the company rate its goals in terms of importance and how does this affect
its strategy?
 If appropriate, where do products/services fall within the BCG? Discuss this.
SWOT Analysis
SUMMARY OF OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE
 Financial Overview
 Include ALL relevant financial and accounting information. This includes any charts and
graphs such as time series analysis of revenues/costs, per share value, etc. (Be sure to
properly label all charts/tables/graphs.)
 Possible discussion topics include an analysis of the company’s:
o Profitability
o Cash flow
o Financial strength
o Asset utilization
o Comparison to industry values/major competitor
STRATEGIC DIRECTION
STRATEGIC ALTERNATIVES
STRATEGIC IMPLEMENTATION
CONCLUSION (1-3 pages)
 From all that you have gathered, written, and studied, what do you recommend the
company do? Why?
 List any limitations the company has or appears to have. You have some latitude to
give your thoughts here.
BIBLIOGRAPHY

A term paper of 2,500 words evaluates students’
ability to compare and contrast the classical
sociological theories and evaluate the relevance of
classical sociological theories in analyzing the
social change in the information era.

For the final group project, your team will work as research analysts for a major investment bank looking to invest in a green/renewable energy company. Your task as a group is to create a comprehensive Company Investment Report. This report aims to analyze the potential of investing in the selected company, considering various factors such as industry trends, company strategy, and financial health.
Company: Vestas Wind Systems
Instructions: Write an introduction to the essay Only 
Introduction – Begin your report with a clear thesis paragraph that presents your investment recommendation (invest or not) and briefly outlines the reasons that will be discussed in detail in the report.
Decision: Yes to investing. 

(1) What is the total tax liability for $155,000 of Taxable Income in 20XX, Schedule X?
(2) What is the Average Tax Rate for this individual?  Hint: Total Tax Liability / Total Taxable Income
(3) What is the Tax Bracket for this individual? Hint: What is the tax rate of the next dollar earned?
Form is attached for first 3 problems
(1) Calculate the monthly payment for a 30 year mortgage of $100,000 at 6% interest. Solve for PMT
Why is the solution negative?
(2) Calculate the monthly payment for a 15 year mortgage of $100,000 at 6% interest.  Solve for PMT
(3) Your budget allows a monthly mortgage payment of $700.  How much can you borrow based on a 30 year mortgage at 6%?  Solve for PV
(4) You’ve just taken out the $100,000, 30 yr mortgage at 6%.  When will the mortgage be paid in full assuming you add $200 to each monthly payment you make?  Solve first for payment, then “add” $200 to this payment, input the new payment amount into PMT, then (press) solve for N.
(5) A lender offers you a $125,000, 30 year mortgage with monthly payments of $769.65. What’s the interest rate?  Solve for I.  Hint, be sure to enter the payment as a negative number.                                                                                                            
(6) You have taken out a new 30 year, $100,000 mortgage at 6% interest on your home.  You now learn that you will most likely move to another state in 5 years.  What will the loan balance be in 5 years?  Solve for PMT, then reload 60 into N, solve for FV.
(7) You are considering refinancing your home’s 30 year mortgage at a lower interest rate.  Your original loan amount was $85,000 and your current monthly payment is $683.93.  Assuming you wish to continue paying the same monthly amount on a new 30 year mortgage, how much cash can you pull out from refinancing the current loan balance at 6% now that you have been in the home for five years?  Solve for original I.  Reload 60 into N.  Solve for FV.  Solve for the new PV under the new terms, then subtract from FV found above.         

Integration of
Faith Assignment Instructions
Review the
Thompson text and apply your knowledge of strategy/policy and your Christian worldview
as you evaluate the firm used in the case study (Attached).  Search the
Bible (either the Old or New Testament) for verse(s) that would guide you in
answering the Ethical/Social/Financial Issues (you may choose from topics from
the Thompson textbook) that you have identified or that may be present in the
firm and how this would guide strategic choice.
In a minimum
of 500 words, discuss this Bible verse(s) and your Christian worldview as they
relate to your chosen Ethical/Social Issues questions. NOTE: To
earn better than a minimum grade (B) in grad school, you must go beyond the
minimum and it must be considered excellent work.
A suggested
format for this assignment is as follows:
a.       First section: Discuss a problem or key
area identified in your research of the firm. 
What is the Ethical/Social/Financial Issues identified (from a
strategy/policy perspective).
b.      Second section: State and discuss the Bible
verse(s) that are relevant to the identified area. To properly address this
section, it will require biblical research to put your verse(s) into context
for the next section.
Third
paragraph: Discuss/analyze the importance of the Bible verse(s) in addressing
your chosen topic from a Christian worldview

This assignment must be completed on a specific template which is attached. 
Full instructions are also attached.
There is a page that provides 2 links to the topic to be used as references as well as other possible references. 

1. Write an literature review about the following with 3 pages,
2. Use APA7
3. Provide all the references as a pdf file.
Traditional project management history 3 reference, it should be a book (0.25 page)
Traditional project management Elements & Characteristic. 3 reference, it should be a book (0.5 page)
Traditional project management process. 3 reference, it should be a book (0.5 page)
Problems of PM traditional project management 3 reference, (0.5 page)
Agile project management history 3 reference, it should be a book (0.25 page)
Agility as a solution. 3 reference, it should be a book (0.5 page)
How agile will enhance the elements & Characteristics. 3 reference (0.5 page)