Business

ow to Write a Project Proposal Research proposals are a way to ground your early research on your project and a way to share that information with your professor. For this class, your proposal will consist of the sections outlined below, with each section addressing the specific question.  Think of this as a conversation starter with your professor as a way to hold yourself accountable to the process of conducting significant, academic research on a topic. You will not be held word for word to your ideas in your proposal, but you also don’t want to change your topic completely without first contacting me.  Also, look at the student sample proposal to get an idea of the tone and content.  Tentative Thesis:  As you begin your research, it is important that you start with your own argument or opinion on the topic. The research you eventually use will support your opinion and not replace your ideas. In high school you might have just regurgitated other people’s ideas, but now you are using existing research to see if you can prove or support your own argument on a topic. What is your position, why do you think that way, and who disagrees with you?  Follow the example of the Seven Step Thesis Formula to come up with this.  My Credentials: In academic (or really any argumentative writing) your audience always begins with the simple question: Why should I listen to you? In this section, provide your connection or relationship to the problem. A student writing about capital punishment is not going to have much credibilty, but a student who’s uncle was on death row and later released becasue of a mistrial will have a lot more credibility. The audience is more likely to listen to the second student over the first. The logic and strenght of argument has to be strong no matter your connection, but you do a lot to help your case by letting your reader know why you are (becoming) an expert on this topic.  My Audience: Since most research is done to rectify a problem, to whom are you writing? Who is already involved that would benefit from your argument, or whom can  you enlist to help eventually come up with a solution? In this way, a “general” audience of say everyone in St. Louis, is too broad. The more focused your audience, the more clear will be the choices you have to make as a writer to appeal to your reader. For example, the facts, stats, and expert opinions you include in your argument about the legalization of marijuana won’t change necessarily depending on your audience, but the way you present them will be different between an audience of senior citizens vs. an audience of young recreational users.  Research Question: What is the specific question you are trying to prove? This is the controlling question, or at least the starting question that you take with you into the databases. Simply searching on “What is segregation in St. Louis” is going to give you way too many results. The more focused you can be with your initial database search, the better (and quicker) your results. A better question here might be, “What is the effect of segregated busing having on poverty rates in predominantly white suburbs in St. Louis?” You can check the Purdue OWL or Meramec’s College Writing Center for more information on writing research questions.   Research Plan/Sources:  What is your initial plan to answer your research question? Not only what sources will you go to, but to whom will you seek assistance? A friend who works in the industry you are researching? A research librarian? Books? Journal articles? Your sociology professor? Etc.

Assignment: The circular flow model is a simplified version of our economy. In your own words, describe how this model works. This assignment requires you to reflect on the day-to-day (micro) aspects of the way the economy moves daily. As you go through this course you will encounter a variety of topics that address how individual or business decisions are made. You are encouraged to reflect on this model throughout the semester to contribute to your understanding of economics. In no less than 300 words describe your activities in the last week as it relates to the circular flow model. PART A: Reflect on the items you purchased and the allocation of those resources by a business. For example: When you stopped at Valero or the grocery store. You spent a total of   were allocated back to you (household) and the firm (Businesses). What goods and services were purchased by the businesses (firm)? What do you think some businesses did with their profit? Share any insight from the business perspective gained from this assignment. PART B: Reflect on receiving your paycheck. After taxes how or where did your money flow through the model? What goods and services were purchased by you (household)? Consider other activities such as car repairs, clothing or entertainment purchases (cigarettes, ice cream, dining out, etc). Share any insight from the your (household) perspective gained from this assignment. Submission Method: Journal

Now that you’ve identified the organization’s SWOT, you need to determine the project and its objectives and metrics. This project should be based on an unmet opportunity for the organization, or to minimize a potential threat. What does the organization need to do to advance its goals and/or expand its competitive advantage? How will you measure their progress?   Use the Balanced Scorecard Template to: Create at least 3 measurable project objectives for each quadrant of the scorecard based on your analysis. Determine targets, timelines, and metrics for each objective. Explain the following in 350-525 words on the Balanced Score Card Template: Why these objectives are appropriate for the project. Why these metrics and timelines are appropriate for your strategic plan. Note: Review the Strategic Management-8 Most Popular Cases in Connect. Access the case studies from the folder on the main course page in Blackboard. Compose a paper in APA format containing the balanced scorecard and your analysis. Submit your paper.   Resources Center for Writing Excellence Reference and Citation Generator Grammar and Writing Guides Copyright 2020 by University of Phoenix. All rights reserved. Use this space to build your submission. You can add text, images, and files. Add Content Details & Information

In this assignment, you will research the compensation plan of an organization. You will describe the plan in sufficient detail.  Additionally, you will demonstrate the application of at least four (4) compensation domains or concepts demonstrated in that company’s compensation platform. ·         Find peer-reviewed articles in the Herzing library or use business journals/articles. ·         You must include a minimum requirement of 4 full pages of content (this does not include the title, abstract or reference pages) and 5-7 scholarly resources in APA format (refer to the APA manual for specific details) on the information researched from the article and your views as well.  ·         You must present full pages of content in order to earn maximum points.  Submitting less than the minimum full page requirement will result in a reduction of points. Any written paper without appropriate citation and integration of authoritative sources will receive a 75% at best.  Atchison, T. J., Belcher, D. W., Thomsen, D. J. (2013). ERI distance learning center: Online compensation textbook. Retrieved from https://www.erieri.com/dlc/onlinetextbook/model-of-compensation#PAYANDWORK Moehrle, T. G. (2003). The evolution of compensation in a changing economy. Retrieved from https://www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/cwc/the-evolution-of-compensation-in-a-changing

Go to Google AdWords Keyword planner  (Links to an external site.) Hit “Start Now” Follow the steps to create a Google Ad Words Account You must use your Gmail account to Sign-in to create a New Ad Words Account Follow the steps to get to Create New  Account   Make sure you create an account without a campaign, otherwise you will have to enter your credit card information to Google.    Make sure to switch to “Expert Mode” in fine print bellow to access “Create an account without a Campaign”.  If you have problems linking your Gmail account to the Ad Words account, please contact Google at 1-844-245-2553 from Mon-Fri, 9am-9pm ET. Once the accounts are linked you will be able to Explore your Account From the dropdown menu, click on the “Keyword Planner” option Step 2: Type in a Keyword or phrase and obtain information on that keyword.  On the first screen select “Discover new keywords”: Under the “Start With Keywords” tab, type in a keyword of your choice and click “Get Results”: Randomly select 10 to 20 keywords from the generated list of keywords. If your results page populates less than 3 keywords, retry a different keyword in the search. Now, you must select 3 keywords that rank from low to high that in the competition column and these keywords MUST have a ($) value for the top of page bid (low range) column, and top of page bid (high range) column.  Step 3: Place data into an excel document Download the “Keywords” spreadsheet from Keyword Planner as an Excel document (.CSV file).  Please make sure to submit your keywords spreadsheet file along with your Keywords_Research_Analysis file.   Copy and paste the data for each keyword you selected onto the keywords spreadsheet. Copy and paste data from the keyword column, the min search volume column, the max search volume column, the competition column, the top of page bid (low range) column, and top of page bid (high range) column. Part 2: Analysis of Keyword Planner Analyze and rank keywords for marketing purposes for a given budget You are going to generate a spreadsheet in Microsoft Excel that shows all six (6)  variables from keywords column to the key column (not recommended, somewhat recommended, recommended) .  See page one of Keywords_Research_Analysis _Sample _Assignment attached below. Open Microsoft Excel. Install the Data Analysis ToolPak for your Excel document. For installation instructions, refer to Chapter 2 Pages 16-21 of your text “Analytics Boot Camp”. Note: If you are using a Mac, use the following sequence: Tools –> Add-ins –> Analysis ToolPak. After installation, you should find a new section under the tools submenu entitled “Data Analysis”. Develop Descriptive Statistics for your data using the Data Analysis ToolPak. For instructions on how to develop Descriptive Statistics, refer to Chapter 3 Page 52 -56 of your text “Analytics Bootcamp”. (NOTE: Keep in mind that data in the book is not the same data that is being used for your analysis.)  Please refer to “Keyword_Research_Analysis_Spreadsheet Sample_Assignment” for an example of what the final document should look like. See additional details in Keywords_Research_Analysis_Sample_Assignment.xlsx Minimize File Preview Note: If your computer does not support the Data Analysis ToolPak in Microsoft Excel, please go to BFL 109 (Computer Lab) on campus and use the computers there. Remember you can also click NetTutor in our class navigation menu to connect to an online tutor.  (Learn more about NetTutor  (Links to an external site.) .) Part 3: Reflection On a Word document, please answer the following:  Review the statistics for the average number of searches. Identify if the data is skewed. Explain your reasoning. Based on your findings, which keywords would you recommend for your client? Why? Did competition correlate with the average number of monthly searches? Why? Imagine you were in charge of the algorithm that determines the pricing for Google Ads. Would you want your lowest and highest bids to be right skewed, left skewed, or normally distributed. Why?

Write an essay with at least 250 words as prompted in the question. The essay should contain the following elements (250 word count begins here): Your conclusion (thesis) in summary form as clearly and succinctly as possible at the beginning of the essay Fully answer the question(s) and explain yourself Be sure to cite and reference the materials you use to support your response You must use a consistent citation format throughout the essay (e.g., APA). Question: Concept of iatrogenic harm. Apply the idea to what we see in ever-efficient cars in terms of fuel consumption. Describe the iatrogenic harm in the ever-improving fuel efficiency in cars. What policies would you recommend to reduce the harm?

Product and Pricing Issues Describe current issues in business and use course concepts to analyze them; Describe the various types of decisions faced by business managers Chapter 11 Objective:  Identify variables that can be used to divide a market into market segments Part I:  Ethics in Practice – Read the case study below and respond to the three questions presented at the end of the case. Make certain to clearly identify your answers to each question and fully support your answers. Pricing Before, During, and After Hurricanes  The late summer of 2017 brought several devastating hurricanes that impacted large areas of Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. As often happens during events like these, there were several reports of stores, hotels, and service stations engaging in price gouging. Many states have laws against price gouging during natural disasters, but a Twitter photo of a Best Buy store charging $42 for a case of 24 bottles of water was widely circulated. Usually a case of water can be purchased for about $5 to $8, so the $42 price was thought to be an instance of price gouging. Best Buy quickly addressed the exorbitant price and issued an apology, stating they normally do not sell cases of water, and that an employee wanting to provide a service in advance of the hurricane simply multiplied the price of a single bottle they normally sell by 24 to arrive at the price-per-case total. Best Buy’s response was clearly aimed at deflecting any negative public reaction to the pricing “error.”   Another example of how companies might be accused of price gouging occurs with companies that use “dynamic pricing,” which uses computer algorithms to analyze demand and automatically raises prices as demand increases. Amazon, the large online retailer, uses dynamic pricing, and consumers saw an increase in the price of things like generators and water in the days prior to hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Juan in 2017.   There are some economists and business thought leaders who believe that price increases during events like hurricanes is a good thing. Economists from the Chicago School of Economics state that regulating lower prices during natural disasters actually discourages consumers from purchasing essential supplies such as water and gasoline until the disaster occurs because they can anticipate regulated prices. In addition, let’s say that a hotel usually rents a room for $50 a night and decides to raise the price during a hurricane to $100. A family might decide to stay in one room rather than rent two rooms, thus saving some money while at the same time increasing the supply of hotel rooms for people who need them the most.   Critical Thinking Questions   1. What risks do companies such as Best Buy and Amazon face when selling a product that they normally don’t sell and then are accused of price gouging, or when they using dynamic pricing?   2. Why is the use of dynamic pricing deemed acceptable for selling tickets to sporting events but not during a natural disaster?   3. Do you agree with the arguments in support of higher prices put forth by free-market economists? Part II:  Market Segments Pick a specific product that you use frequently, such as a cosmetic or toiletry item, snack food, article of clothing, book computer program, or video game.  Once you have made your selection, answer the following questions about the selected product: 1.      What is the target market for the product, and does the company’s marketing strategy reflect this?   2.     Now consider the broader category of your product.  How can this product be changed and/or the marketing strategy adjusted to appeal to other market segments     https://d3bxy9euw4e147.cloudfront.net/oscms-prodcms/media/documents/IntroductionToBusiness-OP_8D04gAa.pdf

Please submit a Word document with your answers to the following questions. Please clearly identify which question you are answering by a number or by writing the question out. Please double space the assignment. 1. In the “Profit’s not always the point” video, the speaker suggests that profit is not always the major goal for a firm. In one or two paragraphs, discuss why he believes that there is more to a firm than profit. Remember to define the main term (profit, in this case) and cite facts that you use in your answer.  (link to video:  https://www.ted.com/talks/harish_manwani_profit_s_not_always_the_point?language=dz) 2. Based on the information provided in Illustration Capsule 2.4 (SEE SECOND PAGE FOR ILLUSTRATION CAPSULE 2.4), describe the ways in which Volkswagen did not fulfill the requirements of effective corporate governance. In one or two paragraphs, discuss how the board of directors sidestepped its obligations to protect shareholder interests? In one or two paragraphs, discuss how Volkswagen could better select its board of directors to avoid mistakes such as the emissions scandal?  Remember to define the main term (corporate governance, in this case) and cite facts that you use in your answer. 3. Using the information provided by the Organic Trade Association at https://ota.com/ and the Organic Report magazine at https://theorganicreport.com/, draw a five forces diagram for the organic food industry, and briefly discuss the nature and strength of each of the five competitive forces. Remember to define the main term (Porter’s five forces, in this case) and cite facts that you use in your answer. ? ILLUSTRATION CAPSUL 2.4: In 2015, Volkswagen admitted to installing “defeat devices” on at least 11 million vehicles with diesel engines. These devices enabled the cars to pass emis-sion tests, even though the engines actually emitted pollutants up to 40 times above what is allowed in the United States. Current estimates are that it will cost the company at least €7 billion to cover the cost of repairs and lawsuits. Although management must have been involved in approving the use of cheating devices, the Volkswagen supervisory board has been unwilling to accept any responsibility. Some board members even questioned whether it was the board’s responsibility to be aware of such problems, stating “matters of technical expertise were not for us” and “the scandal had nothing, not one iota, to do with the advisory board.” Yet governing boards do have a responsibility to be well informed, to provide oversight, and to become involved in key decisions and actions. So what caused this corporate governance failure? Why is this the third time in the past 20 years that Volkswagen has been embroiled in scandal? The key feature of Volkswagen’s board that appears to have led to these issues is a lack of independent directors. However, before explaining this in more detail it is important to understand the German governance model. German corporations operate two-tier governance structures, with a management board, and a separate supervisory board that does not contain any current executives. In addition, German law requires large companies to have at least 50 percent supervisory board representation from workers. This structure is meant to provide more oversight by independent board members and greater involvement by a wider set of stakeholders. In Volkswagen’s case, these objectives have been effectively circumvented. Although Volkswagen’s supervisory board does not include any current management, the chairmanship appears to be a revolving door of former senior executives. Ferdinand Piëch, the chair during the scandal, was CEO for 9 years prior to becoming chair in 2002. Martin Winterkorn, the recently ousted CEO, was expected to become supervisory board chair prior to the scandal. The company continues to elevate management to the supervisory board even though they have presided over past scandals. Hans Dieter Poetsch, the newly appointed chair, was part of the management team that did not inform the supervisory board of the EPA investigation for two weeks.  VW also has a unique ownership structure where a single family, Porsche, controls more than 50 percent of voting shares. Piëch, a family member and chair until 2015, forced out CEOs and installed unqualified family members on the board, such as his former nanny and current wife. He also pushed out independent-minded board members, such as Gerhard Cromme, author of Germany’s corporate governance code. The company has lost numerous independent directors over the past 10 years, leaving it with only one non-shareholder, non-labor representative. Although Piëch has now been removed, it is unclear that Volkswagen’s board has solved the underlying problem. Shareholders have seen billions of dollars wiped away and the Volkswagen brand tarnished. As long as the board continues to lack independent directors, change will likely be slow

A business plan is essential to the start of a new business venture. In fact, businesses often fail because of inadequate planning. A good business plan helps those in the organization, especially management, clarify their goals and focus on projects and potential projects. In addition, it provides a framework by which management makes decisions and therefore “[s]erves as a basis for discussion with third parties such as shareholders, agencies, banks, [and] investors.” Lastly, a good plan provides benchmarks by which all of the stakeholders may measure how well the company is meeting or failing to meet its goals (http://www.planware.org/bizplan.htm). Before writing a business plan, one must have a business strategy that typically includes the following: A Mission Statement A Vision Statement Objectives Specific departmental strategies Goals Implementation of prescribed action steps or a program (Goodale, 2001, p. 74). Mission and Vision Statements. Even though a mission statement is generally brief, it incorporates the company’s assessment of itself and its environment and expresses the primary purpose(s) for which the entity has been established. All other components of a business plan must be consistent with the mission statement. Because the mission statement is essentially the starting point for all of the company’s subsequent activities, the process for developing it should be thorough and multi-faceted. In order to define its “mission,” a company must survey its prospective vendors, community members, and customers, as well as its own employees and administration. An effective mission statement must clearly describe the entity’s role in the community and align the company’s capabilities and the needs of the community. In addition, a mission statement is meaningless if the company lacks the resources to fulfill its stated objectives. It is also irrelevant if the stated mission does not serve the needs of a defined constituency. For example, Chadwick Dental Arts, Inc.’s mission statement, “Established to provide cosmetic dental surgery to the indigent of Blank County,” would be nonsensical if Chadwick’s dentists lacked the capability to perform cosmetic dental surgery, if the indigent of Blank County did not highly value cosmetic dental surgery, or if the indigent of Blank County could not afford such services in the first place. The mission statement, therefore, encapsulates what the company is and how it adds value. Even though the mission statement is physically located in the beginning of a business plan, it is really the end product of a detailed self-analysis by all the stakeholders in an organization. In order for an entity’s mission statement to have resonance and credibility, the organization it describes must be true to itself and to its constituency. While the mission statement incorporates an organization’s present objectives, a vision statement sets forth its image as envisioned at some future point and answers the following questions: What type of company will this be? What markets will it serve? What will be the geographic scope? Who will be the target customers? What will be the key products and services? How big will the company be? What will revenues be? How many employees will there be? (http://www.onepagebusinessplan.com/vision_statements.html.) As Goodale indicates, an entity must usually envision some sustainable growth in its future to compete effectively in its given marketplace. It should be noted that some entities may strive to achieve a monopoly in a market niche (i.e., serve the interests of a particular market, without major competitors, where growth may not be as great a concern). Objectives and Strategies. Stating what a business wants to achieve in the near term, objectives are connected to the expectations and requirements of the major stakeholders, including the employees, the managers, and the shareholders. Objectives are distinguished from goals, which are usually quantitative expressions of the company’s expectations. Objectives parallel the purposes for which the company or division was established in the first place. A description of objectives would include statements of expected company growth, profitability, markets, and technology. Strongly tied to its objectives, a company’s values reflect its philosophy or approach to its relationships with its customers, competitors, community, and society. Corporate responsibility, integrity, compassion and honesty are core values that a company will attempt to align with its mission statement, objectives, goals, and strategies. Strategies are the plans by which a company can remain true to its mission, achieve its objectives, and maintain its values. The specific strategies developed by the company are based on its own assessments of its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, also known as a SWOT analysis. Whereas strengths and weaknesses are part of the company’s internal structure, opportunities and threats represent circumstances external to the company. Stated in general terms, a company wants to build upon or develop its strengths, to minimize its weaknesses, to exploit its opportunities, and to avoid or diminish threats. Logically then, a company’s assessment of its strengths and weaknesses shapes its conclusions about whether external circumstances are a threat or an opportunity. Because strategies are based upon a company’s assessment of its resources and of the marketplace in which it is participating, financial projections are an important part of strategic planning. Finally, we should note that strategies can be created for the entity as a whole or for specific departments or projects. Goals and Their Implementation. Having identified its product or service; having assessed its strengths, weaknesses, and resources; and having evaluated its competition and the environment in which it is competing, an entity then develops goals. It is important that goal setting be realistic, in view of the company’s resources, its competition, and the marketplace in which it is competing, and it must be consistent with the company’s mission statement. Like the budgeting process, goal setting may also provide quantitative expectations for overall company performance and achievement (note that goals are generally set at twelve-month intervals). After a company has developed a strategy meeting its goals and objectives, it establishes a plan of action or devises a series of steps or tactics, so that such goals and strategies can be reached. These are also referred to as implementation plans. While the mission statement, corporate goals and objectives, and corporate values are often described in general terms, an action program is specific. The plan of action should describe in detail the whos, whats, whens, and hows of executing company strategy. Drafting business plans is an art. Therefore, before beginning the draft, you should follow these steps: Clearly define the target audience Determine its requirements in relation to the contents and levels of detail Map out the plan’s structure (contents page) Decide on the likely length of the plan Identify all the main issues to be addressed (http://www.planware.org/bizplan.htm) Keep in mind that business plans are the basis for subsequent management action. They often act as the blueprint for market research, product development, and team-building. Lecture and Research Update Bibliography About.com (2004). How to Draft a Mission Statement. Retrieved on October 1, 2004, from http://management.about.com/library/howto/ht_stmt.htm Goodale, M. (2001). Developing a Solid Business Plan. Civil Engineering, 71(11), 74-75. Invest-Tech Limited (1999-2003). Insights into Business Planning. Retrieved on October 2, 2004, from http://www.planware.org/insights.htm Invest-Tech Limited (1999-2003). Writing a Business Plan. Retrieved on October 2, 2004, from http://www.planware.org/bizplan.htm Invest-Tech Limited (1999-2003). Writing a Great Vision Statement. Retrieved October 1, 2004, from http://www.onepagebusinessplan.com/vision_statements.html Penner, S. (2004). Introduction to Health Care Economics & Financial Management: Fundamental Concepts with Practical Applications. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkens. Ch. 12, pp. 227-233.

Discuss how the stock market been impacted by the Corona Virus by answering the following questions in 4-5 pages length. All essays must have MLA citations in a bibliography at the end. (The bibliography does not count towards the overall page length!)  1. Since the Corona Virus outbreak, how did Amazon adapt to the demand of increased production? safety parameters did they put in place for their delivery systems and workers? What incentives did they put in place to keep workers motivated? 2. How did the new cultural norms such as mask wearing, social distancing and remote working affect American behavior (hint: behavior in shopping centers and in public in general)?  Provide 2 personal examples of how the Corona Virus affected your personal life either in school, your daily life or both. 3. What happened to the housing market prices in New York/New Jersey as a result of the Corona Virus? Why? Were people buying and selling homes more or did business halt altogether? What happened to interest rates during the time of the Corona Virus and explain how that affected the real estate market?  4. Discuss why unemployment skyrocketed. How did the economy react to keep the economy afloat? (What policies and decisions were made?) What type of pricing behavior occurred during the crisis? (inflation, stagflation, deflation, disinflation, hyperinflation) Explain WHY.  5. Do you believe the United States succeeded or fail with respect to how the Corona Virus was handled as a country? What are the reasons for your stance? (Explain at least 3 reasons justifying your position)