Business

One of the most common inferences in life is the inference to the best explanation (sometimes called abductive reasoning). We use this type of reasoning to infer what would best explain the things that we see. Chapter 6 in our book demonstrates ways in which this type of reasoning helps us to explain the world around us. Prepare: Review Section 6.5 of the course text on Inferences to the Best Explanation. Choose a topic that is difficult or controversial to explain. Some good topics include hoaxes, unusual sightings (e.g. UFOs, bigfoot, etc.), the supernatural or paranormal (ghosts, levitation, etc.), conspiracy theories, unsolved crimes, court cases, etc. Reflect: Do a little research to find a specific topic and learn about explanations on both sides. Consider what you think might best explain the observed facts of the case. Write: Explain the topic you chose and why it is interesting or controversial. Present good arguments on more than one side of the issue (e.g. competing explanations of the facts). Analyze both arguments that you have presented. Then present your own argument for your theory that you feel will best explain this phenomenon. Are there any holes in your theory? Is there any information that would be likely to strengthen or weaken your case?

You work in the Ethics Department for ABC Company (ABC). Your department is dedicated to advising its employees about their ethical obligations in the corporate setting. You are an internal consultant who provides advice and most importantly, recommendations for action to employees of the firm. All communications you receive in this capacity are confidential.  Luke, an employee of ABC, comes to you with the following scenario and asks for your advice. He wants to fully consider the situation. Your task is to advise and recommend a course of action based on the specified ethical lenses and facts as given. Below are the facts that Luke provides to you.  Luke has been asked to work on a project that involves developing land recently purchased by ABC to build an adult entertainment retail store. According to the plan, the land is located on the corner of the neighborhood where Owen, Luke’s brother, lives.  Luke knows that as soon as the plans for the store are made public, property values for the surrounding neighborhood will decrease significantly. ABC plans to publicly announce the project one month from today.  Luke is concerned about his obligations of confidentiality to his company. However, Luke is also very close to Owen, who recently told Luke that he received an offer to sell his house at an “okay” price given the current real estate market. Owen is considering selling but hasn’t made any final decision yet. He wonders if he might get a better offer a few years from now when the real estate market improves.  What is the ethical issue, why is this an issue, and what should Luke do about it?  For assignment 3, prepare a memo, setting out your analysis and recommendations, that considers ONLY the following two theories: Golden Rule and Virtue Ethics.

Write one page (12 point times new roman, double spaced, one inch margins, citing sources within the text) on how trade should be changed in Papua New Guinea.  Should they choose different exports/imports?  Should the government be more involved? less involved?  Refer to import substitution and/or export promotion in your paper.

These are the edited directions. Please read this, i attached the original one as well but this is edited. Directions: Please answer all of the questions below. This is a formal paper. You will be graded on content, along with spelling and grammatical quality. Use MLA format to write your paper (parenthetical citations are permitted). Your paper must be typed, double spaced, with 1-inch margins around, and no longer than 750 words. Do not include a title page. I will only read the first 750 words. Points will be deducted if these policies are not followed. It is highly recommended that you utilize the Writing Center to help improve the quality of your paper. All assignments must be submitted using TurnItIn through Blackboard. You will be graded on your discussion of the topic described below, as well as the support provided for your opinions. Where possible, please use specific facts and data to support your opinions. You are required to use additional sources to complete this assignment. There is a lot of information available on this topic. Use proper citation format, footnotes or in-text citations and a bibliography. Your bibliography must include the four (4) sources below and at least two (2) additional sources. I reserve the right to ask to see drafts of your paper. Please save earlier drafts for this purpose. Essay Topic: Effects of the Pandemic on a Specific Industry  Read the following articles:  Dunlap, Tom, Dave Wagner and Frank Scavo. “Coronavirus Impact Index by Industry.” Coronavirus Impact Index by        Industry | Computer Economics — for IT Metrics, Ratios, Benchmarks, and Research Advisories for IT                   Management. www.computereconomics.com/article.cfm?id=2788. Kumar, Neeraj and Danny Haydon. “Industries Most and Least Impacted by COVID-19 from a Probability of Default      Perspective – March 2020 Update.” Industries Most and Least Impacted by COVID-19 from a Probability of      Default Perspective – March 2020 Update | S&P Global Market Intelligence, 7 Apr. 2020.      www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/blog/industries-most-and-least-impacted-bycovid-19-     from-a-probability-of-default-perspective-march-2020-update.  Thau, Barbara. “Coronavirus Effects on Businesses in Major Industries.” U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 20 Mar.           2020, www.uschamber.com/co/good-company/launch-pad/coronavirus-effects-on-major-industries.  “The Biggest Business Impacts of the Coronavirus Pandemic.” EMarketer, www.emarketer.com/content/thebiggest-          business-impacts-of-the-coronavirus-pandemic-according-to-business-insider-intelligence.  The pandemic has had significant effects on the world economy. Some industries have benefits from shelter-athome, work from home and social distancing policies. While other industries have benefited from this shift. The assignment will provide you with an opportunity to see the effects on a specific firm.  Answer the following questions:  1. Include an introduction that includes a brief discussion of the pandemic and its effects on the world.  2. What types of firms have benefited from the effects of the pandemic? What types of firms have been negatively impacted by the pandemic?  3. Pick one firm in the Dow Jones Industrial Index to study further. Include a brief discussion of the firm, the industry it falls in and the expected effects of the pandemic. (see https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/%5EDJI/components/) Find the firm’s most recent earnings report. For most firms, this will be a second or third quarter earnings release or conference call. Different firms use different terms. If you find that the information on the firm you selected is difficult to find or understand, please select another firm.  4. How has the firm been affected by the pandemic? Discuss Sales and Profits and any other measure you believe is relevant. Include support from the earnings release.  5. What actions has the firm taken in response to the pandemic. Have employees been laid off, have bonuses been cut, etc. Do you believe these actions should have been taken?  6. What was the firm’s stock price on January 2, 2020? What was the firm’s stock price on September 2, 2020? Compute the return over this time period. What is the EAR on this stock?  7. Is the firm’s return consistent with your expectations of the effects of the pandemic on this firm? Clearly explain your answer.  Include an introduction and conclusion to your paper. – introduction can be your answer to the first question – conclusion can be two sentences

WRITTEN CASE ANALYSIS FORMAT (REQUIRED) Problem identification (10) Identifies and summarizes the problem(s), question(s), or issue(s).  This dimension focuses on a task or issue identification, including secondary or implicit aspects of an issue and the relationships between factors that may be integral to effective analysis.  Situation Analysis (60%) Undertakes appropriate quantitative or qualitative analysis.  This dimension focuses on the appropriate use of quantitative or qualitative analysis of information to clarify issues and facilitate decision-making. Breakdown: External Analysis (20%) 5-Forces, Macro-Environment, Key Success Factors (KSF), overall O&Ts Internal Analysis (20%) Value Chain, RBV (Resource-based view), VRIO, overall S&Ws(Strengths and Weaknesses) Strategy Analysis (20%) Bus-level, Functional-level, Overall assessment Options Analysis (10%) Integrates the issues using reasonable options. This dimension focuses on the treatment of diverse perspectives and the assessment of contrary views and evidence. Recommendation (10%) Identifies and logical conclusion, implications, and consequences. This dimension focuses on integrating previous dimensions and extending them to draw logical conclusions that solve the problem. Rubric Issues (10%): outline and explain the key problems, decisions or issues and why they are important. If you decide to focus on 1-2 issues, explain why you think the ones you chose are the most important.   Analysis (60%): analyze each of the company’s key strategic issues you chose. Your analysis must be supported by concepts, frameworks and other materials from class. The analysis may utilize tables and figures to succinctly present information.   Options (10%): outline 2-4 possible options the company can take to resolve the issues. Include a discussion of the pros and cons of each individual option, clearly linking each option to your analysis.   Recommendations (10%): include a clear and actionable set of recommendations, that are supported by and explicitly linked to your options and analysis. Formatting, clarity of writing, grammar, spelling (10%)   Note: Do not contaminate the case by using sources of information, data, analysis, ideas and/or suggestions external to the case. Your analysis must be based only on information found in the case

Connecting Integers to Finances  Imagine that you have graduated and obtained your ideal job! This project will help you connect what you have learned about integers to personal finances. In this project, you will: Learn to describe income using an equation. Learn to evaluate your income based on given hours per week or a goal amount of money. Learn to make reasonable conclusions about finances. Connect the idea of positive and negative integers to credits and debits within accounts. To complete this project you will: Complete the Ideal Job Worksheet to guide you in developing your budget. Be sure to show all work! Complete a 2-page, double-spaced, APA formatted report. In the report, you need to present your findings and explain the connections between your calculations and integers. Thoughts to include in the report include: What types of transactions are positive or negative? How can you write an expression to determine your income? How can you write an equation to solve the number of hours you need to work or the amount of money you need to make to reach your financial goals.

The instructions: Choose and concentrate on ONE sector Focus on AGILITY, RESSILENCE AND TECHNOLOGY No Literature Review, Give all in an executive summary Provide key definitions Assessment task details and instructions “Businesses need to lead ‘transformational change’ in order to tackle the most urgent threats facing the planet and its people, including a radical overhaul of supply chains… We must work together, because the engine of global business – its supply chain – is broken, and requires transformational, cross-industry collaboration to fix it,” Grant F. Reid, CEO Mars Company. Based on the above predictive statement before the advent of current pandemic situation, you are asked to choose a sector/industry (e.g., food, technology, healthcare, retail, services, automotive), and critically: i. Discuss the supply chain visibility and agility, i.e., the ability of companies in the chosen sector/industry to build and manage more cost-effective, efficient, responsible and customer-focused supply chains given the disruption caused by COVID-19. Assessment Information/Brief 1 ii. Identify both internal and external COVID-19 risks for the companies in the sector/industry and discuss how the companies build supply chain resilience to quantify and rebalance those risks by emphasising cross-industry collaboration. iii. Discuss how state-of-the-art technologies and/or new forms of supply chains (e.g., Additive Manufacturing, Big Data analytics, Internet of Things, Omnichannel, blockchain) help companies within the chosen sector to tackle those urgent supply chain threats and remain competitive during and after the pandemic. For each question above, you should support your arguments by bringing into the discussion 1-2 examples of companies that belong to the selected sector/industry. You will also need to consider the following when completing your assignment: • Quality of executive summary (does it give a brief complete summary of your paper for an executive to read?) • Establishment of relevant theory (e.g. how supply chain environments are differentiated from region to region?) • Allocation of credit and sources used (have I included references and citations to the material I have used?) • Clarity of argument • Overall report presentation including spelling and grammar • Adherence to the nominated word limit (+/- 10%) • Word processed (letter size 12, times new roman, 1.5 space) • Fully referenced (Harvard Referencing System). Please refer to the reading list and academic sources issued in Blackboard

Google made headlines about underpaying some men who are Level 4 Software Engineers.  However, Google failed to mention other pay inequity issues that may exist in the company.  Currently, there is a class-action lawsuit against Google involving more than 8,000 current and former female employees claiming pay discrimination, and there is an ongoing investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor looking into whether Google underpaid women across its entire workforce. What changes should Google’s HR department make to its compensation system in order for it to be perceived as fair by all employees?  Explain.

Compare and contrast three (3) different employee compensation methods. Provide a brief summary of each, benefits and disadvantages, and best practices and applications.

Choose the problem below and explain which design model you would use to help make a decision about the best way to go forward. Use the Business Model Canvas and one of the design models (Scenarios) to explain one way the company can work through their problem and find a solution.   Problem: You need to find a solution for Shell oil company that is a snow removal company. Due to the lack of snow for the past few years, they have not been able to offer the services they usually do.  Therefore, the equipment is standing idle and employees do not have enough work. How can they decide what to do? You want to make sure that your explanation is clear when you present. How well you can explain the design model, the canvas, and provide support for your decision (for that particular design model) will be how you are graded. Explain the design model that you have chosen – describe the model with examples, explain how you use it, the benefits of the model and talk about how some existing companies have used it successfully. Finally summarize these contents and create at least 4 PowerPoints please.