Assignment 1: Discussion—Predicting and Developing a Long-Term Growth Strategy

To develop a strategic plan, as a nonaccounting manager, you need to analyze and link management accounting data and performance information with business strategies. You also need to extend the scope of management accounting beyond the organization. For this perspective, you will need to focus on variables that are external to the firm, such as variables relating to markets, customers, and competitors. This external focus will help you develop a sustainable competitive advantage, which is the primary element of your long-term growth strategy.

In this assignment, you will analyze the factors that affect the long-term growth strategy of a company.

Tasks:

Respond to the following:

• What can you learn from the financial statements of competitors that determine the relative cost position of your company?
• What are some of the ways in which you can secure a sustainable cost advantage over the competition?
• How does maintaining a strong understanding of relative costs help you maintain the competitive advantage?
• How do you use cost structure to differentiate products? Do you think product differentiation is a successful growth strategy? Why or why not?
• What is the usefulness of conducting a customer profitability analysis?

The choice between fair value and historical cost accounting has been a widely debated issue in the accounting literature (Christensen & Nikolaev, 2013). However, the conceptual framework for international financial reporting (hereafter the IASB Framework) and the equivalent AASB Framework does not prescribe a specific measurement base to account for the key elements in financial reports (the IASB Framework 2010). Specific measurement methods for different accounting elements are provided in the specific international financial reporting standards (IFRS). Unlike most other accounting standards, IFRS provides a free choice between fair value and historical cost accounting for the non-financial asset groups: property, plant and equipment (PPE) (see IAS 16) and intangibles (see IAS 38). This has resulted in variations in valuation practices for PPE and intangible assets.

Required

1. Refer to the current IASB Framework and IFRS 13 Fair Value measurements, briefly explain the measurement concepts in relation to historical cost and fair value accounting.

2. Evaluate the benefits and challenges of using historical cost and fair value accounting for PPE and intangibles, by reviewing accounting literature.

3. Identify valuation practices (in relation to the use of historical cost and fair value accounting) for the following non-financial asset groups: PPE and intangibles, by reading the ‘accounting policy’ sections of three listed companies’ 2016 annual reports.

Note: You are required to select one company listed London stock exchange, one company listed on the New York Stock Exchange, USA, and the third one is selected from the Australian Securities Exchange.

4. Analyse if the valuation practices for PPE and intangibles are consistent across the three companies.

5. What is your opinion on the free choice between historical cost and fair value accounting for PPE and intangibles: should such free choice be continued in practice? Or should it be abandoned? Justify your answer.

References

Christensen, Hans B. & Nikolaev, Valeri V., (2013). Does fair value accounting for non-financial assets pass the market test? Review of Accounting Studies, 18(3), pp 734-775.

Missonier-Piera, Franck., (2007). Motives for fixed-asset revaluation: An empirical analysis with Swiss data, The International Journal of Accounting, 42(2),pp186–205.

IASB Framework, IAS 16, IAS 38, IFRS 13, retrieved from http://www.ifrs.org

AASB Framework, AASB 116, AASB 138, AASB 13, retrieved from http://www.aasb.gov.au

Australian Securities Exchange, www.asx.com.au

New York Stock Exchange, www.nyse.com

London Stock Exchange, www.londonstockexchange.com

Submission requirement

1. Assignment submission

a. Submission of this assignment by due date is compulsory for the successful completion of the subject.

b. The word limit is no more than 3000 words (excluding references and appendix)

c. The submitted hardcopy of the assignment must be the identical version of the electronic copy submitted through the Dropbox (i.e. Turnitin) on VU Collaborate. Inconsistence in the hardcopy and the electronic copy may result in a zero mark of the assignment.

Note: If you cannot submit your assignment through the Dropbox on VU Collaborate due to technical issue, then email your assignment to your tutor or lecturer no later than the due date.

d. The Turnitin/Dropbox Similarity Report should be no more than 20%.

e. Late submission without the extension approval from your tutor will be penalised at two marks (out of 20) per calendar day (including weekend).

f. Completed extension application form must be submitted to your tutor at least five days in advance of the due date.

g. Students are responsible to protect their work and save data by making necessary backup. Loss of data due to a computer or storage devices problems will not be considered a legitimate reason for an extension.

2. Referencing and style

· Assignment must be typed using Word document, with double alignment, and 1.5-lines space.

· Assignment is required to use Harvard referencing style (see VU library for examples of Harvard Referencing Style at http://guides.library.vu.edu.au/Harvard).

· Assignment without proper referencing (in text and end of text) will be subject to substantial deduction of marks. This may result in the assignment being marked zero.

3. Preventing plagiarism

3.1 Academic Honesty and Preventing Plagiarism Policy

Plagiarism is defined as ‘The practice that involves use of another person’s intellectual output and presenting it (without appropriate acknowledgement) as one’s own’.

Examples of plagiarism:

· Word-for-word copying of sentences/paragraphs in an assignment without acknowledgement or with insufficient or improper acknowledgement;

· Downloading essays or assignments from the web and presenting these for assessment;

· Presenting another student’s work or research data as the student’s work;

· Copying out parts of any text without acknowledging the source(s). This may be written text, structures within texts, diagrams, formulae, sound files, still photographs, audio-visual material (sound and image files), graphics/animations/multimedia objects, other computer based material, mathematical proofs, art objects, products and others. This can be done as verbatim copying or paraphrasing.

· The use of someone else’s concepts, experimental results, experimental conclusions or conclusions drawn from analysing evidence or arguments without acknowledging the originator of the idea(s) or conclusion(s).

3.2 Students are responsible for:

· Understanding and respecting the University’s policies and procedures regarding plagiarism, collusion, and other forms of academic misconduct, and as such should only submit work for correction or academic credit that is their own or that properly acknowledges the ideas, interpretations, words or creative works of others;

· Avoiding the lending or making accessible original work to others;

· Being clear about the appropriate referencing rules that are applicable to their field of study;

· Refusing to be a party to another student’s efforts to undermine the academic integrity of the University.

· Seeking assistance with their learning and assessment tasks if they are unsure of appropriate forms of acknowledgement.

Formulating A Qualitative Research Study

TOPIC:  Formulating a Qualitative Research Study

To prepare:

Using the Learning Resources as a guide, determine a qualitative research topic that is of interest to you and applies to a clinical practice area.

With your selected topic, formulate at least one research question that could serve as the basis for a qualitative research study.

Consider which of the following qualitative research methods would best address your selected research question: phenomenology, ethnography, or grounded theory. Why is that method appropriate?

Anticipate any issues (related to ethics, credibility, management, funding, etc.) you might encounter if you were to engage in this research project, and consider how you would handle them.

Ask yourself: What other qualitative methods could be used to address my selected qualitative research topic? What are the strengths and weaknesses of these methods?

Post 1-2 PAGES ON : A cohesive response that addresses the following:

Summarize your selected qualitative research topic and research question(s) and identify your selected methodology for gathering data about the question(s). 

Explain why you chose that particular methodology and how it would be useful to the qualitative research topic you selected.

Identify and elaborate on the challenges (related to ethics, credibility, management, funding, etc.) you might encounter if you were to engage in this research project.

Describe the strengths and weaknesses of your selected research method (phenomenology, ethnography, and grounded theory) in terms of the research project you selected.

Discuss at least one other qualitative method that could be used to research your selected topic.

Assignment 1: Discussion—Predicting and Developing a Long-Term Growth Strategy

To develop a strategic plan, as a nonaccounting manager, you need to analyze and link management accounting data and performance information with business strategies. You also need to extend the scope of management accounting beyond the organization. For this perspective, you will need to focus on variables that are external to the firm, such as variables relating to markets, customers, and competitors. This external focus will help you develop a sustainable competitive advantage, which is the primary element of your long-term growth strategy.

In this assignment, you will analyze the factors that affect the long-term growth strategy of a company.

Tasks:

Respond to the following:

• What can you learn from the financial statements of competitors that determine the relative cost position of your company?
• What are some of the ways in which you can secure a sustainable cost advantage over the competition?
• How does maintaining a strong understanding of relative costs help you maintain the competitive advantage?
• How do you use cost structure to differentiate products? Do you think product differentiation is a successful growth strategy? Why or why not?
• What is the usefulness of conducting a customer profitability analysis?

CAREER CONNECTION: Values And Strategy Paper

Choose an organization according to the following:

• Current employer
• Most recent or former employer
• Place of business that you have patronized or have been familiar with over a long period of time. 
  • Avoid choosing an organization that is so large that historical data would be difficult to apply. Firms in the Russell 2000® index may fit well, whereas firms in the Dow 30 Industrial index probably do not. 
• The organization can be a start-up that you or a significant other may create in the future. For a start-up, focus on an entrepreneurial idea that is of substantive interest, so this project leaves you with a product you may leverage in the future. 

Write a 1,050-word paper in which you address the following: 

• Identify the major components of the strategic management process.
• Discuss how these components work together to create value for the organization.
• Evaluate the company's mission statement, vision statement, motivation strategy, innovation strategy, and people strategy. If the organization does not have one or more of these, how does that affect the organization and its people?
• Explain the role of ethics and corporate social responsibility in strategic planning.  How does this direct their strategy? How does the organization's vison and mission align with your own values and vision?  If you are currently working for the organization, how does your role influence this and vice versa?  

Format your paper according to APA guidelines. 

Econ 316

After watching the video clip from A Knight’s Tale, consider the effect of choosing consumption today versus consumption in the future. Using the PPC as a springboard for your analysis, what effect would forgoing consumption today in order to invest for tomorrow have on future production possibilities? Now consider the choices our government faces when it has limited tax revenues to fund the unlimited wants of its citizens. Describe some of the choices the government makes between consumption today and investment for tomorrow.

International Business

Of the three factors behind the tremendous growth in globalization (Politics, Economics & Technology) 

and consequent change in International Business Operations, over the recent decades, which one to you, is 

most appealing?

Why? List three reasons

Assignment 1: Discussion—Worker Rights and Privacy in the Workplace

Assignment 1: Discussion—Worker Rights and Privacy in the Workplace

In addition to the readings assigned for Module 4,  using the Argosy University online library resources or the Internet,  locate and read two to three other articles on worker rights and privacy  in the workplace. Share your observations, early conclusions,  reflections, and questions in this discussion.

Respond to the following questions:

• What are the relevant laws that govern privacy in the workplace?
• How can workers take advantage of the protections that these laws provide?

Submission Details:

• By the due date assigned, in a minimum of 500 words, post a summary of your findings to this Discussion Area. Support your work by citing sources according to APA standards.

Assignment 2: Discussion—Ethics and IPR

Assignment 2: Discussion—Ethics and IPR

IPR protect drug companies from others making their  products without the expense of investing in research and development.  IPR also enable drug companies to recoup research and development  (R&D) costs by charging more for a drug than the marginal cost of  producing it.

One result of this strategy, however, is that unless a  company can charge enough to cover the costs of R&D and production,  it has no incentive to develop and produce a drug; no matter how  important that drug may be to certain populations, for example, the poor  in third-world countries.

• What ethical dilemmas does this situation pose for drug companies?
• Do other types of companies face similar dilemmas?

In addition to the readings assigned for Module 4, identify and read two to three other articles on professional ethics and the concept of intellectual property.

Share your observations, early conclusions, reflections, and questions in this discussion.

Emerging Health

For this assignment (Part 1 of the Case Report), write a 1,000-1,250-word paper incorporating genetics information about sickle cell disease. Include the following:

Describe sickle cell disease, its prevalence, and its incidence.

Discuss the laboratory testing that is possible.

Guidelines and reasons behind the FDA regulations for introducing new pharmaceutical agents (policy).

The role that money and grants play in scientific advances; the economics of health care (capitalism).

The role and involvement family plays into the health care decision.