Understanding Numbers For Better Decisions

It is the management’s responsibility to maximize shareholder wealth as it is based on the organization's future cash flows. To accomplish this, managers have to understand how to use financial statements for analysis.

In this assignment, you will explain the importance of the statements to the financial reporting process and management decisions.

Tasks:

• Locate the financial statements of a U.S. publicly-traded company of your choice (the company must have inventory and accounts receivable) by visiting the organization's Web site to locate the investor section. Or you may use one of the following Websites: 
  • U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
  • Yahoo Finance
  • Google Finance
• Review the information presented in the financial statements of the company you selected.
• Using the company you selected, calculate one ratio from each ratio category located at this Financial Ratios resource.  Complete a trend analysis of each ratio for a three-year period.
  • Describe what the trends you see for your company based on your ratio analysis. What does this mean for the company?
  • Compare your company’s ratios with those of the industry it is in.
• Analyze the financial reporting information and the financial health of the company with the help of the calculated ratios.

M2A1: Cash Method Versus Accrual Method Discussion

Assignment 1: Cash Method Versus Accrual Method

Businesses face a choice between two important methods of calculating taxable income for federal income taxes: the cash method and the accrual method.

Based on your readings for the module, respond to the following:

1. What factors determine a company's choice between the cash method and the accrual method in accounting for income taxes?

2. Give an example of a particular transaction and describe how the two methods would account for that transaction differently.

Write your initial response in two to three paragraphs.

1. Introduction should include:
a. Importance of culvert maintenance and condition prediction.
b. Introduce and compare Decision tree and SVM. 
c. introduce ANN
2. Develop a Decision Tree or SVM model to separate culvert data into 2 groups in the excel file based on GENERAL APPRAISAL. Group one with rating 0-6 and other 7-9.
3. Develop an ANN predictive model for the group with 0-6 GENERAL APPRAISAL and conduct sensitivity analysis to identify the impact from each features.
4. For all models: 
Dependent variable : General appraisal
Independent variable: except for object ID, longitude, latitude and other condition ratings, all other (shape, length, pH, material, etc.) should be evaluated to find the best feature classes
5. Model validation process must be included

BADM U1 DB2

write 800–1,000 words that respond to the following questions with your thoughts, ideas, and comments. This will be the foundation for future discussions by your classmates. Be substantive and clear, and use examples to reinforce your ideas. 

• In your opinion, what is the difference between an entrepreneur and small business manager?

 • In your opinion, what are the most important traits of a successful entrepreneur?

 • What are the most important traits of a successful small business manager? 

  Assignment 

• To help students become aware of the small business environment and the many aspects involved in the development of a new venture.

The Lemonade Story / Elevator Paper

write a paragraph or two describing your reaction (good, indifferent, or bad) to what you witnessed from the event. These mini-papers are a way of seeing if and when you experience an “AHA” from something we’re doing this semester. And they are also good practice for learning how to construct an “elevator pitch.” That said – there should be something in that paper that makes me believe that you actually watched it.

Hot Dog Game

This is great game that simulates working a hot dog stand. See how far you can go without losing your cool! It's very difficult to multi-task. Write an elevator paper explaining your experience!

Here's the game:

http://www.hotdogbush.net/

First Amendment Theory

Research theories which argue in favor of freedom of speech or press as communicated in the First Amendment. Three of these theories are addressed in your text: marketplace theory, self-government (Meiklejohnian) theory, and individual freedom (self-realization or fulfillment) theory. Other theories include absolutist theory, ad hoc balancing theory, preferred position balancing theory, and access theory. Select four of these theories to research in detail and compare and contrast the historical development and implications of these theories on speech and communication.

Then reflect on which theory best communicates your perspective and how it impacts your decision making in communication and media practices both personally and professionally.

Your paper should be 2-3 pages in length not including a cover page and a reference page. Support your statements with 3 scholarly references in addition to the course text. 

Korean Music Assignment

Listen to the piece: http://omw.s3.amazonaws.com/audio/fareast/korea/KOREAN042.mp3                  

In a few paragraphs, analyze:
The musical function of the lead singerThe musical relationship between the lead vocal and the chorus

Jazz Music Assignment

The blues made its way into many kinds of music. Eric Clapton, The Beatles, and Elvis Presley are just a few of the musicians who have acknowledged its importance. Using the model of the blues, find a popular song and discuss how its design reflects the blues influence.

Case Study on Frank Lloyd Wright Sturges House in Los Angeles CA

Case Study: Identify the current building conditions of The Frank Lloyd Wright Sturges House in Los Angeles, CA and propose strategies to implement on the house to get to Net Zero Energy Building.

Leverage the following to complete the below:

·         Book: Carbon-neutral architectural design by Pablo La Roche

·         Climate Consultant Software – FREE – must download –  http://www.energy-design-tools.aud.ucla.edu/climate-consultant/request-climate-consultant.php

·         HEED software for Energy Modeling (free) http://www.energy-design-tools.aud.ucla.edu/heed/

·         THERM https://windows.lbl.gov/tools/therm/software-download

Include the following information of current conditions of Sturges House:

·         Materials of walls (studs, insulation, wood or metal etc.)

·         Materials of roof

·         Direction house faces

·         Windows

a) Climate Analysis / Site Analysis Diagram (include solar protractor and clearly note North)

b) Identify Psychrometric challenges 

c) Implementing Cool Roof and Night Vent cooling strategies. Consult 2030 Palette http://2030palette.org/palette/ Use the following Journal databases below to find articles/sources and write 250-500 words of a literature review on these two strategies:  Cool Roof and Night Vent cooling technologies. A minimum of 4 article from the databases below should be identified. Ensure to site sources and include bibliography in APA format

·         Vitruvio: International Journal of Architectural technology and Sustainability

·         Sustainability Science

·         ProQuest Database

·         VSLI Systems, Architecture, Technology and Applications (FLSI-SATA), International Conference on

·         Journal of Architectural Engineering Technology

·         Journal of Building physics

d) Determine if building as designed was adapted to climate

e) Calculate your EUI (Btu/sf/yr) f) Calculate the Operational CO2e [lbs/sf/yr] g) Water Budget based on 1920’s gpm/gpf

Proposed New Strategies: Identify the following:

a) Thermal comfort: Identify passive strategies that improve thermal comfort and show the impact.

b) Water Conservation: What water conservation strategies can be applied? What innovations in onsite water harvesting and reuse can be applied? 

c) Envelope Strategies: Calculate the u-value of one wall and recommendation to improve thermal performance. 

d) Design of shading for at least one window or facade including process and required diagrams. 

e) Climate based decisions, solar protractor, climate consultant, VSA, dimensions and design.

f) Renewable Energy:  Calculate the amount of one renewable strategy that is required to offset your house operational energy demand. 

g) Calculate your predicted pEUI (Btu/sf/yr) h) Calculate the predicted operational pCO2e [lbs/sf/yr] i) Water conservation improvements 

Write a brief introduction (150 words) with 1 image of the FLW Sturges house. This narrative may touch on location and historic significance. 

Write a statement (200-300 words) that identifies unique challenges you faced integrating energy efficient measure that had meaningful impact while retaining the historic quality of the FLW Sturges house. 

Write a statement (100-200 words) describing the main strategies that you implemented