Category: Business & Finance homework help

I once experienced ineffective communication during a team project at work where

I once experienced ineffective communication during a team project at work where the project manager failed to clearly communicate the deadline for a crucial deliverable. Our team consisted of the project manager, myself, and other colleagues. The communication was verbal in a team meeting. The lack of clarity and specificity in the instructions led to confusion among team members, missed deadlines, and ultimately, a delay in the overall project timeline. This had negative impacts on team morale, productivity, and the reputation of our team in the eyes of our superiors who were impacted by the delay.
In your response post to at least two peers, address the following:
Are there any other reasons the communications were ineffective? Were there any other negative impacts or people negatively impacted that your peers did not mention? If so, explain.
What communication strategies or approaches could have been used to avoid the ineffective communications? What negative impacts would these have helped avoid, and why? Use course resources to support your response.

Overview
The purpose of this assignment is to familiarize you with financial sta

Overview
The purpose of this assignment is to familiarize you with financial statements, the need to align the financials and the strategic direction of the firm, and the process of performing horizontal and vertical analyses of a company’s balance sheets and income statements.
You will be provided with a scenario and a variances analysis. You will use the information in both to create a memo in which you demonstrate your audit financial statements and expenditures based on organizational priorities.
Instructions
Scenario
You’re a healthcare administration fellow at the prestigious Stanford Healthcare. You have been rotating through the various departments over the past nine months and now you have the honor of working under the mentorship of Chief Financial Officer Linda Hoff.
Stanford Medicine includes Stanford Healthcare, Stanford Children’s Hospital, and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford. This organization uses an integrated approach to strategic planning, which incorporates jointly agreed-upon strategic priorities from its various entities. It also ensures a high degree of congruence in strategic focus by each entity.
Before outlining the strategic priorities for Stanford Medicine, it is important to note that a firm’s directional strategy comprises three discrete yet interwoven components: vision, mission, and goals (or, in this case, priorities). Armed with this knowledge, you have familiarized yourself with the vision, mission, and priorities of Stanford Medicine. Below is what you found.
When examining a company’s financials, it is prudent to keep the directional strategy of the company in mind. After all, in order to advance many strategic priorities, which include fulfilling the mission and positioning the organization to achieve its vision for the future, proper management of the firm’s scarce resources is vital. Failure to properly manage the financial performance of the organization can compromise the company’s ability to maintain a competitive advantage in the marketplace.
Our Vision
Precision Health: Predict. Prevent. Cure. Precisely.
We will heal humanity through science and compassion by leading the biomedical revolution in precision health.
Our Mission
Improving Human Health Through Discovery and Care.
Through innovative discovery and the translation of new knowledge, Stanford Medicine improves human health locally and globally. We serve our community by providing outstanding and compassionate care. We inspire and prepare the future leaders of science and medicine.
Strategic Priorities
A collaborative endeavor involving the entire community, the Stanford Medicine integrated strategic planning process yielded a framework that is human-centered and discovery-led, focused on three overarching priorities for our enterprise.
By enhancing our strengths and achieving our goals in these priority areas, we will amplify our preeminence and remain uniquely positioned to lead the biomedical revolution in precision health, ensuring our continued ability to guide healthcare through significant global changes.
Value Focused
Provide a highly personalized patient experience.
Ensure a seamless Stanford Medicine experience.
Digitally Driven
Amplify the impact of Stanford innovation globally.
Deliver human-centered, high-tech, high-touch care and revolutionize biomedical discovery.
Lead in population health and data science.
Uniquely Stanford
Accelerate discovery in and knowledge of human biology.
Discovered here, used everywhere: advanced fundamental human knowledge, translational medicine, and global health.
Ensure preeminence across all our mission areas.
Variance Analyses 
Normally, managers are expected to examine positive and negative variances, and then speculate as to possible explanations for the observed variances. Following this initial assessment, managers would be expected to dig deeper into those variances of greatest concern to the organization to uncover the actual causes for the variances, and then implement necessary corrective actions. Digging into all variances would be costly and, quite frankly, a misuse of time and energy.
The CFO asked one of her financial analysts to conduct a variance analysis of the company’s consolidated balance sheets and income statements for fiscal years 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018, which has been completed. The analyst determined the variances for each account (line item) captured in the financials. Now that this first step has been accomplished, the CFO would like you to pay particular attention to the negative variances contained in the spreadsheet and focus on those variances you believe to be potentially the most impactful to Stanford.
The financial analyst completed your variance analysis over time, which is referred to as a horizontal analysis, and then proceeded to create a common-size balance sheet and income statement for each of the four fiscal years (2015-2018). The common-sized financials are captured in the provided spreadsheet.
Financial Management and Strategic Direction
Once you’ve completed your horizontal and vertical analyses of the financial statements, you should be able to get a sense of how well management has managed the financial resources of the company in support of its strategic direction. In business, the strategic direction should be evident in its vision and mission statements, and strategic priorities. The strategic priorities should support the company’s mission, and the mission should help advance the firm’s vision for the future. Failure to effectively manage the company’s financial. 
Based on the provided scenario, create a 3-4 page business memorandum to Linda Hoff, Stanford’s CFO. For guidance on writing a memo, take a look at this Sample Memo [DOCX] Download Sample Memo [DOCX].
In your memo, codify your findings and interpretations from the horizontal and vertical analyses and the level of alignment in the company’s fiscal management and strategic direction. Include the provided Excel spreadsheet you used to complete your analysis as an attachment to the memo. In this memo, you will:
Review the year-over-year variances contained in the audited Stanford balance sheets and income statements for fiscal years 2015-2018 in the  Week 5 Assignment Spreadsheet [XLSX] Download Week 5 Assignment Spreadsheet [XLSX]. You’ll be expected to pay particular attention to the negative variances (color-coded in red) that you believe to be potentially the most impactful to Stanford and provide a rationale for that belief.
Hypothesize as to the reasons for the negative variances. Be sure the hypothesis is supported by evidence from the scenario, the balance sheets, and income statements.
Explain the proportional changes in the common size results over the four fiscal year time frame and identify notable changes in the ratios. Also include a hypothesis, supported by a rationale, to suggest why these anomalies may exist.
Identify notable patterns and variances that warrant further investigation and justify both with evidence from the three-year period. Specify the potential consequences of the variances to justify the need to examine these variances further.
Assess whether the vision, mission, and goals of the organization are aligned with its current financial position and provide an explanation of why it does or does not align. Provides specifics from the variance analysis to support the assessment.

Please read the case below and complete the IRAC exercise that follows. 
This wi

Please read the case below and complete the IRAC exercise that follows. 
This will be challenging because it is new. That’s OK! You may struggle a little bit to understand this method, which is to be expected. Try your best and think about the process. I will grade this assignment based on your effort, not whether you are correct. Use your BEST EFFORT when completing all assignments and assessments in this course. While you’re working on any school work, make sure to consistently work hard. This means finding ways to prioritize your work and put forth your best efforts. By taking the time to complete assignments and assessments well, you will succeed in this course and beyond.
Case:  Salib v. City of Mesa[1]
Facts:  Edward Salib owned a Winchell’s Donut House in Mesa, Arizona.  Salib displayed large signs in his store window.  The City ordered Salib to remove the signs as they violated the Sign Code which prohibited covering more than 30% of store’s windows with signs.  Salib sued claiming the Sign Code violated his First Amendment rights to commercial speech.  The trial court ruled in favor of Mesa, finding that the ordinance did not violate his 1st amendment rights to commercial speech and Salib appealed. 
Using the IRAC method of case analysis, please analyze this case. First, please answer the questions below.
The case is now before a court of appeals. What is the issue in this case? (You must state the issue as a question. Then, you will answer that question in the conclusion).
What is the rule of law that the court of appeals will use to decide this case? (The rule is the legal principle(s) the court will use to answer the issue).
Next, read the Holding of the case below, then complete the exercise that follows.
Holding:  The trial court ruling is affirmed.  Commercial speech that concerns any unlawful activity or that which is false or misleading is not protected by the First Amendment.  However, all other speech may be regulated if the government can satisfy a three-prong test.  First, the government must show a substantial interest in support of the regulation.  Both parties agree that aesthetics is such a substantial interest.
       Second, the government must show that the challenged regulation advances that interest in a direct and material way.  Here Salib argues that Mesa cannot satisfy this prong because they have conducted no studies proving what aesthetic or safety problem existed and how the Sign Code could solve such problems.  Mesa claims that the Sign Code was passed in response to legitimate concerns of business owners that many businesses in the area had 100% window coverage and that detracted from the aesthetic of the city.  Moreover, the city council received considerable input on sign coverage of windows before passing the Code.  The constitution does not require studies to show that the city’s interests are being advanced by the regulation.
       Lastly, Salib argues that the Sign Code is not narrowly tailored.  However, narrowly tailored does not mean that the last restrictive means must be used to accomplish the City’s goals.  A “reasonable fit” between the intent of the law and the means used to accomplish that intent is sufficient.  Mesa claims that 30% is a reasonable compromise between 100% coverage and a total ban on signage.  The court is not in a position to determine what percentage of coverage is the best solution, only that the 30% standard adopted by the City was reasonable in order to fulfill the goals of the Code.
Underline the text that illustrates the rule of law in this case.
Highlight the text that illustrates the court’s analysis of the case in a color of your choice.
What was the court’s conclusion in this case? (In the conclusion, you need to answer the question from your issue above. The conclusion contains information about who won the case and why they won the case. The conclusion often repeats some of what is written in the analysis portion of this exercise. REPEAT it in the conclusion. Your conclusion needs to contain the word “because” in it somewhere).

BUS 210 Module Six Assignment Guidelines and Rubric
Overview
In this assignment,

BUS 210 Module Six Assignment Guidelines and Rubric
Overview
In this assignment, you will evaluate a current organizational structure and recommend structural changes that can help address the concerns the organization identified regarding collaboration, communication, and autonomy.
Scenario
You work for an organization that has traditionally been very formalized, and managers have had a very broad span of control over direct reports from multiple departments and functions. This worked well in the past; managers were able to oversee a high number of direct reports because there were many rules and regulations dictating how their work should be performed. However, there were downsides. Employee talent was underused, and there wasn’t a strong team culture, as most work was done independently according to standard operating processes.
Recently, the organization has been shifting to less formalized working structures to support more creative, innovative work and provide employees with more autonomy. While employees are happy with the purpose of these new changes, managers are feeling overwhelmed, and employees are feeling under supported. This has impacted function-specific work the most, because in the past, managers didn’t need to understand in-depth, function-specific tasks (such as the technical aspects of graphic design work or the intricacies of project management). Instead, they had the ability to rely on rules, regulations, and standard operating processes. Employees have also noticed a lack of communication around current projects, which has led to a lack of updated information and duplicated work across management teams.
You have been asked to work with the human resources department to recommend a new organizational structure that addresses these identified management and communication concerns.
Prompt
Use the Module Six Assignment Template located in the Guidelines for Submission section to create an updated organizational structure chart for the organization. Then, in a separate Word document, write a brief explanation for your recommended changes and how they will impact both organizational communication and overall team dynamics.
Specifically, you must address the following rubric criteria:
Updated Organizational Structure Chart: Create an updated organizational structure chart that addresses management and communication concerns.
Explanation of Changes: Explain your reasoning for why you made the changes you did to the company’s organizational structure. Include how your changes differ from the original and why you believe they would benefit the organization.
Impact on Organizational Communication: Describe the impact these changes will have on the company’s overall organizational communication.
Impact on Team Communication: Describe the impact these changes will have on the company’s overall team communication and reporting structure.
What to Submit
Submit your completed Module Six Assignment Template PPT as a PPT file. Submit your separate, written submission as a 2- to 3-page Word document with 12-point Times New Roman font, double spacing, and one-inch margins.
A text-only version of the template is available: Module Six Assignment Template Text-Only Version Word Document. If you use this template, submit it as a Word file.

In the previous modules, you learned about the significance of communication and

In the previous modules, you learned about the significance of communication and training for change implementation. You submitted your course project, a change communication plan, along with an executive letter detailing best practices to sustain the benefits of organizational change. Now, for this last discussion, you will summarize and share your learnings about organizational change from this course.
In your initial post, you should address the following:
Provide an example of a previous situation where you experienced change or were responsible for managing change. This could be either personal or professional.
Based on the change management skills covered in this course, do you think you should have used a different approach for the example you described?
Are there any change management skills you found most relevant to your personal or professional life? How might you apply them moving forward?

Overview
In the final video check-in for this course, you will have a private co

Overview
In the final video check-in for this course, you will have a private conversation with your instructor about your own experiences dealing with unplanned changes at work or in your personal life. You will share leadership behaviors that you demonstrated in the past or plan to use in the future when dealing with unprecedented change. Think about what you learned during these times of change and crisis that support employee engagement and business success.
During this discussion, try to relate to the Fourth Industrial Revolution skills required to serve as a facilitator for change and being a change leader. Discuss the importance of skills such as people management, coordinating with others, emotional intelligence, negotiation, judgment, and decision-making when playing the role of a change facilitator or change leader.
Prompt
In this mentor-focused video check-in, you will reflect on your own experiences dealing with unplanned changes at work or in your personal life, along with the leadership behavior you displayed while dealing with these changes and relating them to Fourth Industrial Revolution skills.
Based on the prompt above, record a short video sharing your understanding. Consider the following:
Reflect on your own experiences dealing with unplanned changes at work or in your personal life.
Discuss leadership behaviors that you demonstrated in the past or plan to use in the future to support employee engagement and business success during change.
Relate your leadership behaviors to Fourth Industrial Revolution skills that are required to serve as a change facilitator or change leader.
What to Submit
Using Bongo, record a video that is 3 to 5 minutes long. 

 Last week, you completed and submitted Part 1 of your presentation to a small o

 Last week, you completed and submitted Part 1 of your presentation to a small organization related to supporting business continuity while considering ethics, privacy concerns, and security risks. For this week, you will prepare a 5- to 7-slide presentation (excluding title slide and reference slide) on risk control strategies for business continuity and disaster recovery. In addition to the slide content, you should also include text in the speaker notes section of each slide that would serve as the script you would use to deliver this presentation to a group of people. Your speaker notes should include your rationale and assumptions that pertain to your slide. You also need to have a minimum of 3–4 citations and references to support your direction. Note: You may elect to include additional slides as part of an appendix if you have information you might reasonably assume that a CEO or upper management might want. It is not required that you do so. 
BY DAY 7
Submit Part 2 of your presentation and script. Be sure you are fully addressing the following in 5–7 slides, excluding references:
Part 2: Risk Control Strategies for Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery
Explain, in general terms, what business continuity planning is and what is the role of IT in business continuity planning and management. (1 slide)
Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of outsourcing risk control and business continuity management to a cloud service provider. (1–2 slides)
Identify three risk control options and assess the strengths and weaknesses of each. (2–3 slides)
Choose the best-fit risk control strategy for ensuring business continuity as well as disaster recovery, data privacy, and ethics. (1 slide)

 
BUS 210 6-3 Assignment: Organizational Structures
Overview
In this assignment,

 
BUS 210 6-3 Assignment: Organizational Structures
Overview
In this assignment, you will evaluate a current organizational structure and recommend structural changes that can help address the concerns the organization identified regarding collaboration, communication, and autonomy.
Scenario
You work for an organization that has traditionally been very formalized, and managers have had a very broad span of control over direct reports from multiple departments and functions. This worked well in the past; managers were able to oversee a high number of direct reports because there were many rules and regulations dictating how their work should be performed. However, there were downsides. Employee talent was underused, and there wasn’t a strong team culture, as most work was done independently according to standard operating processes.
Recently, the organization has been shifting to less formalized working structures to support more creative, innovative work and provide employees with more autonomy. While employees are happy with the purpose of these new changes, managers are feeling overwhelmed, and employees are feeling undersupported. This has impacted function-specific work the most, because in the past, managers didn’t need to understand in-depth, function-specific tasks (such as the technical aspects of graphic design work or the intricacies of project management). Instead, they had the ability to rely on rules, regulations, and standard operating processes. Employees have also noticed a lack of communication around current projects, which has led to a lack of updated information and duplicated work across management teams.
You have been asked to work with the human resources department to recommend a new organizational structure that addresses these identified management and communication concerns.
Prompt
Use the Module Six Assignment Template located in the Guidelines for Submission section to create an updated organizational structure chart for the organization. Then, in a separate Word document, write a brief explanation for your recommended changes and how they will impact both organizational communication and overall team dynamics.
Specifically, you must address the following rubric criteria:
· Updated Organizational Structure Chart: Create an updated organizational structure chart that addresses management and communication concerns.
· Explanation of Changes: Explain your reasoning for why you made the changes you did to the company’s organizational structure. Include how your changes differ from the original and why you believe they would benefit the organization.
· Impact on Organizational Communication: Describe the impact these changes will have on the company’s overall organizational communication.
· Impact on Team Communication: Describe the impact these changes will have on the company’s overall team communication and reporting structure.
Guidelines for Submission
Submit your completed  Module Six Assignment Template PPT  as a PPT file. Submit your separate, written submission as a 2- to 3-page Word document with 12-point Times New Roman font, double spacing, and one-inch margins.
A text-only version of the template is available:  Module Six Assignment Template Text-Only Version Word Document . If you use this template, submit it as a Word file.

Overview
In this module, you will use the learner-faculty connect video assignme

Overview
In this module, you will use the learner-faculty connect video assignment for reflection. This private conversation is between you and your instructor. You are encouraged to deeply explore the concepts presented.
Directions
As a business analyst, you have seen how data and analytics play a vital role in decision making in a business scenario. Throughout this course, you have read about the use of predictive analytics and applied various predictive models to analyze data and make recommendations. In this instructor-focused video check-in, you will share your reflections on the potential impact of data and analytics on a business.
In your reflection, discuss how predictive analytics can help a business be successful. Consider the following points:
Impact of Predictive Analytics: Choose an industry or business area that interests you, such as education, healthcare, banking, and so on. Discuss the impact of predictive analytics in providing better business value and competitive advantage for your chosen area.

How can the use of predictive analytics provide value to an organization in your chosen industry?
How will you use predictive analytics to give the organization a competitive advantage?

Predictive Analytics Models and Tools: Reflect on the several predictive analytics models and tools you have learned about in this course.

Which ones did you find most interesting and want to learn more about? Explain.
Which predictive analytics models do you think will be most useful to plan and execute business strategies? Why?
Which of the upcoming advanced machine-learning algorithms you read about in this module do you think might be useful for building the predictive model for your course project? Why?

Reflection: Reflect on the data analytics skills, including predictive analysis, you have learned in this course and the other courses in the program.

What did you enjoy learning about the most?
How do you think the skills from these courses will help you in your current or future career?

What to Submit
Using Bongo, record a video that is 3 to 5 minutes long. If you are not able to record a video, you should reach out to your instructor and discuss submitting the assignment in an alternate format.

Financial statements are the heart and soul of the annual report. This is a quan

Financial statements are the heart and soul of the annual report. This is a quantitative section that provides current and prospective investors a look into HISCOs financial performance. The financial statements consist of the Income Statement, Balance Sheet, and Cash Flow. We suggest you show a minimum of 4 Qtrs. for each of the past two years for the Income Statement, Balance Sheet, and Cash Flow. Utilize tools from finance management to manage the profitability of overall business operations. Consider expanding the lines within each statement in the model. You will need to provide details on the Credit Line. The Financial Statements section can be a maximum of 6 pages.
Management Discussion and Analysis (MD&A)The Management Discussion and Analysis section provides the real detail on year to year performance. In your case, this will be simulation year vs. prior simulation year. Topics will be both qualitative and quantitative in all aspects of simulation year relative to prior simulation year. MD&A will certainly include a complete variance analysis of performance and the successes and failures of your decisions for the year.  It is the time you will delve into the details of your operating decisions. The MD&A section is typically devoted to the past (your future was described in prior sections). Reference to the Financial Statements is crucial as well as your recently completed Annual Operating Review. Graphics from your Business Intelligence Dashboard and your Variance walks on Income and Cash can provide visual insight into your performance. The Management Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) can be a maximum of 6 pages.
Notes, Appendices, and ReferencesAny supporting documents, comments, information, a glossary of terminology, and/or clarifications you deem relevant to your annual report to assist current and prospective investors. The Notes, Appendices, and References are required and can be a minimum of 1 page and a maximum of 2 pages.  References can be in a bulleted or numbered format.
Carefully review the Grading RubricLinks to an external site. for the criteria that will be used to evaluate your assignment.