The industry’s competitive (five) forces

For the first case you are to do an external analysis of the industry in which the company competes.  Your paper must be no longer than 5 double-spaced pages (12pt font).  Please write in complete sentences, using proper grammar and spelling, but remember, this is a report – not an essay.  Use Chapter 3 concepts to guide your work. The format/subheadings must be as follows:

Rubric

5 points

1.  Major economic features of the industry, including, but not limited to market size, market growth rate, number of rivals, scope of rivalry, number of buyers etc. (Text Table 3.1). Describe only those features that are relevant to the case.

15 points

2. The industry’s competitive (five) forces.  You must discuss all five forces.  Make sure to properly identify rivals, supplies/suppliers, buyers, and substitutes.  Don’t forget to asses the strength of each force.  Make sure you identify two or more factors that support your strength assessment (each with an example from the case) (Text Figures 3.3 – 3.8). You should use the format below to guide your writing.

a.  Rivalry in the industry is____________ (strong, weak, or moderate) because___________.

b.  Suppliers to the industry provide_(what?)_____.  They are (strong, weak, or moderate) __________, because___________.

c.  Buyers of the product are__(who?)______.  They are__________ (strong, weak, or moderate), because____________.

d.  Substitutes are ____(what?)_____.  They are _________(strong, weak, or moderate), because____________.

e.  Threat of entry of new competitors is __________(strong, weak, or moderate), because_________. The barriers to entry are _(what?)_____.

10 points

3. Factors that are causing major long-term industry change (driving forces).  Please identify the appropriate categories and provide an example from the case for each category (Text Table 3.2).  This section should discuss at least 3 driving forces.

10 points

4.  Key success factors. Please identify the relevant types of key success factors and provide an example from the case for each type (Text Table 3.3).  This section should contain at least 3, but no more than 6 key success factors.

10 points

Proper spelling, grammar and formatting, paper length, appropriate style and word choice, section headings, fonts and margins.

Project: Risk Register

Instructions

In this assignment, you will be creating a detailed budget for your project that is in a suitable format to be presented to third parties, including your project sponsor or executives.

Leverage the template found in figure 7.1 of your textbook.

Prepare the schedule in a Word document. This assignment is due Sunday at 11:59 p.m. All assignments should be uploaded in the Assignment area.

Assignment File(s)

There are excellent free template examples for this assignment available at the following sites:

  • ProjectManagement. (2018). Templates. [Webpage] Retrieved from https://www.projectmanagement.com/Templates/index.cfm
  • ProjectManagement Docs. (2018). Templates.[Webpage] Retrieved from http://www.projectmanagementdocs.com/#axzz4dNyw1Mmr
  • Textbook Example:
  •  https://ambassadored.vitalsource.com/#/books/9781337470629/cfi/6/40!/4/90@0:26.3

    Instructions

    In this assignment, you will be creating a detailed budget for your project that is in a suitable format to be presented to third parties, including your project sponsor or executives.

    Leverage the template found in figure 7.1 of your textbook.

    Prepare the schedule in a Word document. This assignment is due Sunday at 11:59 p.m. All assignments should be uploaded in the Assignment area.

    Assignment File(s)

    There are excellent free template examples for this assignment available at the following sites:

Case Study Data Breach at Equifax

  • Prepare a 5-page report (12-point font, double spaced not including the title page or reference page), that addresses the following questions:
    • How has WestJet’s social media efforts evolved over time and assisted with being a corporate voice and customer relations platform?
    • Should Bartem and Hounslow opt to launch WestJet channels on Snapchat or Pinterest?  NOTE: Research each platform and determine how well each could serve WestJet’s corporate voice and be consistent with its current branding.
    • Research and describe one interesting new social media platform that is on the horizon (less than two years old).  Should WestJet be actively exploring new arrivals like this new service or waiting until a platform is popular and proven before investing in it? What best fits WestJet’s short and long term social media goals?  What is the criteria for success?
    • What best fits WestJet’s short and long term social media goals?  What is the criteria for success?
    • What decision option best fits WestJet’s decision criteria and can be sustainable in the short and long term within the economic constraints provided in the case?
    • With a budget allowance of $0 CAD, will WestJet be able to build a serious presence on its selected new social media platforms while maintaining its existing ones?  Serious can be defined as adding value to revenue generation, customer service, and brand engagement goals (i.e. through social media platform selection and the respective roll out plan, how can this strategy/adoption of a new platform pay for itself).
  • Prepare a 5-page report (12-point font, double spaced not including the title page or reference page), that addresses the following questions:
    • How has WestJet’s social media efforts evolved over time and assisted with being a corporate voice and customer relations platform?
    • Should Bartem and Hounslow opt to launch WestJet channels on Snapchat or Pinterest?  NOTE: Research each platform and determine how well each could serve WestJet’s corporate voice and be consistent with its current branding.
    • Research and describe one interesting new social media platform that is on the horizon (less than two years old).  Should WestJet be actively exploring new arrivals like this new service or waiting until a platform is popular and proven before investing in it? What best fits WestJet’s short and long term social media goals?  What is the criteria for success?
    • What best fits WestJet’s short and long term social media goals?  What is the criteria for success?
    • What decision option best fits WestJet’s decision criteria and can be sustainable in the short and long term within the economic constraints provided in the case?
    • With a budget allowance of $0 CAD, will WestJet be able to build a serious presence on its selected new social media platforms while maintaining its existing ones?  Serious can be defined as adding value to revenue generation, customer service, and brand engagement goals (i.e. through social media platform selection and the respective roll out plan, how can this strategy/adoption of a new platform pay for itself).

ThePerformance Management Process

Read “Case 2-2: Performance Management at KS Cleaners” from the textbook. Answer questions #1, #2, and #3 (located at the end of the case study and also as follows).

Question #1: In the context of KSC, critically evaluate the availability of any prerequisites to implementing a performance management process.

Question #2: Discuss your plans for developing formal job descriptions for the employees at the second shop.

Question #3: Explain key features of developing performance plans for the employees. Provide examples of factors you would consider in developing such plans for the dry cleaner.

You will need to include a brief introduction of the case and critically evaluate the current situation of KSC. It is important to display adequate analysis of the case and integrate sufficient support from scholarly resources throughout the assignment. Use suitable headings and subheadings to organize the work in an appropriate manner.

Your well-written paper should meet the following requirements:

  • Be 4-5 pages in length, which does not include the title page, abstract, or required reference page, which are never a part of the content minimum requirements.
  • Use  APA style guidelines.
  • Support your submission with course material concepts, principles and theories from the textbook and at least two scholarly, peer-reviewed journal articles.
  • Review the grading rubric to see how you will be graded for this assignment.

Discuss Exponential smoothing

Discuss Exponential smoothing

Using the data from Problem 3.1 (page 128) on your book develop three forecasts for 2015 January.

1) A 12-month moving average

2) Exponential smoothing with alpha that corresponds to a 12 month moving average block (see formula 3.26). Initialize by averaging the first 11 months.

3) Winter’s method using Centered MA12 (then you need MA2 because the center of 12 is 6.5). Get alphaHW, betaHW from formulas 3.34 and 3.35, respectively and gammaHW is 0.15.

Calculate MAD for each method.

Using the data from Problem 3.1 (page 128) on your book develop three forecasts for 2015 January.

1) A 12-month moving average

2) Exponential smoothing with alpha that corresponds to a 12 month moving average block (see formula 3.26). Initialize by averaging the first 11 months.

3) Winter’s method using Centered MA12 (then you need MA2 because the center of 12 is 6.5). Get alphaHW, betaHW from formulas 3.34 and 3.35, respectively and gammaHW is 0.15.

Calculate MAD for each method.

Discuss Exponential smoothing

Using the data from Problem 3.1 (page 128) on your book develop three forecasts for 2015 January.

1) A 12-month moving average

2) Exponential smoothing with alpha that corresponds to a 12 month moving average block (see formula 3.26). Initialize by averaging the first 11 months.

3) Winter’s method using Centered MA12 (then you need MA2 because the center of 12 is 6.5). Get alphaHW, betaHW from formulas 3.34 and 3.35, respectively and gammaHW is 0.15.

Calculate MAD for each method.

Using the data from Problem 3.1 (page 128) on your book develop three forecasts for 2015 January.

1) A 12-month moving average

2) Exponential smoothing with alpha that corresponds to a 12 month moving average block (see formula 3.26). Initialize by averaging the first 11 months.

3) Winter’s method using Centered MA12 (then you need MA2 because the center of 12 is 6.5). Get alphaHW, betaHW from formulas 3.34 and 3.35, respectively and gammaHW is 0.15.

Calculate MAD for each method.

Discuss Transformational Theory

 

To prepare for the Week 4 Assessment, reflect on the leadership theories presented in this week’s readings.

  • Trait Theory
  • Contingency Theory
  • Transformational Theory
  • Behavioral Theory

Create a chart comparing at least 3 leadership theories presented in this week’s reading. In next week’s assignment, you will use this information to select leadership theories and approaches to support organizational change that aligns to your chosen organization’s mission and values.

Faculty Note: You chart can be created using Word, Excel or any of a number of graphic programs. It is to be a chart, not a PowerPoint presentation although you can use PowerPoint to make a nice chart. Chart should be professional in appearance and content.

Compare each leadership theory across 3-5 variables using enough language to explain them well.

Submit your assignment.

 

To prepare for the Week 4 Assessment, reflect on the leadership theories presented in this week’s readings.

  • Trait Theory
  • Contingency Theory
  • Transformational Theory
  • Behavioral Theory

Create a chart comparing at least 3 leadership theories presented in this week’s reading. In next week’s assignment, you will use this information to select leadership theories and approaches to support organizational change that aligns to your chosen organization’s mission and values.

Faculty Note: You chart can be created using Word, Excel or any of a number of graphic programs. It is to be a chart, not a PowerPoint presentation although you can use PowerPoint to make a nice chart. Chart should be professional in appearance and content.

Compare each leadership theory across 3-5 variables using enough language to explain them well.

Submit your assignment.

Discuss Transformational Theory

 

To prepare for the Week 4 Assessment, reflect on the leadership theories presented in this week’s readings.

  • Trait Theory
  • Contingency Theory
  • Transformational Theory
  • Behavioral Theory

Create a chart comparing at least 3 leadership theories presented in this week’s reading. In next week’s assignment, you will use this information to select leadership theories and approaches to support organizational change that aligns to your chosen organization’s mission and values.

Faculty Note: You chart can be created using Word, Excel or any of a number of graphic programs. It is to be a chart, not a PowerPoint presentation although you can use PowerPoint to make a nice chart. Chart should be professional in appearance and content.

Compare each leadership theory across 3-5 variables using enough language to explain them well.

Submit your assignment.

 

To prepare for the Week 4 Assessment, reflect on the leadership theories presented in this week’s readings.

  • Trait Theory
  • Contingency Theory
  • Transformational Theory
  • Behavioral Theory

Create a chart comparing at least 3 leadership theories presented in this week’s reading. In next week’s assignment, you will use this information to select leadership theories and approaches to support organizational change that aligns to your chosen organization’s mission and values.

Faculty Note: You chart can be created using Word, Excel or any of a number of graphic programs. It is to be a chart, not a PowerPoint presentation although you can use PowerPoint to make a nice chart. Chart should be professional in appearance and content.

Compare each leadership theory across 3-5 variables using enough language to explain them well.

Submit your assignment.

Discuss on Data Visualization

Competencies

  • Describe the process of creating data sets.
  • Determine audience needs for effective data visualization.
  • Discuss presentation of data using editorial thinking and communication.
  • Translate quantitative and qualitative data into appropriate visualizations.
  • Explain how visualizations are used to capture actionable insights and address business problems.

Scenario

Al Gore, the 45th Vice President of the United and renowned environmentalist, has hired you. Many people believe that global warming is a fallacy and that the current uproar about drastic climatic changes is mere political rhetoric championed by extremists. Their belief is that hydrocarbons released into our atmosphere over the past century are the main cause of major climate changes that have contributed to global warming.

Mr. Gore needs to demonstrate that there is merit to the present claim of a global warming crisis. To do this, he has asked you to create a visual presentation of the contiguous U.S. climatological changes for the past 100 years in yearly increments. Also, Mr. Gore would like you to create a visualization story utilizing qualitative data extracted from the various sources of 2015 Greenhouse Gas Emissions. The audiences that he intends to present your findings to are the naysayers both in Congress and key industrialists.

Instructions

Tableau Presentation

Create a Tableau visualization story that links the measures of quantitative and qualitative data necessary to support the communication Mr. Gore requires. Use visualization stories and visualization tools to capture key insights and express them in business terms.

  • Utilize appropriate visualizations in your presentation, based upon your analysis of Tableau visualization options and audience needs.
  • Create data sets that will be used in this presentation.
  • Chart the average, minimum, and maximum temperatures, and precipitation levels in the contiguous U.S.
  • Present changes in the occurrence of drought in the same 100 year time span using the U.S. Drought Severity Index (PDSI) rankings as compared to the 20th Century averages.
  • Apply the proper visualizations for the qualitative data found on Greenhouse Gas Emissions.

Word Document

After your research and creation of the visualization story, draft a summary in Word addressing the following information:

  • Identify the needs of your audience.
  • Explain your presentation and the justification for the data sets you used.
  • Discuss presentation of data using editorial thinking and communication.
  • Identify data found to be unavailable, and provide an explanation of why it is not available.
  • Devise a plan to turn insight derived from the data into actions to meet the communication goals.
  • Explain what makes this insight actionable.

Define normative and positive statements.

Each week, you will evaluate the economic factors at play in the posted news item. The goal is to be able to identify – and make sense of – real world events in terms of the models and concepts that we are learning each week. Don’t worry that you are not expert at this – it requires different ‘mental muscles’ than doing textbook problems, and everyone will be at a different ‘place’ in their skill and insight. And that is why we do it – to get some hands-on exercise in applying what we are learning.

Post 1: Briefly, give your own analysis of the economic content of the article, as relates to our current week’s assignments – do not summarize the article, as everyone has read it.

Make sure to list the article on which you are analyzing. Write a minimum of 100 words.

No PLAGIARISM !!!!!

Write this in your own words

Chapter 1 & 2 in the book

 

Homework Part I: Understanding Economic Models: (submit answers)

1 What is a theory, according to the text?

2 Define normative and positive statements. (notes)

3 Explain the meaning of fallacy of causation and fallacy of composition. (notes)

4 Name and explain one major limitation of economic analysis using models. (notes)

5 In the economic model of supply and demand, what are the two key factors that determine market outcomes? (Refer to the axes on the supply and demand graph.)

6 Define ceteris paribus. What does an analysis of price and quantity “ceteris paribus” imply about other factors that could impact supply and demand?

7 What is the relationship of regulations to market economies, according to the text?

8 What is scarcity, and what does it imply for individual and societal choice, according to the text?

9 What is opportunity cost, according to the text?

10 What is marginal analysis? (notes)

11 What is utility, and the law of diminishing utility?

12 What is a sunk cost?

13 What is the invisible hand, and what market behavior does it imply?

Homework Part II: Reading Supply and Demand Graphs: (submit answers)

14. Explain the difference between:

a) supply and quantity supplied

b) demand and quantity demanded

15. Define market equilibrium. What is the relationship of quantity demanded to quantity supplied at equilibrium? What is the relationship of the supply and demand curves at equilibrium?

16. Using a supply and demand graph, explain:

a) a shortage of a good

b) a surplus of a good

(Compare each to the quantity supplied, quantity demanded and price at the market equilibrium.)

17. When a good is in short supply, a price increase may bring the market back to equilibrium. Explain why.

Homework Part III: Representing market change with graphs: (submit answers)

18. Illustrate how price, quantity, supply, and demand are represented graphically.

19. Use a supply and demand graph to demonstrate how an increase in price will impact the quantity demanded and quantity supplied of a good.

20. How will a drop in a good’s price impact:

a) Quantity demanded of the good ___________________________________

b) Demand for the good ___________________________________________

c) Quantity supplied of the good ____________________________________

d) Supply of the good _____________________________________________

Why Project Management? 

Q1. Reflect on  Chapter 1: Introduction: Why Project Management?  . Identify what you thought was the most important concept(s), method(s), term(s), and/or any other thing that you felt was worthy of your understanding.

Also, provide a graduate-level response to each of the following questions

Q2. Think of a successful project and an unsuccessful project with which you are familiar.  What distinguishes the two, both in terms of the process used to develop them and their outcomes

Q3. Consider the Expedition Everest case at the end of the chapter: what elements in Disney’s approach to developing its theme rides do you find particularly impressive? How can a firm like Disney balance the need for efficiency and smooth development of projects with the desire to be innovative and creative? Based on this case, what principles appear to guide its development process?

Q1. Reflect on  Chapter 1: Introduction: Why Project Management?  . Identify what you thought was the most important concept(s), method(s), term(s), and/or any other thing that you felt was worthy of your understanding.

Also, provide a graduate-level response to each of the following questions

Q2. Think of a successful project and an unsuccessful project with which you are familiar.  What distinguishes the two, both in terms of the process used to develop them and their outcomes

Q3. Consider the Expedition Everest case at the end of the chapter: what elements in Disney’s approach to developing its theme rides do you find particularly impressive? How can a firm like Disney balance the need for efficiency and smooth development of projects with the desire to be innovative and creative? Based on this case, what principles appear to guide its development process?