POST BUS523 2022 December All Discussions Latest (Full)

BUS523 Quantitative Analysis for Decision Making

Unit 1 Discussion

Blog - Getting Started

Post in this Discussion your status, issues, actions, problems, solution, etc. that you have had with the Blog Assignment for Unit #1.  

Profitable and Going Out of Business

Last year Acme Anvil Co. had their best year ever. Sales targets met, manufacturing productivity and quality improved. This year sales are even better, and manufacturing is still improving operations. At the end of last year, Elmer, the sales manager, agreed to 90-day (previously 30-day) payment terms for 6 of the largest customers. This strategy was adopted to beat the competition. These 6 customers account for over 40% of the total sales dollars. Jessica, the CFO, has just informed the COO that she cannot meet payroll this week – there is insufficient cash on hand. The COO and CFO take a quick look at the details – comparing last year’s data to this year’s YTD data, double numbers they double-checking the numbers, which look pretty good. They jump to the conclusion that someone has defrauded Acme (sales great, operations under control).

Where is the cash?

What other ‘financial’ explanation could there be?

What numbers should they look at?

How could this catastrophe have been prevented?

What actions do they need to take to meet payroll?

 

BUS523 Quantitative Analysis for Decision Making

Unit 2 Discussion

Acquisition

Your firm is considering acquiring a smaller company. The products and markets fit well within your organization’s strategy. This potential acquisition is a high-tech company that is presently losing money. Some in your organization will argue that the acquisition is not a good idea since the high-tech company is losing money, and this will cause your firm’s return on equity to decrease.

Are the naysayers correct? Will your ROE decrease? Why?

How important are changes in ROE when considering an acquisition?

 

BUS523 Quantitative Analysis for Decision Making

Unit 3 Discussion

Unit 3.1 DB: Blog Update

Post in this Discussion your comments and observations about the Blog Assignment.

How are you progressing?

Issues you have experienced?

Solutions you have found, etc.

Unit 3.2 DB: Proforma Estimates

You have constructed a proforma balance sheet for your company. The proforma shows that you will need $1.2 million in funding. However, the proforma also shows that you have will have $1.1 million in cash and short-term securities. Your CFO then tells you that we need to begin discussions with the bank for some additional external funding – above the $100,000 level. Why does she make this assessment?

BUS523 Quantitative Analysis for Decision Making

Unit 4 Discussion

Unit 4 DB: Financial vs. Operational Leverage

Cash required for growth can come from financial leverage and/or operational leverage.  Select one type of leverage (financial or operational) to explain why this type of leverage would be preferred over the other. As you think about this question, take a look at Amazon’s profitability, especially the early years—tremendous growth with little profit.

Del Ray, J. & Molla, R. (2017, April 27). Amazon just turned a profit for the eighth straight quarter. Vox.

 

BUS523 Quantitative Analysis for Decision Making

Unit 5 Discussion

Unit 5 DB: Time Value of Money

You have just won the $1,000,000 in the lottery. You have the option of taking a lump sum payout or equal annualized payments over 20 years. Ignoring any tax consequences; how much should you expect from the annualized payments what target interest rate would make the annualized payments more valuable than the lump sum. In your response, you may want to consider such issues as inflation, investing a lump sum in the stock market (What have been the long-term historical returns?) to generate your own annualized payment schedule, as well as the psychological components – receiving a $1,000,000 check.

 

BUS523 Quantitative Analysis for Decision Making

Unit 6 Discussion

Unit 6 DB: Investment Decisions

All investment decisions involve a certain degree of risk and uncertainty. How can a manager reduce the level of risk and uncertainty when making a CapEx decision? In your response, explain how Economic Value Added (EVA) may help reduce this uncertainty.

 

BUS523 Quantitative Analysis for Decision Making

Unit 7 Discussion

Unit 7.1 DB: Managing Inventory

Lean manufacturing, just-in-time inventory management, economic order quantity, supply chain optimization are tools and techniques that managers are using to control inventory. Another, but significant, loss of cash (as well as having a negative environmental impact) can be found in a company’s stream of wastes. In this discussion – search for information about your ‘blog company’s’ inventory management methodologies, including management of wastes. Briefly describe how they are managing their supply chain. Have they reported tangible results of their inventory management and waste stream management initiatives?

Unit 7.2 DB: Your Upcoming Course Selection: Non-Graded

This “water cooler” style discussion board is available here for you to discuss your course selection process for next MOD with your peers. They may have helpful recommendations or experiences to share! This is an optional, ungraded discussion board. Instructors will not regularly monitor this board. Your best registration resource is your Academic Success Counselor (contact your ASC directly, or at asc@post.edu). Always register early to ensure a seat in your desired course selection(s).

 

 

BUS523 Quantitative Analysis for Decision Making

Unit 8 Discussion

Unit 8.1 DB: Blog Reflections

Take a few moments to reflect on the Blog Assignment.

What did you find helpful?

What problems/issues did you have?

What worked well?

What can be improved (with ideas for improvement)?

What were your biggest "aha" moments?

Unit 8.2 DB: Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX)

Respond to and justify your position on 1 of the following statements:

SOX has been effective in increasing shareholder value OR

SOX has not been effective in increasing shareholder value

Think of ‘shareholder value’ in a broader sense than just pure financial results, ex: risks, uncertainty.