Discuss:It is better to earn a higher salary but it is worse to spend more than budget.

Ashford 4: – Week 3 – Assignment

 

Using Microsoft Excel

As indicated in the guidance for Week 3 Excel can be used for many purposes.  For example, Excel can be used to develop and track your personal income and expenses against a monthly budget.  Assume a family has developed a monthly budget and desires to compare actual expenses for July to their budget.

Before we begin, for income and savings we use the formula (Actual – Budget) and for costs or expenses we use the formula (Budget – Actual).  We do this because we are trying to determine whether the difference or variance is better or worse.  It is better to earn a higher salary but it is worse to spend more than budget.

Here are the detailed instructions:

  1. In cell A1, enter the following title for this worksheet: Personal Budget vs. Actuals.
  2. In cell A3, enter the following: Item.
  3. In cell B3, enter the following: Factor.
  4. In cell C3, enter the following: Budget Amount.
  5. In cell C4, enter the following: Per Month.
  6. In cell D3, enter the following: Actual Amount.
  7. In cell D4, enter the following: July.
  8. In cell E3, enter the following: Difference.
  9. In cell E4, enter the following: (Better/Worse)

Be sure to expand the columns so that the contents don’t overlap the adjacent columns. At this point, this is what your spreadsheet should look like:

The following set of instructions will build your line items list:

  1. In cell A5, enter the following: Salary
  2. In cell A6, enter the following: Federal Taxes
  3. In cell A7, enter the following: State Taxes
  4. In cell A8, enter the following: Available Income
  5. Leave cell A9 blank.  Leave all other cells in row 9 blank
  6. In cell A10, enter the following: Living Expenses: Rent/utilities/groceries/phone
  7. In cell A11 through A14, use the example below to determine what should be entered.
  8. In cell A15, enter the following: Total Expenses
  9. Leave cell A16 blank, and leave all other cells in row 16 blank.
  10. In cell A17, enter the following: Savings

This is what you should see in your line items list:

Next, let’s add the Factors:

  1. In cell B6, enter the following: 15%
  2. In cell B7, enter the following: 5%
  3. Leave all other cells in column B blank

This is how it should appear:

The following set of instructions will help you create formulas in your spreadsheet. Excel has built in formulas to make calculating data easier. Formulas always begin with the equal sign (=) which tells Excel that a formula is being entered.

  1. In cell C5, enter the following:  4000
  2. In cell C6, enter the following:  =+B6*C5

    Entering this formula will tell Excel to multiply the 15% federal tax rate within cell B6 by the $4,000 monthly amount in C5, which will return a $600 federal tax cost.

  3. In cell C7, enter the following: =+B7*C5

    Entering this formula will tell Excel to multiply the 5% state tax rate within cell B7 by the $4,000 monthly amount in C5, which will return a $200 state tax cost.

  4. In cell C8, enter the following:  =+C5-C6-C7

    Entering this formula will tell Excel to subtract the federal and state tax amounts from the salary amount to determine the monthly available income of $3,200 after taxes. Continue with the following instructions to enter the remaining data and formulas into your spread sheet.

  5. In cell C10, enter the following: 1625
  6. In cell C11, enter the following: 150
  7. In cell C12, enter the following:  300
  8.  In cell C13, enter the following: 350
  9. In cell C14, enter the following: 725
  10. In cell C15, enter the following: formula: =SUM(C10:C14)
  11. In cell C16, enter the following: blank
  12. In cell C17, enter the following  formula: =C8-C15
  13. In cell D5, enter the following: 4100
  14. In cell D6, enter the following: =+D5*B6
  15. In cell D7, enter the following: =+D5*B7
  16. Place the cursor over cell C8, presspress Ctrl and C at the same time, and move the cursor to cell D8, presspress Ctrl and  V at the same time.  You should see $3,280.  You copied and pasted the formula from C8 into D8.  From now on we will just say “press Ctrl C” for copy and “press Ctrl V” for paste.
  17. In cell D10, enter the following: 1682
  18. In cell D11, enter the following: 165
  19. In cells D12, enter the following: 270
  20. In cell D13, enter the following: 295
  21. In cell D14, enter the following: 715
  22. Place the cursor over cell C15, press Ctrl C, move the cursor to cell D15, press Ctrl V.  You should see 3127.  You copied and pasted the formula from C15 into D15.
  23. Place the cursor over cell C17, press Ctrl C, move the cursor to cell D17, press Ctrl V.  You should see 153.  You copied and pasted the formula from C17 into D17.
  24. In cell E5, enter the following: =+D5-C5
  25. In cell E6, enter the following: =+C6-D6
  26. In cell E7, enter the following: =+C7-D7
  27. In cell E8, enter the following: =+D8-C8
  28. In cell E10, enter the following: =+C10-D10
  29. Place the cursor over cell E10, press Ctrl C, with the cursor highlight cells E11 through E14 then press Ctrl V.
  30. In cell E15, enter the following: =+C15-D15
  31. In cell E17, enter the following: =+D17-C17. You are almost done.

This is what your spreadsheet to this point should look like:

To see all the formulas you’ve entered into the spread sheet, click on the Formulas Tab and select Show Formulas to see the formulas.

This is what the formulas should look like in the spreadsheet:

Click Show Formulas again to return to the normal spreadsheet view.

  1. With the cursor highlight cells from C5 through E17.

    It should look similar to this:

 

  1. Right click, then select Format Cells in the popup menu:

 

Then make the selections indicated in the options box pictured below.

 

These selections will remove the decimals and add a dollar sign to the columns.

  1. Finalize your worksheet by making sure all columns are formatted to accommodate the size of the data.  In the same popup box pictured above in the Border tab, you can format your table as needed to assure it looks clean and neat.  Consider putting borders to separate cells.  Consider making titles bold.
  2. Save your worksheet. This is what it should look like when you’re done:

Making a Chart for Budget Expenses

To view a brief ‘How To’ video for creating a chart in your spreadsheet, click on the video below.

  1. To make a chart for budget expenses:
  • Use the cursor to highlight from A10 to A14
  • Hold down the Control key (Ctrl) and select C10 to C14.
  • Hold down the Control key (Ctrl) and Select D10 to D14.

Your columns should look similar to this:

  • Click the “Insert” tab.
  • Click the column chart

Select 2-D Column

In Microsoft Office version 2010 and prior, you will see the Chart Tool activated at the top of the screen for the formatting elements. Click the chart and press the help key (F1) in Microsoft Office to open  the help function for the options available in your version. This is a clip of Microsoft version 2010 for your reference:

In the 2013 version of Microsoft Office which is demonstrated below, you should then see something similar to the following graphic

  • Use the options to the right to format your chart. Click ‘Chart Title’ to change it to ‘Personal Budget vs. Actuals’. You can also select other options to see how they affect the appearance of your chart.
  • Move chart underneath the table by placing the cursor on the frame and dragging the diagram under the budget table. You can expand the size of the chart by selecting and dragging any of its corners.

Your finished spreadsheet should look similar to this example:

Consider the formula we used to determine the future value of our deposit. Is this formula a realistic approximation of what we could expect from an investment or are there other issues or factors that must be considered?

 

A common component of investing money is to take advantage of a financial institution’s willingness to pay compound interest. Compound interest is basically interest paid on a deposit that continually accumulates interest. In general, the formula for compound interest can be represented by the following exponential function:

In this formula, P(t) represents the total money in the account after t years given the interest rate k which is compounded continuously. In this assignment, you will use this formula to explore the affect that compound interest can have over a period of time and at different interest rates.

Directions:

  1. Select an amount of money that you would like to invest (for example $1000.00). This will be your P0 value.
  2. Let your interest rate be k = 0.5%.
  3. Write out the exponential function using the P0 and k values you have.
  4. Determine the value of your investment after 1, 5, and 10 years.
  5. Now, find the doubling time T for your investment. In other words, at what time would your initial deposit double in value?
  6. Repeat steps 3 through 5 for k = 1%.
  7. Repeat steps 3 through 5 for k = 1.5%.

In a Microsoft Word document, prepare a report that includes answers to the following:.

  1. Report the results of the calculations you performed above.
  2. What affect did changing the interest rate have on the rate at which your investment grew?
  3. What affect did changing the interest rate have on the doubling time (time until your initial deposit doubled in size)?
  4. Assume that this money is being invested in a savings account. Are the interest rates we selected realistic for such an account today?
  5. Consider the formula we used to determine the future value of our deposit. Is this formula a realistic approximation of what we could expect from an investment or are there other issues or factors that must be considered?
  6. Besides savings accounts, what other kinds of investment accounts or programs are typically offered at your bank? Do these accounts use compound interest? What are the typical interest rates for these accounts?
  7. Use your textbook or another reference to research how to calculate simple interest. Given what you know about compound and simple interest, which would you prefer that your investment programs were based upon? Why?

 

Assignment 2 Grading Criteria
Maximum Points
Calculated the growth of an investment compounded continuously at rate k = 0.5% over time intervals of 1, 5, and 10 years.
40
Calculated the growth of an investment compounded continuously at rate k = 1% over time intervals of 1, 5, and 10 years.
40
Calculated the growth of an investment compounded continuously at rate k = 1.5% over time intervals of 1, 5, and 10 years.
40
Determined the doubling time for an investment compounded continuously at interest rates of k equal to 0.5%, 1%, and 1.5%.
40
Explained the result that changing the interest has on the rate at which an investment grows.
10
Critically compared the simple method of calculating compound interest to those used at a typical financial institution.
10
Investigated other types of investment accounts and methods used to calculate compound interest at a typical financial institution.
10
Compared and contrasted the calculation of simple interest and compound interest.
10

Critically evaluate concepts, theories and models of marketing in the international situation.

College of Business, Law and Applied Social Sciences

School of Business

MK3111 – International Marketing

Academic Year 2015/16 Year long

Assignment 1 Part A A Contemporary Issue

A critical review of an international marketing issue
Overall Weight 50% of the marks for the module.
Individual or Group work You work individually.
General outline of the work Below is a question to research about international marketing. From your research you need to produce an essay and must use a range of academic and business sources to support your answer.
Release date September 2015
Submission Date By 12 noon on Monday 25th January 2016
Word count 2,000 words + tables, diagrams and appendices as required. + references list
Submission method Electronic copy on turnitin on blackboard and also submit a hard copy to Vera Baker-Bradbury locked box on the second floor of Greenbank café
Return date By 15th February 2016

Learning Outcomes

This assessment covers learning outcomes to:
1. Critically evaluate concepts, theories and models of marketing in the international situation
2. Monitor and critically evaluate developments in the international business environment and apply these to the international marketing situation.
3. Search for, select and use effectively relevant data and information.
Tasks
• Prepare a 2,000 word (+/-10%) essay which:
• Gives a discussion of both theory and practice;
• Includes arguments and wherever possible supporting evidence for each point that you make.

The Question
• Research and write an answer to the following question:

“If a company is to export its products overseas, what kind of changes, if any, does it have to make to its national marketing strategy to suit the local culture? Compare entry into both Denmark and Mexico as a focus for your critically analytical discussion of both theory and models, and give practical examples.”
Guidance
• Use a variety of sources from text books, academic articles in academic journals and business sources to support your discussion (guideline of at least three academic journal articles).
Use the LBS referencing system see: https://v3.pebblepad.co.uk/v3portfolio/uclan/Asset/View/Gm3mmGk6sM3RgHZnjGfh7mm6pM
• For the purposes of this assignment you must use your own words and paraphrase your sources: quotations should not be used at all unless these are very small phrases and can be justified.
• Although this is an essay you are advised to use headings, sub-headings and highlighting of key words in bold.
Assessment Criteria
To pass you must complete the tasks and will be assessed as to how well you:
• Critically evaluate concepts, theories and models of marketing in the international situation and illustrate the same with markets indicated in the brief (weight 34%).
• Monitor and critically evaluate developments in the international business environment and apply these to the international markets specified in the brief (weight 33%).
• Search for, select and use effectively relevant data and information (weight 33%).
• Have clear presentation with good layout on the page, clear language and good grammar and proof reading.
(Up to 5% marks will be deducted for poor presentation)
• Reference correctly using the LBS referencing system.
(Up to 5% marks will be deducted for poor referencing)
Submission Requirements
• The first page is the title page sheet – indicate your name, course, module, seminar group, assignment details and the word count.
• SUBMIT an LBS Assessment Feedback Sheet.
• Ensure that you submit on time as indicated above (see MIP for advice and penalties).

Plagiarism

• Submission of the assignment will indicate that you are aware of the statement regarding the authenticity of your work:
‘I / we confirm that this assignment which I / we have submitted is all my / our own work and the source of any information or material I / we have used (including the internet) has been fully identified and properly acknowledged as required in the departmental guidelines I / we have received.’
Student Declaration in Respect of Plagiarism

Summarize the poem.

Very sample works

 

“To waken an old lady”  — William Carlos Willams

“A man said to the universe” –Stephen Crane

“How it will end” –Denise Duhamel

What is Zero-Coupon Bonds?

Chapter 6
Even though they’ve no explained coupon charge, zero-coupon people should survey the prorated part of fascination on a yearly basis seeing that profits. Although it is not settled municipal bonds; the interest from most of these bonds can be levy no cost with the federal government, express and regional quantities provided that the actual entrepreneur resides from the same explicit or even municipality since the company. Zero-Coupon Bonds- this is a connection that creates absolutely no coupon obligations but rather can be released at the substantial price cut to par importance Corporate and business Bonds; business relationships include the simplest connect coming from a levy standpoint since they tend to be fully taxable at all quantities. In this document there exists a working out connected with YTM; the actual figure below can be acquired by utilization of MS excel uploaded.
Yield to maturity (YTM) = [(Face value/Bond price) 1/Time period]-1

Chapter 7
That element entails the application of the internal rate of return rule, IRR. IRR make reference to the standard go back that’s obtained/gained by using the investment opportunity. If the IRR investment law is found to be greater than return within the different solutions already on the market with equal threat as well as maturity, then you need to embark on the actual investment opportunity.
Making use of the IRR rule. Just like the NPV rule, the interior price associated with the internal rate of return investment rule is applied to solitary, stand-alone initiatives within the organization. This IRR investment rule will give the correct remedy that is comparable to NPV rule in many but not almost all situations. For someone to utilize the idea of that chapter in this particular venture examination, one particular will need the concept of charge associated with funds as well as it ought to be down below the actual computed IRR. When you finally recognize that appropriately, subsequently, the real IRR rule will give the correct remedy. The internal price associated with go return rule is usually certain just for the stand-alone venture in the event every one of the project’s damaging income streams precedes their good cash flow. If it’s not the way it is, the interior price associated with go back rule probably causes incorrect choices hence adversely impacting the actual venture examination.
The various pitfalls identified in Chapter 7 related to use of the IRR method of evaluation include:
Delayed Investment
Considering the risk involving his alternative profits resources as well as offered expenditure opportunities, the actual quotes this opportunity price involving money for being 10%.
The timeline of our company’s expenditure opportunity is usually as represented below:
0 1 2
$1,250,000 $625,000 $625,000

NPV = 1250000 – 625000/ (1+r) – 625000/ (1+r) ^2
Even though the particular IRR concept ceases to provide right response however, the particular IRR itself still gives practical data in conjunction with the NPV concept. IRR indicates how sensitive the particular investment decision is to skepticism in the expense of investment capital calculate. The NPV concept allows people in order to compute the interior Rate of Come back soon after we discover the value of r when using the annuity spreadsheet.
Multiple Internal Rate of Returns [IRRs]
Even though the particular IRR concept ceases to provide the right response, however, the appropriate IRR itself still gives practical data in conjunction with the NPV concept. IRR indicates how sensitive the particular investment decision is to skepticism in the expense of investment capital calculate. The NPV concept allows people to compute the interior Rate of Come back soon after we discover the value of r when using the annuity spreadsheet.
Nonexistent IRR
The IRR concept will be valid on condition that the particular project includes a positive NPV for every single lower price charge below the appropriate IRR. Therefore, the particular IRR concept is merely valid about undertaking the second project. This project will be only one for which all of the negative cash flows precede the particular complete versions.
References
Jonathan Berk & Peter DeMarzo. (2013). Corpoarte Finance. New York: Calder Foundation.

Compare and contrast the writings, speeches, and work of Dubois and Washington.

Order Description

Question 1 of 4

Answer the following questions in several paragraphs.

Question One:

Take one African American leader whom we have studied and carefully construct an argument for why that person was successful in reaching his or her goals. Include what the person’s goals were and make sure to have loads of context and appropriate detail. W.E.B. Du Bois.

Question 2

 

Compare and contrast the writings, speeches, and work of Dubois and Washington. Be sure to include context and appropriate detail.

Question 3

Choose one aspect of African American art or literature that we have studied or that is in your text. Explain what the historical context for this art or literature was, why it was important, and what its lasting impact is. Billie Holiday “Strange Fruit”.

Question 4

Give 2 examples for when and why the federal government and executive branch intervened with the civil rights movement of the 50′s, 60′s and possibly beyond. Include examples from school desegregation and other examples. Be sure to specify what time period you are talking about and who the key people were.

Explain theme of the paper, “Pleasure Domes of Xanadu”.

1.Explain theme of the paper, “Pleasure Domes of Xanadu”. Based on what you read in the “pleasure Domes” Would you conclude that the Use of Opium is good for Cultural Development? 2.Explain the Theme of the paper, “Economic Histories of Opium” Which Governments Taxed the Opium Trade? What were the reasons that led governments to consider ending the trade in Opium, though it yielded lots of revenues to these governments? 3.Define the Social Deviance Perspective on Drugs (Illicit drugs such as Cocaine). How does a person’s perspective that users of drugs are socially deviant influence their perspective regarding Drug Policies?

Evaluating Security Breaches.Discuss.

Evaluating Security Breaches
You are a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), and you have graduated from AIU. Since college four years ago, you have been working as a fraud investigator for a large retail company, and by now you, are considered to be an expert in fraud investigations. As a fraud investigation expert, you are preparing to give an educational presentation about management fraud at the annual Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) conference, which will be held in Las Vegas. The public is becoming more aware that fraud is a serious problem. Recent financial scandals involving accounting schemes and ponzi investment schemes have highlighted examples of significant frauds.
Your goal is to make sure all levels of management understand the effects of fraud on themselves and the corporations that they represent. You must select a component that you feel is critical and prepare a PowerPoint presentation of 4–6 slides about 1 concept of management fraud. The goal is to provide an accurate and strong message that management fraud is destructive toward good business and should not be tolerated by corporations.
Select 1 concept of management fraud that you feel is critical to a corporation’s survival, and explain in your presentation how management may best avoid that aspect of fraud.
Assignment Details
Prepare a PowerPoint presentation of 4–6 slides. It should have bullet points within the slides that are supported by the notes in the note section below the slides. In addition to the content slides, there needs to be a title slide and a reference slide that shows the references that you used for the presentation in APA format.
Slides should not be smaller than size 24 font, and the type may be in any nonscript-blocked format like Ariel, Times New Roman, Century New, and so forth.
Remember that this presentation is going to be presented to corporate executives, and it should not contain a lot of pictures, clip art, or fancy backgrounds. A simple slide font that contrasts with the background will suffice.

Sociologists study social phenomena that are relevant to them in terms of the social climate in which they live. Today’s climate involves?

Unit I Scholarly Activity

Sociologists study social phenomena that are relevant to them in terms of the social climate in which they live. Today’s climate involves:

 the aftermath of a war in Iraq that left Iraq ripe for Isis militants,

 a radical Sunni group determined to return Iraq to pre-war Sunni control,

 a struggling economic recovery from a deep recession at home, and

 the crashing auto and housing industries resulting in huge unemployment and mass foreclosures.

During all of this turmoil, the first African American was elected President of the United States. Many changes have taken place since President Obama’s election and reelection to the White House. Few of these changes have been debated as much as the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

For this assignment, you will use your sociological imagination to ferret out some of the issues behind this debate.

 

Section 1 (Facts): Go to the government healthcare website and find three facts about the ACA. List and describe each fact.

 

Section 2 (Applying the Perspectives): Using your understanding of theory and the chart on page 17 of your textbook, explain how a functionalist, conflict theorist, and interactionist would explain the Affordable Care Act. Be sure to discuss the ACA in terms of each perspective’s view of the individual, social order, and social change.

 

o Do not debate the ACA itself. Rather, use these perspectives to understand how a sociologist studies the Act.

 

Section 3 (Personal Beliefs): In a sentence or two, describe your personal beliefs about the ACA.

 

Section 4 (Sociological Imagination): Use sociological imagination to explain how you developed your beliefs concerning the Act. Include a discussion of a minimum of two of the following: race, class, gender, religious and political affiliations, and how being part of these groups affects your thoughts on the Act.

 

Section 5 (Research Process): Finally, using the materials in Chapter 2, how might you study people’s beliefs about the ACA? Describe the steps you would follow in the research process to answer this question. Be sure to describe your study, the method, and a few specific questions you would ask.

Your response must be at least two pages in length, using the Times New Roman, 12-pt. font. Each part of the question should be completely answered in its own section. It is required that the sections use the following headings: Facts, Applying the Perspectives, Personal Beliefs, Sociological Imagination, and Research Process. Be sure you use in-text citations as well as an appropriate references page at the end, according to APA style.

 

The textbook listed below musted be used as a reference source, at a minimum, for this project.

 

Witt, J. (2015). SOC 2014 (3rd ed. update). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Education.