One of the products that Company W makes is snack foods. The research and development department of Company W has developed a new formula for one type of snack food that is cheaper to make than the current formula. They want to test the new formula with consumers. They want to see if consumers can tell the difference between the old and new formulas. You propose to conduct this test and analyze the results in line with WidgeCorp’s approach to gathering statistical data and use it to form business intelligence decisions. You first need to explain the process to senior management at Company W. You advocate using an unbiased sample of consumers in their test, so that Company W is randomly selecting people based on the following: age; whether or not they have kids; where they live; how often they buy snack foods; and whether or not they already buy the current product.

Prepare a presentation that addresses the following:

• List at least 3 qualitative attributes of the snack food about which they might want to ask consumers. Make sure at least 1 of them is nominal.
• For each attribute that is ordinal, assign names for the endpoints of a 5 point rating scale.
• Explain the difference between nominal and ordinal data.
• Explain how nominal and ordinal data relate to a rating scale.
• List at least 2 quantitative attributes of snack food that the scientists might want to measure.
• Explain the difference between interval and ratio data.
• Include in your presentation the concept of business intelligence.
• Include in your presentation the difference between a population and a sample.
• Note why it is important to avoid bias when conducting research (see note below).

Note: Give 2 examples of possible populations for this test.

Application: Using Performance Reports to Inform Organizational Decisions

Very often, managers are called upon to make decisions “by the numbers.” In this Assignment, you will sort through a budget report from the fictitious Honey Bear Confections (HBC) organization in order to make decisions about productivity levels.

HBC is a small organization dedicated to making bear-shaped sweets with honey as a sugar substitute. You have just been promoted to a position as manager of the production department at HBC when your supervisor shows you the following report. She tells you to “get it fixed.” You suspect she is alluding to a problem with productivity and efficiency.

For this Assignment, review the Static Budget Report provided. Additionally, you may find valuable information in your course text, especially Exercise 6-3.

HINT: for more information about this, see the Weekly Briefing and the Performance Report video. Laureate Education (Producer). (2014). Performance report [Multimedia file]. Baltimore, MD: Author

Honey Bear Confections (HBC)

Manufacturing Overhead Static Budget Report

For the Month Ended June 20XX

The Assignment:

• Part 1: Prepare a performance report using spreadsheet software, such as Excel. Hint: Read the Weekly Briefing and watch the Performance Report video on this topic.
• Part 2: For the next section of this Assignment, please utilize a word processing software (such as Word) to complete the following:
  • Write a short memo to your supervisor explaining your findings and your recommendations.
  • In your memo, as part of your recommendations, take a position on the following: Do all the variance in this example need to be examined? Why or why not?

Submit your Application (both your Excel and Word files) by Day 7.

To submit your Assignment, do the following:

• Save Part 1 of your Assignment as a “.xls” file with the filename “WK2AssgnP1+last name+first initial.xls”. Sally Ride’s filename would be “WK2AssgnP1RideS.xls”.
• Save Part 2 of your Assignment as a ”.doc” file with the filename “WK2AssgnP2+last name+first initial.doc”. Sally Ride’s filename would be “WK2AssgnP2RideS.doc”.
• To upload Part 1 of your Assignment, click on Assignments on the course navigation menu, and then click the Assignment Part 1 – Week 2 link.
• To upload Part 2 of your Assignment, click on Assignments on the course navigation menu, and then click the Assignment Part 2 Turnitin – Week 2 link.

General Guidance on Assignment Length:

The memo portion of this application will typically be 2–3 paragraphs in length as a general expectation/estimate for each bullet point. Refer to the rubric for the Week 2 Application for grading elements and criteria for the performance report and the memo. Your Instructor will use the rubric to assess your work.

Attachments:

_week02_weeklybriefing.pdf

This project gives you the opportunity to explore the current literature for the latest research findings and evidence-based strategies in the area of drugs and crime and the criminal justice system. You will select the specific topic within this area based on your own particular interest (your major, career goals, your own community issues, etc.). You will submit your topic idea in the Week 2 “Topic Approval” drop box for Instructor’s approval.

Conduct a search of scholarly journal articles relating to your chosen topic, and select three that interest you most to use for this project. Articles must be recent-published within the last 10 years.

For each article, you will write a 450-600 words (1.5 to 2 pages) evaluative summary.

Your response should include the following:

1. Summarize the article: what is the main focus of the article; what are the main points? If a research study was involved, what were its major findings? What are the author(s) conclusions and/or recommendations?
2. Evaluate the article: Is the article helpful? Does it follow its stated intent? Does the article present as objective, or did you find a bias? Is it effective in influencing the reader’s thinking in any way? Would you recommend this article to others to read? Explain why or why not.
3. Other: Include other points you determine are appropriate to present a complete summary/evaluation response to your specific article.

Be sure to submit your project in one WORD document (that includes your three evaluative summaries).

This Research Project is due by 11:55 PM EST on the last day of Module 6.

Research Project is worth 20% of your final grade.

Additional formatting instructions for your paper: Cover page in APA format. Full reference of article in APA format at top of page following by your evaluative summary response using APA writing style (double-spaced, indenting paragraphs, 1/2” margins). Start each new article summary on new page of same document: you will submit one (1) document that includes your three (3) article summaries.

M2D1 Deviant Peer Groups

After reading the Akers [PDF file size 685 KB], et al. (1979) article and watching the “Poverty” film, do you believe that peer groups are a risk factor for drug use or do you take the side of critics who claim that drug users seek other drug users for companionship?  In other words do you think peers cause drug use or is it simply “birds of a feather flock together?” Did the film change any of the opinions you had about those that are addicted to illicit drugs? What efforts, if any, do you feel the government should exercise to assist those that are addicted to illicit substances? Explain your answer.

M2D2 Risk and Protective Factors

Prevention and Intervention models based on risk and protective factors are growing in popularity. You will often hear them referred to as the “Resiliency Model” or the “Asset Model”. Define and explain risk factors and protective factors as they relate to drug use and abuse; what “pros” do you see in this model? What “cons”? In other words, if you were designing a new program, would this model be useful to you? Explain why or why not.

As you ponder your response, you may find it helpful or interesting to review the list of 40 “protective factors” identified by the Search Institute that was mentioned in your text as well as the SAMHSA Fact Sheet, particularly pages 4-7 for a simple but clear explanation of risk and protective factors.

COST ACCOUNTING SYSTEM

Write a 700- to 1,000-word paper identifying the specific cost accounting system an organization utilizes and how it uses the accounting information for financial management. Your paper must include the following:

Describe an example of a contract that you or someone you know entered into (e.g., rental agreement, cell phone agreement, property purchase or lease [e.g., car, home, furniture, etc.], home or car repair, or student loan agreement). In your description, be sure to provide specific contractual details including parties and subject matter involved. You must also address the following:

• Define the five essential elements of an enforceable contract, and demonstrate how each element relates to your example.
• Explain the circumstances of a breach of contract in your example, and discuss possible remedies.

The paper must be three to four pages in length (excluding title and reference pages) and formatted according to APA style. You must use at least two scholarly sources  to support your claims. Cite your sources in-text and on the reference page.

Answer the follow question in APA format:

1.       How can employees benefit from alternative work arrangements?  Why?

2.       What are some of the possible negative outcomes for employers and/or employees regarding alternative work arrangements? Please explain your answer.

3.       What types of factors are influencing organizations to consider using alternative work arrangements? Explain how alternative work arrangements can address the problems/issues that are raised by these factors.

4.       Should the availability of alternative work arrangements to employees in the United States be mandated by law? Why or why not?

Cover Page

Body (3) Pages

Ref. Page (3)

Attachments:

work_arrangement.docx