Reference no: EM132290038

Assignment 1 -

Discuss the impact of depreciation expense has on the cash flow analysis of a capital project. Also discuss the implications of a leasing arrangement has on depreciation expense.

Assignment 2 -

Submit a written paper which is 2-3 pages in length, exclusive of the reference page.

In this paper, please discuss the following case study. In doing so, explain your approach to the problem, support your approach with references, and execute your approach. Provide an answer to the case study's question with a recommendation.

You and your lifelong friend are partners together in the promotional materials business. That is, when marketing firms and their clients begin advertising or public relations campaigns, they come to your company to obtain the materials and products that would support the ad campaign. Examples of the materials and products you supply are printed posters, signs, T-shirts with printed logos, key chains, and other such items. You supply these items by procuring them from other sources or in some cases you manufacture them using various equipment in a warehouse you use near the center of the city. Your company's name is WePROMOTE.

You and your business partner are planning the next major project for your company. The project is a significant step in the growth of your firm in that the project will generate cash inflows into the firm for many years into the future. However, there will be a large investment of funds required by the firm to launch the project. The planning is in its preliminary stages where the numbers and other data are gross estimates. Despite the "fuzzy numbers", you and your partner still need to decide whether the project will be worth pursuing.

The following is some of the estimated data you have:

• The cost to install the required equipment will be $75,000 and this cost is incurred prior to any cash is received by the project.
• The expected cash inflows are the most variable of the estimates. Your partner is convinced that the firm will receive $15,000 annually for 7 years. You have your doubts. You think it is more reasonable that there will be cash inflows of $14,000 in years 1-2, then inflows of $15,000 from years 3-4, and then inflows of$17,000 for years 5-7.
• You both agree that after 7 years, the equipment will stop working and can be sold for its parts for about $5,000.
• Although you are hesitant to assume a 6% discount rate on this project (not much left for the firm after paying the interest on the loan) your partner is confident that this project will lead to other deals in the future that will bring in much more profit.

You trust your partner's instincts and agree to start analyzing the feasibility of the project. The first step is to perform net present value (NPV) calculations for the project using your partner's estimates and then using your estimates.

Requirements of the paper:

• Perform the two NPV calculations and provide a narrative of how you calculated both computations and why.
• Then provide a summary conclusion on whether you should continue to pursue this business opportunity.
• Finally, assuming your partner remains unconvinced of your conclusion, present relevant points of your analysis that you believe are compelling and persuasive in supporting your position.

Papers will be assessed using the following criteria:

• Accurate NPV calculations are provided
• Narrative that fully explains how NPVs were calculated and why is included
• A clear, logical summary and conclusion is given
• Organization Grading Guidelines: Presentation is very effective and presented in a logical format with a clear beginning, middle, and end. There is a clear statement of ideas and smooth transitions. The writer has stated the main idea clearly and has provided relevant details. The main idea is clearly conveyed in a presentation that is highly relevant and interesting. The student provides evidence of thoughtful input. Details are rich and appropriate. Spelling, punctuation, and capitalization are virtually always correct.

Assignment 3 -

List 3 reasons management should show more interest in the B players. In your own words explain the thought process behind those reasons.

Assignment 4 -

Developing Job Descriptions for Red Lobster.

Red Lobster operates over 670 casual-dining seafood restaurants in the US and Canada, employing more than 63,000 people. When Red Lobster developed a new business strategy to focus on value and improve its image, it established a new vision, mission, and goals for the company. The restaurant chain simplified its menu with the highest-quality seafood it could offer at mid-range prices, traded its restaurants' tropical themes for a crisp, clean look with white-shirt-and-black-pants uniforms for its employees, and added Northeastern coastal imagery to its menu and Web-site. Executing the new mission and differentiation strategy required hiring fun, hospitality-minded people who shared its values.

Although Red Lobster had not had any problem with hiring restaurant managers, the company felt that the managers it hired did not always reflect Red Lobster's strategy, vision, and values. The company feels that their old job descriptions do not convey the passion and creativity that the new strategy requires from its employees. They want their job descriptions to help bolster recruitment of the kind of managers that will help advance the mission and create restaurant environments where employees feel motivated and customers feel welcome upon entering the establishment and positive about their experience when they leave.

The Charge

You have been hired as a consultant to help Red Lobster recruit management level staff. They have asked you to design an overall strategy that will help create job descriptions to improve the fit between its new management hires and its new business strategy. Job descriptions should help convey the importance of the Restaurant Manager position within the company and also in the restaurant itself. The process you design will help them, later on, develop other restaurant job descriptions for the service-level staff.

Describe the process you would follow in order to fulfill the charge.

Draw up a job description for the Red Lobster Restaurant Manager position that includes, at a minimum, the following:

• Job title.
• Overall purpose statement - overall description of the broad function and scope of the position.
• List of duties or tasks performed critical to success.
• Decision-making requirements.
• Description of the relationships and roles within the company, including supervisory positions, subordinating roles and other working relationships.
• List of minimum qualifications and what experience/competencies an 'ideal candidate' would possess.

Submit a paper that describes the process you design and contains a well-articulated job description. Don't be afraid to use some creativity and innovation as you develop the process and the job description. Be sure to cite any resources you use.

Assessment Criteria - Papers will be assessed on the following:

• A description of the job analysis process demonstrates superior understanding of job design and job analysis. Any research used clearly adds value to the process described.

Job Description:

• Purpose statement demonstrates superior understanding of both breadth and depth of job.
• List of job tasks shows superior knowledge of the job duties and conveys how they are related to job success.
• Major decision-making responsibilities are listed, including how certain decisions may need to be referred to next level of management.
• Superior knowledge of how this job 'sits' within the organization is demonstrated through the description of the Restaurant Manager roles and its supervisory responsibilities.
• Minimum and 'ideal' qualifications shows superior knowledge of the what an applicant should possess.