Writing

Project Discussions

W7

1. Provide (3) reasons why an organization might choose to make a project “in-house”. Why?

2. What would be your top (2) two considerations when selecting a type of contract to enter into? Why for each?

Project Part 1 & 2

PART 1:

In prior weeks, you learned about the financial statements and financial statement ratios. This week, you will utilize that information, to take a deep dive into one company.

Assume the role of a senior financial analyst who has been assigned to complete a thorough and detailed review for the APPLE company below. Access the APPLE company quarterly financial statements (10-Q) for the past two quarters on EDGAR, which is available on the web page, EDGAR Company FilingsLinks to an external site.

Apple

AAPL

In your thorough and detailed review, analyze the APPLE company’s quarterly financial statements (10-Q) for the past two most current quarters and perform the following:

• Prepare a balance sheet and income statement horizontal analysis for the last two quarters.
• Prepare a balance sheet and income statement vertical analysis for the last two quarters.
• Prepare a liquidity analysis by computing and using the appropriate ratios to assess liquidity.
  • Compute a minimum of three ratios and show your supporting calculations.
• Prepare a solvency analysis by computing and using the appropriate ratios to assess solvency.
  • Compute a minimum of three ratios and show your supporting calculations.
• Prepare a profitability analysis by computing and using the appropriate ratios to assess profitability.
  • Compute a minimum of three ratios and show your supporting calculations.
• Analyze the methods and tips provided in the textbook, Warren Buffet Accounting, to address the following questions:
  • What is your company’s primary revenue, secondary revenue, and gains?
  • What is your company’s primary expenses, secondary expenses, financial activity generated expenses, and losses?
  • What is the revenue trend? Does the 10-K or 10-Q discuss primary revenues, as well as other revenue types?
  • What do the accounting policies say in the annual report (footnotes) regarding the cost of revenue? What are the drivers to the cost of revenue and the trends?
  • Are there any trends in sales and marketing expenses or research and development? Are these amounts reasonable for the type of business?
  • Compare general and administrative expenses to similar companies. Are they reasonable?
  • What is the ratio of net interest income (expense) to income from operations? Is this a safe ratio for the company? Why or why not?
  • What is the income taxes trend? Is the effective tax rate reasonable over time?

Formulate your analysis on the above requirements to discuss the financial health, performance, strengths, and weaknesses of the company, as well as any identified positive or negative trends.

The Real-World Financial Statement Analysis PART 1:

• Must be seven double-spaced pages in length (not including title and references, supporting calculation of the horizontal analysis, vertical analysis or ratio calculations) and formatted according to APA Style 
• Must include a separate title page with the following:
  • Title of paper
  • Student’s name
  • Course name and number
  • Instructor’s name
  • Date submitted
• Must utilize academic voice. 
• Must include an introduction and conclusion paragraph. Your introduction paragraph needs to end with a clear thesis statement that indicates the purpose of your paper.
• Must document any information used from sources in APA Style 
• Must include a separate references page that is formatted according to APA Style 

PART 2:

****In addition to your written financial statement analysis, you will also need to communicate a high-level summary of your analysis to your selected company’s executive team using. The summary should be documented with five PowerPoint slides, including speaker notes. In addition, include the company’s

• financial health,
• performance strengths and weaknesses, and
• identified positive or negative trends.

The Real-World Financial Statement Analysis PowerPoint Part 2:

• Must be five slides in length (not including title and references slides) and formatted according to APA Style 
• Must include a separate title slide with the following:
  • Title of paper
  • Student’s name
  • Course name and number
  • Instructor’s name
  • Date submitted
• Must document any information used from sources in APA Style 

https://www.sec.gov/edgar/searchedgar/companysearch

Project Discussions

W6

1.  In your own opinion, what are the (2) two most important quality management areas of ISO? Why?

2. In your own opinion, what are the (2) two least important quality management areas of ISO? Why?

3. Provide an example of how a single company might use continuous process improvement and/or breakthrough process improvement?

Discussion 6 Number 2

Using the APPLE company and annual reports:

Prepare common-size balance sheets, income statements, and statements of cash flows for your chosen company for the latest 2 years. Identify one company that competes with your chosen company, obtain their financial statements for the most recent two years, and prepare common-size balance sheets, income statements, and statements of cash flows for the APPLE company for the latest 2 years.

• Explain why common-sized financial statements are a convenient way to compare financial statement items within the same period, between periods, and between competing companies.
• Perform a vertical analysis of at least one item on the common-size balance sheet, income statement, and statement of cash flows you prepared for the most recent year. Compare each item to the same item on the common-size financial statements for the previous period and to the same item on the common-size financial statements you prepared for the competing company.
• Discuss what this comparison tells you about your chosen company’s current financial condition, how it compares to the previous year, and how it compares with the financial condition of your chosen company’s competitor.

Project Discussions

W5

1.  Choose (2) two of the common risk responses. Provide an example of how you might use them together on a project.  2. Give an example of a risk you have chosen to accept on a previous project. How did you make the decision to accept it? Was it the right decision to make, and why?