BUS5SMM | Guidelines for Management Assignment Assessment 2 | Management

The report should contain the following elements (please see marking rubrics for more details):
Background, introduction and importance of company to the Australian and international business landscape:

• Focus on its international business environment and funnel it down to Australian base
• Please relate your analysis to sustainability practices of INTREPID TRAVEL (i.e. reflect on relevant

theory + strategies applied + sustainability practices implemented by the company), and include the roles of planning, organising, leading and controlling mainly demonstrated via:

Planning and strategy

Human resources management Leadership
Controlling the value chain and technology
Future strategies management should engage in (identify 3 major strategies based on previous analysis of the company)
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• Please make recommendations and conclusions based on your analysis

Submitting the Assignment
This is an individual report. You should submit using the Moodle submission link for this assignment. Remember that, the report should be approximately 2,500 words. Word count starts from Introduction to Conclusions. use Times New Roman 12 point font, 1.5 line spacing use Harvard referencing. 15-20 references are expected. Please use at least 75% of academic references.

Marking rubrics
See the Subject Learning Guide for marking rubrics, and more detailed guidelines in LMS
Grading criteria - Assessment 1 (Individual written Marketing analysis) (40%)

Criteria

GCs.

SILOs

Excellent

Good

Missing or Poor

Mark(s)

Discipline

Disciplinary knowledge is clearly

Disciplinary knowledge is presented and

Disciplinary knowledge is unclear and

knowledge

presented and uses disciplinary

uses disciplinary language approaching

does not use the language of the

language authoritatively; shows critical

competency, shows an awareness of the

discipline in a sustained fashion, and

understanding of the relevant theories,

issue presented and demonstrates

demonstrates no evidence of gaining

issue presented, demonstrates depth

limited content understanding.

new understanding.

and accuracy of understanding.

/7

Analysis and

Critical Thinking

01, 02

Strategically and critically analyses and

Overall, analysis and evaluation show

Analysis and evaluation are very

Recommendations

Inquiry/Research

evaluates the marketing mix strategies

critical thinking but include several

superficial and lacking in depths.

(Critical Thinking)

of the chosen company, and how those

gaps. Recommendations are evidence-

Recommendations are not evidence-

strategies have been implemented to

based but may not be fully justifiable.

based and/or justifiable.

achieve sustainability, and makes

justifiable, evidence-based

recommendations.

/20

Problem-solving

Creative

03

Outstandingly addresses constructed

Addresses constructed and real-life

Failure to address constructed and real-

problem-solving

and real life problems by identifying

problems and correctly identify

life problems and/or correctly identify

company’s strategies and relevant

strategies and sustainability-related

strategies and sustainability-related

sustainability-related issues/practices,

issues although some minor gaps still

issues. Failure to use conceptual,

and using conceptual, analytical and

exist. Good use of conceptual, analytical

analytical and problem-solving

problem-solving strategies.

and problem-solving strategies.

strategies.

/5

Independent

Autonomy and

05

Demonstrates an outstanding original

Shows originality and acceptable level of

Lack of originality and poor

thought

independence

approach and excellent level of

independent thinking. Some minor parts

demonstration of independent thinking.

independent thinking. Effectively

are incomplete.

Failure to fully complete the task due to

manages time and resources to

ineffective management of time and

complete all parts of the task.

resources.

/5

Writing and

Writing

The report is well structured, with

The report is somewhat logically

The work does not employ a structured

Referencing

fluent and cohesive presentation of

structured using appropriate academic

approach to the task. The writing is

ideas. Sophisticated academic language

language, with appropriate use of

unclear and poorly constructed.

throughout, with excellent use of

evidence in addressing the task.

Shows unfamiliarity with, and

supporting evidence. Persuasively

Employs a basic academic referencing

inconsistent application of the

addresses the task, and employs a

convention appropriate to the

conventions of academic referencing

relevant approach.

discipline. Includes an adequate number

with inadequate sources.

Employs an accurate academic

of sources. Several errors in referencing,

referencing convention citing multiple

grammar and/or punctuation.

sources.

/3

COMMENTS

/40

Grading criteria - Assessment 2 (Individual written Management analysis) (40%)

Criteria

GCs.

SILOs

Excellent

Good

Missing or Poor

Mark(s)

Discipline

Disciplinary knowledge is clearly presented

Disciplinary knowledge is presented and

Disciplinary knowledge is unclear and does

knowledge

and uses disciplinary language

uses disciplinary language approaching

not use the language of the discipline in a

authoritatively; shows critical

competency, shows an awareness of the

sustained fashion, and demonstrates no

understanding of the relevant theories,

issue presented and demonstrates limited

evidence of gaining new understanding.

issue presented, demonstrates depth and

content understanding.

accuracy of understanding.

/7

Analysis and

Critical

01, 02

Strategically and critically analyses and

Overall, analysis and evaluation show

Analysis and evaluation are very superficial

Recommendat

Thinking

evaluates the management functions and

critical thinking but include several gaps.

and lacking in depths.

ions (Critical

Inquiry/

strategies of the chosen company, and how

Recommendations are evidence-based but

Recommendations are not evidence-based

Thinking)

Research

those strategies have been implemented to

may not be fully justifiable.

and/or justifiable.

achieve sustainability, and making

justifiable, evidence-based

/20

recommendations.

Ethical

Ethical

04

Excellent recognition of the implications

Acknowledges and engages other ethical

Limited or no engagement with other

awareness

behaviour

for their own ethical and values framework

and values- based perspectives in

ethical and values- based perspectives in

when interacting with different ethical and

professional, societal or global concerns.

professional, societal or global concerns.

values-based perspectives in professional

and global concerns.

/5

Independent

Autonomy and

05

Demonstrates an outstanding original

Shows originality and acceptable level of

Lack of originality and poor demonstration

thought

independence

approach and excellent level of

independent thinking. Some minor parts

of independent thinking. Failure to fully

independent thinking. Effectively manages

are incomplete.

complete the task due to ineffective

time and resources to complete all parts of

management of time and resources.

the task.

/5

Writing and

Writing

The report is well structured, with fluent

The report is somewhat logically

The work does not employ a structured

Referencing

and cohesive presentation of ideas.

structured using appropriate academic

approach to the task. The writing is unclear

Sophisticated academic language

language, with appropriate use of evidence

and poorly constructed.

throughout, with excellent use of

in addressing the task.

Shows unfamiliarity with, and inconsistent

supporting evidence. Persuasively

Employs a basic academic referencing

application of the conventions of academic

addresses the task, and employs a relevant

convention appropriate to the discipline.

referencing with inadequate sources.

approach.

Includes an adequate number of sources.

Employs an accurate academic referencing

Several errors in referencing, grammar

convention citing multiple sources.

and/or punctuation.

/3

COMMENTS

/40

Grading criteria - Assessment 3 (part 1, Group presentation) (10%)

Criteria

GCs.

SILOs

Excellent

Good

Missing or Poor

Mark(s)

Analysis

Critical Thinking

01, 02

Strategically and critically analyses and

Good analysis and evaluation of

Poor analysis and evaluation of

(Critical

Inquiry/Research

evaluates sustainability-related

sustainability-related concepts/practices

sustainability-related concepts/practices

Thinking)

concepts/practices and applications in

and applications in businesses, and

and applications in businesses,

businesses, and strategies employed by

strategies employed by firms to achieve

sustainable strategies employed by firms

firms to achieve sustainability.

sustainability. Some minor gaps in

to achieve sustainability.

application.

/5

Problem-

Creative

03

Outstandingly addresses constructed and

Addresses constructed and real-life

Failure to address constructed and real-

solving

problem-solving

real life problems by identifying relevant

problems and correctly identify relevant

life problems and/or correctly identify

sustainability-related articles, and

sustainability-related articles, and

relevant sustainability-related articles,

relevant sustainability-related

relevant sustainability-related

and relevant sustainability-related

concepts/issues/practices, and using

concepts/issues/practices although some

concepts/issues/practices. Failure to use

conceptual, analytical and problem-

minor gaps still exist. Good use of

conceptual, analytical and problem-

solving strategies.

conceptual, analytical and problem-

solving strategies.

solving strategies.

/2

Teamwork

Teamwork

Holistic reflection of divergent

Work reflects a co-ordinated contribution

Work reflects little or no co-ordination of

perspectives and insights into the task,

by all of the team, and constructs a

the contribution by various team

representative of various informed

sustained focus in its response to the

members, and/or has no central objective

positions on the topic.

task.

or focus.

/1

Presentation

Informative presentation that focuses on

Logically structures the slides and

Does not present a coherent and succinct

and

supporting its central argument, well-

presentation - approaching coherence,

explanation and ideas are not logically

engagement

structured slides and presentation, and

and uses some appropriate language for

organised nor relevant to topic, and does

uses clear, powerful and appropriate

student and academic audience.

not appropriate language for the

language for student and academic

audience.

audience.

/2

COMMENTS

/10

Grading criteria - Assessment 3 (part 2, Group written analysis) (10%)

Criteria

GCs.

SILOs

Excellent

Good

Missing or Poor

Mark(s)

Analysis

Critical Thinking

01, 02

Strategically and critically analyses and

Good analysis and evaluation of

Poor analysis and evaluation of

(Critical

Inquiry/Research

evaluates sustainability-related

sustainability-related concepts/practices

sustainability-related concepts/practices

Thinking)

concepts/practices and applications in

and applications in businesses, and

and applications in businesses,

businesses, and strategies employed by

strategies employed by firms to achieve

sustainable strategies employed by firms

firms to achieve sustainability.

sustainability. Some minor gaps in

to achieve sustainability.

application.

/5

Problem-

Creative

03

Outstandingly addresses constructed and

Addresses constructed and real-life

Failure to address constructed and real-

solving

problem-solving

real life problems by identifying relevant

problems and correctly identify relevant

life problems and/or correctly identify

sustainability-related articles, and

sustainability-related articles, and

relevant sustainability-related articles,

relevant sustainability-related

relevant sustainability-related

and relevant sustainability-related

concepts/issues/practices, and using

concepts/issues/practices although some

concepts/issues/practices. Failure to use

conceptual, analytical and problem-

minor gaps still exist. Good use of

conceptual, analytical and problem-

solving strategies.

conceptual, analytical and problem-

solving strategies.

solving strategies.

/2

Teamwork

Teamwork

Holistic reflection of divergent

Work reflects a co-ordinated

Work reflects little or no co-ordination of

perspectives and insights into the task,

contribution by all of the team, and

the contribution by various team

representative of various informed

constructs a sustained focus in its

members, and/or has no central objective

positions on the topic.

response to the task.

or focus.

/1

Writing and

Writing

The report is well structured, with fluent

The report is somewhat logically

The work does not employ a structured

Referencing

and cohesive presentation of ideas.

structured using appropriate academic

approach to the task. The writing is

Sophisticated academic language

language, with appropriate use of

unclear and poorly constructed.

throughout, with excellent use of

evidence in addressing the task.

Shows unfamiliarity with, and

supporting evidence. Persuasively

Employs a basic academic referencing

inconsistent application of the

addresses the task, and employs a

convention appropriate to the discipline.

conventions of academic referencing with

relevant approach.

Includes an adequate number of sources.

inadequate sources.

Employs an accurate academic

Several errors in referencing, grammar

referencing convention citing multiple

and/or punctuation.

sources.

/2

COMMENTS

/10

BUS5SMM | Further Instructions for Assignment 2 | Management

Background information of the chosen company

The discussion can focus on (but not limited to) the following points:

• General introduction about the company, its management and organisational structure
• International business environment and Australian context
• Analyse the impact of the environmental factors (i.e. political-legal, economic, socio-cultural & technological factors)
• Evaluate the level of competition within the industry in which INTREPID TRAVEL operates
• Selected useful references:
• The company’s website
• Industry and company information & general databases accessible via La Trobe’s library,

such as IBIS, Passport, Factiva, Company 360, Marketline Advantage, EBSCO, ProQuest, Australian Financial Review.

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• Chapters 1, Samson & Daft’s textbook
• Chapter 3 - Environmental analysis for sustainable strategic management (pages 60-95) from Sustainable Strategic Management (2nd edition) book by Stead & Stead.

Planning

The discussion can focus on (but not limited to) the following points:

• Analyse INTREPID TRAVEL’s vision, mission and values and their connection with sustainability.
• Analyse INTREPID TRAVEL’s goal setting practices, and major types of plans
• Examine INTREPID TRAVEL’s approach(s) to planning (i.e. traditional, modern and innovative)
• How has sustainability been incorporated into those key decisions/practices?
• Selected useful references:

• The company’s website, industry & company information, and general databases
• Chapters 7, Samson & Daft’s textbook
• Chapter 12 - Sustainability in airlines (pages 174-187) from

Human resources management

The discussion can focus on (but not limited to) the following points:

• Which HR-related competitive strategies have been implemented by INTR EPID TRAVEL?
• How has INTREPID TRAVEL managed to find the right people?
• How has INTREPID TRAVEL managed to develop an effective workforce?
• How has INTREPID TRAVEL managed to maintain an effective workforce?
• Has any sustainable practice been applied in INTREPI
• Selected useful references:

• The company’s website, industry & company information, and general databases o Chapters 12, Samson & Daft’s textbook

o Book section: “The relevance of the vision of sustainability to HRM practice”, pages 401 - 419, from Sustainability and Human resource management book, by Ehnert, Harry & Zink.

• Book section: “Sustainability and HRM”, pages 3 -33, from Sustainability and Human resource management book, by Ehnert, Harry & Zink.
• Jabbour, C. J. C., & Santos, F. C. A. (2008). The central role of human resource management in the search for sustainable organizations. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 19(12), 2133-2154. (accessible via La Trobe’s library)

Leadership

The discussion can focus on (but not limited to) the following points:

• Examine leadership at INTREPID TRAVEL and its effectiveness
• Analyse the leadership styles exercised in INTREPID TRAVEL.
• Which leadership traits and characteristics have been demonstrated by INTREPID TRAVEL’s leaders; which type of power and influence tactics have been used?
• Has INTREPID TRAVEL’s leadership been able to inspire and motive people beyond their normal levels of performance (i.e. charismatic and transformational leadership)?
• How has sustainability been incorporated into INTREPID TRAVEL’s leadership?

Selected useful references:

• The company’s website, industry & company information, and general databases
• Chapters 15, Samson & Daft’s textbook
• Chapter 8 - Organisational governance and strategic leadership in SSM (pages 239-245) from Sustainable Strategic Management (2nd edition) book by Stead & Stead.

Controlling the value chain and technology

The discussion can focus on (but not limited to) the following points:

• Analyse how effective INTREPID TRAVEL is in conducting its operations management.
• Analyse how effective INTREPID TRAVEL is in managing its supply chain.
• Has new technology been implemented in INTREPID

TRAVEL’s operations/supply chain management practices?

• How has sustainability been incorporated into those key decisions/ practices?
• Selected useful references:
• The company’s website, industry & company information, and general databases
• Chapters 20, Samson & Daft’s textbook
• Book section: “Value chain analysis” (pages 109-112), from Sustainable Strategic Management book by Stead & Stead.
• Section 20 - Sustainable supply chain management: The good, the bad and the ugly

(pages 277-287) from Sustainability and Management: An international perspective book by Caliyurt & Yuksel.

• Sustainable supply chain management across the UK private sector by Walker & Jones (2012)

Recommendations & future strategies

• Future strategies management should engage in (identify at least 3 major strategies for the company)

• Please make sure the recommendations/suggested strategies are made based on your earlier analyses

Other requirements

• Report format with headings and sub-headings
• Approximately 2,500 words (+/- 10% accepted; excluding executive summary & list of references)
• Use Microsoft Word format only, Times New Roman 12 point font, 1.5 line spacing
• Use Harvard referencing style.
• 15-20 references are expected (including at least 5 academic references)
• See the Subject Learning Guide for marking rubric, and other information in LMS
• All submissions MUST be made via LMS (Turnitin), otherwise the work WON’T be marked.
• NO changes to the submitted work can be made after the deadline.
• Penalty for late submission will be applied; request for extension (if any) will need to be made by logging application for Special Consideration via Ask La Trobe.
• Please check the marking rubric for this assignment in the subject learning guide before submitting to make sure all marking criteria have been well addressed.

ECO511 | Economics Models Assignment | Economics

Question 1

“Economic models are false and so government should ignore their predictions.” Explain, discuss and evaluate the accuracy of this statement.

Question 2

Using the economics or other literature (but not the textbook) to identify estimates of the price elasticity of demand for at least three different products. Provide full citations for the employed literature. Comment on the magnitudes of these estimates in relation to the standard economic determinants of the price elasticity of demand.
                                                                                                                                                               Order Now

Rationale

The question addresses the following learning outcomes:

1.be able to apply demand and supply analysis to make a range of market related decisions

2.be able to identify and critically evaluate opportunities for specialisation and exchange.

3.be able to make decisions that incorporate the relevant benefits and cost analysis

Semester 3 Assignment

Complete ALL ten questions; each question is worth 6 marks

1. com Corporation is building a $25 million office building in Adelaide and is financing the construction at an 80 % loan-to-value ratio, where the loan is in the amount of $20,000,000. This loan has a ten-year maturity, calls for monthly payments, and is contracted at an interest rate of 8%.

Using the above information, answer the following questions.

1. What is the monthly payment?
2. How much of the first payment is interest?
3. How much of the first payment is principal?
4. How much will Casino.com Corporation owe on this loan after making monthly payments for three years (the amount owed immediately after the thirty-sixth payment)?                                                                                               Order Now
5. Should this loan be refinanced after three years with a new seven-year 7 per cent loan, if the cost to refinance is $250,000? To make this decision, calculate the new loan payments and then the present value of the difference in the loan payments.
6. Returning to the original ten-year 8 per cent loan, how much is the loan payment if these payments are scheduled for quarterly rather than monthly payments?
7. For this loan with quarterly payments, how much will Casino.com Corporation owe on this loan after making quarterly payments for three years (the amount owed immediately after the twelfth payment)?
8. What is the annual percentage rate on the original ten-year 8 % loan?
9. What is the effective annual rate (EAR) on the original ten-year 8 % loan?

2. A zero-coupon bond has a $100 face value, matures in 10 years, and currently sells for $78.12.

1. What is the market’s required return on this bond?
2. Suppose you hold this bond for 1 year and sell it. At the time you sell the bond, market rates have increased to 3.5%. What return did you earn on this bond?
3. Suppose that rather than buying the 10-year zero-coupon bond described at the start of this problem, you instead purchased a 10-year 2.5% coupon bond (assume annual payments). Because the bond’s coupon rate equalled the market’s required return at the time of purchase, you paid par value ($1,000) to acquire the bond. Again assume that you held the bond for one year, received one coupon payment, and then sold the bond, but at the time of sale the market’s required return was 3.5%. What was your return for the year? Compare your answer here to your answer in part (b).

3. McDonald’s Corporation announced an increase of their quarterly dividend to $3.28 from $3.12 per share in 2013. This continued a long string of dividend increases. The company has paid a cash dividend to shareholders every year since 1976, and has increased its dividend payments for 38 consecutive years, including through the 2007–2010 global financial crisis. Suppose you want to use the dividend growth model to value McDonald’s shares. You believe the dividend will grow at 5% per year indefinitely, and you think the market’s required return on this share is 11%. Let’s assume that McDonald’s pays dividends annually and that the next annual dividend is expected to be $US3.70 per share. The dividend will arrive in exactly one year. What would you pay for McDonald’s shares right now? Suppose you buy the shares today, hold them just long enough to receive the next dividend, and then sell them. What rate of return will you earn on that investment?

4. Classify each of the following events as a source of systematic or unsystematic risk.

1. Janet Yellen  retires as Chairman of the Federal Reserve and Arnold Schwarzenegger is appointed to take her place.
2. Martha Stewart is convicted of insider trading and is sentenced to prison.
3. An OPEC embargo raises the world market price of oil.
4. A major consumer products firm loses a product liability case.
5. The US Supreme Court rules that no employer can lay off an employee without first giving 30 days’ notice.

5. Reynolds Enterprises is attempting to evaluate the feasibility of investing $85,000, in a machine having a 5-year life. The company has estimated the cash inflows associated with the proposal as shown below. The company has a 12% cost of capital.

   Year             Cash Flows

      1                   $18,000

      2                   $22,500

      3                   $27,000

      4                   $31,500

      5                   $36,000

1. Calculate the payback period for the proposed investment.
2. Calculate the NPV for the proposed investment.
3. Calculate the IRR for the proposed investment.
4. Evaluate the acceptability of the proposed investment using NPV and IRR. What recommendation would you make relative to implementation of the project? Why?

6. Contract Manufacturing Ltd is considering two alternative investment proposals. The first proposal calls for a major renovation of the company’s manufacturing facility. The second involves replacing just a few obsolete pieces of equipment in the facility. The company will choose one project or the other this year, but it will not do both. The cash flows associated with each project appear below, and the company discounts project cash flows at 15%.

Year	Renovate	Replace
0	−$9,000,000	−$1,000,000
1	3,500,000	600,000
2	3,000,000	500,000
3	3,000,000	400,000
4	2,800,000	300,000
5	2,500,000	200,000

1. Rank these investments based on their NPVs.
2. Rank these investments based on their IRRs.
3. Why do these rankings yield mixed signals?

            Using a 15% cost of capital, calculate the NPV for each of the projects shown in the following table and indicate whether or not each is acceptable.

           

	Project A	Project B	Project C	Project D	Project E
Year	Cash Flows
0	–$20,000	–$600,000	–$150,000	–$760,000	–$100,000
1	$3,000	$120,000	$18,000	$185,000	$        0
2	3,000	145,000	17,000	185,000	0
3	3,000	170,000	16,000	185,000	0
4	3,000	190,000	15,000	185,000	25,000
5	3,000	220,000	15,000	185,000	36,000
6	3,000	240,000	14,000	185,000	0
7	3,000		13,000	185,000	60,000
8	3,000		12,000	185,000	72,000
9	3,000		11,000		84,000
10	3,000		10,000

8. The cash flows associated with three different projects are as follows:

Cash Flows	Alpha ($ in millions)	Beta ($ in millions)	Gamma ($ in millions)
Initial Outflow	– 1.5	– 0.4	– 7.5
Year 1	0.3	0.1	2.0
Year 2	0.5	0.2	3.0
Year 3	0.5	0.2	2.0
Year 4	0.4	0.1	1.5
Year 5	0.3	– 0.2	5.5

1. Calculate the payback period of each investment.
2. Which investments does the company accept if the cut-off payback period is three years? Four years?
3. If the company invests by choosing projects with the shortest payback period, which project would it invest in?
4. If the company uses discounted payback with a 15% discount rate and a 4-year cut-off period, which projects will it accept?
5. One of these almost certainly should be rejected, but might be accepted if the company uses payback analysis. Which one?
6. One of these projects almost certainly should be accepted (unless the company’s opportunity cost of capital is very high), but might be rejected if the company uses payback analysis. Which one?

9. Fully explain the kinds of information the following financial ratios provide about a firm.

Quick ratio Cash ratio Capital intensity ratio Total asset turnover Equity multiplier

Long-term debt ration Times interest earned ratio Profit margin Return on assets Return on equity Price earnings ratio

10. CURRENT PORTFOLIO

Name of Company	$m invested	Beta
Fire	$2	0.85
Water	$3	1.25
Air	$5	1.6
TOTAL	$10

Risk-free rate = 4%

Market rate of return = 12%

1. Calculate required rate of return for each of the above stocks.

1. Calculate required rate of return for the above portfolio.

1. Calculate beta for the above portfolio and then calculate the portfolio’s expected rate of return using the weighted average beta and the CAPM formula.

1. Assume now that the investor decides to sell all of his shares in Fire Company and invest a further $1m into each of the other 2 Stocks. Calculate the new required rate of return for the new portfolio – using both of the above methods.

1. Describe what the above change in the investor’s portfolio reflects about his new attitude to risk.