Module 2 – Case

PRINCIPLES OF ACCOUNTING

Assignment Overview

In this Case Assignment, you will put to use what you have learned about reading financial statements to prepare a PowerPoint slideshow that presents your analysis of the health of a company.

Synaptics is a manufacturer of computer interface hardware such as touchpads and fingerprint interfaces. Synaptics has been identified as among the top 20 small, publicly held companies in the United States. Use the link below to view Synaptics 2018 annual report and financial statements.

Synaptics 2017 Annual Report. (2018, September). Retrieved from

 

http://www.annualreports.com/Company/synaptics-inc

Hint: To find the financial statements, review the Table of Contents and note that the actual Financial Statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission appear toward the end of the larger report. There you will find the Balance Sheet, Statement of Income, and Statement of Cash Flows. There are other statements, but these are the ones you will want to review.

Case Assignment

Your analysis should address the following questions:

· What does this information tell me about the company’s performance?

· How did the company do in 2018 compared with other financial periods?

· Has the company exceeded its own targets?

· How does it compare with other companies in the same industry?

· What are the future prospects of

· The firm

· The local (national) economy

· The global economy

· Customers and suppliers

· Political reform

· Social, environmental, and ethical considerations

Prepare a PowerPoint slideshow of at least 12 slides to present your analysis. Your slideshow should be accompanied by a voice-over recording and speaker notes at the bottom of each slide on the notes pages. Keep in mind that today’s younger workers do not want to see slides full of words. They want to see only 5 words and a picture on each slide. All the other things you want to say go on the slide notes pages. In addition, they also want to see pictures of real people. Also, feel free to go over the minimum 12-count slides in your presentation. It should be easy for you to get to the minimum 12-count of slides because there are 10 topics in the assignment! The slide count does not include the cover or reference slides.

Keys to the Assignment

· Your presentation should be professionally prepared, as if you were making a presentation to your boss.

· PowerPoint presentations must include voice-over recordings and speaker notes at the bottom of each slide (in notes section).

· Use evidence and data from the annual report and specified financial statements.

· Stress analysis – simply reporting the data is not sufficient. You must interpret what it means.

· Conduct research to assess global, economic, political, environmental, and ethical considerations impacting the company. This should include at least three library resources. At least two of these resources must be high-quality references from peer-reviewed academic journals. These are found in the Trident Online Library.

· You may also include Internet sites such as Bloomberg, Google Finance, or Yahoo! Finance. Be sure to site any ideas or analysis you retrieve from them in your report.

· Include a title page and reference sheet with your assignment submission.

· Cite all sources and provide a reference list using APA format.

· Presentations should be edited and error-free.

· Submit your assignment to TLC by the due date for this module.

For instruction on writing papers, citing sources, proper referencing, and so forth, use Trident University’s: 

Student Guide to Writing a High-Quality Academic Paper

.

Assignment Expectations

Your paper will be evaluated using the criteria as stated in the Case rubric. The following is a review of the rubric criteria:

· Assignment-Driven: Does the paper fully address all aspects of the assignment? Is the assignment addressed accurately and precisely using sound logic? Does the paper meet minimum length requirements?

· Critical Thinking: Does the paper demonstrate graduate-level analysis, in which information derived from multiple sources, expert opinions, and assumptions has been critically evaluated and synthesized in the formulation of a logical set of conclusions? Does the paper address the topic with sufficient depth of discussion and analysis?

· Business Writing: Is the essay logical, well organized and well written? Are the grammar, spelling, and vocabulary appropriate for graduate-level work? Are section headings included? Are paraphrasing and synthesis of concepts the primary means of responding, or is justification/support instead conveyed through excessive use of direct quotations?

· Effective Use of Information: Does the submission demonstrate that the student has read, understood, and can apply the background materials for the module? If required, has the student demonstrated effective research, as evidenced by student’s use of relevant and quality sources? Do additional sources used provide strong support for conclusions drawn, and do they help in shaping the overall paper?

· Citing Sources: Does the student demonstrate understanding of APA Style of referencing, by inclusion of proper citations (for paraphrased text and direct quotations) as appropriate? Have all sources (e.g., references used from the Background page, the assignment readings, and outside research) been included, and are these properly cited? Have all sources cited in the paper been included on the References page?

· Timeliness: Has the assignment been submitted to TLC (Trident’s learning management system) on or before the module’s due date?

Module 2 – SLP

PRINCIPLES OF ACCOUNTING

Examine the following table of ratios for Coca Cola Co. Consider what story these ratios tell you about the financial health of the company. In a 2- to 3-page paper, comment on the following, specifying which ratios you used to draw your conclusions:

1. Trends in profitability

2. Trends in debt

3. Ability of the company to meet its financial obligations

4. How efficiently the company is using its assets

Coca Cola Ratio Analysis

 

 

 
 

2016

2017

2018

Profitability

 

 

 

          Return on Equity (%)

28.21

6.23

35.30

          Return on Assets (%)

7.51

1.35

8.08

          Profit Margin  (%)

15.60

3.52

20.20

 

 

 

 

Leverage

 

 

 

         Debt-to-Equity (%)

1.97

2.51

  2.29

 

 

 

 

Efficiency

 

 

 

          Asset Turnover

   0.48

    0.40

  0.38

          Inventory Turnover

6.16

4.99

4.26

 

 

 

 

Liquidity

 

 

 

            Current Ratio

  1.28

   1.34

  1.05

            Quick Ratio

1.18

   1.25

   0.95

Source for Ratios:
 

https://www.macrotrends.net/stocks/charts/KO/coca-cola/financial-ratios

Keys to the Assignment

· Pay attention to how the different ratios relate to each other.

· Cite all sources and provide a reference list using APA format.

· Proofread and edit the paper. The goal is zero errors.

· Submit your paper to TLC by the due date for this module.

· For instruction on writing papers, citing sources, proper referencing, and so forth, use Trident University’s: 

Student Guide to Writing a High-Quality Academic Paper.

Videos

AccountingWITT. (2010). The accounting equation – Conceptual analogy. [Video file]. Retrieved from 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YK4FJ7QrFY0. 

Standard YouTube License.

Harris, M. (2018, May 22). Liquidity Ratios. Retrieved from 

https://youtu.be/D48_G40JACI.

 Standard YouTube License.

Profitability Ratios. (2015). Corporate Finance Institute. Retrieved from 

https://youtu.be/hgRLUdWVl3Q.

 Standard YouTube License.

Quantopian. (2019, August 1). How to read a Balance Sheet. Retrieved from 

https://youtu.be/q4HOhxCS1u8.

 Standard YouTube License.

Quantopian. (2019, July 25). How to read an Income Statement. Retrieved from 

https://youtu.be/bvjRacnAz9I.

 Standard YouTube License.

The Finance Storyteller. (2017). How to analyze an income statement. Retrieved from 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jovKWaUxdmU. 

Standard YouTube License.

Towns, P. (2016, January 5). How do you read a cash flow statement? Retrieved from 

https://youtu.be/X17bUV-EfIM.

 Standard YouTube License.

Tutor2u. (2017). Introduction to the Balance Sheet. Retrieved from 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Syu2sKv05rQ. 

Standard YouTube License.

Required Reading

Efficiency Ratios. (2015). My Accounting Course. Retrieved from 

Efficiency Ratios

Evans, M. H. (2015). Metrics for Human Resource Management. Retrieved from 

http://www.exinfm.com/board/metrics_for_hr_management.htm

Fields, E. (2016). The essentials of finance and accounting for nonfinancial managers (3rd ed.). New York, NY: AMACOM. Available in the Skillsoft database in the Trident Online Library.

Marler, J. H., & Boudreau, J. W. (2017). An evidence-based review of HR Analytics. International Journal of Human Resource Management, 28(1), 3–26. Available in the Trident Online Library.

Omondi-Ochieng, P. (2018). US table tennis association: A case study of financial performance using effectiveness indicators and efficiency ratios. Managerial Finance, 44(2), 189-206. Available in the Trident Online Library.

Synaptics 2017 Annual Report. (2018). Retrieved from 
http://www.annualreports.com/Company/synaptics-inc

Optional Reading

Financial Leverage Ratios. (2015). My Accounting Course. Retrieved from 

Financial Leverage Ratios

Grigorescu, A., & Chiper, A. (2016). The importance of human capital in the strategic development of an organization. Studies and Scientific Researches: Economics Edition. University of Bacău, Romania. DOI 10.29358/sceco.v0i0.344. CC BY-SA.

Module 4 – Case

TOTAL REWARDS; EMPLOYEE & LABOR RELATIONS; GLOBAL HR

Assignment Overview

Read 

The King Company Background 

and 

Total Rewards

 to review information on the Company.

Case Assignment

Address the following in an essay format which includes an introduction and conclusion (not a Q & A format):

· Companies often have several policies on time away from work. What are some examples of time away from work policies found in private-sector organizations today? Provide employer names from your research.

· Click on the video below to learn about “unlimited vacation” jobs where employees could go to work whenever they feel like it. 

(CBS This Morning, 2015)

· As you see in the video above, some employers have an “unlimited” vacation policy. Others have an “Employee Time-Off Policy” that allows employees a set number of paid days off regardless of the reason (instead of individual absenteeism, sick days, vacation, short-term leave, long-term leave, FMLA, and other policies). Would it be better for the King Company to have an Employee Time-Off Policy, something similar to the unlimited vacation policy discussed in the video above, or something else? Why? Support your response with research. 

Utilize information from at least two Trident Online Library sources to help strengthen and validate your discussion.

Paper length: 3-4 pages (not counting the cover and reference pages).

Provide private-sector employer examples of HRM programs, systems, processes, and/or procedures as you address the assignment requirements. Provide names of the employers. Use different employer examples in this course than what have been used previously in your other papers and courses.

Bring in related court case decisions to help augment your discussion, if applicable.

Make reasonable, cost-effective assumptions in your paper. It is not an option, however, for you to hire additional help (temporary or otherwise). State your assumptions in the beginning of your discussion.

Assignment Expectations

Your paper will be evaluated using the criteria as stated in the Case rubric. The following is a review of the rubric criteria:

· Assignment-Driven: Does the paper fully address all aspects of the assignment? Is the assignment addressed accurately and precisely using sound logic? Does the paper meet minimum length requirements?

· Critical Thinking: Does the paper demonstrate graduate-level analysis, in which information derived from multiple sources, expert opinions, and assumptions has been critically evaluated and synthesized in the formulation of a logical set of conclusions? Does the paper address the topic with sufficient depth of discussion and analysis?

· Business Writing: Is the essay logical, well organized and well written? Are the grammar, spelling, and vocabulary appropriate for graduate-level work? Are section headings included? Are paraphrasing and synthesis of concepts the primary means of responding, or is justification/support instead conveyed through excessive use of direct quotations?

· Effective Use of Information: Does the submission demonstrate that the student has read, understood, and can apply the background materials for the module? If required, has the student demonstrated effective research, as evidenced by student’s use of relevant and quality sources? Do additional sources used provide strong support for conclusions drawn, and do they help in shaping the overall paper?

· Citing Sources: Does the student demonstrate understanding of APA Style of referencing, by inclusion of proper citations (for paraphrased text and direct quotations) as appropriate? Have all sources (e.g., references used from the Background page, the assignment readings, and outside research) been included, and are these properly cited? Have all sources cited in the paper been included on the References page?

· Timeliness: Has the assignment been submitted to TLC (Trident’s learning management system) on or before the module’s due date?

Module 4 – SLP

TOTAL REWARDS; EMPLOYEE & LABOR RELATIONS; GLOBAL HR

Click both 
The King Company Background 
and 

Employee Relations 

to review information on the Company.

Also read:

Green, N., Ryan, K., & Levy, M. (2017). The correct way to terminate an employee. Retrieved from 

http://www.humanresources4u.com/cms_files/original/How_to_Terminate_an_Employee1

Assignment

Address the following issues in an essay format which includes an introduction and conclusion (not a Q & A format). Utilize information from readings and research to help strengthen and validate your writing.

· What should have taken place before the decision was made to terminate Lyle Jones (email 5)?  What should be done now regarding Lyle’s termination?

· Concerning Tonia Putt’s termination (email 9) what should be done now?

Utilize information from at least 2 Trident Online Library sources to help strengthen and validate your discussion.

Provide private-sector employer examples of HRM programs, systems, processes, and/or procedures as you address the assignment requirements. Provide names of the employers. Use different employer examples in this course than what have been used previously in your other papers and courses.
Bring in related court case decisions to help augment your discussion, if applicable.

Paper length: 2-3 pages (not counting the cover and reference pages).

Required Sources

CBS This Morning. (2015). Work vs. vacation: From unlimited time to no time off. Retrieved from 

.

FitSmallBusiness (2013). Employee compensation—how to design the right plan. Retrieved  from 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Z2pwJ8TSy0.

Gollan, P. J., & Lewin, D. (2013). Employee representation in non-union firms: An overview. Industrial Relations, 52(S1), 173-193. Retrieved from Business Source Complete in the Trident Online Library.

Green, N., Ryan, K., & Levy, M. (2017). 

The correct way to terminate an employee

. Retrieved from 
http://www.humanresources4u.com/cms_files/original/How_to_Terminate_an_Employee1

Mishra, R. K., Singh, P., & Sarkar, S. (2012). Cross cultural dimension of compensation management: Global perspectives. Journal of Strategic Human Resource Management, 1(2), 63-71. Retrieved from ProQuest in the Trident Online Library.

Reilly, P. (2012). HR’s future in a global setting. Human Resource Management International Digest, 20(3), 3-5. Retrieved from ProQuest in the Trident Online Library.

Optional Sources

Miller, S. (2011). Study: Pay for performance pays off. Retrieved from 

https://www.shrm.org/ResourcesAndTools/hr-topics/compensation/Pages/PaysOff.aspx

Rose, M. (2014). Reward management. London: Kogan Page Ltd., Part I: The Fundamentals of Reward. Retrieved from Skillport/Books 24×7 from the Trident Online Library.