Zuzzane, as an individual, had an option to purchase a valuable piece of land for $500,000, provided she exercised the option by a certain date by mailing a deposit check for $50,000. This land was appraised at $600,000 and she intended to build housing for her family and her elderly mother on it. She drew a check for $50,000 on her personal checking account she had at First American Bank and mailed it to the landowner. Zuzzane had this checking account for 10 years. At the time she drew the check, she verified electronically that she had $60,000 in this personal account. However,s he owed the bank $30,000 for a collateralized loan that was 60 days overdue. That loan was taken out by her Limited Liability Company and secured with collateral from it. That loan had been taken out two years ago. The bank refused to honor the $50,000 check and spent $750.00 handling the resulting paperwork. As a result of the dishonorment, Zuzzane’s option became void, and the landowner sold the land to someone else for $550,000, resulting in a severe loss to Zuzzane. She sued the bank for damages.

The Trial

At trial, Zuzzane’s attorneys proved the value of the land, her losses, and the fact that she had always paid the bank on time, except for the most recent payment that was overdue. The bank’s attorneys proved that Zuzzane was over sixty days late on her last LLC loan payment and that it was their practice not to notify customers that there might be insufficient funds in their accounts to cover all checks written, as doing so would place an undue burden on the banking system.

The Arguments at Trial

Zuzzane’s attorneys argued that a bank has no right to dishonor a check except for the normal reasons permitted by law, such as a suspected forgery, an improper endorsement, and so forth. They further argued that the bank, based on its relationship with Zuzzane, should have contacted her before dishonoring the check so that she could have taken other action to prevent her loss of the land and that she did not have an automatic deduction from her personal account for the business loan. The bank’s attorneys argued that Zuzzane’s being overdue on her last loan payment indicated she was in financial trouble, that they had a right to seize her account to cover the overdue payment, and that instead they simply refused to honor checks on her account until the overdue loan was paid. They further argued that based on banking industry customs, it is the responsibility of the customer and not the bank to make sure there are sufficient funds to cover checks written. They were losing money each day that the loan was unpaid.

Questions to Discuss

1. Whom do you think the jury will favor, Zuzzane or the bank? Why?
2. If you feel Zuzzane should win, what will her damages be? If you feel the bank should win, what will their damages be?
3. Under what circumstances, if any, should a bank be able to offset a loan to a customer against any bank account on which the customer’s name appears?

There are two projects that will need this completed for. One is for the build out of the new office lay out, and one is for the build out of the IT Infrastructure. The risk Management plan template attached will need to be completed for each of the build outs (new office construction and IT infrastructure)

• Identify risk for the work performed and develop a mitigation plan for the risks identified.

• Risk identification consists of: determining which risks may adversely affect the project objective and what the consequences of each risk might be if they occur.
• Risk assessment consists of: determining the likelihood that the risk event will occur and the degree of impact the event will have on the project objective. Develop an action plan to reduce the impact or likelihood of each risk.
• Develop contingency plans may require expenditure of additional funds for using additional resources.

The scenario for this project is listed as:

Scenario

The accounting firm where you work has assigned you as the Project Manager to supervise an upcoming project.In exactly three months, the firm will merge with a smaller company and needs a new location for its employees.The firm currently consists of 40 employees and will be adding an additional 10 employees as a result of the merger.The second floor of a historic, two-story building has been purchased to accommodate the 50 employees in the city’s downtown district.It is completely gutted, so a complete build-out will be necessary.In order to minimize downtime, the move will take place over Labor Day weekend.You’ve been tasked to oversee renovations and installation of all IT requirements.As a recent graduate of Baker College Online, your CEO (project sponsor) has afforded you a considerable amount of discretion when it comes to decision-making.Although he will provide final approval, he expects you to decide on a floor plan, as well as what furniture and computers to keep and what must be replaced.The firm’s image is important, so he expects you to balance cost with quality.

• Build-out:Offices and/or cubicles for 50 employees (the CEO would like you to price out single offices for 10 senior level employees), a conference room, a break room with a kitchenette, a lobby reception area, a LAN room, storage / supply room, and restrooms.
• Computer network:Currently, the employees of the smaller firm are using older model Dell computers (circa 2005) with a Windows XP operating system. Your company is also in desperate need of hardware updates. Most employees are using older systems with Windows XP and some are using Windows Vista. Your company has a client/server network using Windows 2000 server. Your accountants use either Intuit QuickBooks or Sage Peachtree software. You are currently using Symantec Antivirus Corporate protection. Your company currently performs full backups nightly to an onsite server. Security is of the utmost importance.Your proposal should consider the following:

A. Computers for each employee (Marketing has indicated a preference for Macs for their 5 people due to their graphic capability)

B. Software requirements for each computer

C. Network hardware and operating system

D. Backup System

E.Additional devices required (Printers, Scanners, etc.).

F. Internet Service Provider

Unit 2: Owning and Operating a Business – Thematic Project

Complete all assigned reading before attempting the assignment. Your answers must be based on the reading. Include both the questions and answers, type all answers in complete sentences, and number your work. Submit in the text box below or submit as a word or PDF document.

Entrepreneurship in a Global World

Globalization and technology are creating a worldwide marketplace. Smart entrepreneurs recognize the opportunities in a worldwide marketplace and adjust to doing business at a global level.

Thematic Project Assignment

In this project you will conduct an interview and create a presentation about entrepreneurship in a global world. Your interview may be in person, on the phone, or through e-mail.

Step 1: Brainstorm Skills You Need to Complete this Activity

Your success in interviewing an entrepreneur will depend on your skills. Preview the activity. Then brainstorm a list of the skills you will need to use to complete the activity and describe how you will use them. Skills you might use include:

• Academic Skills reading, writing, math, and science skills
• Basic Skills speaking, listening, thinking, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills
• Technology Skills word processing, keyboarding, database, spreadsheet

Skills Preview: Click here to view a graphic organizer you can use to brainstorm the skills you will use to complete the project.

Step 2: Choose a Business and a Career That Interest You

Think of an entrepreneurial business that you fi nd interesting. Then think of a career in this entrepreneurial business that interests you. As you investigate how entrepreneurs work in the global marketplace, you will research the effects of globalization and technology on the business and career of your choice.

Step 3: Build Background Knowledge

Preview entrepreneurship in a global economy.

Steps 4 to 6

Step 4: Connect with Your Community

Interview two adults in your community about inconveniences they experience during the course of a day. Then think about what goods or services an entrepreneur could create or import to lessen or eliminate these inconveniences. Could these goods or services be exported to other countries?

Step 5: Research Business Trends

Interview a local entrepreneur to find out about entrepreneurship in a global economy. Then prepare your presentation. Use the project research checklist as a guide to help you develop your interview questions and prepare your presentation.

Step 6: Develop a Report

Use presentation software to develop a 5-minute presentation that includes all of the information described in the checklist.

Entrepreneurship in a Global Economy

✔ Create a chart that illustrates the countries in which the entrepreneur you interviewed conducts business. Use the chart in your presentation.
✔ Explain how technology helped this company become global.
✔ Explain how the economy in the United States and in other countries helps or hinders the company’s success.
✔ Explain the rewards and risks this company has experienced in the global marketplace.
✔ Give examples of how this company is socially responsible

Self Connections

✔ Describe the results of your research with a family member or other adult.
✔ Describe how the entrepreneur you interviewed infl uenced the business and career in which you are interested.
✔ Explain what the investigation and its results mean to you

Task 5 Regional Economic Integration and Financial Markets, and Monetary System

You cannot compete in international business without an understanding of the international monetary system and financial markets. As you complete these activities you will be prepared to engage in activities to apply this understanding.

Investigate Regional Economic Integration a levels of trade.

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. Study the graphic of the five levels of trade.
                                    2. Watch the video on Free Trade Agreements
                                    3. Read Chapter 8 on economic integration. Pay particular attention to
                                       1. 1. Five levels of trade integration
                                          2. Arguments for and Against free trade
                                          3. Integration in Europe
                                          4. Integration in America
                                          5. Integration in Asia

Supporters of free trade agreements are winning the argument as nations continue to form bilateral and multilateral agreements with other nations. When do you think the proliferation of regional trading blocs and the integration process will stop, if ever? Explain.

Certain groups of countries, particularly in Africa, are far less economically developed than other regions, such as Europe and North America. What sort of integration arrangement do you think developed countries could create with less developed nations to improve living standards?

Learn about the International Monetary System

1. Read Euro Roller coaster in the beginning of the text Chapter 10. Then find out more about the Euro, which countries use the Euro, and issues surrounding the Euro. What is the exchange rate currently between the dollar and the Euro?
2. Read Chapter 10 about exchange rates in world currency. What are exchange rates, how stable are they, what determines the exchange rate? What is purchasing power?
3. Find out about fixed and floating exchange rates. First ask at least five people if they can explain the two. After you have researched the concepts, explain them to a friend or family.

Investigate the future of the International Monetary System.

1. WatchPlay Video
2. Make a graphic that depicts the three possible scenarios for the future of the system for use in the lesson.
3. Research the monetary crisis in Greece. What caused the crisis? What efforts were made to alleviate the situation? Were they successful? What is Greece’s financial situation now?

You are the chair of an IMF task force. Your job is to reevaluate the policy of bailing out national governments that suffer major losses in the private sector in the name of protecting the value of the currency. Taxpayers in industrial countries typically foot the bill for IMF activities, with loans typically running into the many billions of dollars. Some critics call this system a kind of “remnant socialism” that rescues financial institutions and investors from their own mistakes with taxpayer money. Financial crises often originate as private-sector affairs, but then central banks step in and pledge foreign exchange reserves to shore up the currency.

1. Do you agree with the belief that the current system privatizes profits and then socializes losses if the government steps in with a bailout?
2. What sort of alternative can you envision to replace the current system, which often involves an IMF bailout?

Purpose of Assignment

The purpose of this assignment is to develop students’ analytical capabilities to evaluate, analyze, and apply descriptive statistics techniques to real-world datasets.

Assignment Steps

Resources: Microsoft Excel®, Case Study: MBA Schools in Asia-Pacific

Review the Case Study: MBA Schools in Asia-Pacific and the Case Study: MBA Schools in Asia-Pacific Data set.

Prepare a 1,050-word managerial report for your boss.

Use the following questions for guidelines and directions on what to include in the report:

1. What is the type of data (Quantitative or Qualitative) for each of the columns (variables) in the dataset? If quantitative, is the data discrete or continuous? Neatly summarize your response in a table for all the columns (variables).
2. Using Excel^®, find the mean, median, standard deviation, minimum, maximum, and the three quartiles for each of the quantitative variables identified in part 1 above. Neatly summarize in a table on this document. Comment on what you observe.
3. What are the minimum and maximum full-time enrollments? Which schools have the minimum and maximum full-time enrollments?
4. What is the average number of students per faculty member? Is this low or high? What does this mean to prospective applicants who are interested in pursuing an MBA in one of the leading international business schools?
5. What are the mean, median, and modal ages? What does this mean to prospective applicants?
6. What is the mean percentage of foreign students? How many and which schools have 1% and 0% foreign students? Which schools have highest percentage of foreign students? Please state these percentages.
7. What percentage of schools require the GMAT test?
8. What percentage of schools require English tests such as Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)?
9. What percentage of schools require work experience? From this percentage, does this appear to be a significant factor in gaining admissions?
10. What are the mean and median starting salaries? Which schools have the minimum and maximum starting salaries? How much are these minimum and maximum salaries?
11. What are the mean tuition for foreign students and for local students? Does there appear to be a significant difference? What is the difference between the two means?
12. How many schools require work experience and how many of them don’t? What is the mean starting salary for schools requiring work experience? What is the mean starting salary for schools requiring no work experience?
13. How many schools require English tests and how many don’t? What is the mean starting salary for schools requiring English tests? What is the mean starting salary for schools requiring no English tests?
14. Comment on the skewness for the data on starting salaries:
15. Plot a histogram and determine the skewness.
16. Find the skewness coefficient.
17. Find the mean, median, and mode for starting salaries and compare the three measures to determine skewness.
18. Finally, use Empirical Rule on the starting salaries and determine whether the salaries follow the Empirical Rule.

Format your assignment consistent with APA format.

Use in-text citations according to references used.

List all references used.

Submit both word document and the Excel file

(show the calculations you made) in both files