Business & Finance - Marketing Business Finance - Management Business Finance - Management ASSIGNMENT (APA, NO PLAGARISM, GREAT WORK, ON TIME)

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Title of Paper in Bold Centered

Student Name

American Public University

COURSE####: Course Title

Instructor Name

Due Date

Executive Summary

Begin typing your executive summary paragraph here. This paragraph should not be indented. It should range between 150 and 250 words. After typing your abstract there should be a page break and the body of the paper will begin on the next page. This should be accurate, nonevaluative, readable, and concise. This is the most important single paragraph in this paper. Tell the reader what the paper will do. This paper will analyze xyz….

Name of Company

Company Overview (stock ticker symbol)

Hit the tab key one time to begin the main body of the paper. The paragraphs of the main document are indented. The computer will wrap your text for you based upon the margin settings established by this document template. It is not necessary for you to hit the Enter or return key at the end of a line of text. Only hit the enter key (one time) when you reach the end of a paragraph.

Then hit the tab key to indent and then continue typing the paper. In APA any source that you use in your paper must have an in-text citation. In APA these citations include the author’s last name and the year of the publication in parentheses (Name, Year). Comment by Dr. C: Make sure your margins are set to 1’ all around and Times New Roman 12-point font.

Then hit the tab key to indent and then continue typing the paper. In APA any source that you use in your paper must have an in-text citation. In APA these citations include the author’s last name and the year of the publication in parentheses (Barrett, 2002). If the source you are using does not identify an author, use a shortened version of the source title rather than the author name (“E-Portfolios for Education,” 2006). Comment by Dr. Chambers: Pay attention to proper in-text references. If you have questions on certain references, outside of a book, revisit the APA Owl website. https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/02/ https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/03/

Company History

Begin typing here…….

Products and or Services

Begin typing here…...

Operations

Begin typing here…….

Vision

Begin typing here…….

Mission Statement

Begin typing here…….

Corporate Values & Culture

Begin typing here…….

Strength, Weaknesses, Opportunities, & Threats (SWOT) Analysis

Begin typing here…….

Competition

Begin typing here…….

Management team/Leadership

Begin typing here…….

Financial Outlook

Begin typing here…….

Strategies

Begin typing here…….

Conclusion Comment by Dr. C: Conclusion does not go on separate page; follows essay body.

Begin to summarize the main points of your topic in three to five sentences. The conclusion of your paper should re-phrase the points of what your reader should be left remembering, nothing new, concise and to the point.

References Comment by Dr. C: There is a page break used so you do not have to worry about the reference page; it will always be on its own page.

Lastname, C. (2008). Title of the source without caps except Proper Nouns or: First word after colon. The Journal or Publication Italicized and Capped, Vol#(Issue#), Page numbers.

Lastname, O. (2010). Online journal using DOI or digital object identifier. Main Online Journal

Name, Vol#(Issue#), 159-192. doi: 10.1000/182

Lastname, W. (2009). If there is no DOI use the URL of the main website referenced. Article

Without DOI Reference, Vol#(Issue#), 166-212. Retrieved from

http://www.mainwebsite.org

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https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-61864-2_1

Table of contents. (2017).  Allied Academies International Conference.Academy of Strategic Management.Proceedings, 16(1), 1-0_1. http://ezproxy.apus.edu/login?qurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.proquest.com%2Fscholarly-journals%2Ftable-contents%2Fdocview%2F1928612267%2Fse-2%3Faccountid%3D8289

Week 4 ASSIGNMENT

Course Objective: Develop the skills to assess the success of the plan.

· Evaluate strategic initiatives to leverage opportunities and mitigate threats to small businesses.

· Demonstrate how to build a competitive advantage through functional level strategy

Prompt:

For the same organization you selected in Week 1, you will compose an essay in which the following topics are discussed:

· Company Overview

· Company History

· Vision & Mission Statements

· Management Team (roles & responsibilities)

· Products and/or Services

· SWOT Analysis

· Recommended action resulting from SWOT Analysis

Week 1

· The for-profit organization I previously worked for was Nike. Nike was founded in 1964 and is based in the surrounding region of Beaverton, Oregon.

· The four components of the balanced scorecard would apply as follows: 

· Financial Perspective: NIKE Incorporated has over $51 billion in revenue and is the largest supplier of athletic equipment, shoes and apparel.

·  Customer Perspective: Nike consumers are continuously seeking athletic apparel due to Nikes creativity and modern innovation. Nike’s sports equipment and sneakers are outstanding in terms of comfort, durability and performance.

·   Internal Business Processes Perspective: Nike's internal strengths are its brand equity, Research & Development spending, and its digital platform. Threats include Under Armour, Puma, Reebok and Adidas.

· Learning and Growth Perspective: Nike has insisted that offering solutions, and not symbols, should be the target for sustainability in buying power. In addition, diversifying and expanding into categories such as digital fitness and health technology.

Instructions:

· Paper must be written in  7th Edition APA format using headers, headings, in-text references, reference page, 1" margins ( use provided template).

· Make sure you use adequate, credible and reliable APA source citations to support your work.

· You will use the information in this essay as part of your Week 8 Full Strategic Plan. Be sure you are familiar with the requirements of the Week 8 Full Strategic Plan, as it should serve as a guide for your essay.  This essay is the first part of this two-part assignment, with the second part due in Week 8. Together, both parts make up the entire strategic plan.

· Your essay should be 4-5 pages in length. The bulk of your essay should be focused on the SWOT analysis in terms of its specific application to your chosen company.  Based on this SWOT analysis, provide a comprehensive evaluation in which you identify key takeaways, assess the organization's strategic position, and outline potential actions to leverage the strengths and opportunities while addressing the weaknesses and threats. Include a separate cover page and references page (in addition to the 4-5 pages) with at least three entries from reliable sources that are also cited within your essay. Avoid overuse of bulleted lists.

· All charts, graphs and pictures are to go in appendix (not a substitute for content).

Reference

Chung, K. Y., Derdenger, T. P., & Srinivasan, K. (2013). Economic Value of Celebrity Endorsements: Tiger Woods’ Impact on Sales of Nike Golf Balls.  Marketing Science (Providence, R.I.),  32(2), 271–293. https://doi.org/10.1287/mksc.1120.0760

Dufur, M. J., Cope, M. R., & Pierce, H. (2021). Gender Marginalization in Sports Participation through Advertising: The Case of Nike.  International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(15), 7759. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18157759

Wk 4 Discussion Prompt: No more than 300 words

Consider the following statement: "Whether a company is domestic or international, the size of the company is not important. No matter if it is a large corporation or a small business, what does matter is the capital structure - it always has and always will." Do you agree? Why or why not? Propose the techniques and examples to support your position.

References

Ezeani, E., Kwabi, F., Salem, R., Usman, M., Alqatamin, R. M. H., & Kostov, P. (2023). Corporate board and dynamics of capital structure: Evidence from UK, France and Germany.  International Journal of Finance and Economics,  28(3), 3281–3298. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijfe.2593

Wk 4 Respond to LS (No more than 100 words)

The statement—"Whether a company is domestic or international, the size of the company is not important. No matter if it is a large corporation or a small business, what does matter is the capital structure - it always has and always will” is not viable. While it appropriately emphasizes the continuing importance of capital structure (the mix of debt and equity used to finance operations, which influences cost of capital, risk, and firm value), it oversimplifies it by dismissing the roles of company size and domestic/international status. These factors do not render capital structure irrelevant; instead, they moderate how capital structure is determined, optimized, and impacts performance. In finance theory and empirical evidence, capital structure decisions are context-dependent, shaped by firm characteristics like size and global exposure. Ignoring these leads to flawed generalizations, as optimal structures vary across scenarios.

Capital structure has always mattered. However, size and international scope are not "unimportant"—they systematically influence leverage choices, access to financing, and risk profiles. Larger firms typically use more debt due to lower bankruptcy risks, better market access, and economies of scale in borrowing. Smaller firms rely more on equity to avoid financial distress. International firms (e.g., multinationals) often maintain lower debt ratios for flexibility amid currency/political risks, while domestic firms can leverage stable local markets more aggressively. This interdependence means the statement's absolutism fails. Capital structure matters differently based on size and scope, not in isolation.

To analyze and refute the statement, finance professionals use established techniques from capital structure theories (e.g., trade-off, pecking order, and agency theories). These incorporate size and international factors as determinants. An example of Trade-Off Theory Analysis - Apple (Large, International): Maintains low D/E (~1.5x) despite size, using cheap debt ($100B+ bonds) for buybacks—optimal due to global diversification reducing risk. Local Bakery (Small, Domestic): Relies on owner equity (high D/E risk); bankruptcy costs deter debt, unlike Apple's scale.

The following assisted with this - MacroTrends.net did analysis of Apple's financials, showing 1.06x for the quarter ending September 30, 2025 (long-term debt focus). GuruFocus.com reports align closely for the same period. There is no specific "source" for a generic bakery, but the information is supported by SBA reports on U.S. small business financing (e.g., 70%+ equity-funded startups) and studies like those in the Journal of Financial Economics on size-leverage correlations. For real-world parallels, see analyses of mom-and-pop operations during economic stress (e.g., COVID impacts on independents).

Wk 4 Respond to RO (No more than 100 words)

Capital structure matters for all businesses, regardless of location or size. Capital structure is the combination of debt and equity used to finance a business's operations (Cornett). All businesses will have debt and equity; the amounts will differ.

A small entrepreneurial business, such as a local storage facility, will have very little to offer as collateral for start-up costs, so it will require a larger loan at a higher interest rate, which can place a significant strain on the owner’s cash flow. If, for any reason, the business has limited or no income, it will place the business at risk of bankruptcy.

A large corporation, whether stateside or overseas, will generally have more financing options and access to loans at lower interest rates due to having greater assets and cash flow. Larger corporations also take advantage of debt by minimizing the amount of taxes they are required to pay. Paying less in taxes allows for that money to be reinvested in the corporation or used as required.  

Technique using leverage= Debt/Value, for a small business or a large corporation, is determined the same way. For example, A business is worth $1,000,000.00 and has a debt of $500,000.00. The leverage equals .50 or (50%). The figures show that half of the business is debt (owed to 3rd party) and the other half belongs to the owner(s).

Another technique used is the weighted average cost of capital (WACC); (Weight of Debt * Cost of Debt) + (Weight of Equity * Return on Equity). The formula simply shows that being in debt is cheaper for the business in the long run and that the weighted average cost of capital decreases. When a business uses equity, the weighted average cost of capital increases, which ultimately costs the corporation more money (Melicher & Norton).