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GB519: Measurement and Decision Making | Unit 4

Assignment: Case Study Part 2 This is Part 2 of the case study project and is due in Unit 4. (Part 3 will be completed in Unit 5.)

The following Course Outcome is assessed in this assignment:

GB519-2: Evaluate leadership approaches to the process of decision-making.

Part 2 of the project, due at the end of Unit 4, requires you to complete an analysis of a manufacturing

organization. This evaluation will also provide the foundation for Part 3 of the project.

Note: Do not delay — Read all instructions and start work on your project immediately during Unit 1. The Unit

4 Case Project Paper cannot be submitted later than the end of Unit 5. A 1-week (10%) late penalty will be

assessed for papers submitted late.

Your project organization must be selected from the approved case company list located at the end of this

document.

A title page with properly APA-formatted running head, an abstract, and reference pages are required. Review

the “APA Template” and “APA Sample Paper” documents in the writing resources located within the Course

Resources in the left navigation Content pane. Incorporate all guidance from your Unit 3 Case Part 1.

1. Begin with an introduction to the organization. Identify its manufacturing segment. Detail briefly the

products manufactured by your organization and the company’s market niche and/or customer base.

2. Identify significant costs in your organization. Some of the topics to research and present about your

organization include but are not limited to: (a) costs associated with environmental concerns, (b) cost

behavior, (c) prevention costs, (d) appraisal (detection) costs, (e) internal failure costs, and (f) external

failure costs.

3. Include a section devoted to cost-volume-profit analysis (CVP). Review Chapters 18 and 19 in your

textbook. The level of detail you include in this section is flexible. But, make sure your analysis is

related to actual financial data from the company. Suggested metrics include the contribution margin,

degree of operating leverage (DOL), break-even point, and others. Remember, it is vital that you

determine whether or not you will have access to this information before you start the project.

Otherwise, you may not have time to change organizations later during the course.

4. Discuss budgeting considerations. Include the organization’s budget process (for example, whether it is

top-down or bottom-up) and the organization’s budget variances, and discuss management decisions

related to budgeting.

5. Based on independent research and additional textbook readings, create a balanced scorecard

(BSC), incorporating all four of the organizational dimensions (financial, customer, internal business,

and learning & growth). Identify two or three strategic objectives (SOs), also known as critical success

factors (CSFs), for each category/perspective. Then, evaluate and analyze your organization’s

performance in relation to these critical success factors. (To help you with this part, review the material

found on pages 14-17 and 24-17 to 24-19 of the textbook.) Do not simply cut and paste a BSC

collected from an online source. Create your own BSC.

Additional readings/references to use for this project:

GB519: Measurement and Decision Making | Unit 4

Use an Advanced Search in the Purdue Global Library to access the following:

Balaji, M., Dinesh. S. N., & Parthiban. V. V. (2018). Applying balanced scorecards to supply chain

performance: More enterprises in developing countries should adopt Kaplan and Norton

innovation. ISE: Industrial & Systems Engineering at Work, 50(11), 42.

Eaton, D., & Kilby, G. (2015). Does your organizational culture support your business strategy? Journal for

Quality & Participation, 37(4), 4.

6. Discuss corporate sustainability and responsibility.

a) Identify the concepts of corporate sustainability.

b) Identify the topics related to corporate responsibility.

c) Discuss how your organization implements the concepts of corporate sustainability and

responsibility.

d) Discuss how your organization could further benefit from additional attention to sustainability

and responsibility.

7. Analyze potential biases in the organization’s decision-making processes.

a) Evaluate the role of heuristics in managerial decision-making within your organization.

b) Evaluate how heuristics may bias your organization’s management decision-making.

8. Finally, end with a summary review. (A formal “Conclusion” heading and section is required.) Use

subheadings to discuss key strengths and weaknesses of the organization and describe

recommendations to be made to the current organizational strategy.

Part 2 of the project should have a minimum of 8 and a maximum of 10 double-spaced pages of analysis. The

assignment will be evaluated for content, analysis, critical thinking, grammar, spelling, punctuation, and

formatting. So, be sure to proofread and then proofread again! Be certain that you do a “Spelling and

Grammar” check on your project paper before it is submitted to the Dropbox.

Include the appropriate headings and subheadings for every section of the project. A good strategy will be to

use the assignment rubric as a basic outline for headings and subheadings.

The 8- to 10-page minimum/maximum does not include the required title, abstract, and reference list pages. Do

not use enlarged type, extra line spaces, extra points at the end of a line, oversized graphs and charts, or

unusual margins to artificially inflate the page length — the score will be significantly reduced if the proper APA

formatting for these elements is not applied.

Do not use wordy phrases. Do use economy of expression. Use concise and precise language that avoids

slang or colloquial expressions. For example, instead of using “on the other hand,” simply use “alternatively.”

Your project must be presented in accordance with the guidance found in the APA Publication Manual, 6th

edition. The Writing Lab is a tremendous resource, so please take full advantage of the great help available

there. You may access the Writing Lab by going to your My Studies tab located at the campus home page.

Then, access the Academic Success Center link. The writing resources will be located there for your access.

One very important suggestion will be to use the Writing Center’s paper review service. You do not have to

wait until your paper is fully completed to ask for a review. One thing to note, though — the Writing Lab will not

GB519: Measurement and Decision Making | Unit 4

be able to provide any feedback related to the specifics of the assignment content. However, they will be able

to provide sample guidance about spelling, grammar, formatting, punctuation, and all elements of a formal

written analysis.

Remember, this assignment will be processed using the Turnitin software to determine the level of original

content in the assignment. Please review the Syllabus and the University Academic Policy regarding

plagiarism. Excessive similarity to existing works will result in varying consequences, depending on the nature

of the similarity.

You must name your assignment using this format: LastName_FirstName_Unit#_AssignmentName. For

example: Smith_Joan_Unit4_CasePart2.

The Unit 4 Case Paper Assignment must be submitted no later than the end of Unit 5 for consideration.

Assignments submitted late will be subject to a 10% late penalty. Assignments submitted after the end of Unit

5 will not be accepted for credit.

The Unit 4 Case Study/Course Project Assignment Rubric has been provided here and in Course Resources.

Rubrics are an integral part of all assignment instructions. Please review the rubric document for a complete

understanding of how your assignments will be assessed. Doing so will help you successfully complete your

assignments.

Looking ahead: You may submit the case study Part 3 PowerPoint presentation only after the case study Part

2 feedback file has been returned to you.

Submit your completed assignment to the Unit 4 Assignment Dropbox. Assignments are due Tuesday 11:59

p.m. ET of their assigned unit.

GB519: Case Study Part 2

Note: Use the major, numbered bold headings below as Level 1 headings in your paper, and use shortened versions of the segments in the sections as Level 2 subheadings in your paper. Note: Review all comments in the margins and body of the manuscript feedback returned to your dropbox.

Points Possible

Points Earned

Introduction to Organization

Organization brief history 1

Clearly identified type and products manufactured 1

Customer base/niche 1

Other introductory comments as appropriate 1

Significant Costs

Identified major costs 2

GB519: Measurement and Decision Making | Unit 4

Environmental concerns 2

Cost behavior 2

Prevention and appraisal (detection) costs 2

Internal and external failure costs 2

Cost-Volume-Profit Analysis

Basic calculations — CM, DOL, other 2

Discuss how CVP analysis affects management decision-making and how it benefits a

company.

2

Budgeting Considerations

Discuss the organization’s budget process. 2

Include discussion of organization’s budget variances. 2

Discuss management decisions related to budgeting. 2

Balanced Score Card

Include all 4 categories. 1

2 or 3 SO/CSFs each category 1

Appropriately formatted 2

Discuss each SO/CSF. 2

Corporate Sustainability and Responsibility

Identify the concepts of corporate sustainability. 1

Identify the topics related to corporate responsibility. 1

Discuss how your organization implements the concepts of corporate sustainability and

responsibility.

1

Discuss how your organization could further benefit from additional attention to

sustainability and responsibility.

1

Decision Making and Biases

Evaluate the role of heuristics in managerial decision-making within your organization.

(For example, consider the old saying, “But we’ve never done it that way before.”)

5

GB519: Measurement and Decision Making | Unit 4

Evaluate how heuristics may bias your organization’s management decision-making

related to the identification of significant costs, use of CVP analysis, the BSC, and

corporate sustainability/responsibility.

5

Conclusion

Strengths/weaknesses 2

Recommendations 2

Coherent summary and conclusion information 2

Subtotal: Content Section 50

Analysis/Critical Thinking:

• Is the organization in the Approved List of 30 for the assignment?

• Does the paper incorporate economy of expression?

• Is concise/precise language used?

• Does the analysis incorporate critical thinking?

Elements of Critical Thinking:

• Identification of premises and conclusions

• Clarification of arguments

• Establishment of facts

• Evaluation of logic

• Final evaluation

20 Total

points

available

for this

section of

the rubric

APA Format/Grammar/Spelling/Punctuation:

Important factors:

• Title page/running head/abstract

• Proper APA margins

• Reference list (in proper format)

• Spelling/grammar

• Headings and subheadings used based on the rubric titles?

• Is analysis fully cited using independent sources?

• Are project page length requirements met using proper paragraphs, fonts,

margins, etc.?

• Is correct filename used for the document?

30 total

points

available

for this

section of

the rubric

Subtotal Score 100

Late penalty or other deductions

Total Points 100

GB519: Measurement and Decision Making | Unit 4

GB519 Case Project: List of Manufacturing Companies for Analysis

1) Select a company that interests you from the 30 listed below.

2) Go to Yahoo! Finance and select the stock ticker symbol and gather information.

3) Go to the company’s corporate website and select the "Investor Relations" or "Financial Statement"

link.

4) Go to the Purdue Global Library and search for any articles about your company that may be available.

5) Conduct other web-based research about your company.

Co. # Co. Name Stock Symbol

Company Sector / Industry

1 ADTRAN, Inc. ADTN Technology — Communications Equipment

2 Art's Way Manufacturing ARTW Industrials — Farm & Construction Eqpt

3 ATRION Corp. ATRI Health Care — Medical Instruments & Supplies

4 AZZ Inc. AZZ Industrials — Diversified Industrials

5 Boston Beer Co. SAM Consumer — Beverages/Brewers

6 Calloway Golf ELY Consumer — Leisure

7 Corning (Pyrex) Cookware GLW Technology — Electronic

8 Future Fuel Corp. FF Basic Materials — Chemicals

9 Harley-Davidson HOG Consumer — Recreation Vehicles

10 HEICO Corp. HEI Industrials — Aerospace/Defense

11 II VI Inc. IIVI Technology — Scientific & Tech Instruments

12 IPG Photonics IPGP Technology — Semiconductors

13 iRobot Co. IRBT Technology — Consumer Electronics

14 La-Z-Boy LZB Consumer — Home Furnishings & Fixtures

15 LSB Industries LXU Basic Materials — Chemicals

16 National Beverage Corp. FIZZ Consumer — Beverages/Soft Drinks

17 Nautilus, Inc NLS Consumer Cyclical - Leisure

18 Performance Line Products PLPC Technology — Electronic Components

19 Quaker Chemical KWR Basic Materials — Specialty Chemicals

20 Raven Industries RAVN Industrials — Diversified Industrials

21 Scotts Miracle-Gro SMG Basic Materials — Agricultural Inputs

22 Semtech Corp. SMTC Technology — Semiconductors

23 Sirona Dental Systems SIRO Health Care — Medical Instruments & Supplies

24 Solar-Winds, Inc. SWI Technology — Software/Infrastructure

25 Sturm-Ruger RGR Industrials — Aerospace/Defense

26 Tootsie Roll Industries, Inc. TR Consumer — Confectioners

27 Thor Manufacturing THO Consumer — Recreation Vehicles

28 Synthorx Inc. THOR Health Care — Biotech

29 UFP Technologies UFPT Consumer — Packaging & Containers

30 Vera Bradley, Inc. VRA Consumer — Footwear & Accessories