Every Number Tells a Story
Understanding how the three basic financial reports (Income Statement, Balance Sheet, and Cash Flow Statement) correspond to an overall measurement strategy is going to be critical to your future success as a business manager. Berman and Knight (2006) call it Financial Intelligence and tell us that you need to look at the business financial results within a big picture framework and include factors such as competition, regulations, the economy and changing customer needs.
For this Discussion topic, you will select an organization in which you have an interest; for example, you may be interested in learning more about your chosen organization’s financial statements for research or investment purposes. Or, your reason for choosing your organization can simply be due to the ready access to data.
Review the financial picture and the current company success/trouble in the marketplace. You may include the financial statements as an attachment, but the main focus of this discussion response is to present a picture of the company and talk about success using the numbers as a base. Include the following data points in your response as a base and include additional information as you deem important to the response:
Main Response
· Company Name and relevant information.
· How did the numbers provide information to you as a base about areas of success, opportunities for improvement?
· What other factors did you research (i.e. recent relevant events, for example a merger or an expansion) to increase your understanding of the numbers.
· Is this company operating under the principles of Conscious Capitalism?
· If you were to be called in as a consultant to the company leadership, what recommendations would you have to increase company success using the numbers as a base?
Response to Peers
· Select at least one peer response and conduct additional research to add depth to the information that is posted. Include insights that you have gained from reading the peer post and from the additional research you completed.
Reference
· Berman, Karen & Knight, Joe & Case, John. (© 2006). Financial intelligence: a manager’s guide to knowing what the numbers really mean. [Books24x7 version] Available from http://common.books24x7.com.lib.kaplan.edu/toc.aspx?bookid=12896.
Using your readings, the Marketplace Microsimulation – Fundamentals of Accounting, the information from prior courses, including, GB518: Financial Accounting Principles and Analysis, GB519: Measurement and Decision Making, and GB550: Financial Management and personal experience will be helpful to you in this Discussion topic response.
School of Business
Graduate Discussion Board Participation Rubric
The Discussion Board Requirement:
● Students are to post a minimum of three times per Discussion topic. One initial response
and two replies to their classmates.
● Posting on a minimum of 3 different days (e.g., Wednesday, Friday, and Monday).
● The first response to the Discussion topic must be made by Saturday, 11:59 p.m.
ET.
Quality (40%) of your post will be measured on the following criteria:
● All assigned Discussion topics were answered completely
● Posts were on topic and unique in content
● All posts demonstrated knowledge of the topic with adequate
rationale and support provided
Score
No quality criteria
were met.
(0 points)
One criterion was
met.
(8 points)
Two criteria were
met.
(24 points)
Criteria were fully
met.
(40 points)
____
pts.
Participation Guidelines (30%) will be measured on the following criteria:
● Initial post no later than Saturday, 11:59 p.m. ET
● Posts made to each Discussion topic on at least 3 different days
● The original post to be no less than 100 words
No participation
criteria met.
(0 points)
One criterion was
met.
(6 points)
Two criteria were
met.
(18 points)
Criteria were fully
met.
(30 points)
____
pts.
Clarity and Organization of Writing (20%) of your post will be measured on
the following criteria:
● Posts were presented in an organized and logical argument
composed of a minimum of two complete paragraphs
● No spelling or grammatical errors
● References were used and cited properly (according to APA)
Criteria were not
met at all.
(0 points)
One criterion was
met.
(4 points)
Two criteria were
met.
(12 points)
Criteria were fully
met.
(20 points)
____
pts.
Professional and Netiquette (10%) in your post will be measured on the
following criteria:
● Respect and consideration toward peers/instructors
● Appropriate language
● Professional use of abbreviations and acronyms spelled out the first
time
●
Criteria were not
met at all.
(0 points)
One criterion was
met.
(2 points)
Two criteria were
met.
(6 points)
Criteria were fully
met.
(10 points)
____
pts.
Total Points in
percentage _____%
Total points x (DQ
post value)
____
pts.