You will research the elements and core disciplines of various



You will research the elements and core disciplines of various Lean Enterprise/Operational Excellence initiatives/approaches (for example Lean, Six Sigma, TQM, Theory of Constraints, ISO, Operational Excellence) for both manufacturing and services as it relates to your organization (or one with which you are familiar).

Write a 1,050- to 1,400-word paper in which you address the following points:



Describe briefly at least two core elements of Lean that you personally can use to improve your own organization or one you know.

Compare/contrast at least two operational excellence (Six Sigma, TQM, Theory of Constraints, ISO, etc.) approaches to a Lean Enterprise in the simple matrix given below.

Note: Matrix will need to be included in paper.

Evaluate how your selected organization's (your own or one you have chosen) vision supports Lean. If the organization's vision does not support Lean, re-write it yourself so that it does, and describe how your new version of the vision supports Lean showing old and new forms.

Assess how Lean Enterprises and/or other Operational Excellence initiatives/approaches can help lead an organization to change.



Matrix:

Six Sigma TQM Theory of Constraints ISO

Compared to Lean:

Contrasted to Lean:

Note: Pick at least 2; you can choose others.

Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines.



Use a minimum of 3 different references that are not from the same online text, library book or article.

You have been asked, as a tax advisor, to provide advice to Alfa Plc



You have been asked, as a tax advisor, to provide advice to Alfa Plc and to some of its employees. Alfa Plc is a parent company of a multinational group and is currently tax resident in country X, where the corporate tax rate is 30%. Country X has the same case-law as the UK on corporate tax residence. However, this country does not apply an exemption on foreign intercompany dividends (which are subject to the tax credit method) and it applies a 60% exemption to dividends that Alfa Plc distributes to its shareholders, which are natural persons and are tax resident also in country X. It wishes to move its tax residence to bordering country Y, where the company already has a branch, where some of its employees are tax resident, despite working in country X, and where the corporate tax rate is 20%: further advantages would arise from the transfer as country Y full exempts foreign intercompany dividends and does not apply a withholding tax on dividends distributions by holding companies to final individual shareholders. According to Art. 4(3) of the double tax convention (DTC) between X and Y, the tie-breaker rule for corporate tax residence is

still the “place of effective management” (despite the final report on OECD’s BEPS action 7 recommended contracting States to endeavour to reach “mutual agreement” to determine tax residence under DTCs based on the OECD Model), and, under Art. 9 and 23A of this DTC, branch income is taxable only in the State where the branch is located. The Board of directors of Alfa Plc,

which takes the key strategic decisions concerning the company’s policies, is currently composed of 10 highly qualified professionals, and only two of them reside in country X; two other reside in country Y, two in country Z, two in country K and two in country W. Although the statutes of Alfa Plc indicate a geographical location for the meetings of the Board of directors, the current directors – who, in addition to the directorship of Alfa Plc, carry out self-employed consultancy activities and have directorships also in noncompeting companies – never meet physically, but always communicate via skype, e-mails and videoconferencing, and take all the key strategic managerial decisions in this way. Furthermore, the taking of decisions exclusively via electronic means is recorded in the minutes of the Board of directors meetings. The current directors will remain in office until 2018.

In light of these circumstances, please advise Alfa plc as to whether it could actually manage to move its tax residence to country Y – in terms of “place of effective management” - during the term of office of the current directors, and as to whether the same outcomes, in terms of tax benefits that the company would get from the transfer, could be totally or partially be achieved through an alternative course of action.



Furthermore, advise the employees who are tax resident in country Y – but who carry out their activity in country X - as to whether a transfer of the tax residence of Alfa Plc to country Y would have any consequence as regards the tax treatment of their cross-border employment income.

Evaluate the internal and external environments of your selected company



Write a 1,050-word report in which you select a company you are familiar with or a company where you currently work, and do the following:

Evaluate the internal and external environments of your selected company using an environmental scan.

Analyze the competitive advantage of your selected company.

Evaluate the strategies your selected company uses to create value and gain competitive advantage.

Examine the measurement guidelines your selected company uses to verify its strategic effectiveness.

Evaluate the effectiveness of the measurement guidelines your selected company uses.

Cite 3 scholarly references

Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines.

A+ Answers




1. Your client wants his dining room to be a cozy, dark, night time room where he can entertain just one or two people for casual, intimate dinners. The room won’t be used during the day. The unfurnished room has a low seven foot ceiling, two small windows facing north, and one doorway. It measures

10 feet (2.9 meters) by 12 feet (3.6 meters) with no other distinguishing features. To create the mood your client wants, you’ll need to

A. counteract the conflicting moods in the unfurnished room.

B. emphasize existing qualities of the room since they suit the decorating requirements.

C. put up a false wall to shorten the room.

D. have the ceiling raised if the budget allows.

2. You’re currently redecorating a client’s living room. In the room are two pieces that he wants to keep. One is a favourite chair that would need re-covering to go with the new decor, and the other is a large enameled cabinet whose color is wrong for the new decor. Which

of these would be your best course of action?

A. Try to convince him that both pieces should be disposed of, since it will be easier to decorate without them.

B. Plan to re-cover the chair. Ask if the client will consider repainting the cabinet or putting it in another room.

C. Dispose of the chair and repaint the cabinet.

D. Try to place both pieces in other rooms.
3. Which one of these client factors will generally have the greatest influence on your decorating plan?

A. Age C. Occupation

B. Lifestyle D. Color preference

4. Your client has said that he likes French Provincial furniture. What should you do before continuing to develop a decorating plan in that style for him?

A. Show him examples of French Provincial and other styles to check on whether he knows styles and has expressed what he really wants.

B. Let him know that you could give him a special discount on some Oriental furniture you have left over from another job.

C. Decide whether you think the style is right for him and tell him which style you prefer.

D. Check his color and fabric preferences to see if they allow you to use French Provincial.

5. Because of your client’s job, he must live in a city apartment. He’s increasingly tired of city life, however, and daydreams about living on a peaceful tropical island. He does no business entertaining at his apartment but occasionally brings other visitors there.

Which one of these decorating plans will probably be best for him?

A. Sophisticated city look that reflects his business life

B. Barefoot and serene tropical decor to reflect the lifestyle he wishes he had

C. Plain, nonstylized environment, neither city nor tropical, so that he won’t be reminded of his conflicts

D. Refined traditional look with one or two large tropical accessories

6. Your clients are Mr. and Mrs. Jones. Mrs. Jones has told you that she would like to see her living room done with lots of blues and greens against white walls. The only color she doesn’t care for is pink. Mr. Jones likes tan, gray, and blue. He dislikes all shades of green and any color in strong bold tones. Which of these would be the best color scheme for you to suggest for meeting your clients’ needs?

A. Blue and green and white

B. Pale blue and very pale lime green and white

C. Pale blue, pale green, and tan

D. Pale blue, tan, and white
7. You’re meeting with your new clients, Mr. and Mrs. Godfrey, who want you to decorate their living room. Mr. Godfrey has said that he definitely wants a clean, uncluttered look in his home. Mrs. Godfrey says wistfully that she likes Victorian style, but Mr. Godfrey has always cringed at what he calls that fussy-looking stuff. Which of these would be your best course of action?

A. Develop a clean, uncluttered modern decor to please Mr. Godfrey.

B. Develop a Victorian style room for Mrs. Godfrey.

C. Keep peace by introducing a totally separate decor suggestion that doesn’t include either of their specifications.

D. Show them how it’s possible to combine a Victorian flavor with the uncluttered look Mr. Godfrey likes.

8. Which one of these factors is generally the strongest single element in creating the mood of a room?

A. Furniture style C. Accessories

B. Color D. Its bare-wall structure

9. The most effective approach to redecorating your client’s rooms is to

A. determine the client’s particular needs and meet them.

B. replace the client’s furnishings with the newest styles available.

C. design a decorating scheme based on your own favorite decor elements.

D. educate the client to appreciate and desire the finest period decor.

10. Your client is a petite, pale, blue-eyed, and very soft-spoken woman. Which one of the following color schemes would provide the most flattering environment for her?

A. Strong colors, such as bright red and hot pinks

B. Her favorite pastel colors, such as a delicate pink and subdued, light greens

C. Earth tones, such as reddish browns and rich, dark golds

D. Dark Victorian colo
11. Which of the following factors determines the directional exposure of a room?

A. The direction each window faces

B. The direction the seating faces

C. The direction you face as you enter

D. The direction the doorway faces (outward)
12. If you had to choose only from the following, which of these would be the best lounge chair to select for your client’s room? (Remember the client’s basic needs.)

A. The most comfortable

B. The one that best matches the style of the room, whatever it is

C. The costliest he or she can afford

D. The best-looking chair

13. Your client wants to redecorate his entire home and to have only the finest quality of each item he selects. He has a limited amount to spend, and the job will need to be completed in stages over three years. According to what you read in this study unit, which is probably the best method of budgeting for this particular project?

A. Budget a percentage for furniture, percentage for floor covering, percentage for walls, and so on.

B. Budget a percentage for each room.

C. Budget according to priorities.

D. It’s not possible to establish a budget in this case.

14. Your client has lived in her modest apartment for several years. The bedroom is small and cluttered. A sewing machine and straight chair are placed in front of the room’s only window. She says she sews a lot, usually in the mornings. She has found this room the best place to work because of the morning sun. Which of these is your best approach to this decorating challenge?

A. Explain that the room is too cluttered and the sewing machine will have to be kept in a closet and brought out only for use.

B. In developing a decorating plan, put the sewing machine into an unobtrusive corner in the large living room and disguise it.

C. Refuse the job since there’s little hope of success.

D. Unclutter the bedroom in other ways. Leave the sewing machine where it is.

15. The total cost to decorate your client’s bedroom is over her budget. On which of these items should you make the final cost cuts?

A. Bed C. Lamps

B. Carpeting D. Chest of drawers
16. In measuring and sketching a client’s room, which of these should you always be sure to include?

A. Colors of the walls

B. Planned positions of new furnishings

C. Positions of electrical outlets and permanent fixtures

D. Positions of present furnishings

17. Your client has seen a very costly brass bed that she’s determined to have. It appears to you to be a good item for her room and worth its price. Unfortunately, its cost exceeds the entire amount planned for redecorating her bedroom. The living room is to be redecorated, too. What should you do?

A. See what can be eliminated from the client’s budget to pay for the balance of the

bed. Then reassess the remaining budget for priorities.

B. Convince her to forget about the bed until some future time when she can afford it.

Stick to the original budget.

C. Get the bed for her. Postpone the rest of the bedroom and living room redecorating until she can afford it.

D. Redecorate only the living room at this time. Redecorate the bedroom when she can afford what she wants.

18. An unfinished asymmetrical room

A. is easier than a symmetrical room to complete as an informal room.

B. should only be completed as a formal room.

C. is harder than a symmetrical room to complete as an informal room.

D. should only be completed as an informal room.
19. Assume that you’ve decorated the room in the Examination Figure 1. Your clients required that the room be both a nighttime room and a pleasant daytime retreat on weekends? What one factor most makes the room meet that requirement?

A. The combination of casual and sophisticated furnishings

B. The plain style of the upholstered pieces

C. The combination of light and dark in the upholstery, floor, and wood

D. The window treatment, with draperies ready to be pulled at night
20. What type of window is shown in the kitchen in Examination Figure 2?

A. Arched C. Casement

B. Double-hung D. Sliding;.

A+ Answers




Research Article Critique, Part Two, Version Two
Benefit to Family Members of Delivering Hand Massage with Essential Oils to Critically Ill Patients

(Prichard & Newcomb, 2015)

 Questions 1 - 9: Sample.  (For help with these questions, refer to chapters:  9 & 12)
1.  What sampling method or plan was used by the authors in this study?
            a.   Simple random sampling
            b.   Systematic sampling
            c.   Convenience sampling
            d.   Network sampling
            e.   None of the above

2.  According to Grove, Gray, and Burns (2015), what are the potential biases of this sampling method?
a.   This is a strong probability sampling method with very little potential for bias
b.   This method is used when an ordered list of all members of the population are available, and provides a random but not equal chance for inclusion in the study.
c.   This method provides little opportunity to control for bias because subjects are included in the study merely because they happen to be in the right place at the right time. 
d.   This method is specific to the individuals who were recruited and the information gained cannot be generalized to others who don’t share these types of experiences.
e.   None of the above biases best describe the sampling method chosen by the author.

3.  What was the final sample size for each group as reported by the authors for this study?
            a.  15 participants
            b.  30 participants
            c.   67 participants
            d.   80 participants

4.  Was a power analysis conducted?  If so, which statement best describes the results of the power analysis?
a.   The authors mention that a power analysis was conducted, and state that the low power level of 0.60 for the Cronbach alpha coefficient is a limitation of the study. 
b.   The authors mention that an a priori power analysis was conducted, and 80 subjects were
       determined to be needed for the study.
c.   The authors do not specifically report that a power analysis was conducted.

5.  Which of these statements would be considered to be inclusion criterion for the sample in the research article?  Select all that apply.
            a.   English and Spanish speaking
            b.   Literate
            c.   Participant > than 18 years old and pregnancy 29 or more weeks gestation
            d.   Adult family member of a patient in Trauma ICU
           

6.  Which of these statements would be considered to be exclusion criterion specifically identified by the author for the sample in the research article? (Select all that apply.)
           a.  There were no exclusion criteria for the acquired sample.
            b.  Participant or patient sensitivity to citrus or nuts
c.   Patient injury to both hands or catheters placed in both hands. 
d.  Participant worked on the night shift and / or had previous diagnosis of depression.

7.  What is the refusal rate for this study? (Hint: see page 253 in your text)
            a.   15/30  X 100% = 50%
            b.   30/67 X 100% = 44%
            c.   unknown / cannot be calculated.
            d.   0%

8.  Which of the following would be accurate for the attrition rate for this study?
            a.   15/30  X 100% = 50%
            b.   30/67 X 100% = 44%
            c.   unknown / cannot be calculated.
            d.   0%

9.   What was the setting for this research study?  Briefly describe the setting and indicate whether it was appropriate for conducting this study.
a.   The setting for this study was a partially controlled setting and was appropriate for this study’s research design.
b.   The setting for this study was a natural or field setting and was appropriate for this study’s research design.
c.   The setting for this study was a highly controlled setting and was appropriate for this study’s research design.
d.   The setting for this study was not well described by the authors and therefore not appropriate for conducting this study.

Question 10 - 14: Measurement Methods.  (For help with these questions, refer to chapters 10 & 12.)
10.  Which one of these questionnaires, scales, or physiologic measures is used in this research study?
            a.   The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)
b.  The M Technique
            c.   Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)
            d.   The Quality of Life Scale (QOLS)

11.  How do the authors describe the CURRENT reliability of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)? 
a.   they computed a Cronbach’s alpha on the HADS that were administered to this group of subjects.
            b.   a team of staff nurses was trained by the primary investigator to administer the questionnaire.
c.   they compared the odd and even questions on the test to determine their equivalence.
            d.   they tested the current group of subjects twice using the same questionnaire (test-retest reliability).

12. How do the authors describe the validity of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)?
   a.    The authors question the validity of this tool’s cut off scores as a reflection of the unique experiences of family members of ICU patients.
            b.   evidence of validity from contrasting groups because they gave it staff nurses.
c.   The HADS demonstrates agreement with other self-report measures for anxiety and depression.
d.   The HADS was reviewed by a team of ICU nurses prior to being used in the study for content validity

13.   What types of questionnaires or surveys were used in this research study?  (Select all that apply.)    
               a.   The authors developed the Hospital Anxiety and Stress Scale.
            b.   The authors developed their own questions to ask about demographic information.
c.   Interviews were reportedly used, but the authors do not explain what was included in them.
d.   The authors report adding a few of their own short answer questions at the end of the demographic questionnaire.
            e.  The authors used previously developed questionnaires or surveys to measure the study variables.
f.   This study did not use any questionnaires or surveys.

14.   Were any physiological measurements collected from the subjects for the purpose of this study? 
            a.   Yes
            b.   No

Question 15- 16: Data Collection. (For help with these questions, refer to chapters 10 & 12)

15. Which one of the following best describes the data collection process used in this study?
            a.   questionnaires / surveys were completed via the telephone
b.   questionnaires / surveys were completed at the end of the 7 day assessment when meeting with the research team.
c.    family members were given the questionnaire on enrollment and again on the fourth day of the study.
d.   nurse researchers interviewed the family members of the intervention group to ask them their perceptions of delivering massage.

16.  If there were more than one data collector for the study, would an estimation of inter-rater reliability be an important concept for the authors to report on for this study?
            a.   yes, and the authors reported their efforts to achieve inter-rater reliability.     
b.   yes, but the authors do not discuss any efforts to achieve inter-rater reliability.
c.   no, the issue of inter-rater reliability does not apply here as there seems to be only one data collector.


Question 17 - 19:  Data Analysis. (For help with these questions, refer to chapters 11 & 12)
17.  What descriptive statistics are used in this study?  (Select all that apply. Hint: two answers are correct.)
            a.   mean
            b.   median
            c.   mode
            d.   standard deviation
            e.   z-scores
            f.   percentage distributions

18.  What inferential statistic was used to examine the data obtained from the subjects?  (Select all that apply. Hint: two answers are correct.)
            a.   Pearson Correlation Coefficient
            b.   Factor Analysis
            c.    t-Test
            d.   Chi-Square
            e.   ANCOVA
            f.   ANOVA
            g.   stepwise multiple linear regression analysis
            h.   None of the above inferential statistics were used in this study.

19.  What is the level of significance (alpha) set at for this study? (Hint: Is there an alpha given under the Tables or specifically mentioned in the text of the article?)
            a.   .05 or 5%
            b.   .10 or 90%
            c    .001 or 0.1%
            d.   a level of significance was not specifically mentioned by the author.

Question 20-25: Researcher’s Interpretation of the Findings. (For help with these questions, refer to chapters 11 & 12)

20.  There are several statistically significant findings in this study. Which of these statements from the article would be considered a significant and predicted result?
a.   Many families were unable to visit daily, and the research team observed that males tended to be less interested in the intervention.
b.   Anxiety scores changed with age.  Younger participants were more likely than older participants to experience relief from anxiety (r = -0.36, p < .05).
c.   Participants applied the intervention twice daily for 5 minutes per session for three consecutive days.
d.   The groups did not differ significantly with respect to change in the HADS-D scores (t = -1.69, p = .10)

21.  Which one of these statements from the article would be considered a non-significant result.
a.   Nursing staff in the trauma ICU encouraged participants to provide the usual family care.
b.   Gentle hand massage with essential oils substantially reduced the anxiety level of the family member administering the massage (t = -3.44, p = .002).
c.   Research to discover acceptability of complementary therapies to different groups and to test such interventions with unrelated but available persons would be of interest.
d.   The control and intervention groups did not differ significantly with respect to change in their feelings of depression on the HADS-D at the end of the study (t = -1.69, p = .10)

22.  Which one of these statements from the article would be considered clinically important?
a.   Research to discover acceptability of complementary therapies to different groups and to test such interventions with unrelated but available persons would be of interest.
b.   Many families were unable to visit daily, and the research team observed that males tended to be less interested in the intervention.
c.   This study demonstrated that a brief, inexpensive, family-delivered touch/aroma intervention is feasible in an ICU.
d.   Fifteen persons were assigned to the control group, and 15 persons were assigned to the intervention group.

23.  Which statements implied from the article would be considered a limitation of the study?
a.   A convenience sample of family members of patients in the Trauma ICU with a lack of randomization.
b.   Research to discover acceptability of complementary therapies to different groups and to test such interventions with unrelated but available persons would be of interest
c.   Gentle hand massage with essential oils substantially reduced the anxiety level of the family member administering the massage (t = -3.44, p = .002).
d.   Participants applied the intervention twice daily for 5 minutes per session for three consecutive days.

24.  Which one of these statements would be considered a statement regarding generalization of these results?
a.   The groups did not differ significantly with respect to change in the HADS-D scores (t = -1.69, p = .10).
b.   Gentle hand massage with essential oils substantially reduced the anxiety level of the family member administering the massage (t = -3.44, p = .002).
c.         A convenience sample of family members of patients in the Trauma ICU.
d.   The researchers did not make any specific generalizations to other populations.



25.  Which of these statements from the article would be considered a recommendation for future studies?
a.   Nursing staff in the trauma ICU encouraged participants to provide the usual family care.
b.   A genuine randomized, controlled trial could be informative with a relatively small sample size.
c.   This study demonstrated that a brief, inexpensive, family-delivered touch/aroma intervention is feasible in an ICU.
d.   Anxiety scores changed with age.  Younger participants were more likely than older participants to experience relief from anxiety (r = -0.36, p < .05).

Suppose that new security designs could be patented



Question
Suppose that new security designs could be patented. The patent holder could restrict use of the new design or charge other firm’s royalties for using it. What effect would such patents have upon MM’s capital structure irrelevance theory?

Profiling involves allowing the physical evidence to reveal




Q1.Profiling involves allowing the physical evidence to reveal to an investigator what behaviors occurred, then thinking about what was intended by the commission of those behaviors. It has been proven time and time again that the majority of investigators are chronically unable to overcome their own perspective when faced with one or more disturbing violent crime scenes. How do you feel the investigative community can overcome these negative outcomes?
Q2. Explain the role Locard's Principle plays in criminal profiling.
Q3. Explain in detail how the technology of Geographical Profiling as evolved over the past 20 years and how it is being used successfully today by law enforcement.Q4. Discuss the profile of a Serial Arsonist. Provide an example of a criminal case where arson was used as a precautionary act.