Assignment 1: Article Review

You will need to complete the following article review Assignment. Access the KU Library and search for this specific article.

King, A. (2009). Ghost and zombie assets, Strategic Finance, 90(11), 35-39.

Prepare a 4-page review of this article.

Required Elements of an Article Review

When writing a critical review of an article, you will need to summarize, evaluate, and comment on the information in the article. Research articles are structured to make information easy to find. The research article usually has the following sections: Abstract, Introduction, Method and Results, Analysis and Discussion, and References. Your goal should be to analyze the arguments, and evaluate the article.

Reading the Article

Identify the research question (usually stated in the Abstract and Introduction) and the hypothesis(es) (usually in the Introduction). Next focus on how the findings were interpreted (in the Discussion)

Ask yourself these questions:

• How does the author(s) support the hypothesis?
• Is the argument / evidence convincing?
• What questions remain unanswered, or could the data be interpreted another way?

Requirements for Writing the Article Summary

The article summary must contain the following information. Remember to include a title page and a reference page in APA format. Also, make sure that headers are included for each section noted below:

1. Title Page

2. Introduction: Give the title of the article and identify the purpose of the article. Discuss what the research question is and explain why it is interesting.

3. Research Methods: Briefly describe the research methods and the results/conclusion. Write an analytical summary of the main findings, arguments, or conclusions of the article/study.

4. Strengths and Weaknesses: Discuss the strengths and usefulness of the article/study; the weaknesses, limitations, or problems of the article/study; and finally, what you learned from the article.

5. Conclusion: Finish with how the article expanded/changed current perspectives and comment on the future implications of the research.

6. Reference page

Assignment 2: Case Study Analysis - Transworld Auto Parts (A)

Knowing how to analyze a case will help you attack virtually any business problem. A case study helps you learn by immersing you in a real-world business issues - and makes you a decision-maker. A case presents facts about a particular organization and you must focus on the most important facts and use the information to determine the best (of multiple alternatives) course(s) of action to deal with the problems you identify.

A case study analysis must not just summarize the case. It should identify key issues and problems, and outline and assess alternative courses of action.

In this Assignment, you will assess the controls related to our topic this week at the Transworld Auto Parts.

1. Case: Brem, L., & Narayanan, V. G., (2009, Sept.). Transworld Auto Parts (A). Harvard Business School.

Provide a 4-6 page case study analysis using the following format:

Format: Must include these headers

1. Title page

2. Company and Situation: Describe the Company and Situation

• To begin your case study analysis, discuss the critical incidents that have contributed to the current position of the company. Here you must identify the most important facts surrounding the case .
• Does the problem or challenge facing the company come from a changing environment, new opportunity, a declining market share, or inefficient internal or external business processes?

3. Strengths, Weaknesses, and Alternatives: Identify Strengths and Weaknesses as well as Alternatives

• Examine the value creation functions of the company and specify alternative courses of action.
• List the courses of action the company can take to solve its problem or meet the challenge it faces. What changes to organizational processes would be required by each alternative? What management policy would be required to implement each alternative?

Remember, there is a difference between what an organization "should do" and what that organization actually "can do." Some solutions are too expensive or operationally difficult to implement, and you should avoid solutions that are beyond the organization's resources.

Important: Identify the constraints that will limit the solutions available. Is each alternative executable given these constraints?

1. Implementations: Analyze Implementations

This portion of the case study analysis requires that you identify and analyze the structure and control systems that the company is using to implement its business strategies. Evaluate organizational change, levels of hierarchy, employee rewards, conflicts, and other issues that are important to the company you are analyzing.

1. Recommendations: Make Recommendations

The final part of your case study analysis should include your recommendations for the company. Every recommendation you make should be based on and supported by the context of your case study analysis, i.e., what you have already written.

• References: Reference page
• Access the case study template formatted in APA.

The case analysis should be a minimum of 4 pages, double-spaced. Check for correct spelling, grammar, punctuation, mechanics, and usage. Citations should use APA style.

Your analysis of this case and your written submission should reflect an understanding of the critical issues of the case; integrate the material covered in the text and present concise and well-reasoned justifications for the stance that you take.