Purpose of Assignment

The purpose of this assignment is to evaluate the inventory section of two companies using basic comparative analysis, and to interpret the data to gain insight about the company’s inventory management.

Assignment Steps

Resources: Appendices D and E located in Financial Accounting: Tools for Business Decision Making

Note: While the data are not from the same year, inferences can be drawn regarding inventory management of the two companies.

Write a 1,050-word comparative analysis using the financial statements of Amazon.com, Inc. presented in Appendix D, and the financial statements for Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., presented in Appendix E, including the following:

• Compute the 2015 values for (Team B: Home Depot and Lowes) based on the information in the financial statements:

Show work on Excel^® spreadsheet and submit with analysis.

Utilize two scholarly resources other than the textbook.

Read the following case study.

Ben Davis had just completed an intensive course in Statistical Thinking for Business Improvement, which was offered to all employees of a large health maintenance organization. There was no time to celebrate, however, because he was already under a lot of pressure. Ben works as a pharmacist’s assistant in the HMO’s pharmacy, and his manager, Juan de Pacotilla, was about to be fired. Juan’s dismissal appeared to be imminent due to numerous complaints, and even a few lawsuits over inaccurate prescriptions. Juan now was asking Ben for his assistance in trying to resolve the problem, preferably yesterday!

“Ben, I really need your help! If I can’t show some major improvement or at least a solid plan by next month, I’m history.”
“I’ll be glad to help, Juan, but what can I do? I’m just a pharmacist’s assistant.”
“I don’t care what your job title is; I think you’re just the person who can get this done. I realize I’ve been too far removed from day-to-day operations in the pharmacy, but you work there every day. You’re in a much better position to find out how to fix the problem. Just tell me what to do, and I’ll do it.”
“But what about the statistical consultant you hired to analyze the data on inaccurate prescriptions?”
“Ben, to be honest, I’m really disappointed with that guy. He has spent two weeks trying to come up with a new modeling approach to predict weekly inaccurate prescriptions. I tried to explain to him that I don’t want to predict the mistakes, I want to eliminate them! I don’t think I got through, however, because he said we need a month of additional data to verify the model, and then he can apply a new method he just read about in a journal to identify ‘change points in the time series,’ whatever that means. But get this, he will only identify the change points and send me a list; he says it’s my job to figure out what they mean and how to respond. I don’t know much about statistics — the only thing I remember from my course in college is that it was the worst course I ever took– but I’m becoming convinced that it actually doesn’t have much to offer in solving real problems. You’ve just gone through this statistical thinking course, though, so maybe you can see something I can’t. To me, statistical thinking sounds like an oxymoron. I realize it’s a long shot, but I was hoping you could use this as the project you need to officially complete the course.”

“I see your point, Juan. I felt the same way, too. This course was interesting, though, because it didn’t focus on crunching numbers. I have some ideas about how we can approach making improvements in prescription accuracy, and I think this would be a great project. We may not be able to solve it ourselves, however. As you know, there is a lot of finger-pointing going on; the pharmacists blame sloppy handwriting and incomplete instructions from doctors for the problem; doctors blame pharmacy assistants like me who actually do most of the computer entry of the prescriptions, claiming that we are incompetent; and the assistants tend to blame the pharmacists for assuming too much about our knowledge of medical terminology, brand names, known drug interactions, and so on.”
“It sounds like there’s no hope, Ben!”

“I wouldn’t say that at all, Juan. It’s just that there may be no quick fix we can do by ourselves in the pharmacy. Let me explain how I’m thinking about this and how I would propose attacking the problem using what I just learned in the statistical thinking course.”

Source: G. C. Britz, D. W. Emerling, L. B. Hare, R. W. Hoerl, & J. E. Shade. “How to Teach Others to Apply Statistical Thinking.” Quality Progress (June 1997): 67–80.

Assuming the role of Ben Davis, write a four (4) page paper in which you apply the approach discussed in the textbook to this problem. You’ll have to make some assumptions about the processes used by the HMO pharmacy. Also, please use the Internet and / or Strayer LRC to research articles on common problems or errors that pharmacies face. Your paper should address the following points:

1. Develop a process map about the prescription filling process for HMO’s pharmacy, in which you specify the key problems that the HMO’s pharmacy might be experiencing. Next, use the supplier, input, process steps, output, and customer (SIPOC) model to analyze the HMO pharmacy’s business process.
2. Analyze the process map and SIPOC model to identify possible main root causes of the problems. Next, categorize whether the main root causes of the problem are special causes or common causes. Provide a rationale for your response.
3. Suggest the main tools that you would use and the data that you would collect in order to analyze the business process and correct the problem. Justify your response.
4. Propose one (1) solution to the HMO pharmacy’s on-going problem(s) and propose one (1) strategy to measure the aforementioned solution. Provide a rationale for your response.
5. Use at least three (3) quality references. Note: Wikipedia and other Websites do not qualify as academic resources.

Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:

• Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.
• Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.

The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

• Describe how organizations use statistical thinking to be more competitive.
• Apply the basic principles of statistical thinking to business processes.
• Apply the SIPOC model to identify OFIs in business processes.
• Use technology and information resources to research issues in business process improvement.
• Write clearly and concisely about business process improvement using proper writing mechanics.

Grading for this assignment will be based on answer quality, logic / organization of the paper, and language and writing skills, using the following rubric.

I have written an essay I want to proof read my easy and pay attention to the commas, fractions, grammar and parallelism in the coordinator, check if the dialog is written correctly and edit it

Perfectionism

Like most rich Arabian mothers, mine was consumed by the presentation of her child. It was an ever-present source of anxiety to prove that I was just as well-groomed, successful, and moral as she wants me to be. Unlike my cousins, they would play, hair uncombed, no shoes, traces of chocolate and ice cream they eaten smeared in their faces, completely joyful and oblivious to any possible defects their appearance and future. I, on the other hand, had to be taught and fixed. To be perfect, during childhood and teenage years, my mother used to wake me up two hours before school so she can straighten my hair and teach me for at least four hours after so I can be an honor student. And only then was I perfect. One morning, while my mother straightening my hair, she said,“You deserve the world, one day, you are going to find a man who will give it to you.” Since then, I believed I have to be perfect to get love and marry. Perfect look, perfect hair, perfect job, and perfect attitude these were the center of my life.

Studying Computer Engineering was boring but it requires an extensive college education that most people will think that only successful women can achieve. I fall in love with Abod, a computer engineer at Aramco, one of the largest companies in the world. I had to be perfect all the time that I was with him to love me. Purchasing high-end designer clothes was a monthly habit just to impress Abod each time he sees me. I also used to go to the salon three times a week to do my hair and nails just for him.My hair should be shiny, silky, and long as he loved. On weekdays, I used to wake up two hours before I go to work to put ideal makeup and wear stylish clothes. Wearing fancy clothes all day long was to get his attention and to not be bored from me. Furthermore, my behavior was so conservative in front of Abod, never laughed loudly, never danced with him, never eaten with my hands frightening to make mistakes that might not like.

I spent four years with Abod, marriage was the next step for our relationship. In our fourth anniversary, I saw a small red jewelry box from a Cartier, which most Arab use to buy wedding rings from. I felt as if my heart is racing like it’s going to beat out of my chest. I had to be perfectly groomed for that night, so I went to Dolce and Gabbana, an Italian luxury fashion house, to buy a dress. I also went to one of the best salons in the city for five hours to do my hair, nails, and makeup. I told my family that he will propose tonight, a bride to be. After the dinner, the big moment came, he said “you are perfect” and gave me the red box with the yellow bow which I acted surprised to see and start screaming and jumping “yes..yes”. I opened the box and saw an earring! I told him that I was expecting him to propose which made me thinking now if he will ever propose. Abod said, “I would never propose. I don’t even know you! I know you are beautiful, you are smart, you dress right, you act right. You always know what to say but I do not know you! You never take a chance because you always want to be perfect. Being 24/7 perfection is like being on a four-year first date.” It was a real slap in the face.

Perfectionism made me forget myself, realizing that I do not have to be perfect to be loved was hard. I do not have to be perfect because whoever will love me, will love me the way I am. I am pretty from the inside and outside without getting my makeup and hair done. I also become aware that I do not have to wear like a supermodel when I get out of my house. Quitting the salons and malls gave me more time to myself to read books, more hours to sleep, and more money for charity. It is totally acceptable to make mistakes and to be wrong. And I do not have to be perfect to please others, I now only care about my happiness without concerns about others’ evaluations. Jumping and dancing on the streets becoming a new fun part of my new me.

Thank you