Competency

Describe the process of creating data sets.

Scenario

You are the facility manager for EnVision, a high-tech vehicle maker located in Atlanta. This new company designs, manufactures, and sells electric vehicles and charging units. EnVision’s unique designs, technical prowess, and limited competition has placed them in the enviable position of having a high demand for their line of products. This demand has generated over a billion dollars in pre-sale orders, and facility expansion will be required to meet customer needs. Due to space limitations within the existing plant and surrounding property, the firm’s CEO, Mark Hammel, has asked you to assist him in selecting a new site that will accommodate a new state-of-the-art facility.
The CEO has stated that retention of current employees is paramount which limits your selection to the local area. He also stated that it would be highly desirable to use sustainable energy in the plant’s operations. Resources in the form of additional personnel, raw materials, utilities, and shipping conveyances also need consideration.

Instructions

In a written memo to Mark Hammel, address the following issues in regards to your site research.

• Appraise valid sources of data in regards to sustainable energy (if any), skilled labor, raw materials, utilities, and shipping conveyances in the Atlanta area. You must cite the source(s) of the data you use.
• Discuss the relationships between the sustainable energy, skilled labor, raw materials, utilities, and shipping conveyances for a manufacturing facility in the Atlanta area.
• Evaluate potential gaps or issues with the identified datasets. Share how you plan to go about closing these gaps, including identification of further sources of data or research that might be necessary.
• Using Excel, organize your sources of data into datasets. Include as part of your submission.

Data Files

For this deliverable, please reference the following data files as necessary:

• EnVision Survey
• Atlanta vs US Utilities
• Bureau of Labor Statistics
• 2016 Manufacturing
• 2016 Power generation and Supply
• 2016 Alumina and Aluminum Production
• 2016 Industrial Machinery Manufacturing
• 2016 Rail Transportation
• 2016 Specialized Freight Trucking
• 2016 Employment Services

Present the reasons that could explain an increase or decrease in gross profit margin. In your discussion, explain how a company could have a decreasing gross profit margin but an increasing operating profit margin. Give examples whenever possible to illustrate your point and reference credible sources as appropriate to support your statements.
-Two sources must be used
-300 word minimum

 
Select one type of creditor or investor from the list below:

1. vendor (supplier of goods or products)
2. bank providing short-term financing
3. bank providing long-term loan (10 years or more)
4. bond investor
5. investor in common stock

Discuss at least three specific financial ratios that creditors or investors would be most interested in when analyzing financial statements, and why.

Course Project Deliverable # 3 Assignment
Course Project – LDC Cloud Systems
With a plot centered on a bribery allegation and questionable accounting oversight within the company, LDC Cloud Systems provides the reader a better appreciation of how fraud situations can unfold and then addressed, including the importance of strong board oversight. The case study explores actions of management and the board, along with the timeline of decisions after they uncover potential problems within the company. It also illustrates how complex accounting practices common in today’s fast-changing business environment can make a company susceptible to fraud.
Resources:
https://www.thecaq.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LDC_Cloud_Systems_case_study_2017-10.pdf (Links to an external site.)
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ldc+cloud+systems+case+study (Links to an external site.)
Assignment
SCENE 5: CONVERSATION BETWEEN FILIPPE ARIZMENDI AND ROSS TRELA – PAGE 6
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azNaOPNy8D8&list=PLA3kzgLG3GmVFJWHhhyxcatMwir4glqxR&index=5
 
In this scene, CFO Filippe Arizmendi is expressing concern to General Counsel Ross Trela that the accounting team is working extremely hard to make sure that the accounting department will be able to correctly recognize revenue on the myriad terms and conditions that the sales function is offering to close deals in order to meet growth targets.
Respond to the following questions ensuring you provide examples and concepts from our lessons.
1) Revisit the fraud triangle. How does the cascading effect on other departments that aggressive growth targets can have on the company?
2) How are accounting and legal departments are impacted by the sales function? What could go wrong? Why did the CFO say that the team feels like they’re playing goalie?
3) Comment on how the sales “deals” put pressure on the accounting function, which is tasked with determining how to recognize revenue for these different arrangements.
 
 
SCENE 6: CONVERSATION WITH ROSS TRELA, LATHAM ASPER, AND LESTER DARNAL – PAGE 9 – 10https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inL0mTz4aSU&list=PLA3kzgLG3GmVFJWHhhyxcatMwir4glqxR&index=6
The three men are prepping for the upcoming board meeting where they will discuss the accounting information discovered in the email that has the potential to result in a restatement of prior period financial statements. CEO Shep LeDuc has been asked to sit out this board meeting so that the board can have a candid discussion about the situation at LDC.
Respond to the following questions ensuring you provide examples and concepts from our lessons.
1)What are the key decisions facing the Board of Directors (for example: do they need to restate financial statements from prior periods?)
2) What does “governance” mean when it comes to fraud detection, prevention and investigation? Is LeDuc a good chief executive for LDC? How about CFO Arizmendi? What responsibility does Arizmendi have in these events? Why is the CEO being asked to sit out this board meeting?
3) Should the company delay filing the quarterly financial report until there is a determination about the materiality of the questionable accounting estimates highlighted in the email attachment?

• Be careful. Make sure you avoid plagiarism by using quotation marks and proper citation as required.
• Use APA format for citations and (required) the References page. Remember that the significant portion of your analysis should be in your own words.