Why did you choose these companies?

The latest published financial statements for (Burberry & Prada) should be obtained (You should compare them with the same years). These are the starting point for this assignment and the five year trend for key performance indicators should be analysed. In addition you should source and analyse additional published financial information, and benchmark Burberry against Prada.

You are required to consider the information you have sourced and use financial analysis to answer the following questions (an indication of word count for each section is given for guidance):

1. Would you invest (buy shares) in this company at the current share price? (2000 words)
2. What are the limitations of financial ratio analysis and what specific problems did you face when analysing and benchmarking your chosen company? (500 words)

Your analysis should focus on analysis and interpretation of financial ratios and other financial data.
Your answer must be based on the financial information shown in the financial statements (and any other published financial information you can find for the company). General comments on strategy, marketing, human resources etc will not attract marks in this assignment.

You could follow the plan below as an example:

1. Introduction
• What companies did you choose? (in this case its Burberry)
• What is your comparison company? (in this case its Prada)
• What do these companies do in the market?
• Why did you choose these companies?
• A brief about their sales?
• Locations? Market size? Whom are their customers?
2. Financial Analysis (2011-2015) 5 years
• 5 year comparison between Burberry and Prada, about profitability then discuss the results.
• 5 year comparison about Return On Capital Employed %
• 5 year comparison about Gross Profit Margins
• 5 year comparison about operating margins
• 5 year comparison Liquidity Ratios (Current Ratio)
• 5 year comparison about quick ratio
• 5 year comparison about Inventory Ratio
• 5 year comparison Gearing Ratios (Financial Leverage)
• 5 year comparison Interest Cover
• 5 year comparison Earnings per Share (EPS)
• 5 year comparison Dividends per Share
• 5 year comparison Price Earnings Ratio
EXAMPLE OF THE 5 YEARS COMPARISON:
Company/Year 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Burberry
Prada
(NOTE: MIND THE CURRENCY DIFFERENCES AS ALL RESULTS SHOUL BE IN GBP, AND THE EXCHANGE RATE TO BE USED DEPENDS ON WHAT YEAR YOU’RE ANALYZING, MENTION THE EXCHANGE RATES YOU USED FOR EVERY YEAR)
3. Critical reviews of ratio analysis (in general)
• Limitations
• Historical data
• Business environment
4. Conclusion
• Are you going to buy the shares or not? Why? (Prove with graphs)
• Are you going to buy shares for capital or dividend growth? Why?

If that is the case, do you feel this is well enough explained in the paper?

Hello!You last worked on my dissertation back in September. I finally received my evaluation on my proposal from my committee member. The CM suggested that I go through the entire paper (see attachment) removing all those extra “that” throughout paper…as per the new APA. He marked several (but not all) of them with yellow marker. He suggests you read through slowly you will see what he means. According to CM it is a much better read without the extra “that.” Also he posited a profound thought/question; since this is a quantitative study, meaning counting numbers, are you planning to simply count the number of students who were held back…as well as count the number to see if they are rich or poor? If that is the case, do you feel this is well enough explained in the paper? Please address these concerns, and explain as he indicates. The attachment has comments from CM. Please make the suggested corrections.

Has Smith’s study been replicated elsewhere?

The following 10 pieces of advice are specifically designed for a 2,000 word essay: some of the things that I suggest might be less applicable for different assessment types (e.g., exams, dissertations, group projects) and I will give you exam-writing advice closer to exam period. If you are in any doubt, always ask the module co-ordinator. If you do not understand any aspect of the content below, do not worry because we have 11 weeks to address any issues that you might have – it can take lots of time and practice to master some of the concepts.
1. Answer the question. I have failed well-written and thoroughly researched essays simply because they did not answer the question set. Read the question carefully. What are the key words? It might help to repeat key words from the question throughout the essay, to ensure that you’re staying on track. If you’re unsure, speak to me after lectures and seminars, on the blackboard discussion board or come to see me during my office hours.
2. Presentation. As an examiner, a nicely presented and well-structured essay provides a positive first impression and makes our job easier. For this essay, follow the basic stylistic instructions:
o Typeface: Calibri, Arial or Times New Roman
o Size 12 (headings 14 and bold)
o Either 1.5 or double spaced
3. Structure, subheadings and word allocations. Subheadings are a necessary part of extended written pieces of work. They force you to focus on essay structure and flow and can be helpful if you need to cross-reference parts of the essay. Keep it simple, I do not want to see dozens of subheadings in a 2000 word essay. The following is a guide only (feel free to use a different structure); the important thing is that the three main pieces of advice are allocated similar attention.
o Introduction (200 words). This is a 2,000 word essay (which is not a lot, as you’ll soon realise) and I want you to get into the 3 main discussion points as soon as possible. The introduction should provide a very broad overview of the objective(s) of the essay, and should include a concise definition of key constructs or ideas.
o Advice 1: (550 words). Each of the three pieces of advice should comprise of 3-4 substantial paragraphs, with no paragraph exceeding 200 words. Each paragraph must have a very clear focus, which should be obvious from its first sentence. Paragraphs should logically flow from previous paragraphs without repeating or contradicting previous content.
o Advice 2: (550 words)
o Advice 3: (550 words)
Conclusion (150 words). I do not expect a summary of the essay – I have just read it. What I want to see here is a comment on the relevance of your essay: who might be interested in your arguments? For example, are there any practical implications? If you have been critical of the general body of literature, would you suggest some future research opportunities?
4. Be critical. This is a term that you will hear a lot over the next 12 months and we will talk about it throughout the course so do not worry of you don’t immediately grasp it. You must go beyond describing a piece of research (e.g., “Smith (1996) found that x leads to y”). The next stage – to get into the distinction grade range – is to tell me (the reader) why Smith’s findings should or should not be accepted. For example:
a. Is the fact that Smith’s research is 18 years old an issue? If so, why? Have more recent studies progressed the research community’s understanding of y?
b. Are there flaws or limitations with Smith’s methodology or theory? E.g., is it a biased sample (such as students, rich people or females)? Are the findings generalizable to the wider population (external validity)?
c. Has Smith’s study been replicated elsewhere? Or do other researcher’s agree with her position?
d. Do other researchers disagree with Smith’s theory? Does Smith neglect alternative theories (i..e, counter theories) that might also explain changes in y?
e. Academic phrase bank. The following is an excellent resource that is useful to help you write in a critical manner https://www.phrasebank.manchester.ac.uk/
5. Citing in the essay (also see #6, list of references). This is a really important issue; a failure to provide reference can lead to several issues, the most serious of which is plagiarism.

Or do other researcher’s agree with her position?

The following 10 pieces of advice are specifically designed for a 2,000 word essay: some of the things that I suggest might be less applicable for different assessment types (e.g., exams, dissertations, group projects) and I will give you exam-writing advice closer to exam period. If you are in any doubt, always ask the module co-ordinator. If you do not understand any aspect of the content below, do not worry because we have 11 weeks to address any issues that you might have – it can take lots of time and practice to master some of the concepts.
1. Answer the question. I have failed well-written and thoroughly researched essays simply because they did not answer the question set. Read the question carefully. What are the key words? It might help to repeat key words from the question throughout the essay, to ensure that you’re staying on track. If you’re unsure, speak to me after lectures and seminars, on the blackboard discussion board or come to see me during my office hours.
2. Presentation. As an examiner, a nicely presented and well-structured essay provides a positive first impression and makes our job easier. For this essay, follow the basic stylistic instructions:
o Typeface: Calibri, Arial or Times New Roman
o Size 12 (headings 14 and bold)
o Either 1.5 or double spaced
3. Structure, subheadings and word allocations. Subheadings are a necessary part of extended written pieces of work. They force you to focus on essay structure and flow and can be helpful if you need to cross-reference parts of the essay. Keep it simple, I do not want to see dozens of subheadings in a 2000 word essay. The following is a guide only (feel free to use a different structure); the important thing is that the three main pieces of advice are allocated similar attention.
o Introduction (200 words). This is a 2,000 word essay (which is not a lot, as you’ll soon realise) and I want you to get into the 3 main discussion points as soon as possible. The introduction should provide a very broad overview of the objective(s) of the essay, and should include a concise definition of key constructs or ideas.
o Advice 1: (550 words). Each of the three pieces of advice should comprise of 3-4 substantial paragraphs, with no paragraph exceeding 200 words. Each paragraph must have a very clear focus, which should be obvious from its first sentence. Paragraphs should logically flow from previous paragraphs without repeating or contradicting previous content.
o Advice 2: (550 words)
o Advice 3: (550 words)
Conclusion (150 words). I do not expect a summary of the essay – I have just read it. What I want to see here is a comment on the relevance of your essay: who might be interested in your arguments? For example, are there any practical implications? If you have been critical of the general body of literature, would you suggest some future research opportunities?
4. Be critical. This is a term that you will hear a lot over the next 12 months and we will talk about it throughout the course so do not worry of you don’t immediately grasp it. You must go beyond describing a piece of research (e.g., “Smith (1996) found that x leads to y”). The next stage – to get into the distinction grade range – is to tell me (the reader) why Smith’s findings should or should not be accepted. For example:
a. Is the fact that Smith’s research is 18 years old an issue? If so, why? Have more recent studies progressed the research community’s understanding of y?
b. Are there flaws or limitations with Smith’s methodology or theory? E.g., is it a biased sample (such as students, rich people or females)? Are the findings generalizable to the wider population (external validity)?
c. Has Smith’s study been replicated elsewhere? Or do other researcher’s agree with her position?
d. Do other researchers disagree with Smith’s theory? Does Smith neglect alternative theories (i..e, counter theories) that might also explain changes in y?
e. Academic phrase bank. The following is an excellent resource that is useful to help you write in a critical manner https://www.phrasebank.manchester.ac.uk/
5. Citing in the essay (also see #6, list of references). This is a really important issue; a failure to provide reference can lead to several issues, the most serious of which is plagiarism.

Do other researchers disagree with Smith’s theory?

The following 10 pieces of advice are specifically designed for a 2,000 word essay: some of the things that I suggest might be less applicable for different assessment types (e.g., exams, dissertations, group projects) and I will give you exam-writing advice closer to exam period. If you are in any doubt, always ask the module co-ordinator. If you do not understand any aspect of the content below, do not worry because we have 11 weeks to address any issues that you might have – it can take lots of time and practice to master some of the concepts.
1. Answer the question. I have failed well-written and thoroughly researched essays simply because they did not answer the question set. Read the question carefully. What are the key words? It might help to repeat key words from the question throughout the essay, to ensure that you’re staying on track. If you’re unsure, speak to me after lectures and seminars, on the blackboard discussion board or come to see me during my office hours.
2. Presentation. As an examiner, a nicely presented and well-structured essay provides a positive first impression and makes our job easier. For this essay, follow the basic stylistic instructions:
o Typeface: Calibri, Arial or Times New Roman
o Size 12 (headings 14 and bold)
o Either 1.5 or double spaced
3. Structure, subheadings and word allocations. Subheadings are a necessary part of extended written pieces of work. They force you to focus on essay structure and flow and can be helpful if you need to cross-reference parts of the essay. Keep it simple, I do not want to see dozens of subheadings in a 2000 word essay. The following is a guide only (feel free to use a different structure); the important thing is that the three main pieces of advice are allocated similar attention.
o Introduction (200 words). This is a 2,000 word essay (which is not a lot, as you’ll soon realise) and I want you to get into the 3 main discussion points as soon as possible. The introduction should provide a very broad overview of the objective(s) of the essay, and should include a concise definition of key constructs or ideas.
o Advice 1: (550 words). Each of the three pieces of advice should comprise of 3-4 substantial paragraphs, with no paragraph exceeding 200 words. Each paragraph must have a very clear focus, which should be obvious from its first sentence. Paragraphs should logically flow from previous paragraphs without repeating or contradicting previous content.
o Advice 2: (550 words)
o Advice 3: (550 words)
Conclusion (150 words). I do not expect a summary of the essay – I have just read it. What I want to see here is a comment on the relevance of your essay: who might be interested in your arguments? For example, are there any practical implications? If you have been critical of the general body of literature, would you suggest some future research opportunities?
4. Be critical. This is a term that you will hear a lot over the next 12 months and we will talk about it throughout the course so do not worry of you don’t immediately grasp it. You must go beyond describing a piece of research (e.g., “Smith (1996) found that x leads to y”). The next stage – to get into the distinction grade range – is to tell me (the reader) why Smith’s findings should or should not be accepted. For example:
a. Is the fact that Smith’s research is 18 years old an issue? If so, why? Have more recent studies progressed the research community’s understanding of y?
b. Are there flaws or limitations with Smith’s methodology or theory? E.g., is it a biased sample (such as students, rich people or females)? Are the findings generalizable to the wider population (external validity)?
c. Has Smith’s study been replicated elsewhere? Or do other researcher’s agree with her position?
d. Do other researchers disagree with Smith’s theory? Does Smith neglect alternative theories (i..e, counter theories) that might also explain changes in y?
e. Academic phrase bank. The following is an excellent resource that is useful to help you write in a critical manner https://www.phrasebank.manchester.ac.uk/
5. Citing in the essay (also see #6, list of references). This is a really important issue; a failure to provide reference can lead to several issues, the most serious of which is plagiarism.

Does Smith neglect alternative theories that might also explain changes in y?

The following 10 pieces of advice are specifically designed for a 2,000 word essay: some of the things that I suggest might be less applicable for different assessment types (e.g., exams, dissertations, group projects) and I will give you exam-writing advice closer to exam period. If you are in any doubt, always ask the module co-ordinator. If you do not understand any aspect of the content below, do not worry because we have 11 weeks to address any issues that you might have – it can take lots of time and practice to master some of the concepts.
1. Answer the question. I have failed well-written and thoroughly researched essays simply because they did not answer the question set. Read the question carefully. What are the key words? It might help to repeat key words from the question throughout the essay, to ensure that you’re staying on track. If you’re unsure, speak to me after lectures and seminars, on the blackboard discussion board or come to see me during my office hours.
2. Presentation. As an examiner, a nicely presented and well-structured essay provides a positive first impression and makes our job easier. For this essay, follow the basic stylistic instructions:
o Typeface: Calibri, Arial or Times New Roman
o Size 12 (headings 14 and bold)
o Either 1.5 or double spaced
3. Structure, subheadings and word allocations. Subheadings are a necessary part of extended written pieces of work. They force you to focus on essay structure and flow and can be helpful if you need to cross-reference parts of the essay. Keep it simple, I do not want to see dozens of subheadings in a 2000 word essay. The following is a guide only (feel free to use a different structure); the important thing is that the three main pieces of advice are allocated similar attention.
o Introduction (200 words). This is a 2,000 word essay (which is not a lot, as you’ll soon realise) and I want you to get into the 3 main discussion points as soon as possible. The introduction should provide a very broad overview of the objective(s) of the essay, and should include a concise definition of key constructs or ideas.
o Advice 1: (550 words). Each of the three pieces of advice should comprise of 3-4 substantial paragraphs, with no paragraph exceeding 200 words. Each paragraph must have a very clear focus, which should be obvious from its first sentence. Paragraphs should logically flow from previous paragraphs without repeating or contradicting previous content.
o Advice 2: (550 words)
o Advice 3: (550 words)
Conclusion (150 words). I do not expect a summary of the essay – I have just read it. What I want to see here is a comment on the relevance of your essay: who might be interested in your arguments? For example, are there any practical implications? If you have been critical of the general body of literature, would you suggest some future research opportunities?
4. Be critical. This is a term that you will hear a lot over the next 12 months and we will talk about it throughout the course so do not worry of you don’t immediately grasp it. You must go beyond describing a piece of research (e.g., “Smith (1996) found that x leads to y”). The next stage – to get into the distinction grade range – is to tell me (the reader) why Smith’s findings should or should not be accepted. For example:
a. Is the fact that Smith’s research is 18 years old an issue? If so, why? Have more recent studies progressed the research community’s understanding of y?
b. Are there flaws or limitations with Smith’s methodology or theory? E.g., is it a biased sample (such as students, rich people or females)? Are the findings generalizable to the wider population (external validity)?
c. Has Smith’s study been replicated elsewhere? Or do other researcher’s agree with her position?
d. Do other researchers disagree with Smith’s theory? Does Smith neglect alternative theories that might also explain changes in y?
e. Academic phrase bank. The following is an excellent resource that is useful to help you write in a critical manner https://www.phrasebank.manchester.ac.uk/
5. Citing in the essay (also see #6, list of references). This is a really important issue; a failure to provide reference can lead to several issues, the most serious of which is plagiarism.

Analyze an event or issue from American history since World War II.

 

Write an 8-10 page (double-spaced, 12-point font, 1-inch margins) that uses at least two primary sources to analyze an event or issue from American history since World War II.

Historians rely on primary sources to construct a picture of the past. During the 20th century, the number of primary sources became vast. While historians of the more distant past struggle to piece together the historical record, historians of recent America encounter more sources than they could possibly examine.

Primary sources are sources created at the time of a particular event. (They are thus different from secondary sources, which include books and articles written about an event after the fact. Martin Luther King’s Letter from Birmingham City Jail is a primary source about the Civil Rights movement; Taylor Branch’s book, Parting the Waters, is a secondary source.)

Primary sources include newspaper accounts, magazine articles, news footage, advertisements, movies, television broadcasts, government reports and documents, letters, diaries, literature, paintings, songs, and artifacts. If you are unsure about the difference between primary and secondary sources, you should discuss your sources with me.

Locate at least two sources pertaining to your topic. These sources could be from a newspapers, magazines, letters, diaries, speeches, films, TV broadcasts, court cases, etc. Analyze your sources carefully, and consider the following issues: what can these sources tell us about their era? Who created them? For what audience were they intended? For what purpose?

Write an 8-10 page (double-spaced, 12-point font, 1-inch margins) that uses at least two primary sources to analyze an event or issue from American history since World War II. 

Historians rely on primary sources to construct a picture of the past. During the 20th century, the number of primary sources became vast. While historians of the more distant past struggle to piece together the historical record, historians of recent America encounter more sources than they could possibly examine. 

Primary sources are sources created at the time of a particular event. (They are thus different from secondary sources, which include books and articles written about an event after the fact. Martin Luther King’s Letter from Birmingham City Jail is a primary source about the Civil Rights movement; Taylor Branch’s book, Parting the Waters, is a secondary source.)

Primary sources include newspaper accounts, magazine articles, news footage, advertisements, movies, television broadcasts, government reports and documents, letters, diaries, literature, paintings, songs, and artifacts. If you are unsure about the difference between primary and secondary sources, you should discuss your sources with me. 

Locate at least two sources pertaining to your topic. These sources could be from a newspapers, magazines, letters, diaries, speeches, films, TV broadcasts, court cases, etc. Analyze your sources carefully, and consider the following issues: what can these sources tell us about their era? Who created them? For what audience were they intended? For what purpose? How do these sources add to or alter our understanding of American history? How do they confirm or change what you know about the topic from textbooks or other sources.

Historians depend on serendipity (read: dumb luck) and browsing (read: long, tedious hours of fruitless scrounging) to locate sources. I urge you to peruse the library for sources on your topic, since you never know what you may find. Another way to locate sources is to check the footnotes and bibliographies of books and other secondary sources on your subject. And, of course, I am happy to suggest sources as well. 

Some good journalistic sources include Life, Newsweek, Time, and The New York Times. Many American history websites contain excellent sources for doing recent American history. 

How do they confirm or change what you know about the topic from textbooks or other sources.

Historians depend on serendipity (read: dumb luck) and browsing (read: long, tedious hours of fruitless scrounging) to locate sources. I urge you to peruse the library for sources on your topic, since you never know what you may find. Another way to locate sources is to check the footnotes and bibliographies of books and other secondary sources on your subject. And, of course, I am happy to suggest sources as well.

Some good journalistic sources include Life, Newsweek, Time, and The New York Times. Many American history websites contain excellent sources for doing recent American history.

How do they confirm or change what you know about the topic from textbooks or other sources.

Historians rely on primary sources to construct a picture of the past. During the 20th century, the number of primary sources became vast. While historians of the more distant past struggle to piece together the historical record, historians of recent America encounter more sources than they could possibly examine.

Primary sources are sources created at the time of a particular event. (They are thus different from secondary sources, which include books and articles written about an event after the fact. Martin Luther King’s Letter from Birmingham City Jail is a primary source about the Civil Rights movement; Taylor Branch’s book, Parting the Waters, is a secondary source.)

Primary sources include newspaper accounts, magazine articles, news footage, advertisements, movies, television broadcasts, government reports and documents, letters, diaries, literature, paintings, songs, and artifacts. If you are unsure about the difference between primary and secondary sources, you should discuss your sources with me.

Locate at least two sources pertaining to your topic. These sources could be from a newspapers, magazines, letters, diaries, speeches, films, TV broadcasts, court cases, etc. Analyze your sources carefully, and consider the following issues: what can these sources tell us about their era? Who created them? For what audience were they intended? For what purpose? How do these sources add to or alter our understanding of American history? How do they confirm or change what you know about the topic from textbooks or other sources.

Historians depend on serendipity (read: dumb luck) and browsing (read: long, tedious hours of fruitless scrounging) to locate sources. I urge you to peruse the library for sources on your topic, since you never know what you may find. Another way to locate sources is to check the footnotes and bibliographies of books and other secondary sources on your subject. And, of course, I am happy to suggest sources as well.

Some good journalistic sources include Life, Newsweek, Time, and The New York Times. Many American history websites contain excellent sources for doing recent American history.

Attach your sources to your essay. If your sources are lengthy, you can attach only the key passages.

(this essay will be submited to SafeAssign)

Describe the goals and objectives of the project.

elop a thirty to forty (30-40) page project plan in which you:

Write a five to ten (5-10) page executive summary that provides a high-level technical overview of your project in which you:
Describe the scope of the project and control measures.
Describe the goals and objectives of the project.
Include a high-level overview of all project deliverables.
Give a detailed, realistically estimated cost analysis of the entire project, including human capital.
Relate the value of the project plan solution to the competitive advantage that information technology will afford your organization.
Recommend solution providers who can assist with development and implementation.
Combine all previous documentation for Project Deliverables 1-5 in which you:
Provide all aspects of the information technology implementation into the project plan.
Revise the documentation based on feedback from the earlier evaluation of your deliverable.
Use at least five (5) quality resources in this assignment. Note: Wikipedia and similar Websites do not qualify as quality resources.