Final PaperFinal Paper SynopsisThe purpose of this paper .docx

Final Paper
Final Paper Synopsis:
The purpose of this paper will be to simulate a professional
analysis of a segment of technology that will contribute to the
success of your fictional company. Each student will use the
same company. You will choose one of five technologies on
which to focus. The complete guidelines are below beginning
with the scenario.
Scenario
Overview
JK Incorporated is a 50-year-old retail and distribution grocery
company that owns and operates 3,000 stores under different
banners across the United States. The mix of products includes
products purchased from other manufacturers as well as product
that JK manufactures itself. This results in national brands and
private labels sold side by side. JK has stores, warehouses,
manufacturing facilities, and its own distribution fleet of trucks.
JK has enjoyed many years of success using methods that are
now considered out of date and is now no longer leading in the
industry. Technically progressive companies have entered the
grocery industry and are threatening to disrupt JK and put it out
of business entirely. JK has many areas that are in need of
analysis to identify the positive impact that newer technology
may have on its business.
You have been assigned to choose one of the 4 “current state”
issues below and articulate the benefits of using the new

technology.
Current State Issues
1. JK is using multiple regional data centers with older and less
reliable hardware to deliver technical capabilities like point of
sale, distribution logistics, loyalty programs, etc. Each of
these data centers has high overhead with regard to management
(labor), administration (skills), facilities (buildings,
environmentals, security, network, and energy). This issue may
be a candidate for the analysis of cloud computing.
2. JK has many distribution centers and trucks. These
distribution centers do not integrate with the store systems for
the timely tracking of deliveries. The current systems do not
allow the store managers to answer simple questions like
“where’s my truck” or “where’s my order”. JK also has a
limited home delivery or “buy online and pick up in store
capability. In essence, the distribution channel stops at the
store rather than at the customers home as opposed to up and
coming rivals. This issue may be a candidate for an overhaul of
the enterprise Warehouse Management System and supply chain
optimization.
3. JK has limited knowledge of it’s customers. The company
relies primarily on random coupons based on products that need
to be moved quickly. The marketing and promotion campaigns
rely heavily on newspaper advertisements that promote based on
time of year, holidays, or weekly bargains that represent
overstock or third party promotions that they pass on to
customers. There is a limited mobile and web experience with
regard to meal planning, shopping list, personal preferences,
allergies, or other localization items. This issue may be a
candidate for artificial intelligence.
4. JK has several manufacturing facilities for their private label
items. It private labels most food items which includes personal
goods, bakeries, canneries, dairies, and produce selection. In
each there is equipment that must be operated, monitored, and

maintained. The current process is to keep physical logs of
items manufactured (example: loaves of bread), maintain
equipment performance logs, and capture maintenance and
safety logs. These are all done on paper and transferred to
spreadsheets online. This results in a minimum effort and there
is a good deal of time and energy used to deal with
underperformance, failure, and downtime. This issue may be a
candidate for the Internet of Things.
This final paper should be 2000 to 2500 words (7-8 double
spaced pages). It should follow this exact format.
1. There is to be an opening section where the student will
describe the industry chosen. This opening section will give a
brief overview of the industry and its challenges. The use of
Porters Five Forces is encouraged but this is not a five forces
paper so an inordinate amount of time spent on that will take
away from the topic. (no more than two pages for this
section). Retail will be discussed in week four.
1. The second section should be the review of one or two
innovative technology subjects and how the chosen industry
issue for JK applies. The student will show a grasp of the course
material by choosing the following:
1. Well-aligned technologies. (discussed throughout the course)
2. Innovation “types” and “skills” For each innovation

discussed the paper must discuss the innovation and the skills
used in developing out the innovation in this section. The
important factor for this section is the "reasoning".
For example, if the paper says, "artificial intelligence is a
disruptive innovation that JK can use to gain more information
about the customer and the skills involved are research and
observation" then it is incomplete if the paper does not state
why. Why is it disruptive and why are research skills
important? (discussed in weeks one and two)
1. The final section will be a summary of recommendations for
JK pursuant to the innovations discussed.
1. Incorporate design methods into the
recommendation. (discussed in weeks three and four)
This an APA governed paper that must adhere to the APA
guidelines for grammar, spelling, formatting, and references.
Graphics are not required for this assignment but the inclusion
of graphics is accepted. Graphics do not count against word
count.
. Incorporate the Biblical foundation and verses that provides
guidance for this analysis.
Analysis example: report should consist of the following:
1) (2-3 pages) Description of JK’s industry (retail),
the current state of competition, and highlight four emerging
technologies that are impacting the industry.
2) (1-2 pages) A review of the selected problem using
referenced industry examples.
3) (1 -2 pages) Discussion of the technology
alternatives that may help JK.

4) (1 page) Recommendation
Important Notes
· You must upload your report to Moodle prior to the due date.
· Your analysis must include page references. Your paper must
also contain appropriate quotation marks and/or references for
cited material taken from the financials in APA 6th edition
format.
· The grading rubric will be found in Moodle for this and all
other assignments.
Grading criteria
Final Paper Synopsis:
The purpose of this paper will be to simulate a professional
analysis of a segment of technology that will contribute to the
success of your fictional company. Each student will use the
same company. You will choose one of five technologies on
which to focus. The complete guidelines are below beginning
with the scenario.
Scenario
Overview
JK Incorporated is a 50-year-old retail and distribution grocery
company that owns and operates 3,000 stores under different
banners across the United States. The mix of products includes
products purchased from other manufacturers as well as product
that JK manufactures itself. This results in national brands and
private labels sold side by side. JK has stores, warehouses,

manufacturing facilities, and its own distribution fleet of trucks.
JK has enjoyed many years of success using methods that are
now considered out of date and is now no longer leading in the
industry. Technically progressive companies have entered the
grocery industry and are threatening to disrupt JK and put it out
of business entirely. JK has many areas that are in need of
analysis to identify the positive impact that newer technology
may have on its business.
You have been assigned to choose one of the 4 “current state”
issues below and articulate the benefits of using the new
technology.
Current State Issues
1. JK is using multiple regional data centers with older and less
reliable hardware to deliver technical capabilities like point of
sale, distribution logistics, loyalty programs, etc. Each of
these data centers has high overhead with regard to management
(labor), administration (skills), facilities (buildings,
environmentals, security, network, and energy). This issue may
be a candidate for the analysis of cloud computing.
2. JK has many distribution centers and trucks. These
distribution centers do not integrate with the store systems for
the timely tracking of deliveries. The current systems do not
allow the store managers to answer simple questions like
“where’s my truck” or “where’s my order”. JK also has a
limited home delivery or “buy online and pick up in store
capability. In essence, the distribution channel stops at the
store rather than at the customers home as opposed to up and
coming rivals. This issue may be a candidate for an overhaul of
the enterprise Warehouse Management System and supply chain
optimization.
3. JK has limited knowledge of it’s customers. The company
relies primarily on random coupons based on products that need

to be moved quickly. The marketing and promotion campaigns
rely heavily on newspaper advertisements that promote based on
time of year, holidays, or weekly bargains that represent
overstock or third party promotions that they pass on to
customers. There is a limited mobile and web experience with
regard to meal planning, shopping list, personal preferences,
allergies, or other localization items. This issue may be a
candidate for artificial intelligence.
4. JK has several manufacturing facilities for their private label
items. It private labels most food items which includes personal
goods, bakeries, canneries, dairies, and produce selection. In
each there is equipment that must be operated, monitored, and
maintained. The current process is to keep physical logs of
items manufactured (example: loaves of bread), maintain
equipment performance logs, and capture maintenance and
safety logs. These are all done on paper and transferred to
spreadsheets online. This results in a minimum effort and there
is a good deal of time and energy used to deal with
underperformance, failure, and downtime. This issue may be a
candidate for the Internet of Things.
This final paper should be 2000 to 2500 words (7-8 double
spaced pages). It should follow this exact format.
1. There is to be an opening section where the student will
describe the industry chosen. This opening section will give a
brief overview of the industry and its challenges. The use of

Porters Five Forces is encouraged but this is not a five forces
paper so an inordinate amount of time spent on that will take
away from the topic. (no more than two pages for this
section). Retail will be discussed in week four.
1. The second section should be the review of one or two
innovative technology subjects and how the chosen industry
issue for JK applies. The student will show a grasp of the course
material by choosing the following:
1. Well-aligned technologies. (discussed throughout the course)
2. Innovation “types” and “skills” For each innovation
discussed the paper must discuss the innovation and the skills
used in developing out the innovation in this section. The
important factor for this section is the "reasoning".
For example, if the paper says, "artificial intelligence is a
disruptive innovation that JK can use to gain more information
about the customer and the skills involved are research and
observation" then it is incomplete if the paper does not state
why. Why is it disruptive and why are research skills
important? (discussed in weeks one and two)
1. The final section will be a summary of recommendations for
JK pursuant to the innovations discussed.
1. Incorporate design methods into the
recommendation. (discussed in weeks three and four)
This an APA governed paper that must adhere to the APA
guidelines for grammar, spelling, formatting, and references.
Graphics are not required for this assignment but the inclusion
of graphics is accepted. Graphics do not count against word
count.
. Incorporate the Biblical foundation and verses that provides

guidance for this analysis.
Analysis example: report should consist of the following:
1) (2-3 pages) Description of JK’s industry (retail),
the current state of competition, and highlight four emerging
technologies that are impacting the industry.
2) (1-2 pages) A review of the selected problem using
referenced industry examples.
3) (1 -2 pages) Discussion of the technology
alternatives that may help JK.
4) (1 page) Recommendation
Important Notes
· You must upload your report to Moodle prior to the due date.
· Your analysis must include page references. Your paper must
also contain appropriate quotation marks and/or references for
cited material taken from the financials in APA 6thedition
format.
· The grading rubric will be found in Moodle for this and all
other assignments.
Retail Industry Overview
Novice - No overview
0points
Competent - Competitive outlook but no highlighted emerging
technologies
10points
Proficient - Competitive outlook and highlighted emerging
technologies
13points

Problem Review
Novice - No problem reviewed
0points
Competent - Problem reviewed but no industry examples
10points
Proficient - Problem review and industry examples both
included.
13points
Technology Alternatives Discussion
Novice - No alternatives discussed
0points
Competent - 2 or fewer alternatives discussed.
10points
Proficient - More than two alternatives discussed.
13points
APA Formatting
Novice - Non APA formatted.
0points
Proficient - APA formatted with title and references
5points
Grammar
Novice - 10 or more grammar errors.
0points
Competent - 4-9 grammar errors
2points
Proficient - Less than 4 grammar errors.
6points
Chapter 4
Activity-Based Costing, Lean Operations, and the Costs of

Quality
Part I- Introduction
1. What two business conditions led to the need for better
product cost information?
2. What makes a refined cost allocation system different from a
traditional one?
3. In addition to providing more accurate costs, how can refined
costing systems help management?
Part II- Why and how do companies refine their cost allocation
systems? (LO 1 and LO 2)
4. As demonstrated by the roommate example, what is often the
problem with simple allocation systems?
5. What is cost distortion and what causes it?
6. When a company uses a plantwide overhead rate, which jobs
get allocated MOH using the plantwide rate?
7. What two conditions often lead to cost distortion if a
plantwide rate is used?
i.
ii.

8. Why does Condition 1 exist for the company example in the
text?
9. Why does Condition 2 exist for the company example in the
text?
10. One way to fine-tune a cost allocation system is by using
_________________________
_______________________________rather than a single
plantwide rate. How many of these rates are
established?___________________________________________
______
11. The first step is to estimate the total ___________________
associated with _________ ________________________.
What are these costs often referred to as? ___________
______________________________________.
12. What does a company do if some of the MOH costs, such as
property taxes, relate to the entire plant rather than specific
departments?
13. The second step is to select an
_____________________________ for each _________ and
estimate ___________________________________that will be
used during the year.
14. What should be used as the allocation
base?____________________. Give examples for a heavily
automated machining department (example:
___________________________) and an assembly department:
(example:______________________________).

15. Are the allocation bases always the same for each
department? YES or NO
16. Step 3 uses the information from Steps 1 and 2 to calculate
a _____________________ ______________________________
for each department.
17. When are the first three steps performed?
____________________________ What data is
used?________________________________________________
____________.
18. The fourth step is to
_______________________________________________from
____________________________________to
_______________________________ that
______________________________________________ using
the following procedure:
19. Allocating MOH using departmental overhead rates rather
than a plantwide rate, results in a more accurate allocation of
MOH to individual jobs because….
20. Are departments always based on production processes?
Explain the implications for the accounting system.
21. When a company uses ABC to refine its costing system,
_________________ become the building blocks for allocating
indirect costs. ABC causes the least amount of cost distortion

because it allocates indirect costs based on
i.
ii.
22. How does the four-step process differ when ABC is used?
23. What are the costs in Step 1 often referred to
as?________________________________
24. List some examples of typical activities in a manufacturing
plant.
25. When choosing allocation bases for each activity, the
company should think about the following two things:
i.
ii.
26. When are the first three steps performed?
27. How is the fourth step performed?
28. Which of the 3 methods (plantwide vs. departmental vs.
ABC) is generally thought to be the most accurate? (circle)
29. When we look at all of the jobs produced throughout the
year, we know that if some have been overcosted, than others
have been __________________. Briefly explain why this is
the case:

30. At yearend, in total, will MOH still be overallocated or
underallocated?__________ Why? What needs to be done?
31. Why are refined costing systems almost a necessity for
companies that wish to be more sustainable? Give a few
examples of environmental MOH costs that may not be shared
equally among all products:
32. How does the cost hierarchy help managers?
33. Activities and costs incurred for every unit are
called___________________________.
34. _____________________________________ are activities
and costs incurred for every _____________ regardless of the
number of units in the _______________.
35. ______________________________________are activities
and costs incurred for every ___________________regardless
of the number of units or batches.
36. ______________________________________are activities
and costs incurred for the company or plant as a whole,
regardless of the number of units, batches or products. Rather
than dividing these costs among the different activity cost
pools, what is sometimes done with these costs?

37. When a manufacturer uses departmental rates or ABC, do
the journal entries differ in any way from those that are used
when a single plantwide rate is used for MOH allocation?
Explain.
Part III- How do managers use the refined cost information to
improve operations? (LO3)
38. How does ABC information help with pricing and product
mix decisions?
39. How does ABC information help managers cut costs?
40. _____________________________________ are activities
that basically waste money rather than improve the product or
service offered by the company, whereas customers are willing
to pay for the ____________________________that take place.
41. What’s a good way to determine if an activity is a wasteful
activity or one that adds value?
42. How can companies use ABC in addition to using it to
allocate MOH?
43. When merchandising and service companies use ABC, they
use it to allocate ____________________________________.

44. How did the City of Indianapolis use ABC?
45. List two situations in which the benefits of adopting
ABC/ABM are higher:
46. List two signs that would lead you to believe the company’s
product costing system probably needs to be refined.
Part IV- What is lean thinking? (LO 4)
47. What is the general idea behind lean thinking?
48. What are two of the main benefits of successfully applying
lean thinking?
49. What are the 8 wastes? Use the DOWNTIME acronym to
briefly describe why each one is wasteful.
D=
O=
W=

N=
T=
I=
M=
E=
50. List 3 reasons inventory is considered wasteful:
51. What is JIT and what waste does it focus on eliminating?
52. What does value stream mapping illustrate?
53. Describe how self-contained work cells differ from a
traditional plant layout.
54. List three ways employees are more empowered and/or
motivated at companies that embrace lean thinking:

55. What is the essence of 5s? What do the 5 S’s stand for?
56. What does careful monitoring of takt time help companies
do?
57. How does a pull system differ from a traditional push
system?
58. List a few tactics used by manufacturers that make a pull
system feasible.
59. Why are small batch sizes critical?
60. How do shorter set-up times aid the company?
61. How does POUS differ from raw material storage at
traditional plants?

62. Describe how “quality at source,” works. What does
“quality at source” help to prevent?
63. Briefly describe the goal of Six Sigma and the goal of Poka-
yoke.
64. Why is attention to supply chain management crucial?
65. What is the goal of backflush costing?
66. Are there any risks associated with lean operations?
67. What types of companies use lean thinking?
68. How does “lean and green” thinking differ from “lean
thinking”?

Part V- How do managers improve quality? (LO 5)
69. What is TQM?
70. List, briefly describe, and give an example of each of the
four costs of quality:
1.
2.
3.
4.
71. Conformance costs include
___________________________________ and
________________________________ while non-conformance
costs include ___________________________________ and
________________________.
72. Companies are generally better off to spend more on

_____________________ costs, especially in the
______________ and ________________ functions of the value
chain in order to reduce the other costs of quality.
73. What types of companies incur the four costs of quality?
74. What kind of information do costs of quality reports usually
include?
75. Before embarking on a quality initiative, the company will
prepare a _______________ analysis to determine if the
initiative makes financial sense.
76. What cost should be included in the “external failure”
category even though it is more of a subjective estimate?

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