Ahmad Wazir is 34 years old, married with a three-year-old child and another on the way. He lives in a town of about 100,000 people outside Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. After graduating with a BBA in marketing and later with an MBA in Islamic Finance, he joined one of the biggest Takaful operators, Takaful Ehsan (TE) where he built a sizeable business marketing in general and family Takaful products. But with changes in the organization and having no control over client services made him realize that his prospects for growth at TE is limited. With some savings accumulated over the years to carry him through, Wazir left his position as a senior marketing manager to become an independent Takaful advisor. Instead of targeting everyone, Wazir realized that he needed to focus on specific client segments. Hence, he decided to put his limited resources behind the most viable prospects. Many of his clients acquired during his former job had been close families in his town. Several of them had been regulars at the local mosque as well as members of the community and sports club. Wazir is of the view that one of the best approaches to screen the prospects is to conduct a geo-demographic segmentation of his own as part of the targeting and segmenting process. i) What is geo-demographic segmentation and how is it different from psychographic segmentation? ii) In conducting the geo-demographic segmentation, what are among the actions that Wazir may take in order to ensure that the prospects will fit into his target segment? iii) Why do you think that Wazir has chosen this approach?

NB:

1. Questions: 3.1 - 3.3 are related. Make use of the information provided in 3.1 to answer 3.2 & 3.3.

2. Questions: 4.1 - 4.4 are related. Make use of the information provided in 4.1 to answer 4.2, 4.3 & 4.4.

3. Questions: 5.1 - 5.3 are related. Make use of the information provided in 5.1 to answer 5.2 & 5.3.

3.1 An IQ test was given to five MBA students before and after they completed the MBA degree. Test whether there is any improvement (increase) in the IQ of the same students after completing MBA degree. Note: μ1 = population mean IQ before; μ2 = population mean IQ after. Hint: If the mean IQ has improved, then the mean IQ difference ∂ < 0; otherwise, the mean IQ difference ∂ > 0. Question: Formulate the Null and Alternative Hypothesis for this problem.

2 points

Students 1 2 3 4 5

IQ test scores before MBA 110 120 123 132 125

IQ test score After MBA 120 118 125 136 121

use above information

a) H0: IQ mean difference ∂≥0 vs H1: IQ mean difference ∂>0

b) H0: IQ mean difference ∂≤0 vs H1: IQ mean difference ∂>0

c) H0: IQ mean difference ∂=0 vs H1: IQ mean difference ∂≠0

d) H0: IQ mean difference ∂≥0 vs H1: IQ mean difference ∂<0

3.2 Make use of the information provided in the previous question calculate the t-statistic using T-test and tick the correct answer below.

10 points

a) t-statistic = -2.319

b) t-statistic = 0.1028

c) t-statistic = -1.028

d) t-statistic = -0.816

3.3 Based on your empirical evidence in the previous question make your statistical conclusion at the 5% level of significance whether there is any improvement in IQ of the same students after completing MBA degree. Tick the correct answer below.

5 points

a) None of these answers is correct.

b) Fail to reject the Null hypothesis, the Null is probably true that IQ remains the same has not improved after completing the MBA degree.

c) Reject the Null hypothesis. The alternative is probably true that IQ has improved after completing the MBA degree.

d) Accept the Null hypothesis because the t-statistic is very close to zero.

4.1 A company that manufacturers wooden products (e.g. garden furniture, ladders, benches) regularly maintains its lathe machines, which are used for cutting and shaping components. The manager would like to know whether the cost of machine maintenance is related to the age of the machines. For a random sample of 8 lathe machines in the company's factory, the annual maintenance cost (in N$100s) and age of each machine was recorded. Question: Identify the independent variable and the dependent variable. Tick the correct answer below.

2 points

Machine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Age 4 2 3 8 6 7 1 2

Annual Cost 45 20 39 66 58 50 14 18

Table 2. Maintenance costs analysis

a) Machine =Independent variable & Age =Dependent variable

b) Machine & Age =Independent variables, Annual Cost =Dependent variable

c) Annual cost=Dependent variable & Age =Independent variable

d) Age =Independent variable & Machine =Dependent variable

4.2 Use the information given in the previous question and using the method of least squares, which of the equation listed below represent the best fitting regression line between the age of lathe machines and their annual maintenance costs? Tick the correct answer below.

10 points

a) Machine & Age =7.1306 + 9.336Annual costs

b) Annual cost = 7.336 +6.1306Age

c) Annual cost = 9.336 + 7.1306Age

d) Age = 7.1306 + 9.431Annual cost

4.3 Calculate the sample correlation coefficient (r) between the annual maintenance cost and age of each machine. Question: Which of the options below is the correct answer?

5 points

a) r = -0.91

b) r = 0.89

c) r = 0.87

d) r = 0.94

4.4 Question: What is the expected average maintenance cost of a lathe machine that is five years old? Tick the correct answer below.

4 points

a) 45.04

b) 40.67

c) 42.77

d) 41.77

5.1 In May 2010, the Snap poll asked British adults their opinion on whether they are in favour of or opposed to using profiling to identify potential terrorists at airports, a practice used routinely in Israel, but not in the UK. Does opinion depend on age? Or are opinion and age independent? Table below show some numbers from Snap Poll. Question: Formulate the Null and Alternative Hypothesis for this problem.

2 points

Age 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+

Favour 57 66 77 87

Oppose 43 34 23 13

Table 3. Snap Poll Results

a) The null hypothesis is that Opinion and Age are the variables.

b) The null hypothesis is that Opinion and Age are associated vs. The alternative hypothesis is that Opinion and Age are not associated.

c) The null hypothesis is that Opinion and Age are independent vs. The alternative hypothesis is that Opinion and Age are dependent.

d) The alternative hypothesis is that Opinion and Age are independent vs. The null hypothesis is that Opinion and Age are dependent.

5.2 Does opinion depend on age? Or are opinion and age independent? Using the information in the previous question calculate the Chi-square-statistic using Chi-square-test. Tick the correct answer below.

10 points

a) Chi-squares-stat = 25.20

b) Chi-squares-stat = 14.76

c) Chi-squares-stat = 23.20

d) Chi-squares-stat = 21.19

5.3 Based on your empirical evidence in the previous question, and using a 5% level of significance, make your statistical conclusion about the association between opinion and age. Tick the correct answer below.

5 points

a) Reject the Null hypothesis and conclude that Age and Opinion about Profiling are not independent. The alternative is probably true.

b) Accept the alternative and conclude that Age and Opinion about Profiling are independent.

c) Fail to reject the Null hypothesis, the alternative is probably false.

d) None of these answers is correct.

The company quickly acquired $41,000 in inventory, 30% of which was acquired on open accounts that were payable after 30 days. The rest was paid for in cash.

Account:      Cash  Accounts Receivable Inventory  Prepaid Rent Fixtures and Equipment  Accounts Payable  Interest Payable Wages Payable  Notes Payable Paid-in Capital  Retained Earnings Leave Blank           Dollar amount:   

Account:      Cash  Accounts Receivable Inventory  Prepaid Rent Fixtures and Equipment  Accounts Payable  Interest Payable Wages Payable  Notes Payable Paid-in Capital  Retained Earnings Leave Blank           Dollar amount:   

Account:      Cash  Accounts Receivable Inventory  Prepaid Rent Fixtures and Equipment  Accounts Payable  Interest Payable Wages Payable  Notes Payable Paid-in Capital  Retained Earnings Leave Blank           Dollar amount:   

Account:      Cash  Accounts Receivable Inventory  Prepaid Rent Fixtures and Equipment  Accounts Payable  Interest Payable Wages Payable  Notes Payable Paid-in Capital  Retained Earnings Leave Blank           Dollar amount:   

Account:      Cash  Accounts Receivable Inventory  Prepaid Rent Fixtures and Equipment  Accounts Payable  Interest Payable Wages Payable  Notes Payable Paid-in Capital  Retained Earnings Leave Blank           Dollar amount:   

Respond to the following:

Acquired immune responses are capable of controlling an infection, however, the acquired immune response is controlled itself through different mechanisms. It is primarily activated by a threshold level of antigen that is produced through the defensive action of the innate immune system. Pathogens and antigens interact and cause dendritic cells to activate to become antigen-presenting cells. Then, the antigens are transported to the lymphoid organs by the antigen-presenting cells. After several days, antigen-specific T cells and B cells locate the foreign antigen, and ultimately differentiate into armed effector cells. These cells either leave the lymphoid organ to go to the sites of infection or stay within the organ to promote humoral immunity. The path the effector cells take is dependent on the differentiation of CD4 T cells. There are two different subsets of CD4 T cells, Th1 and Th2. The function of Th1 is to activate macrophages, while Th2 works to activate B cells, especially during the primary response. Both of these CD4 T cell subset are capable of regulating each other, which is essential done by the cytokines of each respective T cell type. Ultimately, the effector cells remove the pathogens to control the infection (1). Once an infection is effectively under control, it is critical to remove the effector cells to allow for the restoration of the tissue. The immune system has mechanisms in which it is capable of removing these cells. When effector cells are no longer needed, they undergo apoptosis. The function of effector cells is to remove the stimulus that activated them, but when that stimulus is gone, the effector cells no longer have anything to remove except for themselves, which occurs through apoptosis. Apoptosis causes cells to die, and they are subsequently removed through macrophages. They are capable of identifying the dying cells through the composition of their membrane, specifically the lipid phosphatidylserine. In a normal cell, the lipid is found on the inner portion of the plasma membrane. However, when a cell undergoes apoptosis, it redistributes to the outer surface which allows for easy recognition by phagocytes. While some effector cells are removed, some are retained to allow for formation of memory T-cell and B-cells (1). The acquired protective immune response is critical in providing protection against pathogens. It is acquired through effector T cells or antibodies that are generated when exposed to the pathogen, as described above. This can be done by initial infection or through vaccination that allows for immunological memory. The specific pathogen involved influences the type of effector T cell or antibody that provides protection. For example, the polio inactivated vaccine utilizes preexisting antibodies (IgA) to neutralize the virus and prevent its spread of infection (1). These antibodies are known as IgA, and are produced within the gut mucosa. In order to activate the mucosal immune response, antigens are transported across the epithelium through the use of microfold (M cells). They are then presented to effector B lymphocytes that result in stimulated B cells to migrate to distant mucosal cites. This ultimately leads to the production of IgA that neutralizes the antigen. The neutralization of these substances prevents it from binding to receptors within the tissue. Therefore, the neutralized antibody-antigen complex formed is ultimately removed and destroyed by macrophages (2).

17. An infection with a rhinovirus might result in:                                                                                                

A. common cold             

B. genital warts           

C. cold sores           

D. mumps         

E. vomiting                                                                                    

18. An example of a disease caused by a retrovirus is:                                                                                        

A. mumps        

B. influenza            

C. syphilis              

D. AIDS             

E. chickenpox                             

19. Naturally acquired active immunity would be most likely acquired through which of the following processes?                                                                      
A. vaccination                     

B. drinking colostrum
C. natural birth   

D. infection with disease causing organism followed by recovery.         

20. Which of the following convey the longest lasting immunity to an infectious agent?
A. Naturally acquired passive immunity                               
B. Artificially acquired passive immunity
C. Naturally acquired active immunity
D. All of these
E. None of these

Caring for Kids Ltd (CFK) is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange. The company provides childcare services for pre-school children. CFK has undertaken significant expansion of its operations over the past two years. This strategy has resulted in the acquisition of a total of 200 new centres with childcare licences in Australia, New Zealand and the Page 259 United Kingdom. The expansion strategy has been funded mainly from borrowings that have been sourced in both local and foreign currency. CFK’s board consists of five directors: three non-executive directors, the CEO and CFO. None of the three non-executive directors have any formal qualifications or background in business. The board has expressed concern about the pace of expansion, due to CFK’s accounting system failing to effectively integrate the acquired companies’ complex information systems.

Based on the background information, identify four inherent risk factors for CFK and explain their impact on the financial report.

The following data set shows the entrance exam score​ (Verbal GMAT) for each of eight MBA students along with his or her grade point average​ (GPA) upon graduation. Calculate the slope and​ y-intercept for the linear regression equation for these data.

Calculate the slope and​ y-intercept for the linear regression equation for these data

GMAT   GPA
310   3.6
300   2.9
260   3.1
290   3.1
340   3.9
270   3.1
290   3.7
310   3.1

********NEEDS TO BE IN EASSAY TYPE FORMAT AND NO MORE THAN 500 WORDS !!! i will give a thumbs up... also no plagerism we submit this through a database!!!!********* Develop an essay response of no more than 500 words to the following: (1) Concept of balancing the "me" with the "we;" (2) Ways self-leadership can be applied to personal problems, and thus personal development; (3) Why should a MBA student be concerned with these topics? (4) How does the outcome of your self-assessment relate to these topics?

Eugenia Monroe, 30 years old, is currently employed at an IT firm where she earns $38,000 a year. She expects that her salary will grow by 3% per year. She expects to retire at age 65. She has recently inherited $75,000 and is now considering what to do with the sum. She has two options: First, she could enroll in a certification program in net work design. The program requires completing 20 Web-based courses over one year. The total cost of the program is $5,000, payable when she enrolls. She will not lose any income because she can study while working. When she obtains the certification, she can expect an increase in salary of $10,000 compared to her current job, and this differential will grow at 3% per year so long as she keeps working in that new position. Second, she could enroll for an MBA. It will be an evening program, and it will cost $25,000 per year, due at the beginning of each of her three years in school. Because it is an evening program, she will not lose any income because she can study while working. When she obtains the MBA degree, she can expect a promotion to manager and an increase in salary of $20,000 compared to her current job, and this differential will grow at 3% per year so long as she keeps working in that managerial position. Using a discount rate of 2.95%, please answer the following questions: Create worksheets in Excel showing the timelines for her two alternatives. Assume that salaries are paid only once, on January 1 of the next year. Hence, when she obtains a qualification in, say, 2018, the higher salary does not kick in until 2019. Calculate the present value of the salary differential for completing the certification program. Subtract the present value of the cost of the program to get the net present value. Calculate the present value of the salary differential for completing the MBA program. Subtract the present value of the cost of the program to get the net present value. Based on your answers above, which choice would you recommend to Eugenia Monroe?