Company Selected: Microsoft Prior to beginning this Interactive Assignment, review the sections of Chapters 5, 8, and 9 in the Abraham’s textbook on Assessing the Company and Operational and Budget Planning. Also read the online articles Analyze Investments Quickly With Ratios (Links to an external site.) (Elmerraji, 2017) and What Is an Annualized Budget? (Links to an external site.) (Ashe-Edmunds, n.d.). Using the same publicly traded company you used in the Environmental Scanning Interactive Assignment, and the downloadable Operating Budget Template , research the company online by accessing the Mergent Ashford University Library online database which offers company financials, descriptions, history, property, subsidiaries, officers and directors. Also, access the Business Insights: Global Ashford University Library online database which offers information on global companies, and industries. It includes SWOT reports, market share data, financial reports, case studies, business news, and company comparison charts. (View the Mergent tipsheet and Business Insights tipsheet documents for suggested methods of searching Ashford University Library databases generally as well as specific advice for searching these two databases). You can always conduct research using credible online sources of corporate financial information, just be sure that wherever you obtain financial information that you cite your source. For this Interactive Assignment, you are going to look at the financial statements for the company you selected and, using the previous quarter’s financial data, interpret the data and propose a budget for the next Quarter based on your current and previous analysis of company performance. Complete the budget template using this Operating Budget Template : List your current sales, discounts and allowances, net sales, margins, operating costs, and earning before and after taxes. Choose a minimum of two financial ratios (below) and include in your analysis. Prepare the next quarter’s budget based on your interpretation of past data. Include at least two of the following types of relevant financial ratios in your analysis. Review the online article Analyze Investments Quickly With Ratios (Links to an external site.) (Elmerraji, 2017) and Chapter 5 in the Abraham’s textbook to help with this portion of the budget: Profitability Ratio Liquidity Ratio Solvency Ratio Valuation Ratio Leverage Ratio (NOTE: Incorporate the feedback you receive from your instructor and peers and save your work. It will be part of your Strategic Plan Final Project for this course). Initial Post: In your initial post, provide a brief description of your company and provide a summary of your Operating Budget along with a rationale that supports suggested budgetary changes. Attach your Operating Budget Template to your initial post for review by your instructor and your peers. Required Resources Text Abraham, S. (2012). Strategic mana.

1. Company Selected: Microsoft
Prior to beginning this Interactive Assignment, review the
sections of Chapters 5, 8, and 9 in the Abraham’s textbook on
Assessing the Company and Operational and Budget Planning.
Also read the online articles
Analyze Investments Quickly With Ratios (Links to an external
site.)
(Elmerraji, 2017) and
What Is an Annualized Budget? (Links to an external site.)
(Ashe-Edmunds, n.d.).
Using the same publicly traded company you used in the
Environmental Scanning Interactive Assignment, and the
downloadable
Operating Budget Template
, research the company online by accessing the Mergent Ashford
University Library online database which offers company
financials, descriptions, history, property, subsidiaries, officers
and directors. Also, access the Business Insights: Global
Ashford University Library online database which offers
information on global companies, and industries. It includes
SWOT reports, market share data, financial reports, case
studies, business news, and company comparison charts. (View
the
Mergent tipsheet
and
Business Insights tipsheet
documents for suggested methods of searching Ashford
University Library databases generally as well as specific
advice for searching these two databases). You can always
conduct research using credible online sources of corporate
financial information, just be sure that wherever you obtain
financial information that you cite your source.

2. For this Interactive Assignment, you are going to look at the
financial statements for the company you selected and, using
the previous quarter’s financial data, interpret the data and
propose a budget for the next Quarter based on your current and
previous analysis of company performance. Complete the
budget template using this
Operating Budget Template
:
List your current sales, discounts and allowances, net sales,
margins, operating costs, and earning before and after taxes.
Choose a minimum of two financial ratios (below) and include
in your analysis.
Prepare the next quarter’s budget based on your interpretation
of past data.
Include at least two of the following types of relevant financial
ratios in your analysis. Review the online article
Analyze Investments Quickly With Ratios (Links to an external
site.)
(Elmerraji, 2017) and Chapter 5 in the Abraham’s textbook to
help with this portion of the budget:
Profitability Ratio
Liquidity Ratio
Solvency Ratio
Valuation Ratio

3. Leverage Ratio
(NOTE: Incorporate the feedback you receive from your
instructor and peers and save your work. It will be part of your
Strategic Plan Final Project for this course).
Initial Post:
In your initial post, provide a brief description of your
company and provide a summary of your Operating Budget
along with a rationale that supports suggested budgetary
changes. Attach your Operating Budget Template to your initial
post for review by your instructor and your peers.
Required Resources
Text
Abraham, S. (2012).
Strategic management for organizations
. Retrieved from https://content.ashford.edu/
Chapter 8: Operational and Budget Planning
Chapter 9: ImplementationStrategies
Web Pages
Ashe-Edmunds, S. (n.d.).
What is an annualized budget? (Links to an external site.)
Retrieved from http://smallbusiness.chron.com/annualized-

4. budget-42668.html
This web page’s author describes the key components and
design of an annual operating budget that will assist you in your
Operating Budget discussion forum this week.
Accessibility Statement does not exist.
Privacy Policy does not exist.
Elmerraji, J. (2017, January 30).
Analyze investments quickly with ratios (Links to an external
site.)
. Retrieved from
http://www.investopedia.com/articles/stocks/06/ratios.asp
This web page’s author provides information about the most
commonly used financial ratios in use by investors today that
will assist you with your Operating Budget discussion forum
this week.
Accessibility Statement does not exist.
Privacy Policy (Links to an external site.)
Surbhi, S. (2015, June 29).
Difference between strategic planning and operational
planning (Links to an external site.)
. Retrieved from http://keydifferences.com/difference-between-
strategic-planning-and-operational-planning.html

5. This web page’s author provides information about key
differences between Strategic Planning and Operational
Planning that will assist you in your Strategic vs. Operational
Planning discussion forum this week.
Accessibility Statement does not exist.
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Recommended Resources
Articles
Clark, D., & Legge, B. (2013).
The right way to execute your strategic plan (Links to an
external site.)
.
Forbes
. Retrieved from
http://www.forbes.com/sites/dorieclark/2013/05/08/the-right-
way-to-execute-your-strategic-plan/
This article provides tips to successful strategic planning and
may assist you in your Strategic vs. Operational Planning
discussion forum this week.
Accessibility Statement does not exist.
Privacy Statement (Links to an external site.)
Deeb, G. (2013).
If you build it, they may not come: Budget ahead for startup
marketing (Links to an external site.)

6. .
Forbes
. Retrieved from
http://www.forbes.com/sites/georgedeeb/2013/11/06/if-you-
build-it-they-may-not-come-budget-ahead-for-startup-
marketing/
This article reviews the importance of budgeting ahead and may
assist you in your Operating Budget discussion forum this week.
Accessibility Statement does not exist.
Privacy Statement (Links to an external site.)
Moore, J. (2012).
7 tips on building your business with better metrics (Links to an
external site.)
.
Forbes
. Retrieved from
http://www.forbes.com/sites/ciocentral/2012/07/09/7-tips-on-
building-your-business-with-better-metrics/
This article discusses metrics to consider when building a
business and may assist you in your assignments this week.
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