Assignment 2: Discussion—Differences between Value and Returns

Evaluating the benefit an opportunity can provide is complex. When measuring an economic benefit, you must look at the real return, the nominal return, and the overall value. In many cases, a project might generate a negative return in the short term but may be of value in the long term. You may take on a project for its business, knowing that the project is a losing proposition but will compensate for this loss by bringing in a new project later that will generate a positive return, or future value. This assignment will illustrate this concept. Firms need to distinguish between value creation and the returns they obtain from their investments.

Tasks:

Locate an article from the Internet or the online library resources that deals with firms distinguishing between value creation and the returns they obtain from their investments. You can consult sources such as the Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Bloomberg Markets, the Economist, US News and World Report, and other publications for conducting this research.

On the basis of the selected article, address the following questions:

• What are some of the strategies that firms engage in to create value?
• What is the difference between adding value in the value chain and creating returns for shareholders?
• Why does adding value to the firm and creating returns for shareholders in the short run and long run matter?

Submission Details:

• By Friday, August 28, 2015, in a minimum of 500 words, post your responses to this Discussion Area. Cite the sources used to formulate your opinion.
• Through Wednesday, September 2, 2015, respond to at least two of your classmates’ posts. While responding, think about the activities performed by a firm that would generate value and how this value can be used to generate returns for the firm.

Write your initial response in 300–500 words. Your response should be thorough and address all components of the discussion question in detail, include citations of all sources, where needed, according to the APA Style, and demonstrate accurate spelling, grammar, and punctuation

Do the following when responding to your peers:

• Read your peers’ answers.
• Provide substantive comments by
• contributing new, relevant information from course readings, Web sites, or other sources;
• building on the remarks or questions of others; or
• sharing practical examples of key concepts from your professional or personal experiences
• Respond to feedback on your posting and provide feedback to other students on their ideas.
• Make sure your writing
• is clear, concise, and organized;
• demonstrates ethical scholarship in accurate representation and attribution of sources; and
• displays accurate spelling, grammar, and punctuation.

Grading Criteria