Unit 3 – Discussion Board

Discussion Boards (DB) are a key component of online learning. They foster active participation of learners and dialog with fellow learners and instructors. Graduate-level courses require learners to create original posts to course DBs and to engage in dialogue by responding to posts created by others throughout the course. Original posts and responses should be substantive, and if references are made to the works of others, APA guidelines for in-text citations and references apply.

Minimum Weekly DB Expectations

• Post an original and thoughtful Main Post to the DB prompt.
• Respond to at least 2 other posts from learners and/or the instructor (Response Posts).
• The first contribution (Main Post or Response Post) must be posted before midnight (Central time) on Friday of each week.
• Two additional responses are required after Friday of each week.
• For DB assignment prompts with a Part One and Part Two, Part One should be addressed in the first week of the unit with a Main Post and minimum of 2 Response Posts, and Part Two should be addressed in the second week of the unit with a Main Post and a minimum of 2 Response Posts.

More on DBs

At the end of each unit, DB participation is assessed based on level of engagement and the quality of the contribution to the discussion. DBs allow learners to learn through sharing ideas and experiences as they relate to course content. Because it is not possible to engage in two-way dialogue after a conversation has ended, no posts to the DB are accepted after the end of the unit. Learners must demonstrate an appropriate depth of understanding of course content to receive credit for having submitted substantive posts. Typically, this is achieved with 3–4 strong paragraphs for Main Posts and 2–3 strong paragraphs for Response Posts.

Convenience stores are looking at more competition from supermarkets, drugstores, and membership-warehouse clubs that have added gas pumps and faster checkouts. Therefore, cost cuts are needed to increase convenience stores’ competitive edge. Some retailers have found that it is cost-effective to stock only one brand of a product. Others found that stocking particular products cost the convenience store so much that it incurred a loss on the sale of that particular product. Using accounting software takes all of these costs into consideration and shows where nonprofitable products are losing money. It helps convenience stores increase sales and decrease costs.

1. Select one of the major convenience store in your town and research the store product, and list all of the types of costs that can be associated with a product.
2. Since cutting cost are needed to increase convenience stores’ competitive edge, in your professional judgment and based on your experience, which costs can be cut without affecting daily operations of the store. Please discuss your reasons for cutting the selected costs.
3. Using accounting software takes operating costs into consideration and shows where nonprofitable products are losing money. How does this software tool help to more accurately assess an item’s profitability? Do you think that this software is beneficial for convenience stores? Why or why not?
4. Do you think this software is beneficial?
5. Can you recall a personal situation in your career in which a company that you use to or currently are working for cut unnecessary costs? How cutting costs workout?

Your assignment will be graded in accordance with the following criteria. Click here to view the grading rubric.