COMPLEX CASE STUDY PRESENTATION

In Weeks 4, 7, and 9 of the course, you will participate in clinical discussions. In one of these three weeks, you will be a presenter as well as help facilitate the online discussion; in the others you will be an active discussion participant. When it is your week to present, you will create a Focused SOAP note and a short didactic (teaching) video presenting a real (but de-identified) complex patient case from your practicum experience.

You should have received an assignment from your Instructor letting you know which week of the course you are assigned to present.

 

RESOURCES

 

Be sure to review the Learning Resources before completing this activity.
Click the weekly resources link to access the resources.

WEEKLY RESOURCES

TO PREPARE:

• Review this week’s Learning Resources and consider the insights they provide. Also review the Kaltura Media Uploader resource in the left-hand navigation of the classroom for help creating your self-recorded Kaltura video.
• Select a child/adolescent or adult patient from your clinical experience that presents with a significant concern. Create a focused SOAP note for this patient using the template in the Resources. All SOAP notes must be signed by your Preceptor. When you submit your SOAP note, you should include the complete SOAP note as a Word document and PDF/images of completed assignment signed by your Preceptor. You must submit your SOAP Note using Turnitin.
  Please Note: Electronic signatures are not accepted. If both files are not received by the due date, Faculty will deduct points per the Walden Late Policies.
• Then, based on your SOAP note of this patient, develop a video case study presentation. Take time to practice what you will say beforehand, and ensure that you have the appropriate lighting and equipment to record the presentation.
• Your presentation should include objectives for your audience, at least 3 possible discussion questions/prompts for your classmates to respond to, and at least 5 scholarly resources to support your diagnostic reasoning and treatment plan.

Video assignment for this week’s presenters:

Record yourself presenting the complex case study for your clinical patient. In your presentation:

• Dress professionally and present yourself in a professional manner.
• Display your photo ID at the start of the video when you introduce yourself.
• Ensure that you do not include any information that violates the principles of HIPAA (i.e., don’t use the patient’s name or any other identifying information).
• State 3–4 objectives for the presentation that are targeted, clear, use appropriate verbs from Bloom’s taxonomy, and address what the audience will know or be able to do after viewing.
• Present the full complex case study. Include chief complaint; history of present illness; any pertinent past psychiatric, substance use, medical, social, family history; most recent mental status exam; current psychiatric diagnosis including differentials that were ruled out; and plan for treatment and management.
• Report normal diagnostic results as the name of the test and “normal” (rather than specific value). Abnormal results should be reported as a specific value.
• Pose three questions or discussion prompts, based on your presentation, that your colleagues can respond to after viewing your video.
• Be succinct in your presentation, and do not exceed 8 minutes. Specifically address the following for the patient, using your SOAP note as a guide.
  • Subjective: What details did the patient provide regarding their chief complaint and symptomology to derive your differential diagnosis? What is the duration and severity of their symptoms? How are their symptoms impacting their functioning in life?
  • Objective: What observations did you make during the psychiatric assessment?
  • Assessment: Discuss their mental status examination results. What were your differential diagnoses? Provide a minimum of three possible diagnoses and why you chose them. List them from highest priority to lowest priority. What was your primary diagnosis, and why? Describe how your primary diagnosis aligns with DSM- 5-TR diagnostic criteria and is supported by the patient’s symptoms.
  • Plan: What was your plan for psychotherapy (include one health promotion activity and patient education)? What was your plan for treatment and management, including alternative therapies? Include pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatments, alternative therapies, and follow-up parameters, as well as a rationale for this treatment and management plan.  Discuss an identified social determinate of health impacting this patient’s mental health status and provide your recommendation for a referral to assist this patient in meeting this identified need (students will need to conduct research on this topic both in the literature and for community resources).
  • Reflection notes: What would you do differently with this patient if you could conduct the session again? If you are able to follow up with your patient, explain whether these interventions were successful and why or why not. If you were not able to conduct a follow-up, discuss what your next intervention would be.

MSDA 628 Supply Chain Business Analytics

Module 1 Assignment

General requirement

• Make sure that each problem/sub-problem is on its own worksheet.
• Your Excel model must be executable. If your excel model is ran, it should generate the same results you submit. That means the spreadsheet has correct embedded formulae and Solver dialog boxes have all the inputs. If ‘Solve’ is clicked and your spreadsheet does not produce the reported results, a zero score will be assigned to that problem.
• Name the Excel file as “Homework 1_Last Name.xlsx”.
• Please contact the instructor if you have any questions regarding the assignment.

Problem 1

The Weinberger Electronics Corporation manufactures four highly technical products that it supplies to aerospace firms that hold NASA contracts. Each of the products must pass through the following departments before being shipped: wiring, drilling, assembly, and inspection. The time requirement in hours for each unit produced and its corresponding profit value are summarized in the following table:

	PRODUCT
DEPARTMENT	XJ201	XM897	TR29	BR788
Wiring	0.5	1.5	1.5	1.0
Drilling	0.3	1.0	2.0	3.0
Assembly	0.2	4.0	1.0	2.0
Inspection	0.5	1.0	0.5	0.5
Unit Profit ($)	9.0	12.0	10.0	8.0

The production available in each department each month and the minimum monthly production requirement to fulfill contracts are as follows:

DEPARTMENT	CAPACITY (HOURS)	PRODUCT	MINIMUM PRODUCTION LEVEL
Wiring	15,000	XJ201	150
Drilling	17,000	XM897	100
Assembly	26,000	TR29	300
Inspection	12,000	BR788	400

The production manager has the responsibility of specifying production levels for each product for the coming month. Use Excel spreadsheet to solve Weinberger’s profit-maximization problem using LP.

Problem 2

A sudden increase in the demand for smoke detectors has left Hanson Alarms with insufficient capacity to meet demand. The company has seen its monthly demand for electronic and battery-powered smoke detectors rise to 27,500 and 14,450, respectively. Tommy Hanson, the CEO of Hanson Alarms, has told his COO Julia Hanson that the company must always meet demand for its products. Hanson’s production process involves three departments: fabrication, assembly, and shipping. The data for production and prices is summarized below.

	Hours required to manufacture 1 unit
DEPARTMENT	Electronic powered	Battery powered	Monthly Hours Available
Fabrication	0.20	0.13	2,500
Assembly	0.25	0.22	4,470
Shipping	0.15	0.18	3,200
Variable cost/unit	$18.80	$16.00
Retail price	$32.50	$31.60

 

The company also has the option to obtain additional units from a subcontractor, The ChrisJones Company, who has offered to supply up to 25,000 units per month in any combination of electronic and battery-powered models, at a cost of $22.75 per unit. For this price, ChrisJones will assembly, test, and ship its models directly to the distributors without using Hanson’s production process. Use Excel spreadsheet to determine the optimal quantities to make and/or buy that will maximize profit.

(Hint: For making or buying a product, Unit profit = Unit retail price – Unit Cost)

Using the topic you selected for Week 2: Paper and Week 5: Research Paper Part I, complete your final research paper. Consider the following:

• What are the major findings from the scholarly sources you found?
• How will can your research be applied in an organizational setting?
• What are the potential implications of your findings?
• What are your recommendations for additional research on the topic?

Your paper must have 7-10 scholarly references. Ideally, these references will be the some of the ones you listed in your annotated bibliography. The 7-page essay (2400 words minimum in the body of the text) should be written in APA.

Essentially, here’s what I will be grading you on:

• Does this student understand the material?
• Can this student demonstrate synthesis through writing?
• Can this student apply critical thinking skills on the topic they have chosen?
• Can this student write in their own words?
• Can this student write at the graduate level?

IMPORTANT

Remember that your final paper is automatically checked for plagiarism through turnitin.com.

Assignment: PowerPoint Presentation on Staffing, Professional Development, and Performance Appraisal For this assignment, you have been tasked with creating a PowerPoint presentation that provides your audience with a brief yet comprehensive overview of the connections between staffing, professional development, and performance appraisals.

Your Poster or PowerPoint Presentation should include the following sections:

Abstract Provide a summary of the key parts of your presentation. Length requirement: 150–250 words. Purpose/Objectives Combine the purpose and objectives of your presentation into this section (2–3 bullets). Be sure to highlight how staffing, professional development, and performance appraisals are interconnected in supporting organizational effectiveness. Background Provide a brief overview of the importance of staffing, professional development, and performance appraisals. Include relevant and interesting statistics (e.g., turnover rates, cost of training, appraisal effectiveness, or workforce development trends). Staffing Approaches Discuss key strategies for effective staffing, including recruitment, retention, and alignment with organizational goals. Consider the impact of proper staffing on professional growth opportunities and performance outcomes. Professional Development Describe the role of professional development in employee growth and organizational success. Highlight different methods such as continuing education, mentoring, certifications, workshops, and career ladders. Connect how professional development influences both staffing outcomes (e.g., retention, morale) and performance appraisal results. Performance Appraisal Tools Discuss, compare, and contrast four to five different types of appraisal tools. Explain how these tools can also identify staffing needs and professional development opportunities. Performance Appraisal Strategies Discuss strategies managers can use to ensure appraisals are effective, accurate, and fair. Include steps managers should take before, during, and after the appraisal process. Integrate how appraisal feedback can inform staffing decisions and drive professional development plans. Discussion Provide a personal reflection on your own experiences with staffing, professional development, or performance appraisals. If you are in a supervisory role, reflect from the perspective of a manager responsible for these processes. If you are not in a supervisory role, reflect as an employee engaging in them. Consider: Was your staffing experience adequate for your role? Did you receive professional development support? Were appraisals tied to unit or institutional goals? Did these processes contribute to your growth? Conclusion Summarize the key content/points discussed in the presentation. Address the future implications of integrating staffing, professional development, and performance appraisals for building a sustainable, high-performing workforce. References Use at least three additional references beyond your textbook (minimum of four total). Visuals In addition to bullets, paragraphs, and sentences, incorporate at least two of your choice of the following: charts, graphs, tables, and other visuals to help convey key content to your audience in your poster presentation. Remember this is a stand-alone presentation so the PPT should be able to speak for itself without a voiceover. No Voicethread (VT) required for this assignment but link placed in VoiceThread Groups to upload a presentation in VT to share with your groupmates.

If you decide to do a poster, you can use the attached template. Once finished save it as a pdf file before uploading your presentation into Blackboard to maintain the layout.

Additional Resources:

Read the Developing a Professional Poster Presentation article. (attached) Review this web article Developing an Effective Poster Presentation

First, read Covey, Matthews, BuzzFeed, McGregor et al., SportsDayDFW.com., and Moore (all articles can be found in the “Module 6 Reading” above). In addition, view the presentation on “A New View of Failure and Success,” and watch the videos with J.K. Rowling.

According to Dr. Charles Manz, “Changing our perspective is often the key to finding success in seeming failure,” and he suggests that we need a paradigm shift to learn to discover opportunities in problems. In this week’s discussion, you are tasked with thinking critically about the content presented on rejection and changing our perspectives on failure and success. Some possible prompts follow. You do not have to address every prompt. Your post should be a minimum of two well-developed paragraphs.

Do you agree with Manz that a change in paradigm shift is necessary? Why or why not? What do you take away from the stories about authors being rejected? What do you take away from the readings about the importance of failure? How does the Covey reading on Think Win/Win relate to the other readings in the module? Do you agree that both failure and success should be viewed differently? Why or why not? Read in Covey text, Habit 4: Think Win/Win  Read the article “How Failure Breeds Success”  How Failure Breeds Success.pdf   Read the following web articles (Click on the links below to view): A Writing Class May Help 20 Brilliant Authors Whose Work Was Initially Rejected Michael Irvin: I Hope The Cowboys Lose to the Redskins Watch the following videos: (links below) Module 6 Failure and Success J.K. Rowling Speaks at Harvard Commencement https://youtu.be/XZLaT-rOyEc?is=s2tiJJpMxGs5OVcQ

https://youtu.be/wHGqp8lz36c?is=pWIWy5Xoos7u8qLg

A.  Create a document, as the new customer service manager, to help your team understand the four domains of emotional intelligence (self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management) by doing the following:

1.  Introduce yourself as the new customer service manager to your team, focusing on one of the six company values provided in the scenario.
2.  Discuss how you and your team will use one of the following elements of self-awareness in your daily interactions:

•   emotional awareness

•   accurate self-assessment

•   self-confidence

3.  Discuss how you and your team will use one of the following elements of self-management in your daily interactions:

•   emotional self-control

•   transparency

•   adaptability

•   achievement

•   initiative

•   optimism

4.  Discuss how you and your team will use social awareness to practice empathy in your daily interactions.

a.  Discuss how unconscious bias may affect ethical decision-making on your team.

b.  Describe two types of cognitive bias, including an example of each bias.

5.  Discuss how you and your team will use one of the following elements of relationship management in your daily interactions:

•   influence

•   coaching and mentoring

•   conflict management

•   teamwork

•   inspirational leadership a.  Discuss how you will create a culture of care within your team.

6.  Explain why you and your direct reports will use at least one of the four domains of emotional intelligence (self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management) to be effective as a team.

B.  Acknowledge sources, using in-text citations and references, for content that is quoted, paraphrased, or summarized.

C.  Demonstrate professional communication in the content and presentation of your submission.

A.  Complete the VIA Character Strengths Survey using the “VIA Character Strengths Survey” web link and use the results of the survey to complete the following:

Note: Remember that this VIA Character Strengths Survey is not a test but rather a feedback tool. There is no wrong answer, so respond genuinely. If you download a copy of your survey results, you will receive a list of 24 items in order of your personal strengths, with the first five being your signature strengths and the last five being your lesser strengths. Refer to the attached “D253 VIA Character Strength Survey Instructions” supporting document for additional information on accessing the survey.

1.  Describe an experience in which you used one of your five signature strengths (i.e., the first five) from the survey results to overcome a challenge.

Note: Consider experiences from a school, volunteer, personal, or professional setting.

a.  Explain how you could apply the strength identified in part A1 as a values-based leader in your new position as the customer service manager from the scenario.

2.  Describe an experience in which being stronger in one of your five lesser strengths (i.e., the last five) from the survey results could have positively influenced the outcome.

Note: Consider experiences from a school, volunteer, personal, or professional setting.

a.  Explain how improving the lesser strength identified in part A2 will help accelerate your values-based leadership abilities in your new position as the customer service manager.

b.  List three actions you can take to grow in the area identified in part A2.

B.  To set the tone for your new team, explain to them who you are as a values-based leader by doing the following:

1.  List your top three values as a values-based leader from the “List of Values” web link.

Note: When listing your top three values, consider those values you hold most important.

a.  Explain how you will demonstrate each of the values listed in part B1 to serve both the team and the organization in the scenario.

C.  Based on your understanding of who you are as a leader after completing parts A and B, do the following:

1.  Discuss one leadership challenge relevant to ethics and values that you could face as the new customer service manager regarding selecting and announcing the new team lead.

Note: Consider your purpose as a new leader, ethical principles, relevant stakeholders, your expectations and point of view, and any assumptions you have made.

2.  Discuss how you, as the customer service manager, would use one of your top three values from part B1 and one of the company’s values in a conversation about the hiring decision with the person who was not selected as the team lead.

Note: Consider values, ethical responsibility, and personal and professional consequences.

D.  Acknowledge sources, using in-text citations and references, for content that is quoted, paraphrased, or summarized.

E.  Demonstrate professional communication in the content and presentation of your submission.

Academic Experts

23 Jun 2026 • 6 min read

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A	SSESSMENT 1 PART A BRIEF
Subject Code and Title	SDR404 Self-Care and Developing Resilience
Assessment	Reflective Journal. Part A: Critical Reflection.
Individual/Group	Individual
Length	300 words (+/- 10%)
Learning Outcomes	The Subject Learning Outcomes demonstrated by successful completion of the task below include: a)  Critically reflect on personal strengths and vulnerabilities   d)      Recognise symptoms of burnout and examine how they apply to you as a professional and for your clients   e)       Design and justify a personal self-care strategy to minimise burnout and absenteeism
Submission	Due by 11:55pm AEST/AEDT Sunday end of Module 4 (Week 4)
Weighting	10%
Total Marks	100 marks

Task Summary

Using the personal reflective journal you have been asked to write since Week 1, critically reflect on your strengths and vulnerabilities. Compile a 300-word introductory reflection on a personal self- care strategy. This strategy should seek to address your own self-care needs as a professional, in order to help prevent, or to help move you beyond, burnout in your working context. You will then apply your self-care strategy developed in Assessment 1 Part A to later complete a reflexive evaluation in Assessment 1 Part B.

Context

This course has so far confirmed key concepts found in the practice of the helping professions: stress, empathy, resilience and self-care. This task requires you to identify your personal strengths and vulnerabilities, and been given a grounding in the challenges of professional burnout and compassion fatigue. You will also have been provided with tools and strategies to build awareness of your personal self-care needs.

This assessment is designed to draw your attention to a deeper awareness of the strengths and vulnerabilities inherent in who you are, and the self-care needs this implies in a professional context. The aim is to develop effective strategies to help you remain healthy in mind, body and spirit as you work in your chosen profession.

Task Instructions

During the learning modules of this subject, you will create a personal journal in which you regularly enter written reflections that help you to process your experience of this subject and relate your new knowledge to your wider life. This journal will be for your eyes only, but will form the basis of material with which you will be able to complete Assessment 1, Parts A & B.

Step 1: Examine reflective journal entries

Critically examine your weekly journal reflections on personal strengths and vulnerabilities, as they relate to your professional context.

See the document titled ‘Helpful Tools for Reflection’, found in Assessment 1 information area to guide the reflective process.

Step 2: Critical Reflection Write up

Formulate a 300-word self-care strategy proposal that addresses your personal needs as a helping professional. The aim for your self-care strategy is to build your resilience, and overcoming or avoiding burnout.

Perhaps you have already identified contexts in which you feel challenged or lacking in sufficient emotional resources. Alternatively, maybe you have reflected upon past experiences that may be useful to draw upon in the future. Draw upon current theories and models found in literature and presented in your weekly module learning to inform your self-care strategy proposal.

You will apply your self-care strategy over the following weeks and write about this experience in your weekly journals. For Assessment 1 Part b, you will conclude with a reflexive evaluation of your self-care strategy.

Referencing

It is essential that you use appropriate APA style for citing and referencing research. Follow the APA referencing guidelines according to the current Torrens University Academic Writing Guide.

Submission Instructions

Submit your Assessment 1, Part A Critical Reflection via the main navigation menu in SDR404: Self- Care and Developing Resilience. The Learning Facilitator will provide feedback via the Grade Centre in the LMS portal. Feedback can be viewed in My Grades.

Academic Integrity Declaration

I declare that except where I have referenced, the work I am submitting for this assessment task is my own work. I have read and am aware of Torrens University Australia Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure viewable online at http://www.torrens.edu.au/policies–and–forms

Tips on Reflective Writing:

Reflective cycle stages:

1)  Describe a significant trigger and how it may have felt

2)  Evaluate and interpret your thoughts, feelings or behaviour

3)  Analyse and make conclusions

4)  Plan for the future

Reflective Writing – First Person:

You will be writing in the first person and using reference citations in areas of your writing too for this critical reflective piece.

When describing your reflections you can write in the first person, because this is about YOU, your reflections and your interpretations. (e.g. “I considered this advice to be…..

because it had a big impact on my……..and it helped me to understand my… ………”). Try to be as specific as possible, use brief examples to illustrate your points and try to select examples that enable you to demonstrate learning against the attributes in the rubric.

The next step is to merge your understanding of what the literature reveals that add to your personal reflections. When backing up your personal reflective understanding, with outside sources, all other principles of academic writing apply including strict referencing and acknowledgement of the work of others to avoid plagiarism.

Assessment Rubric

 

Assessment Attributes	Fail (Yet to achieve minimum standard) 0-49%	Pass (Functional) 50-64%	Credit (Proficient) 65-74%	Distinction (Advanced) 75-84%	High Distinction (Exceptional) 85-100%
Knowledge and understanding of the concepts of self-care, resilience, burnout and compassion fatigue Describe a significant trigger and how it may have felt       Percentage for this criterion = 30%	Demonstrates an inadequately developed understanding of the key concepts of self-care, resilience, and burnout and compassion fatigue. Not yet competent in Identifying an emotional trigger or describing how could impact self-care, development of resilience, burnout and compassion fatigue.	Demonstrates a functional knowledge of the key concepts of self-care, resilience, burnout and compassion fatigue.   Identifies an emotional trigger (s). Does not describe fully how could impact self- care, development of resilience, burnout and compassion fatigue.	Demonstrates proficient knowledge of the key concepts of self-care, resilience, burnout and compassion fatigue.   Outlines an emotional trigger (s) and describes on how could impact either/or self-care, development of resilience, burnout and compassion fatigue.	Demonstrates advanced knowledge of the key concepts of self-care, resilience, burnout and compassion fatigue.   Outlines a significant emotional trigger (s) and describes how could impact self-care, development of resilience and potential for burnout and compassionate fatigue.	Demonstrates exceptional knowledge of the key concepts of self-care, resilience, burnout and compassion fatigue.   Discerningly identifies a significant emotional trigger and describes clearly how could impact self-care, development of resilience and potential for burnout and compassionate fatigue.
Evaluates concepts of self-care, resilience, burnout and compassion fatigue   Evaluate and interpret your thoughts, feelings or behaviour Analyse and make conclusions Percentage for this criterion = 30%	Has not assessed thoughts, feelings and behaviour or weighed up these in relation to personal opinion, theories or models found in literature.	Has considered personal thoughts, feelings and behaviour. Has not weighed up these in relation to theories or models found in literature.	Has thought carefully on personal thoughts, feelings and behaviour. Has analysed these in context with some theories or models found in literature.	Has thought carefully on personal thoughts, feelings and behaviour. Has identified and explained the relationship of these in context with relevant theories or models found in literature.	Has reflected carefully on personal thoughts, feelings and behaviour. Has weighted up the relationship of these in context with relevant theories or models found in literature, and assessed strength of this evidence from both sides.

 

Demonstration of planning to apply a self-care strategy for building resilience, avoiding burnout and compassion fatigue in a professional context. Plan for the future   Percentage for this criterion = 30%	A self-care strategy is not proposed fully. Observations about self are superficial and undeveloped for the purpose of application in a professional context.	A self-care strategy is proposed, however lacking evidence of self-awareness applicable to professional practice.	A self-care strategy is proposed. Applies concepts for the purpose of creating a personalised self-care strategy. A depth of critical reflection is yet to be fully formed.	A self-care strategy is proposed. Shows excellent ability to synthesise knowledge and insight to develop personalised self-care strategies supported with evidence of critical analysis.	A self-care strategy is proposed. Highly sophisticated critical reflection skills Well justified connections between the theory and practice of self-care in a professional context.
Correct citation of key resources and evidence Percentage for this criterion = 10%	Demonstrates lack of good quality, credible and relevant resources to support and develop ideas Referencing is omitted or does not resemble APA.	Demonstrates use of credible and relevant resources to support and develop ideas, but these are not always explicit or well developed Referencing resembles APA with frequent or repeated errors.	Demonstrates consistent use of credible resources to support and develop ideas     Referencing resembles APA with occasional errors .	Demonstrates use of good quality, credible and relevant resources to support and develop arguments and statements Referencing is free from errors and always adheres to APA format.	Demonstrates use of high- quality, credible and relevant resources to support and develop arguments and position statements   Referencing is free from errors and always adheres to APA format.

 

	The following Subject Learning Outcomes are addressed in this assessment
SLO a)	Critically reflect on personal strengths and vulnerabilities
SLO d)	Recognise symptoms of burnout and examine how they apply to you as a professional and for your clients
SLO e)	Design and justify a personal self-care strategy to minimise burnout and absenteeism

Palliative & End‑of‑Life Care Scenario – Leading Compassionate Conversations

Setting: Hospice inpatient unit.

Scenario:

A 58‑year‑old woman with metastatic ovarian cancer is deteriorating. Her family is distressed and disagree about whether she should be transferred to hospital for “more treatment.” The patient previously expressed a wish to remain in the hospice. The nurse in charge asks you to support the family while she prepares anticipatory medications.

Tips & hints:

The theme is Leading compassionate conversations in this scenario. Think about the below points.

·        Leadership behaviours- are they calm and supportive, how is the communication, is there empathy, is the family members values respected.

·        compassionate conversations, acknowledgement of emotions and fears without judgement, what about patient’s wishes?

·        Maintaining patient-centred care- think about patient preferences, patient autonomy. Does care align with patient values? Is there advocacy for dignity and quality of life in end-of-life care.

·        Managing family conflict

·        Communication skills/emotion support

 

Assignment structure (7 sections)

1.     Introduction (overview)

2.     Patch 1: Leadership for Quality Care in Adult’s nursing (Address LO1)

3.     Patch 2: Appraising Evidence to Shape Leadership Decisions (Address LO2)

4.     Patch 3: Health Economics, Resource Allocation, and Quality Care (Address LO3)

5.     Patch 4: Policy, Legislation, and Leadership in Complex Contexts (Address LO4)

6.     Conclusion (Reflective thread)

7.     References

 

 

1.     Introduction (overview)

·        Introduce your scenario

·        Introduce the purpose of the patchwork

·        Briefly introduce quality care and leadership

 

2.     Patch 1: Leadership for Quality Care in Adult’s nursing (Address LO1) (600 words)

·        Must meet the learning outcomes: LO1: Critically analyse the leadership and management required for effective quality care in adult’s nursing, and how this is applied in practice.

·        Define leadership and quality care in the context of adult’s nursing.

·        Identify the leadership style(s) used and explain their impact on service delivery.

·        Use evidence from literature to support your discussion of leadership and quality Care

Tips & hints: (please see the canvas page for information on how to appraise evidence)

Define the leadership and quality of care.

Identify the type of leadership/styles at play in this scenario. Think about leadership styles of the different professionals, their behaviour and the decisions they are making in the scenario. What are the negative impacts on quality of care. Think about compassionate leadership & what are the values of this leadership. Think about communication styles & environment to ensure this patient needs are met. Think about ineffective leadership. Think about clinical leadership and ethical awareness. Think about compassionate leadership and this scenario- what are the related values? What approaches influence service delivery through advocacy.

Read and inform yourself adequately.  Make sure that you include only credible resources to support your discussion. This point is applicable to the patch 3 too.

 

3.     Patch 2: Appraising Evidence to Shape Leadership Decisions (Address LO2) (500 words)

·        Must meet the learning outcomes: LO2: Demonstrate critical analysis skills when appraising evidence of literature from a variety of quality sources.

·        Critically appraise a body of evidence (e.g., academic articles, research studies)

related to leadership.

·        Highlight both strengths and limitations of the evidence reviewed.

·        Make connections between evidence and its impact on quality care.

Tips & hints:

·        Think about how evidence shapes leadership decisions.

·        Have you heard professionals/leaders saying ‘it is my intuition’ or ‘ gut feeling’ or this is the way I have always done it’ but evidence-based leadership is data-driven practice.

·        Evidence does not speak for itself; leaders interpret and apply it. Evidence has to be evaluated. Leaders make informed decisions.

·        Evidence can be scientific literature, internal organisational data such as survey data. Patient satisfaction/performance metrics/engagement surveys.

·        Evidence helps leaders to make based on measurable evidence. Performance improvements are made based on evidence to close the gap.

·        Recurrent low-harm incidents are a significant safety signal Learning, not investigation volume, is the goal under PSIRF.

·        Why patterns matter: Patterns indicate system-level weaknesses. Repetition suggests ineffective learning loops, PSIRF encourages proportionate, themed learning responses

·        Appropriate evidence sources: Incident trend data and audits, Research on medication interruptions and staffing ratios, NICE guidance on medicines optimisation – Human factors literature

·        Critical appraisal (what good looks like): Strengths- large datasets, systematic reviews, real-world relevance. Limitations: context specificity, implementation challenges, time lag between evidence and practice

·        Leadership use of evidence: Prioritising improvement actions based on risk. Designing system changes (e.g. protected medication rounds) – Avoiding individual blame narratives

·        Quality improvement link – Evidence-informed leadership supports safer systems. Improves patient experience and staff confidence

·        Explicitly critique the evidence, not just describe it. What criteria will you use to judge whether each research study is high quality and credible? How do you determine whether evidence from external research applies to your hospital’s context? Which evidence sources (systematic reviews, guidelines, qualitative studies) carry the most weight—and why? Where do you see potential bias in the literature provided? Is there any missing evidence that would help you make a more informed leadership decision? How will you reconcile contradictory findings across different research sources?

 

4.     Patch 3: Health Economics, Resource Allocation, and Quality Care (Address LO3) (600 words)

·        Must meet the learning outcomes: LO3: Critically analyse the need for change and the impact of health economics and resource allocation in the provision of safe and effective care for adults.

·        Using the case study given, discuss how leaders may balance resource allocation or

health economics.

·        Discuss how leaders balanced resource constraints with the need to deliver high-

quality care.

·        Link financial considerations with the broader concept of care quality.

·        Use evidence or literature to support your argument.

Tips & hints:

Family disagreement and distress highlight the need for improved communication pathways and consistent advance‑care‑planning processes. Confusion about the patient’s wishes shows a need for stronger documentation, DNACPR discussions, and advance directives. Emotional strain on staff indicates a need for enhanced training in compassionate leadership and end‑of‑life communication.

Leaders must balance limited hospice resources (beds, staff time, symptom‑management capacity) with pressures from families requesting hospital transfer. Preventing unnecessary hospital admissions avoids additional cost to the system while honouring patient‑centred care. Even with limited personnel, leaders ensure high‑quality care by prioritising the patient’s comfort, dignity, and stated preferences.

Leaders coordinate with multidisciplinary teams to manage workload effectively while still providing emotional support to the family. Preparing anticipatory medications ensures symptom control, maintaining quality of care despite operational pressures. Avoiding inappropriate hospital transfers reduces unnecessary healthcare spending and ensures care aligns with the patient’s goals. High‑quality end‑of‑life care in the hospice prevents costly interventions that offer no clinical benefit. Investment in staff communication training improves family satisfaction and reduces conflict, improving overall care value.

Allocating staff time for compassionate family support is essential despite workload and staffing pressures.

         5. Patch 4: Policy, Legislation, and Leadership in Complex Contexts (Address LO4) (500 words)

·        Must meet the learning outcomes: LO4: Demonstrate application of relevant policy, legislation, and guidance that influences care delivery in complex and unpredictable contexts.

·        Identify a relevant policy or legislation that influences leadership decisions in

complex and unpredictable contest (i.e. safeguarding).

·        Highlight the impact of legal frameworks on care delivery.

·        Provide evidence from literature or case studies to support your analysis.

Tips & hints:

Mental Capacity Act (2005): The patient previously expressed a wish to remain in the hospice; leaders must uphold her autonomy and previously stated preferences through advance‑care‑planning principles. The NHS Constitution: Requires respect for patient choice, dignity, and end‑of‑life wishes, guiding leaders when families request conflicting interventions.

End‑of‑Life Care NICE Guidelines (NG31): Direct care teams to prioritise comfort, symptom control, and communication with families in deteriorating patients. Duty of Candour: Supports open, honest discussions with families about prognosis, realistic treatment options, and the limits of further interventions.

Ensures patient choice overrides family disagreement, providing clarity for staff in complex emotional situations. Creates a framework for legal, ethical decision‑making when families demand treatment that is not clinically appropriate. Supports safe care by guiding use of anticipatory medications, focusing on symptom management rather than futile treatment.

Helps staff maintain consistent standards, reducing moral distress and supporting unified team practice during conflict.

         6.Conclusion and reflection (200 words)

·        Reflect on the role of leadership and how they shape decision-making in your area of practice.

·        Discuss how evidence-based practice informs your leadership approach, ensuring that decisions are not only driven by values but also by research and data.

·        Synthesize how these elements (values and evidence) have influenced your understanding of quality care, policy, resource allocation, and health economics in healthcare.

·        Consider how you will apply these insights in your future practice.

Tips & hints:

So, after gaining the knowledge by addressing the four learning outcomes, bring the ideas together, show relationships between them, and explain how they collectively shape your understanding and your practice. Discuss about how evidence‑based practice supports leaders in making decisions that are justified and transparent, selecting interventions known to be clinically effective/of quality, improving consistency and evaluating outcomes systematically.

Group Assignment

Assessment Details and Submission Guidelines

Assessment Details	Details
Trimester	T1 2026
Unit Code	HM5002
Unit Title	Finance for Managers
Assessment Type	Individual Assignment
Weight	40%
Submission Guidelines	All work must be submitted on Blackboard by the due date along with a completed Assignment Cover Page. The assignment must be in MS Word format unless otherwise specified.
Academic Integrity Information	Holmes Institute is committed to ensuring and upholding academic integrity. All assessments must comply with academic integrity guidelines. Please learn about academic integrity and consult your teachers with any questions. Violating academic integrity is serious and punishable by penalties that range from deduction of marks, failure of the assessment task or unit involved, suspension of course enrolment, or cancellation of course enrolment.
Penalties	This assessment must be submitted on Blackboard by the due date and time, as late penalties apply (refer Student Handbook). Assessment submitted without a completed Assessment Cover Page will receive a 20% penalty. This assessment must be submitted in Microsoft Word format. Submissions which breach this requirement will receive a 20% penalty. A 20% penalty will be imposed for all single student (solo) group assessment submissions. Assessments submitted via a VPN will receive a 50% penalty. Assessment submitted via an overseas IP address is a direct breach of Holmes’ Student Academic Conduct and Integrity Policy. Reference sources must be cited using Holmes Institute Adapted Harvard Referencing method. Incorrect referencing will receive a 20% penalty.

Group Assignment Guidelines and Specifications

Part A — Statistical Analysis on Return, Risk and Correlation (20 Marks)

You are employed as a financial analyst with the responsibility of conducting a comprehensive statistical analysis of investment performance across a selection of companies listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX). Your role involves evaluating key financial metrics, including returns, risk measures, and correlations, to generate meaningful insights that support investment decision-making.

The dataset containing the ASX-listed companies assigned to your group has been provided below. Using this dataset, you are required to apply appropriate statistical techniques to assess the performance and risk characteristics of each company.

Allocation of Companies

Listed Companies (from ASX)	Industry
WDS: Woodside Energy Group Limited	Energy
STO: Santos Limited	Energy
NEU: Neuren Pharmaceuticals Limited	Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences
TLX: Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited	Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences

Requirements:

I. Write an overview of your allocated companies, ensuring the following details are included:

• a. Its principal business activities (main products or services)
• b. Total market capitalization (as of December 2024)
• c. Major company events in 2022–2024 which may have impacted its stock prices.

(2 marks)

II. Statistical Analysis on Return, Risk and Correlation

Using the historical price data provided in a separate Excel spreadsheet, perform the following:

a) Calculate the monthly returns and complete the table below. If there are no return values, indicate them as N.A. (4 marks)

Month	Company 1 (Name)	Company 2 (Name)	Company 3 (Name)	Company 4 (Name)
Jan-2022
Feb-2022
Mar-2022 etc…..

b) Calculate the arithmetic mean and standard deviation of monthly return and comment on the risk and return behaviour of stocks. (4 marks)

	Company 1 (Name)	Company 2 (Name)	Company 3 (Name)	Company 4 (Name)
Arithmetic Mean (%)
Standard Deviation (%)

c) Calculate the geometric mean of monthly return for each stock, and explain what these values indicate about companies’ returns. (3 marks)

	Company 1 (Name)	Company 2 (Name)	Company 3 (Name)	Company 4 (Name)
Geometric Mean (%)

d) Estimate the annual return for each company using the calculated average monthly return. (1 mark)

	Company 1 (Name)	Company 2 (Name)	Company 3 (Name)	Company 4 (Name)
Annual Return (%)

e) Calculate the holding period return for each stock. (1 mark)

	Company 1 (Name)	Company 2 (Name)	Company 3 (Name)	Company 4 (Name)
Holding Period Return (%)

f) Based on monthly returns, estimate and comment on these stocks’ correlations. (4 marks)

Please insert correlation matrix from your Excel output. The correlation matrix is obtained using CORREL(array1, array2) in Excel spreadsheet.

Note: Ensure that you attach the Excel file containing the price data and necessary calculations to your assignment submission. Assignments submitted without an attached Excel file will incur a 10% penalty.

Part B — Financial Ratio Analysis (13 Marks)

In addition to conducting the statistical analysis on return, risk and correlation for the allocated companies using the historical prices in Part A, you are also required to perform a detailed financial ratio analysis. This analysis should complement the findings from Part A by offering deeper insights into each company’s financial performance, and overall market positioning.

Requirements:

Obtain and review the Balance Sheet and Income Statement for each of your assigned companies for three financial years (FY2022, FY2023 and FY2024). Attach these financial statements in the appendix of your report. Based on this information:

a) Evaluate each company’s liquidity position by calculating and analysing key liquidity ratios, such as the Current Ratio, Quick Ratio etc. for each of the three financial years. (3 marks)

	Company 1 (Name)			Company 2 (Name)			Company 3 (Name)			Company 4 (Name)
	2022	2023	2024	2022	2023	2024	2022	2023	2024	2022	2023	2024
Ratio 1
Ratio 2
Etc..

b) Comment on whether the company appears to have sufficient short-term resources to meet its obligations. (3 marks)

c) Identify and explain two key leverage ratios that would be important to creditors and/or potential investors (e.g. Debt-to-Equity Ratio, Interest Coverage Ratio, etc). Calculate and interpret these ratios for each company for each of the three financial years. (4 marks)

	Company 1 (Name)			Company 2 (Name)			Company 3 (Name)			Company 4 (Name)
	2022	2023	2024	2022	2023	2024	2022	2023	2024	2022	2023	2024
Ratio 1
Ratio 2
Etc..

d) Identify and explain two key financial ratios that would be important to shareholders and/or potential investors (e.g. Return on Equity, Earnings Per Share, etc). Calculate and interpret these ratios for each company for each of the three financial years. (4 marks)

	Company 1 (Name)			Company 2 (Name)			Company 3 (Name)			Company 4 (Name)
	2022	2023	2024	2022	2023	2024	2022	2023	2024	2022	2023	2024
Ratio 1
Ratio 2
Etc..

Part C — Preparation of an Investment Proposal (7 Marks)

Finally, you are required to develop a well-structured investment strategy proposal. In this proposal, you must select and recommend two out of the four allocated companies, ensuring that one company is chosen from each industry represented in your dataset.

Your recommendations should be clearly justified and grounded in the findings from your earlier analyses, including both the statistical evaluation (returns, risk, and correlation) and the financial ratio assessment. You are expected to integrate these insights to explain why the selected companies offer stronger investment potential, considering factors such as performance consistency, risk profile, growth prospects, and competitive positioning within their respective industries.

Assignment Structure

The assignment should include the following components:

• The assignment cover page (group members’ names, student numbers, and all other required details)
• Abstract (one paragraph)
• Table of contents
• A brief introduction or overview of what the assignment is about
• Body of the assignment with appropriate section headings
• Conclusion
• List of References (follow the Holmes Adapted Harvard Referencing guidelines)

Marking Criteria

Marking Criteria	Weighting
Part A: Risk, Return and Correlation Analysis
Overview of companies	2
II. a) Calculation of monthly return	4
Calculation of arithmetic mean and standard deviation of monthly return	4
Calculation of geometric mean of monthly return and explain what these values indicate about the companies’ returns	3
Estimation of annual return	1
Estimation of holding period return	1
Correlation analysis	4
Part B: Financial Ratio Analysis
a) & b) Liquidity analysis	6
c) Leverage ratio analysis	4
d) Profitability and market value ratio analysis	4
Part C: Investment Proposal	7
Total	40

Student Assessment Citation and Referencing Rules

Holmes has implemented a revised Harvard approach to referencing. The following rules apply:

• Reference sources in assignments are limited to sources that provide full-text access to the source’s content for lecturers and markers.
• The reference list must be located on a separate page at the end of the report and titled: “References”.
• The reference list must include the details of all the in-text citations, arranged A-Z alphabetically by author surname with each reference numbered and each reference MUST include a hyperlink to the full text of the cited reference source. For example:

Hawking, P., McCarthy, B. & Stein, A. 2004. Second Wave ERP Education, Journal of Information Systems Education, Fall, http://jise.org/Volume15/n3/JISEv15n3p327.pdf

• All assignments must include in-text citations. These must include the surname of the author/s or name of the authoring body, year of publication, page number of the content, and paragraph where the content can be found. For example: “The company decided to implement an enterprise-wide data warehouse business intelligence strategy (Hawking et al., 2004, p3(4)).”

Non-Adherence to Referencing Rules

• For students who submit assignments that do not comply with all aspects of the rules, a 20% penalty will be applied.
• Late penalties will apply each day after the student/s have been notified of the due date.
• Students who comply with rules BUT their citations are ‘fake’ will be reported for academic misconduct.

Academic Integrity

Holmes Institute is committed to ensuring and upholding academic integrity, as it is integral to maintaining academic quality and the reputation of Holmes’ graduates.

Table 1: Six Categories of Academic Integrity Breaches

Category	Description
Plagiarism	Reproducing the work of someone else without attribution. When a student submits their own work on multiple occasions this is known as self-plagiarism.
Collusion	Working with one or more other individuals to complete an assignment, in a way that is not authorized.
Copying	Reproducing and submitting the work of another student, with or without their knowledge. If a student fails to take reasonable precautions to prevent their own original work from being copied, this may also be considered an offence.
Impersonation	Falsely presenting oneself, or engaging someone else to present as oneself, in an in-person examination.
Contract cheating	Contracting a third party to complete an assessment task, generally in exchange for money or other manner of payment.
Data fabrication and falsification	Manipulating or inventing data with the intent of supporting false conclusions, including manipulating images.

Marking Rubric

	Excellent (80–100%)	Very Good (66–79%)	Good (56–65%)	Satisfactory (41–55%)	Unsatisfactory (0–40%)
Part A
I. Overview of companies (2 marks)	Highly insightful and well-researched. Covers all aspects thoroughly.	Detailed and relevant company information; clearly explained.	Adequate overview with key information included.	Basic overview; some important details missing or underdeveloped.	Incomplete or inaccurate overview; lacks essential or correct information, or is confusing.
II. a) Calculation of monthly return (4 marks)	Accurate calculations and fully completed.	Correct calculations with minor inaccuracies or omissions.	Calculations mostly correct; some errors or omissions.	An attempt is made, but key calculations are missing or mostly incorrect.	Incomplete or largely incorrect, or is confusing.
b) Arithmetic mean and standard deviation (4 marks)	Accurate calculations with insightful analysis of risk-return.	Correct calculations with basic analysis of risk-return.	Mostly correct calculations with limited analysis.	Errors in calculations, basic or incomplete analysis.	Incorrect calculations, no meaningful analysis, or is confusing.
c) Geometric mean (3 marks)	Accurate calculation with clear, insightful explanation of what the geometric mean indicates about the companies’ returns.	Correct calculation with relevant commentary, though lacking some depth.	Reasonable calculation and interpretation, but with minor errors or general analysis.	Basic calculation with limited insight into the companies’ returns.	Incorrect or missing calculation with no meaningful explanation, or is confusing.
d) Estimation of annual return (1 mark)	Accurate and well-presented.	Correct with minor errors.	Mostly correct with some errors.	Attempted with significant errors.	Incorrect or unclear, or is confusing.
e) Estimation of holding period return (1 mark)	Accurate and clearly shown holding period return.	Correct estimation with minor errors.	Mostly correct but with some significant errors.	Attempted with major errors.	Incorrect or missing estimation, or is confusing.
f) Correlation analysis (4 marks)	Accurate correlation matrix analysis, clearly presented and effectively used in overall analysis.	Correct correlation matrix analysis with clear presentation; minor issues in interpretation or integration.	Mostly correct correlation matrix analysis; limited use or basic presentation.	Attempted correlation matrix analysis with errors or unclear formatting.	Correlation matrix analysis not included or entirely incorrect, or is confusing.
Part B
a) & b) Liquidity analysis (6 marks)	Financial statements correctly attached. At least two liquidity ratios calculated and interpreted well.	Financial statements attached. Two liquidity ratios calculated with good interpretation.	Statements attached. One or two ratios calculated with basic analysis.	One ratio calculated. Limited interpretation. Financial statements may be incomplete.	No meaningful analysis. Ratios missing or incorrect. No statements provided.
c) Leverage ratio analysis (4 marks)	Correct identification and calculation of at least two ratios for each company. Strong analysis and interpretation.	Correct identification and calculation of two ratios for each company. Good analysis and interpretation.	At least two ratios calculated. Analysis may lack depth or clarity.	One ratio calculated. Weak or unclear analysis and interpretation.	Incomplete or incorrect calculations. Unclear interpretation.
d) Profitability and market value ratio analysis (4 marks)	Correct identification and calculation of at least two ratios for each company. Strong analysis and interpretation.	Correct identification and calculation of two ratios for each company. Good analysis and interpretation.	At least two ratios calculated. Analysis may lack depth or clarity.	One ratio calculated. Weak or unclear analysis and interpretation.	Incomplete or incorrect calculations. Unclear interpretation.
Part C: Investment Proposal (7 marks)	Well-structured, coherent argument, recommendation is justified and well-grounded in the findings from earlier analyses.	Well-structured, coherent argument, recommendation is justified and mostly grounded in the findings from earlier analyses.	Coherent argument, recommendation is justified and mostly grounded in the findings from earlier analyses.	Recommendation is weakly grounded in the findings from earlier analyses.	Recommendation is not grounded in the findings from earlier analyses.

Note: This sample is for guidance purposes only and should be used as a reference to assist with understanding the assignment requirements.

HM5002 Finance for Managers – Sample Solution (Guidance Only)

Note: This sample solution is provided for learning and guidance purposes only. Students must perform their own calculations using the Excel dataset provided by their lecturer and prepare original analysis in accordance with academic integrity requirements.

Abstract

This report analyses the return, risk, correlation, and financial performance of four ASX-listed companies: Woodside Energy Group Limited, Santos Limited, Neuren Pharmaceuticals Limited, and Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited. Statistical analysis was conducted using monthly stock returns from 2022–2024. Financial ratio analysis examined liquidity, leverage, and profitability indicators. Based on the findings, an investment recommendation is provided by selecting one company from the energy sector and one company from the biotechnology sector.

1. Introduction

Investment decisions require an understanding of both market performance and financial strength. This report evaluates four ASX-listed companies from the Energy and Biotechnology industries through return analysis, risk assessment, correlation measurement, and financial ratio evaluation. The findings are used to formulate an investment proposal.

Part A – Statistical Analysis on Return, Risk and Correlation

2. Company Overview

2.1 Woodside Energy Group Limited (WDS)

Principal Activities

• Oil and gas exploration
• LNG production
• Energy development projects

Market Capitalisation (Dec 2024)

Approximately AUD 50 billion.

Major Events (2022–2024)

• Merger with BHP Petroleum assets.
• Strong LNG demand due to global energy shortages.
• Progress of Scarborough Energy Project.

2.2 Santos Limited (STO)

Principal Activities

• Natural gas production
• LNG exports
• Oil exploration

Market Capitalisation (Dec 2024)

Approximately AUD 25 billion.

Major Events (2022–2024)

• Increased LNG exports.
• Expansion of Barossa Gas Project.
• Higher commodity prices supporting revenue growth.

2.3 Neuren Pharmaceuticals Limited (NEU)

Principal Activities

• Development of neurological disorder treatments.
• Commercialisation of Rett Syndrome therapies.

Market Capitalisation (Dec 2024)

Approximately AUD 2 billion.

Major Events (2022–2024)

• Positive drug trial outcomes.
• Increased royalty income from approved therapies.
• Significant share price appreciation.

2.4 Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited (TLX)

Principal Activities

• Radiopharmaceutical products.
• Cancer imaging and treatment solutions.

Market Capitalisation (Dec 2024)

Approximately AUD 8 billion.

Major Events (2022–2024)

• Strong growth in Illuccix sales.
• Expansion into global markets.
• Regulatory approvals supporting growth.

3. Monthly Return Analysis

Formula

Monthly Return=Pt−Pt−1Pt−1\text{Monthly Return} = \frac{P_t – P_{t-1}}{P_{t-1}}Monthly Return=Pt−1​Pt​−Pt−1​​

Sample Return Table

Month	WDS	STO	NEU	TLX
Jan-22	N.A	N.A	N.A	N.A
Feb-22	4.5%	3.8%	8.2%	5.1%
Mar-22	3.2%	2.9%	7.6%	4.7%
Apr-22	-1.8%	-2.0%	5.5%	3.6%
…	…	…	…	…

(Complete using Excel data provided.)

4. Arithmetic Mean and Standard Deviation

Company	Arithmetic Mean	Standard Deviation
WDS	1.45%	6.20%
STO	1.30%	5.80%
NEU	2.85%	12.40%
TLX	2.35%	10.10%

Discussion

• NEU generated the highest average monthly return.
• WDS and STO delivered more stable returns.
• Biotechnology stocks exhibited greater volatility than energy stocks.
• Higher returns were associated with higher risk.

5. Geometric Mean Return

Company	Geometric Mean
WDS	1.30%
STO	1.15%
NEU	2.50%
TLX	2.10%

Interpretation

The geometric mean represents the average compounded return earned by investors over time. NEU and TLX produced stronger long-term growth, while WDS and STO provided steadier performance.

6. Annual Return

Formula:

(1+Monthly Return)12−1(1+\text{Monthly Return})^{12}-1(1+Monthly Return)12−1

Company	Annual Return
WDS	16.8%
STO	14.8%
NEU	40.0%
TLX	31.5%

7. Holding Period Return

Formula:

PEnd−PBeginningPBeginning\frac{P_{End}-P_{Beginning}}{P_{Beginning}}PBeginning​PEnd​−PBeginning​​

Company	Holding Period Return
WDS	48%
STO	42%
NEU	130%
TLX	95%

Interpretation

NEU achieved the highest overall return during the investment period, indicating exceptional growth performance.

8. Correlation Analysis

Sample Correlation Matrix

	WDS	STO	NEU	TLX
WDS	1.00	0.82	0.21	0.18
STO	0.82	1.00	0.25	0.20
NEU	0.21	0.25	1.00	0.68
TLX	0.18	0.20	0.68	1.00

Discussion

• WDS and STO have strong positive correlation because both operate within the energy sector.
• NEU and TLX show moderate correlation due to similar biotechnology industry influences.
• Low correlation between energy and biotechnology stocks suggests diversification benefits.

Part B – Financial Ratio Analysis

9. Liquidity Analysis

Current Ratio

Current Ratio=Current AssetsCurrent LiabilitiesCurrent\ Ratio=\frac{Current\ Assets}{Current\ Liabilities}Current Ratio=Current LiabilitiesCurrent Assets​

Quick Ratio

Quick Ratio=Current Assets−InventoryCurrent LiabilitiesQuick\ Ratio=\frac{Current\ Assets-Inventory}{Current\ Liabilities}Quick Ratio=Current LiabilitiesCurrent Assets−Inventory​

Sample Results

Company	2022	2023	2024
WDS Current Ratio	1.60	1.75	1.82
STO Current Ratio	1.45	1.52	1.58
NEU Current Ratio	5.20	5.85	6.10
TLX Current Ratio	3.10	3.45	3.80

Interpretation

• NEU and TLX possess strong liquidity positions.
• WDS and STO maintain adequate liquidity.
• All companies appear capable of meeting short-term obligations.

10. Leverage Analysis

Debt-to-Equity Ratio

Debt/Equity=Total DebtTotal EquityDebt/Equity=\frac{Total\ Debt}{Total\ Equity}Debt/Equity=Total EquityTotal Debt​

Interest Coverage Ratio

Interest Coverage=EBITInterest ExpenseInterest\ Coverage=\frac{EBIT}{Interest\ Expense}Interest Coverage=Interest ExpenseEBIT​

Sample Results

Company	D/E 2024	Interest Coverage 2024
WDS	0.42	12.5
STO	0.55	9.8
NEU	0.05	N.A
TLX	0.12	15.2

Interpretation

• NEU and TLX maintain very low debt levels.
• WDS and STO employ moderate leverage.
• Lower debt reduces financial risk for biotechnology companies.

11. Shareholder Ratios

Return on Equity (ROE)

ROE=Net IncomeShareholders EquityROE=\frac{Net\ Income}{Shareholders\ Equity}ROE=Shareholders EquityNet Income​

Earnings Per Share (EPS)

EPS=Net IncomeShares OutstandingEPS=\frac{Net\ Income}{Shares\ Outstanding}EPS=Shares OutstandingNet Income​

Sample Results

Company	ROE 2024	EPS 2024
WDS	18%	2.65
STO	14%	0.72
NEU	24%	0.65
TLX	20%	0.58

Interpretation

• NEU generated the highest shareholder return.
• TLX demonstrated strong profitability growth.
• WDS provided stable returns supported by strong cash flows.

Part C – Investment Proposal