Instructions Read the following information about a typical dental practice: Community Dental has two offices in the same city — the North office and the South office. These offices offer the same dental services to patients. Patients can make appointments to either office at their convenience to see the dentist of their choice. Both offices are similarly equipped. The professional staff includes the dentists, hygienists, dental mechanics, and administrative staff (receptionist, billing clerk, and office manager). Each Community Dental office has a waiting area served by a receptionist who uses a computer to check in patients, schedule one of the examination rooms, and answer the phone. The waiting room has a door opening to the outside. A second door admits patients into the rest of the facility. Background music plays inside the waiting area. There is also a large aquarium on display. Each examination area is partitioned off from the adjacent ones. Each has a computer and LCD screen used to pull up patient information and record new dental data such as x-ray interpretations, examination and test results, and procedures done for the patient. A low-level sound masking system is installed in this area. After their treatment, the patient visits the billing clerk’s desk, which of course has a computer and a printer. Here patients pay (cash co-pay, credit card, or check), insurance information is verified, and an appointment is made. This clerk also mails out postcard appointment reminders and answers the phone. The Community Dental dentists share a private office that has a computer and a printer. Here they can review patient data, access the Internet, and exchange email with their patients, colleagues, and acquaintances. A database server containing patient data sits in a closet, next to a small tape library used for backup. Next to it sits a VPN server, firewall/router, and cable modem connected to the Internet. The VPN server accepts incoming connections from the dentist’s home computers. It also provides a permanent VPN connection between the North and South Offices. In this way, all patient data is available at all times at either office. Most patient data is stored electronically on the database server, but some data such as x-rays and third-party labs results are still in physical form. Community Dental also depends on third party service providers to build crowns, braces, false teeth, soft dental protectors, and such. Information is exchanged with service providers using telephone, fax, letter, and email. The network infrastructure’s management and maintenance are outsourced. Community Dental also maintains an informative website to advertise its practice. The site is remotely hosted. Answer the following questions in essay style. Make any sensible assumptions necessary in order to continue your analysis. Feel free to use the discussion board to sh.

1. Instructions
Read the following information about a typical dental practice:
Community Dental has two offices in the same city — the
North office and the South office. These offices offer the same
dental services to patients. Patients can make appointments to
either office at their convenience to see the dentist of their
choice. Both offices are similarly equipped.
The professional staff includes the dentists, hygienists,
dental mechanics, and administrative staff (receptionist, billing
clerk, and office manager).
Each Community Dental office has a waiting area served by a
receptionist who uses a computer to check in patients, schedule
one of the examination rooms, and answer the phone. The
waiting room has a door opening to the outside. A second door
admits patients into the rest of the facility. Background music
plays inside the waiting area. There is also a large aquarium on
display.
Each examination area is partitioned off from the adjacent
ones. Each has a computer and LCD screen used to pull up
patient information and record new dental data such as x-ray
interpretations, examination and test results, and procedures
done for the patient. A low-level sound masking system is
installed in this area.
After their treatment, the patient visits the billing clerk’s
desk, which of course has a computer and a printer. Here
patients pay (cash co-pay, credit card, or check), insurance

2. information is verified, and an appointment is made. This clerk
also mails out postcard appointment reminders and answers the
phone.
The Community Dental dentists share a private office that
has a computer and a printer. Here they can review patient
data, access the Internet, and exchange email with their
patients, colleagues, and acquaintances.
A database server containing patient data sits in a closet,
next to a small tape library used for backup. Next to it sits a
VPN server, firewall/router, and cable modem connected to the
Internet. The VPN server accepts incoming connections from
the dentist’s home computers. It also provides a permanent
VPN connection between the North and South Offices. In this
way, all patient data is available at all times at either office.
Most patient data is stored electronically on the database
server, but some data such as x-rays and third-party labs results
are still in physical form. Community Dental also depends on
third party service providers to build crowns, braces, false
teeth, soft dental protectors, and such. Information is
exchanged with service providers using telephone, fax, letter,
and email.
The network infrastructure’s management and maintenance
are outsourced.
Community Dental also maintains an informative website to
advertise its practice. The site is remotely hosted.
Answer the following questions in essay style. Make any
sensible assumptions necessary in order to continue your
analysis. Feel free to use the discussion board to share your

3. assumptions with others in the class:
What is all the electronic and non-electronic private health
information (ePHI) that is stored, processed, and transmitted at
Community Dental’s two offices?
Assess the practice’s organization. Where is it most likely
HIPAA compliant? What changes should be made to move the
practice closer to compliance?
Assess the practice’s physical and technical safeguards.
Where is it most likely HIPAA compliant? What changes
should be made to move the practice closer to compliance?
Community Dental exchanges data with service providers and
uses a third party to manage its IT infrastructure. What
administrative and organizational safeguards should the
practice expect these providers to adhere to?
Assignment Requirements:
Note: All written assignments should be completed using APA
format, unless otherwise noted in the instructions.
Submit your assignment in the usual double-spaced APA-styled
report. Content should be a minimum of four double-spaced
pages, APA style followed (title page, abstract, table of
contents, and references section) to meet expectations

4. Module 1 Assignment:
Financial Management Decision Making
Report prepared by: Replace this text with your name.
Date: Replace this text with the submission date.
Walden University
WMBA 6070:
Managerial Finance
1

5. Company Profile, Part 1
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headings as necessary.
[Heading]
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necessary.
[Sub-Heading]
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necessary.
Company Profile, Part 2
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headings as necessary.
[Heading]
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necessary.
[Sub-Heading]
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necessary.
Company Profile, Part 3

6. Replace this text with introductory information. Add or remove
headings as necessary.
[Heading]
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necessary.
[Sub-Heading]
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necessary.
Recommendations to Mutual Fund Managers
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headings as necessary.
[Heading]
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necessary.
[Sub-Heading]
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necessary.
References
[Please delete this note before submitting your Assignment. For
more information about formatting your reference list, please
visit the following site:
https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/apa/reference
s.]

7. Include appropriately formatted references to support your
Assignment. Refer to the Assignment guidelines for further
information on the requirements.
2
Module 1 Assignment:
Financial Management Decision Making
Report prepared by:
Date:
Walden University
WMBA 6070:
Managerial Finance
1

8. PepsiCo Company Profile
Introduction
PepsiCo, Inc. (NASDAQ: PEP), founded in 1898 and based in
Purchase, New York, is an American global food and beverage
conglomerate. Over 200 countries benefit from this
corporation's services, and its 263,000 workers keep them
afloat. Frito-Lay, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Quaker, and Tropicana
are just few of the brands owned by PepsiCo. You can buy
PepsiCo goods in grocery stores, corner stores, eateries, and
other eating venues.
Company Divisions
Lay's, Doritos, Cheetos, and Tostitos are just a few of the many
popular snack chip brands produced by PepsiCo's Frito-Lay
subsidiary. Frito-Lay's products are available in over 40
countries. The company's Gatorade business is the world's
leading sports drink, with products that include Gatorade Thirst
Quencher and G2. Gatorade products are available in over 80
countries (Jallow, 2021). PepsiCo's Pepsi-Cola business
manufactures, markets, and distributes a variety of refreshments
both carbonated and non-carbonated. Pepsi-Cola products are
available in over 200 nations.
Quaker Oats, Quaker Rice Cakes, Quaker Chewy Granola
Bars, and Cap'n Crunch are just a few of the oat-based food and
drink products made by PepsiCo's Quaker business. Quaker
products are available in over 60 countries. Tropicana is
PepsiCo's leading orange juice business, with products that
include Tropicana Pure Premium and Tropicana Lemonade.
Tropicana products are available in over 40 countries.
Mission and Vision of The Company

9. PepsiCo’s Mission
PepsiCo is one of the world's largest food and beverage
corporations, having been established in 1898. With customers
all around the world, the company's goal is to supply them with
tasty, reasonably priced, environmentally friendly goods. More
than 300,000 people are employed by PepsiCo across its vast
global network of over 200 countries of operation. Some of the
world's best recognized brands are produced by this company,
such as Pepsi, Lay's, Gatorade, Quaker, and Tropicana (Jallow,
2021). PepsiCo is committed to providing products that are not
only delicious and affordable but also sustainable. The company
works to minimize its environmental impact by reducing waste,
conserving water, and using renewable energy. PepsiCo also
strives to make a positive difference in its communities.
PepsiCo's Vision
PepsiCo's vision is to "create more smiles with every sip and
every bite." In other words, the company wants to bring
happiness and enjoyment to people's lives through its products.
PepsiCo strives to be the premier provider of convenient foods
and beverages, offering delicious, affordable, and sustainable
options for consumers and businesses worldwide. The company
is committed to positively impacting people's lives and creating
value for shareholders.
PepsiCo’s Value to Shareholders
Work Environment/Organizational Culture
According to an article published by Business Insider, PepsiCo's
work environment and organizational culture are "challenging
but rewarding." The company is said to be very competitive,
and employees are expected to work hard and perform at a high
level. However, PepsiCo is also said to be a great workplace
with good benefits and a supportive culture. Employees are said
to be passionate about their work and proud to be part of the
company.
Financial stability
PepsiCo has a strong balance sheet and is one of the most
financially stable companies in the world. It has a AAA credit

10. rating from Standard & Poor's, and its debt-to-equity ratio is
one of the lowest in the food and beverage industry. PepsiCo
has a long history of paying dividends and is one of the few
companies in the food and beverage industry to do so
consistently (Luo, 2019). It has also been repurchasing shares,
demonstrating its commitment to shareholder value. In terms of
growth potential, PepsiCo is well-positioned to continue
delivering value to shareholders in the future.
Its use of AI has allowed it to develop new products, improve
its manufacturing and supply chain operations, and create more
personalized marketing campaigns. As a result, PepsiCo is
expected to grow at a healthy rate. In terms of valuation,
PepsiCo is currently trading at a P/E ratio of 20.4, slightly
above the industry average of 19.4. However, its PEG ratio of
2.1 indicates its growth potential is still higher than its peers.
As such, PepsiCo still looks like a good value for shareholders.
Opportunities For Further Domestic and International Growth
PepsiCo has opportunities for further growth in both the
domestic and international markets. The company has a strong
presence in the US beverage market, and its snack food business
is also expanding globally. In addition, PepsiCo's joint ventures
with Ting Hsin International Group and Associated British
Foods plc give the company a foothold in the Chinese and UK
markets, respectively (Zhang, 2019). PepsiCo's expansion into
new markets provides the company with growth opportunities.
The company's products are well-received in the US, and its
joint ventures provide a springboard for expanding into China
and the UK. In addition, PepsiCo plans to launch new products
and enter new categories, further fueling its growth.
Recommendations to Mutual Fund Managers
PepsiCo is an excellent long-term investment for several
reasons. Firstly, the company has a strong track record of
delivering shareholder value. Over the past decade, PepsiCo has
consistently increased its dividend payments and share
repurchases, meaning that shareholders have been well rewarded

11. for their patience (Zhang, 2019). Secondly, the company's
products are iconic and widely recognizable worldwide. This
brand equity provides a competitive advantage and helps to
insulate the company from economic downturns.
PepsiCo is also a diversified food and beverage company with a
portfolio of well-known brands. This diversity provides stability
and growth potential for the company, even in challenging
economic conditions. For example, PepsiCo's snacks business
has performed well in recent years, offsetting weakness in its
drinks business. This diversification makes PepsiCo a more
reliable investment than companies focused on just one product
category.
References
Forbes Magazine. (n.d.).
PepsiCo | Pep Stock Price, Company Overview & News.
Forbes. Retrieved November 6, 2022, from
https://www.forbes.com/companies/pepsico/?sh=424be9147116
Jallow, A. (2021). A strategic case study on PepsiCo.
SSRN Electronic Journal.
https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3828353
Luo, Y. (2019). PepsiCo.
Partnering with Chinese Firms, pp. 171–194.
https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315200491-8
Zhang, Z. (2019). Risk analysis of two leader Drink Companies:
PepsiCo and Coca-Cola.
Asian Business Research,
4(3), 42. https://doi.org/10.20849/abr.v4i3.686

12. 2
Assignment: Financial Management Decision Making—
Part 2 only (3-4 pages)
Note: In Week 1, you submitted Part 1 of the Company Profile
for your Module 1 Assignment.
You will complete and submit Part 2 this week. Next
week, you will complete and submit Part 3 of the Company
Profile, as well as your recommendations to the managers of the
mutual fund.
As a reminder of the scenario, you have been hired by a mutual
fund as a management consultant to evaluate a publicly held
company that the fund is considering adding to its holdings.
Specifically, you will appraise the company’s work
environment/organizational culture, financial stability, domestic
and international financial growth opportunities, ethical
practices, diversity/composition of its board of directors,
corporate social responsibility practices, and evidence-based
decision-making practices. Based on your evaluation, you will
develop an 8- to 10-page report (in total throughout Weeks 1–3)
for the managers of the mutual fund that will include your
recommendations as to whether this company aligns with the
mutual fund’s investment philosophy, which emphasizes
companies that are recognized for their practices related to
ethics, social responsibility, and global expansion.
In your report, be sure to include relevant citations from the
Learning Resources, the Walden Library, and/or other
appropriate academic sources to support your work.
To prepare for this Assignment:
· Return to your Module 1 Assignment Template to
complete Part 2 of your Company Profile. (Assignment
Template is attached)
Note: Be sure to keep a copy of your completed
Assignment this week, as you will be adding to the same file for

13. your Week 3 Assignment.
Submit your evaluation of value to shareholders, to include the
following:
Company Profile, Part 2 (3–4 pages) PepsiCo
·
Evaluate the company on its value to shareholders in
the following areas, being sure to provide relevant examples,
details, and citations to support your evaluation for each area:
· Ethical practices
· Diversity/composition of the board of directors
· Corporate social responsibility practices