Reflection and DisucssuionChapter 3. Engineering Economic Analysis Chapter 4. Life-Cycle Costing Reflect on the assigned readings for the week. Respond to the following prompts: “What do I feel are th

Chapter 3. Engineering Economic Analysis

Chapter 4. Life-Cycle Costing

Reflect on the assigned readings for the week. Respond to the following prompts: “What do I feel are the most important aspects of my learning in the chapters this week?” and “What about this learning was really worthy of my time and understanding?” Then explain how important it is in society or business.

Also, provide a graduate-level response to each of the following questions:

1. American businesses have often been criticized for short-term thinking that places too much emphasis on payback period and ROR. When Honda started making cars in the early 1970s, for example, the chief executive officer stated that the firm would be “willing to accept an ROR no greater than 2% or 3% for as long as it took to be recognized as the best car maker in the world.” In light of the success of many Japanese firms, is the criticism of American business justified?
2. Most countries have a progressive income tax system whereby each dollar earned in incrementally higher tax brackets is taxed at an increasingly higher rate. Do you think that a flat tax system would be more fair? How about a proportional tax system? Explain your answer.
3. Discuss the effect of taxes on the life-cycle costing (LCC) of passenger cars. Compare domestic and imported cars.

Assignment

Activity I: A young engineer decides to save $240 per year toward retirement in 40 years.

1. If he invests this sum at the end of every year at 9%, then how much will be accumulated by retirement time?
2. If by astute investing the interest rate could be raised to 12%, then what sum could be saved?
3. If he deposits one fourth of this annual amount each quarter ($60 per quarter) in an interest bearing account earning a nominal annual interest rate of 12%, compounded quarterly, how much could be saved by retirement time?
4. In part (c), then what annual effective interest rate is being earned?

Activity II: Maurice Micklewhite has decided to replant his garden. Show him what the cost is of making an erroneous decision at various stages of the project, starting with conceptual design and ending with the ongoing maintenance of the garden.

The assignment is to answer the question provided above in essay form. This is to be in narrative form and should be as thorough as possible. Bullet points should not to be used. The paper should be at least 2 - 2.5 pages in length, Times New Roman 12-pt font, double-spaced, 1 inch margins and utilizing at least one outside scholarly or professional source related to project management. The textbook should also be utilized. Do not insert excess line spacing. APA formatting and citation should be used.