A theoretical analysis of recent developments on accounting standards for stock options and a practical application to Cisco Systems, Inc. as an illustration.
Abstract This paper analyzes developments in the accounting field for stock options regulating standards. The writer shows how the accounting technique caused huge controversy among regulators and academics with respect to the treatment of stock options in the financial statements because the primary objective of decision usefulness of financial reporting as well as net income depends on whether or not the company recognises stock options as expenses on a fair value based method in the income statements. It argues that although the recent developments of the accounting standards proceed in the right direction, there are still issues that must be addressed. It shows that in order to solve the remaining issues, it is necessary to improve the qualitative aspects of financial information, such as relevance, reliability and comparability which directly relate to the primary objective of financial reporting.
1 Introduction
2 Historical Developments on Accounting for Stock Options 2.1 APB 25: Intrinsic Value
2.2 SFAS 123: Introduction of Fair Value Based Method
2.3 SFAS 148: More Timely and More Prominent Disclosure
3 Theoretical Analysis
3.1 Fundamentals of Financial Reporting
3.1.1 Objective of Financial Reporting
3.1.2 Qualitative Characteristics of Accounting Information
3.2 Recognition of Expense
3.2.1 What Is an Expense?
3.2.2 Assets under SFAC 6
3.2.3 Liabilities under SFAC
3.2.4 Assets under Exit Value Accounting
3.2.5 Liabilities under Exit Value Accounting
3.2.6 Comparison of the Recognitions
3.3 Measurement
3.3.1 Fair Value Method
3.3.2 Intrinsic Value Method
3.4 Summary of Theoretical Analysis
4 Practical Analysis - Cisco Systems, Inc.
4.1 About Cisco Systems, Inc.
4.2 Applications to the Accounting Standards
4.3 Pro Forma Disclosure in the Profit and Loss Statement
4.4 Market Share Price and Employees Stock Option Incentives
4.5 A Need for Change
5 Conclusion
6 Bibliography
Appendix
From the Paper "High-tech companies such as Cisco Systems have developed as major global business players during the last decade. One of the devices that many of these companies often applied in the process of their economic growth was a stock-based compensation plan. Such small venture businesses, which were normally deficient in cash in their initial stages, provided employees with the right to purchase their own stocks instead of cash. As a result, stock options could enormously reduce the amount of cash and wage expenses at the same time. Further, entrepreneurs could effectively retain talented staffs by granting them stock options, and could elevate motivation among the employees. However, the series of frauds and corporate crisis over the past year raised the question of accounting treatment for stock options whether the present standards achieve the principal objective of decision usefulness of financial reporting."
Abstract This paper discusses employee stock option programs and FASB (Financial Accounting Standards Board) accounting requirements The paper includes recent changes that now treat options as expenses. It mentions the use of stock options as a reward for employees and executives.
From the Paper "For many years stock options provided companies with a key tool used to reward employees and executives. Beginning in the stock options became an increasingly popular way for companies to tie corporate performance ..."
Abstract This paper looks at stock options and compensation packages and some of the problems raised as well as comments from those supporting this approach, noting the recent rule changes that will also change how employees are compensated with stock options, an addition to base pay and only one of the other means of pay that are used to motivate, recruit and reward.
From the Paper "Compensation packages are a means by which companies can achieve several different goals related to recruitment, retention, and motivation, among other things. Such packages are constituted in a variety of different ways, and one issue that has been raised is what role stock options should have and how effective they are in the compensation package. The question is also asked as to whether they serve the needs of the company and the employee alike or favor one over the other. In terms of the general issue, of compensation, Molvig (2005) states, Executive compensation never involves just one element. Boards must look at every piece of the package to determine if it furthers the goals of the CU and the executive (para. 1). Compensation is not the only element in recruitment and retention, however, and surveys show that while important, compensation is not necessarily the most important factor. "
Abstract This paper discusses how all the US Federal Agencies are legislatively bound by decision-making with benefit-cost analysis techniques at a time when they are under increasing pressure to prove the effectiveness of their spending and better accommodate uncertainty. Collectively these Agencies were responsible for making decisions on how they spent $2.5 trillion in fiscal year 2005, of which $1 trillion was for discretionary spending. This research identifies, through a case study of Federal Aviation Administration decision-making for a system within a complex system, how real options thinking can be acceptably and effectively appended to current mandates for benefit-cost analysis defined by the Office of Management and Budget in Circular A-94.
From the Paper "In the work of de Neufville and Wang (2004) it is stated that: "Most real options are not well-defined simple options. They can be compound or parallel. Compound options are often options on options, and the interactions between them are significant." (Neufville and Wang, 2004) Further stated is that: "Parallel options are different options built on the same project, such as the several possible applications or target markets of a new product." (Neufville & Wang, 2004) de Neufville and Wang (2004) categorize 'real options' as "those that are either 'on' or 'in' projects."
Abstract This paper defines a conventional mortgage as a long term loan which meets the guidelines put forth by the Federal National Mortgage Association and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. This paper details the three types of conventional mortgage options currently available. The first is the fixed rate conventional mortgage, the second is an adjustable rate conventional mortgage while the third is a balloon mortgage. This paper examines the characteristics of the three mortgage options. This paper focuses on the debt problems of a particular hospital while attempting to find the most cost effective mortgage option to reduce said debt. This paper also analyzes the risks involved in securing a conventional mortgage by delving into the various issues surrounding the workings of state and local hospitals. The writer contends and explains why hospitals are generally insecure financial institutions dependent on state budgeting and financing which can and usually are influenced by issues such as changes in the governing party or changes in the state's priorities.
From the Paper "If we look at these three types of conventional mortgages and the characteristics each bear, as compared to the needs of hospital, the most suitable seem to be the fixed rate conventional mortgage and the balloon conventional mortgage. There are several reasons for this.
First of all, for a hospital, the budget is generally set ahead for a period of several years. In this sense, financial stability and a clear sense of what needs to be made in the next period of time is most important. If we consider the adjustable rate conventional mortgage, for example, it may occur that somewhere in the 10th year, the monthly rate, including interest rate, will suddenly double its value. It is, in this sense, a question of security and risk avoidance."
Tags: finance, hospital, debt, long, term, loan, bank, mortgage, politics
Abstract This paper presents research, which shows the implications, by the year 2015, for a global defense company if there are cutbacks of more than 20 percent of the U.S. federal budget. The author presents an analysis of current projects to indicate how funding is used towards military sustainment and how projected cuts could affect those projects. The paper demonstrates how the employees of global defense companies, the military and the general population of the United States could be affected. The methodology for this study is content analysis.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Context of the Problem
Statement of the Problem
Research Questions
Significance of the Study
Research Design and Methodology
Organization of the Study
What are the Research and Development (R&D) Options for Companies such as NGC?
Table:Government Contractors in Court
What Options will be Most Beneficial to the Employees and the General Public of the U.S.?
Table: Factors Mitigating the Impacts of Military Base Closures
Table: Recapitulation and Summary of Base Closure Journal Articles and Texts
Table: Recapitulation and Summary of Influences on Defense R&D Journal Articles and Recent Media Reports
Overview of Northrop Grumman
Table: Current R&D Initiatives by Northrop Grumman.
Overview of Boeing
Table: Current R&D Initiatives by Boeing
Overview of Lockheed Martin
Table: Current R&D Initiatives by Lockheed Martin
Potential Research and Development Initiatives
Robotics and Robot Companions for the Elderly
Water Desalination Initiatives
Video Games
Can the U.S. Remain a Superpower and Protect Its People from Terrorism while Reducing Its Military?
Conclusion
From the Paper "The quantitative aspects of the water supply have been widely studied as to specific regions of the world and it is possible to view these trends on a global level. According to Starr (1996), the next few decades are going to be characterized by conflicts - even wars - over increasingly scarce water resources. This author reports that, "Nature annually contributes in fresh water to the world's continents about ten times the world's water use for all purposes. On average, about 70 percent flows to the sea in seasonal floods."
Tags:adjustmentoptions, content analysis, northrop grumman, water
Abstract In recent years, it has become obvious that the countries of Africa are not getting any better financially in spite of structural adjustment programs (SAP) and IMF programs. In fact, unemployment, poverty, and illiteracy continue to rise. Immortality is on the rise, with many children not living to see their fifth birthday. This paper looks at why Africa's people live in poverty in spite of its large number of natural resources and attempts to provide insight into ways that can assist it into becoming more self-sufficient.
Outline
Introduction
Commencement of Problem
Summary of Projected Solution
Effects of the SAPs
Overview of Structural Adjustment Programs
Description of SAPs and IMF Programs
Objectives of SAPs
Effects of SAPs on the Economy
Key Issues of the Program
Program Focus
Potential for Success
Effects on Domestic Economy
Disadvantages
Structural Adjustment Effects in Africa
Overview
Conditionality
Effects on African Economy
Credibility of SAPs
Privatization
Potential for Success
Key Issues
Performance Management
Description
Working Under SAPs
Impact on Trade Unions
Effects of SAPs
Possible Solutions
Labor Laws
Impact on Trade Unions
Role of Trade/Labor Unions
Conclusion
From the Paper "The continent of Africa has been plagued by debt since it gained its independence from Europe, and the majority of those debts are owed to the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. Even though these organizations have only been officially in existence since their conception in 1944, the conditions of the IMF and World Bank existed long before that time. As of 2004, Africa's debts to the IMF and World Bank stood at over $300 billion, and it is unlikely that that number is representative of revenues lost to Europe and America since those monies have increased poverty rather than being beneficial to Africa. Every year a total of $15 billion is transferred from the poorest countries in Africa and other places in the world to the richest countries through interest payments."
Tags: bank, debt, financial, fund, global, hipc, interest, international, markets, monetary, poverty, rates, relief, structural, unemployment, world
Abstract This third year international development course paper discusses structural adjustment loans and structural adjustment programs, such as neo-colonialism. The paper examines neo-colonialism and dependency and how SAPs are used by Developing countries to keep poor countries poor.
From the Paper "A major issue in International Development has been the role of Structural Adjustment Loans (SAL) and structural Adjustment Programs (SAP). There are essentially two different schools of thought. One school of thought suggests that SALs and SAPs are an excellent strategy for encouraging development in developing countries. The other school of thought suggests that SALs and SAPs are tools that developed countries are using to keep developing countries impoverished for their own economic benefit. In this paper it will be argued that SALs and SAPs are tools used by the governments and other institutions of developed countries to keep developing countries impoverished."
This paper discusses the long-term influence parents have on the development of their child, the effect the environment has on this relationship and the consequence this child-context interaction has on the child's further adjustment to the environment
Abstract The paper demonstrates that child-context interaction that begins as bonding at birth and continues through the first four years of a child's life is a strong factor in the child's ability to adjust to the environment and will effect the child for the majority of his life. The author presents research showing that if children have close and healthy relationships with their parents, these children will do better in adjusting to different environments including difficult neighborhoods and schools. He shows how the family's culture and the neighborhood in which they live also can shape child-context interaction.
From the Paper "As the mother and child work together to find the missing puzzle piece, their ability to think and problem solve will be developing. Most of the time the way a child interacts with one parent will be different than when both parents are available. The relationship with mothers are usually nurturing while the relationship with the father is more realistic. They want to be strong and not cry when they get hurt when they are with their father. However, if they are with their mother and they fall and hurt their knee, they want to cry and get a band-aid. The child learns ways to interact with others through the interactions between child-father, between child-mother, and between child-both parents."
Abstract Structural Adjustment Policies are economic policies which countries must follow in order to qualify for international loans. This paper examines structural adjustment policies as applied to contemporary Africa and the extent to which these policies may or may not be relevant. Countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, in particular Malawi, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, Botswana, are cited as useful case-studies in evaluating the programs. It also analyzes the effects of these policies on health, education, transportation, national budgets and devaluation.
From the Paper "From the late 1970s and into the 1980s, there have been a great many arguments concerning the introduction of structural adjustment policies in African territories. In essence, when one speaks of an on-going debate about the relevance of structural adjustment policies, one speaks to the fact that structural adjustment policies had both positive and negative effects on African countries, such as Gambia, Lesotho, Malawi, Uganda, Cote d Ivoire, Zaire, Ghana and Zambia, as well as most of Sub-Saharan Africa collectively. By extension, therefore, the debate proceeds as to whether structural adjustment policies were substantively or inherently ineffective, since most of the people suffering under such programmes were the poor and the disadvantaged, a great portion of them being women. Other main arguments concern the fact that by the professed stabilization or restructuring of economies, adjustment policies stressed cuts in expenditure and the reduction of subsidies as well as limited public sector involvement that often augured well for education programmes. The reduction in expenditure on health programmes also caused health risks in the form of the deprivation of Africans of needed facilities and medicines, for example, for diseases such as HIV/AIDS."
Tags: aids, development, economic, health, poverty, globalization, imf, world, bank
Abstract The paper examines structural adjustment as applied to the Caribbean and specifically to Jamaica. It shows how structural adjustment polices created severe strain on the Jamaican economy during the fifteen years of their implementation and operationalization. In particular, it evaluates the implications on levels of poverty and the negative social effects, such as increased unemployment, fall in real wages, income, investment and social standards which came about as a direct result of the implementation.
From the Paper "The problem of poverty cannot be explained using the simple argument of failed public sector enterprises or balance of payment crises. Rather, believe it or not, transactions between the IMF, World Bank and Jamaica created dependency relations, which further depleted economic, social and infra-structural resources in the economy. Hence, poverty increased because these multilateral agencies carried conditionalities for repayment of loans."
Tags: bank, micro, macro, economic, stability, imf, loan, repayment
Abstract This paper will first briefly cover structural adjustments in terms of meanings, aims, problems, and context, positive and negative results. This paper will then look at India and focus upon the visions of development and the realities of the structural adjustments made by P.M. Rao; namely, his economic reforms which opened India to the international market. These reforms, carried out by Finance Minister M. Singh transformed the economic structure of India and have resulted in ubiquitous social, ideological and political changes.
Abstract This paper discusses structural adjustment policies (SAPs), which are those policies that the World Bank (WB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have put forward over many years to developing nations. The paper particularly discusses the problems with these policies and how they have negatively affected developing nations. The paper then proposes solutions to the problems that have been created by these policies.
Table of Contents:
Thesis
Explanation Of Structural Adjustment What Is The World Bank's Impact
Pros/Cons
Conclusion
From the Paper "On the subject of Africa, the WB, and structural adjustment programs, an article in the Journal of Asian and African Studies (Gibson 2004) asserts that it is "now generally accepted in African studies" that the 20-plus years that Africa has been under the dictates of structural adjustment "...has been a devastating failure." Not only have the WB policies "failed," Gibson writes, but indeed the continent of Africa has "moved from 'crisis' to 'tragedy.'" And what is the reason for this reported slide into tragedy? From the WB's perspective, Gibson explains, Africa's economic performance has been poor; African "elites" and "government patronage" have drained the nations in Africa of the resources that the WB has tried to provide, in the view of the WB. The promises of security, health, and education, made by the WB when the loans were approved, "can no longer be met," Gibson goes on."
Abstract In this article, the writer examines the controversial issues using the rational examination of ideas based on logic and current research instead of emotions. This paper focuses on proponent's arguments and oppositional argument's of using Quality Adjusted Life Years or QALYs when deciding how healthcare resources should be allocated. Both sides of the issue are presented. The term Quality Adjusted Life Years is first defined by the World Health Organization. The researcher then presents both sides of the issue, offering a synopsis of the proponent's side and opponent's side of the QALY issue. Following this a summary of opinions and declarations is offered for review and discussion.
Outline:
Introduction
Proponents
Opposition
Conclusions
References
From the Paper " The purpose of QALY is primarily to decide how healthcare resources should be allocated. The use of QALY for example, may help determine which patients are eligible for participation in quality clinical trials. From a health insurance perspective, quality adjusted life years may impact the calculation of cost for a person or their family. In fact, health insurance companies have long relied on similar calculations to decide what premium participants may pay. They base their analysis on factors much like QALY including the individual's projected lifespan, current health and medical history. These elements are all used to decide how much insurance an individual will qualify for (based on their life expectancy and health). While even this process is controversial for some, by and large it is widely accepted as a tool for measuring how much insurance can or cannot be offered an individual. "
Abstract This paper explains that a lookback option is path dependent, based on the maximum or minimum underlying value reached during the entire life of the option. The author points out that, at the expiration date of these options, the holder may "look back" over the life of the option and exercise it, based on the optimal underlying value achieved during that period thus giving the holder the ability to buy an asset at its lowest price or sell it at its highest price achieved over the life of the option. The paper relates that, through the lookback option, the investor can achieve economic intelligence and value through the benefit of hindsight; however, lookback options carry risk and are more expensive than standard options. The paper includes several formulas.
Table of Contents
Definition of Options Call and Put Options Introduction to Lookback Options Lookback Options in Greater Depth
The Model
Option Pricing
Discrete Lookback Options Case Study of Lookback Options
From the Paper "Put options conversely involve the investor aiming for a stock price decrease. The put option, as mentioned in the introduction, allows the holder to sell an asset by a particular date for a certain price. An example demonstrated by Hull (2006) involves a European option involving an investor who buys the option to sell 100 shares with IBM for a strike price of $70. If the current stock price is $65 and the expiration date is in three months, Hull supposes for example that the option to sell one IBM share is $7. The initial investment, therefore, will be $700."
