Apply your critical-thinking ability to the knowledge you've gained. These cases will provide you an opportunity to develop your research, analysis, judgment, and communication skills. You also will work with other students, integrate what you've learned, apply it in real-world situations, and consider its global and ethical ramifications. This practice will broaden your knowledge and further develop your decision-making abilities. The following is an excerpt from USAToday.com Microsoft (MSFT) on Thursday extended the warranty on its Xbox 360 video game console and saic it will take a charge of more than $1 billion to pay for "anticipated costs." Under the new warranty Microsoft will pay for shipping and repairs for three years, worldwide, for consoles afficted with what gamers call the red ring of death. Previously, the warranty expired after a year for U.S. customers and two years for Europeans. The charge will be $1.05 bilion to $115 billion for the quarter ended June 30. Microsoft reports its fourth-quarter results July 19. Why must Microsoft report this charge of over $1 billion entirely in one quarter, the last quarter of the com pany's fiscal year