For a large, multinational corporation like IBM, there are many challenges in the capital budgeting process. This part of the project will use IBMs website (http://www.ibm.com/us) to answer the following questions.

From the front page, scroll all the way down and click on "About IBM".

Click on it. You will find a lot of projects there.

In your initial response to the topic you have to answer all 4 questions.

You are expected to make your own contribution in a main topic as well as respond with value added comments to at least two of your classmates as well as to your instructor.

From the sites front page, access IBM Research (it changes from year to year, but it is in the About IBM at the bottom of the page). Choose one project from the list and describe in a paragraph or two what the project is and what resources it require.

Select a project from IBMs recent research collaborations. Describe in a paragraph what this project is.

Select a project from IBMs recent academic collaborations. Describe in a paragraph what this project is.

Go back to the IBM front page, find Investor Relations at the bottom of the page. Go to IBMs most recent annual report. How much did IBM spend on research, development, and engineering in the most recent year? How did this compare with the previous year?