Organizational Culture: In addition, evaluate the culture at Harley-Davidson (H-D) and define what attributes you think team members should possess in reaching the business goals set forth by the organization. If you were part of the management team at H-D, what motivational techniques would you implement to make these teams successful?

Assignment 1: LASA 2 Strategic Plan and Self-Reflection Summary

 

Review the initial scenario and the Strategic Business Plan presented in Module 1 to make sure that the requirements of the Board and the Part II Strategic Plan are met. In order to meet the requirements of the Board, you will prepare the final Strategic Business Plan—Part II—Strategic Plan to the Executive Board. Ensure your strategic plan is thorough, succinct, and complete. Challenge yourself to link the targets to specific initiatives you have identified in the Strategic Plan you are developing for H-D.

Your written report should include a title page, table of contents, executive summary, and each of the following sections in an 8- to 12-page report:

 

Part I: Global Economy & Factors Affecting H-D  

    1. Identify H-D’s Motivations & Risks
    • Motivations for Expansion
    • Risks in Expansion
    1. Explain H-D’s competitive advantage in Global Markets
    2. Determine and explain entry strategies for global expansion
    3. Recommend an Internet approach/strategy for H-D
    • How the Internet adds value
    • Internet Business Models
    • Competitive Strategies
    • Leverage E-Business Capabilities

Part II: Corporate Leadership

Develop the following: Current Direction Setting

  1. Organizational Culture: In addition, evaluate the culture at Harley-Davidson (H-D) and define what attributes you think team members should possess in reaching the business goals set forth by the organization. If you were part of the management team at H-D, what motivational techniques would you implement to make these teams successful?
  2. Organizational Design: As you have been completing the Strategic Business

    Plan, the management at Harley-Davidson has decided to take a team-oriented approach in various departments rather than the traditional, functional structure. Based on your knowledge of different types of teams and their focus, suggest what kinds of team strategies should be applied to each department. Be sure to explain your recommendations in detail.

  3. Leadership Traits
  4. Ethical Organization Characteristics
  • Identify elements
  • Identify missing elements

Learning Organization Characteristics

  • Identify elements
  • Identify missing elements

Part III: Strategic Plan Summary

  • Conclusions
  • Recommendations
  • Implementation
    • Discuss how you will implement your strategic plans, including how teams should be implemented in each department
    • Develop a brief roadmap for implementation
    • Identify the primary benchmarks to assess success or failure
  • Risks

Part IV:  Self-Reflection Summary

Self-reflection is the key to good leadership and good management. Reflect on what you have learned in this class and on what you gained from your Bachelor of Science program. Based on your reflections, discuss the following:

  • Five or six key “lessons” learned from the textbook and the content that will help you in your career.
  • Consider what you have learned throughout this program. Discuss career opportunities that interest you in business.
  • Include what you have learned about yourself.

Evaluate how your personal biases and assumptions have affected your work in the past and how you plan to manage them in the future. Your final product will be in an MS Word document approximately 8–12 pages in length and utilizing approximately 4–6 scholarly/professional sources. Your document should be written in a clear, concise, and organized manner; demonstrate ethical scholarship in accurate representation and attribution of sources; and display accurate spelling, grammar, and punctuation.

Submit your final Strategic Business Plan—Part II—Strategic Plan with your self-reflection summary to the M5: Assignment 1 Dropbox by Monday, January 12, 2015.

 

Assignment 1 Grading Criteria
Maximum Points
Assignment Components
Explain the current global economy, the motivational/risk factors affecting H-D, and their competitive advantage.
32
Determine and explain entry strategies for global expansion and recommend Internet approaches for H-D.
44
Explain H-D’s current directional setting, organizational culture, and design. Recommend and explain team strategies for each department.
32
Explain H-D’s leadership traits, ethical characteristics, and its learning environment.
40
Provide a Strategic Plan Summary to include your conclusions, recommendations, implementation, and risks.
56
Identify and explain 5–6 key lessons learned and how they will help you in your current and future career. Include an evaluation of your own personal biases and assumptions and how you plan to manage them in the future.
32
Academic Writing
Organization (16)

Usage and Mechanics (16)

APA Elements (24)

Style (8)

64
Total:
300

 

 

Original Scenario from Module 1:

 

Harley-Davidson: Business Overview for New Planning Team Members

 

As a member of Harley-Davidson’s strategic planning team, you have been asked to create a five- to six-slide Microsoft PowerPoint presentation titled “Harley-Davidson Today: A Brief Overview of the Business” to orient members who have been newly added to the strategic planning team.

 

The PowerPoint presentation should include at a minimum the following: (see attachment for PowerPoint)

  • The CEO’s vision and overview of 2009 performance
  • The organizational structure and management team
  • A brief description of each of the brands/business units and the products and services offered
  • Key corporate goals and objectives such as new products, new markets, and new customers
  • Total Revenues in 2009 and Net Profit in 2009
 

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Include and revise the sections from Assignment 2.1 (Problem Statement, Overview of Alternatives, Criteria, and Methods) per instructor suggestions. Research the two (2) alternatives (i.e. possible solutions) that you’ve identified in your Part 1 Evaluation of Alternatives section. Record bibliographic information during research. Example: You might research other organizations that have attempted similar solutions to the problem you have identified and explore the results of those experiments. 

Students, please view the “Submit a Clickable Rubric Assignment” video in the Student Center.

Instructors, training on how to grade is within the Instructor Center.

Assignment 2.2: Justification Report – Part 2

Due Week 5 and worth 150 points

In Part 1 of your Justification Report assignment, you built up the following sections: Problem Statement, Overview of Alternatives, Criteria, and Methods. In Part 2, you will revise Part 1 based on your instructor’s suggestions and add to it the following sections: Evaluation of Alternatives, Findings and Analysis, and References.

Use the basic outline below to draft your paper. Organize your responses to each question under the following section headings:

  • Evaluation of Alternatives (for Questions 1-3)
  • Findings and Analysis (for Questions 4-5)
  • References (for Question 6)

Using the provided template, write Part 2 of a single-spaced report in which you:

  1. Include and revise the sections from Assignment 2.1 (Problem Statement, Overview of Alternatives, Criteria, and Methods) per instructor suggestions.
  2. Research the two (2) alternatives (i.e. possible solutions) that you’ve identified in your Part 1 Evaluation of Alternatives section. Record bibliographic information during research.
    1. Example: You might research other organizations that have attempted similar solutions to the problem you have identified and explore the results of those experiments.
  3. Use what you discover in your research to evaluate each alternative by each of your five (5) criteria.
    1. Example: If your research revealed that four (4) companies similar to yours increased productivity after allowing their workers to telework from home three days per week, you might conclude that one of your suggested alternatives – in this case, the option to telework from home three days per week – satisfies one of your criterion of “Productivity” as a high-potential solution to a problem you’ve identified (of decreased worker morale and productivity at Doe’s Electronics). However, additional research might frustrate a recommendation of this alternative if it is found to fall short of other criteria while a second alternative fares better. For instance, a telework alternative might be found to be too costly to implement; too frustrating for consumers who prefer daily, in-person customer service; or too divergent from the company’s brand, “Always there for you!”
  4. Organize the assignment by your criteria. Explain in narrative form how each of your two (2) alternatives stacks up against your first criterion. Next, explain how each alternative stacks up against your second criterion, etc.
    1. Example: An abbreviated outline of what this longer section might look like based on the above example is below (Note: Only the first two [2] of five [5] required criteria are included to give you a feel for the structure). Your researched findings, represented as circled bullets below, should be explained in two to five (2-5) sentences. Include in-text citations and follow up with References in APA style):

      Evaluation of Alternatives

      • Productivity
        • Alternative A: Telework from home three (3) days per week
          • {narrate findings based on research article 1 here}
        • Alternative B: Offer two (2) extra Floating Holidays to each employee per year
          • {narrate findings based on research article 2 here}
      • Cost
        • Alternative A: Telework from home three (3) days per week
          • {narrate findings based on research article 1 here}
        • Alternative B: Offer two extra Floating Holidays to each employee per year
          • {narrate findings based on research article 2 here}
  5. Briefly summarize in narrative form the major discoveries that emerged from the Evaluation of Alternatives section.
  6. Include a chart like the ones below to illustrate at a glance:

    Figure 1: Alternatives Analyzed by Criteria

    Criteria Telework Option Floating Holiday Option
    Productivity Very high Negligible increase
    Cost Very high Moderate
    Company Image Increased Negligible increase
    Worker Morale Increased Negligible increase
    Practicality Moderate Low
    TOTAL Feasibility* of Alternatives based on Criteria? Moderate to High Low to Moderate

    *Feasability = Capability of an alternative being carried out with success

  7. Include an APA style (6th edition) References page that documents the two (2) sources (minimum) that you used and cited in-text in your Evaluation of Alternatives section. You may use secondary resources, or you may include one primary source and one secondary source. Remember that both in-text citations and References must be included (to avoid plagiarism) whenever you are directly quoting, summarizing, or paraphrasing researched material.

Your assignment must:

  • Be typed, single spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.
  • Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, your name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.
 

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Create an MS PowerPoint Presentationin which you evaluate the current state of the process you selected in Week Two and summarize the proposed future state.  Required Elements: Evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of the process selected in Week Two using the data collected. Determine areas for improvement

Create an MS PowerPoint Presentationin which you evaluate the current state of the process you selected in Week Two and summarize the proposed future state. 

  • Required Elements:
  • Evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of the process selected in Week Two using the data collected.
  • Determine areas for improvement
  • Design an improved process flow chart using an appropriate tool.
  • Summarize two items from this improved process.  Include an explanation of how these items could be used in your personal or professional life to improve a process.
  • PowerPoint should include 4-5 slides with detailed speaker notes.
 

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1.What month (and year) is summarized? What was the unemployment rate for that month? How does that rate compare with the rate in the previous month? 2.What were the unemployment rates for adult women, teenagers, blacks, Hispanics, and whites? How did these rates compare with those a month earlier?

DATA EXERCISE #2

 

 

 

Consists of three parts

 

 

 

Part 1: The Unemployment Rate (weight 30% of the assignment grade)

 

 

 

Complete the following exercise

 

 

 

Visit the Bureau of Labor Statistics Web Site,

 

 

 

www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.toc.htm . Select Employment Situation Summary.

 

 

 

Write a report (1-2 pages double – spaced) to answer the questions:

 

1.What month (and year) is summarized? What was the unemployment rate for that month? How does that rate compare with the rate in the previous month?

 

2.What were the unemployment rates for adult women, teenagers, blacks, Hispanics, and whites? How did these rates compare with those a month earlier?

 

3.What factors make it difficult to determine the unemployment rate?

 

4.Why is unemployment an economic problem?

 

1.What are the noneconomic effects of unemployment?

 

2.Who loses from unemployment?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Part 2: The Inflation Rate (weight 30% of the assignment grade)

 

 

 

Complete the following exercise:

 

 

 

Visit the Bureau of Labor Statistics Web Site,

 

 

 

www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.toc.htm . Select Consumer Price Index Summary.

 

 

 

Write a report (1-2 pages double – spaced) to answer the questions:

 

1.What month (and year) is summarized? What was CPI-U for that month?

 

2. What was the rate of inflation (percentage change in the CPI-U) for the month? How does that rate of inflation compare with the rate in the previous month?

 

3.Which two categories of goods or services had the greatest price increase for the month?

 

4.Which two categories of goods or services had the lowest price increase (or greatest price decrease) for the month?

 

5.Who loses from inflation?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Part 3: Unemployment Data by Labor Force Groups and Duration (40% of the project grade)

 

 

 

Go to http://www.gpoaccess.gov/eop/ – the home page of the Economic Report of the President. Click on the link to the most recent report.

 

 

 

a.       Find unemployment data (Table B–12.—Civilian unemployment rate) for the following four years 1995, 2000, 2005, and the last available year. Use four labor force groups: males, and females, in each case 16 to 19 years of age, versus 20 years of age or over. Present the result in your project as a table.

 

 

 

b.     Use the Economic Report of the President (Table B–13.—Unemployment by duration and reason) to find data on the duration of unemployment in 1995, 2000, 2005, and the last available year. Present the result in your project as a table.

 

 

 

Write a report (1-2 pages double-spaced) about the results you received.

 

 

 

In this paper consider, but do not be limited to the following:

 

•Compare the distribution of unemployment by duration over these years. What relationship, if any, do you find?

 

•Starting in the early 1990s many U.S. firms downsized their operations. In your opinion, how did this affect the duration of unemployment?

 

•Demographic studies show that the proportion of teenagers and minorities in the U.S. population is likely to increase in the near future. In your opinion, what implications, if any, will this trend have on the natural rate of unemployment?

 

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Examine at least three (3) approaches that you can take as the HR manager to conduct a job analysis of the Customer Service Representative position. Suggest the major pros and cons of each selected approach. Recommend the approach that would be most effective in conducting the job analysis for this organization. Justify your recommendation.

*Each of the 4 paragraphs need to begin referencing the subject*********

 

You are the HR manager for a small retail company that sells a high volume of products over the Internet.  Your company is growing rapidly due to increased Internet sales. Your company prides itself on providing high-quality products and services. The Customer Service department is integral to the success of the company. Over the past few months, the Customer Service department has been unable to fill its openings for Customer Service Representative positions. You suspect there could be a number of reasons for this, but you know you first need to look at the job, the work flow, the knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience the company is seeking to ensure the job reflects the current workload and expectations.

 

 

Write a six (6) page paper in which you:

 

  1. Examine at least three (3) approaches that you can take as the HR manager to conduct a job analysis of the Customer Service Representative position. Suggest the major pros and cons of each selected approach. Recommend the approach that would be most effective in conducting the job analysis for this organization. Justify your recommendation.
  2. Select two (2) out of the four (4) approaches to job design that are the most important for you to consider. Suggest two (2) challenges that you may encounter when designing a job using each of the selected approaches. Support your response with specific examples to illustrate the potential advantages and disadvantages of using each approach.
  3. Using the four (4) approaches to job design, create two (2) strategies that the organization can implement to attract and select qualified applicants for the Customer Service Representative position. Justify the main reasons that the selected strategies would be effective.
  4. Propose three (3) ways that you can use the information obtained from a job analysis to measure the performance of Customer Service Representatives. Provide a rationale for your response.
  5. Use at least four (4) quality academic (peer-reviewed) resources in this assignment. Note: Wikipedia and other Websites do not qualify as academic resources.

 

Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:

 

  • Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.
  • Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.

 

The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

 

  • Analyze issues involved in job design, resource planning, and recruitment.
  • Evaluate an organization’s approaches to and procedures for training employees to meet organizational goals.
  • Examine performance management issues and processes.
  • Use technology and information resources to research issues in human resource management foundations.
  • Write clearly and concisely about human resource management foundations using proper writing mechanics.
 

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Find at least three relevant research articles which: Support your chosen topic. Discuss previous work on modeling/analysis in the area you’ve selected. Have the statistical analysis and results from research conducted. Cover technical aspects of the statistical methods discussed in class.

In this six- to eight-page research paper, you will explore in detail one of the statistical approaches to research discussed in the course, applying it in the context of a specific application or methodological study. This will help you gain a deeper understanding of your chosen topic as well as gain experience in translating these ideas into practice. Select a topic for your research paper using any of the statistical methods that we discussed in the course as it relates to your area of interest in either business, economics, finance, management, social science, health, psychology, or education.

 

Find at least three relevant research articles which:

  • Support your chosen topic.
  • Discuss previous work on modeling/analysis in the area you’ve selected.
  • Have the statistical analysis and results from research conducted.
  • Cover technical aspects of the statistical methods discussed in class.

These can be found in the Ashford University Library by going to a research database such as JSTOR or ProQuest and searching for your topic.  At least three of your sources must be from peer-reviewed scholarly journals.

Your paper must include the following:

  • Introductory Paragraph: Identify the purpose of the paper, the common research issue, and the corresponding statistical test in your opening paragraph.
  • Context Development: Discuss the three articles used, the focus of the articles, the research questions and hypotheses, and how the statistical technique helps answer the research question in the studies.
  • Statistical Tool Discussion: Discuss the role of statistics in research and the common statistical test uses, limitations, and interpretation.
  • Conclusion: Summarize the elements of the chosen statistical test and the kinds of research questions the statistical test can help answer in your conclusion.
  • Resources: Provide a reference page listing all sources used in the development of this paper in American Psychology Association (APA) format. All literature/computer/interview/resources should be cited and listed.

The Final Paper:

  • Must be six to eight double-spaced pages in length, excluding the title and reference pages, and formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.
  • Must include a title page with the following:
    • Title of paper
    • Student’s name
    • Course name and number
    • Instructor’s name
    • Date submitted
  • Must address the topic of the paper with critical thought.
  • Must use at least three scholarly sources from the Ashford Online Library, in addition to the text.
  • Must document all sources in APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.
  • Must include a separate reference page, formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.
 

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Write a six to eight (6-8) page paper in which you: Provide Part I: Revision of A Problem Exists (3-4 pages) 1. Revise, using feedback from the professor and classmates, your Persuasive Paper Part I: A Problem Exists.  Develop Part 2: Solution to Problem and Advantages (3-4 pages for 6-8 pages total)

Using feedback from your professor and classmates, revise Part 1 and develop the solution and identify the advantages of the solution. Note: The disadvantages or challenges with your answers will be in Part 3.

Write a six to eight (6-8) page paper in which you:

Provide Part I: Revision of A Problem Exists (3-4 pages)

1. Revise, using feedback from the professor and classmates, your Persuasive Paper Part I: A Problem Exists.

Develop Part 2: Solution to Problem and Advantages (3-4 pages for 6-8 pages total)

2. Include a defensible, relevant thesis statement clearly in the first paragraph. (The thesis statement may need to be modified to reflect added information and purpose of this part.)

3. Explain a detailed, viable solution that supports your thesis. This should be one or two (1-2) paragraphs.

4. State, explain, and support the first advantage (economic, social, political, environmental, social, equitable, ethical/moral, etc.) to your solution. This should be one or two (1-2) paragraphs.

5. State, explain, and support the second advantage (economic, social, political, environmental, social, equitable, ethical/moral, etc.) to your solution. This should be one or two (1-2) paragraphs.

6. State, explain, and support the third (and fourth if desired) advantage (economic, social, political, environmental, social, equitable, ethical/moral, etc.) to your solution. This should be one or two (1-2) paragraphs.

7. Use effective transitional words, phrases, and sentences.

8. Provide a concluding paragraph / transitional paragraph that summarizes the proposed solution and its advantages.

9. Develop a coherently structured paper with an introduction, body, and conclusion.

10. Use one (1) or more rhetorical strategies (ethos, logos, pathos) to explain advantages.

11. Support advantage claims with at least three (3) additional quality relevant references. Use at least six (6) total for Parts 1 and 2. Note: Wikipedia and other Website

 

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In 3 – 5 pages, explain which change model you would follow for the short-term change and which you would follow for the long-term change.  Provide rationale for your decision and discuss the effects that these changes would have on the employees, managers, and executives within the organization.  Include at least three references and follow standard APA formatting for your paper.

Assume you are the Sales and Marketing Director for Sea Treasures, a small group of well-known retail stores specializing in exotic sea life and high-end accessories for aquariums.   The company has been in business for over 50 years, but the customer base is shrinking, sales are slow, and you are faced with reducing staff and closing stores.   Sea Treasures will be out of business within a year if innovative and creative changes are not made quickly.   After many months, you have finally been able to convince the owner that the only way to sustain the business and increase revenue is to create an Internet Website to sell the large inventory of aquarium decorator items (currently gathering dust in a costly warehouse) .  This will be a short-term, small scale change.  Six months later, you will expand the Website to sell live sea creatures such as tropical fish and small sea turtles online, which is a long-term, large-scale change.

You face many challenges in this transformational change initiative, beginning with strong employee resistance, new technology, and shipping methods.  Many small businesses have been faced with these same issues, and have made the transition successfully.  Consider the humble beginnings of Amazon, and look where they are today.  Selecting the best change model for this business, and implementing it step by step provides the foundation for creating an exciting new company.

In 3 – 5 pages, explain which change model you would follow for the short-term change and which you would follow for the long-term change.  Provide rationale for your decision and discuss the effects that these changes would have on the employees, managers, and executives within the organization.  Include at least three references and follow standard APA formatting for your paper.

 

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Write a six to eight (6-8) page paper in which you: Define “beautyism” and its potential discriminatory effects on hiring in the workplace. Assess the Chair’s behavior from a human resource management perspective. Recommend the action that the hiring committee should take to handle the hiring decision.

The College of Business Administration is selecting a new administrative assistant. The Chair is overlooking a more highly qualified candidate in favor of a candidate who personally met with the Chair. The Chair seems quite “taken” with the lesser-qualified candidate and other department members are worried about his criteria for making the selection.

Write a six to eight (6-8) page paper in which you:

  1. Define “beautyism” and its potential discriminatory effects on hiring in the workplace.
  2. Assess the Chair’s behavior from a human resource management perspective.
  3. Recommend the action that the hiring committee should take to handle the hiring decision.
  4. Discuss to what degree and why attractive candidates may be given unfair consideration during hiring processes.
  5. Use at least three (3) quality academic resources in this assignment. Note: Wikipedia and other Websites do not qualify as academic resources.

Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:

  • Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.
  • Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are
 

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