02 Jan As the VP of HR,

Argosy MGT430 Module 1 Discussion Assignment 1

Discussion Assignment 1

Assignment 1: Opening Discussion—Autobiography and Information Sharing

Begin this assignment by introducing yourself to classmates. Cover the following items in your introductory note.

Provide an autobiographical statement that includes your name, type of employment position, and your management experience level.
Describe your current or prior experience working in training and development. If you have no direct experience, discuss your interest in the field.
Share what you hope to learn from this course and how you envision applying what you have learned.
In addition to the introduction, describe what you think the role of training and development is (or should be) in an organization. Share your ideas, observations, and experiences related to the topic.

Beginning Thursday, September 8, 2016, post your responses to the appropriateDiscussion Area. Continue to get to know your fellow classmates and contribute to our discussion on the role of training and development in an organization through Friday, September 9, 2016.

Note: This assignment is required but not graded.

Note:Information gathered in this assignment will assist the facilitator with the formation of teams for upcoming collaborative learning exercises.

Argosy MGT430 Module 2 Discussion Assignment 1

Assignment 1: Discussion—Conducting a Needs Assessment

A needs assessment is a systematic means of analyzing existing standards and conditions against desired ones. The difference between the current and desired states is referred to as the “gap.” This gap reveals information that is necessary to make more informed decisions in support of organizational goals and objectives.

The needs assessment is a valuable tool used to facilitate the management of continuous change taking place in today’s organizations. In this assignment, you will apply needs assessment for the scenario below.

Assume you are consulting and you have been asked to conduct a comprehensive assessment to determine the training and development needed to elevate the performance of 25 employees in a sales support call center.

Your goal is to identify a training program that will address the collective needs of the group.

What preliminary information would you gather before conducting the needs assessment? Provide a rationale for your decision.
Describe the various steps you would take in conducting the actual assessment.
Write your responses in about 300 words.

Argosy MGT430 Module 3 Discussion Assignment 1

Assignment 1: Discussion—Training Design Issues

The primary goal of training programs is to ensure participants develop the required knowledge and capabilities to maximize on-the-job performance. To improve the effectiveness of training programs, it is important for training professionals to develop strategies that support the transfer of training (or learning) and create evaluation methods that effectively measure the impact of the instructional process.

Using the Argosy University online library resources, research the concept of transfer of training.

Why is the topic important to employee training and development? Justify your response, giving at least three reasons, supported by at least two scholarly resources.

Write your responses in about 300 words.

Argosy MGT430 Module 4 Discussion Assignment 1

Assignment 1: Discussion—Career Self-Assessment

Self-assessment is the first step in the career planning process. Career assessments are designed to help you determine the most appropriate career choice and to help you plan your future. These assessments can provide insights regarding your personality, values, interests, and skills and the role they play in your career development and management.

The Internet is increasingly used as a source of self-assessment, career development, and career management. Review the online career assessment tools available in the Webliography. Select and complete three of these assessments.

Prepare a discussion posting addressing the following items. Your responses should go beyond mere surface interpretations to provide depth of self-exploration and self-discovery.

What do the results reveal about your values, interests, skills, goals, interaction style, etc.?
How will this information be useful for your career development and management?
Write your responses in about 300 words.

Argosy MGT430 Module 5 Discussion Assignment 2

Assignment 2: Discussion—Compensation Issues:

Organizations should constantly review its compensation package to ensure it is competitive with the current market conditions. Many companies attempt to offset salaries with benefits such as premium medical plans, 401k matching, and stock options. Yet, some employees still feel as though they are under compensated for their talents and contributions to the company.

Think about your current yearly compensation plan at your organization, a previous organization, or if you don’t have options other than a salary, you can research plans online (please be sure to reference the company used). Compensation extends beyond just the paycheck provided to you. It includes medical coverage, tuition reimbursement, flex spending account options, etc.

Analyze the compensation plan and address the following questions:

Is the compensation plan attractive enough to retain current employees and recruit new talent? Identify the key elements that serve as a positive draw of this talent to your organization.
Recommend areas for improvement. For example, if the compensation plan does not include 401k investing, why should your company consider including that as part of the compensation package.
Write your responses in about 300 words. Use scholarly, peer-reviewed sources as necessary to support your position from the Argosy University online library resources. Be sure to follow proper APA format.

Argosy MGT430 Module 1 Assignment

Assignment 3: Effective Organizational Training Programs

Given the changing employee demographics and rapid updates to technology, it is important for organizations to link training and development to the needs and preferences of its workforce. Training facilitates acquisition of new knowledge and skills, and development facilitates the ability to handle future responsibilities. Continual training helps ensure that employees have the skills, information, and motivation required to successfully achieve organizational objectives.

Based on the company you chose for your discussion question this week, create a
10-15 slide PowerPoint presentation which includes the following:

Summarize the current organizational training program.
Explain why you believe the organization’s current training model is effective or ineffective
Present an idea for a new training program or component to the existing training program which would promote employee engagement
Explain why the new program or component would be effective
Describe the desired outcomes of the new training program/component
The speaker notes section should be used to provide an explanation of each slide. APA format should be followed.

Argosy MGT430 Module 2 Assignment

Assignment 2: Defining Needs Assessment

Training is a fundamental component to any organization. Organizations spend thousands of dollars each year to train and develop employees. Many of the programs do not produce the desired result of increased productivity.

Using the Argosy University online library resources, research factors to determine how needs assessments benefit organizations.

Write a 6-8 page paper addressing the following items:

Define needs assessment
Determine the cost-effectiveness of companies conducting need assessments
Identify steps companies can employ to modify ineffective training programs that are not cost effective
Discuss the role that technology, computer based training, webinars, etc, play in determining the cost effectiveness of training programs.
Explain the steps or guidelines which can be utilized to help guide the successful implementation of a training program
Minimum of three (3) peer-reviewed, scholarly sources, within the last ten (10) years, not including the text material.

Argosy MGT430 Module 3 Assignment

Assignment 2: LASA: PowerPoint Presentation—Training Program Design

Submit your assignment to the M3: Assignment 2 Dropboxby Wednesday, September 28, 2016.

Assume you have been hired as a training consultant by a medium sized technology company. Your client company has asked you to develop and make a presentation for an employee training and career development program. The majority of the company’s employees are entry level programmers and developers and help desk technicians, but they also employ administrators and administrative assistants. The client company is looking for a training program which can be used for all of their employees. The goal of the training program is to introduce the new employees to the company, their culture, their product offerings and the company’s expectations. The training should also re-familiarize veteran employees to the company’s mission to create a sense of excitement towards carrying out the vision.

Use the Training Program Design worksheet which is located in the Doc Sharingarea to design your training program.

After you have completed the Training Design Worksheet, use that information as a guide to develop a 15-20 slide PowerPoint presentation to present your training ideas to the client company. Make sure to include detailed speaker’s notes which provide adequate information on what you would say to your client if you were presenting this information in person. Incorporate at least three references to support the positions being presented. Apply APA standards for writing style to your work. Submit the PowerPoint presentation for grading.

Your PowerPoint presentation should include a title slide, a reference slide and address each of the following elements:

1. Training Description:Write 2–3 sentences that describes the training and a concise statement of the overall purpose of the training.

2. Objectives:Include the objectives(at least 3)of the training program. List the intended results of the training that will achieve the goal in terms of knowledge, skills, behaviors, and attitudes. The intended results should have specific and measurable tasks or actions.

3. Training Method:Evaluate the following training methods and determine which might be most effective in achieving the stated objectives you included above. List your chosen training method for each objective you listed including one potential advantage and disadvantage of each.

o Large group, small group, or paired discussion

o Individual exercise

o Team exercise

o Case study

o Role play

o Simulation

o Audiotape

o Videotape

o Interactive multimedia (PC-based or CD ROM)

o On-the-job training

o Coaching or mentoring

o Lecture

o Tutorial

o Games

o Assigned reading

o Other (specify)

4. Content Description:Provide a description of the activity that corresponds with your designated training methods listed above.

5. Support Materials:Identify the materials and resources that will support the learning process (e.g., workbook, handouts, action plan, etc.).

6. Estimated Time:Indicate how much time you will devote to each activity.

7. Evaluation:What needs of the participants are being addressed in the training design? How will you determine if participants are applying their learning back on the job?

8. Effective Design:Describe how each of the seven steps above can be used to design an effective training model that addresses all jobs within the organization and promotes employee engagement.

9. Career Progression:Explain which of these seven steps you consider most important to long-term career progression within your client company. Provide reasons and scholarly support, as necessary, for your choices.

Argosy MGT430 Module 4 Assignment

Assignment 2: Applying the Learned Information from a Career Self-Assessment

Organizations today have adopted innovative measures to retain key talent and reduce turnover. These measures include dual-career paths and alternative or flexible work arrangements. In addition, some organizations also provide their employees with outplacement, recruitment, and coaching services.

Managers should know and understand how to develop an employee in his/her preferred career path. In order for the assessment data to be beneficial to the employee, the manager should understand and know how to interpret the data. For this assignment, you will conduct an interview with someone who is in or has been in a management position and write a 4-5 page paper covering the following items:

What value does the manager you interviewed place on career self-assessments?
What role does the interviewee play in helping his or her employee reach their career objectives? Does the manager see any room for improvement in this area? Why or why not?
Based on your interview, outline proactive approaches employees can employ to gain assistance from his/her manager to advance within the organization and discuss how the information gathered from a career assessment can be used to promote internal career development
In addition, address the steps the employee can take to ensure assistance is received on a continualbasis from the manager to promote workplace self-development.
All sources should be cited in proper APA format.

Argosy MGT430 Module 5 Assignment

Assignment 1: LASA 2: Employee Development and Performance Appraisal

Submit your assignment to the M5: Assignment 1 Dropboxby Monday, October 10, 2016.

You are the vice president of a human resources department and Susan has been your executive assistant for one (1) year. She effectively completes her given assignments, sometimes ahead of schedule. Susan has a welcoming personality and is commended on her willingness to help when asked. As a result of her efficiency, Susan often has spare time on her hands.

In several conversations, you have spoken with Susan about taking a proactive stance and involving herself in the business to increase her knowledge base. You have suggested she attend strategic planning meetings, shadow other Business Partners, and take professional development courses geared towards human resources. Susan has not incorporated any of these suggestions.

The organization promotes and encourages employee development and has a requirement of 24 professional development (PD) hours for each employee per annual review cycle. As VP of the department, you have offered to mentor Susan; yet she has not taken advantage of the offer. Given Susan’s capabilities and potential, you want to mutually establish future performance goals and developmental opportunities to enhance her effectiveness and maximize her organizational contributions.

Susan’s professional appearance and interaction with co-workers is superb. When asked to complete a task, she fulfills the assignment willingly and with very few errors. She is well liked and respected by her peers. She has impeccable oral and written communication skills. Overall, you are pleased with her performance but want to see Susan take initiative to seek out tasks to complete rather than waiting to be told what to do.

As the VP of HR, you have been tasked with a two part assignment. In part one of this assignment you will explain the importance of performance appraisals, analyze the essential elements which should be included and describe how performance appraisals can be used to promote employee growth. In part two of this assignment you will create a performance appraisal for Susan.

Your paper should be 8-10 pages in length incorporating both parts I and II. You can either design a performance appraisal document or use an existing template. The performance appraisal should be no more than 3 pages of the total page count for the assignment. Be sure your paper addresses all of the following components:

Part I: Importance of Performance Appraisals:

Explain how performance appraisals can be used as part of employee development.
Explain why rankings are given to employees and the advantages and disadvantages of including rankings.
Address why organizations should deliver appraisals in a timely manner to employees.
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of three different types of performance appraisals. Make a recommendation of which type of performance appraisal is most appropriate for Susan.
Provide suggestions on how the manager can give feedback on a continual basis to the employee to encourage continual development.
Part II: Susan’s Performance Evaluation

As the VP of HR, you are providing Susan with feedback on these areas and suggesting ways to develop in the areas where she is not meeting expectations as outlined in the scenario. The performance appraisal directly ties to compensation increases. The appraisal should highlight achievements over the past year; while addressing expectations and setting goals moving forward.

The performance evaluation should address the following areas:
Professional Development
Job performance
Communication – internal and external
Professional Demeanor
Working relationships
Compensation recommendations