13 Jan •What do you think of their

Question
Module 1 discussion

Post your single paragraph Executive Summary from your report directly to the Discussion Board, and add your report as an attachment.

Then read at least 2 of your peers’ reports, and respond to the following questions for at least one of your peer’s chosen companies:

How do your peers’ experiences compare with your own experiences (or the experiences of someone else you have observed) in dealing with similar social or demographic issues in the workplace? Do you have a different strategy that you would recommend based on addressing similar issues?

Module 2 discussion

Post your single paragraph Executive Summary from your report directly to the Discussion Board, and add your report as an attachment.

Then view at least two of your peers’ summaries and presentations, and respond to the following:

Provide feedback to your peers on their presentations and the connection they drew between the organization they chose from the text and their own organization. What did your peers miss? Would the Strategic HR actions be desirable or undesirable in a different organizational culture? Why or why not?

Module 3 discussion

Either you or your partner should post your single paragraph Executive Summary from your report directly to the Discussion Board, and add your report as an attachment.

Then read two of your peer teams’ papers, and respond to at least one, using the following questions as a guide:

Critique your peers’ answers to the outsourcing questions. What did they fail to consider? What good points did they make about outsourcing jobs across the model presented in the reading? What additional concerns would you have?

Module 4 discussion

Post your single paragraph Executive Summary from your report directly to the Discussion Board, and add your report as an attachment.

Then read at least 2 of your peers’ reports, and respond to at least one paper regarding cultural norms in other nations as compared to US employment laws, using the following as a guide:

How did your interpretations of the EEOC website, statistics, and what the EEOC emphasizes differ from your peers’ interpretations?

What were some of the most surprising differences (or similarities) between other countries’ employment laws and US employment laws? What kind of effects would those laws have in the US?

Module 5 discussion

Post your single paragraph Executive Summary from your report directly to the Discussion Board, and add your report as an attachment.

Then read at least 2 of your peers’ reports, and respond to at least one paper using the following as a guide:

How effective do you think your peer’s selection system will be at selecting qualified candidates? How well do you believe it fits in with organizational and HR strategy? What changes might you suggest to make the selection system or individual tools even more effective? Do you believe your peer could reasonably expect executive decision-makers at this organization to agree to the new selection system?

Module 6 discussion

Post your single paragraph Executive Summary from your report directly to the Discussion Board, and add your report as an attachment.

Then read at least 2 of your peers’ reports, and respond to at least one paper using the following as a guide:

Compare your own research to your peers’ report. How well do your findings about either specific training approaches, or multisource feedback correspond? What differences (if any) do you notice, and how would you explain those differences? What are your own experiences and opinions about: 1) which training methods are most effective, or 2) why multi-source feedback is or is not valuable?

Module 7 discussion

What do you think about the issue of executive compensation? Cite one or more sources in your initial response.

Respond to at least one of your peers using the following as a guide:

How did your peers’ opinions on executive compensation differ from your own? What information did they present that you found intriguing? What information can you add to support your peers’ position?

Module 8 discussion

Post your single paragraph Executive Summary from your report directly to the Discussion Board, and add your report as an attachment.

Then read at least 2 of your peers’ reports, and respond to at least one paper using the following as a guide:

In your opinion, how completely and accurately did your peer describe all the economic and non-economic costs of turnover? What additional costs would you recommend they include? Were there any costs that they did include that you were surprised about? Why or why not?

Module 1 HR Application 1

This assignment is based on Exercise 3 on p. 16 in your textbook:

How could Human Resource metrics (see Exhibits 1.4 & 1.5 on pp. 11-12) be best used across different organizations? Select two from among the types of organizations listed below and compare/contrast which metrics would be more useful

•A non-profit organization

•A small technology startup company

•A Fortune 500 company

•A for-profit medical office

Write a 1-2 page response to these questions and submit to the Dropbox no later than Sunday 11:59 PM EST/EDT.

Module 1 HR Application 2

Complete Exercise 3 on page 67 in Chapter 2:

“Visit the website of the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (https://www.bls.gov). What trends do you see in the data presented? What information at the site is most useful for organizations in assessing workforce trends?”

Submit a 1-2 page summary of your responses to these questions to the Dropbox no later than Sunday 11:59 PM EST/EDT.

Module 2 HR Application 1

Describe some of the distinctive features of the following corporate strategies or business unit strategies: 1) growth approaches, 2) status quo approaches, 3) mergers and acquisitions, 4) turnaround and retrenchment strategies, 5) differentiation and 6) focus strategy, as explained on pp. 121-124 of the textbook. Describe what HR strategies might apply with each of these different strategic approaches and why you think that they would apply.

Write a 1-2 page response to address these items and submit it to the Dropbox no later than Sunday 11:59 PM EST/EDT.

Module 2 HR Application 2

Respond to question 2 on p. 167:

What are the main barriers that prevent an organization from taking a more strategic approach to HR? Why do they exist, and how can they be overcome?

Submit a 1-2 page summary of your responses to these questions to the Dropbox no later than Sunday 11:59 PM EST/EDT.

Module 3 HR Application 1

Complete Critical Thinking Exercise 4 (p. 215).

“Discuss the implications and pros and cons for managing surpluses and shortages using the various strategies presented in Exhibit 5.3.” Choose only 3 surplus and only 3 shortage strategies (p. 215).

Write a 1-2 page response to address these questions and submit it to the Dropbox no later than Sunday 11:59 PM EST/EDT.

Module 3 HR Application 2

Complete Exercise 1 (p. 262)

Apply the Job Characteristics Model in Exhibit 6.2 to THREE of the following positions (choose only 3):

•Order taker at McDonald’s

•Usher in a movie theater

•Receptionist

•Manager at an auto rental company

•Computer programmer

•Insurance salesperson”

Which jobs feature which characteristics most strongly? Which characteristics are missing, and what are the potential consequences? How could you enrich these jobs to feature more of the job characteristics?

Write a 1-2 page response to address these questions and submit it to the Dropbox no later than Sunday 11:59 PM EST/EDT.

Module 4 HR Application 1

Read Reading 7.1: (“In Defense of Preference,” Glazer, 1998). Then answer the following questions:

Is society better served with or without affirmative action? Take a position in favor or against affirmative action and defend your position. Next, consider college or university admissions. Based on the information in the Reading and the sidebar (“Testing Texas”), what combination of criteria would you recommend to make admissions decisions? Would affirmative action fit into your plan? How?

Write a 1-2 page response to address these questions and submit it to the Dropbox no later than Sunday 11:59 PM EST/EDT.

Module 5 HR Application 1

Complete Critical Thinking Exercise 6 on p. 355:

“Develop 2 behaviorally-based interview questions for each of the following jobs (Choose only 2 of 6, create a total of 4 questions):

High school principal

Nursing supervisor

Factory foreman

Chief medical resident

Police chief

Director of marketing for fast-food chain”

Write a 1-2 page response to address these questions and submit it to the Dropbox no later than Sunday 11:59 PM EST/EDT.

Module 5 HR Application 2

Visit a major employer’s website (see p. 355, Exercise 1 for some suggestions, or choose your own). Apply online for a specific job. Discuss the application/selection process. What selection tools did they use (if any)? What did you like about the process? What did you dislike about it?

Write a 1-2 page response to address these questions and submit it to the Dropbox no later than Sunday 11:59 PM EST/EDT.

Module 6 HR Application 1

Consider your current job (or a job with which you are very familiar). How would you evaluate any required trainings for newer employees (new hires or employees in their first 6 months)? Refer to the 4 levels of training evaluation and provide specific measures that you could use in your evaluation from each of the 4 levels. Why is each level of evaluation important to the training process in this job?

Write a 1-2 page response to address these questions and submit it to the Dropbox no later than Sunday 11:59 PM EST/EDT.

Module 6 HR Application 2

Select one occupation from the following list and then design a performance management system for it. Use Exhibit 10.3 on p.440 as a guideline as you highlight the important features of your performance management system. (this assignment is based on Exercise 1 on p. 455)

•Convenience store clerk

•Marriage counselor

•Clergy member

•Software developer

•Attorney

Write a 1-2 page response to address these questions and submit it to the Dropbox no later than Sunday 11:59 PM EST/EDT.

Module 7 HR Application 1

After reading Chapter 11, conduct a brief interview with an employee (or a family member, friend, or colleague) in his or her 20s or 30s. Conduct a second interview with someone in his or her 50s, 60s, or 70s. Compare and contrast what motivates workers in different generations (don’t forget to ask the older interviewees about their motivations earlier in their careers), and suggest a compensation system that might be most motivating for each generation. (This assignment is roughly based on Exercise 1, p. 505).

Write a 1-2 page response to address these questions and submit it to the Dropbox no later than Sunday 11:59 PM EST/EDT.

Module 7 HR Application 2

After reading Chapter 12, answer Critical Thinking Exercise 5 (p. 550):

Contrast the style of labor unions in the United States to that found in other countries.

Write a 1-2 page response to address these questions and submit it to the Dropbox no later than Sunday 11:59 PM EST/EDT.

Module 8 HR Application 1

Read Reading 13.1: (“Retaining Talent: Replacing Misconceptions with Evidence-Based Strategies,” Allen et al., 2010), then answer the following:

Consider an organization or industry that has a notable problem with retention vs. turnover (you may choose the industry or organization based on your own experience or you may wish to research in the popular press or in business journals). Discuss how the guidelines for retention that Allen and colleagues suggest could be used to improve retention and or reduce turnover.

If there were alternatives, why do you think this organization did not choose them? If you believe none of the alternatives would have served this organization, explain why.

Write a 1-2 page response to address these questions and submit it to the Dropbox no later than Sunday 11:59 PM EST/EDT.

Module 8 HR Application 2

After reading Chapter 14, answer the following:

Consider Exhibit 14.1 on p. 614, illustrating examples of Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions across cultures. Choose two distinctly different countries from this list (e.g., United States & Venezuela). How would you set up HR programs and practices differently for the same organization operating in these two different nations? Where would you place your priorities in terms of meeting cultural and national expectations? Suppose you had 5 minutes to give a strategic HR briefing to a high-level executive with years of experience in one country, but none in the other. What would you tell him or her?

Write a 1-2 page response to address these questions and submit it to the Dropbox no later than Sunday 11:59 PM EST/EDT.

Module 1 Report

Find at least two peer-reviewed journal articles that address important social and demographic changes in labor and the workplace. You may use the chapter references on pp. 67-69 or reference sections at the end of the Chapter 2 Readings as a springboard.

Integrate and summarize the points mentioned in these articles into a 2-4 page report (with APA citations and a reference page). Conclude your report with a discussion of your personal or professional experiences with these changes in the workplace. Have you dealt with any of these changes? How did you confront any of these issues to maximize diversity and/or responsibility and sustainability in the workplace? What have you learned from your experiences with these changes?

Post your Executive Summary on the Discussion Board and include your report as an attachment no later than Thursday 11:59 PM EST/EDT. Also, submit your paper to the Dropbox. See the Discussion page for further information.

Module 3 Report

Read Reading 6.1 (“Using Outsourcing for Strategic Competitiveness in Small & Medium-sized Firms,” Elango, 2015). Then consider the following questions:

How can and should HR be involved in outsourcing decisions?

Consider the “Outsourcing Matrix” proposed by the author. Based on which of three “cells” a potentially outsourced job title is in, how would that affect your willingness as an HR professional to consider outsourcing those jobs? Feel free to use examples from your own work experiences

Choose a partner from among your peers in this course. Together, write a 2-4 page report that describes your strategies above and how to implement them. Remember, your paper should begin with an executive summary.

Post your Executive Summary on the Discussion Board and include your report as an attachment no later than Thursday 11:59 PM EST/EDT. Also, submit your paper to the Dropbox. See the Discussion page for further information.

Module 4 Report

This assignment is based on Exercises 1 and 4 on p. 308 in your textbook.

Visit the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Web site at https://www.eeoc.gov. Pay particular attention to the “Statistics” tab on the “About EEOC” menu. Identify current trends in complaints being filed with the EEOC. Based on your review of the EEOC press releases posted on the site, what appear to be the agency’s current priorities, and how appropriate do you feel these priorities are for the U.S. society?

Discuss how social and cultural norms influence how other nations deal with the issues addressed in US employment laws. Pick 2 of the employment laws discussed in this chapter or covered on the EEOC page. Discuss how other cultures have dealt or might deal with these same issues. You should go to the online library resources to find articles to support your idea.

Write a 2-4 page report that addresses the question. Remember, your paper should begin with an executive summary.

Post your Executive Summary on the Discussion Board and include your report as an attachment no later than Thursday 11:59 PM EST/EDT. Also, submit your paper to the Dropbox. See the Discussion page for further information.

Module 7 Report

Visit the websites for either the AFL-CIO (http://www.aflcio.org) or the Teamsters union (http://www.teamster.org ) AND the website for the National Labor Relations Board (http://www.nlrb.gov). Compare and contrast what information is emphasized and the way information is presented on the labor organization site vs. the government site. What are the main issues that the union appears to be pursuing? Do these issues appear well-matched to the needs of the workforce? Finally, what do you think union leaders get from the NLRB site? What about employers? (These questions are roughly based on Exercises 4 & 5, p. 550 of the textbook)

Write a 2-4 page report addressing the above. Remember, your paper should begin with an executive summary.

Post your Executive Summary on the Discussion Board and include your report as an attachment no later than Thursday 11:59 PM EST/EDT. Also, submit your paper to the Dropbox. See the Discussion page for further information.

Module 8 Report

Consider your current job (or a job with which you are very familiar). Calculate turnover costs for your job, assuming the voluntary resignation of a long-term employee in the position (no, not necessarily you). Remember to consider economic and non-economic costs in your analyses. Describe any difficulty you have coming to an accurate accounting of these costs. What recommendations could you make to the organization to manage these costs?

Write a 2-4 page report addressing the above. Remember, your paper should begin with an executive summary.

Post your Executive Summary on the Discussion Board and include your report as an attachment no later than Thursday 11:59 PM EST/EDT. Also, submit your paper to the Dropbox. See the Discussion page for further information.

Module 4 Final Project Rough Draft

Submit a 1-2 page summary of your proposed ideas for the Final Project. Make sure to address the following:

•What organization will you look at (if you do not feel comfortable revealing the actual name, just mention the type of organization it is)?

•Why did you choose this organization?

•What do you think of their strategic plan and which HR strategies do they seem to be using at present (and the costs and benefits)?

•What preliminary HR strategies do you think might work better and why?

Write a 1-2 page response to address these questions and submit it to the Dropbox no later than Sunday 11:59 PM EST/EDT.