Flexible Benefits Programs

Many organizations, both public and private, use flexible benefits programs to help attract and retain a motivated and high-performing workforce.

• Using this lead-in as a backdrop, conduct online research and choose an organization, public or private, that has gained popularity because of their flexible benefits program or lack thereof.

The requirements below must be met for your paper to be accepted and graded:

• Write between 750 – 1,250 words (approximately 3 – 5 pages) using Microsoft Word in APA style, see example below.
• Use font size 12 and 1” margins.
• Include cover page and reference page.
• At least 80% of your paper must be original content/writing.
• No more than 20% of your content/information may come from references.
• Use at least three references from outside the course material, one reference must be from EBSCOhost. Text book, lectures, and other materials in the course may be used, but are not counted toward the three reference requirement.
• Cite all reference material (data, dates, graphs, quotes, paraphrased words, values, etc.) in the paper and list on a reference page in APA style.

References must come from sources such as, scholarly journals found in EBSCOhost, CNN, online newspapers such as, The Wall Street Journal, government websites, etc. Sources such as, Wikis, Yahoo Answers, eHow, blogs, etc. are not acceptable for academic writing.

A detailed explanation of how to cite a source using APA can be found here (link).

Discussions

Discussion 1

1. Steps of Control

   Explain why the four steps involved in the controlling function are important.  Why is a good understanding of the various ratios used by accountants and managers important to the controlling function?  Give specific examples. Respond substantively to two other learners.

Guided Response:

Your initial post should be at least 200 words in length. Support your claims with examples from required material(s) and/or other scholarly resources, and properly cite any references. Respond substantively to at least two of your classmates’ posts.

Discussion 2

1. Changes in Management

   Of the five management functions, which do you expect will experience the most dramatic changes in the next decade? Defend your answer. Which will have the least amount of change? Explain your answer. Respond substantively to two other learners.

Guided Response:

Your initial post should be at least 200 words in length. Support your claims with examples from required material(s) and/or other scholarly resources, and properly cite any references. Respond substantively to at least two of your classmates’ posts.

FINAL PAPER

Focus of the Final Paper

This assignment focuses on how the management practices of planning, leading, organizing, staffing, and controlling are implemented in your workplace. If you are not currently working, you may use a previous employer. In this assignment, you must:

• Analyze the application of these management concepts to your place of work; the paper will not simply be a report on the five functions in general.
• Identify specific examples and explain of how each applies to the functions practiced in your place of work.

Be sure to integrate vocabulary learned throughout this course and citations from the text to support your analysis. The paper should be five to six pages in length and formatted according APA style guidelines as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.

Writing the Final Paper

The Final Paper:

1. Must be five to six double-spaced pages in length, excluding the title and reference pages, and formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.
2. Must include a title page with the following:
   1. Title of paper
   2. Student’s name
   3. Course name and number
   4. Instructor’s name
   5. Date submitted
3. Must begin with an introductory paragraph that has a succinct thesis statement.
4. Must address the topic of the paper with critical thought.
5. Must end with a conclusion that reaffirms your thesis.
6. Must use at least five scholarly sources, including a minimum of three from the Ashford University Library, in addition to the course textbook.
7. Must document all sources in APA style, as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.
8. Must include a separate reference page, formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.

Consider this scenario: You are working as an aide for a representative in your state legislature, and he or she has asked you for a summary of information on a particular interest group. Use the following to prepare your Microsoft^® PowerPoint^® or Prezi presentation to the representative:

Identify and provide a description of one interest group.

Discuss its connection or relationship to each of the two major political parties in your state.

Analyze the interest group’s relationship with the two major political parties by addressing these questions:

• How does the group influence the state government?
• What techniques does the group use?
• How important is the interest group to your representative?

Summarize the information you found regarding this interest group and provide a recommendation to the representative for responding to the issue with which the interest group is most concerned.

Include at least 8 to 10 slides. Provide detailed speaker notes in the presentation file or in a separate document.

Your primary objective is to analyze and interpret an ethics’ case study and apply critical thinking to best interpret main case issues, and their resolution in light of the facts provided. Write a minimum 5 double spaces pages case study critical analysis’ essay. Refer to required readings.

Your primary objective is to analyze and interpret an ethics’ case study and apply critical thinking to best interpret main case issues, and their resolution in light of the facts provided.  Please, follow the next instructions:

1. Quickly read the case (Case Study – Torture the bombing suspect). Get a feel for the content and the information that needs to be analyzed.  Focus on the first few and last few paragraphs which often provide strong insights into the problem(s) and issue(s).
2. Read the case very carefully. Try to put yourself in the shoes of the person(s) involved and develop a sense of involvement in the issue(s).
3. Note the key problem areas.
4. Note all relevant facts for each problem area.
5. Logically derive a set of conclusions/responses to the questions that focus on the key issue(s).
6. Write a minimum 5 pages double spaces case study critical analysis’ essay.

you choose the topic not docment analysis

Document Analysis will be in essay form and you must answer all of the prompts and edit your essay before submission to receive full points.

{Your analysis must be in Chicago style: look at the simple essay }

Font – Times New Roman 12pt, double spaced, 1” margins all around, and properly formatted citations, footnotes and work cited page.

Your analysis must be a minimum of two pages of typed text not including work cited page. (points will be deducted if format requirements are not met)

A. What type of document did you read? (or was this a primary or secondary source)

B. When was the document written?

C. Who is the author(s) of the article and what is their title? (provide some background information on author and cite your source)

D. For what audience was the document written? (place article in its proper context, if you say the article was written for students – more than likely you are wrong. Think critically about who the audience is)

E. Document information:

i. List three things the author said that you think are important (footnote and cite the source)

ii. Why do you think this document was written?

iii. What evidence in the document helps you know why it was written? (Quote from the document, then footnote and cite the source)

iv. Discuss two things the document tells you about life in the United States at the time it was written. (do not just provide a list of things, you must explain them – points will be deducted if you simply provide a list)

v. Write a question to the author that is left unanswered by the document:

Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX Act) of 2002.

Locate an article specifically related to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX Act) of 2002.

Write a 350- to 700-word review of the article. Your review should discuss how the SOX Act may affect ethical decision making in today’s business environment, and the criminal penalties for which the act provides. Please include an in-depth introduction and conclusion.

Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines.

Part 2…

Write a 85- to 100-word paper detailing the comparison and contrast of common law contracts and UCC Article 2. Discuss topics you are comfortable with and the topics you struggle with, and how

the weekly topics relate to application in the field of government accounting.

Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines.

Please write a memorandum for my signature analyzing the data you have developed.  The memorandum needs to present our recommendation for which of the three cities should be selected for our regional office.  We need a well thought-out presentation of our analysis with clear justification for our decision.

For purposes of this analysis, and based on past experience, our preferred airport will be Houston Bush Intercontinental (IAH), and our preferred city will be Charlotte (CLT).  About 50 percent of the tickets will be purchased for immediate travel (walk up) and the remainder will be advanced purchases (tickets purchased two weeks or more prior to travel) – nonstop fares only.

I have selected some key data from your report and I am enclosing a table, below, with a revised copy of the fares and on-time arrivals you sent me, based upon input from others as well.  Please use these figures for your memorandum.

The memorandum should be addressed to Mr. George Sleazy, chairman of the Site Selection Committee.  As you know, Mr. Sleazy is the son of our CEO, Mr. Very Sleazy, and is also sole heir to the majority of the stock in Sleazy Financial Planners.  It is important for both you and me that we put our best effort into this memorandum, both in analytical expertise and in a professional looking document.

I am sorry to dump this on you, but I will out of town on vacation, with limited access to email.  I will not be free until late at night on October 11, and Mr. Sleazy wants to present the memorandum to the Committee at a 9:00 A.M. meeting they have scheduled on October 12.  I know you will do a great job!

TOPIC for discussion:

The U.S. is Becoming a Minority-Majority Nation – Census 2014-

Source 1 currente event to discuss – article

http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2015/07/06/its-official-the-us-is-becoming-a-minority-majority-nation

supporting sources

source 2

http://www.brookings.edu/blogs/the-avenue/posts/2014/12/12-majority-minority-nation-2044-frey

source 3

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/03/04/390672196/for-u-s-children-minorities-will-be-the-majority-by-2020-census-says

Discussion Questions

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Discussion Question 3

In the HBS case titled “Organizational Transformation: Agency for Volunteer Service,” identify the company’s major stakeholders and discuss:

What types of relationships did the organization have with its stakeholders?
How did the organization integrate its stakeholders’ needs in formulating its strategies?

Discussion Question 4

In the HBS case titled “Organizational Transformation: Agency for Volunteer Service,” discuss the success of the organization’s change efforts and address the following:

Why was the organization successful in implementing the changes?
Could such success be replicated in a country, such as the United States?

Discuss some of the advantages of growing your organization organically rather than through acquisition. What cautionary advice would you give to a colleague about pursuing a growth strategy?