Author: chris

This week’s readings have dealt with the important issues of ethics, diversity, and social responsibility. Many people consider these issues to be inter-related or overlapping aspects of doing business in the 21st century. An organization’s diverse stakeholders can, and generally do, have diverse opinions and varied expectations concerning what constitutes ethical behavior and socially responsible management.

Consider the examples of Walgreens and Habitat International in Chapter 3 of your course text.

 

Submit by Day 7 a 300- to 700- word paper which answers all of the following questions:

• What impact, if any, has the practice of hiring and training employees with disabilities had on operations and management decision making?
• What motivated the managers of these two companies to begin this hiring practice?
• Which of following is more compatible with the policy of hiring employees with disabilities: 1) a short-term focus on profit, or 2) a long-term focus on profit?
• Should these companies rethink this hiring policy? Why or why not?
• Has the hiring practice positively impacted the shareholders of these companies and society in general? Please support your opinion.

Application Assignments must be in APA style and format. 

 

Resources:

Jones, G. R., & George, J. M. (2014). Essentials of contemporary management (6th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.

• Chapter 3, “Managing Ethics and Diversity” (pp. 78–117)

  This chapter addresses concepts of ethics and beliefs about right and wrong. The concept of stakeholders and their importance and effects on organizations and decision makers are also discussed. The authors examine the reality, value, effects, and challenges of increasing diversity in the workforce and the general environment, as well as the reality of workplace harassment and how it is dealt from a practical and ethical viewpoint.

  Focus on the definitions and concepts provided throughout this chapter. After reading this chapter, ask yourself if you have a clear understanding of your own ethics. Do you operate according to your own clear understanding of right and wrong? Are there behaviors that you consider virtuous or wrong? What do you really think of the course text authors’ advocacy of utilitarian ethics? Do your ethics manifest in the way that you interrelate with others and make decisions in the workplace? Do you really value a diversity of opinions and perspectives? What, if anything, do race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, or age have to do with having access to or ensuring a diversity of opinions and perspectives? How would you, as a manager, deal with an incident of workplace harassment based on race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, or age?

• Chapter 4, “Managing in the Global Environment” (pp. 118–153)

  This chapter addresses the global environment of business. The subject is divided into two parts: (1) the big picture or general environment that all industries or businesses operate within, and (2) the more specific task environment of suppliers, distributors, customers, and competitors that influence managerial decision on a daily basis. The authors also examine the global forces and factors that contribute to rapid change in those environments, as well as how a change or trend in one of those factors can affect a specific business, region or entire national economy. The emphasis of this chapter is on smart adaptation to changing conditions by knowledgeable, sophisticated and flexible managers.

  Focus on the definitions and concepts provided throughout this chapter. After reading this chapter, ask yourself, which products or service that you use originate in some form from an overseas location? In what way does the company that you work for benefit and/or is damaged by products or services from an overseas location? Which businesses in your community, state or region benefit from the ability to sell to overseas markets? Which business do you know are not taking advantage of overseas markets or resources to stabilize or grow? What do you, as an actual or potential manager, need to do to better prepare yourself to be successful in the changing global business environment?

The BakFirn Corporation, a publicly traded firm, has contracted with YOUCPA, your public accounting firm, for an audit. The BakFirn Corporation manufactures specialty construction tools. The tools are used in the unique construction of homes, warehouses, and multiunit dwellings. The prices range from $1,000 to $5,000 per unit.

During the audit, the audit team has determined the risk assessment of the client. Consequently, the audit has to respond to the assessed risks of material misstatement at the financial statement and assertion levels. The YOUCPA audit team has asked you, the auditor, to prepare a list of actions that you will take to assess the audit risk.

The following information is available in the year just finished:

• The BakFirn Corporation end-of-year is 12/31/20XX.
• Sales for the previous year were $10,000,000. Sales this year are coming in at $9,500,000.
• The firm is in the construction machine industry, making specialty tools.
• Account receivable days sales outstanding (DSO) has been averaging 90–120 days. The year before, it was 80–90 days.
• Inventory turns have decreased from 3 to 2 per year.
• Account receivable and inventory make up 80% of total assets.
• Internal auditing has been reduced by one person to reduce costs.
• An initial test of controls in cash receipt indicated a lack of following procedures.
• The construction industry is in the third year of a downturn. It is forecasted to last two more years.
• The audit team has defined materiality to be focused on account receivable and inventory with $3,000 being the initial threshold. Net income for last year was $1,000,000.
• Inventory at the end of the year was $2,500,000.
• Account receivable at the end of the year was $2,740,000, or 100 DSO.
• The previous auditors did not disclose any fraud or any management issues at the meeting with BakFirn and YOUCPA. The reason for the auditor change was explained as a costs reduction program.

Assignment Guidelines:

1. Audit Assessment Steps:
2. What is the initial audit risk? High, medium or low?
3. What factors made you decide on this level?
4. Audit Plan Assertions
5. What would you include in the audit plan, and why?
6. Would you plan a test of controls or substantive tests? Why or why not?
7. Would these tests make a difference in the nature, timing, and extent of audit procedures? If so, how?
8. Audit Plan Evidence
9. Would you plan to put reliance on prior-year evidence? Why, or why not?
10. Would your evidence come from observation, analytical procedures, or other means? Explain your reasoning.
11. Would the evidence prove or disprove an assertion on the reliance of a specific balance sheet account or financial statement account? Explain your reasoning.

 

The 1960s civil rights movement in America was significant and eventful. The era was marked by protests against the Vietnam War and the passing of the most comprehensive civil rights laws. The 1960s were the age of youth as 70 million children from the postwar baby boom became teenagers and young adults.

Research the civil rights movement using your textbook and the Argosy University online library resources. Respond to the following:

• The civil rights movement in the 1960s was volatile but fell apart in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Do you think the movement was a success? Why or why not?
• Will there ever be another social movement in America of the same magnitude and impact as the civil rights movement of the 1960s? If no, why not? If yes, what societal dynamics would have to be in place for such a movement to occur?

Write your response to each question in 150–200 words.

responses should explain and discuss the following:

• The volatile nature of the civil rights movement of the 1960s

 

• Why did the civil rights movement fall apart in the late 1960s and early 1970s?
• Was the movement a success? Why or why not?
• Prospects of a future social movement with the same impact as the civil rights movement of the 1960s.
• Would this social movement have the same impact and magnitude of the civil rights movement? Why or why not?
• If yes, what societal dynamics would have to be in place for such a movement to occur?

 

 

Case Study II  – The Press Conference as Critical Incident 

However skillful we are with framing, at times we are apt to go “off message.” That is, under stress and in times of crisis, we may fail to communicate our best thoughts, self-image or regard for others. Leaders are especially vulnerable to go “off message” when meeting the press. Reporters are seeking a story of dramatic interest for the public. If a leader is not properly prepared for such moments, the leader’s failure may become “the story.” Press encounters require delicate framing and human sensitivity. As such, they provide excellent opportunities to learn about the art of framing in highly pressurized situations.

To begin your case study, select a televised press conference that involves a business, charity or political leader. The kind of conference to select is illustrated by Fairhurst’s (pp. 2-14) discussion of Robert E. Murray’s response to a Utah mine crisis. Consider as well her discussion of Hillary Clinton’s Pakistan encounter (pp. 127-131).  View the selected conference and, where possible, obtain a transcript. Write a 5-7 page evaluation on how well the leader communicated his or her message, image and relationship to an audience.

Use these questions to guide your analysis:

 

• How well does the leader enact, or fail to enact, Fairhurst’s “Rules of Reality Construction?”
• In your view, does the leader marshal the best “Cultural Discourses” for his or her cause?
• Does the leader seem well “primed” for the occasion?
• How well does the leader use language forms discussed by Fairhurst (p.93)?
• One cannot stay on message, if one lacks a message. Does the leader give evidence of having a vision and mission? Does he or she repeat the “master frame” sufficiently?
• Does the leader effectively maintain emotional regulation?
• Does the leader create audience rapport?

 

Requirements:

 

1. In a two to three paragraph introduction, provide the context for the press conference including:

• Sponsoring organization
• Speaker with a brief introduction if possible
• Intended audience
• Purpose and intent of message
• A link to press conference video and possible transcript should be included in the appendix.

In 4 to 6 pages, analysis the communication strategies based on synthesis of the course readings and other resources or references. Use the guiding questions as possible approaches to the analysis.

• Discuss how well the leader communicated the message
• Discuss how well the leader constructed an image
• Discuss how well the leader created and relationship to an audience.

In a 2 to 3 paragraph conclusion, reflect on what you have taken away from this analysis to apply in your communication strategies during a critical incident. The case study should include the following:

• APA Formatting including heading and subheadings.
• Graduate level writing free from grammar and mechanical errors.
• Citations from readings or other relevant resources to support information presented.
• The document should make best use of the technology.

 

The firm is WALMART

This course requires research, analysis, and drawing conclusions on a firm operating in the international business environment. This paper will provide you an opportunity to explore the many strengths and weaknesses a firm encounters in the international business environment.

 

A 12-15 page (excluding appendices, table of contents, abstract, reference, and bibliography) research paper (case study) is required. This paper represents 35% of the final course grade. Students will select a firm operating in the international business environment. This paper will be prepared consistent with the current APA Manual and will have a minimum of ten different references (No Wiki’s or Pedia’s). Some of the bibliography and references will most likely come from the firm you have chosen: source documents, e.g., annual reports, and financial statements.  As such this reduces the need for peer reviewed sources. However, peer reviewed sources are still important and should be listed in the bibliography/reference section(s) and cited in the paper as appropriate. This paper is due the last day of class.

In addition, the research paper will be prepared consistent with the following guidelines:

1. This serves as an introduction to the Research Paper. Provide an overview of the research design of the paper. Introduce the various topics that will be addressed in the research paper. Identify the method(s) that will be used to collect the data for the topics and how that data will be evaluated. 2. There will be a brief discussion of the firm to include its principle goods and services, market share, geographic locations where it operates, and major competitors.  3. Evaluate and discuss whether the firm could benefit by using Activity Based Costing (ABC). The discussion should include what factor(s) influenced your decision, the ramifications of implementing ABC in the international business environment, and how you would structure the distribution of costs using ABC for your firm.  4. Evaluate and discuss whether the firm could benefit by using standard costs. The discussion should include what factor(s) influenced your decision, the ramifications of costs, quantity, and variances, and the ramifications of using standard costs in the international business environment. 5. Evaluate and discuss how the firm could benefit by analyzing future projects in terms relevant costs. This discussion should include the firm’s future plans, such as, expansion, consolidation, and downsizing and how relevant costs could be used in the decision making.  6. Summary and conclusion(s). The discussion s

To be competitive, many fast-food chains expanded their menus to include a wider range of foods. Although contributing to competitiveness, this has added to the complexity of operations, including inventory management. In what ways did the expansion of menu offerings create a problem for inventory management? One form of inventory is safety stock, which is primarily carried by companies to ensure a variety of products is available at all times. However, safety stock ties up capital and hinders cash flow.

Using the University online library resources and the Internet, research safety stock.

Then respond to the following:

• As a manager, what recommendations could you provide to reduce inventories as it relates to safety stock?
• What parameters would lead you to believe that (a) large safety stock, (b) small safety stock, and (c) zero safety stock would be advantageous for the organization? Be sure to provide examples and data in support.

After your initial post, discuss the following:

• What are some of the ways in which a company can reduce the need for inventories?
• How has technology aided inventory management?
• How have technological improvements in products such as automobiles and computers impacted inventory decisions?

Write your initial response in 200 to 300 words. Apply APA standards to citation of sources.

You have been recently hired as a network security analyst for a small accounting firm. The firm is realizing that they need help to secure their network and customer’s data. With your background and skills, they are looking to you to provide guidance. In addition to helping them secure their network, they require that you obtain your CompTIA Security+ certification within 60 days of being hired.

In addition to the owner, who serves as the overall business manager, there are about 20 people on staff:

➢ 10 accountants

➢ 3 administrative support specialists

➢ 1 vice president

➢ 1 financial manager

➢ 2 interns

There is also one IT support technician on staff, who has basic computer hardware and networking knowledge. He has requested that the firm create a website, hosted internally, so that new customers can get information about the firm. This will be important to remember as you complete your final project.

The firm has a simple network. There are currently 20 computers and two multipurpose printers. All computers and printers are connected wirelessly to a NETGEAR MR814 device. This router is connected to a Motorola SB3100 cable modem. Staff e mail accounts are set up through the company’s Internet provider. Employees use a combination of Microsoft Outlook and standard web browsers to access their e-mail. The owner is known to use his personal iPad during work hours to check and respond to e mail messages.

Prior to your hiring, they hired a network cabling contractor to run Cat 6 cables from the central wiring closet to all offices and cubicles. They want to move away from using wireless as the primary network connection, but want to keep wireless access for customers coming to the building. The technician who did the wiring mentioned to your supervisor that he should look into setting up a Windows Server domain to manage user access, instead of the current peer-to-peer network. He also recommended that the firm invest in a managed switch and a firewall, and look into having some backups. The internal IT support technician agreed with these recommendations but needs your help to implement them.

You’ve been asked to assess the current vulnerabilities and provide a recommendation to the firm’s owner on how to better secure the network infrastructure. Now that you are aware of the firm’s history, your assessment and recommendation should provide specifics about the network security settings that must be implemented and the equipment that must be procured, installed, and configured. The firm’s owner has a basic understanding of computing, so it is important that you explain the technical issues in layman’s terms.

In this learning demonstration, you will use the TestOut Security Pro to help you understand how to identify and assess network infrastructure and pass the CompTIA Security+ certification. In order to identify your strengths and weaknesses, you will first complete the practice exams that will prepare you for the certification. The practice exam is designed to assess your preparedness for the CompTIA Security+ certification exam.

The learning materials within LabSim will help you understand the different types of vulnerabilities within a network and how to address them. As you step through each set of activities, you will submit a Vulnerabilities Assessment and Recommendation Document in three separate parts.  Use the results of the certification practice exam you took at the beginning of the class to help guide you on which areas within LabSim you should pay closer attention to. You must complete all online labs in LabSim; these are the activities with the computer mouse icon. Some of the other areas in LabSim are optional. You can complete any or all of those if you feel you need to learn more about the topics at hand.

 

Discrimination in all its guises undermines employee loyalty, lowers or destroys morale, and diminishes productivity and quality of work. For both ethical and business reasons, it is incumbent upon you as a manager to prevent and remedy discrimination in the workplace.

 

In this assignment, you will develop a persuasive slide presentation to educate fellow managers on the need for cultural competency in an organization. (This can be one for which you currently work, have worked for in the past, or another company with 15 or more employees that you research.)

 

Instructions: Address the following in your presentation:

 

1. Appraise the level of racial, ethnic, and cultural diversity in the organization, particularly in relation to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and identify what forms of discrimination it expressly prohibits.

 

2. Describe a federal court case in which the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) sued a for-profit corporation for violating one of the forms of discrimination covered under Title VII and that could also happen to your organization. Show why your organization could be culpable of legal violations with regard to discrimination.

 

3. Analyze a competitor to your organization with regard to its success in managing and promoting a diverse workforce according to Title VII. Compare and contrast the two organizations on policies that (a) ignore or mishandle discrimination, and (b) prevent and remedy discrimination.

 

4. Make suggestions for how your organization should move forward in educating employees

about diversity and inclusion and for implementing new policies.

 

Overview

 

The final project for this course is the creation of a company consult debrief that analyzes an existing web application with regard to its human-computer interaction (HCI) and recommends solutions for improving the application to meet the needs of the intended audience. This assessment will give you a chance to demonstrate your skills in employing user-centered methodologies in the analysis of an existing web application, and you will make recommendations for improving the application to meet the end users needs.

Outcomes

In this assignment, you will demonstrate your mastery of the following course outcomes:

• Assess the potential of user interfaces for meeting their intended audiences needs
• Determine the extent to which IT applications demonstrate compliance with accessibility guidelines in recommending improvements that align with standards-based policies

Evaluate user interfaces using heuristic evaluation techniques for their compliance with human-computer interaction best practices

Propose user-centered solutions that apply human-computer interaction best practices in meeting the intended audiences needs

Prompt

 

PayPal. PayPal offers a secure electronic shopping cart that gets your electronic storefront up and running within minutes. This is a free application, but it requires registration.

Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed:

1. Overview. Identify the application you chose, its intended audience, and the reasons you chose it.
2. Analysis. Assess the existing application with regard to human-computer interaction (HCI), being sure to employ appropriate HCI terminology.
3. Visual/Graphic Design. Describe the applications overall aesthetic quality, layout of information, and clarity of visual elements (e.g., icons) with regard to how they are presented to the audience. You may also wish to provide details about whether these elements are aligned with industry best practices.
4. Ease of Use. Describe the navigability of the application and its ability to move users through tasks in a logical and flexible manner with respect to HCI best practices. Justify your position with specific examples.
5. Functionality. Assess the functionality of the application with respect to HCI best practices. For example, how long does it take for each page to load? Do the applications required user actions correspond to their goals? How accessible is the information the user is trying to obtain? (That is, must the user go to multiple systems for information?) Justify your position with specific examples.
6. Environmental Factors. What potential factors in the intended audiences environment would impact the use of the application? For example, if the site requires sound to relay critical information and the audience is in a library, how would that impact the user experience?
7. Cognitive Load. Discuss how the application accounts for human limitations in cognitive capabilities (e.g., how user friendly the application is for users with various levels of technical knowledge), as well as sensory capabilities (e.g., how well the application is designed to avoid eye strain), with respect to HCI best practices. Justify your position with examples.
8. Human Factors. Describe the impact of human factors €such as culture, gender, or socioeconomic status €on the intended audiences use of the application.
9. Accessibility. Discuss whether the application demonstrates compliance with accessibility guidelines. Justify your position with specific examples. For example, you might use the following Section 508 standards to identify potential gaps in the current application: â ‚¬Å“Software Applications and Operating Systems,Web-Based Intranet and Internet Information and Applications, and Functional Performance Criteria.
10. Recommendations. Recommend changes to improve the human-computer interaction, and describe the methodologies that back up your recommendations.
11. Changes. Given the analysis you have conducted, describe specific changes you would recommend for improving the applicationâ ‚¬ „¢s human-computer interaction with respect to its intended audience, and describe how you would implement those improvements.

 

1. Accessibility. Given the analysis you conducted above, describe specific changes you would recommend for bringing the application intofull compliance with accessibility guidelines, and describe how you would implement those improvements.
2. Methodologies. Describe the user-centered methodologies that support your recommendations, and describe how they support your recommendations. For example, what human factors should be taken into account in improving the effectiveness of the user interface for a broader audience?
3. Users Environment. What recommendations would you make in aligning the application to the needs of the users environment? Why? For example, if critical instructions are in the audio and the environment is not conducive to hearing them, how would recommend that information be conveyed?

 

Final Submission: Company Consult Debrief

 

In task 7-2, you will submit your company consult debrief. It should be a complete, polished artifact containing all of the critical elements of the final product. It should reflect the incorporation of feedback gained throughout the course.

Study the topic West Nile virus diseases in detail. Click here to view information provided about West Nile cases in the US and your state.

Also, click here to visit the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and read the research, diagnosis, prevention, resources, and understanding of the disease.

On the basis of your reading and analysis, create a 2- to -page report in a Microsoft Word document answering the following questions:

How many cases of West Nile Virus were reported in your state based on the epidemiology data?What is the name of the bacteria which causes West Nile Virus?What is the mode of transmission?What types of epidemiological studies would be most useful to help one gather data, descriptive or analytical studies, and why?What is the significance to your local community and the state community in relation to the disease?How can communities educate the public to reduce potential rates of disease?How can the community control the spread of the disease?What effect does the disease have on families?What specific health care agencies may also be involved, in addition to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)?What impact does this disease have on you after reading the websites? How can one be proactive in the community to raise awareness about the West Nile Virus and provide a health wellness program?

Support your responses with examples.

Cite any sources in APA format.

Submission Details

Name your document