For this assignment, you will research the potential international markets and possible competitors of your chosen project. The combination of those two items enables you to create a powerful framework to perform a relevant organizational analysis.

In a 7 page report, include the following:

Part I: Key Market 

In this part of this assignment, you are to:

1. Decide if all operations will be internationalized (or only some of them) and identify which ones.
2. Identify and assess different potential regions and/or countries to globalize operations.
3. Choose two or three that are the most relevant to your operations.
4. Justify choices made.

Specific evidence from scholarly sources should be used to support your choices. Generate separate analyses for each country and/or region chosen, addressing the following main points:

• Size and characteristics of the market
• Number and size of global, regional, and local competitors currently acting in the market
• Balance of trade
• Currency exchange rates (current and historical)
• Percentage of domestic production exported
• Percentage of domestic consumption imported
• Cost of labor
• Tax level for domestic and foreign companies
• Presence of government in the economy
• Percentage of ownership allowed to foreign companies and/or investors
• Local laws and regulations related to industry/product

Part II: Define Competitors

1. Identify and describe 3-5 major potential global and domestic competitors that will be considered for this project.

   Create one report for EACH competitor chosen. Include the following information:

   • Market share, globally and in key markets considered in part 1 of this assignment
   • Strategy and competitive advantages
   • Relative prices of products and services being offered
   • Quality-related actions and procedures, and relative quality

   Note: You may want to prioritize competitors who have a global footprint or are the largest competitors in each lead country and/or major region you considered in Part I. Competitors with a great potential to become global players should also be included. Specific evidence from scholarly sources should be used to support your choices.

 

Option 1: Cyberwar

Review the PBS transcripts on cyberwar at

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/cyberwar/.

1. Summarize the main points from each of the sections.
2. Do you think the government should take a more proactive role in fighting potential cyberwars. Or, should private industry be more responsible?
3. Review a recent article on cyberwar or cyberterrorism and summarize its main points.
4. If you were in charge of Homeland Security, what are some of the actions you would suggest this country take?

Option 2: Insider Threats

1. Analyze the current state of insider threats to computer systems and infrastructure in terms of numbers, costs and potential problems.
2. What are the various profiles of insiders who may compromise your systems?
3. What methods can companies take to thwart insider threats? (Think of methods such as personnel checks, monitoring access, risk management services, suspicious activity, etc).

Option 3: Web 2.0 Security

1. Analyze the security risks and features of Web 2.0 or a selection of solutions such as Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, and LinkedIn.
2. Is it more or less secure that the traditional Web, are some type of services more risky? Why? How should one protect yourself and your organization?
3. What issues does this raise for ecommerce sites and merchants?
4. You might start with a general article such as www.informationweek.com/software/information-management/web-20-triggers-government-security-challenges/d/d-id/1091042and then add current source (less than 18 months old) OR focus on recent articles only.

The company you work for is considering changing its applicant testing process. Your supervisor has asked you to research testing methods and make your recommendation. This proposal will be submitted to the vice president for review and consideration.

For the purpose of this assignment, it helps to have a specific type of organization in mind. Provide an opening paragraph stating the nature of the company you are choosing for this assignment (e.g., retail organization, factory, school, police department, etc). You may be creative in what type of organization you choose.

Select (at minimum) 3 major types of tests (examples include cognitive abilities, motor and physical abilities, personality and interests, achievement tests, work sampling, etc.).

• Discuss the legal and ethical implications you see with each test.
• What specific employment laws will be a factor?
• What adverse impact (if any) may be created in using each test, and how could that be minimized?

Based on the results of that compare/contrast, which testing method do you believe may be the most appropriate for your organization and why?

• Remember to compare and contrast testing methods specifically to demonstrate how the methodologies you have not selected may have more negative ethical and legal consequences than the one you have selected.

Within the proposal, you should also discuss ways in which advancements in technology have helped to make the applicant testing and selection process more efficient and effective.

Inventory management is an important concept in production management. We all have inventory at home to run our homes. What issues do you have with your home inventory maintaining sufficient quantities and controlling its costs?

The audio/video files for this course are also available in a downloadable format from iTunes U. The link above will launch the iTunes application (this may take a moment) and display the download section for your course. Audio/Video files from third-party sources, such as YouTube, are not available for download. (NOTE: You will need to have iTunes installed on your computer. iTunes is available as a free download from http://www.apple.com/itunes/download).  The name of the course is “COUN504”

 

 

 

After reading and reviewing the material in this module/week’s Reading & Study folder, reflect upon what you have learned and include pertinent aspects in your answers to the following questions:

DB: What aspects of Ed Barker’s experience do you see that are similar to the Native American and Social Class course materials? What aspects are different? Include at least 1 aspect that is unique compared to your classmates who have posted their threads before you.  Ed Baker’s Experience Link: https://media.liberty.edu/r52vx

In at least 500 words, describe the factors that led to the Black Sox Scandal of 1919. What economic conditions led the players to throw the game? What societal standards led the players to throw the game? Could this happen in today’s society? Why or Why not? Finally, considering the reserve clause and payments, do you begrudge them for doing this? Per Grantham Guidelines, your assignment must be submitted properly in APA format and in a word document. Be sure you cite all of your sources, and you must show direct evidence of integrating your textbook at least twice within your work.

se the Internet and / or the Strayer Learning Resource Center to research aspects of biology.

Select an article from a magazine or newspaper that has something in it that pertains to biology. This will serve as the “target article” for this assignment. For instance, you can select an article about medicine, invasive species, nature, conservation, genetic technology, ecology, or any other topic that is related to biology. One purpose of this assignment is to help you become aware of how biology is related to your everyday life.

Write a one to three (1-3) page paper in which you:

1. Summarize the article in one (1) or more paragraphs, using your own words. Be sure to identify the article using an in-text citation in the body of the paper, as well as a reference in the reference section.
2. Explain how the article relates to this course. Identify which biological concepts from the course and / or text are relevant to the topic covered in the article. Citing the course text, discuss the ways in which this course does (or doesn’t) provide background information to help you understand the article and the larger issues surrounding it.
3. Explain why the article caught your attention. Relate the article to your life and to issues that are important to you. Discuss how or if the scientific knowledge about the topic covered in the article affects you directly or indirectly.
4. Discuss your opinion on how research on this topic should be funded. State whether you think taxpayer monies should support research on this topic or whether such research in this area should be funded by the private sector. Rate the importance of research on this topic, relative to other areas of research.

In addition to the target article, you should use at least one additional resource, such as your textbook or another article. You must have a reference section which contains an APA reference to your chosen article and all other sources. Additionally, you must provide in-text citations (in APA format) to your references in the body of the text. Integrate all sources into your paper using proper techniques of quoting, paraphrasing and summarizing, along with your in-text citations

Discuss the five factors set forth in the Biggers case that are used to test the reliability of an identification.

This assignment is not an essay but an exercise that helps build toward your Final Paper for the course. Your task in this assignment is to construct the best argument you can for a position on a controversial topic. Your argument should be your own creation. You may take inspiration from other arguments, but the formulation of the argument you present should be original to you.

To prepare to write this paper,

• Begin by choosing a topic from the PHI103 Final Paper Options list.
• Construct an argument for a position on the topic. This is the position that you will defend in your Final Paper. Make your argument as good as possible: In particular, make sure that all of your premises are true and that the truth of the conclusion is demonstrated by your premises.
• Consider possible objections to your argument, and revise it several times until you have an argument that is as strong as possible.
• Search in the Ashford University Library for quality academic sources that support some aspect of your argument.
• Constructing quality arguments is harder than it sounds; you may find that your first few attempts have problems and that it takes quite a bit of time and effort to revise an argument to a point that the premises adequately support the conclusion. You will be revising this argument for each of the remaining assignments in this course.

In your paper,

• Present a main argument in standard form with each premise and the conclusion on a separate line.
• Provide support for each premise of your argument. Explain the meaning of the premise, and provide supporting evidence for the premise. [One paragraph for each premise]
  • Pay special attention to those premises that could be seen as controversial. Evidence may include academic research sources, supporting arguments, or other ways of demonstrating the truth of the premise (for more ideas about how to support the truth of premises take a look at the instructor guidance for this week). This section should include at least one scholarly research source. For further information about discovering and including high-quality research take a look at the FindIt@AU Tutorial.
• Explain how your conclusion follows from your premises.
  • For an example of how to complete this paper, take a look at the Week One Annotated example The Ethics of Elephants in Circuses. Let your instructor know if you have any remaining questions about how to complete this paper.

Leadership and Management

Early childhood administrators need to be well-versed in standards set by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). Having comprehensive knowledge of these standards will help to ensure a quality early childhood program. Review the article, “Overview of the NAEYC Early Childhood Program Standards” with particular attention to Standard 10: Leadership and Management.

Rationale:

Excellent programming requires effective governance structures, competent and knowledgeable leadership, as well as comprehensive and well-functioning administrative policies, procedures, and systems. Effective leadership and management create the environment for high-quality care and education by:

1. Ensuring compliance with relevant regulations and guidelines
2. Promoting fiscal soundness, program accountability, effective communication, helpful consultative services, positive community relations, and comfortable and supportive workplaces.
3. Maintaining stable staff; and
4. Instituting ongoing program planning and career development opportunities for staff as well as continuous program improvement.

Application:

You are the director of your own childcare center.  Using Standard #10 in “Overview of the NAEYC Early Childhood Program Standards” as a guide, create an eight- to ten-slide PowerPoint presentation to share with your staff, demonstrating the following NAEYC points:

1. Effective communication
   • Explain how you will effectively communicate with your staff.
2. Comfortable and supportive workplaces
   • Describe how you will create a comfortable and supportive workplace for your staff.
3. Career development opportunities for staff
   • Discuss how you will create professional development opportunities for your staff.
4. Hiring and retention
   • Explain how you will attract and retain quality staff members.

Your eight- to ten-slide PowerPoint presentation (in addition to your title and reference slides) should:

• Creatively address the material including graphics, visuals, charts, graphs, and/or sound;
• Be designed to clearly and concisely address the material;
• Be formatted according to APA style, including the title slide, reference slide, and in-text citations;
• Utilize the notes section of the PowerPoint to expand on the presented points. These notes would be your talking points when presenting this to your staff; and
• Use at least one scholarly source in addition to the course text.

Submit your assignment as an attachment in the Week Four Assignment section. In addition, look ahead to Week Five, Discussion 1, “Presentation Evaluations.” By Day 1 of Week Five, you will need to post your PowerPoint presentation as an attachment to your initial discussion post.

Program Website

Many parents begin their child’s program search via the Internet. Therefore, your program’s website plays a very important role in communicating a first impression to families. Many prospective parents use the Internet to help them identify possible early childhood programs in their geographic area and then choose which programs they would like to visit or learn more about, based on the information they find online. This is your opportunity to market your program. An attractive and well-designed website should be easy to read. Visitors to the site should be able to find the information they need quickly, with just a few clicks of a mouse.

Please review the following childcare programs’ websites:

Bright Horizons

• Childcare Network

For your Final Project, you will create the appearance of a website for your own childcare program and facility using either PowerPoint or Prezi.  If you utilize PowerPoint, each slide will represent what would typically be seen on a page within a website. If you utilize Prezi, each featured point will communicate that information. Your “website” will be targeted toward prospective parents and must include all of the elements below.

Describe the following aspects of your program:

1. Name of program (Title)
2. Location
   1. Where is the program located (Ex: residential neighborhood, rural, etc.)?
   2. Is it easy to access from a major road or highway?
   3. Is it located in a safe area? (Please use the examples in the websites listed above.)
3. Scope of services
   1. What are the ages served?
   2. What are the hours of service?
4. Tuition or fees
   1. Is there a registration fee?
   2. What is the weekly or monthly fee?
   3. Are there any additional costs?
5. Philosophy or focus
   1. Select a theory from Chapter 1 that interests you the most and construct your center’s philosophy based on that theory.
6. In order to be prepared to respond to parents’ inquiries, describe a scenario that demonstrates how your center will address each of the ten NAEYC Standards:
   1. Relationships
   2. Curriculum
   3. Teaching
   4. Assessment of Child Progress
   5. Health
   6. Teachers (how you support your staff)
   7. Families
   8. Community Relationships
   9. Physical Environment (indoor and out)
   10. Leadership and Management (summary of your most recent professional development experience)
7. Provide examples of the following program information:
   1. Testimonials from satisfied parents (minimum of one, created by you)
   2. Daily schedule
   3. Photos of classrooms and playgrounds
   4. Lunch and snack menus (create a sample daily menu)
   5. Credentials and biographies of the staff (yours)
8. Critique one of the childcare websites listed above using the “Website Evaluation Rubric” (one slide/point).  Be sure to attach the completed rubric to your slide if using PowerPoint, or incorporate the rubric as a point in your Prezi. For assistance, see “Link or Embed Files” (PowerPoint) or visit the “Learn” page on the Prezi website.

The PowerPoint must be 20 to 25 slides in length, or 20 to 25 points if using Prezi, not including title and reference slides. You are encouraged to creatively address the material using graphics, visuals, charts, graphs, and/or sound. Slides/points should be designed to clearly and concisely address the material. The PowerPoint or Prezi must be formatted according to APA style, including the title and reference slides/points. The notes section of the PowerPoint must be utilized (when explaining the NAEYC standards) to expand on your presented points. Be sure to use at least two scholarly sources and the course text.