Author: chris

1-Why are diversity issues important? What effect has culture, gender, or other differences had on your communication style?

2-Consider a recent scandal in current events and summarize what happened. What do you think was the main cause or contributing factors that led to the scandal? Support your answer with research-based evidence.

3-Watch “Four Generations, One Workplace.”

Prepare a list of reflective thoughts from the video that you can share in a class discussion on the topic of diversity and communication. How might generational diversity affect communication in the workplace? Besides different generations, what other types of diversity have you experienced in the workplace

Discuss your reflections regarding diversity and communication and the importance of increasing awareness of diversity to improve communication.

View Four Generations, One Workplace

There are a number of research topics where forensic consultants may not be able to provide definitive answers. The chapters you read provide examples of areas where there is at least some controversy over either the topic itself or the research findings.

For this discussion, pretend you have been hired to provide testimony on an unsettled and/or controversial area of scientific research. Discuss what you would do to prepare yourself for court and how you would present the research that has been conducted.

What ethical concerns are raised when discussing unsettled science? What pitfalls might you, as the forensic consultant, expect to face in court? How do you determine if these scientific findings meet, at a minimum, the criteria for FRE 702?

Reading and Resources (if needed)

Textbook: Psychological Science in the Courtroom: Consensus and Controversy, Chapter 4

This reading discusses the current state of using hypnosis in forensic examinations.

Textbook: Beyond Common Sense: Psychological Science in the Courtroom, Chapter 11, 12, 13, and 17

These chapters discuss polygraph testing, the role of social sciences in evolving standards, pretrial publicity, and sex discrimination and harassment.

Video: Exploring the Mind of a Killer (6:32) (Optional)

This is a fascinating TED Talk on the genetics of psychopathy.

Website: APA Amicus Briefs by Issue (Optional)

This site provides one-page summaries of amicus briefs filed by the APA, by issue.

Website: Controversies in Forensic Psychology (Optional)

This website has a series of short articles and reference lists for controversial areas in forensic psychology.

Discuss the importance of quality in a firm’s financial statements and how you would go about evaluating the quality of a firm’s financial statement. What do you consider to be the four main pro forma financial statements to financial forecasting, and why?

1) From Chapter 9, answer Discussion Question 1: Which forecasting techniques do you think should be used in calculating fuel prices? Time series models? Qualitative models? In casual modeling, what types of independent variables might be used? Justify your answer.

2) Read the articles, “Trickle of Jobs Returning to U.S. Shores Could Soon Become a Torrent” and “The Benefits of Outsourcing Finance and Accounting.” Based on the content presented, discuss some of the pros and cons of outsourcing. Do you think many organizations are experiencing an increase or decrease in their levels of outsourcing? Why?

(Reference for question 1) Bozarth, C.C. and Handfield, R.B. (2012). Introduction to operations and supply chain management (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall. ISBN: 9780132747325

1) To what extent should end users be involved in the selection of a database management system and database design?

2) Should all major retailing and manufacturing companies switch to RFID? Why or why not?

Reference

Laudon, K., Laudon, J. (2009). Essentials of management information systems (8th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall. ISBN: 9780136025818

Due by midnight

Case Study: Safety Programs and Safety Incentives

Craig is a safety consultant in the mid-west. He received a telephone call from the Director of Countryside Care Center (a 207-bed nursing home facility in Aurora, Illinois that employs 65-70 nurse aides to work with residents and a total staff of 160 employees).

When the Director explained that he wanted to hire Craig as a consultant to improve safety, Craig initially thought: “How dangerous can a nursing home be?” He soon learned. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2000, the average nursing home injury and illness rate was 14.2 per 100 full-time employees. Comparable rates include: coal mining (6.2), construction workers (10.8), and truck drivers (13.8).

Nurse aides assist residents in many day-to-day tasks. One of the most hazardous (to the aides) is physically moving the residents to-and-from beds, chairs, and the toilet. The Director explained that the nurse aides were taught “safe” lifting techniques and to use a “two-person” lift whenever handling residents. However, despite this training and the adoption of what most consider the industry’s “best practices,” nurse aides are continuing to experience a high rate of injuries (especially back injuries) leading to Workers’ Compensation injuries claims.

Craig has read about healthcare safety training and mechanical lifting devices but is unsure what would be the best advice to improve safety and decrease injuries.

In a 2-3 page report (500 words), prepared in APA style with at least two references, do the following:

Recommend to Craig a more effective safety program he could suggest to the Director of the nursing home to reduce injuries
Advise Craig about any equipment that could be purchased to mechanize the lifting process for residents
Suggest to Craig a safety incentive program that you think could be implemented to incentivize the staff to reduce injuries and be cost-effective

PROBLEM: You have been directed by your corporate or organizational president to research one of the following situations/problems and prepare a formalized research paper or executive memorandum. This memorandum or paper (add a transmittal letter if a research paper format is used) should be addressed to the president, board of directors, and your professor. For this research, you should conduct a review of literature based on the current practices being used in today’s organizations (in terms of your selected research problem/situation).

For your research project, please select one of the following problem or situational areas to research. As you conduct your secondary and/or primary research, you should also develop a well-developed strategy as to how to implement your strategy into this organization. One way to view the selected problem is to think of a current or previous organization, in which you might focus your research efforts towards. For example, you may be facing the same problem in your current organization – so you could write this paper, based on addressing this particular problem with your current organization. If you do not see the relevance of any of these problems with your current or past employers – just write your paper as if you were employed with a Fortune 500 company or an organization currently in the news.

Here is the listing of potential problems or situations from you can select your research topic from:

1. Creation and implementation of an electronic usage (i.e., email, computer, or other computer technology) policy to be used in the organization.

2. Technological changeover from one computer system to a newer computer system (keep in mind the possible conversion problems).

3. Creation and implementation of a revised disciplinary policy to replace a current policy, which is not working (and lawsuits have resulted from the current, poorly written disciplinary policy).

4. Creation and implementation of a new compensation and benefits package (please remember that the president and board of directors may not be as accepting of this particular topic area… but it is worth the challenge of trying to convince them differently).

5. Creation and implementation of a new performance appraisal system or method of conducting performance appraisals.

6. Creation and implementation of an effective recruiting and retention program to enhance the quality of employees and management within the organization.

7. Rollout of a change management initiative.

8. Creation and implementation of a succession plan for mid level and C-Suite leaders.

AUDIENCE:

Please write your research paper/memorandum as if your organizational or corporate president and/or board of directors would review and consider its findings and recommendations. However, your professor will be the final reviewer for this paper.

GUIDELINES:

1. Student should write a well-researched paper, approximately 6-8 pages and double-spaced (not counting a title page, table of contents, references or appendices).

2. Student should follow the APA Style Manual for referencing and citing sources in the paper.

3. Paper should be written in third person – not first person.

4. Paper should be error-free, so it may be wise to have another person proof your work.

5. All sources must be properly cited, according to APA style. In essence, you need to use in-text citations (no footnotes or endnotes in this paper whatsoever). Full citations of all works should be included in the References section, formatted in APA Style.

6. The paper must contain the following elements:

a. Title Page (or letter of transmittal if a memorandum format is used)

b. Table of Contents (unless a memorandum format is used).

c. Introduction

d. Problem Statement (5-8 sentence paragraph that clearly defines the problem and why it needs to be researched).

e. Review of current practices (background of literature) in the area

f. Strategic plan for change or creation of the anticipated change (use examples of where this approach has been successful in other organizations if pertinent).

g. Strategic approach for implementation of the change(s)

h. Final recommendations and possible outcomes (best and worst case scenarios)

i. Summary/Conclusions

j. References section

k. Appendix (if tables or charts or necessary)

SUBMISSION:

Prepare an outline with bullet points of what you plan to cover in your research paper. You may incorporate the guidelines into your outline. A sample outline is listed in the announcement section. Please read the announcements as there is a site that has a sample of a research outline.

Discussion 1 Change Readiness [CLO: 1], Select one of the three levels of change: individual, group/team or organizational/system and provide an example of the process, your response to the change and adjustments that were necessary in order to sustain this change.

Discussion 2 Organizational Change [CLOs: 1,2,6] , Provide a brief description of the 5 Change Models in Chapter 2. Compare and contrast two of the models and, referencing this week’s lecture, discuss resistance, or how change could be embraced. Respond to two classmates’ posts.

Primary Task Response: Within the Discussion Board area, write 400–600 words that respond to the following questions with your thoughts, ideas, and comments. This will be the foundation for future discussions by your classmates. Be substantive and clear, and use examples to reinforce your ideas.

You have been asked to educate patients in a nursing home about the muscular system. Answer the following questions, with at least 1 scholarly reference and citation included:

Which lower extremity muscles are utilized during standing and walking?
What changes are occurring to the muscular system as a person enters late adulthood?
How can muscle changes affect the fall risk in older adults?
What are ways to prevent muscle loss or maintain muscular strength as people age?

 

Prepare a 700- to 1,050-word paper in which you analyze the relationship between productive and counterproductive behavior in organizations. As a part of your analysis be sure to address the following items:

Define productive behavior and counterproductive behavior.
Describe the impact that productive and counterproductive behaviors have on job performance and the overall performance of an organization.
Recommend strategies to increase productive behavior and decrease counterproductive behavior in organizations.
Format according to APA standards.