Milestone Three Human Resource Management

Overview: This milestone focuses on the topics of this week’s lessons: managing and appraising employee performance.

Using the material on performance management and appraisals provided in this week’s lesson and the case, in a short paper you should:

 Determine the HRM’s role in the performance management process and explain how to ensure the process aligns with the organization’s strategic plan.

 Differentiate between the trait, behavioral, and results-based performance appraisal systems, providing an example where each would be most applicable.

 Identify best suited appraisal for the Maersk Customer Service – CARE Business Partner.

 Identify and describe a variety of performance rating scales that can be used in organizations including graphical scales, letter scales, and numeric scales.

Guidelines for Submission: Your submission should be 2–3 pages in length and double-spaced using 12-point Times New Roman font. Be sure to list your references at the end of your paper. Submit journal assignment as a Word document.

What Is Costco’s Business Model?

 

(Attached Below) Review Case 4: Costco Wholesale in 2016: Mission, Business Model, and Strategy Case Study in your textbook and the following videos

https://youtu.be/mCU1hLF7jE0

https://youtu.be/05Oji32ZYks

Answer the following:

1. What is Costco’s business model? Is the company’s business model appealing? Why or why not?

2. What are the chief elements of Costco’s strategy? How good is the strategy?

3. Do you think Jim Sinegal was an effective CEO? What grades would you give him in leading the process of crafting and executing Costco’s strategy? What support can you offer for these grades? How well is Craig Jelinek performing as Sinegal’s successor? Refer to Figure 2.1 in Chapter 2 in developing your answers.

4. What core values or business principles did Jim Sinegal stress at Costco?

5. (In the event you have covered Chapter 3) What is competition like in the North American wholesale club industry? Which of the five competitive forces is strongest and why? Use the information in Figures 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, and 3.8 (and the related discussions in Chapter 3) to do a complete five-forces analysis of

competition in the North American wholesale club industry.

6. How well is Costco performing from a financial perspective? Do some number-crunching using the data in case Exhibit 1 to support your answer. Use the financial ratios presented in Table 4.1 of Chapter 4 (pages 66-68) to help you diagnose Costco’s financial performance.

7. Based on the data in case Exhibits 1 and 4, is Costco’s financial performance superior to that at Sam’s Club and BJ’s Wholesale?

8. Does the data in case Exhibit 2 indicate that Costco’s expansion outside the U.S. is financially successful?

Why or why not?

9. How well is Costco performing from a strategic perspective? Does Costco enjoy a competitive advantage over Sam’s Club? Over BJ’s Wholesale? If so, what is the nature of its competitive advantage? Does Costco

have a winning strategy? Why or why not?

10. Are Costco’s prices too low? Why or why not?

11. What do you think of Costco’s compensation practices? Does it surprise you that Costco employees apparently are rather well-compensated?

12. What recommendations would you make to Costco top management regarding how best to sustain the company’s growth and improve its financial performance?

Part 2:

Using the financial ratios provided in Table 4.1 and the financial statement information presented below for Costco Wholesale Corporation.

Calculate the following ratios for Costco for both 2013 and 2014:

  • a. Gross profit margin
  • b. Operating profit margin
  • c. Net profit margin.
  • d. Times interest earned coverage
  • e. Return on shareholders’ equity
  • f. Return on assets
  • g. Debt-to-equity ratio
  • h. Days of inventory
  • i. Inventory turnover ratio
  • j. Average collection period

Writing Requirements

  • APA format,
  • 4 pages in length (excluding cover page, abstract, and reference list)
  • Research and cite and reference at least 3 peer reviewed journal article

Business Sust Corp Govn & Org

Activity 5

Please read Special Note

Go to Consumer Reports https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/index (a paid website that provides consumers with information on the health, environmental and social impacts of certain products). Identify a product that you use or would consider using. If you choose not to pay for this information, conduct internet research to complete the assignment. Click on “Full Rating Details for This Product.” Identify the product in your typed response and answer the following questions:

  1. What is the product’s overall score?  What does this score mean?
  2. Environment:  What is the product’s score regarding environmental impact?  What factors were considered in calculating this score?  Why did the product earn this score?
  3. Community (Society):  What is the product’s score regarding society?  What factors were considered in calculating this score?  Why did the product earn this score?
  4. Employees (Workers):  What is the product’s score regarding workers?  What factors were considered in calculating this score?  Why did the product earn this score?
  5. Consumers:  What is the product’s score regarding consumers?  What factors were considered in calculating this score?  Why did the product earn this score?

**Special Note: If you do not want to purchase the consumer report data then you can supplement findings with internet and peer-reviewed research. Identify a product that you use or would consider using. Identify the product in your typed response, examples of customer reviews, and answer the assignment questions.

You should include a printed copy of the website with your typed response.

What is the management-research question hierarchy for Akron Children’s Hospital?

Post one thread of at least 800 words.  Each question response must be supported with at least 1 peer-reviewed source. Each thread must also include 1 biblical application/integration. Note that the biblical application/integration cannot be more than 10% of the thread or replies.

From the Akron’s Children’s Hospital, Part A case, answer the following questions:

  1. What is the management-research question hierarchy for Akron Children’s Hospital?
  2. What are the advantages/disadvantages of an observation study for this research?
  3. What does the brand promise recommendation reveal about what researchers experienced and concluded from their study?
  4. If you were designing such an observation study, what would you direct researchers to record/look for/listen for?
  5. What ethical issues would surface in hospital studies in general and this study in particular?Post one thread of at least 800 words.  Each question response must be supported with at least 1 peer-reviewed source. Each thread must also include 1 biblical application/integration. Note that the biblical application/integration cannot be more than 10% of the thread or replies.

    From the Akron’s Children’s Hospital, Part A case, answer the following questions:

    1. What is the management-research question hierarchy for Akron Children’s Hospital?
    2. What are the advantages/disadvantages of an observation study for this research?
    3. What does the brand promise recommendation reveal about what researchers experienced and concluded from their study?
    4. If you were designing such an observation study, what would you direct researchers to record/look for/listen for?
    5. What ethical issues would surface in hospital studies in general and this study in particular?

Project: Renovating The Hungerford Hotel

The owners of the Hungerford Hotel are considering whether they should hold the hotel or renovate it, as well as when they should consider selling the hotel. Answer the following questions based on two scenarios for the Hungerford Hotel that are shown on the last page in this document. The first scenario is the base case, which Professor deRoos analyzed in the video on the previous page “Case Study: The Hungerford Hotel.” The second scenario is the renovation case, which assumes that the renovation has been completed. You can assume that the hurdle rate is 14%.The owners of the Hungerford Hotel are considering whether they should hold the hotel or renovate it, as well as when they should consider selling the hotel. Answer the following questions based on two scenarios for the Hungerford Hotel that are shown on the last page in this document. The first scenario is the base case, which Professor deRoos analyzed in the video on the previous page “Case Study: The Hungerford Hotel.” The second scenario is the renovation case, which assumes that the renovation has been completed. You can assume that the hurdle rate is 14%.

Discuss MADM Model and Theory

Scenario: You are the VP of Franchise services for the Happy Buns Restaurant. You have been assigned the task of evaluation the best location for the next HB that a prospective franchisee has suggested in the Columbus, Ohio, area. You are using the standard template that provides for which criteria (attributes) you should evaluate. But the specific weights for these are open to adjustment depending on the specific area. These are the six criteria that you will use to evaluate this decision.

·        Close to drive through traffic – traffic counts (avg. thousands/day)

·        Property cost/investment and taxes = NPV of investment ($$)

·        Size of building (square feet in thousands)

·        Size of parking (max number of customers parking)

·        Insurance costs (thousands $ per year)

·        Ease of access from streets (subjective evaluation from observation)

There are five possible locations. You have collected the data from various sources including your VP Finance, Real estate agents, etc. This document summarizes the raw data for each of the five locations: Abberton, Bellview, Casstown, Denton, and Eddington, all suburbs of Columbus. See Data Below.

Assignment

Review the information and data regarding the different alternatives for restaurant location. Develop a MADM table with the raw data. Convert the raw data to utilities (scaled on 0 to 1). Determine the relative weights of each criteria. Evaluate the Decision Table for the best alternative. Do a sensitivity analysis.

Write a report to your boss, Executive VP. Explain your analysis and your recommendation. Provide a rationale for your decision including the logic you used to determine your weights.

Data

Download this Word doc with the data: Happy Buns Raw Data.docx

Summary of Raw Data

for location of Happy Buns

in the Columbus, Ohio, area.

 

 

     Criteria

 

 

Location

 Traffic count (avg. thousands/day) NPV of investment

($000,000)

 Bldg. size (sq ft. 000) Lot size

(Max customer parking)

 Insurance

($000 / yr)

 Access

(subjective)
Abberton 17 1.3 3.0 44 5.2 Good
Bellview 10 2.1 3.8 54 5.6 Excellent
Casstown 11 1.5 2.6 65 5.0 Fair
Denton 20 3.0 3.6 52 6.4 Poor
Eddington 15 2.8 4.2 50 6.3 Good

written report and Excel file

SLP Assignment Expectations

Analysis

·        Accurate, complete analysis (in Excel and Word) using the MADM model and theory.

Written Report

·        Length requirements = 2–3 pages minimum (not including Cover and Reference pages)

·        Provide a brief introduction/ background of the problem.

·        Complete and accurate Excel analysis.

·        Written analysis that supports Excel analysis, and provides thorough discussion of assumptions, rationale, and logic used.

 

·        Complete, meaningful, and accurate recommendation(s).

 

MADM Model and Theory

Multi-Attribute Decision Making (MADM)

This decision method assumes certainty. In other words, there are no probabilities of future states to determine. And the data and costs are assumed to be known and accurate. The most common type of decision is a preference decision. The decision maker wants to determine which of several options is the best to achieve some set of goals or fulfill a set of criteria or attributes. Common examples are: deciding which car to buy, which house to buy, which apartment to rent, where to go on vacation, which machine to buy for production, which supplier to use, and many more.

The decision process consists of the Decision Maker (DM) identifying the need for some object (or person) or concept that he/she currently does not have. Or it could be to replace some object that has outlived its usefulness, such as replacing a copying machine.

The decision consists of determining a set of criteria that the object must have or meet with some level of satisfaction. For example, when buying a car, the DM might consider its price, color, fuel efficiency, safety rating, warranty, comfort/ride, among other factors. This process is important because it provides and defines the performance and outputs that the user will expect.

The step for this decision is to search for and find the choices (alternatives or options) to be considered. There may be one criteria that is used as a filter, such as price. In the car buying example, the DM may have a price range that fits into his/her budget. They may also have a preference of Make, such as Chevrolet or Ford. But this second preference may actually be a bias and could limit the choices and exclude some viable choices. The search for alternatives usually generates choices in a serial manner. Specific alternatives are identified one at a time. Although it is possible to find several choices at nearly the same time, for example, being shown several different makes and models of cars at one dealership during a single trip.

The DM now has identified the choice options as well as the criteria to be fulfilled. Each alternative will fulfill each criterion at some level of value. The DM must collect this data and put it into a table for easy analysis. Here is an example of a decision table for purchasing a car.

Discuss on Profit Sharing

Exam: 412760RR Profit-Sharing and Similar Plans

1. James earns $80,000 per year. What is the limit on his deductible contributions if he has a simplified employee pension?

A. $15,000

B. $10,000

C. $45,000

D. $20,000

 

2. What is one reason that companies often allow new employees to immediately participate in profit sharing plans?

A. The administration of a profit-sharing plan is much easier than that of other pension plans.

B. Profit-sharing plans have no upper or lower age limits.

C. Profit-sharing plans have no vesting provisions to deal with.

D. Companies are required by law to provide this opportunity for new employees.

 

3. The Carbon Company makes allocations to employee accounts that meet the nondiscrimination requirements; the total employer contributions are $10,000. The average salary of all employees is $67,000. If Laverne’s salary is $69,000, how much, rounded up to the nearest dollar, would be allocated to her?

A. $10,299

B. $10,198

C. $9,755

D. $23,448

 

4. Tamara would like to start saving some of her salary so that it won’t be taxed. She has decided to save $9,000 annually, but she would also like to have the freedom to withdraw her money if she needs it. If you were her employee benefit specialist, which one of the following plans would you recommend that she research?

A. SIMPLE

B. IRA

C. 401(k)

D. 403(b)

 

5. You’re advising an employee about your company’s 401(k) plan and how it will benefit him. You explain that employees can put money into their accounts prior to paying taxes and choose the amount they would like to save. What other advantage does a 401(k) have for employees?

A. It can be fully funded by salary reduction by employees.

B. It reduces unemployment.

C. It provides access to their money if needed during employment.

D. It has lower contribution limits.

 

6. Which one of the following statements about retirement plans is correct?

A. Retirement plans are typically designed with liberal eligibility and vesting rights.

B. A waiting period to enter a plan cannot exceed 6 months.

C. The more flexible the plan, the higher the administrative cost.

D. Retirement plans are considered a benefit only to those employees who are within 10 years of retirement.

 

7. Kim has decided to buy a condo so that she can rent it to tenants. She decides to take a loan from her qualified retirement plan for the down payment and closing costs. How much time does she have to repay this loan?

A. She must repay the loan before retirement or termination.

B. She must repay one-half the loan within one year.

C. There’s no set amount of time during which she must repay the loan.

D. She must repay the loan within five years.

 

8. What aspect of a 401(k) plan makes it different from a profit-sharing plan?

A. Companies are required by law to provide this opportunity for new employees.

B. Employees get to choose which stock to invest in.

C. Employers acquire a higher cash flow because of the insurgence of employer stock purchases.

D. Employees decide how much of their compensation is deferred.

 

9. Which one of the following statements is true of 401(k) retirement plans?

A. Integration of a 401(k) plan with Social Security is easily managed.

B. Because a 401(k) plan is a qualified plan, its administration is simple and uncomplicated.

C. A 401(k) plan permits higher contribution levels than IRAs.

D. Even though a 401(k) plan is funded entirely on the basis of employee salary deferrals, the employer enjoys no tax advantages from this fact.

 

10. Under regulations, a stock bonus plan is a qualified-contribution plan similar to a profit-sharing plan.

What, however, makes a stock bonus plan different from a qualified-contribution plan?

A. The plan contribution formula is based on employee compensation.

B. Employees can also contribute to after-tax savings.

C. Employers’ contributions may be made in cash.

D. Dividends can’t be re-invested to increase the participants’ accounts.

 

11. Sam isn’t quite sure what he wants to do with his retirement savings, but he wants to make sure he has the flexibility to manage his funds in numerous different ways. What type of distribution would be best for Sam?

A. Life annuity with period certain

B. Straight-life annuity

C. Delayed benefit payment

D. Lump-sum option

 

12. When employer stock is used in qualified plans, which one of the following situations is a win-win situation for both the employer and the employee?

A. The price of the stock is always at a discount rate.

B. A market can be created for employer stock.

C. Employees receive an ownership interest in the company.

D. The employer can obtain a deduction for noncash contributions to the plan.

 

13. The Marx company makes allocations to employee accounts that meet the nondiscrimination requirements; the total employer contributions are $10,000. The average salary of all employees is $67,000. If Jamar’s salary is $58,000, how much, rounded up to the nearest dollar, would be allocated to him?

A. $28, 285

B. $20,896

C. $8,657

D. $10,786

 

14. Lassitude, Inc., a new and rapidly growing company, doesn’t have a qualified plan. However, the company would like to provide a salary savings plan for its employees in order to retain its current and new employees. Assuming that Lassitude decides to implement a SIMPLE, which one of the following statements is true?

A. Lassitude, Inc. has 100 or fewer employees.

B. An independent contractor would have to be hired to deal with the complicated paperwork involved.

C. Lassitude management will have to disclose to its employees that their savings won’t be portable.

D. Lassitude employees can rest assured that their savings will provide adequate retirement benefits.

Evaluate investing in natural gas transportation

Evaluate investing in natural gas transportation

 

have management homework, And I need someone help me with it. I just want 200 words to answer this question no more than that. And  I need you to use easy vocabulary.

“Goals that are overly ambitious can discourage employees and decrease motivation, yet the idea of stretch goals is proposed as a way to get people fired up and motivated. As a manager, how might you decide where to draw the line between a “good” stretch goal and a “bad” one that is unrealistic?”

(adapted from the discussion questions in chapters 7 and 9).

have management homework, And I need someone help me with it. I just want 200 words to answer this question no more than that. And  I need you to use easy vocabulary.

“Goals that are overly ambitious can discourage employees and decrease motivation, yet the idea of stretch goals is proposed as a way to get people fired up and motivated. As a manager, how might you decide where to draw the line between a “good” stretch goal and a “bad” one that is unrealistic?”

(adapted from the discussion questions in chapters 7 and 9).

Project Management: The Managerial Process

    • http://switchandshift.com/the-gm-culture-crisis

       

       

      This assignment is the second milestone in the analysis of the company within your final project. It should begin with a brief description (one paragraph) to transition the reader to the new analysis lens. The largest component of this paper should focus on the leadership approach and any shifts through the course of the case study example, including any aspects of the culture that influenced the organization. Lastly, the final aspect of the paper is to connect the analysis into insights and conclusions. This assignment will be submitted in the form of two- three pages.

       

      Prompt: Use the following case study to do your organizational analysis: The GM Culture Crisis: What Leaders Must Learn From This Culture Case Study.

       

      After reading the case study, answer these questions:

       

      III. Evaluate Leadership Theory

       

      A. Describe a leadership style used in the case study and why there was a shift in leadership style throughout the case study.

       

      B. Explain the characteristics and decisions of management in the case study that help explain the shift in leadership style.

       

      C. Identify the internal and external influences on the organization that may have caused the shift in leadership style. Be sure to explain your choices.

       

      D. Describe the relationship between a leadership style used by the organization in the case study and the decision-making process.

       

      IV. Assess Organizational Culture

       

      A. Discuss the internal culture present within the organization. Be sure to utilize terms relative to organizational behavior.

       

      B. Identify specific examples from the case study that demonstrate the internal culture present within the organization.

       

      V. Insights and Conclusions

       

      A. Explain why the leadership style(s) and internal culture of the organization complement each other or do not complement each other.

       

      B. Explain whether or not the changes in leadership style or internal culture of the organization influenced each other.

       

      C. Explain how the leadership styles and internal culture of the organization may have influenced the behavior of the employees within the organization. You could consider providing specific instances or examples from within the case study to support your response.

       

       

Discuss Operations Management

 

The final assignment for the course is a Final Paper on two cases. The Final Paper should demonstrate understanding of the reading as well as the implications of new knowledge. The paper should be at least 10 pages in length and integrate readings, scholarly references, and course discussions into work and life experiences. It may include an explanation and examples from previous experiences as well as implications for future applications.

Read the case study at the end of Chapter 12 and the case study at the end of Chapter 13, and thoroughly answer all the following questions. Supplement your answers with scholarly research using the Ashford Online Library. Each case study should be addressed in at least 5 pages, resulting in a combined Final Paper of at least 10 pages.

  1. Create a master production schedule for the breadmaker in the case that considers production levels, demand for the product, and the best business strategy for the situation presented.
  2. Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of Jack’s approach, considering how master scheduling can improve the process, and considering the organizational changes needed to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the process.
  3. Examine the impact of refusing a customer’s order because of lack of supply of the product vs. accepting the order and failing to deliver.
  4. Describe the impact on average inventory levels and production if Realco produces 20,000 breadmakers every week, rather than 40,000 every other week.
    Chapter 13 Case Study: Supply-Chain Challenges in Post-Earthquake Japan 
  5. Explain the advantages and disadvantages of the supply chain used in the Japanese auto industry before the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.
  6. Evaluate whether or not Toyota’s plan for a “foolproof” supply chain is consistent with the Lean production philosophy.
  7. Provide a recommendation and plan that you believe would be the best supply chain strategy for Toyota.
  8. Examine the impact Toyota’s plan will have on the way it handles relationship management in its supply chain.

The Final Paper Construction:

  • Must be at least 10 double-spaced pages in length (not including the title and reference pages) and formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.
  • Must include a title page with the following:
    • Title of paper
    • Student’s name
    • Course name and number
    • Instructor’s name
    • Date submitted
  • Must begin with an introductory paragraph that tells the reader what will be covered in the paper.
  • Must address the topic of the paper with critical thought.
  • Must end with a conclusion that tells the reader what was learned from reading the paper.
  • Must use at least five professional resources, including a minimum of two from Ashford Online Library in addition to the text.
  • Must document all sources in APA style, as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.
  • Must include a separate reference page, formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.